This is honestly one of my favorite guides across all of MOBAFire. In depth on every position, multiple ways to play each. It helps that Mao is versatile too.

Just wanted to drop by and say thanks for this. I hope you'll fix it up when Season 5 starts.

The best guide ever. But please renew this.

I have been quite busy this year, but I finally have had a chance to try the reworked Maokai kit. I think this kit was great for him! People complain about the reduced range on Twisted Advance, but I think the slow on Sapling Toss more than makes up for it. And the ult changes are indeed quite helpful. Yes, AP tree still works well, especially with extra magic pen. Try with magic pen boots, Haunting Guise, and Abyssal Scepter. Armor options include Iceborn Gauntlet and Sunfire Cape for damage.

What do you think of the new changes for Maokai on the PBE?I find that the change that made his ult be around him instead of in one area really good? How I see it, AP tree can still work nicely, and you'll now shred tanks also.

Maokai is a very powerful early ganker, that said, he has less engage than Vi, utility than Elise, and Disruption than Zac. Maokai fits his own niche of a powerful support jungler. I say this because he is better at peeling in teamfights, and his ultimate is defensive, used mostly for protecting teammates. With the recent surge of carry junglers and junglers that do not depend on teammates, Maokai has fallen out of favor. I still enjoy playing him AP jungle. You have the power of early ganks, while also being able to counterjungle.

As for being invaded, the point of invading is to put someone at a disadvantage; to make you go through your first clear without the benefits of your blue buff and its experience. As long as you make sure they lose the same benefits, you negate their invade. If they start your blue, start theirs.
I like to ward the buff I wish to protect with a trinket (or ask a teammate to) so we can tell if the enemy is approaching. If the enemy invades I back off and start their buff.

Using a combination of wards and timing I usually find myself keeping pretty safe control of my jungle.

Yes,im really glad to hear a reply from you :D,anyway im on journey to buying maokai (1839 sow far)and by my calculations its going to take my exactly 14440 IP in order to get the runes,and maokai himself in order to use him to his full extent.But what are the problems that stop maokai from being used more often in competitive play?Its it because of the surge of powerful junglers such as vi and elise,some people have even said zac is the better version of kai?And what do you usually do when your blue is invaded by the enemy team?

The changes to the jungle items helps his jungle sustain a lot, allowing him to stay out longer and get more ganks in before recalling. I've found myself not having to go back to base as much and forgetting to recall and buy items sometimes because I get caught up ganking and skirmishing. Overall I think this helped Maokai.

Have I answered your question as you meant it?

Regards,
Teyso

What are your thoughts on the new jungle item changes and how do they affect maokai?

Thanks for your comment! You prompted me to look into all of my notes and I was able to find and fix quite a few things :) I really appreciate your help!

Cheers,
Teyso

Great Guide..helped me alot.
Your "Early Purchase Options"-notes in the "Jungle Bruiser Guide" tells me sth. about
Kage´s Lucky Pick, what i think isn´t uptodate yet.

Thx

Aye, and I have to deal with Final Exams right now, so I will update it after that. Might see some changes around Thursday of next week.

Cheers!
Teyso

This is going to be a nightmare of a guide to update for S4, isn't it?