Maokai vs Elise
Skill matchup
Build vs Elise
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, Knight's Vow, Celestial Opposition, Dead Man's Plate.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Elise's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Human Form: When Elise's abilities hit an enemy, she gains a dormant Spiderling.Spider Form: Basic attacks deal bonus magic damage and restore health to Elise.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 6s | 12s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 6s | 12s | 12s | 3s |
| 9 | 6s | 12s | 12s | 3s |
| 11 | 6s | 12s | 12s | 3s |
| 16 | 6s | 12s | 11s | 3s |
| 18 | 6s | 12s | 10s | 3s |
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 Elise
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Step up after a missed Cocoon
Step up when her Cocoon (E) misses you: it's her only stun, on a 12 to 10 second cooldown.
- Don't stay low near her bite
Don't stay in melee range at low health: in spider form, Venomous Bite (Q) lunges at you and deals damage based on your missing health.
- Ward the way into your lane
Ward the path between her jungle and your lane: when she ganks, Cocoon (E) stuns you from range as soon as it hits.
- Drag the game out
If you survive her first minutes, play for time: Elise is strongest early and loses impact once everyone has their items.
Other Maokai matchups
Patch 16.21.1