Best female pilots in Gundam

Important takeaways

• Female pilots in the Gundam series are as skilled as male protagonists and show mastery in battle.
• From Suletta Mercury to Haman Karn, these pilots display leadership, strategy and combat prowess.
• Unique abilities, experience and determination set these female pilots apart and prove their excellence in combat.

Most stories in Gundam franchise focuses on the trials and tribulations of the pilot of a mobile suit called the Gundam. Most of these pilots happen to be teenage boys who are thrown into the war because they are blessed – or cursed, depending on how you look at it – with certain psychic abilities that can help them control the mobile suit much better than regular pilots.

But just because most of these iconic pilots are men, that doesn't mean this franchise lacks skilled female pilots. On the contrary, this franchise has quite a few female pilots who are just as masterful as, if not better than, the main characters. With that in mind, here are some of the best female pilots from various series within Gundam franchise.

7 Suletta Mercury

The ruthless witch of Mercury

• Mobile suit: XVX-016 Gundam Aerial
• Anime title: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury
• Release date: 2 October 2022

Suletta Mercury is the main character in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, and the first female protagonist in a major Gundam series. The witch from Mercury places great emphasis on duels between two mobile suits. As the pilot of the most advanced mobile suits in the universe, the XVX-016 Gundam Aerial, Suletta Mercury easily defeats any opponent who dares to challenge her supremacy.

As a Mobile Suit pilot, Suletta Mercury is undoubtedly skilled. It is not even an exaggeration to say that she is the best pilot in her academy. That said, the moment she faces a much more experienced and skilled foe, that's when she starts to struggle. Make no mistake, she will still end up champion, but against this type of opponent, a large part of her victory can be attributed to the Gundam Aerial's autonomous system. Had she been in a normal mobile suit, she would not have been able to maintain such a flawless result. Therefore, she sits neatly in seventh place.

6 Iria Solari

The commander of the Red Wolf Squadron

• Mobile suit: MS-06F Zaku II F Typ
• Anime title: Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance
• Release date: 17 October 2024

Iria Solari is the main character in Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeancethe most recent entry to Gundam franchise. She is the leader of the Red Wolf Squadron. They are known for their amazing performance in the infamous Battle of Loum. Now they are tasked with supporting the Zeon forces to defend their base in Eastern Europe.

Like most pilots in this list, Iria also has a Newtype ability, but not as advanced as the others. This ability allows her to predict her opponent's movement quite accurately. In addition, she is also a great leader who knows how to motivate her troops and make great plans to maximize her chance of winning. This is why Iria is able to give the brand new Gundam Ex a hard time despite using a much inferior, scrap metal Zaku.

5 Katejina Loos

The Ace of the Zanscare Empire

• Mobile suit: ZMT-S33S Gottrlatan
• Anime title: Mobile Suit Victory Gundam
• Release date: April 2, 1993

Like Iria Solari, Katejina Loos is also a former civilian who joined the military when war knocks on her door. After that, the innocent teenage girl slowly but surely transforms into a passionate follower of the Zanscare Empire, and one of the best mobile suit pilots the country has to offer.

Katejina often flew to the front lines and even led some of the important missions for the Zanscare Empire. She manages to go toe to toe with Uso Ewin and his Victory Gundam on numerous occasions. She even takes out quite a few high-profile pilots from the enemy ranks, including Odelo Henrik, the Uso's best friend and mentor, and the elite Shrike Team.

4 Lucrezia Noin

A peace loving fighter pilot

• Mobile suit: OZ-12SMS Taurus
• Anime title: Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
• Release date: April 7, 1995

As someone who lives in a conflict region, Lucrezia Noin is no stranger to the military and war. She even entered a military academy at a young age and graduated at the top of her class. That's why she's the most experienced and composed pilot on this list. Additionally, being involved in conflict for so long makes her despise war and will do anything in her power to minimize the loss of life for her troops.

Lucrezia prefers to avoid combat as much as possible, but when the situation calls for it, she will demonstrate a master class in mobile suit combat. She even manages to hold her own against Gundams that are clearly far more advanced than her mobile suit. Throughout the series, Lucrezia only uses standard-issue mobile suits. She rarely, if ever, uses custom or modified mobile suits. This means that her amazing performance is solely due to her remarkable skills.

3 Marida Cruz

The Ace Pilot Of The Sleeves

• Mobile suit: NZ-666 Kshatriya
• Anime title: Mobile suit Gundam Unicorn
• Release date: March 12, 2010

Marida Cruz is arguably the most tragic character here. She is a clone that was created with the sole purpose of creating someone with an enhanced Cyber ​​Newtype ability. Thanks to that, she basically becomes a clairvoyant who can sense the emotions and hostility of the people around her.

While this ability makes her super effective in battle, it also causes her to suffer constantly on a daily basis due to the countless unnecessary information her brain receives at any given moment. As the ace pilot of a remnant of the Neo Zeon organization called the Sleeves, Marida and her NZ-666 Kshatriya have deployed to many battlefields, destroying countless enemy mobile suits. Her fight with Banagher Links and his Gundam Unicorn is easily one of the best matches in the series.

2 Amida Arca

The fearless pilot of the turbines

• Mobile suit: STH-05/AC Amida's Hyakuren
• Anime title: Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
• Release date: October 4, 2015

Turbines is a shipping company that has a transportation network that covers every corner of the universe. Since they often carry very valuable, or at least super expensive, cargo, it makes sense for them to have their own security detail. Amida Arca is responsible for Turbine's security.

Everyone aboard the Turbines is family to Amida, which is why when she's deployed with her STH-05/AC Hyakuren, she'll go out and destroy any enemies that dare stand in their way. The reason she has such an unwavering drive is because Amira isn't just fighting to do her job and protect the cargo, she's fighting to protect her family. This is why she can go toe to toe against Gundam Pilots despite having to fight in a very inferior mobile suit with no special system to back her up. Her gains come solely from skill and fighting instinct.

1 Haman Karn

One of Neo Zeon's best pilots

• Mobile suit: AMX-004 Qubeley
• Anime title: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
• Release date: March 2, 1985

Haman Karn is the supreme leader of Neo Zeon, a remnant of the fallen Principality of Zeon. She is also the main antagonist in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and its sequels, Mobile suit Gundam ZZ. Haman takes a lot of inspiration from his predecessor, one of the best mobile suit pilots in the universe, Char “Red Comet” Aznable.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Haman is a much more diabolical version of Char Aznable. Both are respected leaders and tactical geniuses, but Haman is much more manipulative than Char. And while she may not have the same finesse as Char when it comes to handling a mobile suit, she is undoubtedly far more ruthless than the Red Comet.

If she's not so busy leading Neo Zeon and could focus solely on hunting the Gundam, like Char Aznable in the original Mobile Suit Gundamit is possible that Haman Karn will decimate Kamille Bidan and his Zeta Gundam and Judau Ashta and his ZZ Gundam. After all, in terms of pure piloting skills alone, these two emotional young pilots have nothing on Haman Karn. That is why she deserves the title not only as the best female pilot but also as one of the best pilots in the entire Gundam franchise.