The RX-0 Unicorn Gundam, often referred to as the Unicorn or Unicorn Gundam 01, takes center stage as the prototype mobile suit in the Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn novel, its OVA adaptation, and the television re-cut. Crafted by Anaheim Electronics for the Earth Federation, this remarkable mobile suit guards a hidden secret with the potential to reshape humanity's destiny, serving as the key to unlocking Laplace's Box. Piloted by Banagher Links, entrusted to him by Cardeas Vist, head of the Vist Foundation and his father, during the onset of the Third Neo Zeon War in U.C. 0096.

As the final component of the Earth Federation Space Force's (E.F.S.F.) reorganization plan, the "UC Project," the Unicorn Gundam stands as a revolutionary symbol tasked with eradicating traces of Zeonism in the Earth Sphere. Beyond its iconic Gundam design, it boasts an anti-Newtype system, reflecting the project's overarching goal. The Unicorn Gundam, embodying the cutting-edge mobile suit technology of its time, is a pinnacle of performance and innovation.

The mobile suit's frame, influenced by data from the experimental MSN-06S Sinanju Stein, is constructed entirely with Psycho-Frame material. This design choice significantly enhances responsiveness, allowing the Unicorn Gundam to be piloted as a seamless extension of the pilot's body. Unlike earlier mobile suits that implemented psycho-frame technology on a limited scale, the Unicorn is hailed as the first "full psycho-frame" mobile suit. Its heightened responsiveness occasionally gives the impression of autonomous action without direct input from the pilot.

Adding to its extraordinary capabilities, the Unicorn Gundam incorporates the unique "NT-D" (Newtype Destroyer) system. When activated, this system engages the psycho-frame, leading to a remarkable surge in the mobile suit's performance. As the embodiment of hope in the Universal Century, the Unicorn Gundam stands as a testament to technological advancement and the pursuit of a new era in the Gundam narrative.