I have mixed feelings about Maokai's VU...

PhoenixSlayer13·11/11/2014, 2:49:46 AM·10 votes·1,931 views

On one hand, he looks a lot more visually smooth and updated. He can stand next to newer champs now and not feel out of place.

On the other hand... he doesn't feel "twisted" anymore. When I look at his new design, nothing is really telling me that he's been corrupted by magic. He looks like a normal treant, and that's honestly a bit problematic for his character. He never actually wanted the life that was given to him, and actively tried to end the corrupted existence that was thrust on him.

I definitely like that you've given Mao some love, but I feel like you've taken the "twisted" out of the "Twisted Treant."

11 Comments

HitsFromTheBomb11/11/2014, 4:11:17 AM6 votes

yup its a tree (cute) now most the vu for him (all his skins) were a step down imo , not a dark mage twisted tree ...... the default one is less detailed and not dark or twisted the xmas one is a cutesy joke with even less detail looks like they threw some trees on his head real fast , the colors on most of them are not matching its just muh ... as one of my mains im disappointed in this VU ... but thats just my opinion

Unclesatan11/11/2014, 10:29:31 AM5 votes

he looks too much like malphite to me, and yes the whole "twisted" aspect of him is kindof gone

HigeR11/11/2014, 6:31:34 AM4 votes

I'd say they missed the hue mark a little bit, some contrast and less brightness will go a long way with this new VU, of course we have to take in account the fact that they're trying to remove black for clarity's sake but I think the "dark" bar can still rise a little bit for Maokai to be the twisted treant we all know

The skin that bothers me most I think its charred Maokai, he looks too much like malphite and that can be a pain for some people, they should make him look more like Brand, really dark-grey colors for charred wood with high orange-red on his crevices, eyes and mouth.

Totemic Maokai is great though he's got so much fidelity upgraded onto this concept it made me want to have it, I wouldn't change a thing on that one.

As for his particles, the only one that I think needs more work is his snare, twisted advance I think it's named, he used to look as if he turned into leaves, wind, branches and energy, now he looks like he buries himself underground and moves forward which is cool don't get me wrong but I think it should look more dramatic, say there should be more roots-branches protruding from the ground almost like Zyra's E and I'd say to keep the dark leaves flying around as well which was pretty iconic I think.

DynamiteGazelle11/11/2014, 10:33:32 AM4 votes

I don't have mixed feelings, I just plain don't like it.

He seems to have lost so much character. For one, they changed his face completely. Why!? I hate that they completely changed his colors too. The new blue hue makes him seem too pure and nice compared to the old purple and green. I think it's because they're trying to visually unite the factions now and Maokai is Shadow Isles, but I think saying "everything from the shadow isles must be teal!" is kinda dumb.

The color palate of a champ is a huge part of their visual identity, so the fact that they swapped it out completely just doesn't make sense to me.

Also I'm suprised anyone likes totemic maokai. I think it looks so weird now. It reminds me of Aku from samurai jack. I mean, it's not terrible, but it looks absolutely nothing like a totem pole or even anything tribally influenced anymore.

Adrian Blackbear11/11/2014, 4:47:41 AM4 votes

I was more disappointed at how the changes on some of the skins were decent, and other skins were kind of poor. I own the holiday skins for Maokai (Haunted & Festive). While I think the changes to the model on Haunted are pretty nice, the changes to his abilities are kind of lack-luster. I loved the gravestone effects on his abilities, which is why I have the skin, and now it's not there (unless they plan on putting it back in at a later point). As for Festive, I was a little more upset with the model than the abilities. The model looks awkward with all the way that the Christmas tree element is kind of thrown in all cross his head/back, and the removal of all the ornaments and such. I don't know if it was just me, but the color scheme was a little awkward too and I miss the color of the old gift sapling.

That's just my opinion though. I hope that they can put a little more into putting those elements back into the model. They really made the skins worth buying.

7ha7guy77711/11/2014, 4:18:53 AM3 votes

Can we all take a moment to appreciate the fact that Maokai inhabits an Oak and his name is an anagram for "I Am Oak"?

Gragas Undressed11/11/2014, 11:08:17 AM1 votes

Charred Maokai looks like Malphite and he loses a lot of visual appeal. He doesn't looks like charred wood he looks like a giant rock with some random flames. This skin definitely needs some work and would be a shame if it shipped as is.

catraven11/11/2014, 1:34:22 PM1 votes

not surprising. look at deboinair vi.. nice splash but bland and no unbuttoned blouse in game.

The Soulforged11/14/2014, 4:36:51 AM1 votes

I'm one who is confused at when maokai's lore was changed since I'm so familiar with him being a tree come to life due to the rune wars.

Kryophyre12/24/2014, 5:15:15 AM1 votes

I realize it's been some time since this update hit, but this is an issue I want to bring back because it's been a while and I still miss the old Mao Kai. One of the biggest points that I miss, that hasn't already been mentioned numerous times, is the spinning graphics during his ult. Even if they don't bring back the rocks, I really miss the movement of the border during his ult. The current ult effects just feel so static and unimportant and un-Maelstrom-like. The current swirly particles are nice and all, but they look like a healing ability. Not to mention Karthus' E has more of a presence than Mao Kai's Ultimate and that just doesn't sit well with me.

To add to points that have already been brought up:

Visually he's lost his sense being 'twisted'. Now he just looks enchanted or magical.
His Christmas and Charred skins aren't looking too great.
Twisted Advance feels kind of flat now.
The Shadow Isles' 'All Teal' colour scheme isn't really doing Mao Kai Justice. I really miss that purple.

And on that colour scheme note: Even if the tree is from the Isle', wasn't it supposed to be like, a well of life magic? Like the opposite of the Shadow Isle' magic? So even if Mao Kai's tree has been corrupted by the Shadow Isles shouldn't there still be some essence of that Life Magic, or Mao Kai's Natural Magic mixed in with the Shadow Isle' Teal?