During the opening stages of Horizon Forbidden West, first-time players would certainly be forgiven for thinking that rebel leader Regalla is the game's main antagonist. Ultimately, it's revealed that there are much bigger and badder threats for Aloy and her companions to worry about, though that's not to say that Regalla doesn't still pose a very real risk to the rest of the Forbidden West.

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With the help of Sylens and the Sons of Prometheus, the fearless fighter plans to bring down Hekarro and assume command of the Tenakth tribe. Luckily for them, Aloy swoops in at the last minute and saves the day; comfortably defeating the rebel leader in single combat. Once the dust has settled, players must then decide whether to kill or spare Regalla, in what probably ends up being the single most important decision in Horizon Forbidden West​​.

Updated June 11, 2022, by Tom Bowen: Though it's always nice to be given a sense of agency while playing video games, certain choices can sometimes weigh heavily on a player's shoulders. In particular, choosing whether or not an NPC lives or dies can be incredibly difficult for a variety of reasons. In some instances, players may have formed an attachment to the character whose fate they're being asked to decide. In others, the possibility that killing or not killing said character could have a major impact on the overarching narrative or even determine whether or not players are able to acquire certain items later on can also be a factor. Thankfully, for those agonizing over whether or not they should kill or spare Regalla in Horizon Forbidden West, this guide will definitely be able to help.

Should Players Kill or Spare Regalla? (Minimal Spoilers)

Unlike the game's other big decision, which requires players to choose whether to side with Drakka or Yarra, killing Regalla at the Grove does have some very real consequences, both in terms of the narrative and the equipment that's available to Aloy. For those wondering, the "This isn't easy" option doesn't actually do anything either, so the choice facing players really is very simple: kill or spare Regalla? Of course, unlike the binary nature of the choice, whether players should kill Regalla or not is actually a lot more complicated.

Without giving too much away, those who don't want to miss out on a cool scene near the end of the game should choose to spare Regalla. On the other hand, players who'd prefer to receive a unique Sharpshot Bow should choose to kill her. It is worth noting though that there are better Sharpshot Bows available in the game, most notably the Forgefall, which is available as an Arena prize and is of Legendary quality rather than Very Rare.

What Happens if Players Choose to Kill Regalla (Spoilers)

If players choose the "Your life ends here" option, Aloy will tell Regalla that she can't let her live for what she's done. As Regalla stands to accept her fate, Kotallo rushes forwards and lunges his spear into her gut, killing her before she's even had a chance to finish speaking her final words. After Sylens' message arrives, Hekkaro will then give Aloy Regalla's Wrath: a Sharpshot Bow that specializes in long-range damage.

What Happens if Players Choose to Spare Regalla (Major Spoilers)

If players choose "There's another battle ahead," Aloy will promise Regalla a much more fitting death if she agrees to fight alongside her against the Far Zeniths. Regalla will then show up later on during the Singularity main story mission, and, after helping Aloy and her companions to fight their way through to the Far Zenith base, will sacrifice herself to save Aloy from a group of Specters. Players won't get her bow, but they will get a much more satisfying conclusion to Regalla's character arc.

Which Outcome is Better?

Narratively speaking, choosing to spare Regalla and allowing her to go out in a blaze of glory is undoubtedly the better option and provides a much more satisfying conclusion to Regalla's tragic character arc. It could also be argued that letting her live to fight another day is very much in keeping with the series' tradition of celebrating strong female characters, though that's perhaps a matter for debate.

What's not up for debate is that Regalla's bow, Regalla's Wrath, can be very useful at this point in the story. It's generally considered to be the best Very Rare Sharpshot bow in Horizon Forbidden West and is capable of tearing through enemies like wet paper towels from long distances. However, players may want to think twice before killing Regalla for her bow, as much better Sharpshot bows will eventually follow.

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In a regular playthough, players can acquire the Forgefall, a Legendary Sharpshot bow that can be traded for 80 Arena Medals. In a New Game+ playthrough, players can also get their hands on another Legendary Sharpshot bow called Iriv's Downfall, which, much like Forgefall, is much better than Regalla's Wrath in just about every measurable way, as evidenced by the stats a little further down the page.

That said, if players already know that they're going to be delving into Horizon Forbidden West's New Game+ mode, there's perhaps an argument to be made for choosing to both kill and spare Regalla across two different playthroughs. This way, players can not only get their hands on Regalla's Sharpshot bow, but also witness her downfall towards the end of the main story. Of course, they could just as easily kill her at the arena and then watch a video of her being torn apart by Specters on YouTube after completing the game.

Horizon Forbidden West is available now on PS4 and PS5.

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