This is a build I use all the time with Maokai all the time. This is a tank build. If initiating fights, taking damage, protecting teammates, and getting assists are your thing you will love this build if you use it right. If you like doing damage look at a different build. RoA and Rylai's add some AP but not really enough to do massive damage. Again, if you dont like to tank, do not bother with this build.

With mastries, runes, and a Ruby Crystal you should have around 800hp. Never a bad start to a game.

Catalyst the Protector
Get this for more health and much needed mana for abilities. Your semi-useless without any mana.


Great to have for the movement speed and the tenacity. The magic resist is another reason to get these. Much help.


Gives great health, mana and AP.


An essential for any tank. Gives an immense amount of health and health regen. You can add to the bonus by killing minions or enemy champs and by not you should be able to kill minions easily with .


Great to counter any heavy magic thanks to the magic resist, hp regen, and move speed. Great to keep you in the action longer and catch up to running enemies for a lethal snare.


100 more armor is never a bad thing but the passive is what I get this for. Any champs like Tryn, Xin, or Ashe will literally kill themselves if they attack you.


This is the icing on your pwn cake. That extra 500hp is going to be a tough 500hp the enemy needs to get rid of thanks to the build so far. 80 more AP will make all of your abilities more powerful. And that slow will make getting away from you and your teammates all the more harder.

Arcane Smash
Maokai smashes the ground sending a shockwave in front of him and knocking back any enemies near him. I have saved many teammates and ruined many escapes with this ability. It doesn't cost as much as the other abilities so it may be the best choice of protecting teammates when you're low on mana.


Maokai turns into a cloud of arcane energy and moves to an enemy position and snares them. Your main initiator. I level this second just because you'll be using it to start and end fights more often then anything else. Great to surprise gank enemies because once you get in range and turn into that arcane cloud you move to your target pretty quick.


Maokai throws a sapling and it does AoE damage on touchdown. If an enemy comes close it homes in on them and explodes. I get this first and max it out ASAP to face check bushes, damage and farm minions. By level 7 you should have it at level 4 and will be able kill mage minions in one hit with it. When you throw it at enemy champions make sure you aim in the path of there movement. If they are standing still aim a little bit behind them because when they see you throwing a sapling they will run away and right into range of your sapling.


Maokai creates a defensive area where teammates take 20% less damage. In addition, it absorbs some damage and sends it back to anyone standing in the area when the ultimate is deactivated. Try activating this when the enemy has committed to the team fight or when you need to help a squishy teammate escape. It's cooldown is relatively quick but you should still save it if you don't need to use it. You might need it soon after and not have it. Just remind your teammates to stay in your ultimate so they don't take unnecessary damage, they forget sometimes.

Here's your basic skill combo
Arcane Smash
This will set your enemies up on a silver platter for you DPS to come in and shred apart.