Honkai: Star Rail 4.4 Fate Collab Free Pick Guide – Gilgamesh or Archer? Who Should You Choose?

Honkai: Star Rail is stepping into Version 4.4, launching the second phase of its highly anticipated Fate/stay night crossover. Players can claim one free limited 5-star character between Gilgamesh and Archer via the event. Additionally, reaching 200 pulls on the crossover banners unlocks a signature Light Cone of your choice. This guide breaks down all factors to help you make the optimal pick based on your roster, pull resources and team building goals.

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▍General Pick Rule

Your decision should start with two core points: personal preference and existing lineup. Generally speaking:

If you own Sparkle, claim Archer and save pulls for Rin Tohsaka.

If you do not have Sparkle, claim Gilgamesh and plan summons for Saber.

Synergy & Pull Planning

Your pull roadmap also carries heavy weight. The newly released Fate units serve as dedicated partners for the earlier collab characters. While Archer can operate decently without Rin, Gilgamesh is almost mandatory to unlock Saber’s full potential; meanwhile, Gilgamesh struggles to perform to his peak alone. Ultimately you need to decide whether you only want one free unit, or aim to complete paired synergistic teams.

• Accounts with Saber already: Prioritize Gilgamesh to form her core team.
• Accounts with Archer already: Save pulls to obtain Rin Tohsaka as his exclusive support.

Elemental Coverage Recommendation

Before locking in your choice, evaluate your elemental coverage thoroughly.

• Short of a reliable Quantum Main DPS: Go for Archer + Rin lineup.
• Missing Lightning / Wind damage options: Saber paired with Gilgamesh will fill this gap.

It is worth noting Gilgamesh shows decent flexibility outside Saber-focused teams. Multiple gameplay showcases confirm he fits well within Elation comps, Blade & Eshveil squads and teams built around Aglaea. If you lack supports for Archer or have no intention to summon Saber, Gilgamesh is a viable candidate to slot into your existing rosters.

▍Reasons to Pick Archer

1. Lock key Eidolon breakpoints (E1 / E2)✅

Archer paired with Sparkle remains competitive after a full year as a main DPS. His E1 and E2 deliver massive power spikes, with E1 being a transformative breakpoint. If you already main Archer and aim to hit these critical eidolon thresholds, select him without hesitation. Rotation smoothness improves drastically, and he becomes far more capable for high-difficulty content such as Paradox Tribunal, bringing extremely high cost efficiency.

2. Plan to summon Rin Tohsaka✅

Rin is designed exclusively as Archer’s dedicated teammate. She supplies steady Skill Points and powerful AoE capabilities. If you intend to pull Rin and want to avoid letting her sit unused on your roster, claiming free Archer completes the core duo. This team maintains stable performance across nearly all game modes, including Pure Fiction.

▍Reasons to Pick Gilgamesh

1. New players or those who skipped Phase 1 Collab✅

If you start from zero on both collab units, Gilgamesh is usually the better option. Archer heavily relies on Sparkle, a sought-after limited Harmony support. Even with a free E0 Archer, his service lifespan will be limited without proper teammates. As the newer collab DPS, Gilgamesh features stronger base scaling, a more flexible kit and superior future-proofing. Simply put, prioritize newer units over ageing damage dealers.

2. Already own Saber or intend to build her✅

Saber performs poorly at low investment without dedicated synergies and favourable meta conditions. She desperately needs Gilgamesh to unlock her full strength. A free Gilgamesh immediately makes Saber playable again. You can further plan summons and aim for his signature Light Cone through the 200-pull milestone, easily forming a solid 0+1 core team without excessive spending.

3. Veteran players who own Archer but do not use him✅

If Archer is locked away unused in your character list, choose Gilgamesh purely to expand your collection. Unused Eidolons hold zero practical value. Even if Archer’s E1 drastically upgrades his kit, it means nothing if you never deploy him. Gilgamesh may find opportunities within various teams in future patches.

▍Summary

Pick your favourite if aesthetics come first. Meta players with Sparkle should go Archer for key Eidolons or to pair with Rin; choose Gilgamesh without Sparkle or if you own Saber for broader team utility. Those with unused Archer should grab Gilgamesh, and F2Ps should commit to only one Fate team instead of splitting resources.

👉 Read more: Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.5 Banner Leaks: Robin SP (Robin Summeretto) & Aventurine SP (Aventurine Waveflair)

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