Sylas vs Maokai

Sylas
vs
Not enough games
Maokai
Heavy CCStrong engageVery tankyHeavy AP damage

Build vs Maokai

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Sylas: Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Zhonya's Hourglass, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Dark Seal, Liandry's Torment, Seeker's Armguard, Shadowflame.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Hextech Rocketbelt
1
Riftmaker
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Dark Seal
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot53%
FlashTeleport47%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Dark Seal
Liandry's Torment
Seeker's Armguard
Shadowflame
Bloodletter's Curse
Rabadon's Deathcap
Cosmic Drive
Banshee's Veil
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
UnflinchingUnflinching
Second WindSecond Wind
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth 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 Sylas

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. An auto after each spell

    Weave an auto after each spell: Petricite Burst (passive) turns it into a chain swing around you, with bonus magic damage.

  2. Save Kingslayer for low health

    Save Kingslayer (W) to finish or to save yourself when your health drops: its healing grows with your missing health.

  3. Abscond, then throw your chain

    To engage, cast Abscond (E), then recast within 3.5 seconds: Abduct (E) pulls you to the first enemy hit and knocks them into the air.

  4. Steal the ult that decides the fight

    Cast Hijack (R) on the enemy whose ult can turn a teamfight: you keep a copy of it, cast with your own stats.

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