He doesn't walk; he looms. If you’ve spent any significant time in the salt-mines of Fate/Grand Order, you know that sound. That deep, rhythmic tolling of a bell. It’s the sound of your quartz disappearing, sure, but in-game, it signifies the arrival of the First Hassan. Most players just call him Fate GO King Hassan, the Grand Assassin who basically decided that being "sneaky" was for amateurs and that true assassination is just making sure nobody is left alive to report the crime.
Honestly, he’s an anomaly. In a game where power creep usually renders older units obsolete within eighteen months, this armored behemoth has stayed relevant since his debut in the Babylonian chapter. He’s not just a stat stick. He represents a very specific, very aggressive design philosophy that Type-Moon rarely revisits.
The Absolute Unit of the Assassin Class
Usually, Assassins in FGO are kind of... flimsy? They rely on Quick chains, star generation, and dodging. They’re scalps, not hammers. Then you look at Fate GO King Hassan. He has a triple Buster deck. That’s insane for an Assassin. He plays more like a Berserker who forgot to lose his mind, offering a level of survivability that puts most tanks to shame.
The lore backs this up, too. As the founder of the Hashshashin, he holds the title of the "Old Man of the Mountain." In the Seventh Singularity: Babylonia, he literally forced the concept of death onto Tiamat, an primordial deity who theoretically couldn't die. You don't get much more metal than that.
His kit is built around "The Evening Bell." In-game, this is represented by his Azrael Noble Phantasm. It has a high chance of Instant Death. Now, if you’ve played against bosses, you know Instant Death is usually useless because boss resistance is sky-high. But with King Hassan, it’s different. It’s about the "pressure." Even when the RNG doesn't delete a foe instantly, the raw Buster damage he puts out is often enough to finish the job anyway.
Why the Triple Buster Deck Changes Everything
Most Assassins struggle to deal raw damage without crits. King Hassan just hits things. Hard. By having three Buster cards, he can lead Buster Brave Chains constantly. If you pair him with someone like Merlin or Koyanskaya of the Light, his damage ceiling goes through the roof.
✨ Don't miss: Your Network Setting are Blocking Party Chat: How to Actually Fix It
It’s a weird playstyle. You aren't fishing for Noble Phantasm loops as much as you are just grinding the enemy into dust with face cards. He’s the guy you bring when the boss has some annoying gimmick that requires you to stay alive for twenty turns, because his Protection of the Faith A+++ skill gives him massive debuff resistance and a beefy heal. He's hard to kill. Like, really hard.
Surviving the Gacha: Is He Still Worth Your Quartz?
Look, I’ll be real with you. FGO in 2026 is a different beast than it was in 2017. We have supports now that make the game feel like a completely different genre. Does Fate GO King Hassan still hold up when you have units like Tehuitztli or high-NP level Space Ishtar running around?
Yes, but for a specific reason: Soloing.
There is a subculture of FGO players who love "solo clears." They intentionally let their front line die just to watch one unit dismantle a CQ (Challenge Quest). King Hassan is the king of this niche. His At the Boundary passive makes him immune to Instant Death themselves and gives him a 5% chance to kill on any normal attack. Imagine that. You’re just doing a regular Buster swing and the enemy disappears. It’s rare, but when it happens, it’s glorious.
He’s also one of the few Assassins who doesn't feel like a wet noodle against non-Rider enemies. Because his base attack is so high and his buffs are so potent, he can muscle through neutral matchups.
🔗 Read more: Wordle August 19th: Why This Puzzle Still Trips People Up
The Skill Breakdown (The Non-Corporate Version)
- Battle Continuation EX: This isn't your standard "I'll survive with 1 HP" skill. It’s a 5-turn guts that grants a huge chunk of HP back. It buys him the time he needs to let his other cooldowns reset.
- Protection of the Faith A+++: This is his bread and butter. It boosts his defense for 1 turn and his debuff resistance for 3. If a boss likes to spam stuns or charms, King Hassan basically just laughs at them.
- Evening Bell EX: This lowers the enemy's Instant Death resistance and boosts King Hassan's Buster performance. You pop this right before an NP. Simple. Effective. Deadly.
Common Misconceptions About the First Hassan
A lot of people think he’s a "Newbie Trap" because of the Instant Death mechanic. They see "Chance to kill" and think they can cheese the entire game. You can’t. Don't try to use him to bypass the HP bars of break-bar bosses; it doesn't work like that. The Instant Death proc happens after the damage is dealt, or it gets resisted by high-tier enemies.
You play him for the Buster crunch, not the gimmick.
Another mistake is treated him like a support. He offers nothing to the team. Zero. He’s selfish. He wants all the stars, all the buffs, and all the screen time. If you aren't prepared to build a team that caters to his "get out of my way" attitude, he’s going to feel clunky.
The Lore Factor: Why Fans Love Him
Beyond the gameplay, Fate GO King Hassan is a fan favorite because of his sheer presence. In the anime adaptation of Babylonia, his entrance is one of the most hyped moments in the franchise. He’s the arbiter. He’s the one who judges the other Hassans.
There's a dignity to him. He doesn't talk much, but when he does, it’s usually something about the "flashing of the blade" or the "toll of the bell." He’s a religious executioner who takes no pleasure in his work but performs it with absolute certainty. That resonates with people. Plus, the character design by Ryota-H is arguably some of the best art in the entire game. The cape, the shield, the skull mask—it's iconic.
💡 You might also like: Wordle Answers July 29: Why Today’s Word Is Giving Everyone a Headache
How to Maximize King Hassan in the Current Meta
If you’re lucky enough to have him in your Chaldea, don't just leave him at level 90. He is a prime candidate for Grails. Every extra bit of attack you give him scales incredibly well with his Buster buffs.
For Craft Essences (CEs), you want something that leans into his strengths. Aerial Drive is a classic choice because it boosts Buster damage and NP strength while giving him a 50% starting charge. If you’re going for a solo run, Volume Hydragyrum (the Kayneth CE) gives him invincibility hits that stack with his Guts, making him virtually immortal for the first few turns.
Tactical Synergy
- Merlin: The classic pairing. Hero Creation EX turns King Hassan into a nuclear weapon.
- Koyanskaya of the Light: She reduces his skill cooldowns, allowing him to cycle his Defense buffs and Guts much faster. This is the "modern" way to play him.
- Oberon: Use him for that final turn burst. If you need a boss dead now, Oberon’s End of the Dream is the way to go.
The game has changed a lot, but the fundamentals of Fate GO King Hassan remain the same. He is the ultimate "I don't want to deal with your mechanics" button. He doesn't care about your debuffs. He doesn't care about your class advantage (unless you're a Caster, then maybe be careful). He just wants to ring the bell.
Actionable Steps for Your King Hassan
To get the most out of the First Hassan, focus on these specific upgrades immediately:
- Prioritize Skill 2 (Protection of the Faith): The survivability increase is more important than the damage boost from Skill 3 in long fights. Get this to Level 10 first.
- Unlock Mana Loading: His biggest weakness is his NP gain. Getting that 20% starting charge from Append Skill 2 is non-negotiable for high-level play.
- Command Codes: Equip him with codes that increase Buster star weight or provide minor heals. Since he spends so much time on the field alone, these small buffs accumulate over time.
- Grail to 100: If you use him regularly, the stat jump from 90 to 100 is significant for his Buster-centric playstyle. The extra HP also makes his Battle Continuation even more annoying for enemies to chew through.
Stop trying to play him like a stealthy Assassin. Lean into the heavy armor, embrace the Buster cards, and let the bell toll.