Kirin is an Elder Dragon introduced in Monster Hunter.
Physiology
Kirin resembles a unicorn, though a closer look reveals that it has a lion-like face and is covered in scales, rather than a coat. It has a mane of fur as well as a bushy tail tip. Tufts of fur run down its shoulders and above its hoofs. It has crimson eyes and black stripe-like markings along its sides and legs. Its majestic white mane and hair stand on end, as if charged with static. The monster often crackles with stray electricity.
Abilities
Kirin can summon lightning to strike attackers or the area around it. When the Kirin is threatened or provoked, it can wreath itself in lightning, which is proven to harden its hide. Kirin has very few physical attacks and relies mostly on lightning strikes as its main force of attacking foes. With extreme agility, Kirin can literally run circles around its opponent, getting in close to gore an enemy with its horn, only to quickly dart away and prepare another assault. Kirin is very mobile and can jump and run incredible distances in short amounts of time.
Behavior
Kirin appears to be relatively peaceful and passive, yet it is quite capable of launching a powerful barrage of lightning attacks on its foes.
Habitat
Kirin can be seen in the Tower, Snowy Mountains, Swamp, Old Swamp, Battleground, Old Jungle, the Everwood, Jurassic Frontier, and Coral Highlands.
Game Appearances
Click on Expand to see contents.
Main Series
- Monster Hunter (Introduced)
- Monster Hunter G
- Monster Hunter Freedom
- Monster Hunter 2
- Monster Hunter Freedom 2
- Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
- Monster Hunter 4
- Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
- Monster Hunter Generations
- Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
- Monster Hunter: World
- Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
Frontier
- Monster Hunter Frontier
- Monster Hunter Frontier Season 2.0
- Monster Hunter Frontier Season 3.0
- Monster Hunter Frontier Season 4.0
- Monster Hunter Frontier Season 5.0
- Monster Hunter Frontier Season 6.0
- Monster Hunter Frontier Season 7.0
- Monster Hunter Frontier Season 8.0
- Monster Hunter Frontier Season 9.0
- Monster Hunter Frontier Season 10
- Monster Hunter Frontier Forward.1
- Monster Hunter Frontier Forward.2
- Monster Hunter Frontier Forward.3
- Monster Hunter Frontier Forward.4
- Monster Hunter Frontier Forward.5
- Monster Hunter Frontier G
- Monster Hunter Frontier G2
- Monster Hunter Frontier G3
- Monster Hunter Frontier G Genuine
- Monster Hunter Frontier G5
- Monster Hunter Frontier G6
- Monster Hunter Frontier G7
- Monster Hunter Frontier G8
- Monster Hunter Frontier G9
- Monster Hunter Frontier G10
- Monster Hunter Frontier Z
- Monster Hunter Frontier Z Zenith
Spin-offs
- Monster Hunter Online
- Monster Hunter Stories
- Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
- Monstie Drop Monster Hunter Stories
- Monster Hunter Riders
- Monster Hunter Explore
- Monster Hunter Spirits
- Monster Hunter Now
Crossovers
- Puzzle & Dragons
- Gyuakuten Othellonia
- TEPPEN
Element/Status Effectiveness
Element | Effectiveness |
---|---|
Fire | ★★★ |
Water | ★★ |
Thunder | ✖ |
Ice | ★★ |
Dragon | ★ |
Status | Effectiveness |
---|---|
Poison | ★ |
Sleep | ★★ |
Paralysis | ✖ |
Blast | ★★ |
Stun | ★ |
Other Non-Subspecies Forms
Hard Core (HC) Kirin

In Monster Hunter Frontier Season 10.0, HC Kirin is added. Now its eyes glow blue. It is surrounded by sparks of electricity at all times, is capable of performing a double back kick, a frontal flip that also releases a vast swathe of lightning, a charge so fast it almost seems to teleport and a huge array of new, powerful, and highly accurate lightning attacks.
Thunder Emperor Kirin

Main Article: Thunder Emperor Kirin
A Special Species of Kirin first appearing in Monster Hunter Explore.
In-Game Description
MH4U Breakable Parts
Horn (x1) | |
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Notes
General Notes
- Kirin is named after and most likely based on the Qilin (sometimes called Kirin), a mystical beast that commonly appears in East Asian mythology.
- Qilin and Kirin are technically the same creature but from different cultures. Qilin is from China while Kirin is from Japan and Korea. Both are chimeric and are formed from parts of various animals. Traditionally, the Qilin/Kirin is an ox, deer or horse mixed with a dragon and is said to bring good luck, but is also said to "appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a sage or illustrious ruler".
- The Kirin's three part hoof is similar to a Miohippus, a prehistoric horse with a three toed hoof.
- The weakest point on a Kirin is its horn.
- There is no Kirin armor in the original Monster Hunter for the PS2. It was added in Monster Hunter G and Freedom 1.
- Players are awarded Mane Necklace for their Guild Card when they slay a Kirin.
- The pattern of the lightning bolts striking around Kirin can be predicted from the way it tosses its head before they strike.
- Kirin is the smallest Elder Dragon in the history of Monster Hunter.
- Gunners should first focus on making the Kirin sleep due to its low tolerance to said element, then deploy Large Barrel Bombs.
- When knocked over, Kirin makes a noise simliar to a Kelbi.
- Kirin is immune to Paralysis.
- Prior to Monster Hunter Generations, other small monsters are present when Kirin is in an area, unlike other Elder Dragons.
- Kirin doesn't have its own theme, unlike many other Elder Dragons.
- Kirin is hunted by Rajang, making it the only Elder Dragon to be preyed upon by a non-Elder Dragon.
- Kirin was voted 39th place in the Hunters' Choice for Top Monster during Monster Hunter's 20th Anniversary.[1]
Monster Hunter 1
Monster Hunter Freedom 2
Monster Hunter 3
- Players can order and eat Kirin Butter for status boosts.
- There is an equipped head piece in the "Arena Free-for-all" for Bowguns which is called Kirin Earring.
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Monster Hunter Generations
Monster Hunter: World
- The gaps between these lanes are normally safe from the lightning strike, unless hunters stands too close to one side.
- The Armor Mode not only makes Kirin's body harder, but modifies its Lightning attacks to either inflict more damage or have more lightning strikes in a single attack.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
Monster Hunter Now
▷ Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter (edit) | |
---|---|
Herbivore | |
Fanged Beast | |
Lynian | |
Neopteron | |
Bird Wyvern | |
Piscine Wyvern | ![]() |
Flying Wyvern | |
Elder Dragon |
▷ Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter G (edit) | |
---|---|
Herbivore | |
Fanged Beast | |
Lynian | |
Neopteron | |
Bird Wyvern | |
Piscine Wyvern | ![]() |
Flying Wyvern | |
Elder Dragon |
▷ Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter Freedom (edit) | |
---|---|
Herbivore | |
Fanged Beast | |
Lynian | |
Neopteron | |
Bird Wyvern | |
Piscine Wyvern | ![]() |
Flying Wyvern | |
Elder Dragon |
▷ Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter 2 (edit) | |
---|---|
Herbivore | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Beast | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lynian | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Neopteron | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Carapaceon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bird Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Piscine Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Snake Wyvern | ![]() |
Flying Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Elder Dragon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
▷ Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (edit) | |
---|---|
Herbivore | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Beast | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lynian | ![]() ![]() |
Neopteron | ![]() |
Carapaceon | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bird Wyvern | ![]() |
Piscine Wyvern | |
Snake Wyvern | ![]() |
Flying Wyvern | |
Elder Dragon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
▷ Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (edit) | |
---|---|
Herbivore | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Beast | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lynian | ![]() ![]() |
Neopteron | ![]() |
Carapaceon | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bird Wyvern | ![]() |
Piscine Wyvern | |
Snake Wyvern | ![]() |
Flying Wyvern | |
Elder Dragon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
▷ Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter 4 (edit) | |
---|---|
Herbivore | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Amphibian | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Beast | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lynian | ![]() ![]() |
Neopteron | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Temnoceran | ![]() |
Bird Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Brute Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Wyvern | ![]() ![]() |
Piscine Wyvern | ![]() |
Snake Wyvern | ![]() ![]() |
Flying Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Elder Dragon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
??? | ![]() |
▷ Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (edit) | |
---|---|
Herbivore | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Amphibian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Beast | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lynian | ![]() ![]() |
Carapaceon | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Neopteron | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Temnoceran | ![]() ![]() |
Bird Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Brute Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Wyvern | ![]() ![]() |
Piscine Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Snake Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Flying Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Elder Dragon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
??? | ![]() ![]() |
▷ Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter Generations (edit) | |
---|---|
Herbivore | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Amphibian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Beast | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lynian | ![]() ![]() |
Carapaceon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Neopteron | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bird Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Brute Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Wyvern | ![]() ![]() |
Piscine Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Leviathan | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Snake Wyvern | ![]() ![]() |
Flying Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Elder Dragon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
??? | ![]() |
▷ Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (edit) | |
---|---|
Herbivore | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Amphibian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Beast | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lynian | ![]() ![]() |
Carapaceon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Temnoceran | ![]() |
Neopteron | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bird Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Brute Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Wyvern | ![]() ![]() |
Piscine Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Leviathan | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Snake Wyvern | ![]() ![]() |
Flying Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Elder Dragon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
??? | ![]() ![]() |
▷ Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter: World (edit) | |
---|---|
Herbivore | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fish | ![]() |
Lynian | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Neopteron | ![]() ![]() |
Bird Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Brute Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Piscine Wyvern | ![]() ![]() |
Wingdrake | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Flying Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Elder Dragon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Relict | ![]() ![]() |
▷ Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne (edit) | |
---|---|
Herbivore | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fish | ![]() |
Lynian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Beast | ![]() ![]() |
Neopteron | ![]() ![]() |
Bird Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Brute Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Piscine Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Wingdrake | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Flying Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Elder Dragon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Relict | ![]() ![]() |
▷ Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter Frontier (edit) | |
---|---|
Herbivore | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fanged Beast | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lynian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Neopteron | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Carapaceon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bird Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Brute Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Piscine Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Leviathan | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Snake Wyvern | ![]() |
Fanged Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Flying Wyvern | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Elder Dragon | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
??? | ![]() |
Unclassified | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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