So, Capcom finally showed us the "Apex" of the Windward Plains, and honestly, Rey Dau is a total jerk. If you’ve been keeping up with the Monster Hunter Wilds trailers, you know the one I mean. It’s that massive, railgun-snouted Flying Wyvern that shows up when the weather gets nasty. It doesn't just breathe fire or roar loud; it literally harnesses the Sandstorm (the Inclemency) to turn itself into a living battery.
It's fast.
We are talking "blink and you’re back at camp" fast. This isn't your grandfather’s Rathalos. When the lightning starts hitting the ground and those metal-rich spires in the plains begin to glow, Rey Dau becomes the apex predator of the ecosystem. It is the definitive gatekeeper for the early game of Wilds, and understanding how it functions is basically a requirement if you don't want to spend your entire hunt getting zoomed by a supersonic lightning bolt.
The Rey Dau Mechanics Most People Miss
Most players look at Rey Dau and think, "Okay, another lightning monster." But it's more complicated than just being a yellow-colored threat. Its biology is tied directly to the weather cycles of the Windward Plains. During the "Plenty" phase, you might not even see it. It waits for the "Inclemency," that brutal sandstorm where the sky turns a sickly purple and lightning strikes the earth every few seconds.
The monster actually uses those lightning strikes.
See those weird, jagged horn-like structures on its head and back? Those are lightning rods. It’s been observed in the gameplay demos that Rey Dau will position itself to be struck, or it will draw electricity from the atmosphere to charge its wings. Once it’s charged, its physical silhouette changes. The membranes of its wings glow with a high-frequency hum. This is when the fight gets scary.
The "Railgun" Shot is a Game Changer
Let's talk about that specific move. You know the one. Rey Dau folds its wings forward, aligns its head, and fires a concentrated beam of electricity that travels almost instantly. It’s a railgun. Pure and simple. Unlike a Rathalos fireball or even a Zinogre projectile, there is almost no travel time once the beam is released.
If you are standing in a straight line, you are done.
The interesting part is how the environment reacts. In Monster Hunter Wilds, the sand isn't just cosmetic. If Rey Dau hits a sand dune with its lightning, it can vitrify the sand—briefly turning it into glass or creating explosive reactions. You have to be hyper-aware of where you are standing relative to the lightning rods scattered across the map.
Dealing with the Apex of the Windward Plains
Fighting Rey Dau requires a massive shift in how you use your Seikret. Since Wilds is built around high mobility and seamless transitions, the developers at Capcom (specifically under the direction of Yuya Tokuda) have tuned this monster to punish players who stay stationary. If you try to chug a potion while standing still during the Sandstorm, Rey Dau will close a 50-yard gap in about half a second.
Mounting and Focused Strikes are the way to go here.
You’ve gotta aim for those glowing wing-talons. Breaking the head is obvious, sure, but the wings are what allow it to channel the storm. When you deal enough damage to the "Focus" points—those glowing cracks that appear when a monster is wounded—you can actually knock it out of its supercharged state. This triggers a "Down" phase where the monster looks surprisingly pathetic, gasping for air as its internal battery reloads.
Why the Ecosystem Matters
One of the coolest things Capcom is doing is the "Monster vs. Monster" interaction. Rey Dau doesn't just hate you. It hates everything. We’ve seen it absolutely wreck a Balahara pack. The Balaharas try to trap it in the sand, but Rey Dau just flies up and nukes the entire pit.
- Watch for the weather shift. If the sky turns dark, Rey Dau is coming.
- Use the lightning rods. You can actually lure the monster into being hit by natural lightning which, ironically, can overload it if timed right.
- Don't over-commit. Its tail swipe has a deceptive range because of the electrical discharge at the tip.
The Nuance of the Gear
While we haven't seen the full stat sheets for the Rey Dau armor set, the design language screams "Thunder Attack" and "Evasion." The armor looks like high-tech plate mail with literal capacitors built into the shoulders. Based on previous games, we can expect a set bonus that probably rewards you for fighting during specialized weather or gives you a massive buff when you successfully dodge a high-speed attack.
The weapons follow a similar "railgun" aesthetic. The Great Sword has these folding parts that look like they expand when you reach a Level 3 charge. It's very mechanical. Very sleek. It's a far cry from the "bone with some feathers glued on it" designs that some fans complained about in Monster Hunter World.
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How to Prepare for the First Encounter
If you are planning on jumping into Wilds the moment it drops, you need a plan for the Windward Plains. Rey Dau is the wall. It’s the Anjanath of this game—the monster that exists to tell you, "Hey, stop button mashing and learn the mechanics."
Actionable Steps for the Hunt:
- Craft Thunder Resistance early. This sounds like "Monster Hunter 101," but given the sheer volume of chip damage from the sandstorm's ambient electricity, you'll need it.
- Master the Seikret’s auto-drive. You need to be able to sharpen your weapon while moving. If you stop to sharpen against a Rey Dau, you’re just asking for a railgun to the face.
- Stock up on Nulberries. Lightningblight is back, and it's worse than ever. Getting stunned while an Apex predator is lining up a supersonic charge is a guaranteed cart.
- Observe the "Flinch Free" opportunities. Rey Dau has a specific animation where it shakes its head after a big discharge. That is your three-second window. Do not waste it.
Rey Dau represents a shift in Monster Hunter design where the monster is no longer just a boss in an arena, but a literal extension of the weather. When you see the clouds gather, don't just look for cover—look for the wings in the storm.