HSR Fate Collab July 24: Free Gilgamesh or Archer Guide

The Fate/stay night crossover is one of Honkai Star Rail's most anticipated events, supervised by Kinoko Nasu with concept designs by Takashi Takeuchi. Missed Part 1 (launched July 11, 2026, with Saber and Archer)? Part 2 is your second shot at a free premium collab unit. This guide covers every claim step, the 200-warp milestone, character comparisons, and warp planning.

Version 4.4 launches July 14–15, 2026, headlined by Himeko Nova, with the Fate Collab Part 2 as the centerpiece. That's a short window to prep before the July 24 drop—so nail the mechanics now.

Mapping your budget early? Honkai star rail oneiric shards recharge through buffget offers competitive pricing and instant delivery to secure warps before the deadline.

What You Need to Know First

Part 2 launches July 24, 2026, 12:00 PM server time, running on the Version 4.4 patch cycle.

At a glance:

• One free 5-star collab character: Gilgamesh or Archer (your choice)
• Free collab Light Cone: The Hell Where Ideals Burn at 200 Warps
• Claimed Servant arrives with materials to reach level 60 and upgraded Traces
• All banners and free claims stay live through the end of Version 4.6

Eligibility: Any active player who logs in during the Fate Contract: Renewal event can claim the free 5-star. Part 1's free Archer required Trailblaze Level 3+, and similar low-barrier rules apply. Accessible for new and veteran accounts alike.

How to Claim Your Free Gilgamesh or Archer

1. Meet account requirements — Log in during the collab and clear the low Trailblaze Level threshold from early story.
2. Open Fate Contract: Renewal — The free 5-star selection lives here, separate from warp banners.

3. Select Gilgamesh or Archer — A one-time, permanent choice. Can't be changed once confirmed.
4. Confirm and claim — Your Servant arrives with level-60 materials and Trace upgrades bundled in.

Deadline & pitfalls: Free claim stays open until Version 4.6 ends, but don't wait for the final days. The most common mistake? Confusing the free login-event claim with the paid banner—your free Servant needs zero warps. Claim it straight from the event menu.

Gilgamesh vs Archer: Which Should You Pick?

The biggest decision of the event.

Gilgamesh — 5-star Lightning, Path of Destruction. His Ultimate Enuma Elish costs a massive 600 Energy but pays off big:

• 400% ATK AoE plus 10 bounces of 40% ATK (S5/S7)
• Skill ignores 30% target DEF for 3 turns (S5/S7)
• Gains 1 Interest per ally action; 10 Interest triggers an extra action
• Saber synergy: Joint Follow-Up after 3 Saber attacks, dealing 400% Gilgamesh ATK + 600% Saber ATK

Archer — 5-star Quantum, Path of The Hunt. Talent Echoes of Justice triggers on Burn, regens Energy, boosts Ultimate DMG, stacks up to 3 times. A focused single-target dealer.

Recommendations:

• New accounts: Gilgamesh's AoE and self-sufficient Energy economy shine, especially building toward Saber synergy.
• Veterans with Hunt supports may prefer Archer for concentrated boss damage.
• Own Saber from Part 1? Gilgamesh wins long-term via the Joint Follow-Up loop.

The 200 Warps Milestone Explained

The heart of the Fate Gift event—it unlocks the free collab Light Cone.

• How it counts: Every collab-banner warp counts toward 200. Crucially, Fate Collab pity carries across all parts—Part 1 warps stack with Part 2. Huge for returning players.
• What counts: Only collab banner warps. Pity and milestone progress don't share with standard banners.
• The reward: Hit 200 Warps for a free The Hell Where Ideals Burn.

How to Reach 200 Warps Efficiently

200 warps needs roughly 32,000 Stellar Jade (160 Jade per pull). Here's how to gather it.

Stellar Jade sources:

• Daily Training and Assignments
• Simulated Universe and Memory of Chaos clears
• Event mission rewards (Holy Grail War is strong)
• Main story and side-quest completion
• Version maintenance compensation

Holy Grail War event: Features 8 participants in 1v1 battles; the losing side's HP drops each cycle. Wins earn Star Coins to buy Pieces for buffs and Bond bonuses—stack these to max event currency.

F2P vs light-spender:

• F2P: Farm all event rewards, clear endgame, save from version start—150–200 warps is achievable but tight. Prioritize the Express Supply Pass (S$4.99) for best jade-per-dollar.
• Light spender: Event jade plus a modest top-up clears 200 comfortably.

Free Collab Light Cone: Stats & Best Users

The Hell Where Ideals Burn — 5-star Light Cone on The Hunt, Archer's signature.

Passive:

• +16% CRIT Rate
• +40% ATK if Skill Point limit is 6+
• +10% ATK per Skill use, stacking up to 4 times

Best users: Tailored for Archer and Hunt-path DPS units that spam Skills. Even if you pick Gilgamesh, claiming this Light Cone adds long-term roster value.

For reference, other collab signatures: Gilgamesh's I Am As You Behold (+18% ATK, +10% Energy Regen, up to +60% Ultimate DMG, +25% CRIT DMG to allies) and Saber's Thus Burns the Dawn (SPD +12, ignores 18% DEF, +60% DMG post-Ultimate).

To fund your push, you can buy hsr stellar jade top up through buffget—secure, instant delivery with high ratings and great support.

Quick Build Guides

Gilgamesh (Destruction, Lightning):

• Ascension: 65 Thunder Strum, 15 Extinguished Core, 15 Glimmering Core, 15 Squirming Core
• Credits to max: 3,689,000 (S5) vs 3,000,000 (S6)
• Trace priority: Ultimate → Skill → Talent (600-Energy Ultimate dependency)
• Eidolon: E4 adds +20% Energy Regen, smoothing Ultimate cycling
• Team: Pair Saber to trigger the Joint Follow-Up (Saber gets 200 Energy + 50% action advance; Gilgamesh gets 3 Interest)

Archer (The Hunt, Quantum):

• Trace priority: Talent → Skill → Ultimate to max Echoes of Justice Burn stacks
• Best Light Cone: His own The Hell Where Ideals Burn from the milestone
• Team: Pair with Burn-enablers to keep his Talent triggering

Is the Fate Collab Worth It?

Free value is exceptional. A free 5-star Servant with level-60 materials and Trace upgrades—no warps. That alone justifies joining for every account.

Prioritize your jade:

• Free Servant costs nothing—secure it first.
• The 200-warp Light Cone is the main jade sink. Partial funding? Remember Part 1 pity carries.
• Rin Tohsaka (5-star Quantum, Path of Erudition) and other collab units are optional, based on roster gaps.

Avoid these misconceptions:

• Free Servant = login event, not the banner.
• Selection is one-time and permanent—choose carefully.
• Milestone warps must be on the collab banner, not standard.

Daily Checklist & Progress Tracker

Daily/weekly tasks:

1. Log in to Fate Contract: Renewal and claim daily rewards
2. Complete daily Trailblaze Power activities for jade
3. Progress Holy Grail War matches for Star Coins
4. Clear weekly Simulated Universe and Memory of Chaos

Reward order for max efficiency:

1. Claim the free Servant immediately at event start
2. Finish all event missions for jade before warping
3. Warp toward 200 once jade is pooled
4. Claim the free Light Cone the moment you hit 200

Track progress: Check your collab pity counter often—it carries from Part 1. Knowing your count prevents over- or under-warping.

Warp Budget & Top-Up Tips

Plan your budget: Current jade + expected event income = your gap to 200 warps (~32,000 Jade). That's exactly how much you need.

Smart top-up before the deadline: buffget offers competitive pricing, fast secure delivery, and wide game coverage—ideal for closing your gap before Version 4.6 ends.

Pre-collab checklist:

• Confirm your account meets Trailblaze Level requirements
• Decide Gilgamesh or Archer in advance
• Pre-farm Ascension materials where possible
• Pool jade before the banner opens

Don't let the July 24 deadline pass. Plan your 200-warp push now and top up safely and instantly through buffget to lock in your free Servant and collab Light Cone.

FAQ

How do I claim the free Gilgamesh or Archer? Log in during the Fate Contract: Renewal event, open the menu, select your Servant, and confirm. One-time permanent choice, no warps needed.

When does the collab start on July 24? Part 2 launches July 24, 2026, at 12:00 PM server time, following the Version 4.4 patch on July 14–15.

How many warps for the free Light Cone? 200 Warps on the collab banner during the Fate Gift event. Part 1 pity carries over.

Do the 200 warps have to be on the collab banner? Yes. Only collab warps count—no sharing with standard banners.

What's the deadline to claim the free Servant? Free claims and banners stay open through the end of Version 4.6. Claim early to be safe.

Is Gilgamesh or Archer better as a free pick? Gilgamesh (AoE Destruction) suits Saber-synergy builds; Archer (single-target Hunt) suits focused boss damage. Pick based on your roster.