MHW Kirin | Guide, Strategy & Info

Kirin’s Horn is its only reliable weakspot. “Face is the place”. You should be getting used to focusing damage all on Kirin’s head – the tempered version is a lot more punishing to non-face hits.

CC is extremely effective versus Kirin. However, KIRIN IS EXTREMELY STURDY AGAINST MOST HARD CC! The most reliable form of CC for any weapon? Mounting. While Mounting is sometimes seen as “DPS loss” for most monsters, it most definitely is NOT for Kirin.

Glider Mantle is an underused tool in this regard. If Kirin does a transition to the mountaintop, simply make a short detour to camp and change up one of your used up mantles for Glider. EZ TRAVEL, EZ HEADSHOTS, and EZ MOUNTS when launching yourself up from the steam vents.

While not everyone has access to hard CC – try to use everything in your disposal. Get creative (IE Glider Mantle, Sleep Coating).

Why is CC so good against Kirin? Again, Kirin has LOW HP and an extremely punishing moveset – both exploited by any form of CC.

Abusing weaknesses? Elderseal is reliable, stops super-saiyakirin cold, and comes with the amazing Nergigante tree weapons. If you are NOT using Elderseal, the only feasible “replacement” is a HIGH (Anjanath tree, I guess) Fire Damage setup.

Bombs. Look, if you’re having a hard time versus Kirin you must give yourself EVERY ADVANTAGE. Kirin goes to sleep? Let it freely go! Once it goes to sleep plant those sweet mega barrel bombs on its head.

Poison? Is actually not bad versus Kirin if you can pull it off. While Kirin is relatively resistant to poison, “free damage is free damage”. Most builds, weapons, and players will have a low DPS uptime on Kirin making Poison a strong source of total damage. IF you can get it off.

Reconcile with the fact you will get hit by a thunderbolt. Or 10.
Be prepared for it – instead of getting salty you were zapped.

Rocksteady Mantle is, to nobodies surprise, great here. Kirin’s multiple forms of CC are nullified by it. Be careful though, Kirin’s DAMAGE is still there.

Thunderproof Mantle is the next best thing. This oft forgotten item is great here. I feel like I cannot die versus Kirin while it’s on.

Thunder Resistance. Walking up to Kirin with negative thunder resistance is “not ideal” to say the least. The popularity of Nergigante Armor will have many people facing this ordeal upon reaching tempered Kirin. This is most easily solved by eating 6x Plant food for Elemental Res Up (L). Getting 1 or 2 shot by bolts is a huge difference versus “I survive an average of 2.5 bolts”.

Getting CC’d is a sure death. Plan in advance how to stop this.

Thunderblight is a real problem. DO NOT SLACK OFF ON NULLBERRIES. Does high Thunder Resist stop this? I noticed the lack of Thunderblight in some of my experimental runs.

Paralysis Resistance? Oddly, I didn’t feel like I ever got stunned on Kirin fights when I tested Paralysis resistance III. Or was it high thunder resist? Need some more tests.

Divine Blessing (Protection jewel) is surprisingly great if you’re in the market for defense, as with any boss which has massive damage chunks. With Kirin, that’s an accurate description for every lightning bolt.

Ultimately, you can never truly “TANK ‘N SPANK” Kirin.
You can only hope to mitigate risk with defense.
Dodging and “git gud” really pays off here.

To experiment, I tried an PURE DEFENSIVE and beat tempered Kirin in 15 minutes WITHOUT A SINGLE OFFENSIVE SKILL. It ain’t a fast run by any means, but when you get a 4 box 1 feint, it’s an option.