Everytime I'm an AP top laner, I get shit on right after they have this item. It makes everything I work for completely negated and I feel like maybe I'm just not playing around it correctly. What do I do? Do I bother trying to fight the Maw user or just, leave lane and roam?
venomous frost4 votespoke him down to where his maw passive procs, all in him when the passive is down, NEVER fight him when it's up, you just won't win.
that being said, most AP mages just straight up lose vs maw users that can close the gap on you.
bro0rtega2 votes[{quoted}](name=venomous frost,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=Eu0NUTR3,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2016-06-13T20:18:18.809+0000)
poke him down to where his maw passive procs, all in him when the passive is down, NEVER fight him when it's up, you just won't win.
that being said, most AP mages just straight up lose vs maw users that can close the gap on you.
Venomous Frost had good things to say, I just want to expand on a few things.
First situation, If you lost to your laner before they got their Maw of Mal, then the better option is not to duel them especially when they have maw. You can Poke, but make sure you're still wave clearing, and roam if your champ is good at that, if you're good at non of that, turret hug wave clear.
Second situation, you beat your laner before they got Maw of Mal. Try and use the method you used to beat them, and don't over commit to killing them, a recall, and wave clear is good enough. Now, if you lost to your laner, go to (First Situation.)
Hope this helps! :)
alfavhunter1 votesRush the AP HP spell pen item, o wait they get a shield to... Hmmmm
ClapDatAshe1 votesHonestly, just wait it out. IF you can poke and proc the maw, let it just go off and wait out the duration. Teemo can (sadly) do this easily. 
If you're melee (or very short range) ( 
/ 
, 
) try to get the maw proc'd, but back out (if you can) when it's up.
Finally, there's always reserving your harder hitting spells for when the maw is closing down the duration. Use what you can, but save your hardest hitting abilities for when the duration is almost up, much like you'd time a spell for zhonyas. 
SaltyKracka1 votesDPS.
