Look, we all know Gilgamesh. He’s the golden boy of the Fate franchise. Usually, he shows up, calls everyone a "mongrel," fires off a few dozen Noble Phantasms from a ripples-in-the-air portal, and then either wins effortlessly or loses because he’s too arrogant to try. It’s a predictable cycle. But Fate Strange Fake Gilgamesh is different. Ryohgo Narita—the madman behind Durarara!! and Baccano!—did something weird with him. He actually made Gilgamesh feel like a character with stakes again.
This isn’t the hollowed-out, cynical Archer from the Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works route. It’s also not quite the "wise king" Casgil we see in the Babylonian Singularity. This version of the King of Heroes is something else entirely. He’s trapped in a fake Holy Grail War in Snowfield, Nevada, and for the first time in a decade of Type-Moon content, he actually looks like he's having a blast. Or at least, as much fun as a demi-god can have when the world is breaking around him.
The Enkidu Factor: Why This Version Hits Different
The biggest reason Fate Strange Fake Gilgamesh stands out is the immediate presence of Enkidu. In most Fate stories, Enkidu is a memory. A tragic flashback. A reason for Gilgamesh to be grumpy. Here? They’re both summoned within minutes of each other.
The moment they realize they’re both in Snowfield, the power scaling goes out the window. They don't exchange pleasantries. They don't have a tactical discussion. They just start nuking the desert. It’s a level of "bromance" that involves tectonic-plate-shifting levels of violence.
A New Kind of Power Creep
Honestly, the scale is ridiculous. When Gilgamesh opens the Gate of Babylon in this series, it’s described with a terrifying weight. We’re talking about thousands of Noble Phantasms active at once. But because Enkidu is there—using the Breath of the Planet to match him blow for blow—Gilgamesh doesn't have to hold back. He’s not being a "jobber." He’s operating at peak capacity.
You see, Gilgamesh is usually his own worst enemy. His ego is a literal nerf to his abilities. In Fate/Zero, he's bored. In Stay Night, he's condescending. In Snowfield, he’s actually motivated. When he sees his old friend, he uses Enuma Elish almost immediately. That’s huge. It sets the tone for the entire False Holy Grail War: the rules are gone, and the gods are playing for keeps.
Tine Chelc: The Master Who Actually Works
We need to talk about Tine Chelc. Most of Gilgamesh’s masters are either victims (Tokiomi Tohsaka) or absolute psychopaths (Kotomine Kirei). Tine is a young girl from a tribe of indigenous people trying to take back their land from the mages who built Snowfield. She’s serious, she’s capable, and surprisingly, Gilgamesh respects her.
He doesn’t treat her like a tool. Well, okay, he treats everyone like a tool to some extent, but there’s a genuine mentorship happening. He sees her pride. He sees her connection to the land. It’s a side of Gilgamesh that feels more "human," even if he’d hate that word. He gives her advice that isn't just "be more arrogant." He actually teaches her how to carry herself as a leader.
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It’s a weirdly wholesome dynamic for a guy who usually spends his time trying to purge the world of "excess" humans.
The False War vs. The Real Threat
The whole premise of Fate/strange Fake is that the ritual is a sham. It’s a "False" Holy Grail War meant to distract from a "True" one. Because of this, the classes are messed up. There are extra servants. There’s a Berserker who is basically just a sentient idea. There’s a "Watchman" class.
In this chaotic mess, Fate Strange Fake Gilgamesh acts as a sort of pillar. While other mages are freaking out about the technicalities of the ritual, Gilgamesh is just looking for a worthy opponent. But then things get complicated.
He gets hit by a curse.
Ishtar shows up.
Yes, that Ishtar. The goddess who ruined his life in the Epic of Gilgamesh. In this story, she’s possessing a homunculus and bringing Gugalanna—the Bull of Heaven—along for the ride. This is where we see Gilgamesh actually lose his cool. He hates her. It’s not the playful rivalry you see in Fate/Grand Order or the comedic bickering of the Babylonia anime. It’s visceral, ancient hatred.
The Humbaba Complication
Then there's the presence of "Humbaba" (or at least, a being connected to it). For those who aren't mythology nerds, Humbaba was the monster Gilgamesh and Enkidu killed in the Cedar Forest. In Strange Fake, the concept of Humbaba is tied to the Berserker class servant, and it acts as a massive trauma trigger for both Gilgamesh and Enkidu.
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It’s one of the few times we see the King of Heroes genuinely unsettled. It adds layers. He’s not just an invincible gold statue; he’s a man haunted by the things he killed and the friend he lost. Narita uses these mythological deep cuts to ground the character in a way other writers often miss.
Why People Get the Power Scaling Wrong
If you go on any anime forum, you’ll see endless debates about whether the Fate Strange Fake Gilgamesh is stronger than his other versions.
The answer? He’s the same, but the environment is different.
In Fate/stay night, the world is relatively stable. The Grail War is a secret ritual. In Snowfield, the "Mystery" of magecraft is being broadcast to the world. The atmosphere is thick with mana because of the Ley Lines being manipulated. This allows Gilgamesh to manifest more of his treasury without instantly draining his Master.
- Ea (The Sword of Rupture): He uses it more freely here because the opponents (like Enkidu or Alcides) can actually take it.
- The Gate of Babylon: It’s not just swords anymore. He pulls out shields that can stop nuclear-level blasts and conceptual tools we’ve never seen.
- The Armor: Usually, he’s just wearing that gold plate for fashion. Here, it’s actually getting dented.
He’s facing Alcides—a corrupted version of Heracles who has lost his divinity and gained a dozen other Noble Phantasms. This is the ultimate "unstoppable force vs. immovable object" scenario. If you want to see Gilgamesh actually fight someone who isn't intimidated by him, this is the series.
Misconceptions About His "Nerf"
Mid-way through the light novels, Gilgamesh gets sidelined. Some fans hated this. They felt like the strongest character was being "nerfed" for plot reasons.
But if you look at the writing, it’s necessary. You can’t have Gilgamesh at full power running around a city for five volumes, or the story ends in twenty pages. By removing him from the board temporarily through a curse/poisoning subplot involving Ishtar, Narita raises the tension. It makes you realize how much the other characters rely on the fact that "the gold guy is over there being a nuke."
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When he's gone, the power vacuum is terrifying. It forces Tine to grow up. It forces Enkidu to find a new purpose. It’s actually good storytelling, even if it’s frustrating for Gilgamesh stans.
How to Experience the Story
If you’re trying to keep up with Fate Strange Fake Gilgamesh, you have a few options.
- The Light Novels: This is the source. Ryohgo Narita’s prose is fast, chaotic, and dense with lore. If you want the full picture of Gilgamesh’s internal monologue, read these.
- The Manga: The art by Shizuki Morii is incredible. It captures the sheer scale of the Gilgamesh vs. Enkidu fight in a way words can't quite manage.
- The "Whispers of Dawn" Special: A high-budget anime special that covers the beginning of the war. Seeing the Gate of Babylon animated with modern Ufotable-tier (actually A-1 Pictures, but very high quality) effects is a religious experience for Fate fans.
- The Upcoming TV Series: A full adaptation is in the works. This is where the hype is really going to explode.
What This Means for the Fate Franchise
This version of Gilgamesh is a bridge. He connects the arrogant antagonist of the early 2000s with the more nuanced "King" character of the 2010s. He’s a reminder that Type-Moon characters aren't static. They change based on who is summoning them and what the world needs from them.
In Strange Fake, the world needs a King who can stand against the literal end of the world. Gilgamesh is happy to oblige, as long as he gets to look good doing it.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're diving into this specific corner of the Nasuverse, here's how to get the most out of it:
- Brush up on the Epic of Gilgamesh: Specifically the parts about Humbaba and Ishtar's rejection. Narita references these constantly.
- Watch the "Whispers of Dawn" OVA first: It’s the easiest entry point and perfectly captures the "vibe" of this version of the character.
- Follow the Light Novel translations: The story is still ongoing (as of the most recent updates), and the complexity only ramps up.
- Don't ignore the Master: Tine Chelc is half the reason Gilgamesh is interesting here. Pay attention to how her presence changes his decision-making compared to how he acted with Tokiomi or Kirei.
The King of Heroes isn't just a meme or a "mongrel"-spouting machine anymore. Through the lens of the Snowfield incident, he’s a complex, terrifying, and strangely noble figure who reminds us why he was the first Hero of Humanity in the first place.