Hecarim vs Maokai
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Maokai
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Hecarim: Spear of Shojin, Death's Dance, Endless Hunger, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Black Cleaver, Hubris, Axiom Arc, Maw of Malmortius.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Maokai's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7s | 14s | 18s | – |
| 6 | 6s | 14s | 18s | 2m10 |
| 9 | 5s | 13s | 18s | 2m10 |
| 11 | 5s | 12s | 18s | 1m50 |
| 16 | 5s | 10s | 16s | 1m30 |
| 18 | 5s | 10s | 14s | 1m30 |
Playing as Hecarim
Tips to maximize your impact
- Charge from far away
Cast Devastating Charge (E) far from your target: the longer the run, the farther the knockback and the harder the hit, and Warpath (passive) turns your bonus move speed into AD.
- Engage from range with your R
Cast Onslaught of Shadows (R) from range: the fear from the shockwave, at the end of the dash, lasts longer after a long run.
- Recast Rampage without waiting
In teamfights, recast Rampage (Q) as soon as it's back: each cast that hits adds a stack, which lowers its cooldown and raises its damage.
- Activate your W in the thick of it
Activate Spirit of Dread (W) in the middle of the enemies: you gain armor and magic resist, and heal for part of the damage you and your team deal to them.
Playing against Maokai
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Watch out for brush
Watch out for the brush near him: Sapling Toss (E) lasts longer there, explodes wider and slows more.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Other Hecarim matchups
Patch 16.21.1