Matchup

Very tankyHeavy CCStrong engageHigh sustain

You are stronger late game — farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Maokai

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Kraken Slayer
1DPS
Fiendhunter Bolts
2DPS
Infinity Edge
3DPS

Standard

Berserker's Greaves
4AS
Lord Dominik's Regards
5vs Tank

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Guardian Angel
5vs AD

Anti Heal

Mortal Reminder
6vs Hybride

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Lord Dominik's Regards
5vs Tank

DPS

Immortal Shieldbow
DPS
Hexoptics C44
DPS
Bloodthirster
DPS

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
YunaraYunara
MaokaiMaokai
Careful
Careful
Aggressive

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