Leona vs Maokai

Leona
vs
51.2%

over 344 games

Maokai

Skill matchup

Heavy CCHeavy AP damageStrong engageVery tanky

Build vs Maokai

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Leona: Locket of the Iron Solari, Knight's Vow, Bandlepipes, Plated Steelcaps, Celestial Opposition, Solstice Sleigh, Thornmail, Bloodsong.

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

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

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Celestial Opposition
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot69%
ExhaustFlash18%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Celestial Opposition
Solstice Sleigh
Thornmail
Bloodsong
Bramble Vest
Protoplasm Harness
Kaenic Rookern
Zeke's Convergence
Frozen Heart
Heartsteel
Sunfire Aegis
Mikael's Blessing
Randuin's Omen
Abyssal Mask
Iceborn Gauntlet
Oblivion Orb
Imperial Mandate
72.2% WR18 games
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Font of LifeFont of Life
Second WindSecond Wind
OvergrowthOvergrowth
PrecisionPrecision
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
TriumphTriumph
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 Leona

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Engage at level 2

    Look for an engage at level 2: with Zenith Blade (E) then Shield of Daybreak (Q), you root then stun your target.

  2. Only engage if your carry follows

    Only engage if your carry can follow: Sunlight (passive) marks your targets for 1.5 seconds, and only your allies trigger it for extra damage.

  3. Activate Eclipse before engaging

    Activate Eclipse (W) right before engaging: you gain armor, magic resist and damage reduction, extended if the explosion hits an enemy.

  4. R on a stunned target

    Engage with Zenith Blade (E) and Shield of Daybreak (Q), then cast Solar Flare (R) on the stunned target: they can't leave the center, which stuns.

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