Maokai vs Taric

Maokai
vs
40.8%

over 179 games

Taric

Hard matchup

Heavy AP damageVery tankyHeavy CCStrong engage

Build vs Taric

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Maokai: Locket of the Iron Solari, Bandlepipes, Thornmail, Boots of Swiftness, Solstice Sleigh, Celestial Opposition, Knight's Vow, Bramble Vest.

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

FlashDot64%
ExhaustFlash22%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Solstice Sleigh
Celestial Opposition
Knight's Vow
Bramble Vest
Unending Despair
Spirit Visage
Zaz'Zak's Realmspike
Liandry's Torment
Protoplasm Harness
Oblivion Orb
Heartsteel
Imperial Mandate
Zeke's Convergence
Frozen Heart
Dead Man's Plate
Randuin's Omen
Bloodsong
Abyssal Mask
Kaenic Rookern
Redemption
Fimbulwinter
Jak'Sho, The Protean
33.3% WR6 games
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Font of LifeFont of Life
Bone PlatingBone Plating
UnflinchingUnflinching
InspirationInspiration
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Adaptive ForceHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Taric's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Bravado (P)

Spellcasts empower Taric's next 2 basic attacks to deal bonus magic damage, reduce his spell cooldowns, and attack in quick succession.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
33s15s16s–
63s15s16s3m
93s15s16s3m
113s15s16s2m30
163s15s14s2m
183s15s12s2m

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 Taric

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Leave the line of his beam

    Get out of the line of Dazzle (E) as soon as it appears: the beam only bursts and stuns after a short delay, and it can also come from the ally bound to Taric.

  2. Punish him when he steps up to auto

    Take a trade when he steps up to hit: each auto empowered by Bravado (passive) lowers his cooldowns, so he needs those hits.

  3. Kill before his Cosmic Radiance

    When he casts Cosmic Radiance (R), decide fast: kill one of his allies before the invulnerability lands, or back off until the effect ends.

  4. Hit far from Taric during his ult

    During Cosmic Radiance (R), hit an enemy far from Taric and from the ally bound by Bastion (W): only champions near them are invulnerable.

Patch 16.21.1