Alistar vs Maokai

Alistar
vs
52.7%

over 438 games

Maokai

Skill matchup

Heavy CCHeavy AP damageStrong engageVery tanky

Build vs Maokai

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Alistar: Locket of the Iron Solari, Zeke's Convergence, Knight's Vow, Boots of Swiftness, Celestial Opposition, Solstice Sleigh, Bramble Vest, Thornmail.

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Locket of the Iron Solari
1
Zeke's Convergence
2
Knight's Vow
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Celestial Opposition
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot45%
FlashHeal38%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Celestial Opposition
Solstice Sleigh
Bramble Vest
Thornmail
Bandlepipes
Protoplasm Harness
Mikael's Blessing
Frozen Heart
Shurelya's Battlesong
Kaenic Rookern
Bloodsong
Dead Man's Plate
Abyssal Mask
Imperial Mandate
Dark Seal
Force of Nature
Oblivion Orb
Heartsteel
Hextech Rocketbelt
Redemption
Randuin's Omen
Zaz'Zak's Realmspike
47.1% WR17 games
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Font of LifeFont of Life
Bone PlatingBone Plating
UnflinchingUnflinching
InspirationInspiration
Hextech FlashtraptionHextech Flashtraption
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Ability HasteHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Maokai's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Sap Magic (P)

Maokai's basic attack also heals him and deals additional damage on a moderate cooldown. Each time Maokai casts a spell or is struck by an enemy's spell, this cooldown is reduced.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37s14s18s–
66s14s18s2m10
95s13s18s2m10
115s12s18s1m50
165s10s16s1m30
185s10s14s1m30

Playing as Alistar

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Pulverize during your charge

    Cast Pulverize (Q) during the Headbutt (W) charge: it's your core engage, and the target takes a knock-up as soon as you arrive.

  2. Stay in melee range during Trample

    Stay in melee range during Trample (E): each pulse that hits a champion gives you a stack, and at max stacks your next auto stuns.

  3. Knock them toward your team

    Get behind your target, then cast Headbutt (W) toward your team: the charge knocks them back along your path, straight into your allies.

  4. Cast your R when you get focused

    Cast Unbreakable Will (R) when you dive under a tower or get focused: it removes all CC on you and reduces the damage you take.

Playing against Maokai

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Watch out for brush

    Watch out for the brush near him: Sapling Toss (E) lasts longer there, explodes wider and slows more.

  2. No targeted spells during his dash

    Don't cast targeted spells during Twisted Advance (W): he's untargetable during the dash, then roots you when he arrives.

  3. Don't waste time on him

    In teamfights, go for his carries instead: each spell Maokai takes lowers the cooldown of Sap Magic (passive), which heals him on his next auto.

  4. Get out of his wall's path

    Get out of the path of Nature's Grasp (R): the wall moves slowly, and the root lasts longer if it has traveled a long way.

Patch 16.21.1