Seriously he went from someone who wasn't seen much and when he was seen, i think he was pretty balanced and fair, to a champ that bursts, tanks, heals, and can carry in two patches. What the hell happened?
It also helps that a lot of other notorious top laners have been nerfed, so since he was in an "okay" spot rose up in place, also he got some direct and some indirect buffs (if I remember correctly, Trundle was nerfed not too long ago).
It happens in every lane to be honest.
He's always been really strong, similarly to how Azir is also strong, in coordinated play. The only reason he seemed to have disappeared was because he got nerfed, but a little while ago he was buffed a bit.
I can't seem to see Maokai as a problem, really: he's annoying, tanky af, his ult is a pain to deal with but his damage, while not low, it's not so amazing and he really needs a lot of follow up to do anything (like any other tank). I didn't play againts him lately, but I really hope everyone is exaggerating his strenght...
probably his buffs, such as gaining mr per level. people were sad maokai wasn't really picked as much as he used to be and were hoping for buffs, well we got it. now hes been a pick/ban alongside poppy. hope everyones having fun because I sure ain't
easy to say super tank supersustain, perfect grasp abuse, lockdown w. same as trundle but more cc tank. next question pls :-)
yes they gave him mr per level back but i dont think that is the problem. The item chages that came with the mage update are really fucking good for ap tanks so much health and decent damage to boot. He has really good engages and is tanky with building any items.Its a case of Riot trying to fill a niche for ap tanks but in doing so they make the best one oppressive in the long run.Expect incoming nerfs at some piont
Because he gained MR per level.
Last season Maokai was broken too. Then Riot nerfed him on the MR side because he already had innate sustain and an ultimate that reduced incoming damages. Maokai was simply too good at everything so Riot decided to take away from him his MR so that, while still being quite tanky against magic damages thanks to his ultimate, he would have a weakness.
And then, for no fucking reason, Riot decided to give him back his MR per level. Back to Maokai being broken.
