The Evolution of Kirin in Monster Hunter - Heavy Wings

[@ReedBariumfox]

Kirin is honestly the closest we get for a Kelbidrome of sorts, given how much his core moveset comes from them.

[@lonewolfnergiganos4000]

This guy is one of the banes of my existence.

[@HeavyWings]

Same, he was so infuriating on my first attempt. Due to the way 4U and other games handled him I've never really fought him that much until recently though.

[@DarkOptimus2910]

What are the others?

[@stormerjc9493]

Oroshi Kirin is one of five monsters I legitimately feel is missing from iceborne and I wish he was released alongside alatreon, the other missing monsters for me are Jade barroth, gigginox, balful gigginox, and great wulg

[@HeavyWings]

I feel like Jade Barroth wasn't added because they thought he'd be too similar to Banbaro. Gigginox is just neglected unfortunately lol

[@I3oo1ve]

Oroshi and Rusted should've showed up in an update. Great Wulg would've been cool if it used the small ones as a wolf pack

[@stormerjc9493]

@@I3oo1ve I've always wanted a proper wolf pack monster and great wulg would have been perfact especially since they already have a grapple move that great wulg could command them to do, world kushala was cancer so I'm OK with rusted not showing up, but now he's awesome as of rise/sunbreak id like to see rusted in a future game, I do have a different idea of how to implement rusted tho, scape it being a different monster and just make it a state you sometimes find kushala in and we could watch kushala shed his skin in game just like his ecology cutscene

[@stormerjc9493]

@@HeavyWings my thoughts exactly, shame cuz I think they could have made banbaro and jade different enough, gigginox really deserves another go

[@meathir4921]

Oroshi Kirin was part of leaks that included Bazel before he was announced, so there were signs of it being planned for World.

[@xemiii]

I didn't know kirin used the tower theme in older games, fits it way better than nothing. The vibe really fits it

[@shadowdragon1396]

Kirin is probably one of the most consistently terrible fights in the series. It’s awful at worst, and annoying at best. However, the super tacky armor makes up for it. The male Kirin armor is perfect for showing someone that “I’m the boss of this gym”

[@thirstysquidward3554]

Hey buddy think ya got the wrong door, leather clubs two blocks down.

[@TustlePlays]

As a Hunter who got his start in the PC version of World, the earliest introduction to Kirin I recall was NCHProduction's HR49 animation about fighting Kirin. That animation made me exceedingly wary as I got close to that rank, just to fight thundercorn with a bud and beat thundercorn with only one cart on my part, making me say to myself "Well, that wasn't so bad." And then the pre-Rajang quest version of Kirin rolled around on Iceborne, old Shatterhorn as I recall the Admiral calling that Kirin. *COGS AND SPRINGS,* old Shatterhorn was everything I had heard about the HR49 quest and then some. Nearly failed that quest just to get the kill with a Clutch Claw attempt to soften hide. Or the head, probably the head.

[@jareader3295]

Honestly, I'm suprised Kirin didn't return for Rise considering he's based on the yokai he's named after who would worked well that theming along with a revamp to his moveset like Kushala got. I like his design alot and how majestic he can be but found the fight annoying in GU.

[@HeavyWings]

I'm not complaining, personally!

[@jareader3295]

@@HeavyWings Yeah I'm not disappointed or anything that's he's not included, I just find it a bit strange since it would make sense and could've made the fight more engaging.

[@kokotomenance344]

@@jareader3295Rise has a theme of absolutely deranged roster choices. Rajang without Kirin, Basarios without Gravios, Uroktor without Agnaktor, Zamite without Zamtrios, I can go on In fact, I’m pretty sure Gore Magala is the only returning monster that came alongside the rest of its family

[@decahedronical]

Just a nitpick but Kirin/Qilin aren't yokai... They're enlightened beasts

[@unbreakableroad9294]

I’ve always had a soft spot for kirin’s fight

[@GirlyKat9001]

Maaan, Arch-Tempered Kirin was such a pain in the arse... one shots for days!

[@dragonriderjohann7683]

FINALLY MY PS4 IS BACK FROM REPAIRS AND NOW HEAVY WINGS IS BACK WITH ANOTHER VIDEO!!!

[@HeavyWings]

Nice coincidence!

[@dragonriderjohann7683]

@@HeavyWings ikr thanks again for making another video and remember watch your wealth, work out and MOST IMPORTANT STAY HEALTHY.

[@shitpostingstevebecauseall6279]

Also, interesting bit of info about Kirin in Monster Hunter: World, it is the only elder in that game to have a Low Rank version (except Zorah Magdaros). It's not unheard of in the series, Shagaru Magala was the final boss of low rank in 4U, Lagiacrus and Ceadeus start as Low Rank monsters in 3U, but it's one of the few cases of it happening with no fanfare or story significance. Shagaru was the final fight of 4U low rank, Lagiacrus was the flagship and Ceadeus was again the final boss of low rank in 3U. Kirin's Low Rank quest in World is a random optional quest and, while it does unlock the Thunderproof Mantle, there's no big deal made about it being an Elder. I can't think of another Elder who's been in that position, at least this early into the game.

[@dralakba-dusk31]

oh i can. Teostra, Kushala, Chameleons and Lunastra. all in FU Low Rank aaaand... no fanfare, not even an acknowledgement from anyone besides the quest description 😅

[@kokotomenance344]

All the gen 2 elders are probably accessible from low rank in FU because they were available there in Dos too, but in that game they made up for it by being much more story-prominent and overall important in progression. Also Lagiacrus isn’t an elder dragon.

[@DragoCubX]

Oroshi Kirin was referenced in Iceborne game files, suggesting he was very much considered before being axed at some point. I first fought Kirin in World (having come straight from 3rd gen) and really liked how I had to considerably change my approach to fight him effectively. All the friends I hunted with hated him tho 😂 Also fought him in GenU since, he feels just less exciting there imo. The lightning bolts streaking across the ground in World really give the fight some much needed variety.

[@Lutyrannus]

A bit of a correction - the Tower themes never played for Kirin independently of the locale, the music was just named after him. The songs were dedicated to him, but they've never played independently of the locale. Edit: apparently, for MH4U, it actually did play the Tower theme independently of the locale! This is specific to MH4U though, none of the 2nd gen games have this.

[@kyogrecrown5869]

Well this isn't even a unique situation for Kirin. The jungle theme is named after Congalala. And during the frenzied conga cutscene in 4u, they play a bit of his original theme.

[@Lutyrannus]

@@kyogrecrown5869 yes but not during the actual battle like did they did for Kirin in 4U

[@kyogrecrown5869]

@@Lutyrannus they don't play the original tower theme when you fight Everwood kirin, you hear the freedom unite tower theme

[@friskycalibri2293]

The "songs being name after the Monster but not idependently" thing applies to the entirety of gen 1, gen 2, and most of gen 3. Kirin and Congalala are not unique.

[@johan9428]

Apparently, Oroshi Kirin was supposed to be added to MHW along with Alatreon, but both were scrapped because of Behemoth and Leshen/Ancient Leshen being added instead. While Alatreon was added in MHWI, Oroshi Kirin was not, likely replaced by Frostfang Barioth. I am not a fan of Kirin, so for me it was not a terrible loss. Although the coloring of Oroshi Kirin is awesome and, in MH4U, he is indeed less annoying than Kirin, so maybe Oroshi Kirin in Iceborne would have been a pleasant fight. We might see it in MH6.

[@magnabueno5360]

I like to think Coral Highlands theme was made with Kirin in mind. Reminds me of the FU tower theme.

[@dennynavarra]

I feel like Kirin is one of those Monsters that has slowly became less and less special/ legendary as what it began as. In World it literally gets introduced as a random low rank side quests, and the only low rank elder you fight in LR. And while i love its redesign, i really want it to get that phantom blue shine back. Besides that, I hope that whenever Kirin returns, its both in a more important quest (doesn't need to be main story), with its own theme. At best probably the original Tower theme, as its both named after it and thanks to Sunbreak, a majority of people probably now associate the 2. tower theme, with the forlorn arena. Also, while i can agree, that the old fights weren't that best, I still feel like im one of the few people that really like the 5gen fight. It is a really weapon specific fight, but i never hear anyone liking, any of kirins fights.

[@annalenafreund6684]

The Monster Hunter Team belike: Ok Guys we need the female Armor for the kirin any ideas? That one horny Guy in the Studio: Yes

[@pitshoster401]

I agree that the Tower theme fits Kirin pretty nicely, both of them do. Also funny thing is that Oroshi Kirin along with Alatreon were originally supposed to be in base World but were scrapped in favor of the crossover monsters.

[@annalenafreund6684]

Ah yes the kirin video🎉

[@dancarter5775]

The name of this attack, is Kirin... Now, begone, with the thunderclap

[@ShukakuTheCrazy1]

I honestly think the coral highlands theme fits Kirin, especially when it gallops around. If i had to adjust it id make the lightning strikes (based almost entirely off world, as i got into the series in gen5) less random and more targeted and remove the paralysis.

[@dantevic]

There were data for oroshi kirin in base MHW but for some reason never came.

[@jockpackage1770]

the sword horse! man i love the reboot for Duck Tales, it's so good. Kirin also famously showed up in the volcanic region of the Guiding Lands when you see a rajang live up to the lore of hunting kirin and seeing why it does that as it snapped off and ate his horn. a cutscene in older games showed rajang chasing kirin and shooting at it with a beam but that was it. i really want oroshi kirin back, sure velkhana makes the ice structures too but with oroshi they can just keep them as smaller spikes that are more spread around with room between them rather than walls of ice to cause a different way of messing with the zone you are in. man, a giant kirin or oroshi in an event quest like that would be really fun. elders should have their own theme, kirin should havve one but not one taken from a single map to carry with him.

[@Expresso52]

Return of the king

[@shitpostingstevebecauseall6279]

I feel like you often don't mention the AI reworkings between the fourth and fifth generations of the games. Kirin in World has a lot of the same moves from previous iterations, this is true, but he jumps around a lot less often, and his lightning bolts have more forewarning with the shadows that appear on the ground before the bolts make contact. Kirin from World feels like a very different fight despite using the same moves.

[@latrodectusmactans7592]

Kirin in Worldborne is genuinely pretty fun. Hits like a truck, sure, but moves around a lot less and has much more warning for lightning attacks.

[@TheEpicLeopardSeal]

If 6th Gen brings back Kirin, there should be Base, Oroshi, and ONE new version of Kirin at least (ranging from Brown, Orange, Underwater, Eight-Legged, or Pegasus Kirin). PS: Turf Wars with other Elder Dragons is cool, I don't mind which one.

[@meathir4921]

Kirin is fun and unique; idk why people hate Kirin. But maybe I’m biased because Hammer is a god tier matchup.

[@Gennadi_Rose]

I am a casual monster hunter player and had a lot of fun with Kirin hunts. So I am surprised to hear people did not enjoy or down right dislike him. - Noted I am a fast moving hunter, never staying in one place and doing quick damage then getting out of dodge, so that might explain it. ~ and yes his armor is great, but his weapons were handy too. Idk~ I just really like him lol

[@_Tzer]

i like how people consistently fun of kirin for being a dragon and yet it was practically the first one iirc.

[@Hooy-Jaymay]

I really like how Kirin being able to control lighning so easily is like a big deal. He doesn't make sense even by Monster Hunter standards

[@LowTier4Life]

Kirin deserves his own theme

[@timidchandelure]

I would love if they if brought back with Kirin in MH6(and onward) with the first tower theme as a staple of his fight. Never played Dos personally, but that's one of my favourite MH tracks to date.

[@JGuy97]

Considering how much of an improvement Rise Kushala was, I’m curious what the Rise team would have been able to do with him.

[@lubbo5261]

They would have probably given him the ability to "teleport" during combat, looking at Kirins Intro in 4 Ultimate and Malzenos "teleport" ability in Sunbreak.

[@cchieffkiefbeff]

⁠@@lubbo5261That’s something long overdue by now. Considering how much World was willing to change and add stuff to existing monsters they sure went low when it came to Kirin. Just better lightning options while Teostra got a complete revamp of his fight and Kushala was turned into Cancer -The Metal Windbreaker Tornado Guy, feel the disparity between them, and Lunastra was turned from First Blue Teostra to Fiery Dusty Gal though she was added in a title update so they had more time to focus on her. Kirin has just been in CapCom’s backlogs for a long ass time now and frankly it shows.

[@Noble-General-No-8]

Is a great video and maybe next time you can add the THUNDER EMPEROR KIRIN from explorer 👍

[@IWestrada]

Kirin was one of the biggest difficulty spikes in mhw. I had to go master low rank kirin to beat the high rank one while wearing the lightning res mantle

[@Hazearil]

On 1:09, pretty sure Akantor and Ukanlos are only flying wyverns because fanged wyverns weren't invented yet.

[@kokotomenance344]

i always felt like one of the few people who actually enjoyed fighting Kirin more often than not; in both GU and World I had a blast fighting it. It stunk in Freedom 1 but that’s probably bc I was running lance and should’ve used a faster weapon

[@ivertrionnicblazingwell1757]

Tbh they should've made "tower theme" kirin's official theme since it really suits him the best. The other theme that also fits kirin well is the coral highland

[@paleoraptor1181]

Let's be honest, Kirin fans love him only for it's feminine armor

[@HeavyWings]

Lmao maybe. He does have a really cool design though.

[@Tyranid_Hive_Mind]

Yeah

[@fearmination6996]

👀

[@just_a_guy9688]

No love for my male stripper armor?!

[@athos9293]

No.

[@HareHeadGFX]

It's consistent with its weird aversion to reusing content from the rest of 5th gen, but I've never understood why sunbreak didn't bring Kirin back after it not appearing in base Rise. I'm wondering if sunbreak's abundant counters wouldn't really work with Kirin's long telegraphed attacks, since it might be too easy to counter it.

[@alzzarla4610]

I really like Kirin, they're a nice variation to the other Elder Dragons that are more obviously dragons, especially in World with it's overwhelming Wyvern roster and Rajang. And yes, they ARE dragons as they're based on the Chinese Qirin(?) who are dragon unicorns. They even have scales, so they're clearly not "just a horse/unicorn." I just wish there was a Kirin bow... the Kadachi Strike Bow is great and all, but I need a higher base thunder element than 330 😭

[@lazydelibird]

Isn’t the classification of Elder Dragon one that’s defined by not being very clearly defined? Like there is so little information to go off of, no ancestor we can base the monster off of, little knowledge as to how they live and all that.

[@alzzarla4610]

@@lazydelibird Yeah, but Kirin is still based on a dragon is my point.

[@kushaiah12]

I hate how small Kirin is.

[@HeavyWings]

Tbf he's horse sized.

[@kushaiah12]

@@HeavyWings exactly MH is a game about fighting monsters, but yet we decide to murder a unicorn what the heck.

[@alderwield9636]

ah yes, kelbidrome

[@lubbo5261]

Did you know that both Kirin and Kelbi are based of the Kirin from Japanese yokai mythology.

[@CanadianAdim]

Kelbidrome

[@dralakba-dusk31]

Teleports you say...... Hardcore Kirin PTSD (⁠ ⁠⚈̥̥̥̥̥́⁠⌢⁠⚈̥̥̥̥̥̀⁠)

[@kaiseryuuki4098]

If My Little Pony here counts as a dragon, so does a plant. Make the plant monsters canon and stop being scared of the truth Capcom!

[@AuroraBorealis170]

How did you get 4u to look that good

[@espinas5981]

I feel like Kirin would be improved it got a new subspecies or something that expanded on it. I feel like BIG changes are required for this equine piece of shi-.

[@HeavyWings]

Monsters can only have one subspecies so it would have to be a rare species or variant. But I dunno if he needs changes, he's just designed so you have to fight him in a specific way; for better or worse.

[@espinas5981]

@@HeavyWings Yeah, I should have worded it differently.

[@_Tzer]

you know on the topic of ice. as an element it doesnt get much respect.. it took until iceborne for an elder dragon that can permanently use it and not be a subspecies locked to a singular game. but also there is no rare species that utilizes ice even in frontier. honestly if one were to make a monster that would be getting the moniker of first rare species with ice what would it be? frostfang is a variant.

[@thefinalskarm1754]

2:06 probably because he is a kelbi- no seriously if you kick him (or attack him) when he's dead he doesn't have a hitbox just like dead kelbi's. 3rd gen and risebreak are made much better without his interference I think there isn't a single monster I have more distaste for than Kirin, even if using a GUN makes him a joke. Also the kirin battleground quests also feature in freedom 1 and freedom 2, not sure about 1/2, 1 definitely not because that map doesn't exist and dos, well could be in dos. 3:27 oh my god they get even larger, no way fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck that thing 1 g3 tower kirin in mhfu is enough for me thanks

[@Colton42-d7b]

Yeah I also never liked kirins fight and to be honest his design yes he was unique but imo not very cool looking

[@imthe_catman]

Man 🦄

[@eladblaier898]

I don't like Kirin's design in the old games IDK he is always so bright you can really appreciate his face. in World I like the longer fur and less bright body. as for gameplay he's very annoying and the fact that his weapons either don't exist or are shit as well as his armour is kind of a bummer

[@Rage_Gamer15]

NO vasltrax is the fastest elder dragon

[@freshboy3968]

NNNHYEEES 🐎