Sylas vs Maokai
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
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 Sylas
Tips to maximize your impact
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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 Sylas matchups
Patch 16.21.1