Maokai vs Kha'Zix
Build vs Kha'Zix
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, Knight's Vow, Unending Despair.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Kha'Zix's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Nearby enemies that are Isolated from their allies are marked. Kha'Zix's abilities have interactions with Isolated targets.When Kha'Zix is not visible to the enemy team, he gains Unseen Threat, causing his next basic attack against an enemy champion to deal bonus magic damage and slow them for a few seconds.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4s | 9s | 20s | – |
| 6 | 4s | 9s | 20s | 1m40 |
| 9 | 4s | 9s | 20s | 1m40 |
| 11 | 4s | 9s | 20s | 1m25 |
| 16 | 4s | 9s | 16s | 1m10 |
| 18 | 4s | 9s | 12s | 1m10 |
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 Kha'Zix
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Stay near an ally
Stay near an ally: alone, Unseen Threat (passive) marks you as isolated, and Taste Their Fear (Q) hits you much harder.
- Fight back if his leap misses
If he leaps in without a kill, fight back: Leap (E) has a 20 to 12 second cooldown, which a takedown only resets once the spell is evolved.
- Ward his paths
Ward his paths: out of sight, Unseen Threat (passive) empowers his next auto against a champion, which damages and slows.
Other Maokai matchups
Patch 16.21.1