(Gameplay) Maokai support | League of Legends

Laning

Saplings are not so reliable in a straight up 1v1 for solo lanes but are much stronger as a poke tool for support.

Always start E on support Maokai. Your E is one of the strongest level 1 abilities as it is pretty much a 1100 range ward (can be longer if you throw against a wall). Use this to scout where the enemy is level 1.

Saplings can act as wards and if the enemy passes them, they will know they have been spotted. Even if you were not paying attention when they got hit by the sapling, they still may back off knowing you got vision of them.

Here are some good sapling placements on blue and purple side For the tri-bushes on both sides, the enemy will usually walk through them on their way back from leashing level 1. You can get some good poke by leaving a few saplings in those bushes. Generally the enemy will walk through that bush around 1:50-1:55 and saplings last 30s at level 1 so start throwing them around 1:25.

In lane, use your saplings to poke. This is how you should place them.

The new saplings have lower lockdown radius (which is good so they dont unintentionally get aggro from minions). There are two ways to use this. New saplings have large splash radius from bush so you can place them close enough that they will target the minions and splash onto the enemy champions. Placing them on the inner edge of the bush away from minions will be out of range to target minions. This more for zoning or if you want a guaranteed hit on the enemy champs. Image below for reference.

Your Sapling Toss is your main ability in lane but you still have the same all in potential as old Maokai support. Take Twisted Advance at level 2 and go all in unless they hit level 2 before you. After level 3 you will have Bramble Smash, which makes your trading much stronger. At level 6, your trading will be even stronger with your ultimate. When engaging, it is difficult to use your ult forward as it is super slow. Instead, aim it backwards like how you would aim your q. Also when setting up for ganks, it can be used behind the enemies' escape path to cut them off.

Guide Top Mid game

This is usually when you will start to contest objectives like mid turret or dragon.

Great! Maokai is probably one of the best mid game teamfighting supports in the game. You have very high pick potential as you can CC people for days with your Q, W, and E. Use your sightstone to ward up around the bot jungle and river. I generally do not like defensive wards in solo queue so most of your sightstone wards should be in the enemy jungle or in river. However, place pinks defensively as it is harder to defend offensive pinks in solo queue.

With your new saplings, Maokai's saplings not only grant vision but also provide high damage. Maokai can leave saplings in bushes around the map or he can sit in the bush with the saplings and look for picks similar to how zyra/malzahar plays.

Guide Top Teamfighting

You are a great engager for your team. To start a teamfight, use your Twisted Advance onto preferably one of their carries or anyone who is cutoff from their team and Bramble Smash to knock them backwards. If you are flanking, use Nature's Grasp on their retreat path and close in with w. While you are the engager, after you have engaged, try to peel for your carries. Nature's Grasp is good for flanking but also for peeling. Standing next to your carries and using it will help keep them safe. Use exhaust on either someone who does high dps like Katarina or Vayne or just whoever is on your carries. Be sure to use your actives such as Redemption and Locket of the Iron Solari as they are a big part of supports' contribution to teamfights.

Try to stay near the front and be in range to use your abilities whenever they are up. Abilities will cycle very fast so you will have your Sap Magic up a lot. Proc it whenever you can as it restores a lot of HP.

Guide Top Conclusion

Maokai support is a very strong pick compared to his top lane counterpart as it makes room for a top laner that can benefit from more farm and items as well as being a stronger presence in mid game dragon fights and laning. People who have played Leona will probably find Maokai easy to pick up.

Thanks for reading my guide! Please leave comments on what you think I could do differently with the guide or my playstyle with Maokai. I appreciate all feedback.