Maokai Probuilds: Unearthing the Secrets of the Twisted Treant
Discover the power of the Twisted Treant! Master Maokai's items, runes, and spells to become an indomitable force in your games.
Delve into the world of Maokai Probuilds, a guide tailored for players eager to master the Twisted Treant. Maokai, once a serene nature spirit, is now driven by a burning desire to restore the pristine beauty of his home, marred by the dark magics of the Shadow Isles. Through the Waters of Life in his heartwood, he stands defiant, battling the undead horrors and seeking redemption for his land.
As a SUPPORT in the game, Maokai has an intricate playstyle that blends the resilience of a tank with the versatility of a mage. While his current place in the meta, standing at tier A, may suggest he's not a top-tier pick, don't be misled. With a 0.2% pick rate, a 56.8% win rate, and a 4.3% ban rate, Maokai has unique strengths waiting to be unlocked by those willing to learn. Our Maokai Pro Builds guide aims to equip both beginners and intermediate players with the knowledge to unleash Maokai's full potential.
Mastering Maokai's Items
Diving deeper into Maokai Probuilds, understanding the optimal item choices is pivotal. Every item complements Maokai's playstyle, ensuring he stands as an immovable force while dishing out respectable damage. Let's dissect these items to amplify your Maokai gameplay.
Starting Items
- Scorchclaw Pup - An essential starter to boost Maokai's early sustain and damage.
- Health Potion - Vital for prolonged early game engagements, ensuring Maokai remains healthy during skirmishes.
Boots
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity - Grants Maokai reduced ability cooldowns, enabling more frequent spell casts for control and damage.
Core Items
- Demonic Embrace - A priority pick, this item boosts Maokai's durability while dealing burn damage to enemies around.
- Shadowflame - Complements Maokai's magic damage output, allowing him to pressure adversaries more effectively.
Situational Items
- Sunfire Aegis - Opt for this when facing heavy physical damage dealers. It provides additional armor and deals passive burn damage.
- Frozen Heart - Effective against auto-attack reliant champions, this item cripples their attack speed and grants bonus armor.
- Thornmail - A counter to high sustain champions, it returns damage to attackers and reduces their healing.
Decoding Maokai's Rune Choices
Runes play an instrumental role in shaping a champion's strength and versatility. Dive into the Maokai runes to uncover the intricacies of his power. By understanding and selecting the optimal runes, you can elevate your Maokai gameplay, making the Twisted Treant a force to be reckoned with.
Resolve
Inspiration
Primary Tree: Inspiration
- Keystone Rune: First Strike - This allows Maokai to gain extra gold and damage on his initial hits, providing an early advantage in trades.
- Cosmic Insight - Grants Maokai increased versatility through improved cooldowns on items and summoner spells.
- Future's Market - Ensures Maokai can access crucial items even when a bit short on gold, maintaining his game momentum.
- Magical Footwear - Offers free boots at a specific game minute, allowing Maokai to invest in other early game essentials.
Secondary Tree: Domination
- Cheap Shot - Boosts Maokai's damage against movement-impaired enemies, synergizing with his crowd-control abilities.
- Treasure Hunter - Enhances Maokai's scaling by providing bonus omnivamp, ensuring better sustain during skirmishes.
Harnessing Maokai's Champion Spells
Understanding Maokai spells is paramount to mastering this tanky treant. Each spell in Maokai's arsenal offers unique utilities that, when combined, make him a formidable presence in the Rift. This guide will delve deep into each spell, shedding light on its mechanics and optimal usage. The suggested spell skill priority is 
Bramble Smash (Q)
- Description: Maokai releases a shockwave that knocks back nearby enemies, inflicting magic damage and slowing them.
- Usage: Effective for disengaging from foes, wave-clearing, and initiating fights by disrupting enemy positioning.
Twisted Advance (W)
- Description: Maokai morphs into a mass of roots, dashing to the target and becoming untargetable. Upon reaching, he roots the target in place.
- Usage: Utilize for initiating fights, dodging enemy abilities due to untargetability, or peeling for allies by locking down threats.
Sapling Toss (E)
- Description: Maokai hurls a sapling to a location. The sapling stands guard and is more potent when placed in the brush.
- Usage: Ideal for gaining vision, zoning enemies, and increasing damage output when fighting near brushes.
Nature's Grasp (R)
- Description: Maokai calls forth a vast wall of thorns that advances, dealing damage and rooting any adversaries in its path.
- Usage: Best employed during team fights to control large areas, disrupt the enemy backline, and set up favorable engagements for your team.
Wrapping Up: Maokai's Mastery
Embarking on the journey with Maokai Probuilds, we've dissected every facet of the Twisted Treant. From the lore-inspired introduction to the deep dive into his items, runes, and spells, we've covered it all. It's crucial to internalize these insights for a holistic Maokai gameplay experience.
Remember, items form the foundation of Maokai's strength. Choosing them wisely, based on the game's state, can tip the scales in your favor. The runes enhance his innate abilities, allowing players to adapt and respond to varying in-game challenges. Lastly, understanding and mastering Maokai's spells is the key to unleashing his full potential on the Rift.
In conclusion, this Maokai Guide provides a roadmap for both beginners and intermediate players. Whether you're aiming to dominate the jungle or become the team's backbone, the insights from Pro Maokai Builds will surely set you on the path to victory. Always stay updated with the latest game meta and adapt accordingly. Victory awaits those who are prepared.