Maokai vs Taric
Hard matchup
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
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Taric's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3s | 15s | 16s | – |
| 6 | 3s | 15s | 16s | 3m |
| 9 | 3s | 15s | 16s | 3m |
| 11 | 3s | 15s | 16s | 2m30 |
| 16 | 3s | 15s | 14s | 2m |
| 18 | 3s | 15s | 12s | 2m |
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 Taric
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Other Maokai matchups
Patch 16.21.1