CHAMPIONSMaokai
Maokai
CHAMPION · BARON · JUNGLE · SUPPORT

Maokai

Verified across 3 sourcesLast updated · 2026-05-26
baronD5 src
jungleD3 src
supportB5 src
01

Overview

last updated 2026-05-26
Editor's pick · most-quoted
That's why he kind of struggles a little bit in the top lane. Maokai still a solid top laner, but just struggles trying to win in most of these combats. Pantheon, you have to try and cheese the early game and try and deal as much damage as possible and try and get ahead during the early game.
itzstu4rt · patch 7.1b · (18:55)
Open questions (4)
  1. 01~~Build path~~ — answered for 7.1d in [[#Build (Jungler.GG, 7.1d)]] and for 7.1e in [[#Build (WR Meta, 7.1e)]] (2026-05-26)
  2. 02~~Rune setup~~ — answered alongside builds above (2026-05-26)
  3. 03Power-spike timings
  4. 04Specific matchups
02

Tier history

13 entries · 3 sources · 3 patches
PatchSourceRoleTierΔDateNotes
7.1ehellsdevilsupportS+22026-05-19
7.1ehellsdevilbaronD−22026-05-19
7.1eroyalsupportS=2026-05-17
7.1eroyaljungleC−12026-05-17
7.1eroyalbaronC=2026-05-17
7.1ditzstu4rtsupportS·2026-05-08
7.1ditzstu4rtjungleD·2026-05-08
7.1ditzstu4rtbaronC·2026-05-08
7.1droyalsupportS·2026-05-08
7.1droyaljungleB·2026-05-08
7.1droyalbaronC·2026-05-08
7.1hellsdevilsupportA·2026-05-08
7.1hellsdevilbaronB·2026-05-08
03

Builds

2 sources + cross-source synthesis
Jungler.GGaggregator statspatch 7.1d
WR48.44%PR0.23%BR0.43%
Items (in order)
Sunfire Aegis
Sunfire AegisBurns nearby emenies
  • +425 Max Health
  • +15 Ability Haste

Immolate: While in combat, deal magic damage equal to 16-25 plus 0.8% bonus HP per second to nearby enemies. Damaging champions or epic monsters with Immolate increases its damage by 11% for 5s, stacking up to 4 times.

Flametouch: At max Immolate stacks, attacks burn enemies around you for 50% of Immolate's damage over 3 seconds. Immolate dela 130% damge to monsters an 175-250% () + 40% bonus damage to minions.

2900 gold
Plated Steelcaps
Plated SteelcapsReduces Physical Damage
  • +150 Max Health
  • +50% Health Regen
  • +20 Armor
  • +45 Move Speed.
900 gold
Zeke's Convergence
Zeke's ConvergenceBoosts allies Attack Damage
  • +40 Armor
  • +350 Max Health
  • +150 Max Mana
  • +15 Ability Haste

Harbinger: Casting your ultimate surrounds you with a blizzard and ignites a nearby ally's attacks for 10 seconds. Your blizzard deals a maximum of 320–600 damage, slows enemies by 25% and leaves a trail behind you. Allied champions on the trail gain 40 bonus Movement Speed for 1 second. (30s Cooldown)

2700 gold
Thornmail
ThornmailReflects damage and reduces enemy healing
  • +200 Max Health
  • +75 Armor

Thorns: When struck by an attack, deal 20 + 6% bonus Armor + 2% bonus Health magic damage to the attacker.

Entwine: Aply 50% Grievous Wounds to enemy champions for 3 second(s) when stuck by their attacks or dealing damge to them.

2700 gold
Frozen Heart
Frozen HeartReduces all nearby enemies Attack Speed
  • +80 Armor
  • +200 Max Mana
  • +25 Ability Haste

Winter's Caress: Basic attacks and magic damage caused by you or inflicted upon you and nearby allies, will apply stacks of Chill to the enemy champion for 3 seconds. Each stack of Chill slows enemy attack speed by 9%, up to a maximum of 4 stacks or 36% attack speed reduction. Each individual ability has a 3 seconds cooldown on applying Chill stacks.

2700 gold
Randuin's Omen
Randuin's OmenCounters Critical Strike Damage
  • +400 Max Health
  • +75 Armor

Resilience: Critically Struck deal 30% less damage to you.

Countercurrent: Gain 1 stacks of Countercurrent when Critically Struck by physical damage. Each stuck grants 5% Movement Speed and 5% slow resist. Max 4 stacks.

2800 gold
Runes
Ice Overlord
KeystoneIce Overlord
Ice OverlordKeystone

Immobilizing an enemy champion causes 3 beams to form around them, creating ice beneath them for 3s and slowing enemies inside by (20% + 1.5% Bonus Health). The slow lingers on enemies for 1.5s after they've left the ice zone. Gain a protective layer of ice around yourself, increasing your Armor and Magic Resistance by 35+80% Bonus Armor and Magic Resistance. After a delay of 2.5s, the ice explodes, dealing 25-125 + 5% Bonus Health magic damage around you.

Source: wildriftfire.com/rune-list (maintained by iTzSTU4RT, scraped 2026-05-18)

Courage of the Colossus
Courage of the ColossusMinor · Resolve

Gains a shield that absorbs up to 25-45+1% max health for 3 seconds when immobilizing an enemy. (10 seconds cooldown)

Source: wildriftfire.com/rune-list (maintained by iTzSTU4RT, scraped 2026-05-18)

Bone Plating
Bone PlatingMinor · Resolve

Blocks damage from the next triggering champion attack and 2 more attacks.

Source: wildriftfire.com/rune-list (maintained by iTzSTU4RT, scraped 2026-05-18)

Second Wind
Second WindMinor · Resolve

Gain 5 health every 5 seconds. After taking damage from an enemy champion regenerate 6 (+2% of your missing health) over the next 5 seconds. This effect is doubled for melee champions.

Source: wildriftfire.com/rune-list (maintained by iTzSTU4RT, scraped 2026-05-18)

Perseverance
PerseveranceMinor · Resolve

Gain 10% tenacity. While immobilized, gain 15 - 25 armor and magic resistance for 1.5 seconds. Refresh duration when immobilized multiple times.

Source: wildriftfire.com/rune-list (maintained by iTzSTU4RT, scraped 2026-05-18)

Overgrowth
OvergrowthMinor · Resolve

When 1 monster or 2 minions are killed nearby, permanently gain 3 Max Health. Max Health can be increased indefinitely. Gains bonus 3% Max Health upon reaching 30 stacks.

Source: wildriftfire.com/rune-list (maintained by iTzSTU4RT, scraped 2026-05-18)

Transcendence
TranscendenceMinor · Sorcery

Gain a bonus when reaching the following levels: -Level 1: Gain 6 Ability Haste. - Level 5: Gain an additional 6 Ability Haste. - Level 9: After a basic ability hits the target, reduce 10% of the ability's cooldown. (8s cooldown)

Source: wildriftfire.com/rune-list (maintained by iTzSTU4RT, scraped 2026-05-18)

Hextech Flashtraption
Hextech FlashtraptionMinor · Sorcery

Replaces this item with Hex Flash when Flash is still on cooldown. You can blink to a new location after channeling for 2 seconds. When channeled for less than 1s, you will dash the distance as if you channeled for 1s. (25 seconds of cooldown)

Source: wildriftfire.com/rune-list (maintained by iTzSTU4RT, scraped 2026-05-18)

Skill priority
QEW
Spells
FlashFlashSmiteSmite

Source: [[Sources/web-pages/2026-05-26-junglergg-maokai-build-7.1d|Jungler.GG]] · sampling: mid-to-high-elo ranked games.

WR Metaaggregator statspatch 7.1e
WR52.26%PR4.77%BR0.42%
Items (in order)
Sunfire Aegis
Sunfire AegisBurns nearby emenies
  • +425 Max Health
  • +15 Ability Haste

Immolate: While in combat, deal magic damage equal to 16-25 plus 0.8% bonus HP per second to nearby enemies. Damaging champions or epic monsters with Immolate increases its damage by 11% for 5s, stacking up to 4 times.

Flametouch: At max Immolate stacks, attacks burn enemies around you for 50% of Immolate's damage over 3 seconds. Immolate dela 130% damge to monsters an 175-250% () + 40% bonus damage to minions.

2900 gold
Plated Steelcaps
Plated SteelcapsReduces Physical Damage
  • +150 Max Health
  • +50% Health Regen
  • +20 Armor
  • +45 Move Speed.
900 gold
Zeke's Convergence
Zeke's ConvergenceBoosts allies Attack Damage
  • +40 Armor
  • +350 Max Health
  • +150 Max Mana
  • +15 Ability Haste

Harbinger: Casting your ultimate surrounds you with a blizzard and ignites a nearby ally's attacks for 10 seconds. Your blizzard deals a maximum of 320–600 damage, slows enemies by 25% and leaves a trail behind you. Allied champions on the trail gain 40 bonus Movement Speed for 1 second. (30s Cooldown)

2700 gold
SE
Stoneplate EnchantShield

Stoneplate (Active): Gain a base shield that absorbs damage equal to 15% of max Health. Every 1 bonus Armor or Magic Resistance you have increases the shield by 0.1%, up to 35%. The shield decays over 4s. (60s Cooldown) For every enemy nearby, gain an additional shield that absorbs damage equal to 5% of max Health, capped at 3 enemies. Every 1 bonus Armor or Magic Resistance you have increases the shield by 0.1%, up to 12%. Damage dealt is reduced by 40% for 4s.

500 gold
Thornmail
ThornmailReflects damage and reduces enemy healing
  • +200 Max Health
  • +75 Armor

Thorns: When struck by an attack, deal 20 + 6% bonus Armor + 2% bonus Health magic damage to the attacker.

Entwine: Aply 50% Grievous Wounds to enemy champions for 3 second(s) when stuck by their attacks or dealing damge to them.

2700 gold
Unending Despair
Unending DespairIncreases tanks' sustain in teamfights
  • +200 Max Health
  • +45 Armor
  • +45 Magic Resistance

Anguish: Every 4 second(s) while in combat with a champion, deal 3% of your max Health as magic damage to nearby champions and heal for 250% of the damage dealt. Anguish is unaffected by Item Ability Haste.

3000 gold
Runes
Ice Overlord
KeystoneIce Overlord
Ice OverlordKeystone

Immobilizing an enemy champion causes 3 beams to form around them, creating ice beneath them for 3s and slowing enemies inside by (20% + 1.5% Bonus Health). The slow lingers on enemies for 1.5s after they've left the ice zone. Gain a protective layer of ice around yourself, increasing your Armor and Magic Resistance by 35+80% Bonus Armor and Magic Resistance. After a delay of 2.5s, the ice explodes, dealing 25-125 + 5% Bonus Health magic damage around you.

Source: wildriftfire.com/rune-list (maintained by iTzSTU4RT, scraped 2026-05-18)

Courage of the Colossus
Courage of the ColossusMinor · Resolve

Gains a shield that absorbs up to 25-45+1% max health for 3 seconds when immobilizing an enemy. (10 seconds cooldown)

Source: wildriftfire.com/rune-list (maintained by iTzSTU4RT, scraped 2026-05-18)

Bone Plating
Bone PlatingMinor · Resolve

Blocks damage from the next triggering champion attack and 2 more attacks.

Source: wildriftfire.com/rune-list (maintained by iTzSTU4RT, scraped 2026-05-18)

Overgrowth
OvergrowthMinor · Resolve

When 1 monster or 2 minions are killed nearby, permanently gain 3 Max Health. Max Health can be increased indefinitely. Gains bonus 3% Max Health upon reaching 30 stacks.

Source: wildriftfire.com/rune-list (maintained by iTzSTU4RT, scraped 2026-05-18)

Transcendence
TranscendenceMinor · Sorcery

Gain a bonus when reaching the following levels: -Level 1: Gain 6 Ability Haste. - Level 5: Gain an additional 6 Ability Haste. - Level 9: After a basic ability hits the target, reduce 10% of the ability's cooldown. (8s cooldown)

Source: wildriftfire.com/rune-list (maintained by iTzSTU4RT, scraped 2026-05-18)

Skill priority
QEW
Spells
FlashFlashSmiteSmite

Source: [[Sources/web-pages/2026-05-26-wrmeta-maokai-build-7.1e|WR Meta]] · sampling: Diamond / Master / Challenger (Legendary tier).

Situational item swaps (explicit):

  • Mercury's Treads instead of Plated Steelcaps — depending on the situation
  • Frozen Heart, Thornmail, Randuin's Omen — against high-AD teams
  • Force of Nature, Kaenic Rookern — against high-AP teams
  • Warmog's Armor, Unending Despair — for extended fights

Counters / threats: Fiddlesticks, Hecarim, Talon, Amumu, Kayn, Ambessa

Build divergence notescross-source synthesis

Consensus across both aggregators

  • Keystone: Ice Overlord
  • Core items: Sunfire Aegis, Plated Steelcaps, Zeke's Convergence, Thornmail all appear in both top-6 lists
  • Skill order: Q > E > W
  • Spells: Flash + Smite

Where the aggregators diverge

  • Item differences: Jungler.GG closes with Frozen Heart + Randuin's Omen (raw defensive stacking). WR Meta swaps in Stoneplate Enchant + Unending Despair (boot enchant + sustained-fight sustain).
  • Late-game flex: WR Meta enumerates an explicit situational pool (AD vs AP vs extended-fight pivots); Jungler.GG publishes one canonical build with no swap conditions surfaced.
  • Win-rate gap: WR Meta 52.26% (Legendary tier) vs Jungler.GG 48.44% (broader mid-to-high) — the high-elo sample is materially kinder to Maokai jungle.
04

Commentary

verbatim creator quotes
itzstu4rtauto· Auto-extracted commentary (iTzSTU4RT, 7.1b)
patch 7.1b

Generated by /wr-extract from iTzSTU4RT's patch 7.1b video transcript. Re-running this skill OVERWRITES this section. Promote keepers into your hand-written ## Patch 7.1b analysis (iTzSTU4RT) sections above. Baron "That's why he kind of struggles a little bit in the top lane. Maokai still a solid top laner, but just struggles trying to win in most of these combats. Pantheon, you have to try and cheese the early game and try and deal as much damage as possible and try and get ahead during the early game." (18:55)

itzstu4rtauto· Baron
patch 7.1b·baron

That's why he kind of struggles a little bit in the top lane. Maokai still a solid top laner, but just struggles trying to win in most of these combats. Pantheon, you have to try and cheese the early game and try and deal as much damage as possible and try and get ahead during the early game.(18:55)

06

Patch notes

mentions of Maokai

No patch-note mentions parsed yet.