Kirin
| Kirin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Creature Type | |
| (Subtype for creature/kindred cards) | |
| Beeble Scale | 7[1] |
| Statistics |
11 cards
as of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty 54.5%  9.1%  9.1%  9.1%  9.1%  9.1% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| type:"Kirin" | |
Kirin (KEE-rihn)[2] is creature type based off the East Asian spirit of the same name, a chimeric creature with the aspects of Horse, Dragon, and Deer or Goat. They always have flying - legends say that the kirin walked upon clouds to avoid ever harming another being. Kirin are omens of good fortune and long life. A kirin is said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a wise sage or an illustrious ruler. With the exception of the Kamigawa cycle, all Kirins are aligned with white mana.
Storyline
Kamigawa
On Kamigawa, Kirin are kami. Saviors of Kamigawa featured them in a cycle of five: each of these rare legendary Spirit creatures has flying and a spiritcraft ability related to the casting cost of a cast spell.
These Kirin all play a role in the vignette The Meeting, where they discuss their stance on the Kami War and humanity as a whole.
When the Orochi were cut off from their ancestral homeland, they appealed to the kami for help. In the end, it was the kirin who answered that call. But the kirin refused to become the orochi's new patron, as they first requested. Instead, through a series of tasks and quests, the kirin helped the orochi understand the truth behind their loss of power.[3]
Neon Dynasty featured Cloudsteel Kirin and Hinata, Dawn-Crowned. The former is the first Kamigawa Kirin to not be a kami, being instead an artifact creature.
Tarkir
Kirin have resurfaced in the Khans of Tarkir block. In the original timeline an Alabaster Kirin appeared on the awake of the arrival of Sarkhan Vol. In the alternate time line, a Misthoof Kirin heralded Sarkhan's return to Tarkir's present.
In contrast to their Kamigawa cousins, Tarkir Kirin don't have the Spirit subtype.
Plane of Mountains and Seas
The creature type was used again in Global Series: Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling, which is a Chinese-inspired set. They are said to have been birthed by the Ancestor Dragon. Kirins on this plane are called "Qilin", using the traditional Pinyin transliteration of the Mandarin.
These also lack the Spirit subtype.
Notable Kirin
- Kamigawa
- Bounteous Kirin ()
- Celestial Kirin ()
- Dew ()
- Infernal Kirin ()
- Pipe ()
- Hinata ()
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2020-02-18). "Beeble scale rating for kirin?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Magic Arcana (May 31, 2005). "A Kamigawa Glossary, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Emily Teng (January 20, 2022). "Teachings of the Kirin". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
