Rey Dau is a flying wyvern that uses thunder attacks and can be hunted in the Windward Plains. The safest approach is to prepare for a mobile aerial fight, set Rey Dau as your map target so your scoutflies guide you, and stay close enough to punish its recovery without standing in front of its lightning attacks. This Monster Hunter Wilds Rey Dau walkthrough covers the story encounter, repeat hunts, preparation, combat patterns, environmental opportunities, rewards, and the later Arch-Tempered version.
Rey Dau is associated with the Windward Plains and is a major story opponent during the early game. High-rank hunts become available later, including the Chapter 5 quest “Roaring Rey Dau” and the optional high-rank quest “When Lightning Strikes,” according to available guide information. Quest names and event availability can change with updates, so check your current quest list if one does not appear.
1. Unlock the hunt and identify your objective
- Progress through the story until the Rey Dau encounter is assigned. Rey Dau is presented as a major encounter in the Windward Plains. If you are looking for a stronger repeatable version, continue into high rank rather than searching only in the early story list.
- Accept the assigned, optional, or investigation quest that names Rey Dau. Optional hunts and investigations are useful for gathering additional materials after the first clear.
- For Arch-Tempered Rey Dau, check the Event Quest menu. The Arch-Tempered hunt is an endgame challenge with a high Hunter Rank requirement reported by the available update information. The exact event window and requirements can vary by version.
Before departing, look at the quest details and your target’s information in the Hunter’s Notes. This is the most reliable place to confirm the current quest conditions, known weaknesses, usable items, and material table for your version. Do not assume that advice written for the standard monster automatically applies to Arch-Tempered Rey Dau.
2. Prepare for the Rey Dau boss fight
Choose equipment for survival first
Use your main weapon rather than switching to an unfamiliar weapon simply because Rey Dau flies. Familiarity matters: knowing your weapon’s evasive move, guard option, and strongest grounded punish will prevent more damage than an unpracticed build. If you are changing equipment, the Weapons category can help you compare available options, but your current upgraded weapon is usually the practical starting point.
- Upgrade armor before the hunt. Rey Dau’s thunder-based attacks can punish mistakes heavily, particularly in high rank and Arch-Tempered quests. Spend available Armor Spheres rather than entering with an outdated defensive set.
- Pack healing and recovery items. Carry your normal supply of potions and any recovery tools your progression has unlocked. Also keep a few item slots free for quest-specific tools or materials.
- Review thunder protection. Thunder resistance is a sensible defensive consideration, but the best choice depends on your available armor and the rest of your build. Do not sacrifice a large amount of general defense merely to chase a small resistance improvement.
- Bring traps where the quest permits them. A trap can create an opening for damage or a safe recovery moment. Their usefulness depends on the hunt’s rules and the monster’s state, so treat them as opportunities rather than a complete strategy.
- Eat before leaving camp. Use the meal or camp preparation options available in your version, then apply your preferred attack, defense, or health bonuses before engaging.
For an Arch-Tempered hunt, endgame gear is strongly recommended. Available guide material specifically advises Rarity 8 weapons and fully upgraded endgame armor for Arch-Tempered Rey Dau. If the event feels overwhelming, improve equipment and armor first instead of trying to solve the entire fight through more aggressive play.
3. Route to Rey Dau in the Windward Plains
- Open the map immediately after loading into the quest. Find Rey Dau’s icon and set it as your target. Community reports note that setting the target with R3 causes the scoutflies to guide you.
- Follow the scoutflies and keep your mount available. The direct route is more reliable than wandering through the plains looking for tracks, especially during changing weather or when other monsters are moving through the area.
- Collect useful supplies on the way without delaying the hunt. Grab obvious gathering points only if they are directly along the route. A full inventory is less important than arriving with healing items and a clear plan.
- Observe the arena before attacking. Look for ledges, large rocks, narrow spaces, and other environmental features. Rey Dau’s position can change as it travels, so an environmental tactic that works in one area may not be available in the next.
Rey Dau is especially associated with the Sandtide weather condition in the Windward Plains, but it can also be encountered while wandering outside that situation. If the monster is not where you expect, set it as the target again and follow the updated trail instead of abandoning the quest.
4. Start the encounter carefully
Do not spend your opening seconds committing to a long combo. Watch Rey Dau’s posture and movement, then close the distance after it finishes an attack. A brief opening attack is safer than trying to force a full damage sequence while the monster is still deciding where to move.
When Rey Dau is airborne, avoid chasing directly beneath a descending attack unless your weapon has a reliable way to protect you. Its thunder attacks make the space in front of and around its attack line dangerous. Move laterally, wait for the attack to finish, and then attack the body part that is safely exposed. Ranged hunters should maintain enough distance to react to the lightning pattern; melee hunters should favor the side or rear when possible rather than standing in front of the head.
5. Rey Dau attack patterns and punish windows
Lightning attacks
Rey Dau’s defining threat is its thunder-based offense. When it creates distance or takes to the air, assume that a ranged attack may follow. Keep your camera on the monster, watch the ground around your hunter, and avoid rolling early just because Rey Dau has started an animation. Roll or guard when the attack is about to connect, then use the recovery window.
If you are hit by thunder, do not immediately resume attacking. First create distance, recover if needed, and confirm that Rey Dau has finished the follow-up. Many failed hunts come from treating the first hit as the only danger and standing up into the next attack.
Flying passes and dives
Flying passes are easier to handle if you stop pursuing and let Rey Dau come through your space. Keep your weapon sheathed if your weapon’s movement is slow, or use its safest mobility option if it is already drawn. After the pass, Rey Dau may give you a short opening; use a quick attack, wound, or positioning adjustment rather than automatically starting your longest combo.
Close-range pressure
When Rey Dau is on the ground, stay near its flank instead of directly underneath the head. This reduces the number of frontal attacks you must react to and makes it easier to disengage when it turns. Do not remain beside the monster indefinitely: if it pivots toward you, move out, wait for the attack, and re-enter after the hitbox has passed.
Target selection
Use the hit-zone information in your Hunter’s Notes and your weapon’s preferred attack range to choose targets. The safest target is not always the one with the highest theoretical damage. A reachable part that lets you attack after each recovery is better than repeatedly missing a difficult weak point while Rey Dau is airborne.
6. Use traps and the environment without relying on them
Environmental damage can shorten the fight, but it should supplement fundamentals. One player-reported tactic uses a Pitfall Trap beneath a boulder and drops the boulder after Rey Dau is caught. This is a situational setup, not a guaranteed universal method: the correct placement depends on the area’s terrain, the trap’s behavior in your version, and whether the environmental object is positioned above the monster.
- Scout the area before committing to the setup.
- Place the trap where Rey Dau is likely to land or travel, not where it is already moving away.
- Wait until the monster is committed to the trap before triggering the environmental hazard.
- Use the resulting opening for a coordinated burst, then return to normal positioning rather than waiting for another identical setup.
If the trap misses, do not stand still trying to repair the plan. Sheathe, relocate, and continue the hunt. A failed environmental attempt costs time; taking a thunder attack while trying to force it can cost the entire quest.
7. Control the middle and end of the hunt
As the hunt continues, Rey Dau may leave the initial area. Follow the scoutflies and use the map rather than sprinting in a random direction. Sharpen, heal, restock, and refresh your meal or temporary preparation when the game allows it. This is also the safest time to change equipment or ammunition if your original choice is not working.
When Rey Dau is weakened, maintain the same discipline. A nearly defeated monster is still capable of a full-power lightning attack. If you cart, examine the reason: were you caught in front of the monster, did you roll too early, or did you continue a combo after the opening ended? Correcting one repeated mistake is usually more valuable than changing the entire build.
In multiplayer, assign roles informally. One hunter can draw attention while another attacks from the side, but everyone should avoid clustering in the same lightning zone. If a teammate is stunned or recovering, do not add extra bodies to the danger area unless you can safely assist.
8. Rewards and what to do after the clear
A successful hunt provides Rey Dau materials through the normal quest reward, carving, and part-break systems available in your version. The exact item names and reward chances should be checked in the Hunter’s Notes or current quest reward screen; they can differ by rank and quest type.
Use the first clear to unlock or advance the relevant story path, then repeat the hunt for weapon and armor crafting materials. Break the parts required by the equipment you want instead of focusing only on the final capture or kill. For Arch-Tempered Rey Dau, event rewards include materials used for the Rey Dau gamma armor set according to available event coverage. The event’s reward list and availability may change after patches.
For more structured progression help, browse the site’s Walkthroughs section after completing this hunt. Important game details, event schedules, quest requirements, and balance values can change between versions, so cross-check this guide against current in-game or official information.
Rey Dau troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely adjustment |
|---|---|
| Rey Dau cannot be found | Set it as the map target and follow the scoutflies. Its position can change as it travels through the Windward Plains. |
| You keep dying to thunder | Stop attacking during the casting animation, move laterally, and wait for the attack to finish before re-engaging. Upgrade armor and consider thunder protection. |
| Your melee combos keep missing | Attack after the landing or pass, stay on the flank, and use shorter punishments until the monster is grounded. |
| The trap plan fails | Use the environment only when the terrain clearly supports it. If the setup misses, abandon it immediately and fight normally. |
| Arch-Tempered Rey Dau feels impossible | Use endgame armor and a high-rarity weapon, upgrade your defenses, learn the standard version’s openings, and treat the event as a separate challenge rather than a routine repeat hunt. |
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find Rey Dau?
Rey Dau resides in the Windward Plains. Set it as your map target and use the scoutflies to receive a route to its current position.
What element does Rey Dau use?
Rey Dau uses thunder-based attacks. The Hunter’s Notes should be your authority for the current weakness and resistance information rather than relying on assumptions from another rank or patch.
When do high-rank Rey Dau hunts unlock?
Available guide information places high-rank Rey Dau hunts in Chapter 5, including the quest “Roaring Rey Dau.” Quest availability can depend on story progress and game version.
Is there an optional high-rank Rey Dau quest?
Yes. The available information identifies “When Lightning Strikes” as an optional high-rank Rey Dau hunt. If it is missing, advance the story and check current quest conditions.
Can I use traps against Rey Dau?
Traps can be useful when the quest and monster state allow them. Their best use is to create a controlled damage opening, but they should not replace learning Rey Dau’s lightning and aerial patterns.
What do I need for Arch-Tempered Rey Dau?
Prepare endgame equipment, including a high-rarity weapon and fully upgraded armor. Available event information also reports a high Hunter Rank requirement, so confirm the current event’s entry conditions in-game.
What rewards does Rey Dau provide?
Rey Dau hunts provide monster materials through quest rewards, carving, and part breaks. Arch-Tempered Rey Dau is associated with materials for the Rey Dau gamma armor set, although reward tables and event availability may change.