You get one free limited 5-star in Version 4.4. You get to choose which. And you cannot change your mind. For a game that usually asks you to earn every five-star with Stellar Jade or luck, that is a rare gift, and it comes wrapped in a decision worth a couple of minutes of thought.
Version 4.4, "In Ravages Does the Whistle Sound," relaunches the Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] collaboration as Part 2. Through the Fate Contract: Renewal event, you can claim either Gilgamesh or Archer for free. The pick is available from the collab's start on July 24 and stays claimable through the end of Version 4.6, and the free unit does not arrive as a bare character: you also receive the materials to raise it to Level 60 and level its Traces, so it is battle-ready the moment you commit.
The One Fact That Decides It for Most Players
Before you weigh kits, check your roster for one name.
When the first Fate crossover ran back in Version 3.4, Archer was given to every Trailblazer for free. A large slice of the player base already owns him. If Archer is already sitting in your account, claiming him again does nothing but add an Eidolon level, while claiming Gilgamesh gives you a brand-new unit and a whole new kit to build.
So the default recommendation is simple:
- Already own Archer (most veterans): take Gilgamesh. A new 5-star beats a single Eidolon on a character you already have.
- Do not own Archer, or returned to the game recently: seriously consider Archer instead, especially if he fills a gap your teams actually have.
That is the whole decision for maybe eighty percent of accounts. The rest comes down to what Gilgamesh does and whether you want to build around him.
What Gilgamesh Actually Brings
Gilgamesh is a 5-star Lightning character on the Path of Destruction, built as a DPS with an interest-stacking mechanic and a high-energy Ultimate that scales off ally actions. In plain terms, he wants a team that keeps taking turns and feeding him resources, and he pays that investment back with a heavy Ultimate.
He also has an obvious best friend. Gilgamesh performs noticeably better with Saber on the team, so if you own or plan to pull Saber, his ceiling climbs. If you have neither and no plans to chase the collab units, his interest mechanic still functions on a standard turn-hungry lineup, but you are leaving some of his identity on the table.
For the full kit, Light Cone options, and relic lines, our Gilgamesh build guide covers where he lands in the current meta.
Do Not Forget the Rest of 4.4
The free 5-star is the sweetener, not the main course. Version 4.4 also brings Himeko - Nova, a Fire Erudition carry whose banner runs the whole patch and who scales hard around Astral Express teammates. If you are spending real Jade this version, she is the headliner to plan for. We break her down fully in the Himeko - Nova build guide, and cover the wider patch in our 4.4 Fate collab event breakdown.
Quick budgeting note: because the free unit costs you nothing but a choice, it does not touch your pull economy at all. Save your Jade for Himeko or a rerun you actually want, claim the free character on the side, and treat it as pure value.
Bottom Line
If you have played since the first Fate crossover, you almost certainly own Archer, and Gilgamesh is the correct claim. If you are newer and Archer never landed in your account, take the unit that fills a real hole in your roster rather than the one with the flashier splash art. Either way, do not leave the free pick unclaimed before Version 4.6 closes, and check where both land in our HSR tier list and grab any active redeem codes while you plan.
Sources: AllThings.How: how to claim your free Gilgamesh or Archer, Game8: HSR warp banner schedule.
