Rey Dau Monster Hunter Wilds Guide Weaknesses Location Strategy Armor Drops

Guides

Rey Dau reigns as the electrifying apex predator of the Windward Plains in Monster Hunter Wilds, wielding devastating lightning attacks that can overwhelm even the most seasoned hunters. To conquer this formidable Flying Wyvern, you’ll need to exploit its surprising vulnerabilities to Water and Ice, target its breakable head, wings, and tail, and master strategies to survive its swift aerial assaults and thunderous fury. Ready your weapons and prepare for a high-voltage showdown in the storm-swept plains.

As one of the toughest encounters in the main story, you’ll want to prepare accordingly ahead of time. This guide covers all weakness and resistances for Rey Dau, where to find it, and the best strategy to defeat one of the new foes introduced in Monster Hunter Wilds.


Rey Dau location

Rey Dau is located exclusively in the Windward Plains biome in Monster Hunter Wilds. It typically appears during the Sandtide weather event, characterized by intense sandstorms and thunderstorms, which power up its electric attacks. The monster patrols around its nest area near location 17 and often moves between locations 16 and 17 during the battle phases. Players first encounter Rey Dau in Chapter 2 during the main quest “The Eye of the Storm,” and afterward, it can be hunted as an optional target in the same region. Tracking Rey Dau can be done via the Environment Overview screen or by following scout flies once it is targeted.

You’ll first encounter Rey Dau in Chapter 2, during “The Eye of the Storm” main mission. As such, all you need to do to unlock the monster is progress through the main questline.

Rey Dau is exclusively found in the Windward Plains biome. In the first, the beast tends to roam around its nest in 17, and usually escapes toward 16, before returning to the starting area for the final phase of the encounter.

Keep in mind that in Monster Hunter Wilds, tracking monsters isn’t really a prominent feature. Except for a few first-time exceptions, you can use the Environment Overview screen to see if your target is roaming around the map. If not, exploring its corresponding biome(s) for a few minutes usually does the trick – you’ll see a notification on screen announcing its appearance. Worst case scenario, you can speak to Alma and post a hunt for it. For better or worse, the process of finding a monster is much more streamlined now. If you find tracks or other monster residuals on the ground, you can loot them for materials.


How to prepare for Rey Dau

To prepare for the Rey Dau fight in Monster Hunter Wilds, focus on equipping armor with good Thunder resistance to mitigate its electric attacks, with the Zoh Shia set being a strong choice if available. Use weapons imbued with Water or Ice elements, as Rey Dau is particularly weak to these, while avoiding Thunder-based weapons since it resists that element. Stock up on healing items like regular and mega potions, and consider bringing Puddle or Frostburst Pods to stun or slow the monster. Pay attention to its attack patterns, especially its charging and aerial slam moves, and aim to target its head, wings, and tail, which are its main weak points. Enhancing your defense and upgrading gear before the battle will improve survivability against Rey Dau’s aggressive and electrified attacks.

Rey Dau is part of the main story of Monster Hunter Wilds. As such, its encounter is likely to fit your Hunter Rank at that corresponding moment. If you have a weapon with Water or Ice as its main element, you’ll have the advantage of targeting an elemental weakness. Uth Duna is a good shout for the former. As for armor, it’ll be hard to find a set that specifically targets thunder resistance at this point in the game, so go for the ones that have the least amount of penalty (so, aim for -6 instead of -9, for example.)

Since the encounter occurs during a main mission, you’ll be thrust into the fray after the introductory cutscene. As per usual, whenever you’re asked if you’re ready to depart, make sure that you’re carrying regular and mega potions with you. If you’re short on the latter, take a lap around the biome and loot any honey you come across.

In addition, don’t forget to eat – you can use the portable BBQ to grill a meal. Increasing your health and stamina is essential, as Doshaguma packs a punch. You can use ingredients like Wild Herb as finishing touches to boost your elemental resistance, helpful for lightning strikes.

For later encounters, carrying a few Puddle or Frost Pods will be beneficial – if either you or one of your teammates have a ranged weapon with Water or Freeze Ammo, even better. You should also invest in defense as much as possible. Remember that you can not only craft better armor, but also upgrade your current pieces. Even if you don’t have new monsters left to hunt to unlock more powerful sets, take the time to improve your gear and boost its stats.


Rey Dau weakness

Rey Dau’s primary weaknesses in Monster Hunter Wilds are its vulnerability to Water and Ice elements, with the head being its most susceptible part to damage. While it is immune to Thunder attacks and shock traps due to its electrical nature, it is still vulnerable to paralysis and other status effects like Poison, Sleep, Blastblight, and Exhaust. Key weak points to target include the head, wings, and tail, with breaking its horns reducing the frequency of its powerful lightning attacks. Despite its agility and electric defenses, focusing on these weaknesses and using elemental attacks effectively can help hunters overcome this apex predator of the Windward Plains.

We’d recommend attacking Rey Dau’s with moves featuring the Water and Ice elements. The first encompasses Water Ammo and Puddle Pod, as well as skills like Water Attack, Critical Element, and Charge Master. The second encompasses Freeze Ammo, Frostburst, Frost Pod, Ice Attack, Critical Element, and Charge Master. Both are in addition to your own weapon’s properties.

You can find a breakdown of Rey Dau’s elemental weaknesses and resistances below:

Effective status effects

  • Poison: 2 stars
  • Sleep: 2 stars
  • Paralysis: 1 star
  • Blastblight: 2 stars
  • Stun: 1 star
  • Exhaust: 2 stars

Effective items

  • Flash Pod: Effective
  • Sonic Bomb: No effect
  • Shock Trap: No effect
  • Pitfall Trap: Effective

Weak points

Rey Dau’s weak point is its Head, which is also breakable. Both its Wings (x2) can be broken as well, and the Tail can be severed.

Before diving deep into combat strategy, here’s the breakdown of Rey Dau’s weak points:

Rey Dau is the apex Flying Wyvern of the Windward Plains in Monster Hunter Wilds, known for its mastery of thunder and lightning attacks. It primarily inhabits the Windward Plains biome, often seen near its nest around locations 16 and 17. This monster is highly territorial and uses electricity to power devastating attacks from its horns, wings, and tail. Rey Dau is weak to Water and Ice elements, with its head being the main weak point to target for maximum damage. It is resistant to Thunder and certain traps, so hunters should focus on exploiting its elemental vulnerabilities and breaking its horns and wings to reduce its attack power and mobility. Effective strategies include dodging its charged attacks, attacking from underneath when possible, and using weapons with high burst damage or quick elemental strikes. Preparing with Thunder Resistance skills and items can help mitigate its electrical damage during the fight.

Part

Sever

Blunt

Ranged

Fire

Water

Thunder

Ice

Dragon

Head 4 stars 4 stars 3 stars 1 star 1 star No Effect 2 stars 1 star
Torso 2 stars 2 stars 2 stars 1 star 1 star No Effect 1 star 1 star
Left Wing 3 stars 3 stars 3 stars 1 star 1 star No Effect 1 star 1 star
Right Wing 3 stars 3 stars 3 stars 1 star 1 star No Effect 1 star 1 star
Left Leg 2 stars 2 stars 2 stars 1 star 1 star No Effect 1 star 1 star
Right Leg 2 stars 2 stars 2 stars 1 star 1 star No Effect 1 star 1 star
Tail 3 stars 3 stars 3 stars 1 star 1 star No Effect 1 star 1 star

For details about what to expect in terms of attacks and general behavior, the following section has you covered.


Rey Dau attacks and strategy

Rey Dau employs a variety of electrifying attacks that require careful observation and timing to counter effectively. It signals its powerful thunderbolt attack by covering its face with its horns before firing a beam of electricity that explodes on impact, leaving its head vulnerable for a brief follow-up strike. On the ground, Rey Dau uses its wings and tail aggressively, often slamming a wing into the ground and dragging it forward to electrify an area, with a double wing strike variation that can be dodged if anticipated. When airborne, it may crash down with a wing slam or carve the ground with a thunderous trail, both of which can be avoided by watching its flight patterns. Key to defeating Rey Dau is exploiting the moments after its large attacks when it is exposed, particularly targeting its head, wings, and tail, while using Flash Pods or traps to disrupt its aerial assaults.

Rey Dau is a tricky monster to fight. It seems to be fully aware of its weak spots, as it constantly uses them against you. On paper, this should leave them vulnerable to follow-up attacks, but the breakneck rhythm of its movements means it will persistently try to prevent you from getting anywhere close.

You should see Rey Dau’s head as a railgun that shoots thunder. Whenever it covers its face with its horns, that means it’s going to attack. There’s a mid-air variant to this attack, telegraphed in a similar way. Sometimes, it’s elevated by a previous step, in which the monster scratches the ground and electrifies where it scratched. Upon “shooting” the mark, the area then explodes.

There’s an even more dangerous attack where you’ll literally see the monster charging up a beam with its head, followed by a powerful thunder strike. A key detail to keep in mind: After Rey Dau shoots, the head is usually exposed to a wound attack. If you use focus mode after a bolt of thunder and see a part of the monster glow red, try to get close and go in for an attack, as it won’t take long before recovering.

The wyvern also uses its horns to attack forward, but for the most part, the wings and tail are the ones to look out for in terms of close-quarter moves. For the first, a recurrent attack is one where Rey Dau plunges its wing into the ground, and after a brief pause, proceeds to carve the surface forward until it lifts it up with force. It gives you a few seconds to dodge out of the way if you’re in the same direction, which you should definitely try to do. A variation of this attack sees Rey Dau repeating the pattern with its other wing for a double attack.

A similar move takes place when the creature is in mid-air. If you see it take flight and then look at you for a quick second before turning around, that means it’s about to fly down and impact the ground with one of its wings. Follow the cues to quickly evade before that happens. (A variation of this features a move similar to the one described in the previous paragraph, carving the ground as it flies for a few feet before lifting its wing, leaving a trace of thunder.)

In terms of its tail, if you’re around its rear end, it usually lifts its tail and then slams the ground with it. If you successfully dodge it, that’s a good opportunity to damage the limb, as it can be severed. As a result, subsequent attacks will have less reach. There are a few more variations: one has Rey Dau swinging its tail left and right in two quick consecutive moves, and another one is one big swipe in which the monster also repositions itself by flying slightly out of your way.

There are a few additional attacks to keep in mind. There’s Weak Roar, which can be countered by earplugs, although it doesn’t happen too often. Thunderblight, on the other hand, can be annoying, as it temporarily makes you easier to stun. You can remove the condition by evading repeatedly, but otherwise, a nulberry will do the trick. You can also equip armor with either Thunder or Blight resistance for some additional defense.


Rey Dau drops

Rey Dau drops valuable materials primarily from its head, wings, and tail, which can be used to craft powerful armor and weapons infused with its thunderous essence. Key materials include Fulgurite fragments from its carapace, which conduct electricity, and parts from its horns and wings that are essential for creating gear with high Thunder Resistance and offensive capabilities. Hunters can obtain these drops by breaking specific parts like the head and wings, and severing the tail for additional rewards. Utilizing these materials allows players to better prepare for battles against Rey Dau and other thunder-elemental monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds.

If you’re wondering what Rey Dau drops in Monster Hunter Wilds, you can find a handy list below:

Low Rank materials

Material

Availability/Probability

Frequency

Source

Rey Dau Wingtalon Target rewards (x1/15%). Broken part rewards (x2/100%). Carving (x1/18%) 4 stars Wings
Rey Dau Scale Target rewards (x1/25%). Wound Destroyed Reward (x1/50%). Carving (x1/28%) 3 stars N/A
Rey Dau Shell Target rewards (x1/25%). Wound destroyed reward (x1/50%). Carving (x1/23%) 3 stars N/A
Rey Day Thunderhorn Target rewards (x1/11%). Broken part rewards (x1/100%). Carving (x1/13%) 3 stars Head
Rey Dau Tail Target rewards (x1/11%). Carving (x1/11%). Carving Severed Part (x1/88%) 3 stars Tail
Rey Dau Certificate Target Rewards (x1/8%) 1 star N/A
Rey Dau Plate Target rewards (x1/5%). Carving (x1/7%). Carving Severed Part (x1/12%) 1 star Tail

How can I exploit Rey Dau’s water and ice weaknesses effectively

To exploit Rey Dau’s Water and Ice weaknesses effectively in Monster Hunter Wilds, focus on using weapons and attacks imbued with these elements, as they deal significantly increased damage to the monster. Equip weapons with Water or Ice elemental damage, such as Ice Artisan or Jin Dahaad weapons for Ice, or Water-based options like the Tsunami Edge (Dual Blades) or Aqua Lance (Lance) if Ice weapons are unavailable.

Use Water Ammo, Freeze Ammo, Puddle Pods, and Frost Pods to supplement your elemental damage, and consider skills like Water Attack, Ice Attack, Critical Element, and Charge Master to maximize damage output. Target Rey Dau’s primary weak points-the head, wings, and tail-to inflict the most damage and break or sever parts, which also reduces its combat effectiveness and aggression.

During the fight, leverage environmental advantages such as falling boulders to stagger Rey Dau and create openings for attacks. Use Flash Pods to interrupt its attacks and create windows for damage, especially after dodging its lightning beam attack. Maintain high mobility to avoid its swift aerial and lightning attacks, and prepare with potions and meals that boost health, stamina, and elemental resistance to withstand its thunder damage.

In summary, combining elemental Water or Ice weapons and ammo, focusing attacks on Rey Dau’s vulnerable parts, utilizing status and environmental aids, and maintaining strong defense and mobility will allow you to exploit its weaknesses effectively and prevail in battle.

What weapons with Water or Ice elements are most effective against Rey Dau

The most effective weapons against Rey Dau in Monster Hunter Wilds are those with Ice elemental damage, as Ice has a stronger impact on its weak points-especially the head-compared to Water, which is generally rated lower in elemental effectiveness. Recommended Ice-element weapons include Ice Artisan and Jin Dahaad weapon lines, which capitalize on Rey Dau’s vulnerability to Ice.

For Water element, while it is somewhat effective, it is generally considered secondary to Ice. Water-based weapons like Artian Water weapons can be used, particularly if you prefer ranged combat such as bows, but Ice remains the superior choice overall.

Additionally, weapon types that allow for targeting Rey Dau’s head, wings, and tail-its most vulnerable parts-are advantageous. Great Swords and Hammers are noted for dealing high damage with slashing or blunt attacks to the head, while Long Swords and Hunting Horns with Ice elemental damage are also strong options.

In summary, prioritize Ice elemental weapons, especially those from the Ice Artisan or Jin Dahaad lines, and focus on weapons that enable precise attacks to Rey Dau’s head and breakable parts for maximum effectiveness. Water elemental weapons can be a fallback but are less optimal than Ice.

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Bhromor Rahman

As a law student at the University of Ottawa, I lead a bit of a double life. My days are spent working in the courts, and my nights are dedicated to my work as a professional journalist, where I get to share what I'm learning in a creative way.

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