Maokai Set up (help!)

Pizzagod13·8/7/2018, 6:36:26 AM·1 votes·733 views

Hello, I have recently started to try and play the champion Maokai after I discovered I had the Meowkai(?) skin for him. However, after browsing the web I still have a few questions...

  1. Skill order. From what I have read most people go Q(knock back/slow), W(Root), E(Sapling). However, Op.gg says that Q, E, W has a higher win-rate, while only being picked about 10% of the time. I am wondering what you guys think is better since the higher win-rate (65%~ from 60%) could just be caused by a small amount of games were the player got lucky or it could be old data. Also, Maokai's E is supposed to be getting a buff next patch, do you think this will make it more desirable to max second? Anyway, if its not clear I am wondering what you guys think is the best skill order.

  2. Keystone. I am unsure of the best keystone to take on this guy. Aftershock seems like the best, but most people and builds I have found on mobafire and other sites (Yes, I am one of THOSE people...) seem to take grasp. I get that grasp is better in lane while aftershock is better for team fighting. What I am asking is which is more impactful. Games are pretty short right now so grasp won't get that much use right and Maokai likes to team fight which is making me lean towards Aftershock. Just as a note, I usually go bone plating/font, the healing one, and the one that makes heals better, then as a secondary I take Sorcery and take manaflow band and the one that gives 10% CDR at ten minutes. Anyway, I essentially just want more input about which one is better right now.

  3. Lastly, is Jungle Maokai viable or should I just stick to the top lane?

Thanks for any tips you may provide and my apologies if this is in the wrong place!!!

2 Comments

Beatrice falls8/7/2018, 10:49:04 AM1 votes

Skill order depends of the match-up, if I'm against a passive laner (like DrMundo Nasus) I'll max E to farm easily and then deny their cs while harassing and then Q > W. If I'm against an over agressive laner (Kled Renekton) I'll max Q to disengage more often, and then W > E

I always take aftershock, it's more efficient since you can stick to the target to deal the max amount of damage. Imo graps "synergyze" with his passive, but his passive is more than enough for his sustain. I also go for bone-plating - second wind - revitalize for more sustain. Secondary, it depends, if I'm against a heavy cc comp, I go for precision : triumph (which is really cool on tanks) and legend - tenacity, otherwise if it's "more damage" comp, I also go the same as you in sorcery

I don't think Maokai jungle is really viable since his jungle clear is way too slow (and you're forced to max E)

MrFawknSunshine8/7/2018, 9:00:54 PM1 votes

i am a 3 season maokai one trick ... i played him top , support , jungle and sometimes mid.

feel free to ask away.

skill order is typically Q W E ... you can take one point in E early to use to scout bushes etc.