Master Yi vs Maokai
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Maokai
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Master Yi: Blade of The Ruined King, The Collector, Lord Dominik's Regards, Berserker's Greaves, Guinsoo's Rageblade, Kraken Slayer, Titanic Hydra, Infinity Edge.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Maokai's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Maokai's basic attack also heals him and deals additional damage on a moderate cooldown. Each time Maokai casts a spell or is struck by an enemy's spell, this cooldown is reduced.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7s | 14s | 18s | – |
| 6 | 6s | 14s | 18s | 2m10 |
| 9 | 5s | 13s | 18s | 2m10 |
| 11 | 5s | 12s | 18s | 1m50 |
| 16 | 5s | 10s | 16s | 1m30 |
| 18 | 5s | 10s | 14s | 1m30 |
Playing as Master Yi
Tips to maximize your impact
- Dodge with Alpha Strike
Cast Alpha Strike (Q) to dodge a spell or a burst: you're untargetable during the strike, and your autos lower its cooldown.
- Meditate to tank damage
Cast Meditate (W) to tank a burst mid-teamfight: you take less damage, heal more at low health, and the time left on Highlander (R) is paused.
- Activate Highlander to chase
Activate Highlander (R) to chase: you gain move speed and attack speed, and slows no longer affect you.
- Chain your kills
Chain kills in teamfights: each takedown lowers the remaining cooldown of your basic spells, and extends Highlander (R) if it's active.
Playing against Maokai
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Watch out for brush
Watch out for the brush near him: Sapling Toss (E) lasts longer there, explodes wider and slows more.
- No targeted spells during his dash
Don't cast targeted spells during Twisted Advance (W): he's untargetable during the dash, then roots you when he arrives.
- Don't waste time on him
In teamfights, go for his carries instead: each spell Maokai takes lowers the cooldown of Sap Magic (passive), which heals him on his next auto.
- Get out of his wall's path
Get out of the path of Nature's Grasp (R): the wall moves slowly, and the root lasts longer if it has traveled a long way.
Other Master Yi matchups
Patch 16.21.1