Guide Sections (15)
- Champion Stats
- The Sapling Trap
- Ranking Maokai's Skins
- When They Ban Maokai
- Maokai's Keystone Choice
- Skill Max Order for Maokai
- Mastering Maokai's Kit
- The Maokai Matchup Sheet
- Bush Sapling Addiction
- When the Frontline Crumbles
- Soaking Damage for the Team
- The AP Sapling Build
- When Maokai Comes Online
- The Nature's Grasp
- Recent Patch History
Champion Stats
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 Sapling Trap
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.
Saplings in bushes deal double damage. Do not throw them in the lane unless you are zoning. Control the river. If they can't walk into the river, they can't contest Dragon. You are a warden of the jungle.
Ranking Maokai's Skins
'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.
'Meowkai' is important. The kittens meow when they explode. It is arguably the best skin in the game for mental damage. 'Astronaut' is cute. 'Totemic' is scary. But Meowkai wins.
'Meowkai' is S-Tier. Throwing cats is peak design. 'Astronaut' is cute. 'Haunted' is spooky. Use Meowkai for mental damage.
When They Ban Maokai
Nautilus hooks. Leona stuns. Alistar knocks up. Nautilus is the easiest transition for point-and-click CC.
Nautilus gives similar CC. Leona gives hard engage. Poppy gives anti-dash. Nautilus matches the lockdown.
Maokai's Keystone Choice
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 Max Order for Maokai
Max 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).
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.
The Maokai Matchup Sheet
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.
Bush Sapling Addiction
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.
Don't spend all your mana throwing saplings. You need mana for Q and W in the fight. Saplings are for setup, not DSP (unless AP). Save W to dodge key spells like Ezreal ult/Jinx ult.
When the Frontline Crumbles
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.
Sylas stealing your ultimate is a disaster. He uses it better than you. Ban Sylas. Olaf ignores your CC. Run away from Olaf.
Dodge Sylas. He steals your R and uses it better. Dodge Olaf. He ignores your R. Sylas is your permaban.
Soaking Damage for the Team
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.
Your passive heals you when you auto someone after they cast a spell. Spam autos in fights. You are unkillable if you keep proccing passive. Spirit Visage makes this healing absurd.
The AP Sapling 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.
Liandry's is core. Blackfire Torch adds more burn. Mandate helps your team. You will have top damage, but you will be squishy. Play from the fog.
Liandry's -> Blackfire Torch -> Morello. Bush Terrorist build. You deal top damage without seeing anyone. Miserable to play against.
When Maokai Comes Online
Level 2 (Flash-W cheese). Level 6 (Ult unlock - easy ganks). Liandry's Completion (if AP).
Level 3 Sapling toss into bush. Level 6 Nature's Grasp. Support item upgrade. 2 Items gives you the AH to spam Q.
Level 1 sapling cheese. Level 6 R. Liandry's completion. You control objectives with vision and saplings.
The Nature's Grasp
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.
Use R to disengage as well as engage. If they dive you, press R backwards. It roots them under your tower. Free kills.
Meow sounds. Trapping them in a bush with 3 saplings. R to disengage fights. You dictate where the fight happens.
Recent Patch History
Recent Balance Changes
| 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 |
