Maokai vs Talon

Maokai
vs
Not enough games
Talon
Heavy AD damageHigh burstDive threat

Build vs Talon

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Maokai: Locket of the Iron Solari, Bandlepipes, Thornmail, Plated Steelcaps, Solstice Sleigh, Spirit Visage, Knight's Vow, Unending Despair.

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Locket of the Iron Solari
1
Bandlepipes
2
Thornmail
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Solstice Sleigh
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot50%
FlashHeal50%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Solstice Sleigh
Spirit Visage
Knight's Vow
Unending Despair
Jak'Sho, The Protean
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Font of LifeFont of Life
Second WindSecond Wind
UnflinchingUnflinching
InspirationInspiration
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Ability HasteMove SpeedHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Talon's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Blade's End (P)

Talon's spells Wound champions and large monsters, stacking up to 3 times. When Talon attacks a champion with 3 stacks of Wound, they bleed for heavy damage over time.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
38s9s0s–
67s9s0s1m40
96s8.5s0s1m40
116s8s0s1m20
166s7s0s1m
186s7s0s1m

Playing as Maokai

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. Saplings in the brush

    Throw Sapling Toss (E) into brush: there, the sapling lasts longer, explodes wider and slows more.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 Talon

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge his blades on the return

    Get out of the path of Rake (W), especially on the return: the returning blades slow you, and each spell that hits brings you closer to Blade's End (passive).

  2. Push to keep him in lane

    Push your wave whenever you can: he then has to stay and farm instead of roaming by vaulting walls with Assassin's Path (E).

  3. Engage when his ult is on cooldown

    If you can engage, go for him while Shadow Assault (R) is on cooldown: it's his main way out of a fight, and it comes back in 100 to 60 seconds.

  4. Ping as soon as he disappears

    Ping your team as soon as he leaves your vision, and ward the paths behind walls: Assassin's Path (E) lets him vault walls to roam through the jungle.

Patch 16.21.1