Maokai is a bit ridiculous on ARAM right now

Sugar Momma·May 10, 2017·3 votes·2,081 views

I rarely complain about champs being OP, but I've played against/with new Maokai a few times in ARAM and he's struck me as sorta broken there.

His new saplings are stronger in bushes, do more dmg and have a long detection radius, as well as being nearly impossible to remove (unlike Shaco boxes or Teemo shrooms). It is nearly impossible to stay out of range of their detection on ARAM.

His ult also is so wide it fits across the entire width of the map essentially.

Could he perhaps have a slightly higher CD on his E and/or R on this map? (A lot of champions have slightly different balance numbers for TT/ARAM).

3 Comments

Baka RedMay 10, 20171 votes

I have also met a reworked Maokai at least once in my ARAM matches. However, I haven't seen his saplings as a problem. Yes, they have percentual health damage now, but they are still slow enough for many champions to bait and escape, causing them to detonate hitting nothing and making Mao waste his mana.

As result, I have also been on the receiving end of Maokai's ult. Imo it was quite weak, not overpowered. All it takes to block is that a tank stands between Mao's ult and the team - much like Jhin ult.

It seems that our experiences on Maokai's rework are quite different. I don't think he is "ridiculous" at least in overpowered way. He felt okay as an opponent but lost. I haven't managed to play him yet after rework and I don't have that many reworked Maokai experience yet (one or two). The opponent(s) might have been inexperienced Maokais and thus their play possibly not optimal. Since I have always been a mediocre Maokai at best, I kind of fear having to play him in current state, but I shall see.

BlainesMay 10, 20171 votes

The only OP thing in maokai is his passive healing. Really ~10% max hp healing for tank who doesnt need any ap items?

MinardeMay 11, 20171 votes

Could he perhaps have a slightly higher CD on his E and/or R on this map? (A lot of champions have slightly different balance numbers for TT/ARAM).

Unfortunately, Riot's confirmed they're no longer doing map-specific champ balancing. They've expressed some possibility for addressing functionality (e.g. Shyv passive), but not for addressing relative champion strength.