Matchup

Very tankyHeavy CCStrong engageHigh sustain

Build vs Maokai

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Ravenous Hydra
1DPS
Trinity Force
2DPS
Hullbreaker
3Bruiser

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Blade of The Ruined King
5DPS

Summoner spells

41455%
41228%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Thornmail
5vs Hybride
Randuin's Omen
vs AD
Guardian Angel
vs AD
Dead Man's Plate
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Spirit Visage
5vs AP

DPS

Blade of The Ruined King
DPS
Titanic Hydra
Bruiser
100.0% WR1 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
DemolishDemolish
Bone PlatingBone Plating
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
TrundleTrundle
MaokaiMaokai
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

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 against Maokai

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Avoid bushes: his empowered saplings in bushes deal massive % max HP damage.

2

Maokai is a CC tank but deals little damage — ignore him in teamfights and focus the carries behind him.

3

His R is slow: sidestep laterally or Flash to avoid the root.

4

Grievous Wounds reduces his passive sustain which is his main lane survivability.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026