Matchup

Very tankyHeavy CCStrong engageHigh sustain

Build vs Maokai

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Tear of the Goddess
1
Trinity Force
2DPS
Muramana
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Lich Bane
5Mage

Summoner spells

41267%
42133%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Shadowflame
5vs Tank
Void Staff
vs Tank
Stormsurge
vs Tank

DPS

Lich Bane
Mage
Hextech Gunblade
Mage
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Seraph's Embrace
Mage
100.0% WR1 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: BloodlineLegend: Bloodline
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
EzrealEzreal
MaokaiMaokai
Careful
Careful
Aggressive

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 against Maokai

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Avoid bushes: his empowered saplings in bushes deal massive % max HP damage.

2

Maokai is a CC tank but deals little damage — ignore him in teamfights and focus the carries behind him.

3

His R is slow: sidestep laterally or Flash to avoid the root.

4

Grievous Wounds reduces his passive sustain which is his main lane survivability.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026