Gilgamesh joins Honkai Star Rail as a free 5-star Lightning character on the Path of Destruction, claimable during Version 4.4. Because you get the base unit at no cost, the real spending decision comes down to two power-ups you buy with Stellar Jade. You can chase his first Eidolon (E1) or his signature Light Cone, I Am As You Behold (S1). Both take a meaningful pull budget, so most players will pick one.
Quick answer: Pull Gilgamesh’s E1. It changes how his kit performs across teams, while a strong Destruction Light Cone can stand in for his signature without a large drop in output.
E1 vs S1 comparison for Gilgamesh
Here is what each upgrade actually does before we break down which one wins.
| Upgrade | Effect |
|---|---|
| E1 (First Eidolon) | While Gilgamesh holds King’s Acknowledgement, its DEF-ignoring effect also applies to teammates. King’s Acknowledgement additionally raises his ATK by 60%, and using Skill regenerates a fixed 40 Energy. |
| S1 (I Am As You Behold) | +18% ATK, +10% Energy Regeneration Rate, Ultimate DMG scales with Energy spent up to 60%, and grants the team +25% CRIT DMG. |
Why the first Eidolon wins
The signature Light Cone is a good stat stick, but Gilgamesh does not depend on it. Any Destruction Light Cone, whether it is a free-to-play option or a limited unit’s cone, keeps him effective in most fights and clears the current endgame modes. That flexibility is exactly why spending Jade elsewhere makes sense.
His base Skill, King’s Acknowledgement, applies a 30% DEF-ignore to its target. E1 spreads that DEF shred to the whole team once Gilgamesh has the buff active, which lifts the entire composition’s damage rather than just his own. If you run him alongside Saber, her damage climbs sharply because she benefits from the shared DEF ignore.
On top of the team utility, E1 hands Gilgamesh a flat 60% ATK increase from King’s Acknowledgement and refunds 40 Energy every time he casts Skill. That Energy return speeds up his rotations far more directly than the signature cone does, letting him fire his 600-Energy Ultimate sooner and hit harder. It works whether he is the main carry or a supporting damage source.
When the signature Light Cone still fits
I Am As You Behold is not a wasted pull. The Ultimate scaling with Energy spent reaches its 60% cap easily given his 600-Energy pool, and the 25% team CRIT DMG helps allies beyond his personal numbers. Consider it if you already have E1, if you want the cleanest possible rotation, or if you simply prefer full signature investment. For a first upgrade on most accounts, though, the Eidolon delivers the bigger jump.
Budget check before you commit
Since Gilgamesh comes free, his E1 requires pulling a second copy from his banner. Account for losing the 50/50, which means budgeting roughly 160 Star Rail Special Passes for a guaranteed duplicate. If you can only afford one target, put your Passes toward that E1 and pair him with a solid free Destruction Light Cone rather than splitting your Jade between both.
Note: Part of this call is preference. If you value smoother Energy on a fully kitted signature build over team-wide DEF shred, the Light Cone remains a reasonable pick. For raw account value across his likely teams, the first Eidolon is the stronger buy.
