What Is MASTERLISE? Bandai's Premium Ichiban Kuji Figures, and Are They Worth It
MASTERLISE is Bandai Spirits' premium prize-figure line — the name stamped on the top-tier figures you win from many Ichiban Kuji lotteries. If you have seen "MASTERLISE" or "MASTERLISE EXPIECE" on a One Piece or Dragon Ball figure box and wondered what it promises, this guide answers it in plain terms.
Below: what the word means, how big the figures actually are, where MASTERLISE sits in the Ichiban Kuji prize tiers, the difference between EXPIECE and PLUS, whether they are worth chasing, and how collectors outside Japan get one.
- What it is: Bandai Spirits / Ichibansho's premium figure line, billed as their premiere statue line.
- How big: roughly 18-26 cm (about 7-10 in) for most A and B prizes.
- Where you get it: mostly as the top prizes of an Ichiban Kuji draw, not on regular store shelves.
What is MASTERLISE?
MASTERLISE is the brand Bandai Spirits uses for its higher-end prize and collector figures. The name blends "master" and "stylise" — masterful sculpting and a stylised, exaggerated sense of motion — and the line is billed as Ichibansho's "premiere statue line featuring a larger size compared to other figures and high-quality detail."
You will meet MASTERLISE in two places. Inside Ichiban Kuji (Japan's guaranteed-prize lottery), it labels the top figures. Under the Ichibansho retail line, it labels the boxed figures sold at stores. Same quality tier, two ways to buy in.
Akibato ships Ichiban Kuji sets from Japan — the same lotteries that hand out MASTERLISE prizes — so you can see what is currently drawable in the in-stock Ichiban Kuji collection instead of guessing what is still available.
What makes a MASTERLISE figure different?
Against a standard prize figure, MASTERLISE is where Bandai spends the budget. The differences are consistent across franchises:
- Larger scale. MASTERLISE figures run bigger than the ordinary prize figures in the same set.
- Sharper sculpt. More defined faces, hair strands, muscle and cloth folds.
- Layered paint. Deeper shading and gradients rather than flat single-tone plastic.
- Dynamic bases and effects. Action poses, energy effects and translucent parts are common on the A and B prizes.
If you want the side-by-side breakdown of quality against ordinary prizes, see MASTERLISE vs standard prize figures.
How big are MASTERLISE figures?
Most MASTERLISE A and B prizes land in the 18-26 cm (about 7-10 in) range. They are not scaled to a fixed ratio like a 1/7 scale statue; the size is set per figure to suit the pose.
Two concrete data points from current listings:
- A Dragon Ball Son Goku MASTERLISE figure stands roughly 7.9 in (about 20 cm).
- A One Piece "The Greatest Battle" A-prize Luffy in MASTERLISE EXPIECE measures H=180 mm (18 cm).
Because MASTERLISE is not tied to a scale ratio, it is easy to misjudge how a figure will look on a shelf. If you are lining these up next to scale statues, our guide to anime figure scale sizes in cm shows how 1/7 and 1/8 compare.
Where MASTERLISE sits in the Ichiban Kuji prize tiers
An Ichiban Kuji set is graded A, B, C and downward, plus a Last One Prize for the person who buys the final ticket. MASTERLISE is almost always reserved for the top figure prizes. Exact letters and contents vary by set, but the pattern holds:
| Prize tier | What you usually get |
|---|---|
| A / B (top) | The big figures — this is where MASTERLISE and MASTERLISE EXPIECE live |
| C to mid | Smaller figures, deformed/chibi figures, or a second character |
| Lower tiers | Towels, art boards, mugs, rubber straps, acrylic stands |
| Last One Prize | An exclusive recolour or variant of a top figure, handed to the final ticket |
| Double Chance | A mail-in re-draw for a bonus figure (on some sets) |
The Last One is often a special MASTERLISE recolour, which is why it can be the most sought-after prize in a set. We cover that separately in what the Last One Prize is and how to get one.
MASTERLISE EXPIECE and MASTERLISE PLUS
MASTERLISE has sub-labels that signal an extra step up:
- MASTERLISE EXPIECE — the larger, more ambitious builds, used for the headline A prize of a big set. The One Piece "Greatest Battle" Luffy above is an EXPIECE piece.
- MASTERLISE PLUS — a premium variant seen on some Dragon Ball and other high-profile sets, again pointing to the top-end figure.
Treat both as "this is the best figure in the set." They do not change how you win it — you still draw the kuji — but they tell you which prize is the one collectors will chase and resell.
Are MASTERLISE figures good — and worth it?
For the price a kuji ticket costs, MASTERLISE figures are strong value. A top MASTERLISE prize compares well to scale-adjacent statues that would cost several times more at retail, which is why they hold demand on the secondary market.
The honest caveats: paint quality varies slightly unit to unit (they are still mass-produced prizes), and you are not guaranteed the A prize from a single draw. If you want one specific figure without the lottery risk, buying the exact prize on the secondary market is usually smarter than drawing repeatedly. Our deeper comparison — are MASTERLISE figures worth it vs standard prizes — walks through when each choice makes sense.
How overseas fans get a MASTERLISE figure
Ichiban Kuji is sold in Japan and is not stocked in normal overseas retail, so fans outside Japan have three routes:
- Draw remotely through a Japan-based shop that runs the kuji and ships your prize.
- Buy the exact prize (including EXPIECE and Last One figures) already won, from a Japan store or proxy.
- Use a proxy/forwarding service to pull from Japanese marketplaces.
The full breakdown of costs and methods is in how to buy Ichiban Kuji outside Japan. If you would rather skip the logistics, Akibato draws and ships from Japan — browse what is live now in the Ichiban Kuji collection.
MASTERLISE Ichiban Kuji sets to know right now
MASTERLISE shows up across the biggest 2026 sets. A few current guides where the top prize is a MASTERLISE figure:
- Ichiban Kuji Dragon Ball Spectacle Battle — the MASTERLISE figures to chase.
- Berserk 'Fate's Twin Extremes' — the Guts MASTERLISE prize.
- Yu Yu Hakusho 'Demon World Gate' — every prize and the MASTERLISE lineup.
Frequently asked questions
Is MASTERLISE the same as bootleg or knockoff? No. MASTERLISE is an official Bandai Spirits brand. If a listing shows the MASTERLISE / MASTERLISE EXPIECE mark and a Bandai Spirits box, it is a genuine prize figure.
Do you have to assemble a MASTERLISE figure? Minimal assembly at most — usually snapping the figure onto its base and attaching a few effect parts. They are not model kits.
MASTERLISE vs standard prize figure — what actually differs? Size, sculpt sharpness and paint layering. The standard prizes in the same set are smaller and simpler; MASTERLISE gets the budget.
How much is a MASTERLISE figure worth? It varies by character and rarity, and the Last One and EXPIECE prizes tend to command the most on the secondary market. Prices move, so check current listings rather than a fixed figure.
Key takeaways
- MASTERLISE is Bandai Spirits' premium prize-figure line — larger and more detailed than standard prizes.
- Most A/B MASTERLISE prizes run about 18-26 cm (7-10 in); it is not tied to a fixed scale ratio.
- MASTERLISE EXPIECE and MASTERLISE PLUS mark the top figure in a set.
- You win MASTERLISE from an Ichiban Kuji draw; overseas fans draw remotely, buy the exact prize, or use a proxy.
- For ticket price, MASTERLISE is strong value, which is why the top prizes hold demand.
If a specific MASTERLISE prize is on your list, the fastest route is to see what Akibato is drawing and shipping from Japan right now in the Ichiban Kuji collection.