Honkai: Star Rail Gilgamesh Build Guide: Best Light Cones, Relics, Materials, and Teams

Hello, Trailblazers!

Gilgamesh is a 5★ Lightning character following the Path of Destruction in Honkai: Star Rail. As one of the featured characters in the Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] collaboration, he combines powerful AoE damage, massive teamwide buffs, and a unique combat mechanic centered on Interest.

His strongest synergy is with Saber, allowing the two characters to unleash devastating Joint Follow-Up ATKs while significantly improving Saber's Ultimate damage and Energy economy.

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▍Gilgamesh Character Overview

Gilgamesh is a 5★ Lightning character on the Path of Destruction. Unlike a conventional main DPS, he combines personal damage with powerful team support. His abilities provide ATK and CRIT DMG buffs, while his high Energy requirements and interactions with allies' Ultimates shape his combat rotation.

Gilgamesh is especially valuable alongside Saber. Their unique Joint Follow-Up ATK deals substantial damage to all enemies, restores 120 Energy to Saber, and greatly increases the damage of her next Ultimate. Outside this pairing, Gilgamesh can also support allies with high Max Energy, making him a flexible option for specialized teams.

Gilgamesh's greatest strength is his combination of personal damage and teamwide offensive support. However, his performance depends on how frequently allies act and use their Ultimates. Properly managing his Interest stacks, Energy, and turn order is essential to maximizing his potential.

▍Gilgamesh Skill Breakdown

Gilgamesh's gameplay revolves around Interest, which increases his SPD and eventually unlocks his Skill. He also gains Energy and Ultimate DMG bonuses from allies' Ultimates. When Saber is on the team, their shared attack counter unlocks an additional layer of damage and Energy generation.

Basic ATK — Halfhearted Blow

Gilgamesh deals Lightning DMG to one designated enemy based on his ATK.

At the beginning of combat, Gilgamesh initially uses his Basic ATK automatically on his turn. Once his Interest reaches 10 for the first time, he enters the Interest Piqued! state and can only use his Skill for the rest of the battle.

As a result, Basic ATK is not a major part of his long-term damage rotation. His main damage comes from his Skill, Ultimate, and Joint Follow-Up ATK with Saber.

Skill — Gate of Babylon

Gate of Babylon deals Lightning DMG to one designated enemy and adjacent targets. It also grants Gilgamesh King's Acknowledgement, allowing him to ignore 30% of the target's DEF for three turns.

The Skill does not consume Skill Points, making Gilgamesh completely Skill Point-neutral. This is particularly useful in teams with Skill Point-intensive characters such as Saber.

Once Gilgamesh enters the Interest Piqued! state, using his Skill consumes his accumulated Interest. Because Interest also increases his SPD, the timing of his Skill can influence his subsequent turn order.

Ultimate — Enuma Elish

Gilgamesh's Ultimate deals Lightning DMG to all enemies, followed by multiple additional damage instances that bounce between random targets.

Its high damage multipliers make it a powerful source of AoE damage, particularly when only one enemy remains. The Ultimate also deals substantial Toughness DMG, helping the team break enemy weaknesses.

However, Enuma Elish has an exceptionally high Energy cost of 360. Gilgamesh therefore benefits from teammates who frequently use their Ultimates, as well as Energy-related support that helps him charge his next Ultimate.

▍Gilgamesh Trace Priority

Gilgamesh's Talent is the highest priority because it governs his Interest accumulation, SPD increases, and Ultimate-related effects. His Ultimate comes next, followed by his Skill and Basic ATK.

For Major Traces, prioritize Hegemon's Strife > Epic's Opening > Hero's Hauteur.

Hegemon's Strife is particularly important because it increases all allies' ATK and CRIT DMG. Characters with high Max Energy receive even greater bonuses, making Saber an especially strong partner.

Epic's Opening improves Gilgamesh's Interest generation and Energy economy whenever allies use their Ultimates. Hero's Hauteur further increases his CRIT DMG as he accumulates Interest.

▍Gilgamesh's Eidolons

Gilgamesh already provides valuable support and damage at E0. His early Eidolons are useful upgrades, but they are not required to unlock his core synergy with Saber.

Pull recommendation: E0 is a reasonable stopping point for players who want Gilgamesh primarily as Saber's partner. E1 is his most attractive early upgrade because it extends his DEF-ignore effect to teammates and improves his own ATK and Energy economy.

E2 is more appealing if you want to invest further in his personal damage. E6 provides a substantial increase to both his Ultimate and the team's offensive performance, but it requires a much larger investment.

▍Gilgamesh's Light Cones

Signature Light Cone — I Am As You Behold

I Am As You Behold is Gilgamesh's best overall Light Cone.

It provides ATK, Energy Regeneration Rate, and a substantial Ultimate DMG Bonus. It also increases the team's CRIT DMG, making it especially valuable in compositions that include multiple damage dealers.

Its effects fit Gilgamesh's kit particularly well because his Ultimate is a major source of personal damage, while his teamwide buffs allow other characters to benefit from the additional CRIT DMG.

For players who want to maximize both Gilgamesh's damage and his team's overall performance, this is the preferred option.

Premium Alternative — A Thankless Coronation

A Thankless Coronation is Saber's signature Light Cone and a competitive alternative for Gilgamesh.

It provides substantial ATK and CRIT DMG, while restoring a fixed amount of Energy whenever the wearer uses their Ultimate. This Energy recovery is useful because Gilgamesh's Ultimate has a very high Energy cost.

Although it is not specifically designed for Gilgamesh, its offensive stats and Energy-related effect make it a strong alternative if you already own it.

Best Free-to-Play Option — On the Fall of an Aeon

On the Fall of an Aeon is one of Gilgamesh's best accessible options.

Available through Herta's Store, this Light Cone increases ATK as the wearer attacks. Its additional DMG bonus after inflicting Weakness Break also works well with Gilgamesh's substantial Toughness DMG.

For players who want to save resources for characters or other Light Cones, this is a reliable free-to-play choice.

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▍Gilgamesh's Relics

Best Relic Set — Scholar Lost in Erudition

Scholar Lost in Erudition is a strong general-purpose Relic set for Gilgamesh.

Its effects improve his offensive performance by enhancing his Skill and Ultimate DMG, matching the abilities that contribute most to his personal damage.

Since Gilgamesh's rotation focuses on his Skill and Ultimate rather than repeated Basic ATKs, this set provides a straightforward way to strengthen his primary damage sources.

Alternative Relic Set — Genius of Brilliant Stars

Genius of Brilliant Stars is a strong alternative, particularly against enemies with Quantum Weakness.

Its DEF-ignore effects can complement the DEF-ignore effect from Gilgamesh's Skill, allowing him to deal more damage against enemies with high DEF.

However, DEF-ignore and DEF reduction can reach diminishing returns when combined with other sources. If your team already provides substantial DEF reduction, compare your available Relic substats before committing to this set.

Alternative Relic Set — The Ashblazing Grand Duke

The Ashblazing Grand Duke can be effective in teams where Gilgamesh frequently triggers his Joint Follow-Up ATK with Saber.

The set's stacking ATK effect works well with the AoE damage of their combined attack. It is particularly worth considering if you have strong pieces from this set already.

However, its effectiveness depends on having Saber in the team or another suitable source of repeated follow-up attacks. For a general-purpose build, Scholar Lost in Erudition is easier to recommend.

Best Planar Ornament — Cosmic Life Sciences Institute

Cosmic Life Sciences Institute is Gilgamesh's recommended Planar Ornament set for personal damage.

It provides a substantial DMG Bonus across his attacks, helping strengthen his Skill, Ultimate, and other damage sources. Because Gilgamesh relies heavily on offensive stats, this set is a straightforward choice for maximizing his personal damage.

Alternative Planar Ornament — City of Converging Stars

City of Converging Stars is a strong alternative when Gilgamesh is paired with Saber.

Their Joint Follow-Up ATK can help activate its offensive benefits, while the set can also provide a teamwide CRIT DMG bonus after an enemy is defeated.

This makes it particularly attractive for players who prioritize the duo's combined performance rather than Gilgamesh's personal damage alone.

Alternative Planar Ornament — Izumo Gensei and Takama Divine Realm

Izumo Gensei and Takama Divine Realm is another option for improving Gilgamesh's damage.

It provides CRIT Rate and additional offensive benefits when its conditions are met. This can help players reach their desired CRIT targets without relying entirely on Relic substats.

▍Gilgamesh Relic Main Stats

Gilgamesh generally prefers an offensive build focused on CRIT and ATK rather than a dedicated SPD build.

His Interest mechanic naturally increases his SPD as the battle progresses. As a result, ATK% feet can be more valuable than SPD feet for maximizing damage, particularly in teams that generate Interest quickly.

Substat Priority

CRIT Rate until the desired in-combat cap > CRIT DMG > ATK% > SPD

Recommended endgame targets include:

• ATK: 3,000–3,500+
• CRIT Rate: Approximately 90–100% in combat
• CRIT DMG: Around 120% before combat buffs
• SPD: Base SPD is generally sufficient for a standard build

Gilgamesh gains substantial CRIT DMG and SPD from his kit, so it is important to account for these bonuses when evaluating Relic stats.

Avoid overinvesting in SPD at the expense of CRIT and ATK. His Interest mechanic already provides large SPD increases, while a balanced offensive build improves the damage of his Skill, Ultimate, and Joint Follow-Up ATKs.

▍Gilgamesh Materials Total

The following materials are required to raise Gilgamesh to Level 80 and fully upgrade his Basic ATK, Skill, Ultimate, Talent, and applicable Trace nodes.

Character Ascension Materials

Trace Materials

Total Credits: Approximately 3,887,800 for character ascension and full Trace upgrades, including the listed character and Trace requirements.

You can prioritize Gilgamesh's Talent, Ultimate, and Skill first if you want to make him combat-ready before completing every upgrade. His Basic ATK is a lower priority because his main damage comes from his enhanced combat state.

▍What Are Gilgamesh's Best Teams?

Gilgamesh performs best in teams that allow him to accumulate Interest quickly and benefit from his high-Energy support mechanics. Saber is his strongest partner because their Joint Follow-Up ATK significantly improves her damage and Energy economy.

Team 1: Gilgamesh + Saber + Mortenax Blade + Huohuo

This is a strong team centered on Gilgamesh and Saber.

Saber is the centerpiece of this composition. Gilgamesh enhances her damage, provides additional Energy, and enables their powerful Joint Follow-Up ATK.

Mortenax Blade can contribute frequent attacks and offensive support, helping Gilgamesh accumulate Interest more quickly. Huohuo is particularly valuable because both Gilgamesh and Saber have high Energy requirements, making her Energy restoration useful for their rotations.

The main challenge is managing turn order and Ultimate timing. Saber's additional actions and Energy gains can change her rotation unexpectedly, so make sure her buffs are active before committing to a major Ultimate.

Team 2: Gilgamesh + Saber + Tribbie + Huohuo

This alternative retains the core Gilgamesh–Saber pairing while using Tribbie as an offensive support.

Tribbie provides additional offensive support, while Huohuo helps the team maintain its Energy economy.

This setup is worth considering if Mortenax Blade is unavailable or needed by another team. It preserves the main synergy between Gilgamesh and Saber while providing a flexible support slot.

Team 3: Gilgamesh + Ashveil + Mortenax Blade + Huohuo

Gilgamesh can also be built around his own damage rather than relying entirely on Saber.

This team focuses on frequent allied actions and Ultimate usage to support Gilgamesh's Interest and Energy generation.

Ashveil provides additional damage, while Mortenax Blade contributes attacks and offensive utility. Huohuo helps the team manage its Energy requirements.

Although Gilgamesh can function as a more damage-focused character, his personal DPS is generally less competitive at E0 than his value in the Saber composition. This lineup is better suited to players who want to experiment with his mechanics or already have the necessary supporting characters.

▍FAQs About Gilgamesh in Honkai: Star Rail

1. What is Gilgamesh's Trace priority?

Prioritize Talent > Ultimate > Skill > Basic ATK. His Talent governs Interest accumulation and important combat mechanics, while his Ultimate is one of his main sources of damage.

2. Is Gilgamesh a main DPS or support?

Gilgamesh is primarily a support-oriented sub-DPS, especially in Saber teams. He can function as a more damage-focused character with additional investment, but his strongest value at E0 comes from his combination of damage and team support.

3. How much Energy does Gilgamesh's Ultimate require?

Enuma Elish requires 360 Energy. Because of this high cost, Gilgamesh benefits from teammates who frequently use their Ultimates and from support abilities that restore Energy.

4. Is Gilgamesh worth getting Eidolons for?

E0 is sufficient to access his core mechanics. E1 is his most attractive early upgrade because it extends his DEF-ignore effect to teammates, increases his ATK, and improves his Energy recovery. E2 further enhances his damage and Interest generation.

▍Conclusion

Gilgamesh is a powerful Lightning character who combines high-impact AoE damage with exceptional team support. His synergy with Saber is the highlight of his kit, allowing them to trigger devastating Joint Follow-Up ATKs while improving Saber's Energy economy and Ultimate damage.

For the best results, prioritize Talent, Ultimate, and Skill upgrades, equip Scholar Lost in Erudition with Cosmic Life Sciences Institute, and build around CRIT and ATK. Careful Energy management and Ultimate timing are essential to unlocking his full potential.

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