Champion Stats
| Role | Tank / Support |
| Difficulty | |
| Blue Essence | 2400 BE |
Why High-Elo Players Smurf with Maokai
Low Elo players rely entirely on 'outplaying' via dashes and mechanics. Maokai's W (Twisted Advance) is an untargetable, point-and-click Root. There is NO outplay. If they walk into range, they are caught. Furthermore, his Saplings (E) act as indestructible wards that deal massive damage, allowing you to control the entire enemy jungle and objectives without ever putting yourself at risk. You win by suffocating the map.
The Level 1 Cheese
First Blood Strategy
The 'Sapling Stack'. Run immediately to the enemy's top-side buff or bot-lane tri-bush. Stack 3 Saplings (E) in the bush. When the enemy walks in to check or leash, they take ~30-40% of their HP instantly and get slowed. It forces them to burn potions or recall before the game even starts. In lane (Support), control the brushes aggressively from second 0.
The 'Pay-to-Win' Skin Advantage
'Meowkai' is non-negotiable. The saplings are cats. Throwing cats at people tilts them. 'Astronaut Maokai' has funny walking animations. 'Haunted Maokai' gives good spooky vibes.
When They Ban Maokai
Backup Pick: If Maokai is banned,
Nautilus offers the same point-and-click lockdown (R).
Leona offers similar stunlock potential.
Poppy knocks people away and stops dashes.
Rune Setup
Best Runes: Aftershock is standard for survival. Phase Rush (Jungle) is the smurf tech—it allows you to W-Q someone into your team and run away at Mach 10. Glacial Augment (Support) creates a 'No Go Zone' every time you engage.
Skill Priority
Order:
Q → W → EMax Q for the waveclear/knockback. Max W second for the root duration (Root duration scales with rank!). Max E last (unless playing AP Poke Maokai).
Mastering Maokai's Kit
Bramble Smash. Short knockback + Slow. Close range = Short Knock UP. Use W -> Walk behind -> Q to push them into your team (Insec).
Twisted Advance. Dash + Root. You are Untargetable during dash. Use it to dodge key spells (like
Ezreal Ult or
Karthus R).
Sapling Toss. Throws a sapling. If it lands in a Bush, it lasts longer, deals DOUBLE damage, and slows more. Always aim for bushes.
Nature's Grasp. Massive wall of roots. Roots duration increases with distance traveled. Slows enemies. Great for disengage or long-range engage.
Matchup Tips
Impossible. He takes your best tool (R) and kills your team with it. Ban him.
Annoying. Black Shield stops your W. Bait the shield first.
Skill. You can lock him down, but he is slippery. W him when he charges Hook.
The Ego Check
WARNING: Stop engaging miles ahead of your team! Your W is a dash. If you W an enemy while your team is 1000 units away, you are just feeding. You need follow-up. Also, use your Passive (Sap Magic). Auto-attack minion waves during fights to heal massive amounts. A good Maokai never dies because he refuses to stop auto-attacking.
When to Queue Dodge
Dodge Sylas. He steals your Ultimate and it's better on him because he has AP ratios and mobility to flank. He is the hard counter. Dodge Olaf. He ignores your CC and runs you down.
Teamfight Role
You are the peel god. Do not dive the backline unless you have a guaranteed kill. Sit on your ADC. Wait for the enemy Zed/Yi/Akali to dive in. Press W on them. Q them away. R to seal the deal. You make your ADC an unkillable turret. Alternatively, use R from Fog of War to catch someone out of position.
The 'Disrespect' Build
Full AP Support 'Bush Terrorist'. Liandry's Torment -> Blackfire Torch -> Morellonomicon. Your saplings deal % Max HP burn + flat damage. You end the game with top damage dealt without ever seeing an enemy champion. Pure psychological warfare.
Power Windows
Level 2 (Flash-W cheese). Level 6 (Ult unlock - easy ganks). Liandry's Completion (if AP).
Tilt Factor
Spamming the Meowkai meow sounds. Camping a bush with 4 saplings and waiting for the enemy support to try and ward it. Calculating the exact time they will facecheck and pinging it.
Recent Patch History
| Patch | Date | Type | Changes |
| V14.18 | Sep 11, 2024 | NERF | Q nerfed, E adjusted |
| V14.5 | Mar 6, 2024 | NERF | Q buffed, W buffed, Base stats nerfed |
| V14.4 | Feb 22, 2024 | NERF | Q nerfed, R nerfed, Base stats nerfed |
| V14.3 | Feb 7, 2024 | BUFF | P adjusted, Q buffed, Base stats nerfed |
| V13.15 | Aug 2, 2023 | NERF | Q nerfed |
Safety Tips
Safety isn't an accident. It's a deliberate process. By the time you log in, the account is already 'cleared' by Riot's systems.
