Beating the Kraken

[GRILL]

Beating the Kraken is relatively easy on Mayday - you just have to "know" the Kraken and anticipate his actions.

 

I'm going to outline what the Kraken does, and then I'm going to outline what YOU should do.  The Kraken has 4 quarters, if you will (each quarter he switches sides) - so just keep that in mind.

 

For both of these outlines I will be referring to this map that I drew (click to enlarge):

 

 

Key:

Turrets 1-4 = the order in which 1 person would operate all 4 turrets throughout the battle

Green circles = safe from when the Kraken heats up the floor

Kraken pictures = Kraken spawns (he switches sides every time you take a quarter of his health away.  he always starts on SIDE A)

 

 

What The Kraken Does Each Quarter:

 

• Once you jump onto the "arena", the Kraken will spawn on Side A (left side of where you jump into arena from).
• It takes a good 30 seconds from the moment you jump down until Cryptids (aliens) will start spawning and attacking you.  Take these moments to throw out ammo, craft items, and buy TURRET 1.
• The Kraken will start slamming the ground with it's tentacles, as well as literally spawning Cryptids from it's tentacles.
• The Kraken is virtually invulnerable to damage EXCEPT when it's THIRD EYE is glowing.
• Shortly after the Kraken's THIRD EYE starts glowing, he will attach his tentacle to the arena surface and start heating up the floor.  You will be continuously damaged unless you are standing in one of the 4 corners, or directly in the middle (there are "hives" in all of these areas which are slightly raised above the floor, thus providing "safety").
• To make the Kraken stop heating the floor up, you must take out a QUARTER OF IT'S HEALTH (which I will detail how to do in the below outline of "What You Should Do During the Battle").
• The Kraken will lurch upwards in a screaming motion when you have taken out enough of it's health.
• After taking out a quarter of the Kraken's health, he will switch sides - BUT before he switches sides, he will emit a devastating EMP blast that can only be avoided by hiding behind something, or going prone behind the middle hive hump.  The EMP will also ALWAYS destroy 1 turret per EMP.
• When switching sides, you will have roughly about 15 seconds to regroup.

 

What You Should Do Before the Battle:

 

• Make sure that you have a set of Sticky Flares, and that someone else in your group has a set as well (totaling 4 flares).
• Figure out who will throw a flare during which quarters (example: player A will throw a flare for quarters 1 & 2, player B will throw a flare for quarters 3 & 4)
• Establish beforehand for the floor heating up sequence - who will be manning the turret(s), and who will be sticking to the middle.
• Make sure everyone knows that Seeders (yellow Cryptids that spawn the pod turrets) are pretty much the #1 priority.  I cannot stress that enough.

 

What You Should Do During the Battle:

 

Quarter 1 (when the Kraken isn't glowing) -

• Don't waste ammo on the Kraken until it's THIRD EYE is glowing.  This will be accompanied by an audio cue from your character - something along the lines of, "it's glowing, shoot it!" or "it's exposed, shoot the third eye!" etc.
• IF YOU ARE TO MAN TURRETS: buy TURRET 1, but don't use it right away.  Run around and kill Cryptids for a little while.  As soon as the Seeders (yellow aliens that look like seekers, but spawn the "pod turrets") coming out, hop on the turret and shoot them.  There is something like 280 bullets when you buy a turret, make sure to save about 200 for when the Kraken is glowing.
• IF YOU ARE NOT MANNING TURRETS: Run around and kill Cryptids - prioritize Seeders.  The safest area is around TURRET 1, because the Kraken won't smash his tentacle there.  He will, however, smash his tentacle directly next to TURRET 3 - so DON'T hang around there unless you are literally using TURRET 3.

 

Quarter 1 (when the Kraken IS glowing) -

 

• ON TURRET: if it your turn to throw a flare, then throw your sticky flare as soon as you realize the Kraken's THIRD EYE is glowing.  Then hop on the turret and blast away.  You will be protected from the heated floors (as long as you are standing on the little "hive" hump).  Like I said above, make sure you've got about 200 rounds - and you should be all set.  Once a quarter of the Kraken's health is gone - be wary of the incoming EMP blast.  Hop out of the turret and get behind something as fast as possible.  TURRET 1 will ALWAYS be destroyed by the EMP blast, there is nothing you can do about it.
• NOT ON TURRET: if it's your turn to throw a flare, then throw a sticky flare as soon as you realize the Kraken's THIRD EYE is glowing.  Head to the middle hive hump, because the Kraken will soon start heating up the floor.  Concentrate your fire on the THIRD EYE.  Once a quarter of the Kraken's health is gone (and he stops heating up the floor - you'll see his tentacle raise up), get behind something to avoid the EMP blast.

 

Quarter 2 (not glowing) -

 

• ON TURRET: buy TURRET 2.  Kill some Cryptids, wait until you see Seeders - then hop on and blast away.  Save 200 rounds for when the Kraken starts glowing.
• NOT ON TURRET:  Run around, kill Cryptids - prioritize Seeders.  The safest areas are around TURRET 2 & TURRET 4 (no tentacle smashing).  Be wary of the middle hump, as the Kraken will tentacle smash around this area.

 

Quarter 2 (glowing) -

 

• ON TURRET: same deal - throw a flare if it's your turn (as soon as possible to when the Kraken starts glowing).  Unload as soon as the Kraken is glowing.  TURRET 2 will always be destroyed this time around once the EMP rolls through.
• NOT ON TURRET: same deal - throw a flare if it's your turn (as soon as possible to when the Kraken starts glowing).  Head to the middle ASAP because he'll start heating up the floor again.
• Once a quarter of health is taken, be wary of the EMP.

 

Quarter 3 (not glowing) - 

 

• ON TURRET: buy TURRET 3.  Kill some Cryptids, wait until you see Seeders - then hop on and blast away.  Save 200 rounds for when the Kraken starts glowing.  BE WARY OF SMASHING TENTACLE RIGHT NEXT TO YOU.  You'll be fine as long as you are on the turret or direclty next to it.
• NOT ON TURRET:  Run around, kill Cryptids - prioritize Seeders.  The safest areas is around TURRET 1 (no tentacle smashing).

 

Quarter 3 (glowing) - 

 

• ON TURRET: same deal - throw a flare if it's your turn (as soon as possible to when the Kraken starts glowing).  Unload as soon as the Kraken is glowing.  I'm unsure if TURRET 3 is destroyed from the EMP blast, because it does indeed survive the EMP blast from quarter 1.  REGARDLESS there is only 1 quarter left, so you won't even need it).
• NOT ON TURRET: same deal - throw a flare if it's your turn (as soon as possible to when the Kraken starts glowing).  Head to the middle ASAP because he'll start heating up the floor again.
• Once a quarter of health is taken, be wary of the EMP.

 

Quarter 4 (not glowing) - 

 

• ON TURRET: buy TURRET 4.  Kill some Cryptids, wait until you see Seeders - then hop on and blast away.  Save 200 rounds for when the Kraken starts glowing.  
• NOT ON TURRET:  Run around, kill Cryptids - prioritize Seeders.  The safest areas are around TURRET 2 & TURRET 4 (no tentacle smashing).  Be wary of the middle hump, as the Kraken will tentacle smash around this area.

 

Quarter 4 (glowing) - 

 

• ON TURRET: same deal - throw a flare if it's your turn (as soon as possible to when the Kraken starts glowing).  Unload as soon as the Kraken is glowing.
• NOT ON TURRET: same deal - throw a flare if it's your turn (as soon as possible to when the Kraken starts glowing).  Head to the middle ASAP because he'll start heating up the floor again.

 

That's it!  Probably sounds a lot easier then it is, but once you get the hang of it - you'll have it running like a fine tuned machine.  I'm planning on providing a video tutorial as well, but that's to come in the future.

 

Recommended Equipment:

 

Class: Medic or Tank

Team Support: Team Boosters or Armor

Strike Package: IMS or Vulture

Equalizer: Riot Shield

 

Tips and Tricks:

 

ON THE ENDING TURRETS: Whatever position you "get into" a turret in, you'll stay in.  When using the turrets at the end, get into them FACING IN towards whatever corner you are on, with your RIOT SHIELD ON YOUR BACK.  This will give you a little buffer between aliens attacking you.  I'll upload a video/pic detailing this as soon as possible.

 

DON'T BE SHY WITH YOUR VENOM X: This is probably the best weapon for clearing out tons of Cyrptids.  When you get overwhelmed, use your Venom gun.  Alternatively, if you have the VENOM - SX (Amethyst Biolum/Purple Venom Gun), you can have up to 5 friendly pods out at once - this pretty much equates to having a 5th player, and is SUPER useful.

 

SHARE MONEY: Whenever the Kraken is switching sides, give money to whoever needs it (but make sure to save enough to buy a turret, if that is your job).

 

ONLY USE 1 TURRET PER QUARTER: While it sounds like a good idea to have 2 turrets going at once, you can only take a quarter of the Kraken's health out per quarter.  It's simply a waste, for example during quarter 1, to buy TURRET 3 at the same time you have someone operating TURRET 1 ( and vice versa for the other side).  PLUS (in this example) if TURRET 3 is bought on quarter 1, and not all the ammo is used - you will have to go through the remaining ammo when you are back on that side (during quarter 3).  So basically, if someone only leaves 100 rounds in TURRET 3, then come the time when you actually NEED to use TURRET 3 it will still only have 100 rounds in it - you'll have to use the ammo, get off the turret, and hope it reloads in time for the next glowing sequence.

 

Feel free to submit any tips, tricks, guides or impressions!  Thanks for reading!

[way2g00d]

Good guide & very well formatted. Sticky flares help a lot. Perhaps you should make one for Breeder also.

[GRILL]

Thanks way! I actually believe mr. boom has the breeder guide covered, I actually just pinned it today haha

[Boom115]

Mine is nowhere near as good or detailed as this. I'm sure Grill could do it justice.

[GRILL]

Mine is nowhere near as good or detailed as this. I'm sure Grill could do it justice.

Aw don't make me blush. I think yours is great, man - got me through it. Just trying to keep this extinction sub forum alive haha.

[way2g00d]

Sorry Grill, I am going to rain on your parade mate

 

Just came here to boast. I beat the game last night with 2 relics on. I had another medic and 2 weapons specialist both playing the map for the first time. This was my class.

 

1. Upgraded Medic [Revive energy Raduis for 5 sec when you double tap up on d-pad, that has a small refill bar to show when you can use next, typically after 3 minutes, so use it wisely.]
2. High quality Armor Piercing ammo
3. Ammo: Armor Piercing.
4. Pistol: Full Auto
5. Team boosters [if the rest of team has armor]
6. Riot Shield [Put 4 skill points - 20 defenses]
7. Vulture. [Fully upgraded]
8. Relics: Take more damage & Deal less damage

 

Skill points priority: Since I do less damage with my guns I put my Skill points on vulture right away. This is great because when you shoot someone and during the reload the vulture finishes them off. I had double the amount of kills the weapons specialist has. About 500.

Next I put my points on Riot shield simply because even with vulture on you are prone to damage immediately, just remember to finish off breeders and sprouts as soon as possible as breeders can smoke you out with their gas.

Next I add 4 of my points to Medic, so I can run fast and revive allies with less risk and ignore gas clouds from breeders/scorpions.

Finally any skill points left I put them on team boosters

 

Guns: I prefer AR's and smg's to LMG's unless you are weapons specialist. My favorite gun is Honey badger and MTAR Big clip and takes 3-4 sec to reload compared to 8 seconds from LSAT. Also, Honey badger and MTAR is fun to use. Especially if you run with those in multi player games.

 

Crafting: I normally make sure no one touches the parts until we lay our hands on venom schematics. Then it is free for all. Once we build all our venom guns, I go for sticky flares most of the time. I craft a set of flares, then get another schematics and find parts again. Just don't craft it yet until you use the first 2. This will most likely ensure your ticket to Mc-kraken.

 

Favorite Venom guns: I got a chance to use electric last night for first time and I think it is my new favorite next to Fire. Only down side if if you shoot too close you may take some damage. Call out when you see venom eggs and let everyone know that you are going to spray some to go down to 2 shots before you refill your gun to 6.

 

Relic preference: I think for this map, you cannot go with pistol relic. Even though I have done it with pistols only relic It is very difficult to conserve ammo. Instead go for take more damage and do less damage first. Relaxing End has completed this with all 5 relics in co-op mode so there is hope for those pursuing such a daunting task.

 

Finally it all comes down to Mc-Kraken. One word ARMOR. Throw lots and lots of armor. Grill has made excellent points already. I will just add finishing touch. If you have randoms that insist on staying in the circle, you are a bit out of luck unless you are the guy with ARMOR. Unfortunately I was carrying team boosters. The reason I say this because it is very crucial to stay in the corners when battling Mc-kracken. Not only does it it keeps your backs covered from hundreds of aliens it will allow you to shoot the aliens easily with one guy focusing on breeders and Mc-kracken at the same time. Remember not to waste your money if you are running low, use it only if you must. And wait until you absolutely need the armor before you grab a new one. Also, you only get 2-3 seconds after the warning from your squad mate about Mc-kracken's weak status. At this time you better stay in the safe area. I died twice yesterday trying to grab venon ammo. It was just bad timing.

 

A very helpful tip (Share your money): If you need ammo and a friend is doing ammo, instead of asking ammo it is better to share some money so he will give out ammo when you are really in need and you are short on funds. Press and hold Left trigger (Ads) and A (Jump)  for at least 4 seconds to share money. Remember to say " This is for the ammo/Armor guy".  And curse the ones that throw armor that is not upgraded. It is just not worth wasting the money even if it is not yours. Team work is what wins games.

 

Oh btw I have purchased this Seeker protection plan from armory. It helps a ton because seekers are very annoying and sneaky for this map.

 

Sorry for a long post but I really think it helps someone trying to beat with relics.  All the best and share your stories. It will help encourage others to play and beat the map which is ridiculously fun for first person shooters.

[X-Ritchtofen-X]

Any solo tips?