Pros | Cons
- A lot of CC| Easily CC countered
- Fast and safe| Mana Dependent
- Good utility| Weak trades
- Can engage| Cant solo big objectives

What does he do?

Maokai`s main role in a team is to gain early game control and then scale well in to late game as an initiator. You should engage if you see an enemy champion that is poorly placed. Bind him/her, Throw a sapling, go behind him/her knock him back and slow him/her with your Q. ( you can also slow approaching enemies).

Team Fights

Throw down your ultimate to protect your carries, it negates 20% of the damage they take, go on their AD carry/ AP carry and try to keep him/her out of the fight, if your top choose to take on their carries you should keep your own carries safe. Bind anyone approaching them, slow them.

Why would you get auras?

Maokai scales well with auras, since he is one to stick along in the fight for a long time. He is also supposed to stick with the carries/ stick on enemy carries, and therefore the auras will always be beneficial for your allies.

What makes him so good?

His high CC, the little sustain form his passive, the ability to negate damage done to your team mates. The capability to stop carries or save them in a team fight.
Although he needs blue, he can variate the rest of his jungle route freely.

Ninja Tabi If they have a lot of attack damage.
Rod Of Ages For damage
Abyssal Scepter For damage
Trinity Force For damage and utility
Quick silver sash To counter CC
Randuins Omen Vs Attack damage
Forces of Nature Vs Ability power

Attack speed red: will increase your jungle speed.
Armor yellows: will negate allot of damage done by creeps, and keep you safe while ganking.
Magic resist blues: will scale well to protect you from any magic damage, as Ability Power champs tends to lack a bit damage early, i find per level most useful.
2x Ability power Quints Gives you the damage you need to clear the jungle pretty fast.
1x Movement speed Quints This can be traded out for ability power quint, but the movement speed will decrease the time you spend in between camps, and make your ganks more effective.

Step by step

Buy boots + 3 pots, go do your wraiths. Help from your team here isn't necessary since your saplings clear really quick. When wraiths are done go do your blue. you should be there right when it spawns, or a second off make sure you get it pulled by anyone on your team. Do wolves and head to wraiths again, do red and then gank. You can also start wolves and do the standard route for junglers.

When/Why to get Oracles

You would normally get it after your two gp10 to clear wards and set up for ganks.
If you get first blood, you can buy it straight away.
If you are behind, wait until you are tanky enough.
You should have it at around 6-8 mins into the game, to clear objectives and gain control of them.