@Riot and @Rito, Maokai

Is there anyone at Riot that can talk about the original tree of the Rift. What is riots views on the champ after the rework? Did they hit their goals? What were their goals?

Maokai has always been a champ that I play with every season. Though to be honest I am not a huge fan of the state of the champ after the rework.

Things i do not like

1. Putting some of the champs early game power in "E". Sapling throw is such a hit and miss ability with the set up after landing and 1/2 of the power is forever gated by not being able to throw into brush (cause the champs are not running that way).
2. The ult. I hate everything about this ability. It is the slowest moving effect in the game. It is so slow that Maokai can out run it himself. I have successfully casted the ult and walked ahead of the ability and the ability will never pass me. Maokai is one of the slowest champs on the rift. Smart enemies will line up behind tanks and never be threatened since sections of the ability go away on first champ hit. This is the worst feeling ult in the game for me. No damage, Hard to land, and almost meaningless in the late game.

The worst part for me is that he still struggles in the jungle. Riot keeps saying they do not want mindless tank fights in the top lane but are not providing success for tanks in the role they should be best at. THE JUNGLE.

Maokai's play rate seems low to me, I never see anyone else pick him.

I hope someone at Riot can come in here and talk about the champ.