Nautilus vs Maokai

Nautilus
vs
47.6%

over 481 games

Maokai

Skill matchup

Heavy CCHeavy AP damageStrong engageVery tanky

Build vs Maokai

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Nautilus: Locket of the Iron Solari, Knight's Vow, Bandlepipes, Plated Steelcaps, Celestial Opposition, Solstice Sleigh, Thornmail, Bramble Vest.

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Locket of the Iron Solari
1
Knight's Vow
2
Bandlepipes
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Celestial Opposition
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot63%
FlashHeal19%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Celestial Opposition
Solstice Sleigh
Thornmail
Bramble Vest
Protoplasm Harness
Kaenic Rookern
Bloodsong
Frozen Heart
Mikael's Blessing
Zeke's Convergence
Heartsteel
Randuin's Omen
Sunfire Aegis
Abyssal Mask
Dead Man's Plate
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Hextech Rocketbelt
Shurelya's Battlesong
Force of Nature
47.6% WR21 games
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Shield BashShield Bash
Bone PlatingBone Plating
UnflinchingUnflinching
InspirationInspiration
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Ability HasteHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Maokai's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Sap Magic (P)

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

LevelQWER
37s14s18s–
66s14s18s2m10
95s13s18s2m10
115s12s18s1m50
165s10s16s1m30
185s10s14s1m30

Playing as Nautilus

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Hook their carry

    Aim Dredge Line (Q) at their carry: you and your target are pulled toward each other, and they're briefly stunned.

  2. Auto right after your Dredge Line

    After Dredge Line (Q), land an auto right away: Staggering Blow (passive) roots the target after the stun, giving your ADC time to arrive.

  3. Switch targets to root

    In teamfights, hit a new target whenever you can: your first auto on each target triggers Staggering Blow (passive) and briefly roots them.

  4. Depth Charge on their backline carry

    Cast Depth Charge (R) on their backline carry: every enemy the shockwave crosses along the way also takes a knock-up and a stun.

Playing against Maokai

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Watch out for brush

    Watch out for the brush near him: Sapling Toss (E) lasts longer there, explodes wider and slows more.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Patch 16.21.1