Kirin


 * [[Image:Kirin-icon-dd.gif]] "A mystical beast cloaked in flame."

Kirin is a Summon of the Mars element. It is one of sixteen summons that is automatically available as soon as the player has acquired the necessary Djinn.

Basic Characteristics
For a successful summoning of Kirin, the player must have two Mars Djinn on Standby. Kirin has a base Mars power of 60 and also does additional damage equivalent to 6% of the enemy’s maximum HP. Afterwards, the summoner's Mars Power will be raised by 30 points.

In Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age, Kirin's summon sequence features a humanoid on a flaming, two-headed four-horned canine dashing from a forest and charging through the opposition, followed by a wall of fire. In Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, Kirin's sequence features a one-headed two-horned beast, and is seen running down a volcanic mountain path. Kirin and its rider merge into a single ball of fire that rushes through the opposition with great speed.

Analysis
Kirin is exactly the equivalent to two usages of the Mars summon sequence. The main bonus of using Kirin is that Kirin provides a larger boost to Mars Power, 30 points compared to the 10 points of Mars. Kirin is typically used in the earlier portions of the game, where the player will have fewer Djinn and weaker weapons and Psynergy. As the player acquires more Djinn, Kirin will typically be ignored in favor of stronger summons like Meteor.

Cultural Allusions
Origin: China/ Japan/ Korea

Kirin is the Japanese and Korean word for Qilin, a creature in Chinese mythology. It is a mythical dragon- or stag-like hooved, horned creature who often arrives in conjunction with the birth of a sage or king. It has been seen as a sign of good fortune and is often depicted as having fire all over its body.

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