The New Kraken - Item Suggestion Thread

[TheTipper]

We’ll if you haven’t played Hon yet today you will find that Kraken has completely been remade. He’s a completely different hero now with no more drench, and a passive slow, along with a retooled splash. Thus making all of the Kraken guides and ideas almost irrelevant.

So I was just curious in what people are doing for his item build now? Early – Mid –Late? He’s definitely not the Kraken of old, so I seem to be struggling on what to get the guy.

Should one grab items that take advantage of his aoe/melee capabilities? Or is building up your defense still a strong idea?

Just curious on what you think…

[Travakh]

With Drench removed he no longer needs a bottle, so I just go Bracer Bracer Phaseboots Blink. His splash attack no longer scales (in exchange for early farming ability), so it's a toss up depending on what you want to make him from there. Team initiate = frostfield plate, despite him no longer needing the mana. Battle build would be insanitarius+shieldbreaker as usual, building to cuirass.

[sHoWTiMe]

I think this new skill, which replaced drench sucks. 90 magical damage? wut?

[Kietharr]

I usually get a bracelet, power supply (I always get this, -3str for a potentially lifesaving heal/mana boost is worth it) steamboots then go for portal key. After that, get shrunken head if you're the primary initiator or barrier idol if you're playing tank/support initiatior. Behemoth heart, Mock of Brilliance, and Frostfield Plate can be gotten as luxury.

Actually, I personally probably wouldn't bother with heart anymore. He has good HP already and the regen is **** now. Frostfield is good for catching people in whirlpool still though, so it's definitely worthwhile. Mock prevents blinking from the edge of the pool which could be more useful depending on the situation

Oh, and the new splash is perfectly fine, costs like 20 mana for a shitload of bonus magic damage+cleave. Very cost effective farming tool.

[PoopyDesires]

I think this new skill, which replaced drench sucks. 90 magical damage? wut?

The spell that replaced Drench is an awesome 28% slow aura.

The spell that replaced SPLASH is an amazingly strong 3 second CD, 15 mana cost 180 damage nuke + autoattack damage that spills damage in an AoE.

I just played by ear and built 2 bracers, enhanced marchers, port key, HotBL (Stfu, I picked a random item off the reccomended list) and frostfield plate. Worked very well, I think I went 10/5/21-ish and we won even though we had a terrible 0/9 feeder Magmus.

[Andes]

So is Kraken's new "aura" slow like Purist's Degen Aura in DotA? from the 2 seconds i read over his new skills it looked like it, dont feel like going back and checking

[dune]

His new skill is awesome for getting the last hits. Only problem is that it will tend to push a lane. IMO, it makes him far more viable then just a ganker now, though we shall see where it leads.

[SHJordan]

Seems a nice hero to play, any new levelup guide? I mean... nevah playd him b4!

[PoopyDesires]

This build literally got me 22/5/21.

http://i37.tinypic.com/vzubz7.jpg

[LegoPirate]

I hate degen aura

[PoopyDesires]

What with Whirlpool now being activatable whenever you want to I don't think degen aura helps much, seeing as any competent player will just blink in and slam the R button whenever they get into perfect position without needing to chase.

That said I'd rather have some sort of AoE ability besides damage spam, never liked drench much.

[CFab]

degen aura makes you a huge threat, which is where the tanking gear and high str come in.

It also helps with post-whirpool rape, keeps them all together for the aoes to rape.

Ive literally lost a team fight only once after having whirlpooled, and thats because it was 3v5. I've been playing him all day and hes WAY better.

thanks s2

[PoopyDesires]

Above poster speaks the truth in some regards. To be honest, usually AoE spammer swill have some sort of disable, I'd rather have something besides the degen aura, but yes, he is much better.

[Xanavi]

I usually get a bracelet, power supply (I always get this, -3str for a potentially lifesaving heal/mana boost is worth it) steamboots then go for portal key. After that, get shrunken head if you're the primary initiator or barrier idol if you're playing tank/support initiatior. Behemoth heart, Mock of Brilliance, and Frostfield Plate can be gotten as luxury.

Actually, I personally probably wouldn't bother with heart anymore. He has good HP already and the regen is **** now. Frostfield is good for catching people in whirlpool still though, so it's definitely worthwhile. Mock prevents blinking from the edge of the pool which could be more useful depending on the situation

Oh, and the new splash is perfectly fine, costs like 20 mana for a shitload of bonus magic damage+cleave. Very cost effective farming tool.

Thats a neoce setup.

[thebeacon]

I get Splash later in the game. I found Kraken to be less of a semi-carry and more of a support-tank. I tend to rush Portal after getting two circlets since Kraken's charge allows more time to escape compared to portal. :3

[PAULNEWMAN]

Portal Key is pretty much required. Frostfield plate/ mock for luxury items.

[dune]

This build literally got me 22/5/21.
[insert picture here]

Solid build. This is what I'd generally head for in pubs.

[Mellow]

I just went 2x bracelets/enhanced marchers/helm of the black legion (needed to be a bit tankier, and I thought "why the hell not"). Then I had no idea what to get, asked a teammate, and he recommended Frostwolf skull.
Was pretty awesome, could charge into people and then slow them to a crawl with autoattacks. The extra hp/mana also helps a lot to make him tankier.

[Tapioka]

2 bracers, steamboots str, runed axe, behemoths heart.

With enough hp you can do anything.
The new whirlpool is awesome. I think you dont really need the speedbuff anymore, your charge works just fine and deals some damage.
You got your slow after the pool and your passive, so you dont really need the charge to get escaping ones.
Charge, whirlpool and splash is incredible, you can get fragile heroes nearly 50% down all by yourself. If your team is waiting for you and aiming their spells at the end of the pool, there is no chance to survive.

[Griddler]

what the hell is the point of portal key when you have tsunami charge on such a short cd?????

So you can portal key in and... autoattack?


Edit:

I was trying him out last night building with Tsunami charge and Tidal pull early on and the splash dmg later on. Not 100% sold on the aura early on but I think it works well as you can charge and then by sticking close your allies can join you and finish off any runners.

Item wise I would just get 2x runes and 2x mana pots then pick up either lifetube or mana tube in lane depending on how I was doing and lane partner. Then complete sustainer, visit base for marchers at some point.

After that I was converting sustainer into sac stone but game was usually over by the time I had it complete anyways. Didn't think runed axe would make any sense on him, but sustainer is very nice on him I found. I was thinking frostfield or barrier idol maybe after sustainer, I never really got to see if sustainer was that strong or not tho.

[Kabahla]

Portal key > Runed axe ?

[Puchi]

I get the following:

Core:
Steamboots
2x bracers
portalkey
(Shaman headdress)

Why steamboots instead of enhanced marshers you wonder? early +16 int is extremly good thats and extra ulti almost. 2x bracers due to need of hp. Shaman headdress is core if your up against strong nukers.

after this i farm a Frostfield plate asap with the new aura its a must makes the use of your ulti a peice of pie.

luxury items include:
Behemoth hearth
You need hp and even though its nerfed its still a great item.
Deamonic brestplate
+armor for you and your team and -armor for your enemys what can go wrong there?
Puzzlebox
If you up against stealthers this is a good item to go also the ms aura is great when pushing and when using your ulti
Bound eye
LIke puzzlebox this is a option if you up against stealthers, and with you charge and blink you should be able to get away ;)

Also you should consider yourself a supporttank therefore get wards etc whenever you have the money to do so to help you team out.

SKillbuilt:
Charge
Aura
Charge
Aura
Charge
Ulti
Charge
Aura
Aura
Splash
Ulti
Splash
Splash
Splash
Stats
Ulti

even though splash might have its real strenght in early game i recommend going charge+ aura since it will help you get more ppl in you ulti.

[Kabahla]

I think splash is better than charge in first lvl why in beginning u can gain more gold doing the last hit on creeps more easily. It´s only 15 mana

[VectorM]

Get on a lane with slither/shaman/arachna (if they are no mid...), level aura and watch them QQ.

[Griddler]

Can anyone explain the point of portal key on this hero when you have freaking tsunami charge?

What will you do with portal key that you couldn't already do... with damage I might add... by tsunami? Tsunami CD is not long and I don't see why you would ever want to portal key in and then tsunami charge somewhere given how crazy the range is on the charge at lvl 4.

[Elerion]

Tsunami Charge pushes people away from you and has travel time. Portal Key makes the ulti significantly harder to dodge.

It's not an absolute requirement like on Axe, but it is a significant boost.

[Zappy1]

I think this new skill, which replaced drench sucks. 90 magical damage? wut?

Its 90+90 no?

[Capricious]

Portal key is definitely not required, but it does help. With that said, I haven't used it since the change and have been doing fine.

For my core I like:
2x Bracers
Steamboots
Ring of Sorc / Stormspirit
If necc: Shamans headdress->Barrier Idol

After that, I would buy things that keep you alive/help the team.

Why I like stormspirit:
- Gives you another escape w/ 2.5sec cyclone
- Gives you another option to get into slow aura range w/ cyclone
- Gives you additional move speed to get into slow aura range
- Solves your mana and mana regen problems


It really depends on your lane/team setup if you go splash before slow aura.

[Dederd]

power supply/steamboots/2x bracers/portal key/homecoming stone
replace bracers with frostfield plate and behemoth's heart later on

[Griddler]

Nobody else seems to even consider sustainer... don't you find he needs both regens in order to stay out in lanes/fights and not be tping home every 30 seconds?

[Alamandaros]

Totally underestimated this hero until last night. This Kraken would pop his ulti, blink in, and suck us all back into a Tempest ulti (where we would be taking max damage because we were all at the center), and the rest of the team would be spamming AoE's and whatnot.

[EnragedCamel]

When you get tidal pull is going to depend on when your team wants to start ganking, and how aggressive your lanemate is.

When you get splash will depend on whether you are laning against melee heroes or ranged heroes.

Typically, I go like this:

1. Splash
2. Tidal pull
3. Tsunami Charge
4. Tidal pull
5. Tidal pull
6. Whirlpool
7. Tidal pull
8. Tsunami Charge

etc.

One rank of splash is nice for the fear factor - it keeps people away from your creeps when you're doing your last-hitting and denying in the lane. Tidal pull is also good for that reason. People know that if they get in range to try to last-hit or deny, they may never get out. So most stay out, which is great for lane dominance.

For items, I generally go for armor and magic armor, as well as some mana regen to help with the splash farming later.

[Grinbomb]

My build:

Loggers Hatchet
Talisman of Exile
Power Supply
Steamboots (I like to set them to Int early on to supplement his poor mana pool, and then change to Str later on for more tanky-ness)
Portal Key

That's pretty much all I shoot for every game.

Justification, I buy mana items like Talisman to supplement his mana pool early. Power Supply is an item I build on pretty much every hero now, saving up 10-15 and popping them to escape a gank has saved me many times.

Steamboots, armor and stats. Kraken doesn't seem to need the unit walking or IAS provided by Enhanced Marchers, especially with Charge and Tidal Pull.

Portal Key. Not as essential on Kraken as say, Tempest, or Behemoth, but I still consider it one of my top priorities. The biggest reason is travel time, and the fact that you are vulnerable during a Charge. A quick on the draw stunner can stop you in your tracks, and leave you with a wasted Ulti.

Beyond that:

Mock of Brilliance (I'd have to say this item is more valuable the earlier it is gotten. If it's late in the game, I tend to pick up tanking items instead.)

Frostfield Plate (Generally my first luxury item, good for tanking, lots of Int, AOE nuke/snare, all in all a nice item)

Shaman's Headdress -> Barrier Idol (Consider this earlier depending on opposing team make up. Against many casters I would almost consider a Headdress core. Idol just makes you more tanky, and provides team support.)

Behemoth's Heart (Even nerfed, this item still provides a whopping amount of hit points, and allows you to push, fall back briefly, and then push again without requiring trips to the fountain.)

I orient my Kraken to a gank and tank gameplay style, letting my Charge and Splash deal damage for me, and using my Ulti to initiate teamfights, and draw people away from safe zones, into an awaiting team.

To make a long post longer, this is my typical build.

Tsunami Charge
Splash
Tsunami Charge
Splash
Tsunami Charge
Whirlpool
Tsunami Charge (Maxed)
Splash
Splash (Maxed)
Tidal Pull
Whirlpool
Tidal Pull
Tidal Pull
Tidal Pull (Maxed)
Stats
Whirlpool
Stats (To 25)

[EnragedCamel]

You don't need so many points in Tsunami Charge early on. Just max out splash and tidal pull and you can easily chase opponents away from the lane.

[Capricious]

If you are maxing splash right away, why bother with a loggers hatchet? Splash provides all the dmg you need to last hit.

Also, your value in ganks is pretty limited if you wait till 10 to start leveling tidal pull.

1 level of charge + 3 levels of tidal pull pretty much ensures no one is getting away.

[Grinbomb]

For the 214 (I think) gold that a Loggers Hatchet costs, I like to pick one up. Probably for the fact that I am not the best last-hitter/denier out there, and it gives me a little more breathing space that way. I suppose it's not a great item on Kraken, but for the cost, I don't see it to be an issue to pick one up.

I'll have to take some Tidal Pull early next game and give it a go. I tend to play Kraken fairly conservatively early, but that could be a byproduct of the heroes I end up laning with.

[rockchalk]

i've had some good games with portal key, post haste, hack and slash(movement speed and good strength)
i usually get a mana battery and talisman of exile early game, it really helps with the ult + blink/charge combo.

[TurpinoS]

Little explanation here on the ''WHY A PORTAL KEY WHEN I HAVE CHARGE'' Thing is, when they see you charging, opponents will immediatly scatter/try to stun you AND you lose the element of surprise. Also, Charge can only go on pathable terrain, with blink, you can wait with all your team over a cliff, BLINK + CHARGE or just blink, and then bring back the opponents you caught in a spot the ennemies simply cant reach before you have murdered their teammates.

I seriously believe Kraken has just became one of the top initiators because with a portal key, you can simply blink - take 2 or 3 opponents with you (pretty easy with the big aoe) and come back immediately. By doing that, and having a competent team waiting at the end of your ultimate, you totally disorient the opponents you took out with you, and thanks yo your ultimate slow and your Aura, they cant really escape after and just proceed to get murdered. After that, proceed to push 5v3 - 5v2

[vaccine]

Quick Kraken question.

I just blinked into the enemy fountain and ported them all out with Ulti and genoicded the team. Is that illegal? They said it was but I wasn't so sure.

[NinjaPants]

I like to get a Hack & Slash on the new Kraken. (Plus Phase Boots, instead of getting a Port Key)

[Lug]

Nobody else seems to even consider sustainer... don't you find he needs both regens in order to stay out in lanes/fights and not be tping home every 30 seconds?

you're a complete noob, plz stop posting.

[EnragedCamel]

For the 214 (I think) gold that a Loggers Hatchet costs, I like to pick one up. Probably for the fact that I am not the best last-hitter/denier out there, and it gives me a little more breathing space that way. I suppose it's not a great item on Kraken, but for the cost, I don't see it to be an issue to pick one up.

It's probably better to try to improve your last-hitting and denying skills without using on a crutch item like hatchet.


Little explanation here on the ''WHY A PORTAL KEY WHEN I HAVE CHARGE'' Thing is, when they see you charging, opponents will immediatly scatter/try to stun you AND you lose the element of surprise. Also, Charge can only go on pathable terrain, with blink, you can wait with all your team over a cliff, BLINK + CHARGE or just blink, and then bring back the opponents you caught in a spot the ennemies simply cant reach before you have murdered their teammates.

If you are good at using line of sight to your advantage then you don't need Portal Key. That is 2150g that could go to a more useful item such as Shaman's Headdress.

Honestly I never had any issues capturing at least 2-3 heroes with each whirlpool - I really cannot see how Portal Key would add significant value.

[Alamandaros]

I believe portal key adds to the max total distance you go move between casting your ultimate and having it snap back. I know that with it, I can cast my ultimate into the fountain and be able to blink just past any of the towers at the edges of the base. I'm pretty sure you can't do that with just charge.

[EnragedCamel]

But it's pretty gay to abuse mechanics like that.

[Alamandaros]

There's hardly anything being abused. Portal key simply extends the range before snap-back, and gives the enemy less time to notice what's going on.

Just today I popped my ulti outside the enemy base, blinked in, grabbed their entire team (because it wasn't obvious I was coming), snapped back into a Tempest ulti, and watched as Torturer, Hammerstorm, and Magmus went to work on them. Genocide and a gg. If I had charged in chances are I would have missed a few of them and things might have not turned out the same.

[Kietharr]

Can anyone explain the point of portal key on this hero when you have freaking tsunami charge?

What will you do with portal key that you couldn't already do... with damage I might add... by tsunami? Tsunami CD is not long and I don't see why you would ever want to portal key in and then tsunami charge somewhere given how crazy the range is on the charge at lvl 4.

You can get stunned while traveling with charge, and charge then portal key effectively doubles the distance from which you can whirlpool people. For escape, charge gets you out of the fight then blink lets you retreat towards base.

treads
hotbl
hack n slash
mock

max out tidal pull and slash first

[Whalecore]

Bwahahah I love this guy. Fattest hero in the game! Splash is awesome. I like how it's an activated skill rather than a passive per cent chance!

Edit: ^Above, yea it's kewl that you've played DotA and all, but not everyone have. Please state the real name of the items!

[FuzzyWuzzy]

Ultimate is incredible with his other skills now, -60% movespeed, -6 armor and 450 damage on level 3.

Pretty much dictates you to get Portal Key. They are more or less slowed to a crawl in addition to your Degen Aura. You might also like Shaman's -> Barrier Idol and Frostfield Plate.

[rpg711]

I have actually went full carry on kraken(my first and only time playing him)... it was an RD game, so no, not APEM.

Items I went:
Enhanced Marchers(old ones)
Runed Axe
Crystalis(forget what this is called)
Daemonic Breastplate
->Upgraded Crystalis to Flayer
at this point the game was over, but if it was going to last any longer, I would have went Behemoth's heart... he does SO much damage last hitting... mana regen is very easilly maintainable. I did not get any regen for mana(except the sustainer regen) and that sufficed throughout the game... seeing crits of 600 was crazy, especially since I built him with splash+ias.

[Arnald1]

what the hell is the point of portal key when you have tsunami charge on such a short cd?????

So you can portal key in and... autoattack?


Tsunami does not go through trees he takes the long way to target area.

[PoopyDesires]

Tsunami does not go through trees he takes the long way to target area.

Plus Tsunami takes a decent amount of time. Ult, wait 2 seconds, blink in and instantly pull everyone in a course of about .2 seconds is much more awesome than Tsunaming them all out of range of your ult if you could even make it in time.

[uhhhahhhohah]

Start:
- Battery
- 2x Minor Totem
- 2x Runes
- 2x Mana Pots

- Buy Hatchet from the Outpost with your first 225 gold
- Buy Marchers
- Buy Power Supply recipe
- Portal Key/Make Steamboots
- Make Steamboots/Portal Key

Set Steamboots to intelligence.

- Shamans Headdress

Survivability:
- Barbed Armour
- Frostfield Plate

DPS:
- Insanitarius
- Breastplate

Take Charge first. Max it along with Splash. Take Ultimate when you can. Max Aura last.

[Puchi]

1. Regarding Portal key(blink dagger)
Unless you get nice farm during laning this should be considered a luxury item

2. Regarding Skillbuild
Alot of you go max splash before you max Aura or charge and this is very bad, vary
bad indeed! Since you need these to skills as high as possible to maximize the
deadlyness of your ulti. You can get Loggers Hatchet to make lasthiting easier.

3. Regarding Role
Kraken Should allways be considered a initiator, but he can be alot more then just a i
nitiator. The way i see it you can play him as tank, ganker or semi-carry. A tank is what
he is considerd to be by the general public but there are other heroes that tank bettre
then him so if you have axe, armadon, Accursed or pudge you should take the role as a
ganker or semi-carry. Get damage and support items when going for a role other then
tank, Runed axe/post haste makes you one of the deadlyest pushers there is..

[FuzzyWuzzy]

Try Tablet of Command also, just remember it's quite good on Kraken.

[Puchi]

Try Tablet of Command also, just remember it's quite good on Kraken.

Thats the pushback item right? i dont see how it would benefit kraken, but if you have a NH in your team he could get it just to bs/push someone into krakens ulti just for the lols ;)

[Vodka]

Get on a lane with slither/shaman/arachna (if they are no mid...), level aura and watch them QQ.

Except all those characters have good slows to counter-act your slow and 2 of them are 600 range, so no, they won't QQ, they'll laugh as they kite you.

[Puchi]

Except all those characters have good slows to counter-act your slow and 2 of them are 600 range, so no, they won't QQ, they'll laugh as they kite you.

not vs. with have them come in the lane WITH you not VS. you Kraken is the perfect support for all carrys with slow.

[Inkarnage]

S2 Forgot to put this whirlpool activation, its still the same as the old one on description, I just noticed It could be activated by reading this topic

[Vodka]

not vs. with have them come in the lane WITH you not VS. you Kraken is the perfect support for all carrys with slow.

See the sentence structure made me think "them" referred to slither/arachna/shaman.

[KajuN]

Start:
- Battery
- 2x Minor Totem
- 2x Runes
- 2x Mana Pots

- Buy Hatchet from the Outpost with your first 225 gold
- Buy Marchers
- Buy Power Supply recipe
- Portal Key/Make Steamboots
- Make Steamboots/Portal Key

Set Steamboots to intelligence.

- Shamans Headdress

Survivability:
- Barbed Armour
- Frostfield Plate

DPS:
- Insanitarius
- Breastplate

Take Charge first. Max it along with Splash. Take Ultimate when you can. Max Aura last.

This

[Jager]

1. Regarding Portal key(blink dagger)
Unless you get nice farm during laning this should be considered a luxury item

2. Regarding Skillbuild
Alot of you go max splash before you max Aura or charge and this is very bad, vary
bad indeed! Since you need these to skills as high as possible to maximize the
deadlyness of your ulti. You can get Loggers Hatchet to make lasthiting easier.

3. Regarding Role
Kraken Should allways be considered a initiator, but he can be alot more then just a i
nitiator. The way i see it you can play him as tank, ganker or semi-carry. A tank is what
he is considerd to be by the general public but there are other heroes that tank bettre
then him so if you have axe, armadon, Accursed or pudge you should take the role as a
ganker or semi-carry. Get damage and support items when going for a role other then
tank, Runed axe/post haste makes you one of the deadlyest pushers there is..
I totally agree with portal key being not as necessary as other items, and maxing Charge + Whirpool aura first for his ult and ganks!

[MABManZ]

I recommend maxing splash first unless you are having a tough time in your lane. The amount of gold Logger's Hatchet will get you from last hits is worth it IMO.

Logger's Hatchet makes Kraken a farming machine, you can pretty much last hit any creep at like 40% health. Since he's such an amazing farmer now I skip the petty stuff like bracers and get straight to the goodies. I've been building my Kraken like this lately:

- Mana Battery, 2x Runes, 1x Health Pot, 2x Minor Totems (You will never run out of mana using Splash, charge is only for escape or potential kill, so mana regen other than battery is not neccessary)
- Get Logger's Hatchet at side shop asap, Lifetube, Iron Buckler
- Finish Power Supply recipe, Steamboots (set to STR, Kraken does not have mana problems except after ulting, then most likely you can recharge with battery)
- Finish Helm of the Black Legion (good early tanking)
- Mock of Brilliance (great synergy with your slow aura, and can be farmed relatively quick if you are doing well. Also this lets you almost one-shot any creep at full health with splash)
- Behemoth Heart

Portal Key is tempting to land ults easier, but I find Charge to be enough most of the time. I think I'd prefer a Tablet of Command over Portal Key though.

Skills:

-Splash
-Charge (I like to hold off on lvling charge as the mana cost increases in lvl)
-Splash
-Aura
-Splash
-Aura (most likely you are still laning at lvl 6 therefor ult is not neccessary)
-Splash/Whirlpool (only take whirlpool if your team needs to push or defend)
-Whirlpool/Splash
-Charge
-Aura
-Charge
-Aura
-Charge

I've gotten the full item build in several non-EM games in maybe 40-45 minutes, sometimes longer.

[kablitz]

played against an organized team with a kraken last night and got our ass kicked. whenever we try to push, kraken would be charging on us with his ult and when we get sucked in his whirlpool a magmus ult would be waiting for us >_< its especially hard to run away from kraken in mid because of the narrow path..xD

[WizEye]

Have you guys been able to activate the ulti before the timer reaches 0? I remember reading that it was supposed to be possible now, but I'm not sure how since pressing R again doesn't work for me even after 2 seconds.

[Jager]

Have you guys been able to activate the ulti before the timer reaches 0? I remember reading that it was supposed to be possible now, but I'm not sure how since pressing R again doesn't work for me even after 2 seconds.
It's worked for me fine in the two or three games I've played as him.Try it in practise mode. Do you have any mods at all? If so try it without them after to see if there is a difference.