Matchup

Very tankyHeavy CCStrong engageHigh sustain

Build vs Maokai

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Dusk and Dawn
1Mage tank
Statikk Shiv
2DPS
Riftmaker
3Mage tank

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Spirit Visage
5vs AP

Summoner spells

41461%
41225%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Thornmail
5vs Hybride
Unending Despair
vs AD
Randuin's Omen
vs AD
Frozen Heart
vs AD
Dead Man's Plate
vs AD
Zhonya's Hourglass
vs AD
Iceborn Gauntlet
vs AD

Anti AP

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

DPS

Navori Flickerblade
DPS
Nashor's Tooth
DPS
Hullbreaker
Bruiser
Hextech Gunblade
Mage

Other options

Jak'Sho, The Protean
vs Hybride
Fimbulwinter
Survival
Dark Seal
Heartsteel
Survival
100.0% WR3 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
TriumphTriumph
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
DemolishDemolish
RevitalizeRevitalize
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
VolibearVolibear
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