Gilgamesh (Final Fantasy XIV)



Gilgamesh is a recurring character in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, making his first appearance in patch 2.1 in the Hildibrand Manderville questline. Like most appearances of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh alludes to his original appearance in Final Fantasy V and is a sword collector searching for the alleged "blade of legend".

Appearance
Gilgamesh' appearance is very much a mix between his two appearances in Final Fantasy V. While he has eight arms like his second appearance post-"morphing time", he wears the same red and grey clothing prior. The released render of Gilgamesh shows him wielding seven different weapons: an axe, mace, katana, baghnakhs, the Hauteclaire sword and Ridill scimitar from Final Fantasy XI, in addition to a replica of Nael Van Darnus's gunhalberd Bradamante called the "Pradamante".

Personality
Gilgamesh, much like his typical appearance, is a sword collector and an honourable warrior with a thirst for battle, but also in many ways incompetent, which makes for comedic moments. Unlike his usual appearances, Gilgamesh makes attempts to be crafty and hide his sword thievery, and though his poor ability to go undiscovered is obvious to the player, Hildibrand is completely oblivious.

Story
Gilgamesh made his first appearance in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn in patch 2.1. As revealed in a series of sidequests involving Hildibrand Manderville and Nashu Mhakaracca, the latter is investigating a rash of weapon thefts by a so-called duelist who challenges adventurers and takes their weapons upon defeating them. At the conclusion of the quest line, Gilgamesh is shown defeating yet another opponent, while lamenting his failure to locate the Sword of Legend.

In patch 2.2, Hildibrand and Nashu meet up with Gilgamesh and his chicken sidekick Enkidu by chance while searching for the mysterious duelist, completely oblivious that Gilgamesh himself is the culprit until Gilgamesh recognizes the Bradamante replica as his. Taking back his spear as the authorities surround him, Gilgamesh falls back to the Griffin Crossing bridge in Ishgard where he makes a wager with the Adventurer to win the spear off him on the condition that he relinquishes his own weapons should he lose. Upon defeat, Gilgamesh comically attempts to escape by jumping off the bridge while grasping Enkidu, only to fall for the effort.

Gilgamesh returns in patch 2.4, once again as part of the Hildibrand quest line. He briefly encounters Ultros who offers an alliance to take Hildibrand and the Adventurer out at Master Fygreis's Coliseum, but turns down the offer while warning him not to underestimate the abilities of the Adventurer. Later on, Gilgamesh interrupts the award ceremony in an attempt to challenge the Adventurer to a rematch, only to be blown out of the arena by an ill-timed sneeze from Typhon caused by the Thief of Many Faces.

Gilgamesh appears once more in patch 2.5, during the conclusion of the Hildibrand quest line. While he intended to get the jump on them, a beating from Julyan Manderville forces Gilgamesh to help Hildibrand and the Adventurer solve the case and apprehending Ellie: the culprit of the thefts. Once the case has reached its conclusion, he issues a rematch challenge, with the Treaty Blade, one of the heirloom items stolen by Ellie, as the prize. Reunited with the true Enkidu, who is revealed to be Primal that Gilgamesh summoned, the pair fight the Adventurer together. Once Enkidu is defeated, Gilgamesh assumes his eight-armed form and continues the battle, but is defeated once more. He relinquishes his claim to the Treaty Blade while feigning turning over a new leaf, but secretly promises to cross blades with Adventurer again.

Gameplay
Gilgamesh appears often during the Hildibrand questline and appears in a battle known as "Battle on the Big Keep".

Musicla Themes
"Battle on the Big Bridge Reborn" plays during the battle against Gilgamesh. It has similar beat to the original theme from Final Fantasy V with hard rock drums added. It was composed by Masayoshi Soken.

Trivia

 * In the Closed Beta, Gilgamesh was the name of a World.
 * Gilgamesh's name is used in example sentences for the chat log filtering configuration.
 * Wind-up Gilgamesh is one of many minions the player can acquire.