Maokai is an amazing initiator with a very high damage output built right. You run in and snare somebody, lay down your ult, toss a sapling and boom penta kill(k maybe just some dmg but penta would be nice)!

PROS
+Great snare
+ALL HIS ABILITIES DO DAMAGE
+Good AP ratios
+Ruins those pesky AOE ults
+Yes he can carry
+HE IS AN EFFIN TREE
+Great fun to just cause havoc in a teamfight

Cons
+Low base movement speed
+Not the best base Armor or MR
+His passive isn't all that useful early...

Chose Mpen reds because your just need it on him...nuff said

He has mana issues so got the mana per 5 yellows (reccomend blue buff throughout)

AP per lvl blues really give ya that kick before you have your rod of ages because you will only have catalyst

The Flat AP quints make getting a Doran's ring viable. You will have a laning presence.

Exhaust- chosen beause i enjoy ganking with Maokai quite a lot and if you W+Q+Exhaust them? free kill yay

Flash- just as an OH **** I GOTTA GO ability because he doesn't have one. ALready within just 50 or so games it has saved my *** at least 40 times and also has ensured very clutch kills using it to close gaps for a W+E combo.

Clarity can be used but if you manage your mana should not be needed...

Ghost is another option to flash but i prefer flash personally because if u gotta get away ur gonna be IN the fight and ghost ain't gonna do **** usually....again thats just preferance though

The CDR in Utility helps a lot with allowing more of your spells to be cast...duh
You can go 21 down defense but i prefer the CDR and mana regen...thats just my preferance and results have made me keep it this way. The 9 down offense is almost needed because again...he is very strong with Mpen

They are changed based on the game as all tanks item builds are...never gonna be the same each match. This is just a basis. You can go with rejuvination beads and 3hp pots/3mana pots if it suits you instead of doran's as well.

I am debating the new item riot put in, Morelio's...something, but not sure it will fit into the build.

So all of Maokai's abilities do damage...thats his strength and it is a very big one being that he is beefy.

The skill sequence picked is not set in stone just as the items aren't...If you are getting haraased or there is a panth or Xin in your lane i suggest Sapling Toss before arcane smash but otherwise a Twisted advance + arcane smash will really rattle their bones. Keep using your passive when it is up because it is quite a good heal...just don't rely on it to act like a summoner's heal if you want that kill on annie trying to B at tower.

To initiate all you have to do is W+Q+R+E(The E can be tossed where you want but be sure to position it well...these things do A LOT OF DAMAGE)With the R being right in the middle of the fight, you will want to keep it up for as long as you can for the 20% reduc in dmg and then when u activate it they will cry....almost as if galio had ulted(i would say nunu but his ult doesnt allow them to cry....they just drop dead from nunu's)