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Gilgamesh Best Build at a Glance | August 2026
Updated on 2026-08-03: Patch 4.4 Fate collab Part 2 kits, Genius vs Scholar relic calcs, and free claim notes.
Slot | Recommendation |
|---|---|
Role | Lightning Destruction dual DPS / Saber specialist |
Light Cone | I Am As You Behold |
Relic set | 4pc Genius of Brilliant Stars (or 4pc Scholar Lost in Erudition) |
Planar Ornament | Cosmic Life Sciences Institute (or Izumo Gensei and Takama Divine Realm) |
Body | CRIT Rate |
Boots | ATK% |
Planar Sphere | Lightning DMG% |
Link Rope | ATK% |
Substats | CRIT Rate to ~100% in combat > CRIT DMG / ATK% |
Best team | Gilgamesh + Saber + Mortenax Blade + Huohuo |
Gilgamesh is a free selector pick in Fate Contract: Renewal (Gilgamesh or Archer) from July 24, 2026 through the end of Version 4.6. He arrives with materials to reach Level 60. Treat him as a Lightning Destruction unit who ramps Interest, ignores DEF on Skill, and turns Saber’s team into a Joint Follow-up engine.
How Gilgamesh Works
Interest: Allies taking action grant Interest. Each point adds 10% SPD. At 10 Interest the first time, he enters Interest Piqued and can only Skill for the rest of the fight. Until then he auto-Basics.
Gate of Babylon (Skill): Grants King’s Acknowledgement (30% DEF ignore for 3 turns) and Blast Lightning damage. Costs 0 SP.
Enuma Elish (Ultimate): 360 Max Energy. Hits all enemies, then bounces. Huge Toughness damage for a Destruction kit.
Enkidu (Technique): Start combat with 3 Interest. Enemies under King’s Permission take Lightning damage when you force the fight.
Epic’s Opening: Ally Ultimates give him 2 Interest and Energy equal to 30% of the Energy they spent.
Hero’s Hauteur: Every Interest gained in battle adds 25% CRIT DMG, up to 6 stacks (150%).
Hegemon’s Strife: Teamwide ATK and CRIT DMG. Floor is 20%/20%. Allies with 240+ Max Energy scale toward 120%/120%.
With Saber: Attack tally to 8 triggers a Joint Follow-up. Saber regains 120 Energy and her next Ultimate deals double damage.
In a normal clear you stack fixed Energy from ally Ultimates, up to 150% CRIT DMG from Interest, 40% Ultimate DMG from King’s Burden, 30% DEF ignore from Skill, and SPD spikes from Interest.
Best Relics for Gilgamesh
Set | Pieces | When to use |
|---|---|---|
Genius of Brilliant Stars | 4pc | Best personal damage, especially vs Quantum-Weak. DEF ignore stacks with King’s Acknowledgement |
Scholar Lost in Erudition | 4pc | Safe farm if you already have Skill/Ultimate pieces with strong CRIT |
Cosmic Life Sciences Institute | 2pc planar | Best planar. His 360 Max Energy caps the DMG% bonus |
Izumo Gensei and Takama Divine Realm | 2pc planar | Strong when another Destruction ally (Saber) is on the team for the CRIT Rate proc |
Main stats:
Body: CRIT Rate
Boots: ATK% (Interest already floods SPD; skip SPD boots)
Sphere: Lightning DMG%
Rope: ATK%
Substat order: CRIT Rate until you sit near 100% in combat, then CRIT DMG or ATK%. Skip Energy Regen rope. Ally Ultimates and his traces already feed his 360-cost Ultimate.
Target ballpark: 3000–3500+ ATK, base-speed boots, 90–100% in-combat CRIT Rate, ~120% pre-combat CRIT DMG before Interest and teammate buffs.
Best Light Cones for Gilgamesh
Rank | Light Cone | Notes |
|---|---|---|
1 | I Am As You Behold | Signature. ATK, Energy Regen, Ult DMG scaling off Energy spent, plus team CRIT DMG via King’s Entertainment |
2 | A Thankless Coronation | Saber’s cone. High CRIT DMG and ATK on Ult; Energy restore helps the 360 cost |
3 | On the Fall of an Aeon (S5) | Best F2P from Herta’s Store. ATK stacks + Break DMG% |
4 | A Trail of Bygone Blood | Battle Pass. CRIT Rate + Skill/Ultimate DMG |
5 | A Secret Vow | Budget 4-star if nothing else is built |
If you keep him with Saber, pull I Am As You Behold first. The 200-warp collab LC selector can cover a Fate cone when you are close to the threshold.
Best Gilgamesh Teams
Team | Members | Role |
|---|---|---|
Kings Duo (best) | Gilgamesh, Saber, Mortenax Blade, Huohuo | Joint Follow-up + high Max Energy buffs |
Kings Duo (flex) | Gilgamesh, Saber, Tribbie / Remembrance Trailblazer, Hyacine / Dan Heng Permansor Terrae | Same shell if Huohuo or Mortenax is busy |
Hypercarry | Gilgamesh, Ashveil, Mortenax Blade, Huohuo | Gil as main DPS without Saber |
Budget amp | Gilgamesh, Huohuo, Mortenax Blade, Tingyun | Works while you finish Saber’s build |
Why this shell works:
Saber triggers Joint Follow-up, 120 Energy refund, and the 2x Ult multiplier.
Mortenax Blade stacks Interest fast with frequent attacks and stacks DEF shred with King’s Acknowledgement.
Huohuo percent Energy restore hits both 360-cost Ultimates hard.
Pilot notes: Saber’s Mana Burst plus Gil’s Joint Energy dump can advance her mid-buff. Track attack tally, Interest SPD jumps, and Ult timing. This team rewards manual play.
How to Build and Play Gilgamesh
Claim him from Fate Contract: Renewal if you want Saber’s partner over free Archer. Level him, then prioritize Talent → Ultimate → Skill → Basic. Major traces: Hegemon’s Strife (A6) → Epic’s Opening (A2) → Hero’s Hauteur (A4).
Farm Genius or Scholar pieces with CRIT Rate body, ATK% boots/rope, Lightning sphere. Slot Cosmic Life Sciences Institute once you clear the planar domain.
Equip I Am As You Behold, A Thankless Coronation, or S5 On the Fall of an Aeon. Pair him with Saber’s build guide so both Destruction units share gear logic.
Pre-fight: use Enkidu for 3 Interest. In fight: let allies act to hit 10 Interest, then Skill every turn. Dump Ultimate when King’s Burden and Interest CRIT DMG are up. With Saber, fire Joint Follow-up into her next Ult.
Need more pulls for cones or eidolons? Check the Fate collab F2P guide, then recharge Oneiric Shards on BitTopup.
How to Get More Value from Gilgamesh
Finish the free Level 60 materials that come with the selector before you burn Trailblaze Power on early Calyxes.
Bank 200 warps during the collab window for the free Fate Light Cone selector if you still lack I Am As You Behold.
E1 is the first real power spike: DEF ignore spreads to the team, +60% ATK on King’s Acknowledgement, and +40 Energy on Skill.
E2 turns him into a main DPS candidate (5 Interest on entry/Ult, big Gate of Babylon multipliers).
E6 adds 20% All-Type RES PEN and Golden Rule stacks that juice Enuma Elish. Skip it unless you already own the team.
Keep an eye on Saber Excalibur spam builds when you tune dual-Destruction AV.
FAQ
Is Gilgamesh free in Honkai: Star Rail?
Yes. Fate Contract: Renewal lets you pick Gilgamesh or Archer for free from July 24, 2026 until Version 4.6 ends. You only get one. The unit arrives with Level 60 materials and upgraded Traces.
What is the Gilgamesh best build for MoC?
4pc Genius of Brilliant Stars (or Scholar), Cosmic Life Sciences Institute, CRIT Rate body, ATK% boots and rope, Lightning sphere. Light Cone: I Am As You Behold. Team: Gilgamesh, Saber, Mortenax Blade, Huohuo.
Does Gilgamesh need SPD boots?
No. Interest already adds 10% SPD per stack. ATK% boots win for damage once he reaches Interest Piqued.
Should I pick free Gilgamesh or free Archer?
Pick Gilgamesh if you own or plan to pull Saber and want a dual DPS shell. Pick Archer if you already invested in Hunt / Quantum teams or skipped Saber. See the Fate collab F2P MoC guide for Archer-side context.
Is I Am As You Behold worth pulling?
For a Saber + Gil account, yes. It leads Light Cone damage charts and gifts team CRIT DMG. If you are F2P, S5 On the Fall of an Aeon stays close enough for clears.
Conclusion
The Gilgamesh best build is simple on paper: Genius or Scholar, Cosmic planar, CRIT Rate to cap, ATK% everywhere else, then park him next to Saber, Mortenax Blade, and Huohuo. Bookmark this page for relic and team updates after each patch. When you need Oneiric Shards for his cone or eidolons, top up Honkai: Star Rail on BitTopup.
