Maokai Wild Rift Build & Guide

Phase Rush provides a huge burst of movement speed after hitting three attacks on enemy champions. This Keystone is key for initiating fights and locking down crucial targets like marksmen and mages. On the other hand, Aftershock is a great alternative keystone that is also catered to initiating a skirmish, as it provides bonus armor and magic resistance after immobilizing an enemy.

Overgrowth is essential for Maokai, as he needs to be beefy or tanky to benefit the team. It also helps Maokai to be more useful in the late game, as he can increase his max HP whenever a minion or a jungle monster is eliminated nearby.

Courage of the Colossus is also a good rune for Maokai because his kit has many stunning or immobilizing capabilities.

Bone Plating is also useful for Maokai to add more survivability after being hit by an enemy champion.

Lastly, Hextech Flashtraption adds more mobility to Maokai by providing a short blink after channeling. It replaces his flash whenever it is on cooldown, so he can still have the capability to catch enemies off-guard.

In our Maokai Wild Rift Guide, here are the best champion spells that you can equip on him.

Flash is a great summoner spell, especially for a champion like Maokai. It opens up a lot of opportunities for a great gank or team fight initiation, making it a must-have for him.

As a jungle champion, Maokai needs smite to help him eliminate jungle monsters quickly, while also having the benefit of receiving extra Gold and XP from jungle monster eliminations.

Maokai in Wild Rift can start by taking the Sapling Toss skill. This ability deals good damage to jungle camps while also having the capability to scout enemies who are hiding in bushes, which is perfect in the early stages of the game. Then, Maokai can now take Bramble Smash for more damage, clearing jungle camps more quickly and efficiently. Next, Maokai can now take Twisted Advance, his second ability, as it is essential when initiating fights, especially to jungle champions like Maokai. Lastly, Maokai should take Nature’s Grasp when he reaches level 5. This ultimate ability is very potent in team fights, as he can lockdown enemy champions when hit by it. Additionally, it should be a priority when there’s a chance to level it.

In the early game as a Jungle Maokai, you’ll want to start by clearing camps efficiently and safely. Kick things off with your E ability, Sapling Toss, which helps you see what’s going on and deals solid damage to jungle monsters. Next, use your Q, Bramble Smash, to knock back and damage the whole camp at once. Keep an eye out for gank opportunities with your W, Twisted Advance – it’s perfect for locking down enemies and setting up easy kills for your teammates.

Additionally, don’t forget to grab the scuttle crab for extra vision and control over the river. Balance your time between farming and ganking; aim to pressure overextended enemies and support your lanes. With Maokai’s crowd control, you can turn early skirmishes in your favor and set your team up for success.

In the late game as Jungle Maokai, your role shifts towards being a frontline tank and crowd control powerhouse for your team. Engage fights by using your R, Nature’s Grasp, to initiate from a distance, slowing and rooting multiple enemies. Follow up with your W, Twisted Advance, to dive onto priority targets, locking them down for your team to focus on. Use your Q, Bramble Smash, to disrupt and peel for your carries, knocking back enemies and creating space. Keep placing E, Sapling Toss, in strategic locations for vision control and zone denial, especially around key objectives like Baron and Dragon.

Your primary goal is to absorb damage, control enemy positioning, and create opportunities for your team to secure kills and objectives. Stick close to your teammates and coordinate engagement to maximize your impact in team fights.

For our Maokai Wild Rift Guide, we highly recommend using him with the following champions as they synergize well with him.

Yasuo is one of the best champions that synergizes well with Maokai due to his kit full of immobilization. Additionally, Maokai’s ability to engage and lock down enemies provides Yasuo with ample opportunities to follow up with his high burst damage and knock-up combo, creating devastating wombo combos during team fights.

Miss Fortune is also a good marksman champion to pair with Maokai. His crowd control and ability to keep enemies in place with his ultimate, Nature’s Grasp, pairs perfectly with Miss Fortune’s R, Bullet Time. When Maokai roots and slows multiple enemies, it allows Miss Fortune to unleash her ultimate on grouped-up opponents, maximizing her damage output and often leading to quick and decisive team fight victories.