So I am wondering if Mao'Kai can be built with an emphasis on AP. Perhaps as a mid laner or jungler. When the next season rolls around I will be getting him along with the skin so I am curious. Also, if it does work can you leave builds?
BattleMan691 votesMaokai has good enought base damage, and I dint think full ap would be good. All of his damage outside of sapling require him to be on melee range so you want to build tanky to stay alive.
TequilaZombie1 votes
+ 2 Tank items. Take Strenght of Colossus (the new 42% max health shield mastery). Pait that with 12 points into the offensive ones. Maybe invest a bit into some CDR for more sappling poke/stacks.
Should work. Not the best build for climbing, but should be fun enough for normals.
Wolfram Oxford1 votes
Should work. Not the best build for climbing, but should be fun enough for normals.
What do you think about this build?
TequilaZombie2 votesYou will get popped by anyone almost instantly. Swap the Lich Bane for the Protobelt, as it will give basicly the same amount of burst, but also comes with some health. Also swap the Void Staff for an Abyssal Scepter, it has both magic Pen and AP, but also some MR.
Maokai is 100% melee with his kit putting him in the heat of the fight very often. You either build some bulk or you get deleted before you can delete someone.
Or go for 45% CDR + high AP and be a sappling poker, although that relies heavily on your team comp.
Wolfram Oxford1 votesYou will get popped by anyone almost instantly. Swap the Lich Bane for the Protobelt, as it will give basicly the same amount of burst, but also comes with some health. Also swap the Void Staff for an Abyssal Scepter, it has both magic Pen and AP, but also some MR.
Maokai is 100% melee with his kit putting him in the heat of the fight very often. You either build some bulk or you get deleted before you can delete someone.
Or go for 45% CDR + high AP and be a sappling poker, although that relies heavily on your team comp.
I was thinking about something like this lol
TequilaZombie1 votesUnless you're extremely ahead, this won't work past early game. Even then, you will most likely fall behind hard in the late game.
It's a really fun normal build, but won't work for ranked at higher Elos. Hell, might not work on high Silver.
Restless Slumber1 votesMaokai used to be an amazing jungler, but kind of doesn't fit into the meta right now with not having a good enough early game/mid game power spike or farming to do much. If you want to build him AP, the 3 items that are decent on him are 
. GA is also great on him too.
As for mid, I would not try it unless you are going to do the CDR bush camp strat where you max e and build ap and cdr and camp a bush filled with your little guys.
Paroe1 votes
3000+HP, 800+AP, 100 or so resistances, and void gate passive.
Keep in mind maokais W has a TON of %HP damage on it. you can easily hit 40% with a high AP build - sub out zzrot for that lichbane, and you could do actual squishy oneshots. your chase would also be fantastic because hextech GLP+W+Q+ good Es means they simply cant run away.
M-pen maokai is also a thing, and its pretty scary. As scary as Mpen nasus or morgana.
... Also minor nitpick. Its maokai. Not Mao'kai. the (word)'(word) is a reserved naming device for void champions.
Wolfram Oxford1 votes
Keep in mind maokais W has a TON of %HP damage on it. you can easily hit 40% with a high AP build - sub out zzrot for that lichbane, and you could do actual squishy oneshots. your chase would also be fantastic because hextech GLP+W+Q+ good Es means they simply cant run away.
M-pen maokai is also a thing, and its pretty scary. As scary as Mpen nasus or morgana.
... Also minor nitpick. Its maokai. Not Mao'kai. the (word)'(word) is a reserved naming device for void champions.
LOL, I always thought it was Mao'Kai, damn, thanks for telling me lol.
EndlessSorcerer1 votesTechnically, you can. However, I wouldn't recommend it.
If you are looking to build a little AP on him for additional burst damage, then the following are probably your best options:
That said, you are generally better off building primarily defensive items.
Oglaf1 votesHis Mana-costs are generally too damn high to be viable as a pure caster.
That is why, sadly, he'll never make that great of a Support either.