Maokai vs Cho'Gath
Build vs Cho'Gath
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Maokai: Locket of the Iron Solari, Bandlepipes, Thornmail, Boots of Swiftness, Solstice Sleigh, Spirit Visage, Celestial Opposition, Knight's Vow.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Cho'Gath's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Whenever Cho'Gath kills a unit, he recovers Health and Mana. The values restored increase with Cho'Gath's level.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 6s | 11s | 8s | – |
| 6 | 6s | 11s | 8s | 1m20 |
| 9 | 6s | 10.5s | 8s | 1m20 |
| 11 | 6s | 10s | 8s | 1m10 |
| 16 | 6s | 9s | 6s | 1m |
| 18 | 6s | 9s | 4s | 1m |
Playing as Maokai
Tips to maximize your impact
- Cast spells to recharge Sap Magic
In lane, use your spells: each spell you cast or get hit by lowers the cooldown of Sap Magic (passive), and your next auto heals you.
- Saplings in the brush
Throw Sapling Toss (E) into brush: there, the sapling lasts longer, explodes wider and slows more.
- Dive in with Twisted Advance
Dash to your target with Twisted Advance (W): you're untargetable during the dash, and they're rooted when you arrive.
- Cast your wall from long range
Cast Nature's Grasp (R) from far away to engage or block a path: the wall moves slowly, and the root lasts longer after a long run.
Playing against Cho'Gath
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Keep moving
Keep moving against him: Rupture (Q) strikes an area on the ground, and an enemy standing still takes a knock-up, damage and a slow.
- Punish him while he farms
Punish him when he goes for last hits: Carnivore (passive) restores health and mana for each unit he kills, and he lasts a long time in lane if you let him farm.
- Keep your distance if you can
If you have range, keep your distance: his kit has no dash, only the slows from Rupture (Q) and Vorpal Spikes (E).
- Beware Feast at low health
Don't stay in melee range at low health when Feast (R) is up: its true damage ignores your resistances, even if you're a tank.
Other Maokai matchups
Patch 16.21.1