- Class
- Elder Dragon
- Size
- Large monster
- Habitat
- Coral Highlands
- Weak to
- Fire★★★ Water★★★ Ice★★★
- Traps
- Immune to traps
- Inflicts
- Thunderblight, Paralysis
Quests11
Drop items36
Weapons76
Armor sets6
Kirin are so rarely sighted that little is known of their ecology. It's been said they envelop themselves in pure electricity when they are provoked.In-game description
Kirin is a small, white Elder Dragon that hits like a lightning storm. It looks like a unicorn out of a fairy tale, but its lightning punishes careless hunters fast. In World and Iceborne it is a test of footwork more than raw damage.
Out in the wild
Kirin are so rarely seen that the Research Commission knows very little about them. In the New World they show up in the Coral Highlands. When a Kirin is provoked, it wraps itself in electricity, and that charge also hardens its hide.
Where you meet it
It isn’t part of the Low Rank story. Your first hunt is the optional 5-star quest Gone in a Flash. Kirin is a High Rank target too, and tempered and arch-tempered Kirin also exist. It comes back again in Iceborne’s Master Rank.
How the fight goes
Kirin calls down bolts of lightning, sends out bursts of thunder, kicks and slashes with its horn. Once it is angry and charged up, its body gets much tougher, and the head is the only place worth hitting. Its lightning causes thunderblight, which makes you easier to stun.
Hunter’s tips
- Kirin can’t be captured, so leave the traps at home.
- Go for the head and horn the whole time, especially while it’s charged.
- Fire is its biggest weakness, with Water and Ice as backups. Sleep and blast are your best status picks.
- Stack Thunder Resistance and Stun Resistance, and carry Nulberries for thunderblight.
Weaknesses
Elements
Fire★★★Best hitzone: 25 (Head)
Water★★★Best hitzone: 20 (Head)
Thunder✕Best hitzone: 0
Ice★★★Best hitzone: 20 (Head)
Dragon★★★Best hitzone: 5 (Head)
Status & stun
Poison★★★
Sleep★★★
Paralysis✕
Blast★★★
Stun★★★
Stars are the game’s own Hunter’s Notes rating: 3 = most effective, ✕ = no effect. "Best hitzone" is the highest value for that element on any body part.
Hitzones
| Part | Sever | Blunt | Shot | Fire | Water | Thndr | Ice | Drgn | Stun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | 55 | 55 | 45 | 25 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 100 |
| Body | 31 | 31 | 22 | 20 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 0 |
| Body (Electricity) | 20 | 20 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Lower Body | 29 | 29 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 0 |
| Lower Body (Electricity) | 20 | 20 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
Higher numbers take more damage. Highlighted: 45+ for physical and 20+ for elemental damage, the usual weak-spot thresholds.
Breakable parts
| Part | Flinch | Break | Sever | Extract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | 200 | – | – | Red |
| Upper Body | 240 | – | – | Orange |
| Lower Body | 260 | – | – | White |
Damage needed to flinch, break or sever the part (Hunter’s Notes values). Extract is the Kinsect extract colour for Insect Glaive users.
Drops & rewards
Low Rank
| Item | Method | Qty | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Scale | Bandit Mantle | 1 | 70% |
| Beautiful Scale | Bandit Mantle | 1 | 30% |
| Kirin Hide | Body Carve | 1 | 36% |
| Kirin Tail | Body Carve | 1 | 28% |
| Kirin Mane | Body Carve | 1 | 21% |
| Kirin Thunderhorn | Body Carve | 1 | 15% |
| Kirin Thunderhorn | Break Horn | 1 | 100% |
| Kirin Mane | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 35% |
| Kirin Hide | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 20% |
| Kirin Tail | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 20% |
| Kirin Thunderhorn | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 16% |
| Lightcrystal | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 9% |
| Kirin Tail | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 30% |
| Kirin Thunderhorn | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 24% |
| Lightcrystal | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 22% |
| Kirin Mane | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 14% |
| Kirin Hide | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 10% |
| Kirin Tail | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 28% |
| Kirin Thunderhorn | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 22% |
| Kirin Mane | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 18% |
| Lightcrystal | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 18% |
| Kirin Hide | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 14% |
| Kirin Hide | Palico Bonus | 1 | 68% |
| Kirin Mane | Palico Bonus | 1 | 23% |
| Dragon Treasure | Palico Bonus | 1 | 9% |
| Kirin Hide | Plunderblade | 1 | 43% |
| Kirin Tail | Plunderblade | 1 | 34% |
| Kirin Mane | Plunderblade | 1 | 22% |
| Lightcrystal | Plunderblade | 1 | 1% |
| Kirin Hide | Shiny Drop | 1 | 68% |
| Kirin Mane | Shiny Drop | 1 | 23% |
| Dragon Treasure | Shiny Drop | 1 | 9% |
| Kirin Hide | Track | 1 | 100% |
High Rank
| Item | Method | Qty | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lustrous Scale | Bandit Mantle | 1 | 100% |
| Kirin Hide+ | Body Carve | 1 | 36% |
| Kirin Thundertail | Body Carve | 1 | 28% |
| Kirin Mane | Body Carve | 1 | 21% |
| Kirin Azure Horn | Body Carve | 1 | 15% |
| Kirin Azure Horn | Break Horn | 1 | 80% |
| Kirin Thunderhorn | Break Horn | 1 | 20% |
| Kirin Mane | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 28% |
| Kirin Hide+ | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 21% |
| Elder Dragon Blood | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 16% |
| Kirin Thundertail | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 13% |
| Elder Dragon Bone | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 13% |
| Novacrystal | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 9% |
| Kirin Azure Horn | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 26% |
| Novacrystal | Investigation (Gold) | 2 | 22% |
| Kirin Thundertail | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 20% |
| Kirin Hide+ | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 12% |
| Elder Dragon Blood | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 12% |
| Elder Dragon Bone | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 8% |
| Worn Feystone | Investigation (Purple) | 1 | 70% |
| Warped Feystone | Investigation (Purple) | 1 | 13% |
| Sullied Streamstone | Investigation (Purple) | 1 | 12% |
| Shining Streamstone | Investigation (Purple) | 1 | 5% |
| Kirin Thundertail | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 28% |
| Kirin Azure Horn | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 22% |
| Novacrystal | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 18% |
| Kirin Hide+ | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 12% |
| Elder Dragon Blood | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 12% |
| Elder Dragon Bone | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 8% |
| Kirin Hide+ | Palico Bonus | 1 | 50% |
| Kirin Mane | Palico Bonus | 1 | 28% |
| Dragon Treasure | Palico Bonus | 1 | 22% |
| Kirin Hide+ | Plunderblade | 1 | 43% |
| Kirin Thundertail | Plunderblade | 1 | 34% |
| Kirin Mane | Plunderblade | 1 | 22% |
| Novacrystal | Plunderblade | 1 | 1% |
| Kirin Hide+ | Shiny Drop | 1 | 50% |
| Kirin Mane | Shiny Drop | 1 | 28% |
| Dragon Treasure | Shiny Drop | 1 | 22% |
| Kirin Hide+ | Track | 1 | 100% |
Master Rank
| Item | Method | Qty | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giant Scale | Bandit Mantle | 1 | 70% |
| Magnificent Scale | Bandit Mantle | 1 | 30% |
| Kirin Finehide | Body Carve | 1 | 36% |
| Kirin Thundertail+ | Body Carve | 1 | 28% |
| Kirin Silvermane | Body Carve | 1 | 21% |
| Kirin Azure Horn+ | Body Carve | 1 | 15% |
| Kirin Azure Horn+ | Break Horn | 1 | 80% |
| Kirin Azure Horn | Break Horn | 1 | 20% |
| Solemn Azure Horn | Guiding Lands (High) | 1 | 100% |
| Elder Dragonvein Bone | Guiding Lands (Low) | 1 | 63% |
| Solemn Azure Horn | Guiding Lands (Low) | 1 | 37% |
| Solemn Azure Horn | Guiding Lands (Mid) | 1 | 63% |
| Elder Dragonvein Bone | Guiding Lands (Mid) | 1 | 37% |
| Tempered Azure Horn | Guiding Lands (Tempered) | 1 | 64% |
| Elder Spiritvein Bone | Guiding Lands (Tempered) | 1 | 35% |
| Great Spiritvein Gem | Guiding Lands (Tempered) | 1 | 1% |
| Kirin Silvermane | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 28% |
| Kirin Finehide | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 21% |
| Pure Dragon Blood | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 16% |
| Kirin Thundertail+ | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 13% |
| Large Elder Dragon Bone | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 13% |
| Purecrystal | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 9% |
| Kirin Azure Horn+ | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 26% |
| Purecrystal | Investigation (Gold) | 2 | 22% |
| Kirin Thundertail+ | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 20% |
| Kirin Finehide | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 12% |
| Pure Dragon Blood | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 12% |
| Large Elder Dragon Bone | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 8% |
| Carved Feystone | Investigation (Purple) | 1 | 60% |
| Sealed Feystone | Investigation (Purple) | 1 | 40% |
| Kirin Thundertail+ | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 28% |
| Kirin Azure Horn+ | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 22% |
| Purecrystal | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 18% |
| Kirin Finehide | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 12% |
| Pure Dragon Blood | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 12% |
| Large Elder Dragon Bone | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 8% |
| Kirin Finehide | Palico Bonus | 1 | 50% |
| Kirin Silvermane | Palico Bonus | 1 | 28% |
| Old Dragon Treasure | Palico Bonus | 1 | 22% |
| Kirin Finehide | Plunderblade | 1 | 43% |
| Kirin Thundertail+ | Plunderblade | 1 | 34% |
| Kirin Silvermane | Plunderblade | 1 | 22% |
| Purecrystal | Plunderblade | 1 | 1% |
| Kirin Finehide | Shiny Drop | 1 | 50% |
| Kirin Silvermane | Shiny Drop | 1 | 28% |
| Old Dragon Treasure | Shiny Drop | 1 | 22% |
| Kirin Finehide | Track | 1 | 100% |
Kirin weapons & armor
Weapons
Kadachi StrikebowBow · Rarity 5Cross Hunter’s BowBow · Rarity 6Jagras Escudo IIICharge Blade · Rarity 6Kirin BoltsDual Blades · Rarity 4Dual Destroyers IDual Blades · Rarity 5Dark Ripper IDual Blades · Rarity 5Dark Ripper IIDual Blades · Rarity 6Holy SabersDual Blades · Rarity 7Kirin Bolts+Dual Blades · Rarity 7MonarchDual Blades · Rarity 8Fire and IceDual Blades · Rarity 8ZireaelDual Blades · Rarity 8WunderkirinsDual Blades · Rarity 11ThunderswordGreat Sword · Rarity 4Jagras Hacker IIIGreat Sword · Rarity 6Wyvern JawbladeGreat Sword · Rarity 6Kirin ThunderswordGreat Sword · Rarity 7King ThunderswordGreat Sword · Rarity 8Fulguration’s EdgeGreat Sword · Rarity 11Emperor ThunderswordGreat Sword · Rarity 11Glutton Gunlance IIIGunlance · Rarity 6Frozen Core+Hammer · Rarity 6Jail HammerHammer · Rarity 6CocytusHammer · Rarity 7QuickcasterHeavy Bowgun · Rarity 4Water Cannon IHeavy Bowgun · Rarity 5Gluttonous FangcannonHeavy Bowgun · Rarity 7Quickcaster+Heavy Bowgun · Rarity 7QuickquiverHeavy Bowgun · Rarity 8Fulguration’s RoarHeavy Bowgun · Rarity 11Shining QuiverHeavy Bowgun · Rarity 11Thundercry HornHunting Horn · Rarity 4Lumu Barone IIHunting Horn · Rarity 6Thunderbolt Horn IHunting Horn · Rarity 6Queen Vespoid HornHunting Horn · Rarity 7Thunderbolt Horn IIHunting Horn · Rarity 7Thunderwail FeyhornHunting Horn · Rarity 11Indigo FlashInsect Glaive · Rarity 4Azure BoltInsect Glaive · Rarity 7Verdant LevinInsect Glaive · Rarity 8Fulguration’s TowerInsect Glaive · Rarity 11Celestial SpireInsect Glaive · Rarity 11ThunderpikeLance · Rarity 4Dark Stinger ILance · Rarity 5Dark Stinger IILance · Rarity 6Babel SpearLance · Rarity 6ThunderspearLance · Rarity 7ThunderpiercerLance · Rarity 8Naar ThunderlanceLance · Rarity 11Mythical HornLight Bowgun · Rarity 4Lumu Typhon IILight Bowgun · Rarity 6Jagras Fire IIILight Bowgun · Rarity 6Cross BowgunLight Bowgun · Rarity 6Mythical Horn+Light Bowgun · Rarity 7Mythical Three-HornLight Bowgun · Rarity 8Mythical Three-EvilsLight Bowgun · Rarity 11Dark Scimitar ILong Sword · Rarity 5Dark Scimitar IILong Sword · Rarity 6Supremacy BladeLong Sword · Rarity 6Azure Star “Dragon Dance”Long Sword · Rarity 7PealSwitch Axe · Rarity 4Jagras Raider ISwitch Axe · Rarity 5Jagras Raider IIISwitch Axe · Rarity 6Lumu Smasher IISwitch Axe · Rarity 6Peal+Switch Axe · Rarity 7Kirin ThunderpealSwitch Axe · Rarity 8Fulguration’s BiteSwitch Axe · Rarity 11Archbeast KirinSwitch Axe · Rarity 11FulminatorSword & Shield · Rarity 4Datura Blossom ISword & Shield · Rarity 5Lumu Tabar IISword & Shield · Rarity 6Jagras Garotte IIISword & Shield · Rarity 6Thunderbolt Sword ISword & Shield · Rarity 6Thunderbolt Sword IISword & Shield · Rarity 7Fulguration’s TalonSword & Shield · Rarity 11Ephemeral FulminatorSword & Shield · Rarity 11
Armor sets
KirinLow Rank · Rarity 4Kirin αHigh Rank · Rarity 8Kirin βHigh Rank · Rarity 8Kirin γHigh Rank · Rarity 8Kirin α+Master Rank · Rarity 12Kirin β+Master Rank · Rarity 12
Gear that needs a material only Kirin drops.
Strongest Fire weapons
Sorted by element value. Kirin takes extra fire damage.
Quests
Low Rank
High Rank
Lightning Strikes Twice8★ · TargetA Whisper of White Mane9★ · TargetThunderous Rumble in the Highlands9★ · TargetThunderous Rumble in the Highlands9★ · Target
Master Rank
Other monsters in the same areas
Data: Monster Hunter World: Iceborne game files (final version 15.11).