HSR Fate Collab Guide: Claim Free 5-Star Before You Pull

Part 1 brought Saber and Archer on July 11, 2026. Part 2 goes bigger, and this guide makes sure you secure every free reward before spending a single Stellar Jade. Planning your budget early? An HSR Fate collab Oneiric Shards top up through buffget locks in competitive pricing, fast delivery, and secure checkout before banners open.

HSR Fate Collab Overview: What's Confirmed

Characters, Banners, and Modes

• Rin Tohsaka — new 5-star Quantum Erudition, releasing in Version 4.4
• Free 5-star selector — Gilgamesh (5-star Lightning Destruction) or Archer (5-star Quantum Hunt, returning from Part 1)
• Version 4.4 Phase One banners — Himeko Nova (5-star Fire/Erudition) plus reruns of Sparxie, Evernight, and Permansor Terrae Dan Heng

Only the units above are officially confirmed. Treat claims about extra free units or surprise reruns as unverified rumor until patch notes land.

Key Dates and Server Times

1. July 11, 2025 — Part 1 launched with Saber and Archer
2. July 24, 2026, 12:00 PM server time — Part 2 begins
3. July 24 → end of Version 4.6 — free selector available
4. Version 4.4 — Rin Tohsaka's release version

Server times differ by region, so trust your in-game clock over manual conversion. Rin's exact banner phase isn't locked yet — Phase One is already stacked with Himeko Nova and three reruns, a real budget conflict. Confirm on the warp screen at launch.

How to Claim Your Free Gilgamesh or Archer

Eligibility and Deadline

Log in anytime between July 24 and the end of Version 4.6. If the event entry looks locked, finish your early Trailblaze missions first — the event page lists any prerequisite. The window is generous, but claim in week one anyway; version-end dates can shift with maintenance.

Exact Menu Path

1. Log in after 12:00 PM server time on July 24.
2. Open the event menu from the main screen.
3. Select the Fate collab event page.
4. Tap the 5-star selector entry.
5. Choose Gilgamesh or Archer and confirm — the choice is final.

Gilgamesh vs Archer: Which Free Unit to Pick

• Pick Archer if you lack a Quantum single-target carry. Caladbolg II hits for 180% ATK (plus 60% per Circuit Connection stack, up to 2), he chains up to 5 Skills per turn for a theoretical 1800% ATK ceiling, and Mind's Eye (True) follow-ups refund Skill Points.
• Pick Gilgamesh if you need Lightning AoE. He gains 1 Interest per ally action (10 stacks grant an extra turn), stacks up to 120% self CRIT DMG via Hero's Hauteur, fires a 10-hit bouncing Enuma Elish, and buffs the team 30% ATK + 30% CRIT DMG through Hegemon's Strife.
• Pulling Rin? Archer gains priority — her Freeform Tohsaka Style scales with both her own and Archer's ATK (150% each). A pairing clearly built to play together.
• Already own Archer? Re-selecting him converts to Eidolon value; Gilgamesh adds fresh elemental coverage instead.

Why You Claim Before Pulling

A free 5-star is instant roster power at zero pity cost. Level it with stockpiled materials while you farm jade, and it carries collab content from minute one. Day-one mistakes to dodge:

• Pulling before claiming the selector
• Assuming collab pity carries from limited banners (it doesn't)
• Blowing everything on Phase One before confirming Rin's timing
• Letting the selector expire — it happens every event

Rin Tohsaka: Kit, Role, and Pull Value

Kit at a Glance

• Basic – Bajiquan: 50% Quantum to one enemy
• Skill – Jeweled Sword Zelretch: 90% Quantum, single target
• Skill – Second Magic Experiment: 3 Gem Energy per 45% hit, repeating up to 33 times
• Talent – Gem Magecraft: 20 Gem Energy on combat entry; +70% ally Crit DMG
• Ultimate – An Gal Ta Ki Gal Šè: 300% Quantum to one enemy, 100% to all others
• Talent – Freeform Tohsaka Style: 150% of Rin's and 150% of Archer's ATK to all enemies, recovering 4 Skill Points

Rin plays as a hybrid hypercarry/team buffer. Gem Energy is the skill ceiling — a full 33-repeat chain demands 99 energy, so treat the repeat count as scaling payoff, not baseline.

Who Should Pull — and Who Should Skip

Pull if you've got a Quantum or Erudition gap, own Archer, or need Pure Fiction coverage (her Ultimate's splash fits the mode). Skip if your Quantum roster is stacked or you're saving for post-collab versions.

Eidolons: Where to Stop

• E0: complete, fully functional kit — the recommended F2P and low-spender stop
• E6: the confirmed whale spike — 20% All-Type Res Pen, plus 24 Gem Energy and an extra turn on Ultimate, directly fueling her repeat chain
• Mid tiers: multipliers aren't officially detailed yet — verify live numbers before going past E0

One Eidolon costs roughly the same as a new character. Unless E6 is the goal, E0 plus savings wins long-term.

Collab Warp Mechanics: Pity, 50/50, and Passes

Does Collab Pity Carry Over?

No. Collab warps track pity separately from standard and limited banners — your limited counter won't help here, and collab progress won't transfer back. Whether pity persists between collab phases isn't officially confirmed, so screenshot your counter each phase.

Pulls to Guarantee a Collab 5-Star

1. Hard pity lands within 90 pulls per 5-star
2. Win the 50/50 for the featured unit; lose and it's guaranteed on the next 5-star
3. Worst case: 180 pulls — 28,800 Stellar Jade at 160 per pull

Budget Star Rail Special Passes accordingly and confirm the pass type on the warp screen.

Stellar Jade Budget Planner

Free Pulls During the Event

Farm these before spending:

• Daily training missions
• Collab event rewards
• Simulated Universe weekly clears
• Memory of Chaos and Pure Fiction resets

The Express Supply Pass (S$4.99) stays the best-value low-spend option for steady income across the window. Pro tip: divide your total jades by 160, set a hard pull cap, and stick to it.

Topping Up Oneiric Shards Safely

Farmed total short of guarantee range? You can buy Stellar Jade for Rin Tohsaka banner on buffget — fast delivery, secure transactions, wide game coverage, and highly rated customer service, so you never miss a banner window waiting on a top-up.

Quick-Start Build for Your Free Collab Character

Best Light Cones and Relics

Gilgamesh:

• Signature LC: I Am As You Behold (+18% ATK, +10% Energy Regen, up to 72% Ultimate DMG)
• Relics: 4pc Scholar Lost in Erudition (+20% Skill and Ultimate DMG)
• Planar: 2pc Cosmic Life Sciences Institute (up to +32% DMG — his 600 Max Energy enables it easily)
• Trace priority: Hero's Hauteur and Hegemon's Strife

Archer:

• Signature LC: The Hell Where Ideals Burn (up to 32% CRIT Rate and 80% ATK at 6+ team max SP)
• Prioritize CRIT main stats; level Skill and Ultimate traces first

Day-One Teams That Clear Content

• Gilgamesh: pair with fast, frequently acting allies to stack Interest and trigger extra turns
• Archer: run SP-positive supports to fund his 5-Skill turns
• Pulled Rin? The Rin + Archer core is her intended partner shell, amplified by her 70% team Crit DMG buff

HSR Fate Collab FAQ

Is the HSR Fate collab free character permanent? Yes — the selector grants a full roster unit, not a trial card, same as Part 1's free Archer. Claim it and it's yours to build.

When does the HSR Fate collab end? Part 2 begins July 24, 2026; the free selector runs until the end of Version 4.6.

Does the collab banner share pity with limited banners? No. Collab pity is tracked separately and never mixes with standard or limited warp counters.

How many Stellar Jades guarantee a collab 5-star? Up to 90 pulls per 5-star; worst case is 180 pulls (28,800 jades) after losing the 50/50.

Should I pick Gilgamesh or Archer? Archer for single-target Quantum damage and Rin synergy; Gilgamesh for Lightning AoE and team-wide buffs. Decide by roster gap.

Will collab characters ever rerun? Archer's return in the Part 2 selector proves they do — but no schedule is promised, so claim during the window.

Final Pre-Pull Checklist

1. Claim your free Gilgamesh or Archer from the event menu
2. Build the free unit with stockpiled resources
3. Confirm your pity counter on the warp details page
4. Set a hard jade budget and calculate your pull count
5. Clear every free jade source in the window
6. Top up only if you're short of guarantee

Ready to bring Rin Tohsaka home? Top up Oneiric Shards on buffget for instant delivery, secure checkout, and the best value per pull — claim your free unit first, then let buffget power the rest of your warps.

Related Reads:

• Archer Build Guide — Best Light Cones, Relics & Teams
• Should You Pull Rin Tohsaka? Value Verdict
• Collab Banner Pity, 50/50 & Guarantee Explained