Thresh vs Maokai
Skill matchup
Build vs Maokai
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Thresh: Locket of the Iron Solari, Knight's Vow, Zeke's Convergence, Boots of Swiftness, Solstice Sleigh, Celestial Opposition, Frozen Heart, Bramble Vest.
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 Thresh
Tips to maximize your impact
- Flay first, hook second
Open with Flay (E) before Death Sentence (Q): the slow makes the hook much easier to land.
- Land charged autos
In lane, space out your autos: Flay (E) charges them passively, and the longer you wait between two autos, the more damage they deal.
- Don't jump on every hook
Don't recast Death Sentence (Q) on reflex: the target is already being pulled toward you, and jumping on them often exposes you for nothing.
- Throw your lantern early
Throw Dark Passage (W) toward an ally in trouble before they need it: they can click it to come back to you, with a shield.
- Place your box after the hook
Place The Box (R) right after a successful hook: to escape, the target has to break a wall, and the first wall broken slows them and deals full damage.
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 Thresh matchups
Patch 16.21.1