Gilgamesh is back, and this time he’s not by himself. His loyal companion Enkidu—or at least someone who looks just like her—makes her official debut in Final Fantasy 14, and together they’re ready to stir up some trouble and challenge the Warrior of Light once again.
In the Battle in the Big Keep trial, players will face off against Gilgamesh for a rematch. This encounter directly follows their last duel, and you should be prepared for an all-out fight, as Gilgamesh won’t hold back. His additional arms will definitely keep you on your toes!
How to Unlock the Battle in the Big Keep
To access the Battle in the Big Keep, players must complete the Hildibrand Adventures questline until the Her Last Vow mission. This trial opens up automatically in the Duty Finder once you reach that point in the quest.
The trial is a Level 50 challenge, and you need a minimum item level of 90 to participate.
Normally, a traditional party of eight is required, but you can also use the Unrestricted Party option to enter with a smaller group and no level limitations. This can be a great way to jump in without waiting a long time to find a full team in the Duty Finder.
Battle in the Big Keep Guide
If you thought the first encounter with Gilgamesh was chaotic, brace yourself for the real challenge this time. He comes equipped with some new tricks and is teamed up with Enkidu during part of the battle. In the first phase, you’ll have to deal with both adversaries simultaneously, and when Gilgamesh is backed into a corner, he will unleash his full strength.
This battle is divided into two phases, and both Gilgamesh and Enkidu are active in the first phase. Below are their attacks:
| Attack | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aero II | Targeted AoE | Enkidu attacks a random player with a wind blast that also hits nearby players. Avoid stacking to minimize damage. |
| Web | Single-target | Slows and debuffs random players, which can be removed using Esuna or similar abilities. |
| Eerie Soundwave | Cone AoE | Targets a random player with a conal AoE, giving them a moment to dodge. |
| White Wind | Heal | Restores HP to Gilgamesh. |
| Missile | Target AoE | Marks a player and launches a missile that deals heavy damage based on their health. |
| Pradamante | Circle AoE | A spear attack that hits all nearby players. It’s not clearly indicated but inflicts low damage. |
| Whirlwind Slash | Circle AoE | Similar to Pradamante, but it shows a cast bar before executing. |
| Bitter End | Cleaving Tankbuster | A powerful front attack that tanks must mitigate. Avoid being in front if you’re not tanking. |
| Minimum | Special | Reduces the size of two players linked by a tether. They must walk together to return to normal size. |
| Chicken | Special | Transforms players into chickens. They revert back after a few seconds but should interact with the tornadoes around. |
| Woken Wind | Special | Creates tornadoes that deal significant damage. Chickens are unaffected by the tornadoes. |
| Turbulence | AoE | Explodes any remaining tornadoes, causing massive damage to the group. |
Focus your attacks on Enkidu while one of your tanks distracts Gilgamesh. Once Enkidu is defeated, Gilgamesh will retreat. But don’t get too comfortable—he will return with even greater power for the second phase.
In the second phase, Gilgamesh retains many of his previous attacks, but with notable new additions:
| Attack | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Icewind | Special | Creates ice lines on the ground with small safe zones. Move to the safe spots as necessary. |
| Enchain | Special | Chains a healer, who needs to distance themselves from Gilgamesh while teammates break the chain, or they will be slain. |
| Swords Dance | Cleaving Tankbuster | A multi-hit attack targeting the main player. Non-tanks should not stay in front of Gilgamesh. |
| Moonlight | Room AoE | Affects the entire arena, safe spots are the lower areas not lit with a faint glow. |
| Dragon’s Head | Special | Summons four Dragon Heads that will attack in line AoEs and explode if not eliminated quickly. |
| Bloomshower | Arena AoE | Various purple AoEs will appear; navigate to the gaps to avoid damage. |
| Lightning Orbs | Orb AoE | Summons orbs that create a safe zone opposite their spawn; this occurs consecutively. |
| Giga Jump | Special | Gilgamesh jumps to a random player, dealing AoE damage, afterward rushing back to the main tank. |
While the second phase may seem overwhelming, it’s actually straightforward—the major concern is the Dragon Heads. Players should prioritize taking them out quickly to avoid severe damage. However, it’s perfectly fine if not all heads are defeated; aiming to destroy at least two or three is a good strategy.
Battle in the Big Keep Rewards
Similar to the previous encounters, the second fight against Gilgamesh has unique drops. The main benefit remains the continuation of the captivating Hildibrand Adventures quest line, but you can also receive:
- Enkidu Minion
- Faded Copy of Battle on the Big Bridge
- Bartz Klauser Card
The Orchestrion Roll and Triple Trial card will automatically be added to your inventory, but they are not guaranteed drops. Enkidu is always present in the final treasure chest and is non-tradeable, making it exclusive to this trial.
Another notable reward includes Eerie Soundwave, Missile, and White Wind skills for Blue Mages. These skills are employed by Enkidu during the first phase and are among the most powerful for the Limited Job class. To learn them, you’ll need to enter as a Blue Mage and acquire them during your first successful trial run.
