Curious Thing about Gilgamesh

[A_Magical_Unicorn_Rider]

The imitation being the aetherial Bradamante from Turn 9? If one were going to try to keep the theory alive despite the things Ferne's said about it, pointing to a future conspiracy on the subject, that'd be the route I'd take it. Turn 9 and Battle on the Big Bridge both came out in 2.2, though, so the timeline would be wonky. You'd have to take it for granted that Turn 9 not only happens independent of Hildibrand's story (probably true), but happens before it (risky speculation). And then you'd need to find a way to explain how it got from the Holocharts 3.6 miles underground to somewhere it could be found.

Because it was an aetherial construct, much like the arena you fight Nael Shman Deus in?

[Alenore]

Nael was an aetherial construct, just like her armour, weapon, ...
The arena now, it's called "Holocharts". I'd guess most of what we see are holograms, probably projected using some aether skillz, but I doubt it's a construct "per se", as in it has a physical presence.

[Toranja]

My Understanding is not that he HAS but rather HAD it.

I'm going with the "He had the real one, but fought with a fake." It goes along with the main theme of the sidequest that Venom from Spiderman swipped it.

[Morningstar1337]

I'm going with the "He had the real one, but fought with a fake." It goes along with the main theme of the sidequest that Venom from Spiderman swipped it.

Wait what? I didn't know there was a FFXIV/Spider-man crossover?

[Toranja]

lol! Not literally! There real weapon thief just reminds me of Venom from Spiderman - all clad in black with a white grin.

[Lusavari]

The imitation being the aetherial Bradamante from Turn 9? If one were going to try to keep the theory alive despite the things Ferne's said about it, pointing to a future conspiracy on the subject, that'd be the route I'd take it. Turn 9 and Battle on the Big Bridge both came out in 2.2, though, so the timeline would be wonky. You'd have to take it for granted that Turn 9 not only happens independent of Hildibrand's story (probably true), but happens before it (risky speculation). And then you'd need to find a way to explain how it got from the Holocharts 3.6 miles underground to somewhere it could be found.

Or perhaps some one else along the way could have made a fake. I would figure the Aetherial one would actually be stronger than the original since it would be enhanced by Bahamut's power. He lost the original in Thanalan. How did it make its way to Coerthas? Perhaps some traveling merchant made a fake and it fell off a cart? Who knows? I think it's a plot point to continue later on for the Gilgamesh Extreme fight, where Gilgamesh will have found the real one at last, and challenge you with other real weapons like The Ridill and Hauteclaire, the Morgenstern, and so many other weapons.

[Alenore]

Let's quote Ferne.

GE: In the battle with Greg… er Gilgamesh, he attempts to attack you with what some players might assume to be the Bradamante only to claim that it’s not the powerful weapon he thought it was. Where is the real Bradamante? Is there any connection to Turn 4 of the Second Binding Coil?


MCKF: Back in the day, Nael used Bradamante. We know that that is a fact. Back in 1.x you have your battle with Nael van Darnus and you defeat him. As the area crumbles around him, Bradamante falls.

Then, a Coerthan merchant finds the Bradamante, and who does he sell it too? Some old guy that that uses it as a gardening tool in Thanalan. He decides he can’t use it and just throws it in his field.

Then…guess who finds it? Hildibrand! He tries to use it and has his ass blown off and it just falls away into Thanalan.

Who finds it after that? Gilgamesh! He picks it up and from there you know the rest. So yes, it is Bradamante, the one that Nael used.

He retraced the history of the weapon, and specified the weapon Gilgamesh uses against us is the one Nael wielded. There's no real reason to find another explanation when we were directly said it's the real one.

As for why Gilgamesh says "I've been had!", it might simply be that someone told him it was the strongest of spears, and only realizes it's just another gunhalberd.
Now, "Pradamante" is weird, but it might simply means it's far from as powerful as he thought it was

It's not like it's an ancient weapon, reforged with rare salts, tremped in hydra's blood, infused with mystical mist, souls of countless monsters, and who proved itself after some long trials, before being infused with the purest form of materia you could find... GTFO FROM MY WEAPON GREG, IT'S MINE

[Catapult]

It's not like it's an ancient weapon, reforged with rare salts, tremped in hydra's blood, infused with mystical mist, souls of countless monsters, and who proved itself after some long trials, before being infused with the purest form of materia you could find... GTFO FROM MY WEAPON GREG, IT'S MINE

Yep. Nael had nothing but cheap, magitek trash. IL75 at best.

[Whitefang]

In the japanese audio, when he uses the Dragonfire Dive clone move, he is actually trying to use Mega Flare. When he couldn't use Mega Flare he then says something like "Eh? No Mega Flare!? Is this not the strongest spear after all!?".

[A_Magical_Unicorn_Rider]

It just hit me: We've all completely forgotten WHERE we met Greg in the first place.

THANALAN.

Where did the farmer throw the spear away in his field?

THANALAN.

/hildibrand in training /grin /flashy smile