He’s the guy everyone loves to hate, or maybe just hates to love. Gilgamesh. The "King of Heroes." If you’ve spent more than five minutes in the Fate/Grand Order community, you know the deal. He’s the gold-armored egomaniac who calls everyone "zasshu" (mongrel) and acts like he owns the place.
Which, honestly, he kind of does.
But there is a massive disconnect between the Gilgamesh we see in the original Fate/stay night—where he’s basically a sociopathic golden lawn ornament—and the version we get in Gilgamesh Fate Grand Order. If you only know him from the anime, you’re missing about 70% of what makes him the most fascinating, and arguably the most useful, character in the entire franchise.
The Three Faces of the King
In FGO, Gilgamesh isn't just one guy. Depending on when you summon him, you're getting a completely different vibe. It’s not just a wardrobe change; it’s a whole different stage of his life.
- The Archer (The Peak): This is the Gilgamesh at the zenith of his power. He’s arrogant, he’s flashy, and he has zero chill. He’s summoned in his prime, right after his journey for immortality. He knows everything, has everything, and looks down on almost everyone.
- The Caster (The Wise King): If you played through the Babylonia singularity, you know this Gil. He’s exhausted. He’s overworked. He’s literally ruling Uruk while a literal apocalypse is knocking on the door. This is the Gilgamesh who returned from his failed quest for immortality, realized he didn't need it, and decided to actually be a good king. He’s far more reasonable, though still a bit of a jerk.
- Kid Gil (The... Polite One?): This is Gilgamesh before he became a tyrant. He’s actually nice. It’s deeply unsettling if you’re used to the older versions. He uses the Gate of Babylon, but he does it with a smile and a "please."
Why He’s Still the King of the Meta
Let’s talk gameplay. It’s 2026, and the FGO power creep is real. New Servants come out with paragraphs of skill descriptions that look like legal contracts. Yet, the OG Gilgamesh (Archer) is still sitting at the top of the pile.
Why? Because of Enuma Elish.
His Noble Phantasm has a specific "Weak to Enuma Elish" trait. Basically, it deals massive extra damage to almost every Servant in the game. It doesn’t matter if they’re a Saber, a Lancer, or some weird extra class; if they have the "Servant" trait, Gilgamesh is going to hit them like a freight train. There are only a handful of exceptions—mostly "Star" attribute Servants like Romulus or Drake—who don't take the extra hit.
Breaking Down the Kit
His skills are simple, but they work.
- Charisma A+: A straight-up attack buff for the whole team. It’s basic, but it’s high-rank and has great uptime.
- Golden Rule A: He gains NP gauge faster. This is how he spams that planet-splitting sword.
- Collector EX: This is the big one. It sucks up critical stars like a vacuum and, after his Rank Up quest, gives him a 30% flat NP charge.
He’s a self-sufficient engine of destruction. You don't need a PhD in team building to make him work. Stick him with a Double Koyanskaya or an Oberon, and he will clear waves like he’s taking out the trash.
The Lore Gap: Is He Actually Evil?
People always ask if Gilgamesh is a "bad guy." In Fate/stay night, he wanted to prune humanity because he thought modern people were "worthless." In FGO, he’s literally the guy holding the line to save humanity.
The difference is the perspective.
To Gilgamesh, humanity is his collection. He loves humanity the way a gardener loves a garden. If the garden is full of weeds (people just existing without purpose), he wants to pull them out. But if the garden is being threatened by an external force (like the Crypters or the Beasts), he will defend it with everything he has.
In the Babylonia singularity, we see him at his most "human." He works himself to death—literally—to ensure his people have a future. He doesn't do it out of some altruistic "hero" complex. He does it because he is the King, and the King does not let his kingdom fall.
Dealing with the Arrogance Handicap
One thing the lore constantly mentions is that Gilgamesh loses because he’s a jobber. He doesn't take people seriously. If he actually used his full power from the start of every fight, the story would be five minutes long.
He has a Noble Phantasm for everything. Need to freeze time? He’s got it. Need a shield that can block a nuclear blast? It’s in the treasury. He has the prototypes of every legend. But because he thinks you’re a "mongrel," he’ll just throw a few random swords at you instead of pulling out the world-ending EA.
This is why he’s a better ally in FGO than a villain. When he’s on your side, his arrogance becomes a shield. He knows he's the best, so he acts like it.
How to Actually Use Him in 2026
If you’ve just pulled him or you’re looking to dust him off, stop treating him like a generic Archer.
First, finish his Interludes and Rank Up quests. This is non-negotiable. Without them, his NP damage is "fine." With them, it becomes "illegal."
Second, give him the right Craft Essence. Black Grail is the gold standard if you can handle the HP drain. If not, anything that boosts Buster Performance or NP Damage works.
Third, don't be afraid to use his Caster version. Gilgamesh (Caster) is one of the best Arts supports for mid-game players. He generates a ridiculous amount of stars and buffs the party’s Arts effectiveness. He’s the "budget" support that actually feels premium.
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What to Do Next
- Check your Interlude tab: If you haven't done "The Star of Creation that Split Heaven and Earth," go do it now. It’s a massive damage boost you’re leaving on the table.
- Level his third skill first: The NP charge on Treasury of Babylon (the upgraded Collector EX) is his most important utility for modern farming.
- Watch the Babylonia Anime: If you haven't seen it, it completely recontextualizes why people love this character despite his "stay night" antics.
- Save your Grails: If you’re going to Grail an Archer, he is the safest investment in the game because his "Anti-Servant" niche will never go out of style.
He’s a complex, annoying, brilliant, and overpowered mess. That’s why we roll for him. That’s why he’s the King. Just don’t let him hear you calling him a "support" or he might actually use EA on your account.