This is my build I've been using with Krul while solo queuing in "pretty good" matches. It's worked very well. The reason I think it works is that Krul has innate survivability. Add defensive items to that and he's a bulldozer. If you rush a defensive item, it allows Krul to survive in the early-mid game when he is very squishy and allows you to build your weakness stacks. This is my first guide, so let me know if you have any suggestions or comments! Thanks!

Before you get Blazing Salvo, build up your weakness stacks, then Spectral Smite. On the bigger minions it's usually 6 stacks for a kill shot. On the double minions I usually open with Dead Man's Rush for the health barrier then just build stacks. Finish off the 2nd minion with a Spectral Smite.

I also kite the minions by tapping away from them between auto attacks so that I move towards the next minion. This allows you to farm faster. Just remember how far you can go before they leash (return to their spot).

After you get Blazing Salvo you can just auto attack and save your energy for hero fights.

Open with Shadows Empower Me. Start auto attacking and building stacks. If they are ranged and start to flee, Dead Man's Rush to close and get a health barrier. Keep stacks up unless you're dying and need the health or if you're sure it's a kill shot with Spectral Smite. I usually save From Hell's Heart for emergencies or when fighting ranged heroes.

I usually start with Ironguard Contract two Halcyon Potion and Scout Trap. IGC offers a small health regen buff and more gold while you Jungle. Krul takes a decent amount of gold to be good and can be hard to farm when there's two junglers on each team. I usually lay the trap near or behind the gold mine so you have vision there for most of the game.

Against 1v1 Jungler

I usually start with the Big/Small minion camp in the enemy jungle side then work my way back.

Against 1v2 Junglers

Play it safe and start with the Big/Small minion camp in your side and work your way back. Lay a mine in the bush between the gold mine and the green minion. After you kill the big/small minion go backwards towards the mine to the next minion.

Against 2v1 Jungler

Get your teammate to follow and push the enemy jungle. Don't chase unless it's a guaranteed kill. Farm their jungle as much as you can then retreat back to farm yours. Try and maintain jungle control as much as possible.

The first item I go for is Blazing Salvo. You need to be able to stack weakness. Once you have Blazing Salvo, you don't need to use any energy to kill Jungle Creeps and maintain full health. (Save your energy for ganks). Then I get Sprint Boots since Krul has little to no escapability. Then I buy Light Armor.

My next items up are Coat of Plates and Travel Boots. Travel boots are a must with Krul since he's so slow at escaping. Coat of Plates helps you with the squishyness in the beginning. Damage-wise you're fine because you can outlast the opponents with Dead Man's Rush shield Spectral Smite life drain and you're either still farming or ganking at this point.

Once you start having energy problems I buy an Energy Battery which is usually not until level 5 or 6 when you start hitting the lane for ganking or pushing a turret.

Total Gold Cost to this point: 3150 (+ potions/mines)

The next item I go for is Metal Jacket. Usually by this point you can see if the opponents are going Weapon or Crystal. 8/10 times they are heavy weapon in my Solo queue games. If they happen to be mostly Crystal I'd go for Kinetic Shield instead of Metal Jacket and work towards Aegis. I then go for Piercing Spear as I work towards Breaking Point. I usually sell my Ironguard Contract at this point for 125 gold back.

Mid-Game Gold cost: 5200 - 125 = 5075 (+ potions/mines).

Breaking Point is amazing synergy with a tanky build. DMR does 100% bonus weapon damage and if you get enough stacks with Breaking Point it can hurt real bad. The key here is prolonging fights. To do that you need to survive. Ranged characters 1v1 can give you trouble at this point if they get the jump on you, so I usually run away unless I'm at a huge level advantage or have my ultimate stun available.

Next items up are Void Battery as you work towards Frostburn and Kinetic Shield as you work towards Aegis.

Mid-Late Gold cost: 7400

Most solo queue games are decided around this point (depends how fast you've been farming and if you got the gold mines and how many turrets are down). If you have teammates that actually stick together, you really shine here because you can lead the charge and take a beating while your teammates pick off the enemies.

I like to build Frostburn for higher Smites and the slow which helps in team fights. If I'm getting burned by lots of stuns or ultimates I'll go for Aegis before Frostburn.

Late gold cost: 10250

The final item you build is up to you. I usually get Journey Boots for the added Shield/Armor and build Aftershock for higher DPS or another defensive item if I'm carrying. Most games don't last this long anyway.

Should I solo the Kraken or not?

Yes and no. Taking the Kraken is not always a good idea. When it's a bad idea is if you're the only teammate alive. Usually two things will happen. You'll get the Kraken stolen. Or, you'll unleash him and the enemy will burn him down and get 500 gold each and you -maybe- kill 1 turret.

Also before attacking the Kraken always always have visibility on your opponent. Sometimes I'll wait until he's half dead before Flaring. It's OK if you have to run away from a Kraken, but just don't let the enemy steal it.

One thing I like to do with Krul is solo the Kraken when there's 1 or 2 enemies dead and your 2 teammates push the lane, leaving you to unleash the Kraken. Then you join your teammates and pound.

You can use the enemy's weakness stacks on a neutral enemy. I've Spectral Smite'd a Kraken with full stacks to steal it. Also keep in mind the enemy Krul can use it against you, too.

You can hide in enemy bush in the beginning of game and wait for them to fight. Rush in with Shadows Empower Me and last hit the mob and run away.

From Hell's Heart will slice straight through minions until it hits an enemy hero. I've used it for some quick gold when clearing lane minions after we lose a turret.

You can pick off low health enemies near turrets with Dead Man's Rush and Spectral Smite. The health barrier will protect you from 1 or 2 turret fires.

Late game with this build, you can solo Turrets without any minion help. You just absorb the damage with Dead Man's Rush and heal yourself with 8 stack Spectral Smite

Know when to stand your ground and know when to run away.

Don't die after 20 minutes. Seriously. Stick to your teammates as much as possible and use flares.

This build (build #3) is what I've been using in parties with teammates that work together. It's much better when done that way.

Breaking Point - same as other build, 20 stacks and you can 1v3 the opponent.

Fountain - Health regen, Shield, Armor, and heal for tanky goodness. One of the most efficient items in the game.

Crucible - Huge health buff, team shield for stuns / ultimates

Warhorn - Cooldown reduction, energy regen, health regen, jungle farm DPS, and the team speed boost is insane

Journey boots - health, speed, and added shield/armor for tankyness

I usually save the last spot for infusions, flares, but you can go for a Atlas Pauldron against weapon speed, Aegis against high crystal, or Jacket against heavy weapon.