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Kirin Tor Familiar

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Kirin Tor Familiar
Kirin Tor Familiar
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Achievement: Higher Learning

Category: General

Kirin Tor Familiar
Kirin Tor Familiar
Binds when picked up
Use: Teaches you how to summon this companion.
Want it Want it | Got it | Exclude — Community: 1.4% have it
Rare
No
Neutral Neutral
Ground

Hovers about and occasionally produces a non-damaging Arcane Explosion.
» YouTubeVideo

Vocalizations (on-click)

None
Wrath of the Lich King expansion required.
1 allowed
Wrath of the Lich King
Patch 3.0.3 | Posted: November 12, 2008

Achievement: Higher Learning

Category: General

Kirin Tor Familiar

Kirin Tor Familiar

Item Level 1

Binds when picked up

Unique

Use: Who knew he was so into books?

Right Click to summon and dismiss your Kirin Tor Familiar

Simply speak to Archmage Vargoth to receive this pet. Vargoth is housed in a secluded spire atop the Violet Citadel within Dalaran. In order to access Vargoth, one must teleport to his location using a tome rewarded by the "Higher Learning" achievement. This achievement entails reading 8 different books about arcane magic that spawn throughout Dalaran. The books appear to be on 3 hour spawn timers and share spawn points with roughly 30 other non-achievement books. Read the Kirin Tor Familiar Guide for the most efficient method to collect this pet.

Note that while a warlock and two others who have access to Vargoth can summon another player to his location, that player cannot receive the pet without having completed the achievement.

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Quality
Level 0: Health 0Power 0Speed 0
Requires Pet Level: 1

100% Hit Chance 

 

Blasts the enemy with a beam of arcane power, dealing 394 Magic damage.


Vs. Flying

Vs. Mechanical
Requires Pet Level: 10

100% Hit Chance 

 

Blasts the enemy with a surge of arcane power, dealing 295 Magic damage.

 

Damage increases by 98 each time it is used. Max 492 Magic damage.


Vs. Flying

Vs. Mechanical
1 Round Cooldown
Requires Pet Level: 2

100% Hit Chance 

 

Slams the target into the ground, dealing 492 Magic damage.

 

If used again on the same target, they are levitated and unable to flee for 2 rounds.


Vs. Flying

Vs. Mechanical
3 Round Cooldown
Requires Pet Level: 15

100% Hit Chance 

 

Deals 472 Magic damage split between all enemies and warps the weather into Arcane Winds for 9 rounds. Does additional damage if Arcane Winds is already active.

 

During Arcane Winds, pets cannot be stunned or rooted.


Vs. Flying

Vs. Mechanical
Requires Pet Level: 4

100% Hit Chance 

 

Deals 197 Magic damage to the enemy's active pet and 118 Magic damage to the enemy's backline pets.


Vs. Flying

Vs. Mechanical
3 Round Cooldown
Requires Pet Level: 20

100% Hit Chance 

 

Rots the target's flesh, dealing 492 Undead damage and transforming them into Undead for 5 rounds.


Vs. Humanoid

Vs. Aquatic
Elemental

Passive: 

Elementals ignore all negative weather effects. Enemy pets can still gain the beneficial effects from weather when facing an elemental.

 

Damage Taken 

50% from Aquatic abilities

33% from Mechanical abilities

Dalaran (Northrend) — Northrend
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Site MVPAxarien 
Rating: +9   [Report]
On many servers, there will be a channel called "higherlearning" established by people hunting the books. Join it, because often people will announce in the channel when they find a book.

The books will despawn 3 minutes after being opened, and any number of people can read them in that time. iirc, the books will respawn between 3 and 4 hours after despawning.
Sep 27, 2009 at 10:12am | Edits: 1 | Kel'Thuzad-us | Pets: 932 Compare collections | Score: 5571
Top RaterAlaylith 
Rating: +7   [Report]
It's horrible how small it is now! ;_; It was always so cool that it was almost as big as my gnome and now it's so tiny you almost can't see it! Just why did Blizzard do that; the familiar was perfect the way it was. :(
Sep 23, 2012 at 7:10am | Edits: 0 | Antonidas-eu | Pets: 1140 Compare collections | Score: 6720
Site MVPKendrah 
Rating: +6   [Report]

This took me three weeks to get but it's mine! I got the tomtom points and made a macro. Here is all the points:

 

1) 56.59 45.67

2) 52.34 54.8

3) 30.89 46.15

4) 26.60 52.14

5) 43.49 47

6) 84.42 52.65

7) 46.87 39.12

8) 46.95 40.02

 

Note: 3 and 4 are in the same building. 3 is downstairs. 4 is upstairs.

7 and 8 are in the same building. 8 is downstairs. 7 is upstairs. It's normal to see other books in these spots. These are the fake books that spawn. You need to read them to get them to despawn. The respawn rate isn't exact and the right books don't necessarily respawn after a server reset (personally tested.)

 

I just made a macro of these points and when I read one then I went in and deleted that from the macro.

Nov 24, 2013 at 10:54am | Edits: 2 | Thrall-us | Pets: 1204 Compare collections | Score: 9579
Esilianai 
Rating: +6   [Report]

Incredibly annoying how much they've shrunk this pet.

Oct 6, 2012 at 6:36am | Edits: 0 | Draenor-eu | Pets: 575 Compare collections | Score: 2663
Mrbeankc 
Rating: +4   [Report]
If you're a gnome this pet is actually bigger than you are.
Sep 27, 2009 at 4:05am | Edits: 0 | Lightbringer-us | Pets: 719 Compare collections | Score: 4299
Site MVPFhina 
Rating: +3   [Report]
They shrank him. One of the coolest things about him was how big he is (was /cry), and now he even looks small standing next to my goblin. :(
Sep 3, 2012 at 8:19pm | Edits: 0 | Thrall-us | Pets: 1677 Compare collections | Score: 13410
Moonsindria 
Rating: +2   [Report]

I just got this pet after searching randomly for the books since WotLK came out!  This is THE PET for beating Chi-Chi in the Celestial Tournament... since the Howlbomb nerf during the Legion Pre-patch.  Use Rot to change Chi-Chi into the Undead family, this allows a team of two critters to take out Chi-Chi, as critters take low damage from Chi-Chi, and she will now suffer the Undead disadvantage against their attacks.

Jul 28, 2016 at 12:58am | Edits: 1 | Proudmoore-us | Pets: 1651 Compare collections | Score: 13208
Runia 
Rating: +2   [Report]
The best thing about this striking pet is that when you throw a ball for him to fetch... he doesn't carry it back to you in his hands, but rather in his mouth! Silly creature -- you've got 2 hands with lovely bracelets on -- why not use 'em?
Sep 30, 2009 at 8:13am | Edits: 0 | Ghostlands-us | Pets: 349 Compare collections | Score: 1737
Adalace 
Rating: +1   [Report]

Here are waypoint macros you can use with the addon TomTom. You will need a total of three macros to hold all of the /way commands because of the per-macro character limit.

 

 

http://pastebin.com/hixVuNNc

 

 

I have to post them in that link because this message cannot hold enough characters.

Dec 8, 2012 at 6:15pm | Edits: 0 | Trollbane-us | Pets: 751 Compare collections | Score: 4216
Bubbles1015 
Rating: +1   [Report]
I truly thought this pet was going to be a nightmare to get given the spawn rate and the 'nonsense' books (as my hubby and I came to call them). Thankfully hubby and I got lucky and managed to get into the spawn timing quickly so we were able to time out check runs. There are some fabulous tips on this site and the guide is a must read so you can be sure you are looking in the right places. Then it is just a matter of some patience and a little luck. Good fun and easier to do with a friend!
Dec 3, 2011 at 8:15pm | Edits: 0 | Khaz'goroth-us | Pets: 727 Compare collections | Score: 4066
Ame 
Rating: +1   [Report]
I camped books while watching Blizzcon and got most of them knocked out. One of the most pleasant surprises about hunting this pet was how friendly the opposite faction was. I ran into the same handful of people over and over again, and we had a few amusing emote conversations about our impatience, frustration, hopefulness and disappointment. It seems that 'pet collector' supersedes faction loyalty. =D
Nov 10, 2010 at 3:56pm | Edits: 0 | Area 52-us | Pets: 172 Compare collections | Score: 0
Top RaterGriselda 
Rating: +1   [Report]
Use the buddy system!! My guild leader, his wife and I camped different spots and all 3 of us were in a group. We were able to tell each other when trash spawned and therefore try back in roughly 3 hours (usually did take longer than 3 but always better to be safe than sorry). More than one person can click on the book, in fact I read that 3-4 people could click the book before it would despawn. Don't be greedy! When a book spawns, share the wealth!
Nov 12, 2009 at 11:06pm | Edits: 0 | Tichondrius-us | Pets: 835 Compare collections | Score: 4852
Faliena 
Rating: 0   [Report]

Getting totally discouraged. I only have to get the book of Illusion and it seems to be a true Illusion to me. I have been writing down all my times when a book appears. It's been 10 times and all false books. With the spawn time of 2.5 to 4 hours each spawn at this location, it's taking me days. I do hope the game will allow me to get this last book soon now. I've spent too much time on it to give up now, but I am as I said getting discouraged.

 

UPDATE: After a few more tries, I finally got it!

Mar 8, 2024 at 1:47am | Edits: 1 | Eldre'Thalas-us | Pets: 1506 Compare collections | Score: 10910
Kätn 
Rating: 0   [Report]

If you can’t find your book “The Schools of Arcane Magic - Mastery” look in your toy box!  

Sep 4, 2023 at 4:08pm | Edits: 0 | Silvermoon-us | Pets: 1632 Compare collections | Score: 11347
Top RaterGbh102 
Rating: 0   [Report]

After quite a looonggg time finally did it ;). It appears that right now, during the SL release, people are too busy to do this achie, so books were up there almost every 2 - 3 hours. Many fakes tho so it took a little, yet, as said - final four books were very, VERY fast to find (again, as said, right now, during SL ;)) comparing to previous four. If u still after this beauty, the time is NOW !!!! It's a one-time opportunity so GO FOR IT ;). Happy hunting ;).

Nov 25, 2020 at 7:42pm | Edits: 0 | Burning Legion-eu | Pets: 1483 Compare collections | Score: 11849
Sakkath 
Rating: 0   [Report]

Im cursed with the books, got 6 fasle ones in the "portal room", and i dont have any of the others.. starting to go crazy for real!

Aug 10, 2016 at 10:58pm | Edits: 0 | Silvermoon-eu | Pets: 933 Compare collections | Score: 5562
Site MVPCopefresh 
Rating: 0   [Report]

Can someone confirm or deny if realm hopping increases your chances of finding books please?

 

Update: Confirmed this can work just takes some persistance =) good luck everyone

Jan 3, 2016 at 2:34am | Edits: 1 | Exodar-us | Pets: 1015 Compare collections | Score: 7750
Top RaterUnknownhand 
Rating: 0   [Report]

The new pets may look similar but the Kirin Tor Familiar is still a cool pet to get. While it's talents are mainly focused on killing Flying pets... Rot has the ability to make even mechanical pets on the same level in taking damage.

Dec 28, 2015 at 12:42pm | Edits: 0 | Haomarush-us | Pets: 965 Compare collections | Score: 5589
Site MVPPickles 
Rating: 0   [Report]

It's amazing that I finally got to the point of having one book to get, how many FALSE books have spawned.  my count is 5 bad spawns at the first floor of the Inn!!!! Will be happy to get this one in the rear-view mirror :)

 

Feb 24, 2015 at 11:40am | Edits: 0 | Grizzly Hills-us | Pets: 601 Compare collections | Score: 3051
Cyndelius 
Rating: 0   [Report]

This pet was a real pain in the rear to get, took me about three days of constant vigilance. After spending countless hours in Dalaran I made my Blood Elf mage wear some kirin tor xmog to go with the city and pet, in the end I got my pet and I am damn happy. Sad that he no longer has the move that copies the enemies last move, now he has rot which makes no sense..

Feb 11, 2015 at 6:51pm | Edits: 0 | Suramar-us | Pets: 147 Compare collections | Score: 729
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To prevent apprentices from secretly using the familiar to complete their chores, the archmagi placed the ritual required to summon the creature across the pages of several spellbooks hidden throughout Dalaran.
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