This guide has not yet been updated for the current season. Please keep this in mind while reading. You can see the most recently updated guides on the browse guides page
![](/images/avatars/1-47.png)
![](/images/mf-thumb-icon.png)
![](/images/mf-thumb-icon.png)
![](/images/mf-thumb-icon.png)
![](/images/mf-thumb-icon.png)
![](/images/guides/vote-popup-heart.png)
Your votes and comments encourage our guide authors to continue
creating helpful guides for the League of Legends community.
Recommended Items
Runes: Standard
+10% Attack Speed
+6 Armor
+65 Base Health
Spells:
Flash
Ignite
Items
Ability Order
Sap Magic (PASSIVE)
Maokai Passive Ability
Threats & Synergies
Vayne
While other supports make laning for vayne very hard, Maokai has a harder time with vayne. She is the one counter to maokai support as her q and w hurt when you are going in. Ban this betch every game :D
Introduction
With the changes to righteous glory, Maokai is playable as support now.
Maokai was one of the premier top lane picks at the end of Season 4 and Season 5. However I believe he is much stronger as support especially in solo queue. Pro top laners will mostly agree Maokai does not have the strongest laning phase but excels in teamfights and does well with low farm. In solo queue games, top laners are usually very farmed and top lane relies heavily on laning. On the contrary, support Maokai has a very strong laning phase and can be just as good in teamfights without much farm.
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
Inspiration is generally the best secondary tree for supports.
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![]() |
This item gives a lot more laning strength than coin even though coin might give more gold. It synergizes very well with your passive early game so you can share gold with your adc as well as have massive sustain. With 3 other champs bot instead of 1 top, you will have your passive up a lot more. Take 3 ![]() |
![]() |
Finish this item first since it gives a massive regen boost over the targon and also gives 10% cdr. It also makes it easier to get gold. |
![]() |
These are the best boots in most games. They let you catch up to your target. Get ![]() |
![]() |
This item is most important to engage better. You can also use the slow to peel. |
![]() |
Gives continous slow as well as buffing your ad. |
![]() |
Get this item next for the aura and the shield. It is probably the strongest teamfight item you can build. |
![]() |
This item is incredibly efficient for a single, low price item. The only downside is it is not effective in a 1v1 but you don't need to 1v1 anyone as support. |
![]() |
They reduced the cost on frozen heart by 100. The item gives good stats for Maokai especially if your build is lacking in cdr. |
![]() |
This item is very strong. Get this after glory if you have one main carry or locket first if you want to shield for the whole team. |
Some items you should not get on support Maokai but may seem deceptively good are
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
Always start E on support Maokai. Your E is one of the strongest level 1 abilities as it is pretty much a 1100 range ward (can be longer if you throw against a wall). Use this to scout where the enemy is level 1.
Saplings can act as wards and if the enemy passes them, they will know they have been spotted. Even if you were not paying attention when they got hit by the sapling, they still may back off knowing you got vision of them.
Here are some good sapling placements on blue and purple side
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
For the tri-bushes on both sides, the enemy will usually walk through them on their way back from leashing level 1. You can get some good poke by leaving a few saplings in those bushes. Generally the enemy will walk through that bush around 1:50-1:55 and saplings last 30s at level 1 so start throwing them around 1:25.
In lane, use your saplings to poke. This is how you should place them.
![](/images/spacer.png)
The new saplings have lower lockdown radius (which is good so they dont unintentionally get aggro from minions). There are two ways to use this. New saplings have large splash radius from bush so you can place them close enough that they will target the minions and splash onto the enemy champions. Placing them on the inner edge of the bush away from minions will be out of range to target minions. This more for zoning or if you want a guaranteed hit on the enemy champs. Image below for reference.
![](/images/spacer.png)
As you are a melee champion it is common that you will be pushed under turret. Set up saplings in the bush before they push you in so they can stop them from running away from your all in. Example below.
Great! Maokai is probably one of the best mid game teamfighting supports in the game. You have very high pick potential as you can CC people for days with your Q, W, and E. Use your sightstone to ward up around the bot jungle and river. I generally do not like defensive wards in solo queue so most of your sightstone wards should be in the enemy jungle or in river. However, place pinks defensively as it is harder to defend offensive pinks in solo queue.
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
Try to stay near the front and be in range to use your abilities whenever they are up. Abilities will cycle very fast so you will have your
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
![](/images/spacer.png)
Thanks for reading my guide!
Please leave comments on what you think I could do differently with the guide or my playstyle with Maokai. I appreciate all feedback.
You must be logged in to comment. Please login or register.