GIL VADER[1]

A Wyvern-type Zoid developed by the Guylos Empire (Dark Army) during the era of the First Intercontinental War[1].

It was developed by incorporating the results of the Death Wing project[5]. It boasted a cruising range that allowed it to travel between the Dark Continent and the Central Continent without resupply[6], making direct bombing runs on the Republican capital possible[7]. Thanks to its new flight system, it could reach speeds of Mach 4[2], and its wings were equipped with aerial combat flaps for rapid maneuvering even at high speeds[4]. Its thrust was so great that it could reach and operate beyond the atmosphere[2][6]. Furthermore, it also excelled in ground combat, giving it versatile capability[8]. As the flagship, it was treated as a symbolic machine of the Guylos Empire’s military power[2].

Gilvader’s greatest weapon. A total of four units, large and small, were mounted on its wings and back. They draw in charged particles from the atmosphere, store them in the saw-blade sections, and then release the energy to slice through enemy machines[6]. They can unleash disk-shaped beams[9], and in close combat, the Beam Smashers could also be used by ramming with the wings to cut enemies apart[10]. The particle intake was handled by Beam Intakes installed on both wings[4].

Mounted in the throat. Fires high-temperature particle beams at 10,000°C[4][6], with high rate of fire, serving as a devastating annihilation weapon[2].

Installed at the front of the torso. These machine guns deliver precise shots “as if through the eye of a needle”[4].

Four mounted in the wings. Capable of striking enemies 10 km away with gravity waves[4].

Horn-shaped weapons mounted on the head. They emit waves of dark energy in lightning form, which destroy internal mechanisms, shutting down enemy machines, while also being able to melt surface armor within about one minute[6]. They can generate lightning to attack multiple enemies simultaneously[11].

A canopy-shaped part protecting the optical sensors, while also functioning as an all-direction radar[12]. This was the last Dark Army Zoid to employ such a system. Made of special deflection glass, resistant to beam weapons[6]. Pilots wore anti-shock suits when operating from within the cockpit[6].

Installed at the rear of the machine.

Mounted in the backpack.

Close-combat weapons mounted on the tail. They had the properties of a whip and were used to tear open enemy Zoids’ backs during close combat[4].

The claws on all four limbs. Made of diamond-alloy, they could easily pierce steel. Additionally, they had a mechanism to inject a metal-dissolving fluid known as *Metal Burst*[4].

Electronic barriers installed on the wings, possessing the durability to repel any attack[4].

Released in 1989. Overall length approx. 43 cm. The wings, Beam Smashers, small Beam Smashers, mouth, and tail move in coordination, allowing it to flap its wings while walking on all fours. The Beam Smashers rotate while emitting light, but the small Beam Smashers only rotate without lighting up.

Power is supplied by four AA batteries: two in the main battery inside the body, and two in the rear battery pack. The main battery drives walking and the main wings, while the rear battery powers the head and the lighting for the wing Beam Smashers. The rear battery pack has connectors for the then-released Grade-Up Units: one on the top and one on each side, for a total of three (this was the only Zoid to be equipped with multiple connectors).

When the rear battery’s lighting switch is turned on, the eyes and Beam Smashers first glow red, and after a while, each begins to flash randomly.

Released October 2005. A white Gilvader with an added Dragon Trident (according to the manual, the Twin Maser is not used, though the part is included). The battery box used (shared with Redhorn) had been revised to a single-AA system at the time of Redhorn’s 1999 release, so this kit and subsequent RCZ kits also used the single-AA setup.

The canopy and Beam Smashes were changed to clear blue in line with official setting colors. Due to the addition of the Dragon Trident, the price was slightly higher than that of the Gilvader.

Reissued on September 25, 2008 as part of the RCZ series. The molding colors were slightly altered: the black armor was made matte, the purple armor slightly darkened, and the transparency of the clear parts was reduced.

Like Gildragon, for safety reasons, the front teeth were slightly rounded compared to the older versions.

In Zoids Battle Story (Shogakukan), it appears in New Zoids Battle Story. It joined the war in October ZAC 2053, as the First Intercontinental War intensified. Hiding its body inside a meteor, it destroyed the Turtle Ship and annihilated the Republic’s frontline base[13]. In the same month, it carried out a bombing raid on the Republic capital, defeating Captain Graham’s Gunblaster and killing as many as 80,000 citizens of the capital[7]. In February ZAC 2054, during Colonel White’s raid on a Dark Army base using the Ultrasaurus Flying Carrier and King Liger, it endured the planted time bombs, repelled the King Liger assault units, and then shot down Lieutenant Krüger’s Salamander F², who had moved to shield the Madthunder taking part in the attack[14]. In June ZAC 2054, until the birth of the Orudios, designed by Captain Graham and completed by Colonel Müller, the Republic homeland remained under the constant threat of direct attack. But in the decisive charge of Lieutenant Krüger, piloting the Orudios test unit No. 1, Gilvader was brought down in a mutual kill. This, combined with the false information that 500 Orudios units had been deployed, shook Emperor Gaillos’s resolve and led to the temporary suspension of Gilvader’s Central Continent assaults[15].

In the Zoids Battle Story (as serialized in the grade-school magazines), it also carried out missions to intercept the giant flying Zoid Black Challenger, which had been seized by the Republic[16]. In another battle, during a Republic capture operation, it was bound by the chains of the Gojulas Borgar, but broke free through sheer power and escaped the crisis[17]. It also took part in the raid on the Republic’s Dark Continent coastal base, engaging Great Thunder—though struck by its Magneiser, it climbed into high altitude and slammed Great Thunder into the sea surface[18]. In another fight, it destroyed Republic reinforcements and advanced on a base, disabling a Gunblaster’s anti-air fire with its Twin Maser before smashing the Magneiser of a Madthunder and destroying the machine itself with the Twin Maser[11]. In an episode where a joint mission of Magnogojulas and Orudios attempted to capture it, Gilvader was immobilized in midair by Magnogojulas’s magnetism, but managed to escape with the aid of accompanying Flying Borders[19]. In another, at an unknown point in time, it clashed with King Gojulas over a Dark Army secret base—after tearing open its right shoulder with its Titanium Claws, Gilvader fired its Beam Smasher, but the blow was blocked by an Orudios throwing itself in the way to shield King Gojulas, and Gilvader was destroyed[20].

In the Televi-kun serialized story, it shot down a Salamander, demonstrated performance that surpassed even the Salamander F2[21], and destroyed a Madthunder with a dive-bombing attack[22].

In ZAC 2055[1], during the Battle of Devil’s Maze, it once again shot down a Salamander F², outmaneuvered the Republic’s strongest Zoid Madthunder, and smashed it with its diverse arsenal[8].

In ZAC 2056, during the final battle on the Dark Continent, it attacked King Gojulas, but its overwhelming defensive power prevented Gilvader from dealing a decisive blow[23].

In Zoids Genesis, it appeared in flashbacks and archive footage of the Sky People, depicted in a battle against Gildragon. It was presented as a machine used by hostile forces in the aftermath of the Great Catastrophe, with its body marked with yellow spell-like characters. Differences from the model kit include a slightly smaller head and enlarged wings (both Gilvader and Gildragon were altered this way). Notably, in both cases their greatest weapon, the Beam Smasher, was never used.

Its first appearance was in the Game Boy title Zoids Legend, where it appeared as the final boss. It also appeared in the Famicom game Zoids Apocalypse.

In Zoids: Resurrection of the Evil God! ~Genobreaker Chapter~, it served as the final boss. In this story, a former Imperial scientist named Io activated it using the genes of his deceased son in order to carry out his revenge.

In Cyber Drive Zoids: Beast Machine Warrior Hue, it appears at the end of the Iron Dragon Cult missions that unlock on the second playthrough, and later reappears in simulator-related missions.

In the Nintendo DS game Zoids Saga DS, the final boss Roz (Rosina) pilots Gildragon against Atore and his team. However, once Gildragon is defeated, she switches to piloting Gilvader and challenges the player again.

Appeared in the New Zoids Battle Story. A machine designed with urban destruction in mind, its wing-mounted Beam Smashers were enlarged and had their energy output increased. Their power was said to be enough to destroy buildings in an instant and to bisect even large Zoids with a single high-output beam. It was also capable of flying from the Dark Continent to the Central Continent[24].

Its first appearance was in Shogakukan’s Second Grade magazine, March 1990 issue.

It flew from the Dark Continent to the Central Continent, where it destroyed city buildings. Afterwards, it engaged in battle with Orudios, but after its left wing Beam Smasher was destroyed, it retreated[25].

Appeared in the New Zoids Battle Story. A modified machine equipped with a mechanism allowing its neck and torso to split open, revealing a large Plasma Particle Cannon that greatly enhanced its bombardment capabilities[24].

This plasma particle beam reached temperatures of 30,000°C, possessing enough power to disable even large Zoids with only a glancing hit[24]. The torso-mounted Plasma Particle Cannon could be retracted, allowing it to transform back into the normal Gilvader form[24].

Its first appearance was in Shogakukan’s Second Grade magazine, February 1990 issue.

Attacked a Republic base while in its normal Gilvader form. Immediately afterward, it engaged the Mad Jet, having its wing section destroyed in the battle. Following this, it unleashed its Plasma Particle Cannon and succeeded in destroying the Mad Jet[26].

A Gilvader modified to operate underwater, introduced in the New Battle Story.

By removing its wings, the unit could adapt to underwater combat and was equipped with torpedoes powerful enough to sink even the specially-modified Mad Thunder designed for naval warfare.

In May, ZAC 2054, it participated in the battle against Admiral Berger’s Mad Thunder fleet while traversing the Triangle Daras. Its wing sections were destroyed by ship artillery, but the battle quickly shifted to naval combat, where it used torpedoes to destroy the Mad Thunder fleet. Additional standard Gilvader reinforcements were deployed, coordinating aerial assaults with the underwater attacks to press the Republic forces. Because the Guylos Empire had already deciphered the Republic’s HZ Code and the Mad Thunder fleet lacked anti-submarine equipment, the Gilvaders were able to annihilate the fleet with one-sided superiority[27].

Published in Shogakukan’s “Third Grader” magazine, June 1990 issue. This variant was modified into a bipedal form by replacing its arms and legs with those of the Death Saurer, and the tail was omitted. Two pulse cannons were mounted on its back.

It attacked President Helic’s Raynos and gained the upper hand in combat against the Ordios, who attempted to stop it. However, the Battle Cougar intervened, seizing the Raynos and rescuing the president, allowing him to escape[28].

Appeared in Shogakukan’s “Second Grader” magazine from the June to July 1990 issues. This machine was created by the Republic Army using combat data from encounters with the Gilvader[29].

Part of its wings were substituted with Salamander components, its legs reinforced with Madthunder armor, and it was equipped with a Buster Cannon mounted on its back.

Developed as a countermeasure against the Gilvader, the Silver Vader defeated a Dark Army Iron Kong using its Twin Maser[29]. However, during a subsequent assault on a Dark Army base, it engaged a real Gilvader. Due to its added equipment reducing maneuverability, the Silver Vader was ultimately defeated[30].

Appears in the anime *Zoids Genesis*. A legendary Zoid that once carried people and Zoids away from Planet Zi during the great tectonic upheaval known as “Gods’ Fury.” Revered as the guardian beast of the Sky Nation, it represents the pinnacle of Sky People technology, much of which was later adapted into the Bio-Zoids. Its entire body is coated in white Metal-Zi, granting it high durability and combat capability[31].

The Gil Dragon appeared twice in Dr. Ron’s Zoid lectures, and once while dormant underground. In lore, it is said to have been more than ten times larger than its official specifications, remembered by surface dwellers as “a Zoid larger than mountains” that became an ark ferrying people skyward during the Great Catastrophe. It eventually exhausted its strength after countless trips between the earth and the sky.

In episode 37, the original Gilvader appears in flashback, showing a battle between the two dragons. In Katon Town, the Gil Dragon was worshipped, with parades and festivals displaying effigies of Gil Dragon, Gilvader, and the Decalto Dragon. Multiple Gil Dragons existed; the one in Katon Town was inert, but another slumbered beneath Iron Rock. This machine was reawakened by Ruuji’s group to reach the skies.

Despite pursuit by Bio Raptor Gui, it was guided by the Decalto Dragon of Rose’s superior and reached Sky City. However, the Sky City people despised it as the “Dragon of Ruin,” recalling the calamities of Zi’s upheaval. Soon after, Sky City was overwhelmed by swarms of Bio Raptor Gui and Bio Ptera. The Gil Dragon carried the city’s survivors away but lost a wing in the explosion. Through the efforts of Cotona and Souta, it managed to reach Zuri safely, but it was never repaired or used again in the final battle against Jiin.

Appears in the game Zoids Apocalypse as the Dark Army’s strongest unit and final boss, created to counter the King Gojulas.

Originally featured in Hobby Japan EX (Winter 1990 issue) as a Gilvader modification example. The ad’s tagline read: “Gilvader roared like fire.”

Its entire body is crimson, with two Gojulas Buster Cannons (Plasma Cannons) mounted in the chest. The main wings are modified by combining the inner surfaces of Gilvader’s wings, extended at the tips with Salamander’s wings, and supported by Wing Barriers added at the rear as auxiliary wings. Other alterations include an elongated nose, fangs, neck, and legs, with the tail inverted compared to Gilvader. Additional weapons from Gunblaster, Sieg-Dober, Gal-Tiger, and Ultrasaurus are also incorporated.