Gundam Assemble FAQ
Most first games run 45 to 90 minutes. Two players, six miniatures each side in the starter, no glue needed, unpainted miniatures are fully playable, and yes you can mix factions if the scenario allows it.
Short answers to the questions that come up in the first hour of owning the box.
Buying and boxes
Do I need one starter set or two for two players?
One. Starter Set 01 contains six miniatures, eighteen Tactics cards (nine a side) and a full token set, which is exactly a two-player 3v3 game.
Is the Deluxe Set an upgraded starter?
No. It is a bigger format with different contents: thirteen miniatures, two maps, 5v5 play with battleship-class units. It does not contain the starter's six units, so the two boxes are additive.
What else do I have to buy?
Side cutters and something to clean nubs - a hobby knife or sanding stick. Budget $15-25. Glue, paint and a mat are optional. Full list on what you need to start.
How much does the whole range cost?
US MSRP runs $35 for the starter, $40 per expansion pack, $50 for the paint pack, $55 for the scenario pack and $100-170 for deluxe sets. All fifteen SKUs are on the price page.
Playing
How long does a game take?
A starter-set 3v3 usually finishes in 45 to 90 minutes including setup. Full games are two Phases of ten rounds each. Deluxe 5v5 runs closer to two hours.
Do I need glue?
No. The miniatures are snap-fit Gunpla. Glue is for repairs and conversions only.
Do I have to paint the models?
No. Everything ships unpainted and the rules never mention paint. It is a readability choice, not a requirement - see unpainted minis.
Can I use two of the same unit?
Not unless the unit is Mass Produced. The restriction is on card number, not mobile suit name, so the two different RX-78-2 cards can both be in one squad. Only the Torohachi is Mass Produced in the launch pool.
Can I play with three players?
Not officially. The box and every scenario are written for two. Groups do run three-player games with a shared side or a third timeline track; see multiplayer.
What happens when a unit dies?
It is removed, its killer scores the VP printed on its card, and its Timeline token moves two rounds forward rather than coming off the track.
Rules details
How many dice do I roll?
A number equal to the weapon's Strength. Every 4 or higher is a hit; 9 or 10 is also a critical. Any d10 works as a substitute if you lose the supplied dice.
Do critical hits do extra damage?
No. A critical is still one hit. What it adds is that it succeeds regardless of Accuracy modifiers and can trigger the weapon's critical effect, which is where the extra value sits.
What is Energy for?
Stronger weapons and abilities consume it. You gain Energy by Energizing: spend two timeline as a Primary Action and place one Energy token on the unit card.
Can a unit move, attack and move again?
No. Once a unit stops moving and takes another action, it cannot resume moving that activation. Advance is once, at whatever point in the activation you choose.
What is the difference between a round and a Phase?
A round is one step on the timeline. Ten rounds make a Phase, and a game is two Phases.
What if both players have tokens on the same round?
The tokens stack, and the top one activates first. At setup you roll a die to decide who starts, rerolling ties; later rounds start with the opponent of the player who acted last.
Cards and squads
How big is a Tactics deck?
Nine cards, shuffled, draw three. You draw three more at the end of Phase one and may play one card per activation.
Can I put any card in my deck?
Only if at least one unit in your squad meets the card's requirement. Normally one copy of each card is allowed. This is checked at setup, not during play.
Where are the unit stats?
On the card. Hit points, VP, starting Timeline, weapons, traits and abilities all live on the unit card, and the unit card database collects all fifteen in one table.
Are there points values?
No. Squads are limited by the scenario's unit count, not by points. That is why two legal 3v3 squads can be very different in power.
Still stuck
If your question is about a specific card text disagreement, the official rules and FAQ page is the authority, and Bandai has published two card text corrections for EX01 and ST01. The roadmap page tracks those. Anything else, the glossary covers the terminology.