Maokai is a tanky based hero with strong CC skill and the ability to reduce incoming damage for your allies with his ultimate (Vengeful Maelstrom). He is best played in the jungle as a tanky initiator and also as a meat shield for your carries. He can also be played as a hybrid AP tank but in this guide I will focus mainly on tanky support build for Maokai. Your objective of playing Maokai is to CC the enemy carry with your Twisted Advance + Arcade Smash Combo and be a meat shield for your team (with your ULT).
Maokai jungling Route => Wolf -> Blue -> (Look for gank if you up Twisted Advance & Arcade Smash first when you are level 2) -> Wraith -> Golem -> Red -> Wraith -> (Gank again with red at level 4)
Primary Skill To Upgrade : Q (Arcade Smash). A great skill to knock back your enemy after initiating with Twisted Advance. I prefer to finish this by level 9
Secondary Skill To Upgrade : W (Twisted Advance) : Your most important initiating skill. I prefer to finish this by level 13 to increase the duration of stun to 2 sec max
Tertiary skill : E(Sapling Toss) : I usually up 1 level of Sapling Toss at level 3 and I use this to damage jungle creeps and also use it as a free ward to scout for approaching enemies.
Ultimate : R (Vengeful Maelstrom) : A powerful AOE skill to reduce incoming damage by 20% and also deal some magic damage to the enemies who remain in the area of your maelstrom. Learn this at level 6, level 11 and 16.
Maokai Pre Level 6 : Maokai has a very strong gank before level 6 with his Twisted Advance + Arcade Smash Combo. Initiate with your twisted advance on overextending enemy carry, walk behind him/her patiently and arcade smash to knock him/her back. If your lane partner isn't trolling, your team should have no problem securing first blood as early as level 2. After you have learned sapling toss, you can use it after your W+Q combo to deal additional damage and secure kill for your carry. Since you are playing Maoka as a tanky support hero, it's vital that you feed the kills to your carry and avoid KS as much as possible unless you have no choice. Try not to W (twisted advance) when the enemy is near the tower or you would mostly find yourself tower diving reluctantly (flamed as noob by your teammates) if the enemy uses flash.
Maokai Post Level 6 : With your Vengeful Maeltroms, you can now activate this skill after your W+Q+E combo to protect your allies from damage and deal additional AOE damage to secure kill for your carries.
Team Fight : Initiate with your twisted advance on the enemy carry only if he/she exposes himself/herself in front. Otherwise, if you are tanky enough you can always try to initiate on their frontline bruiser to bait their carries out so that your bruiser with gap closing skill could initiate. Remember to use your vengeful maelstrom wisely to reduce damage to not just you but your nearby bruiser and carries.
Summoner spells are the standard Flash & Smite
My favorite items for Maokai (Jungle) in season 3 are as follow:
Ninja Tabi, locket of Iron Solari, Runic Bulwark, Spirit of Ancient Golem, Banshee Veil & Frozen Heart. When a team fight occurs, it's important that you activate your locket of Iron Solari to provide shield for your teammates. Sometimes, that 250 worth of shield can change the outcome of the fight.
Maokai Jungle Masteries
My Favorite Runes For Maokai : 9 X Greater Seal Of Armor, 9 X Greater Seal Of MR, 9 Greater Mark of Armor, 3 X Q of Armor.
