Hello, I'm XenoTek the current starting jungler on the new Phoenix Reign roster. Welcome to my Jungle
Krul Guide, where I will explain how I play
Krul successfully in both ranked and competitive matches. Krul is a frontline warrior that excels at catching enemies out of positon and endlessly slowing/weaking them.
I hope you enjoy!
-Xeno
After standing in brush (not moving at all) for 1.5 seconds, Krul gains a large movement speed boost for the next 2 seconds and his next basic attack will slow the target by 40% for 3 seconds. This is one of the most important parts of Krul’s kit, as he needs to stick to the enemy in order to deal damage and weaken them for his team. Shadows Empower Me is an extremely good engage tool, movement tool around the map, and fantastic ganking tool. Be sure to charge Shadows Empower Me before attempting a gank or engaging a team fight if possible. It is very good for catching enemies off guard, and Kurds should move from brush to brush around the map to fully take advantage of the perk.
When activated, Krul dashes to a selected target, dealing damage and applying any basic attack effects that may be available (Dead Man’s Rush can apply the slow from Krul’s perk). Additionally, using Dead Man’s Rush activates a fairly large temporary barrier (2.5 seconds scaling with bonus CP).
Use Dead Man’s Rush as a gap closing tool or, if you don’t need to close a gap, as an extra damage source/health barrier. Try to save Dead Man’s Rush as long as possible in order to maximize your stickiness and gap closing potential. The barrier on Dead Man’s Rush is extremely important to Krul’s survivability, so use it when you anticipate lots of incoming damage.
Upgrade Priority:
I’d recommend unlocking Dead Man’s Rush second and NOT taking the overdrive. Each upgrade to Dead Man’s Rush slightly decreases the cooldown and provides a larger health barrier. However, the overdrive bonuses are not enough to outweigh the final rank of Krul’s ultimate and as such you should usually avoid taking the Overdrive.
Krul’s Spectral Smite has two components in a passive effect and as well as an active effect. Passively, with each basic attack, Krul applies a stack of Weakness to an enemy to a maximum of 8 stacks. Each stack reduces the target’s damage by about 6%, meaning that at 8 (max) stacks, the target’s damage will be reduced by almost 50%. Additionally, Krul gains increased life steal against targets that are weakened, greatly increasing his potential survivability. When Spectral Smite is activated on an enemy, the Weakness stacks are detonated, dealing increased damage and gaining increased health based on the number of stacks consumed.
The Weakness stacks from the passive on Spectral Smite are extremely important to Krul’s kit, and the active part is his main execute tool and usually a main damage source. Try to get as many stacks as possible on the enemy for maximum effect, meaning that attack speed is extremely important on Krul. Once you have as many stacks as possible, you can choose to detonate the stacks or leave them on the enemy to reduce their total damage output. I would recommend keeping the Weakness stacks on the enemy until you are sure that the active Smite will kill the enemy. Otherwise, it is more beneficial to play a support-like role for your team by limiting the damage of the enemy.
Upgrade Priority:
Spectral Smite is Krul’s most important ability and should be treated as such. Unlock it first to access the Weakness stacks as soon as possible and for a faster jungle clear. Upgrade it whenever it is available for upgrade, and take the overdrive on level 8. Each upgrade to Spectral Smite has many perks, such as a lower cooldown, increased damage and healing as well as lifesteal/healing per stack.
When activated, Krul throws his sword in the target direction. If the sword does not hit an enemy before it reaches its max duration, the sword will boomerang back to Krul. The first enemy hero hit by this will be stunned and then slowed. The damage and duration of the stun increases with the distance the sword has traveled, meaning for to get the maximum stun duration occurs as the sword nears right before the Sword reaches Krul on its boomerang back. To fully utilize the cooldown, damage and stun duration of this ability, I would recommend maxing it at its third rank.
From Hell’s Heart has many different uses, but is usually used to either pick someone off or lock someone down for a long duration with the boomerang throw. In order to easily land a boomerang sword toss, throw the sword behind you then use boots to run behind the enemy. When the sword boomerangs back, it will stun the enemy hit by the sword if it is not reflex blocked. The sword also has a fairly large hit box, so even if you are right next to the enemy hero when it boomerangs, it will likely still stun.
Heroes to Pair With Krul:
Ardan- With Vanguard, Ardan provides Krul a massive speed boost to help him stick to enemies and a fairly large barrier to help with additional survivability. Additionally, Ardan's gauntlet encloses enemies so that they cannot run away, making it even easier to stick to enemies.
Phinn- Like Ardan, Phinn provides Krul additional survivability and pulls enemies closer to make it easier to stick. His Forced Accord and Quibble are excellent engage and CC tools that save Krul from using any of his gap closing or CC to engage a fight.
Lyra- drafting lyra with Krul takes away a counter pick to Krul, but Lyra actually pairs fairly well with Krul. She has excellent engage potential with Arcane Passage and can provide Krul with lots of extra survivability with her Imperial Sigil as well as prevent dash escapes with Bright Bulwark.
Celeste- Celeste pairs excellently with Krul because while he tanks damages and weakens the enemy from the front line, Celeste is poking from the back line. Krul is also excellent at peeling, so Celeste will be able to survive even longer in team fights.
Skaarf- Like Celeste, Skaarf is amazing at poking from the back line while Krul tanks in the front. His Goop will slow and damage enemies, making it easy for Krul to stick to targets and further peel for Skaarf
Skye- Skye is a hyper-carry that excels at kiting and dealing damage from the back line while her teammates tank in the front. Krul fits her needs perfectly, and can provide additional peel and kiting potential for her. Plus, drafting Krul takes away a semi-counter for Skye.
Krul is relatively strong in the early game, depending on your play style and aggressiveness. After the first jungle rotation, attempt to buy an early defensive item in the shop if you get there before the enemies. After that, make sure you have your perk activated and then attempt to engage onto the enemy. Apply as many weakness stacks as possible and keep them on the enemy until they are able to be executed. Judgement on this takes some experience playing with him, but in the early game since the enemy has very little shield, the execute damage will be fairly high. If you win the early fight, try to get at least the mid jungle camps and continue farming. The bigger the lead you gain in the early-mid game, the easier the game will be and you will likely be able to snowball.
Krul usually spikes around level 6, level 8, and when he gets his sfiversteel in addition to some attack/defensive items. Shiversteel is an extremely important item for Krul because it allows him to stick to enemies easily and catch them out of position. The more Krul can stick to targets, the more weakness stacks he can apply and the easier the fight will be. This is important throughout the game, but it becomes much easier once Shiversteel is purchased. In the mid game, focus on farming and pressuring the jungle. Remember to gank every once in a while to keep the enemy laner on edge, and maybe even get a kill since Krul is extremely good at ganking.
In the late game, Krul transforms from a damage dealing carry to a support/peel role for his laner. Most of Krul’s damage is actually crystal from his smite, so once the enemy starts building shield it becomes harder for Krul to output a lot of damage. However, no amount of shield can limit the effects of Krul’s weakness stacks, and he can still focus on applying them + slows to peel for his lane carry. Try to possibly engage with a boomerang stun, then focus on protecting your laner. Krul is one of the best heroes to just be a front line tank and at peeling. Use the slows from your perk and sfiversteel, or your ultimate if you have not used it yet. Simply kite back with your laner and slow anyone who gets close. Save your Dead Man’s Rush until you need to gap close, or until you need a barrier. Try to get as many weakness stacks as possible on whatever enemies you can, but focus first on the heroes that do the most damage. If you need health, you can detonate these weakness stacks for a large amount of lifesteal, but try to save it until you are sure you can kill the enemy with the smite.
- Once you have as many stacks as possible, you can choose to detonate the stacks or leave them on the enemy to reduce their total damage output. I would recommend keeping the Weakness stacks on the enemy until you are sure that the active Smite will kill the enemy.
- n order to easily land a boomerang sword toss, throw the sword behind you then use boots to run behind the enemy. When the sword boomerangs back, it will stun the enemy hit by the sword for the max duration and, currently, the longest stun in the game if it is not reflex blocked.
- Krul can actually lifesteal off turrets, making him very good at tanking turrets for his team if needed later into the game.
- Save Dead Man’s Rush to use as either a barrier or when you need to gap close on the enemy. It is Krul’s only dash ability, so it is pretty much his best ability to close the gap.
Thank you for reading! I hope you found it useful. Send any questions you may have to
@XenoTek_VG on Twitter,
Team Phoenix or comment below.
Visit the
Phoenix website for updates on our competitive teams and for more player spotlights and guides!
Pick up the
headset I use for Vainglory and watch my highlights on
Vibby and on
YouTube or
twitch.
-XenoTek
Quick Comment () View Comments
You need to log in before commenting.