lol kirin has always summoned avatars, though it is only for the split second it takes him to astral flow, normally you don't see the avatar, you just see half your alliance die or go to the red/orange. usually pops it from 30-60% afterward you just gotta pick up the pieces and kick his ***
he's always summoned avatars to do astral flow <.< on ps2 as a blm its kinda rare to see it tho ^^; im usually either too far away to see it or lagging and it doesnt load and all i see is my hp fall >< stoneskin up and mages are fine tho :)
I've never fought Kirin, but I believe he has always summoned an avatar for Astral Flow. :P I remember a reaaaaally old pic a friend of mine took while fighting Kirin with his LS of Searing Light wiping out over 20 people. XD So I'd assume it's like with other SMN NMs that use Astral Flow; he summons an avatar (in an instant-cast sorta fashion) and it does its Astral Flow attack, then disappears.