Maokai vs Viego

Maokai
vs
Not enough games
Viego
Heavy AD damageHigh burstSustained DPSDive threat

Build vs Viego

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

FlashHeal100%

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
Hextech FlashtraptionHextech Flashtraption
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Attack SpeedMove SpeedHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Viego's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Sovereign's Domination (P)

Enemies who fall before Viego become wraiths. By attacking a wraith, Viego temporarily seizes control of the dead enemy's body, healing for a percentage of his target's max health and gaining access to their basic abilities and items. He replaces their Ultimate with a free cast of his own.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
35s8s14s–
64s8s14s2m
93s8s14s2m
113s8s14s1m40
163s8s10s1m20
183s8s6s1m20

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 Viego

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge his Spectral Maw

    Get out of his line when he charges Spectral Maw (W): he dashes and stuns the first enemy hit, for longer the longer he charged.

  2. Back off after each of his spells

    Don't stay in melee range after one of his spells: thanks to Blade of the Ruined King (Q), his next auto strikes twice and heals him.

  3. Don't be the lowest in his range

    In teamfights, don't stay in his range if your health percentage is the lowest: Heartbreaker (R) strikes that champion, with damage based on their missing health.

  4. Back off when an ally falls near him

    If an ally dies in front of him, back off: by hitting their wraith, Viego restores health and takes their basic spells and items through Sovereign's Domination (passive).

  5. Reveal him in his Mist

    When he disappears into the Harrowed Path (E) Mist, place a Control Ward: it reveals camouflaged enemies, and he's only camouflaged inside the Mist.

Patch 16.21.1