Maokai is high utility tank that rules the top lane. With his high sustain, he out-classes almost every champion in the League. His intense crowd control allows him to lock down any opponent.

Pros:

• Extremely tanky
• Good teamfighter
• Great sustain
• Basic kit

Cons:

• Mana hungry abilities
• Low movement speed

Abilities

For Maokai’s abilities, I usually start E, then Q, then W. After gaining these abilities, the order to max your abilities as R>Q>W>E. Q is your main damage skill. It has a knockback that hits all nearby enemies. W is your lockdown ability. E is a very useful ability that grants vision and deals damage.

Passive: Sap Magic

Maokai’s Passive is Sap Magic. This is a stacking ability that stacks up to five times. When any nearby champion uses an ability, Maokai gains a stack. Once he is at five stacks, Maokai’s next auto-attack will heal him. This passive is great for sustain, allowing Maokai to stay in lane much longer than most champions.

Q: Arcane Smash

Maokai’s Q is Arcane Smash. This ability is a close-ranged skillshot that slows and knockbacks all nearby enemies. Arcane Smash passes through minions and deals magic damage. This is Maokai’s main damage tool, and should always be maxed first. Use this ability to help you wave-clear, since its cooldown is low.

W: Twisted Advance

Maokai’s W is Twisted Advance. This ability allows Maokai to dash to an enemy or minion, rooting them. While traveling to the target, Maokai becomes untargetable. Rooting the enemy carry in a teamfight is ideal, allowing your team to follow up.

E: Sapling Toss

Maokai’s E is Sapling Toss. This ability allows Maokai to throw a sapling, dealing damage and granting vision once landed. If the sapling is near a minion, jungle creep, or champion, the sapling will follow that target and detonate, dealing magic damage. This ability is useful for zoning, and granting vision for a limited time when you’re out of wards.

R: Vengeful Maelstrom

Maokai’s Ultimate is Vengeful Maelstrom. This ability summons a circle that is centered around Maokai. While Maokai and his allies are in the circle, they will take 20% reduced damage. After 10 seconds or upon reactivation, Vengeful Maelstrom will end and it will deal damage to all nearby enemies and minions. This ultimate will help Maokai’s team live longer so using your ultimate when teamfighting is a must.

Summoner Spells

Flash is a go-to summoner spell for most champions. The ability to transport yourself a small distance might not sound great, but it could be the difference between life and death. Whether you’re flashing to secure a kill or to escape an enemy, Flash is a valuable spell.

Teleport has been the meta top lane summoner spell for ages. Crossing the map within seconds is an incredible spell for a tank or bruiser to have. A champion with Teleport can target ally minions, towers, and wards for Teleport. Teleport can help secure Dragon/Baron or turn the tables in a teamfight. These are the only two summoner spells that you should take on Maokai.

Runes and Masteries

For runes, I run 3 armor Quintessences and 9 armor Seals. The extra armor will help you soak damage. When facing a heavy attack damage team, you’ll be able to survive and continue to fight on. Next I take 9 ability power Marks. Maokai scales off ability power, so this little power boost helps you damage your enemies. Finally, I take 9 magic resist Seals. Most champions have at least one skill that scales off ability power, so this will reduce the damage you take. Another option is to replace your Seals with 9 scaling health. This will give you extra health early game which can help you survive during lane. Since it scales, late game you’ll have a surplus amount of health.

For masteries, I choose to go 0/12/18. In the Cunning tree, I take Meditation because Maokai struggles with mana. I also take Dangerous Game because it helps Maokai sustain in lane. Within the Resolve tree, I take Recovery and Runic Armor for the extra health regeneration. Perseverance is better than Fearless because the 50% base health generation is valued more than the armor and magic resist. For the keystone mastery, I use Courage of the Colossus because Maokai has abilities that activate the shield. This can be extremely useful when you’re fighting low on health.

Starting Items

For you first item, you can go Corrupting Potion or Doran’s Ring. I prefer Corrupting Potion, because of its passive "Touch of Corruption", which allows Maokai’s abilities to burn enemy champions. You can hold on to this item until late game, which gives you great sustain thanks to the healing. Doran’s Ring is another option. The additional ability power can force your enemy out of lane early. This will also give mana regeneration, which helps Maokai a lot. When purchasing this item, you would use the remaining 100 gold to grab 2 Health Potions. Catalyst of Aeons is an item that builds into Rod of the Ages. I recommend this item, due to the stacking passive. I personally believe that this is a must buy.

End Game items

Mercury’s Treads is probably the best boots for Maokai. The Tenacity will do wonders and the magic resist doesn’t hurt either. Although they’re not as great as Mercury’s Treads, you can build Ninja Tabi or Boots of Mobility for the armor and movement speed respectively.

Spirit Visage is a great item that works well with Maokai. Maokai’s passive healing will be increased by Spirit Visage’s passive. Buying this item becomes a bonus when you’re facing an ability power champion.

Frozen Heart can reduce enemy champion’s attack speed, which is important for teamfights. With reduced attack speed, your enemies won’t be able to kill you or your allies fast enough. With 20% cooldown and +400 mana, this is a must-buy item.

Guardian Angel gives you a second chance at life. Granting both armor and magic resist, this item gives you all around defensive stats. This should be one of your last items that you build.

Sunfire Cape is a great item for multiple reasons. Since you’ll be sticking close your enemies, Sunfire Cape’s passive will work great. Immolate deals damage per second to nearby enemies. While granting 500 health and 50 armor, this item is well worth its cost.

Rod of Ages is a must-buy in my opinion. This item will give health, mana, and ability power, the stats that Maokai thrives on. With a full stacked Rod of Ages, you can literally do tons of damage while tanking all your enemies’ damage.

Dead Man’s Plate is a decent item that can be useful in certain situations. While it gives health and armor, the increased movement speed is what pulls the item together. The bonus movement speed can help you catch up to targets and lock them down.

Laning Phase

While laning, you’ll want to focus on farming. Getting your Catalyst of Aeons is vital. You’ll also want to wait until level three to trade with your opponent. Asking for a gank around three is important, since you’ll have all your crowd control. This can lead to a kill or your opponent losing a summoner spell. If your opponent is harassing you, you can use your passive to help you sustain. A good combo to use is E>W>Q. When using E, throw it behind the enemy, so they get slowed when they try to escape. Then use W into Q for chain crowd control. This small combo will catch your opponent off guard with how much damage it does.

Your Teleport can be used in many ways. An easy way to grab early kills is to Teleport bot and locking down the carry. This can help your bottom lane succeed and set up for Dragon. You can also Teleport to fight for Dragon. Once you have your ultimate, you can soak up damage as your team cleans up.

Teamfighting

In late game, Maokai is a damage sponge. With his items, Maokai should be able to peel for his carries. With his ultimate, Maokai should be nigh unkillable. Your goal is root the carry and absorb the damage from the enemy team. If you can’t find your way onto the enemy carry, stick next to yours to make sure they survive. Remember that your ultimate also reduces damage dealt to any ally within its radius.

Conclusion

Maokai is the ultimate tank. His sustain and crowd control makes him a true terror in the top lane. He has a simple, yet effective kit that is fun to play. As a tank, your job is to protect your carry, while trying to kill the enemy carry. Your W, Twisted Advance, allows you to root any enemy you target. While used with Arcane Smash, you can chain the crowd control while your team finishes off the kill. Vengeful Maelstrom is your best ability for teamfights. Using this ultimate, you can completely turn a fight into your favor. Remember that without items, Maokai isn’t that useful. Make sure you farm up and build your tanky items. Now that I’ve planted the seeds, it’s time for your Maokai powers to grow!

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