The Monster Hunter World</b> Kirin is just like its classic counterparts - a bit of a myth. It most definitely exists, but finding the Monster Hunter World Kirithe game’s bestiaryasy as tracking down the rest of the games bestiary. We’re going to guide you through the delicate process of not only how to find Kirin, but how to beat Kirin, too. It’s the obligatory Monster Hunter World Kirin guide!
Monster Hunter World Kirin: How to Unlock Kirin in Monster Hunter World
Classed as an Elder Dragon, you’d be right in thinking the Kirin is no easy foe. But unlike the rest of the Elder Dragons (bar Zorah Magdaros), you can actually take on the Kirin in Low Rank. The easier section of the game.
Doing so requires completing a quest chain that starts with HR 2 quests (2-Star) and finishes up on the brink of High Rank at HR 6 (6-Star). There are around 4 quests you need to tackle before being given the opportunity to hunt down the horned horse, but if you’re coming at this far later in the game, you can brush these quests aside in 30 minutes max.
To start the quest chain, you’ll need to talk to the researcher stood by the transporter that holds the last monster you captured. If you haven’t seen this before, head to the Quest Board at the end of the Tradeyard back in HQ (Floor 1) and simply follow it to the right. If this guy doesn’t unlock a quest for you, chances are you already have it. Check the board for “Snatch the Snatcher” (which involves capturing a Kulu-Ya-Ku) and head out. You’ll be given the tools to capture the monster in the supply box. If you’re not sure how to capture a monster just yet, we have a guide for that, too!
Beating each quest in the sequence will unlock the next when you talk to the Biologist mentioned before. The full list of Kirin unlock quests is as follow:
- HR2: Snatch the Snatcher (capture a Kulu-Ya-Ku)
- HR3: Landing the Landslide Wyvern (capture a Barroth)
- HR4: White Monster White Coat (capture a Paolumu)
- HR5: Man's Best Friend (capture an Odogaron)
Once you’ve finished these, you’ll actually have to head to a different biologist to pick up the final step. He should be up the stairs to the right of where you would usually go down to find the old Biologist. Between the Farm and Ecological Research guy. He’ll thank you for your efforts and issue the “Kirin the Myth” quest that he promises will lead to the unlocking of another tool (the Thunderproof Mantle).
This is it. This is how to fight Kirin in Monster Hunter World. On low-rank, anyway.
Monster Hunter World Kirin: How to Beat Kirin in Monster Hunter World
The quest takes place in the Coral Highlands. You might actually struggle to find Kirin in this zone for a while as tracks aren't too common. Kirin seems to enjoy the higher reaches of the Coral Highlands and even shares a nest with Legiana. Head to the upper reaches where you should start having an easier time with tracks and find this trotting pony before your time ticks down too much.
Once you've found it, it's time to attack. Despite the small size of Kirin, it's a bulky monster with a tough hide. Its main source of attack is its head, but that's also the softest part to attack. It'll take some time to break the horn, but it boosts your chances of getting some of the rarer Kirin drops if you're hoping to leave Low Rank with some pretty elusive armor.
Kirin's attacks are a mix of close and long range. It will gallop away from you fairly often, and reading its actual movements isn't always the best way to play. Kirin mostly strikes with lightning moves conjured up by its horn, but rather than pay attention to the Kirin itself, you'll want to take not of the blue spots appearing on the ground at the time. These indicate where lightning will strike, so you'll want to avoid these at all costs.
Kirin will attempt to shut you down with mean lightning combos. Getting hit by lightning will inflict Thunder Blight, meaning the next strike to hit has a vastly increased chance of paralyzing you. In low rank, it's typically three strikes and you're out, with the second leaving you wide open for the final. If you do get hit with Thunder Blight, make it top priority to cleanse it with a Nulberry. Be careful of landing at the rear of the Kirin, too. It's powerful back kick will send you flying and, again, leave you readily susceptible to its lightning combo. Having high Thunder Resistance on your gear and food can make this much easier.
Blunt or Slicing, you'll likely have an easier time constantly looking to damage the Kirin's head. It's by far the monster's main weak point, and breaking the horn will limit the amount of lightning attacks it will use. The rest of the Kirin's body is rather tough, with even weapons with Blue sharpness typically unable to slice through it for long. Just stay on your toes. Know to attack right after its own, and peel away as it carries out it next. Rinse and repeat, as they say.
And that's about it for fighting Kirin. It's a combo master, with its relatively small size and high mobility making it a tough target to hit with heavier weapons.
Monster Hunter World Kirin: How to Unlock High Rank Kirin in Monster Hunter World
After fighting Kirin in low-rank, you won't see it again until Hunter Rank 49 (long after the credits roll). High-Rank Kirin is a much more unpredictable beast with many outright refusing to face off against the legendary unicorn due to its frantic movements and cruel combos. This will be a Tempered Kirin: the hardest version you'll come across.
It's understood that a typical High-Rank Kirin does exist, but it unlock method isn't clear. Leading to its title of "the Myth", picking up Kirin tracks like Old Electrified Fur in the Coral Highlands won't progress its research bar at all. It's said that an optional quest will still be made available if you pick up enough, but due to the bar not showing progress, it's hard to say whether the optional quest unlock is down to pure luck or a flat amount of tracks.
It's best not to dwell on it either way as the gear isn't the most commonly used.
