Gilgamesh enters Honkai: Star Rail as a 5-star Lightning Destruction character whose kit is driven by Interest, teammate actions, and Ultimate burst timing. He is also part of the Fate Contract: Renewal free-claim decision, where players can choose Gilgamesh or Archer after the collaboration event opens on July 24, 2026 at 12:00 server time.
Quick answer: Claim or build Gilgamesh if your account wants a Lightning Destruction damage dealer who converts ally actions and ally Ultimates into stronger burst turns. Choose Archer instead if you are more committed to Rin's Fate core or already have enough Lightning carry coverage. For most players, E0 first is the clean play; chase I Am As You Behold only if Gilgamesh becomes a main roster unit.
Gilgamesh Release Date and Free Claim
The Fate collaboration opens on July 24, 2026 at 12:00 server time. Fate/Star Rail Night is listed through August 26, 2026 at 03:59 UTC+8, while Fate Contract: Renewal runs longer and lets players claim one limited 5-star collaboration character: Gilgamesh or Archer.
That choice is the first real decision. Do not treat Gilgamesh as "free, so no planning needed." If choosing him costs you Archer progress or a Rin core you planned to build, the free claim still has account value attached to it.
| Field | Gilgamesh | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Rarity / Role | 5-star damage dealer | He should be evaluated as a real build project, not just a login souvenir. |
| Path | Destruction | Expect a damage profile built for larger burst windows and flexible combat pressure. |
| Type | Lightning | Useful if your account lacks strong Lightning damage or wants a Fate-themed carry option. |
| Main resource | Interest | Teammate actions and Ultimates feed his tempo and burst value. |
| Special partner | Saber | Their Joint Follow-Up Attack gives Gilgamesh his clearest collaboration identity. |
How Gilgamesh's Interest Loop Works
Gilgamesh's preview describes him as a character driven by Interest. Teammates' actions accumulate Interest, help provide Energy, and increase his Ultimate damage, while higher Interest can improve his Speed and let him act more often.
The result is a character who dislikes dead turns. If allies are slow, rarely use Ultimates, or spend too much time doing nothing meaningful, Gilgamesh has fewer triggers feeding the loop that makes his burst windows feel expensive but rewarding.
Character Showcase: What Each Animation Means
Each animation below highlights a different part of Gilgamesh's kit. Treat the numbers on the live skill screen as final after release, but the flow is already clear: build Interest, line up ally actions, then turn the setup into Skill and Ultimate pressure.
Interest Loop Recap
This shows why Gilgamesh wants teammates taking actions. Interest is his engine: more ally activity means faster tempo and better access to his powered-up state.
Noble Phantasm Payoff
The red burst sequence frames his Ultimate as the payoff, not the opener. Use buffs and ally Ultimates first so Enuma Elish lands during a real damage window.
Treasury Idle
The golden portals are mostly flavor, but they match his combat identity: attacks arrive from the treasury rather than from a normal weapon string.
Idle Gesture
This idle has no build value, but it helps players recognize the character's presentation before deciding whether the collaboration unit is a collection priority.
Halfhearted Blow
His Basic ATK is single-target Lightning damage. It matters early in the fight, but after the Interest loop turns on, Gilgamesh wants to spend more time pressing Skill.
Gate of Babylon
The Skill is the repeat button to respect. It gives King's Acknowledgement for DEF-ignore value and hits the main target plus adjacent enemies.
Enuma Elish
The Ultimate hits all enemies and adds smaller random hits afterward. Save it for a prepared window instead of using it the second it becomes available.
Amuse Me to the Fullest
This is the heart of the kit. Ally Ultimates give King's Burden, ally actions add Interest, and enough Interest pushes Gilgamesh into his Skill-focused state.
Saber Joint Follow-Up
The Saber link turns the Fate pair into a dual-DPS rhythm. Their attack tally can trigger a Joint Follow-Up Attack, giving Gilgamesh Interest and helping Saber's next burst cycle.
Enkidu Technique
The Technique creates a field before combat. Enemies caught in it enter King's Permission, are pulled into battle, and give Gilgamesh Interest at the start.
Claim Gilgamesh or Archer?
This is the part many players will over-simplify. Gilgamesh being claimable is good news, but the free choice is still a roster decision because Archer has direct value for Rin teams.
| Choice | Best for | Think twice if | Clean decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claim Gilgamesh | You need Lightning damage, want Saber synergy, or prefer a burst-focused Destruction unit. | You already have strong Lightning carries and planned to build Rin with Archer. | Pick him if he fills a real combat role, not only because he is famous. |
| Claim Archer | You are building Rin, want the Fate resource loop, or value Archer Eidolon progress more. | Your account badly lacks a new damage dealer and Gilgamesh would immediately solve that gap. | Pick Archer if Rin is the center of your Fate plan. |
Gilgamesh and Saber Team Rhythm
Saber is the teammate named in Gilgamesh's preview for his special Joint Follow-Up Attack. That does not lock him into one team forever, but it does tell you which lineup should be tested first if you own both characters.
Think of Saber teams as action and burst rhythm teams. Gilgamesh wants allies acting, Ultimates cycling, and buffs landing before his own major damage window, so a lineup with active supports usually feels better than one that waits around.
| Team idea | Example structure | Use it when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saber core | Gilgamesh + Saber + Harmony buffer + sustain | You want to test his intended Fate synergy first. | Do not judge the pair before their action and Ultimate timing is stable. |
| Lightning carry | Gilgamesh + ATK/CRIT support + debuffer + sustain | You need boss pressure or Lightning coverage without Saber. | Without Saber, he may feel more like a standard burst DPS. |
| Action-heavy team | Gilgamesh + fast support + Energy/action support + sustain | You want frequent ally turns feeding Interest. | Make sure the team still has enough defensive comfort for longer fights. |
Trace, Relic, and Stat Priority
Gilgamesh's trace kit points toward Ultimate timing, Interest gain, Energy interaction, ATK, and CRIT DMG. Until live testing confirms exact stat breakpoints, build him as a Lightning damage dealer who wants enough Speed or team action support to keep the Interest engine moving.
| Trace | What it does in plain English | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
 Epic's Opening |
When Gilgamesh uses his Ultimate, he gains Interest. When other allies use their Ultimates, he also gains Interest and regenerates Energy based on a portion of the Energy they consumed. | Do not isolate his Ultimate from the team. Let allies cast their Ultimates first when the rotation allows it. |
 Hero's Hauteur |
Every point of Interest Gilgamesh gains during battle increases his CRIT DMG, up to a stack limit. | Fast teammates and frequent actions are not just comfort; they help build his damage profile. |
 Hegemon's Strife |
While Gilgamesh is on the field, all allies gain ATK and CRIT DMG. Allies with higher Max Energy can receive additional ATK and CRIT DMG, capped by the trace. | This makes high-Energy teammates more attractive and gives the team a reason to play around Ultimate economy. |
| Build slot | Early recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Trace priority | Talent and Ultimate first, then Skill | Interest and Ultimate burst value define his identity, while Skill still matters for repeated actions. |
| Body | CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG | Choose whichever balances your final crit ratio. |
| Feet | Speed or ATK | Speed helps him keep pace; ATK can work if the team already feeds action tempo. |
| Sphere | Lightning DMG or ATK | Use the stronger substat piece until final calculations settle. |
| Rope | ATK by default; Energy if live testing proves it changes key burst timing | His signature cone already gives Energy Regeneration Rate, so do not force Energy rope before testing. |
| Materials | Extinguished Core, Thunder Strum, Four Phases Crossing the River to Check the King, Guardian's Lament | Pre-farm only if you plan to claim or build him immediately. |
Gilgamesh Materials to Prepare
Only pre-farm these if you are sure you will claim or build Gilgamesh. If you are still deciding between Gilgamesh and Archer, save stamina and wait for the live event screen.
Extinguished Core
Ascension and trace upgrade material
Thunder Strum
Ascension material
Four Phases, Crossing the River to Check the King
Trace and Light Cone upgrade material
Guardian's Lament
Trace upgrade material
I Am As You Behold Light Cone Value
I Am As You Behold is Gilgamesh's signature Destruction Light Cone. At S1, the preview card lists ATK, Energy Regeneration Rate, Ultimate damage scaling based on Energy consumed, and King's Entertainment, which raises all allies' CRIT DMG while active.
The cone fits his burst identity very neatly. The catch is priority: if you can claim Gilgamesh, your first question is whether you will actually play him often enough to justify a cone pull during a packed Fate collaboration window.
| Light Cone piece | Text breakdown | Player takeaway |
|---|---|---|
 I Am As You Behold |
5-star Destruction Light Cone. At Lv.80, the preview lists 952 HP, 635 ATK, and 463 DEF. | It is built for a damage dealer, not a generic support cone. |
| At Will, S1 | Raises the wearer's ATK by 18% and Energy Regeneration Rate by 10.0%. | The Energy stat helps Gilgamesh reach burst windows more comfortably. |
| Ultimate scaling | When the wearer uses Ultimate, this Ultimate gains 0.20% damage for every 1 Energy consumed, up to 72%. | The cone rewards high-cost Ultimate planning. It is strongest when the Ultimate is the main payoff. |
| King's Entertainment | Entering combat or using Ultimate grants King's Entertainment for 3 turns; while active, all allies gain 24% CRIT DMG. Same-type effects do not stack. | This makes the cone more team-friendly than a pure personal stat stick, but it still competes with character pulls. |
Should You Build Gilgamesh?
Build or claim him if
- Your account needs Lightning Destruction damage.
- You own or plan to pull Saber and want the Fate Joint Follow-Up identity.
- You like burst windows that reward setup rather than instant button pressing.
- You can build him without stealing all relic and trace resources from your main teams.
Choose Archer or wait if
- Rin plus Archer is your main Fate plan.
- You already have enough Lightning damage and only want Gilgamesh for collection value.
- You cannot spare Destruction traces, relic work, or support slots right now.
- You need live testing before deciding whether his Interest loop feels smooth.
Stellar Jade and Package Planning
Gilgamesh changes the budget conversation because he can be part of a free-claim choice. Before spending, decide whether your pull plan is character collection, Saber team building, Rin plus Archer synergy, Light Cone chasing, or the 200 Special Pass Fate Gift milestone.
A conservative player claims or tests E0 first, then waits before pulling the signature cone. If you still need paid currency after counting pity, guarantee, Special Passes, and event rewards, use a clean product-page route and check UID plus server before paying.
More Honkai: Star Rail Guides
Gilgamesh FAQ
When does Gilgamesh release in HSR?
Gilgamesh's Fate collaboration content opens on July 24, 2026 at 12:00 server time. Confirm the final claim and Warp details in game after the event opens.
What path and type is Gilgamesh?
Gilgamesh is a 5-star Lightning character on the Path of Destruction.
Is Gilgamesh free?
The Fate Contract: Renewal event lets players choose one limited 5-star collaboration character, Gilgamesh or Archer. Read the claim screen carefully before locking the choice.
Does Gilgamesh need Saber?
He should function outside Saber teams, but Saber is the partner named for his special Joint Follow-Up Attack. If you own Saber, that pair is the first place to judge him.
Bottom Line
Gilgamesh is not just a famous collaboration name. His preview points to a Lightning Destruction unit who wants active teammates, ally Ultimate timing, Interest gain, and a planned burst window.
Claim or build him if that role solves a real account need. If your Fate plan is really Rin and Archer, do not let the "free" label make the decision for you.
