Maokai vs Zac

Maokai
vs
Not enough games
Zac
Strong engageHeavy AP damageVery tankyHeavy CC

Build vs Zac

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, Bramble Vest, Celestial Opposition, Spirit Visage.

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

FlashDot67%
ExhaustFlash17%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Solstice Sleigh
Bramble Vest
Celestial Opposition
Spirit Visage
Knight's Vow
Unending Despair
Jak'Sho, The Protean
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

Zac's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Cell Division (P)

Each time Zac hits an enemy with an ability, he sheds a chunk of himself that can be reabsorbed to restore Health. Upon taking fatal damage, Zac splits into 4 bloblets that attempt to recombine. If any bloblets remain, he will revive with an amount of Health depending on the Health of the surviving bloblets. Each bloblet has a percentage of Zac's maximum Health, Armor and Magic Resistance. This ability has a 5 minute cooldown.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
314s5s21s–
611s5s21s2m
98s5s21s2m
118s5s21s1m45
168s5s15s1m30
188s5s9s1m30

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 Zac

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Step on his Goo

    Walk over the chunks of Goo he sheds: you destroy them, and Cell Division (passive) can't heal him with them anymore.

  2. Spread out after his Stretching Strikes

    If Stretching Strikes (Q) grabs you, spread out from your allies and minions: his next auto on one of them flings you into each other.

  3. Interrupt his Slingshot

    If you have a stun, a silence, a root or a knock-up, use it while he charges Elastic Slingshot (E): his charge is interrupted before the jump.

  4. Kill all his bloblets

    When he dies, kill his bloblets: Cell Division (passive) splits him into 4, and if any remain, he comes back to life. This passive has a 5-minute cooldown.

Patch 16.21.1