Best Pokémon Model Kits: Which Bandai Kit Should You Buy First?
Updated Oct 28, 2026
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Bandai makes Pokémon model kits in several lines, from tiny no-tools kits to big posable legendaries. They all snap together without glue or paint, so they're a great first model kit for kids and adults alike.
Short answer: start with a Quick!! kit of your favorite Pokémon. If you (or your kid) enjoy it, step up to a Select Series kit, which is bigger and posable but still needs no tools. Save the BIG kits and huge legendaries like Mega Rayquaza for fans who want a showpiece.
Pokémon model kit lines at a glance
Line
What it is
Tools needed?
Japan price
Quick!! Lite
Simplest kits; parts come already separated (no runners)
None
¥858
Quick!!
Small kits of popular Pokémon, built by hand
None
¥715–¥858
Select Series
Bigger, posable kits, including legendaries
None; finish with stickers
About ¥1,100–¥3,080
BIG
Large kits about 20 cm in size (Magikarp, Eevee)
None listed
¥3,520
Fossil Pokémon Series
Fossil Pokémon such as Aerodactyl and Tyrantrum
None listed
¥2,200–¥2,640
Japan retail prices including tax. US prices vary by store and are usually a little higher; use the Amazon buttons to check today's price.
Quick!! and Quick!! Lite: the easiest start
Quick!! kits are small, cheap and built by hand with no tools. There are now more than 25 of them, from Pikachu and Eevee to the starter Pokémon of every region, so almost every fan can find a favorite.
Quick!! Lite (from 2026) goes one step easier: the parts come already separated from the plastic frame, so there's nothing to snap off. That makes Lite the best choice for younger kids.
Best for: Kids, first-timers, party favours and stocking stuffers.
The Select Series is where the bigger kits live: Gengar, Rayquaza, Garchomp, Miraidon, Kyogre and many more. They still need no tools, and stickers add the eyes and details, but they have more parts and can be posed.
Recent Select kits are much bigger than older ones. The Mega Rayquaza is over 30 cm long, so check the size if shelf space matters.
Best for: Fans who enjoyed a Quick!! kit, older kids and collectors of legendary Pokémon.
The BIG kits (Magikarp and Eevee) are about 20 cm in size, great as a desk or shelf centerpiece. The Fossil Pokémon series turns Aerodactyl and Tyrantrum into fossil-museum style models.
These cost more than Quick!! kits, so they suit fans who already know they like building.
Best for: Display pieces and gifts for dedicated fans.
Buying for a young child? A Quick!! Lite kit, or a Quick!! kit with a little help.
First model kit for a teen or adult? Any Quick!! kit of a favorite Pokémon, then a Select kit.
Want something to pose and display? A Select Series kit like Garchomp, Gengar or Rayquaza.
Shopping for a big fan? A legendary such as Mega Rayquaza, Kyogre or Miraidon, or a BIG kit.
Tools: Quick!!, Quick!! Lite and Select kits need no tools: parts snap off by hand and stickers add the details. A small pair of hobby nippers makes the snapped edges neater, but it's optional.
Frequently asked questions
Do Pokémon model kits need glue or paint?
No. Bandai's Pokémon kits snap together and come in color. Stickers add eyes and small details.
Do you need tools to build Pokémon model kits?
Not for Quick!!, Quick!! Lite or Select Series kits; the parts come off by hand. Quick!! Lite parts are already separated, so there's nothing to snap off at all.
What is the easiest Pokémon model kit?
Quick!! Lite, because the parts come already separated. After that, any Quick!! kit.
Which Pokémon model kit is the biggest?
Among the current kits, the Select Series Mega Rayquaza is over 30 cm long. The BIG Magikarp and BIG Eevee are about 20 cm.
What's the difference between Quick!! and Select Series?
Quick!! kits are small and simple. Select Series kits are bigger, have more parts and can be posed, but still need no tools.
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