A+ Tier
Class: 
Tank
TankRecommended Lane: Baron
Best Maokai Wild Rift build guide for Season 11 Patch 5.0 of WR. With our Maokai guide you will learn which items to build, runes to select, skill order, who counters Maokai, and how to use abilities properly.
Recommended Builds
Starting Item
Boots
Core Items
Complete Build
Runes
Starting Item
Boots
Core Items
Complete Build
Runes
Quick Menu For Maokai Wild Rift Guide BuildsRunesSpellsSkill OrderAbilities AnalysisSynergiesCountersFAQ
Maokai Wild Rift Build Recommendation
Here are Item Build Recommendations that works on this champion and which are the best build for Maokai Wild Rift in this patch.
Undead Slayer
This Maokai Wild Rift build consists of Armor, Health, and Magic-resist items that are essential for tank/jungle champions, especially since he is supposed to be soaking up as much damage as he can to be the frontline of the team. Searing Crown provides a burn to the enemies when hit by Maokai’s attacks, useful for finishing up fleeing opponents that have low HP. Thornmail provides armor, while also having the capability to inflict damage back on its attacker, perfect for a fighter/tank champion like Maokai. Additionally, Glorious Enchantment for Boots provides a huge burst of movement speed when running toward enemy champions, great for closing the gap when chasing an enemy.
The Forest Guardian
This is an alternative Maokai Wild Rift Build that you can use if opposed to a Magic-heavy champion. Mercury’s Treads reduce the magic damage Maokai can receive, tanking more against burst-type magic champions. Spirit Visage is here to provide more Magic Resistance, while also increasing the effectiveness of all healing and shielding Maokai receives. Additionally, Frozen Heart is great for debuffing enemy marksmen by reducing their attack speed, making this build a great alternative overall.
Runes for Maokai in Wild Rift
Phase Rush provides a huge burst of movement speed after hitting three attacks on enemy champions. This Keystone is key for initiating fights and locking down crucial targets like marksmen and mages. On the other hand, Aftershock is a great alternative keystone that is also catered to initiating a skirmish, as it provides bonus armor and magic resistance after immobilizing an enemy.
Overgrowth is essential for Maokai, as he needs to be beefy or tanky to benefit the team. It also helps Maokai to be more useful in the late game, as he can increase his max HP whenever a minion or a jungle monster is eliminated nearby.
Courage of the Colossus is also a good rune for Maokai because his kit has many stunning or immobilizing capabilities.
Bone Plating is also useful for Maokai to add more survivability after being hit by an enemy champion.
Lastly, Hextech Flashtraption adds more mobility to Maokai by providing a short blink after channeling. It replaces his flash whenever it is on cooldown, so he can still have the capability to catch enemies off-guard.
Spells
In our Maokai Wild Rift Guide, here are the best champion spells that you can equip on him.
Flash is a great summoner spell, especially for a champion like Maokai. It opens up a lot of opportunities for a great gank or team fight initiation, making it a must-have for him.
As a jungle champion, Maokai needs smite to help him eliminate jungle monsters quickly, while also having the benefit of receiving extra Gold and XP from jungle monster eliminations.
Skill Order
Maokai in Wild Rift can start by taking the Sapling Toss skill. This ability deals good damage to jungle camps while also having the capability to scout enemies who are hiding in bushes, which is perfect in the early stages of the game. Then, Maokai can now take Bramble Smash for more damage, clearing jungle camps more quickly and efficiently. Next, Maokai can now take Twisted Advance,his second ability, as it is essential when initiating fights, especially to jungle champions like Maokai. Lastly, Maokai should take Nature’s Grasp when he reaches level 5. This ultimate ability is very potent in team fights, as he can lockdown enemy champions when hit by it. Additionally, it should be a priority when there’s a chance to level it.
Abilities
Maokai’s basic attack also heals him and deals additional damage on a moderate cooldown. Each time Maokai casts a spell or is struck by an enemy’s spell, this cooldown is reduced.
Maokai knocks back nearby enemies with a shockwave, dealing magic damage and slowing them.
Maokai contorts into a mass of moving roots, becoming untargetable and dashing to the target. Upon arrival, he roots the target.
Maokai flings a sapling to the target area to stand guard. Additionally, it is more effective in brush.
Maokai summons a colossal wall of brambles and thorns that slowly advances forwards, damaging and rooting any enemies in the path.
Abilities Analysis
Innate Passive | Sap Magic
Maokai’s basic attacks heal him periodically. This effect’s cooldown is reduced whenever he casts abilities, hits enemy champions or jungle monsters with “Sapling Toss,” or is struck by enemy abilities. This passive provides significant sustain, making Maokai durable in prolonged fights. AdditionThe cooldown reduction mechanisms encourage aggressive play and ability usage.
Q | Bramble Smash
Maokai smashes the ground, sending a shockwave that deals damage and knocks back enemies. This ability is key for disrupting enemies and controlling the battlefield. It can also interrupt channels, displace opponents, and provide great area-of-effect damage in team fights.
W | Twisted Advance
Maokai transforms into a moving mass of roots, becoming untargetable and quickly traveling to an enemy target, rooting them upon arrival. Twisted Advance is crucial for initiating fights and locking down key targets. The untargetability during the dash makes it an effective tool for avoiding certain abilities and closing gaps on slippery and fast champions.
E | Sapling Toss
Maokai throws a sapling to a target location. The sapling acts as a trap, chasing and exploding on nearby enemies, dealing damage and slowing them. This ability provides vision control and zoning. It can deter enemy movements and secure objectives by revealing and damaging opponents trying to contest or gank.
R | Nature’s Grasp
Maokai summons a massive wall of brambles and thorns that advance forward, dealing damage and rooting all enemies hit. This ultimate ability is a powerful initiation tool and can turn the tide of team fights. Its wide area-of-effect and long range make it effective for catching multiple enemies, disrupting their formations, and setting up for follow-up damage from Maokai’s team.
Maokai Early Game Guide
In the early game as a Jungle Maokai, you’ll want to start by clearing camps efficiently and safely. Kick things off with your E ability, Sapling Toss, which helps you see what’s going on and deals solid damage to jungle monsters. Next, use your Q, Bramble Smash, to knock back and damage the whole camp at once. Keep an eye out for gank opportunities with your W, Twisted Advance – it’s perfect for locking down enemies and setting up easy kills for your teammates.
Additionally, don’t forget to grab the scuttle crab for extra vision and control over the river. Balance your time between farming and ganking; aim to pressure overextended enemies and support your lanes. With Maokai’s crowd control, you can turn early skirmishes in your favor and set your team up for success.
Maokai Late Game Guide
In the late game as Jungle Maokai, your role shifts towards being a frontline tank and crowd control powerhouse for your team. Engage fights by using your R, Nature’s Grasp, to initiate from a distance, slowing and rooting multiple enemies. Follow up with your W, Twisted Advance, to dive onto priority targets, locking them down for your team to focus on. Use your Q, Bramble Smash, to disrupt and peel for your carries, knocking back enemies and creating space. Keep placing E, Sapling Toss, in strategic locations for vision control and zone denial, especially around key objectives like Baron and Dragon.
Your primary goal is to absorb damage, control enemy positioning, and create opportunities for your team to secure kills and objectives. Stick close to your teammates and coordinate engagement to maximize your impact in team fights.
Synergies
For ourMaokai Wild Rift Guide, we highly recommend using him with the following champions as they synergize well with him.
Yasuo is one of the best champions that synergizes well with Maokai due to his kit full of immobilization. Additionally, Maokai’s ability to engage and lock down enemies provides Yasuo with ample opportunities to follow up with his high burst damage and knock-up combo, creating devastating wombo combos during team fights.
Miss Fortune is also a good marksman champion to pair with Maokai. His crowd control and ability to keep enemies in place with his ultimate, Nature’s Grasp, pairs perfectly with Miss Fortune’s R, Bullet Time. When Maokai roots and slows multiple enemies, it allows Miss Fortune to unleash her ultimate on grouped-up opponents, maximizing her damage output and often leading to quick and decisive team fight victories.
All Maokai Wild Rift Counter Champions
In this section, we’ll specifically show champions that can easilycounter Maokai in Wild Rift.
Kha’Zix excels at isolating and bursting down single targets, which can be particularly troublesome for Maokai, who relies on his tankiness and crowd control to be effective. He can invade Maokai’s jungle, take advantage of his weaker early game, and eliminate him before Maokai has a chance to scale into a tanky presence.
Graves can counter Maokai with his strong early-game damage, mobility, and ability to kite. Graves can clear jungle camps quickly and invade Maokai’s jungle, applying pressure and denying resources. In fights, Graves can use his range and mobility to stay out of reach of Maokai’s crowd control, while consistently dealing high damage.
Pros & Cons About Maokai
Here are some pros and cons if you are playing with Maokai in Wild Rift.
Pros
- High Mobility
- Great crowd-controlling capabilities
- Great at team fights
- Good tank/frontliner
- Has great ganking potential
Cons
- Weak champion to use for carrying the game
- Relatively low damage compared to other junglers
- Heavily relies on his teammates
- Very susceptible to invades
FAQ's About Maokai in Wild Rift
How good is Maokai in Wild Rift?
Maokai in Wild Rift is an A-tier champion due to his great crowd-controlling abilities. However, his damage is relatively low to other jungle champions in the game, which makes him heavily rely on his teammates. He can set up a great team fight with his ultimate, Nature’s Grasp, which often leads to a game-ending one.
What role / lane should I play with Maokai in Wild Rift?
Maokai is most commonly used in the jungle as an initiator champion. He has a great ganking potential with his abilities, which makes the jungle role a very suitable one to play with Maokai in Wild Rift.
What are the best runes for Maokai in Wild Rift?
The best runes for Maokai in Wild Rift are Phase Rush or Aftershock for his Keystone. These keystones are best for aggressive gameplay where he needs to set up ganks by immobilizing enemy champions. Additionally, Overgrowth, Bone Plating, Courage of the Colossus, and Hextech Flashtraption are his best runes if you want to play Maokai as a jungle champion.
What is the best build for Maokai in Wild Rift?
According to our Maokai guide, Searing Crown is one of the best items to build for him, as it provides health and armor for Maokai, as well as its unique perk called Fiery Touch. Thornmail and Spirit Visage are also great for Maokai as they provide armor, magic resistance, and healing and shielding, which is essential for a tank champion.
When is the release date of Maokai in Wild Rift?
Maokai is expected to arrive in Wild Rift on June 14th, together with the patch 5.1c
List of all Wild Rift Champion builds
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