Key takeaways
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Suletta Mercury pilots Calibarn, overcoming the Gundam curse, using top-notch equipment.
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Calibarn features deadly weapons, including Beam Vulcans, Beam Sabers, and the Variable Rod Rifle.
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Calibarn’s Permet Score reaches level 10 with Suletta, allowing them to create a powerful data storm.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury was the first television series in seven years after the release of Iron-Blooded Orphans. She debuted as the first female lead and the first LGBT lead in a Gundam television series. Suletta Mercury. she pilots it Gundam Antenna for most of the series, until her sister Ericht, Aerial’s true identity, casts her aside in an effort to save her from their mother’s plans. After meeting again Miorine Rembran and upon being chosen by the Space Assembly League to defeat her mother, Prospera Mercury, and Quiet Zero, she agrees to pilot Gundam Calibarn. Calibarn was considered a “monster” by the Space Assembly League, due to its lack of safety measures to help pilots bear the cost of their Permet Score.
Suletta proves suitable for Calibarn and together they stop Lady Prospera and Quiet Zero, while ending the Gundam curse. Calibarn, although he has very little screen time, proves to be extremely powerful. With the combination of his team and his skilled pilot, he proved too much for Quiet Zero. This is everything you need to know about the legendary and monstrous Gundam.
Calibarn Top-Notch Gear
A deadly monster
Calibarn was initially developed as a competing unit to the Lfrith. Both were intended to serve as the Vanadis Institute’s contribution to the forces of Earth Ochs. However, Calibarn had the security measures that Lfrith had, which meant that the pilots could not survive the overwhelming data storm caused by its Permet Score. Therefore, Lfrith was fully developed and both Vanadis and Ochs Earth used mass production units based on it. Calibarn was then confiscated by the Space Assembly League during the Vanadis Incident, where all records of its existence were removed and it was kept in storage. After Suletta became his pilot, Calibarn was equipped with some incredibly powerful weapons which Suletta used in the battle against Quiet Zero and his sister Ericcht.
Beam Vulcans, fast and reliable
Calibarn has two Beam Vulcans located on his head, similar to most of the Gundams in the franchise. They are mainly used in close encounters to intercept enemies or damage equipment from close range.
Beam Sabers, standard melee weapon
Again, like most Gundams, Calibarn keeps two Beam Sabers in his backpack. He can use one of these in his left hand while he holds the variable rod rifle in his right. These sabers are always set in combat configuration, as shown by their blue color.
Variable rod rifle, witch’s broom
The Calibarn’s main weapon. The Beam Broomstick, affectionately called by fans: Beam Broomstick, is a huge, portable firearm shaped like a broomstick. At the rear it has a propulsion unit made up of four Quadra Thrusters. These are strong enough to propel Calibarn, giving him immense speed. At the front is a uniquely shaped cannon that fires a powerful beam capable of destroying Mobile Suits with a single shot. Suletta uses this weapon to dodge the Gundnodes’ relentless fire and destroy several of them with a single continuous shot.
Shield shield, a sister’s gift
After Ericht Samaya/Gundam Aerial Rebuild is defeated, she gives Calibarn her shield and the eleven GUND-BITS with the souls of her eleven replicator sisters. These stick to Calibarn just as they did to Aerial. This gives Calibarn the ability to use GUND-BITS just like Aerial did before. In addition to making them join together to form the Shield. As a shield it works like any other, but its defensive capabilities are greater than normal thanks to the Aerial’s top-notch engineering.
GUND-BITS, remote controlled firepower
With the shield, Calibarn can use all eleven GUND-BITS for attack or defense. The GUND-BITS are essentially Witch From Mercury’s version of the Fin Funnels seen in Gundam Universal Century, made famous by the Nu Gundam. Calibarn can control them remotely to fire fast and incredibly powerful lasers at enemies. They can also form powerful lightning barriers or shields. Calibarn uses the GUND-BITS, along with the other three Gundams, to create a data storm that renders the interplanetary laser useless.
Permet Score, a Curse and a Blessing
May all blessings come to you
Like all other Gundam units, Calibarn is equipped with the GUND-ARM system. It has several Shell units throughout its body that activate the GUND format. The Permet Score of the GUND format is raised through several levels activated by the pilot. The GUND format greatly enhances the capabilities of the machine while imposing a high physical toll on the pilot. Calibarn’s GUND format and lack of safety measures for the extreme data storm it generates have killed all of its pilots, making it a monster. Suletta Mercury was the only one who not only survived but also adapted, allowing her to pilot Calibarn effectively. However, her body ended up slightly scarred due to the physical damage the data storm suffered.
Permet Score 10, Breaking a Curse
All Gundam units can raise their Permet Score to what point the pilot can withstand it. According to Permet Score 3, it is difficult for most to endure. Gundam Aerial had previously reached Permet Score 6, making it incredibly powerful. Suletta and Calibarn usually fought with Permet Score 5, which made them extremely strong, but quickly tired Suletta. With the help of Aerial, Gundam Pharact, and Gundam Schwarzette, Calibarn and Suletta can reach Permet Score 10, which emits rainbow-colored light. This allows them to create a data storm so powerful that it completely shut down the interplanetary laser.
If you run, you win one… If you advance, you win two
While Calibarn doesn’t have as much equipment as other powerful machines, what it does have, along with its skilled pilot, makes it extremely powerful. She accomplished feats similar to Gundam Unicorn, controlling other machines with her Permet Score. In addition to having blinding speed and immense firepower, allowing her to easily defeat the Gundnodes and Quiet Zero on her own. Among the Alternate Universe series, Calibarn could be one of the most powerful Gundams, along with the Gundam 00 QanT and the Mighty Strike Freedom.