Talon vs Maokai

Talon
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 Talon: Umbral Glaive, Bastionbreaker, Voltaic Cyclosword, Boots of Swiftness, Serylda's Grudge, Serpent's Fang, Edge of Night, Youmuu's Ghostblade.

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling
Health Potion

Core build

Umbral Glaive
1
Bastionbreaker
2
Voltaic Cyclosword
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Serylda's Grudge
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Serylda's Grudge
Serpent's Fang
Edge of Night
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Serrated Dirk
Lord Dominik's Regards
Hubris
Guardian Angel
Death's Dance
PrecisionPrecision
Fleet FootworkFleet Footwork
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
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 Talon

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Three spells, then an auto

    Apply three Blade's End (passive) stacks by hitting with your spells, then strike with an auto: the target starts bleeding and takes heavy damage over time.

  2. Use Noxian Diplomacy up close

    Cast Noxian Diplomacy (Q) in melee range when you can: instead of the leap, it lands a critical strike. If it kills, it heals you and comes back faster.

  3. Bring your blades back on your target

    During Shadow Assault (R), break invisibility with an auto or Noxian Diplomacy (Q): the blades then converge on your target instead of coming back to you.

  4. Push, then roam over the walls

    Push your wave, then roam by vaulting walls with Assassin's Path (E): the spell comes back fast, but you can only cross the same wall again after a long delay.

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