Pokémon Model Kits: How to Pick Your First Bandai Build
By Dexhaul Team · August 25, 2026
Building a Pikachu from pre-colored plastic takes about 20 minutes and costs less than a single booster pack.
That is the appeal of Bandai's Pokémon model kit range, known in Japan as Pokémon PLAMO. Unlike static figures you pull from a box, these kits arrive as molded plastic runners that you assemble yourself, with no glue and no paint required. The result is the same as a display figure, but you built it.
The range covers dozens of Pokémon across two distinct product lines, with prices from under $10 to about $30. Knowing which line fits your experience level and your favorite Pokémon is the whole buying decision.
The Quick!! Series: Where Most People Should Start
Bandai's Quick!! kits are numbered sequentially: #03 is Pikachu in battle pose, #08 is Mimikyu, #11 is Charmander, #21 is Psyduck. Each number marks a new release, so lower numbers are older kits and higher numbers are more recent.
Price is uniform across the line: $9.99 to $10.99 per kit.
These are genuine snap-fit builds. The plastic runners come pre-colored in the correct Pokémon colors, so you clip out each part and press it together without any painting or gluing.
The instruction sheet uses illustrated steps rather than text, so even an eight-year-old can follow it. Most Quick!! kits take 15 to 30 minutes to complete.
Charmander is the standout pick for first-timers: the kit has a manageable part count, the flame-tipped tail is a satisfying detail to snap into place, and the finished model is one of the cleanest display pieces in the Quick!! lineup.
Mimikyu is the other obvious first pick.
Its disguise costume is a Pikachu shape, meaning the kit doubles as a Pikachu reference and a Mimikyu model at once. The #08 Quick!! kit captures that wobbly, slightly-wrong Pikachu silhouette that defines the character.
Larger Single-Figure Kits: Kyogre, Arceus, and the Legendary Tier
Above the Quick!! line sits a set of standard single-figure kits priced between $16 and $22.
These use more runners, have additional color separation, and typically include articulated joints or separately molded details that smaller kits skip. Assembly time runs 45 minutes to an hour.
Kyogre is the best example of what this tier offers. The fin and body segments articulate slightly, the blue shading on the runners is accurate to the in-game model, and the finished kit has a wingspan that justifies its shelf position. At $21, it sits in the same price range as a low-end plush but delivers something no plush can: the satisfaction of assembly.
Other standouts at this tier: the Arceus kit at $17 covers all 18 type plates via interchangeable ring segments; the Gyarados kit at $16 captures the serpentine body with segmented sections that allow slight posing. Both are sold by independent merchants currently listed on DexHaul.
Evolution Sets: Two or Three Pokémon for One Price
Several kits bundle a Pokémon with its pre-evolution or combine two related Pokémon on a single set of runners. These are where the value math gets interesting.
The Riolu and Lucario kit at $22 gives you two complete builds in one box. Both Pokémon share some runner components, which keeps the part count reasonable without cutting corners on either figure.
For fans of Lucario's Sinnoh arc, displaying both evolution stages together is a natural payoff. The Hydreigon evolution set includes Deino, Zweilous, and Hydreigon for $9.99, making it the lowest per-model price in the range.
Mega and Select Series: The Most Complex Builds in the Range
At the top of the price ladder sit the Mega Evolution kits and the Select series single figures. These run $19 to $30 and require more patience: runner counts are higher, some pieces are sub-assembled before attaching to the main body, and you will want a hobby knife to cleanly remove nub marks from the sprue gates.
Mega Rayquaza is the flagship. Its serpentine body is built from multiple interlocking segments that form a poseable spine; the fin detail on the facial mane is one of the most intricate pieces in any Pokémon kit. At $26.99, it is the display-quality build that justifies a shelf position next to graded cards and sealed ETBs.
The Select series brings the same level of detail to more recent Pokémon. The Miraidon kit at $24.99 covers the motorcycle-dragon of Scarlet and Violet: multiple joint points, a detailed chest cavity, and the ring-shaped legs that define Miraidon's Gen 9 design. It is the best kit for any Scarlet and Violet collector.
Which Kit Should You Buy First?
The answer depends on what kind of builder you are.
If this is your first model kit of any kind, pick a Quick!! kit.
Charmander, Pikachu (battle pose), or Psyduck all work: under $11, no tools required, done in under 30 minutes. The experience will tell you immediately whether you want to go further into the range.
If you have assembled snap-together model kits before, jump straight to the standard single-figure tier. Kyogre, Arceus, or Gyarados give you a meaningfully longer build session and a more impressive result. The evolution sets (Riolu/Lucario, Hydreigon) are also ideal at this level because you get two models for the price of one.
If you want the biggest possible display piece and you are comfortable with sub-assemblies and a hobby knife, Mega Rayquaza is the choice. It is not the most difficult kit Bandai has ever produced, but it rewards careful attention. The finished figure is the size that stops people and makes them ask where you bought it.
One practical note: the international English releases and the Japanese import versions of these kits use identical runners. The box art differs and the instruction booklets use different language for the step descriptions, but the parts themselves are interchangeable. If a Japanese import version is cheaper through an independent merchant, the build quality is the same.
Browse current listings for Pokémon model kits from independent shops at DexHaul, where prices display in your local currency and every link goes directly to the merchant's checkout.