- "My brother and I used to have faith in the future as well. But now there is only me. Not everyone can walk a path of their convictions. It never ends - one must be willing to leave everything else behind in their journey. And so instead of placing my faith in the future, I've chosen to put the safety of my clan above all." —Rai Mei
Rai Mei is a character in Octopath Traveler II, appearing throughout Hikari's storyline.
Rai Mei is the Lady of House Mei, a small clan that has sworn fealty to Ku. Three years ago, she proudly wielded the Spear of Levin side by side with Hikari until the end of Ku's war.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
Rai Mei wears her brown hair and wields the famous Spear of Levin. She wears brown clothing, a fur mantle, and a blue sash around her waist.
Personality[]
Rai Mei is a determined warrior and the responsible leader for Clan Mei. Initially devoted to Hikari's ideals of fellowship and peace, she has become pragmatic and fearful since her brother's death. Determined to protect her clan rather than fulfill her convictions, she offers her fealty to Mugen in the hopes that he will spare and reward Clan Mei for its loyalty. Despite her determination to win Mugen's favor, even if it means executing Hikari, Rai Mei appears to be stricken with guilt as she demands that Hikari kills her, giving her a more fitting end than she deserves.
In the end, however, Rai Mei returns to Hikari's side and decides to pursue his vision for the future - even if her clan must risk its safety to join him.
Rai Mei is known to treat her citizens with warm regard, though she gives her bodyguard Kunzo the cold shoulder when he attempts to find her a partner.
Story[]
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(I don't think this is where I should be going at the moment...) The following section contains potential story spoilers! |
In her youth, Rai Mei learned the martial arts from her future bodyguard, Kunzo.
Three years prior to the events of Octopath Traveler II, Rai Mei fought alongside Hikari and Ritsu while they engaged enemy forces from a rival nation. After the death of the enemy general by Mugen's hand, the trio met at the Crest of Heroes to promise each other a victory toast after the war was won. But this toast would never come to pass, as Ku announced an end to the war. The former comrades went their separate ways, with Rai returning to Stormhail.
During Hikari's Chapter 4, Rai met the young prince again as the latter sought her help to remove Mugen from the throne. However, due to her clan's pledge to Ku, she refused, knocked out Hikari with her spear (destroying the bridge to her fort in the process), and had him taken to her dungeon, where she told him that he would be executed before leaving him.
Later, on the tower gallows, Rai was confronted by Hikari again, who had been freed by her vassal earlier. Despite Hikari trying to convince her again to fight by his side, she angrily silenced him and engaged him in battle, where she was defeated. Despite Rai's pleas to Hikari to kill her for Clan Mei's involvement in his mother's death, he refused and left her at the gallows while expressing his hope that she will do the right thing.
Taking Hikari's words to heart, Rai Mei arrived late in the battle after Hikari struck the Bell of Dawn, knocking away a group of soldiers and engaging Ageha in battle to give Hikari the opening he needed to get into the castle to confront Mugen. After Hikari killed Mugen and announced the end of the war, Rai Mei celebrated with him and witnessed his ascension to the crown before departing back to Stormhail.
Now that Rai Mei and her clan are once again on friendly terms with Ku, she has managed to impress Hikari with her diplomatic finesse.
Rai Mei will begin battle with 2 Clan Mei Swordsman at her side.
At the beginning of battle, Rai Mei will perform the following actions:
- Levin Stance, increasing her actions to two per turn.
- Seal all weaknesses. Weaknesses will unseal once both Clan Mei Swordsman are defeated.
Abilities[]
- Levin Stance//Rai Mei can take more actions!: Permanently raises actions/turn to 2. Automatically used at the start of battle.
- True Levin Stance: Permanently raises actions/turn to 3, and raises max shields to 9. Used after taking enough damage, after the last action by the user that turn.
- Attack: Physical attack, single target.
- Twin Levinspear: Physical attack, hits two distinct targets. User's own actions come earlier next turn.
- Sweep: Physical attack, hits all targets.
- Spearhead: Physical attack, single target. All enemies act first next turn.
- Thousand Spears: 5 physical attacks on random targets.
- Thunderclap: Lightning elemental attack, single target. May leave target unconscious for 2 turns.
- Serenity: Raises accuracy, critical for 3 turns.
- Thunderclap Stance//Lightning surges through Rai Mei's spear!: Switches weaknesses to second set, changes battle sprite, lowering max shields to 4 and actions/turn to 1 in the process. Changes reverted upon recovering from break.
- Attack:
- Twin Levinspear: Physical attack followed by Lightning elemental attack, hits two distinct targets.
- Cross Spear: Physical attack followed by Lightning elemental attack, both hit same single target.
- Sweep:
- Bolt Brandish:
- Thunderthrust:
- Thunderclap Stance//Lightning surges through Rai Mei's spear!:
- A clap of thunder echoes across the field!:
- Thunder roars in the skies above!:
- True Thunderclap Stance:
- White Lightning:
Minions[]
Strategy[]
At the beginning of the battle, she will have two Clan Mei Swordsmen fighting alongside that will block her weaknesses so long as they remain active. Taking them out as soon as possible is crucial to winning the fight, and fortunately, she will not summon any more minions after this.
By default, Rai Mei has a high action count and strong AoE attacks. Since her attacks are completely physical and lightning-based, physical defense buffs, Shackle Foe, and accessories that reduce lightning damage taken can all be incredibly strong here. Using Leghold Trap is also crucial to keep her high action count in check. It may also be worthwhile to bring along accessories that prevent unconsciousness in order to avoid potentially getting crippled by her Thunderclap attack. Multi-hit sword and staff attacks such as a Warrior's Aggressive Slash or Cleric's Mystical Staff can break through her quickly without expending BP.
During the battle, Rai Mei may enter her Thunderclap Stance, signified by her battle sprite changing. Her action count is reduced to one, but her weaknesses change to her second set and her attacks gain an additional lightning-based follow-up, similar to a Runelord or Conjurer. This can essentially double her already impressive damage, making surviving her attacks even harder. Take advantage of her reduced action count to break her quickly, which will revert her back to normal.Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- During her time as a playable character in Hikari's Chapter 1, Rai Mei possesses the following abilities:
- Thunderous Stab (11 SP): Deals polearm and lightning damage to a single enemy.
- Sweep (9 SP): Attacks all foes with a polearm.
- Rai Mei is one of only three chapter bosses that was a temporarily playable character prior to their respective main character's story end, the others being Ritsu and Pirro.
- Rai Mei can be found in Castle Mei during the day after the completion of Hikari's story, where one can purchase or steal the Thunder's Roar from her.
- Two of Rai Mei's attacks are references to the skillset of the Warrior class in the original Octopath Traveler: Spearhead and Thousand Spears. Her ability Cross Spear is also a potential parallel to the Warrior's Cross Slash.
- Rai Mei's weapon of choice is one half of the warrior's base coverage set, as she focuses on Polearms. The other half, swords, are covered by Ritsu, presumably an intentional detail to show both of their relationships with Hikari, the base warrior of the second game.
- As an NPC, Lady Rai Mei has a strength of 8, and her specialty skill is Thunderthrust. She carries a spear called Thunder's Roar, along with an Olive of Life (M).
- During the Epilogue, Rai Mei can be found riding a horse, determined not to be late for Agnea's performance.