Taric vs Maokai

Taric
vs
52.8%

over 89 games

Maokai

Skill matchup

Heavy CCHeavy AP damageStrong engageVery tanky

Build vs Maokai

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

Recommended items for Taric: Tear of the Goddess, Locket of the Iron Solari, Fimbulwinter, Plated Steelcaps, Solstice Sleigh, Knight's Vow, Celestial Opposition, Frozen Heart.

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Tear of the Goddess
1
Locket of the Iron Solari
2
Fimbulwinter
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Solstice Sleigh
5

Summoner spells

ExhaustFlash38%
FlashHeal37%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Solstice Sleigh
Knight's Vow
Celestial Opposition
Frozen Heart
Dream Maker
Bloodsong
Bandlepipes
Thornmail
Zeke's Convergence
Mikael's Blessing
Bramble Vest
Diadem of Songs
Randuin's Omen
Redemption
InspirationInspiration
Glacial AugmentGlacial Augment
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
ResolveResolve
ConditioningConditioning
RevitalizeRevitalize
Attack SpeedHealth 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 Taric

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Two autos after each spell

    Weave in two autos after each spell: Bravado (passive) empowers them with bonus magic damage, and each one lowers your cooldowns.

  2. A second angle with your bound ally

    Bind to an ally with Bastion (W): while they stay close, all your spells also cast from them, Dazzle (E) included, which gives you a second stun angle.

  3. Heal with all your charges

    Cast Starlight's Touch (Q) when its charges are full: it consumes them all to heal nearby allies, for the same 60 mana cost.

  4. Cast your ult before the burst

    Cast Cosmic Radiance (R) as soon as the teamfight is coming, not at the last moment: the invulnerability only kicks in after a delay, and only for nearby allies.

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