The Short Answer
Version 4.4's headline is not a normal banner, it is a crossover. Phase 2 of the patch, opening July 24, brings the Fate/stay night collaboration to Honkai: Star Rail, and the reason the whole community is banking Stellar Jade for it comes down to one word: free. Gilgamesh, a 5-star Lightning Destruction unit, is handed to every player who takes part, no gacha required. Alongside him, Rin Tohsaka arrives as a premium 5-star pull on the Quantum Erudition path, and she is the piece that turns Gilgamesh from a nice freebie into one of the best AoE cores in the game. If you only save for one thing in 4.4, this is it: the free unit costs you nothing, and the paid unit is the one that unlocks his ceiling.
For the full version calendar and Phase 1 details, see our 4.4 release-date breakdown. This piece is about the collab event itself.
Getting Gilgamesh Is Free, But You Have To Show Up
The most important thing to understand: Gilgamesh is a guaranteed, no-pull unit, but "free" in a live-service game always means "free if you participate." Based on how the collab is structured, claiming him is tied to the crossover event rather than dropped straight into your inbox. That means logging in during the Phase 2 window, playing through the collab event content, and claiming him from the event rewards track.
The practical advice is simple: do not miss the event window. Collab units are notoriously unlikely to return. A free 5-star that may never be re-run is exactly the kind of reward you build your play schedule around for a couple of weeks. Set a reminder for July 24, and do not let the event lapse.
Who Gilgamesh Is on the Battlefield
Gilgamesh lands as a Lightning Destruction damage dealer, which slots him into the AoE and multi-target damage niche. Destruction units in Star Rail are built to hit hard across a spread of enemies while carrying enough bulk to survive being in the thick of it, and that profile is exactly why the free-unit framing is so generous. This is not a token collab freebie with a weak kit. He is designed to be a genuine team anchor.
The catch, and there is always a catch, is that a Destruction carry lives and dies by the supports feeding him. On his own he is good. Built into the right AoE core, he is one of the best value damage dealers a free-to-play account can own. We break down his best Light Cones, Relics, and stat priorities in the dedicated Gilgamesh build guide.
Rin Tohsaka: The Unit That Unlocks Him
Rin Tohsaka is the premium half of the collab, a 5-star Quantum Erudition arcanist. Erudition is Star Rail's AoE-specialist path, purpose-built to clear whole waves of enemies at once, and pairing a strong Erudition carry with a strong Destruction carry gives you a team that answers both bursty single-target fights and crowded, add-heavy stages.
The reason Rin is described as the unit that "turns Gilgamesh into one of the best AoE cores in the game" is that a double-carry AoE setup, one Destruction anchor plus one Erudition wave-clearer, covers the exact content where Star Rail's endgame modes throw the most enemies at you. If you have been struggling to full-clear the add-heavy stages of Pure Fiction, this is the collab that hands you a purpose-built answer.
Should You Pull for Rin?
Here is the honest framing:
- If you want the strongest possible version of the collab team, pull Rin. She is the multiplier on the free unit, and a dedicated Erudition carry is a role many rosters are genuinely missing.
- If you are saving for a specific upcoming banner, you can skip her and still win. Gilgamesh is free regardless of what you pull, so even zero-spend players walk away with the crossover's best value. Rin is an upgrade, not a requirement.
- If you are a newer account, prioritize the free unit and your supports first. A carry is only as good as the buffers and sustain behind him. Owning Gilgamesh plus a solid support core will do more for your account than a second carry you cannot fully build.
Decide your Stellar Jade ceiling before Phase 2 opens, and remember that the guaranteed free unit is the part you cannot lose.
What Else the Collab Event Brings
Crossover events in Star Rail are more than a banner. Expect the Fate/stay night collab to bring its own event story, themed stages, and a rewards track that hands out the usual celebration currency, upgrade materials, and collab-flavored cosmetics on top of Gilgamesh himself. These events are typically front-loaded with story and back-loaded with a grind-friendly farming stretch, so you can clear the narrative early and mop up the material rewards at your own pace before the window closes.
Get Ready Before July 24
You have until Phase 2 to prepare, so use the time:
- Bank your Stellar Jade. If you want Rin, hold your currency through Phase 1 rather than spending it on the Himeko Nova banner.
- Prep your supports. A Destruction and Erudition double-carry team wants strong Harmony buffers and a reliable sustain. Level and gear those now so Gilgamesh and Rin have a team to walk into.
- Farm relic domains ahead of time. The moment you claim Gilgamesh, you will want to gear him. Stockpiling the right relic sets during Phase 1 means you can slot him straight into your endgame team. Our relics and Light Cones guide covers what to farm.
- Know your roster. If you are unsure who rounds out the team, our best characters guide maps the supports and sustains that make an AoE core sing.
The Bottom Line
The Fate/stay night collab is the rare live-service event where the smart move is easy to state: show up, claim the free 5-star, and decide calmly whether the premium unit fits your account. Gilgamesh is a real carry handed to everyone who plays the event, Rin Tohsaka is the multiplier for players who want the ceiling, and the only true mistake is letting the Phase 2 window pass without claiming what is free. Circle July 24, save your Jade, and have your supports ready.
