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Recommended Items
Runes: Standard Runes
1
2
Resolve
Precision
+10% Attack Speed
+10-180 Bonus Health
+10-180 Bonus Health
Spells:
Summoner Spells
Flash
Smite
Items
Ability Order Standard Ability Order
Sap Magic (PASSIVE)
Maokai Passive Ability
Threats & Synergies
Extreme
Major
Even
Minor
Tiny
None
Low
Ok
Strong
Ideal
Trundle
Trundle's R - Subjugate, can steal Maokai's health and resistances, reducing Maokai's ability to frontline.
Ideal
Strong
Ok
Low
None
Champion Build Guide
Introduction
Maokai is a tanky, crowd-control-heavy jungler, capable of great ganks, vision/objective control, and peeling in team fights. This guide will walk you through how to play Maokai jungle effectively, from early pathing to team fight impact.
Runes
For both builds the
Resolve tree consists of:
Aftershock Provides bonus resistances by 35 + 80% bonus resistances after rooting an enemy with W
Twisted Advance or R
Nature's Grasp.
Font of Life Allows a nearby ally to restore some health after you slow or root a nearby enemy.
Conditioning Provides bonus resistances after 12 minutes, scaling into the mid and late game.
Overgrowth Provides bonus health, scaling into the mid and late game.
I recommend the
Precision with:
Triumph Restores health after takedowns.
Legend: Haste Reduces cooldowns to be able to use abilities multiple times during fights.
Optional:
Revitalize synergizes well with Maokai's passive sustain
Sap Magic







I recommend the



Optional:


Items
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() This item gets the most value when the enemy has 3 or more AD threats. The burn damage is slightly more than that of ![]() |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() This item gets the most value when the enemy has 3 or more AP threats. The burn damage is slightly less than that of ![]() |
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![]() Purchase these if the enemy has about 2 or more Attack Damage Threats like: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() Purchase these if the enemy has about 3 or more Stuns and Roots. These boots are not effective against Knockups like Diana Ultimate ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() It will only apply if the enemy Auto Attacks you. It is a good item against ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() It isn't very effective agasint Red Form ![]() ![]() |
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![]() It is a good item against ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Abilities
Passive –
Sap Magic: Maokai heals himself when he hits an enemy with basic attacks after casting spells or when enemies hit him with spells. This gives him a lot of sustain in the jungle and during fights.
Q –
Bramble Smash: Maokai smashes the ground in front of him, dealing damage and knocking back enemies. This is your main damaging and crowd control ability. Use it to knock back jungle monsters and enemy champions.
W –
Twisted Advance: Maokai becomes untargetable as he dashes to a target, rooting them upon arrival. This is key for ganks and engaging in fights.
E –
Sapling Toss: Maokai throws a sapling that chases enemies and explodes, dealing damage and slowing them. Saplings deal bonus damage if thrown into bushes, so always try to use them in bush control.
R –
Nature's Grasp: Maokai sends a wave of brambles forward, rooting enemies hit and dealing damage. This ability is a game-changer for engaging or disengaging in team fights.
Maokai really only has 1 Combo:
W –
Twisted Advance then Q –
Bramble Smash and E –
Sapling Toss.
This combo can be extended by using R -
Nature's Grasp right after.

Q –

W –

E –

R –

Maokai really only has 1 Combo:
W –



This combo can be extended by using R -

Early Jungle Path/Clearing
Early Game: Focus on clearing efficiently and looking for early ganks. Your crowd control allows for strong lane pressure.
Focus on clearing towards Botlane, starting with your Blue Buff or Red Buff depending on which side you’re on.
Red Buff → Krugs → Raptors → Wolves → Blue Buff → Gromp → Scuttle Crab
Blue Buff → Gromp → Wolves → Raptors → Red Buff → Krugs → Scuttle Crab
While pathings towards botlane, check Midlane and Botlane for any overextended targets and stop the clear if a gank opportunity arises.
Maokai is a strong ganker thanks to W -
Twisted Advance and Q -
Bramble Smash for crowd control. Approach from bushes or flanking angles, using
Oracle Lens when passing areas that are frequently warded.
- Engage with W -
Twisted Advance to dash toward the enemy, rooting them in place.
(To close the distance this can be combined with
Flash).
- After the root, use Q -
Bramble Smash to knock the enemy back, ideally toward your ally.
- Toss E -
Sapling Toss into their escape path to slow them and deal damage.
Focus on clearing towards Botlane, starting with your Blue Buff or Red Buff depending on which side you’re on.
Red Buff → Krugs → Raptors → Wolves → Blue Buff → Gromp → Scuttle Crab
Blue Buff → Gromp → Wolves → Raptors → Red Buff → Krugs → Scuttle Crab
While pathings towards botlane, check Midlane and Botlane for any overextended targets and stop the clear if a gank opportunity arises.
Maokai is a strong ganker thanks to W -



- Engage with W -

(To close the distance this can be combined with

- After the root, use Q -

- Toss E -

Mid Game/Objectives
Mid Game:
Start securing objectives like Dragons and Rift Herald. Use your vision control and tankiness to set up for fights.
Once you’ve completed your first jungle item
Liandry's Torment,
Sunfire Aegis, or
Hollow Radiance and boots, you should start focusing on objectives like Dragons and Rift Herald. Maokai’s E -
Sapling Toss can provide excellent vision control, making it harder for enemies to contest these objectives.
Setting up vision:
Use E -
Sapling Toss in bushes around the Dragon or Herald to provide long-lasting vision and poke. Once 2-3 saplings are set-up and your team is ready, start taking the objective.
Dragon Saplings
Void Grubs/Herald/Baron Saplings
Teamfighting:
If the enemy opts to fight for the objective there are two ways to start an engage:
- Maokai can Engage from a distance with R -
Nature's Grasp. However the enemy can walk away if the distance is far enough for them to respond.
- Maokai can Engage with W -
Twisted Advance. Then use Q -
Bramble Smash to push the target towards your team or for damage and then use R -
Nature's Grasp on the same target; aiming it to hit other enemies.
Start securing objectives like Dragons and Rift Herald. Use your vision control and tankiness to set up for fights.
Once you’ve completed your first jungle item




Setting up vision:
Use E -

Dragon Saplings
Void Grubs/Herald/Baron Saplings
Teamfighting:
If the enemy opts to fight for the objective there are two ways to start an engage:
- Maokai can Engage from a distance with R -

- Maokai can Engage with W -



Late Game/Objectives
Late Game:
You are the frontline for your team. Initiate fights, peel for your carries, and use your crowd control to disrupt the enemy team. Maokai is able to engage the enemy team from a distance with his R -
Nature's Grasp.
Stay with your carries: Maokai’s utility makes him great at protecting his teammates. Always stay near your damage dealers in late-game fights to peel for them.
You are the frontline for your team. Initiate fights, peel for your carries, and use your crowd control to disrupt the enemy team. Maokai is able to engage the enemy team from a distance with his R -

Stay with your carries: Maokai’s utility makes him great at protecting his teammates. Always stay near your damage dealers in late-game fights to peel for them.
Conclusion
By following this guide, you’ll be able to control the game, lock down key targets, and provide the utility and tankiness your team needs to win! Maokai may not be as strong as he once was but he is still an option for those who prefer a slower playstyle.
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