This is my first build so bear with me. I have played this build in several games and it works quite well for harassing early game and tanking / finishing late game.

This build should allow you to harass quite a bit early game with sapling toss and farm very well. A single well placed can clear an entire minion wave at skill level 4 and possibly even at level 3.

Anyways I hope this is useful at least as a simple guideline.

The items I go with are.



The warmogs definetly helps with early game survivability and lane staying power. The extra health from Warmogs increases the amount of health gained from maokai's passive also. Next I get rod of ages which adds ability power and heralth and I continue this trend by getting Rylai's as a fourth item.

Where you go from here can vary depending on your oppossing team.

For caster heavy teams.


The Banshee's veil is nice for blocking silences or snares ad the Guardian Angel is good since you'll be initiating alot of fights and casters have alot of burst damage that they'll use up trying to kill you the first time.

Or for Melee heavy teams.


I opted not to go for the Guardian Angel when fighting melee heavy teams because as Maokai you're quite slow and melee teams will be able to keep up a sustained amount of damage on you where as the casters will not so you are unable to actually retreat most of the time.

Early game with Maokai is all about harassing. Your Sapling toss is a major harrassment tool since it does damage on hit and when it explodes. That is why I have mana regn runes and clarity. Don't forget to use your Twisted Advance and Sapling Toss to help your lane partner get those runners if they try to gank.

Once you get to around level 7 your sapling toss should be able to destroy entire creep waves with the landing damage plus the explosion if aimed right. This will substantially help in farming for items. Also always remember to use your sapling toss to scout bushes or the jungle if you're not sure that there isn't a trap waiting, they make great scouts and are like a free 25 second ward.

In Mid and Late game you are pretty much the initiator. Your Ult reduces all damage by 20% so make sure to only activate it once you are sure there is a teamfight going on and you don't think it will move out of the circle. If the fight seems to be moving out of the circle for any reason make sure to deactivate it for that extra damage on the enemies before they exit it and chase down any runners.

Alternetively if you find yourself losing the fight make sure to use Twisted advance and Arcane smash on any enemies who are chasing your fleeing allies so they can escape.