Gilgamesh Guide for HSR Fate Collab: Free Claim, Build, Teams, and Pull Value

Gilgamesh arrives in Honkai: Star Rail through the Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] collaboration as a 5-star Lightning Destruction character from Another World. The collaboration event begins on July 24, 2026 at 12:00 server time, and the key decision is whether to choose Gilgamesh or Archer from the collaboration reward. His real value comes from Interest stacking, Interest Piqued extra turns, Enuma Elish burst windows, and Saber synergy.

Quick answer: Choose or pull Gilgamesh if you need a Lightning Destruction unit who turns ally actions and ally Ultimates into extra turns, Interest stacks, and a huge Ultimate window. He is much deeper than a free trophy unit: build Talent and Skill first, pair him with active teammates, and only chase I Am As You Behold if his Interest loop becomes part of your main roster.

Gilgamesh splash art in Honkai Star Rail Fate collaboration

Version context

Gilgamesh is the Fate collaboration's Lightning Destruction option and should be planned beside Archer, Saber, and Rin.

Claim him if

Your account needs a Lightning carry or you want Saber-focused Fate synergy.

Choose Archer if

You already plan to build Rin or value Archer Eidolon progress more than a new DPS.

Gilgamesh Event and Build Snapshot

Item	Build point	Recommendation	Why it matters
Gilgamesh	Role	Lightning Destruction DPS	Best when the team feeds his burst windows.
I Am As You Behold	Best Light Cone	Signature after E0 testing	Best if he becomes a regular Lightning carry.
Stats	Main stats	CRIT body, Speed or ATK feet, Lightning DMG sphere, ATK rope	Balances burst reliability and turn timing.

Free Claim Decision

Route	Choice	Best for	Avoid if
Gilgamesh	Claim Gilgamesh	Players lacking Lightning DPS or wanting Saber synergy.	You already have enough carries and need Archer support value.
Archer route	Claim Archer	Players focused on Rin teams or Archer Eidolons.	You need a new Lightning Destruction carry more.

Gilgamesh Skill Kit and Interest Loop

Gilgamesh's kit revolves around Interest. At the start of battle he begins by using Basic ATK automatically on his own turns, but every ally action gives him Interest and Speed. Once Interest reaches its threshold for the first time, Gilgamesh enters Interest Piqued. From that point forward, his extra turns are built around Skill use, which is why leveling Skill is not optional even though Enuma Elish looks like the flashy part of the kit.

Skill piece	What it does	How to play it
Talent	Ally actions feed Interest; Interest increases his tempo and unlocks Interest Piqued.	Use fast, active teammates. Slow teams leave Gilgamesh waiting with too few Interest triggers.
Skill	Becomes his main repeat action after Interest Piqued and can carry DEF-ignoring value through his setup.	Do not underlevel it. This is the button he keeps pressing between Ultimate windows.
Ultimate	Enuma Elish is a high-cost Lightning burst that improves when allies have used Ultimates and fed his bonuses.	Cast it after teammate Ultimates and buffs, not as soon as the icon lights up.
Saber link	When Gilgamesh and Saber meet the attack-count condition, they can launch a Joint Follow-Up Attack.	This is the team identity that makes him feel much stronger than a generic Lightning DPS.

Interest

Ally actions are fuel. More ally turns mean more Interest, more Speed pressure, and faster access to Gilgamesh's active state.

King's Burden

Ally Ultimates improve his Ultimate window. Teams with frequent Ultimates make Enuma Elish much easier to justify.

Golden Rule

Higher investment adds another Ultimate-scaling layer, so vertical spending should be saved for players committed to his burst playstyle.

Build around burst timing

Use ally Ultimates, buffs, and DEF-ignore windows before Enuma Elish. A rushed Ultimate into an unprepared enemy wastes the Interest and team action engine that makes him strong.

Trace, Relic, and Light Cone Priority

Focus	Priority	Upgrade	Player note
Talent	1	Talent	Controls Interest, ally-action scaling, and his transition into Interest Piqued.
Skill	2	Skill	His frequent post-Interest action. Leaving it low makes the rotation feel much weaker.
Ultimate	3	Ultimate / signature cone	Improves the Enuma Elish burst window, but the loop still needs Talent and Skill first.

Best Gilgamesh Teams

Premium

Gilgamesh + Saber + Harmony buffer + sustain.

Standard

Gilgamesh + ATK/CRIT support + debuffer + sustain.

Budget

Gilgamesh + Energy support + DEF shred + comfortable healer or shielder.

Focus	Team type	Example structure	Use case
Saber core	Saber Fate team	Gilgamesh + Saber + buffer + sustain	First premium team to test for collaboration synergy.
Hypercarry	Lightning carry	Gilgamesh + Harmony + debuffer + sustain	Best when you need boss damage.
Action	Action-heavy team	Gilgamesh + fast support + Energy/action support + sustain	Helps feed his burst cycle.

Saber Synergy and Rotation Notes

Saber is the teammate that gives Gilgamesh his clearest collaboration identity. When their attack tally condition is met, the Joint Follow-Up Attack deals Lightning and Wind damage to all enemies, gives Gilgamesh more Interest, and helps Saber recover Energy for her next burst window. This makes the pair feel like a dual-DPS engine rather than one carry plus three passive supports.

Clean setup

Use active supports and a sustain who does not stall the team. Gilgamesh wants allies taking turns and using Ultimates often.

Bad setup

A slow team with rare Ultimates leaves him short on Interest and makes Enuma Elish feel far too delayed.

Stellar Jade and Top-Up Planning

If you can claim Gilgamesh, do not spend Stellar Jade automatically. Your pulls may be better saved for Rin, Light Cones, or future reruns after you test the free character route.

Honkai: Star Rail Top Up

Set your Fate collab priority first, then choose Oneiric Shards or Express Supply Pass if you need more pulls.

Top Up

Gilgamesh FAQ

When does Gilgamesh release in HSR?

Gilgamesh arrives with the Fate collaboration update on July 24, 2026 at 12:00 server time.

What element and path is Gilgamesh?

Gilgamesh is a 5-star Lightning character on the Path of Destruction.

Is Gilgamesh free?

The collaboration reward lets players choose Gilgamesh or Archer. Check the event screen carefully before claiming because the choice affects your Fate roster plan.

Does Gilgamesh need Saber?

He can function without Saber, but Saber unlocks his most distinctive Joint Follow-Up Attack and helps turn his Interest engine into a dual-DPS loop. If you own Saber, test that pair before judging his ceiling.

Conclusion

Gilgamesh is a free-claim decision, a Lightning Destruction carry, and a Saber-synergy unit at the same time. Secure E0 first, learn how Interest and ally Ultimates feed his turns, then decide whether I Am As You Behold is worth the extra Stellar Jade.