Maokai support viable or troll?
Was looking at adding Leona to my support roster and got to thinking that perhaps Maokai would make a better addition to my champion roster overall while still adding to my support roster (while also worrying that Leona may receive a small nerf soon).
Basically, compared to conventional Tanky supports, I don't see why Maokai support isn't favored?
I'll do a quick comparison of Maokai vs Leona and Alistar both pre and post 6. I'd really appreciate any comments from people who have played Maokai support though, or anyone with insight as to why it wouldn't work.
Pre-6: Leona: Has a fairly easy to land skillshot ability that applies a brief stun and transports her to the target. Has an auto attack reset and stun. Has a shield which damages the enemy and receives prolonged duration if it detonates when they're nearby. Is a strong all-in support because of the tankiness on the shield and her ability to engage with 2 stuns.
Alistar: Has a knockup, a knockback, and a heal. His common combo is W+Q to get the knockup to apply after transporting to the enemy with the knockback. Is a weaker all in support because he has no CC left after initiation. Offers a small heal to his lane partner to try to compensate for this, but is pretty undeniably weaker than Leona.
Maokai: Has free wards with damage and a slow attached to them. Has a targeted transport + stun cc ability, as well as a damage+slow+knockback CC ability. His W is basically the same as Alistar's W+Q combo, and is an even easier version of Leona's E with a longer stun. He should offer a better prolonged all-in than Leona because having CC on all 3 abilities means he can really prevent the adc from escaping, however Leona having the extra stun may be more useful in preventing the enemy adc attacking your adc. Free wards via E are a pure bonus though, throwing one up the river should provide sufficient protection against ganks without needing to invest in early wards (plus the slow on impact should prevent a fast jungler from getting to you despite being seen), and he has ranged harass with his E which Leona lacks and makes it mandatory for her to all in. Further, his passive gives him healing based on spells cast nearby, meaning he can tank a lot more poke before he all ins by healing it up between his passive and possibly his relic shield procs (or should he go talisman for the MS and greater engage potential?).
Post 6: Leona: Has an excellent engage / disengage tool. Her ultimate can protect from ganks, and can help initiate ganks. Can also initiate teamfights or save an ally.
Alistar: Ultimate makes him the biggest tank, but he can't force you to target him. Might have use in saving himself while roaming to place wards or in attempts to lead a charge, but overall seems lackluster as he can just be ignored.
Maokai: His ultimate reduces damage dealt to his allies, thereby helping protect his ADC from ganks. In later teamfights, the ultimate protects the team's carries from getting blown up too fast. Further, it will deal pretty decent damage if a lot of damage is received by allies during the ultimate.
In conclusion, I see no reason why I would ever want Alistar support over Maokai. Both pre 6 and post 6, Maokai seems to do everything much better than Alistar (excluding the small heal that Alistar offers). Compared to Leona, I feel like Maokai fits the same role. He probably has MORE CC during laning phase and a similar all in. Free wards and ranged harass are pure bonus that Leona has nothing to offer in return. When it comes to ultimates, Leona's is probably better when you're looking to engage teamfights but Maokai's is better when peeling for your carries.
Please post any comments. If Maokai support is viable, should he go relic shield or talisman (or is it situation dependent, talisman only when he'll need to engage for his team).
