LoL Wild Rift Maokai Build Guide: Best Items, Runes, and Counters
Learn how to dominate as Maokai in Wild Rift with our guide covering abilities, items, runes, and gameplay tips.
Maokai is a formidable tank champion in League of Legends: Wild Rift. With his unique abilities and playstyle, Maokai can dominate the battlefield and lead his team to victory.
This in-depth guide will provide players with the knowledge and strategies needed to effectively play Maokai and maximize his potential.
Maokai Abilities and Upgrade Order
 Passive ability – Sap Magic | Allows him to restore health every few seconds when attacking. This cooldown is reduced when Maokai uses an ability or is hit by an enemy champion’s ability. |
 Bramble Smash (Q) | Maokai’s first ability, which deals magic damage and slows enemies in a shockwave. When enemies are nearby, they will also be knocked back. |
 Twisted Advance (W) | Transforms Maokai, making him untargetable and dashing to an enemy champion. Upon arrival, the enemy is rooted and takes damage. |
 Sapling Toss (E) | Involves Maokai flinging a sapling that stands watch where it lands. Saplings chase nearby enemies, detonating on arrival, dealing damage, and slowing them. Saplings placed in brush have a longer watch time and cause a larger explosion. |
 Maokai’s ultimate – Nature’s Grasp (R) | Summons a slow-moving wave of brambles that damages and roots the first enemy hit. The root duration increases based on the distance the brambles travel. Hitting an enemy also grants Maokai movement speed. |
The recommended skill upgrade order for Maokai is R > Q > W > E. This order prioritizes Maokai’s ultimate for its teamfight initiation potential, followed by his Q for damage and crowd control, W for lockdown, and E for vision and zoning.
Best Items for Maokai in Wild Rift
| Searing Crown | Spirit Visage | Ruin – Warmog’s Armor | Glorious/Protobelt | Thornmail | Depends on Enemy composition |
Note: Although Glorious is a better choice for boot upgrades but if you are comfortable playing Maokai, try using Protobelt in the right manner to get close to the enemy carry and knock him back in your team.
Best Runes for Maokai in Wild Rift
- Aftershock
- Courage of the Colossus
- Bone Plating
- Overgrowth
Flash and Smite are the recommended summoner spells for Maokai in the jungle role. Flash is essential for positioning and engaging with Twisted Advance, while Smite helps Maokai secure objectives and clear jungle camps faster.
How to Play Maokai in Wild Rift
As a jungler, Maokai excels at ganking and initiating teamfights with his crowd control abilities. In the early game, focus on clearing your jungle camps and looking for opportunities to gank lanes. Use Sapling Toss in brushes to gain vision and set up traps for enemy champions.
In the mid to late game, Maokai should look to start teamfights with his ultimate, Nature’s Grasp. Aim the ability at high-priority targets like enemy carries, and follow up with Twisted Advance to lock them down. Use Bramble Smash to knock enemies back into your team, allowing your allies to follow up with additional damage and crowd control.
Maokai Counters in LoL Wild Rift
 Hecarim |  Kayn |  Amumu |
While Maokai is a strong pick in the jungle, some champions can counter his playstyle and make it difficult for him to be effective. These counters include:
- Hecarim: This champion is highly mobile and can easily outpace Maokai in the jungle.
- Amumu: This champion has a strong teamfight presence with his ultimate, Curse of the Sad Mummy, which can stun multiple enemies. Amumu can also match Maokai’s tankiness and crowd-control abilities.
- Kayn: This champion can easily navigate through terrain and has strong ganking potential with his shadow step ability. Kayn can also transform into either an assassin or a bruiser, making him difficult to deal with in fights.
To play against these counters, Maokai should focus on farming and reaching his power spikes before engaging in fights. Use your crowd control abilities to lock down priority targets and work with your team to secure objectives. Ward key areas of the jungle to keep track of enemy movements and avoid getting caught out.
FAQ
Is Maokai good in Wild Rift?
Yes, Maokai is a strong tank jungler in Wild Rift. His crowd-control abilities and teamfight initiation potential make him a valuable asset to any team. Maokai can easily set up kills for his allies and control the pace of the game with his tanky playstyle.
What is the best item for Maokai?
Probably, Searing crown but if you are looking to have some fun try using Luden’s once.
Who counters Maokai in Wild Rift?
Champions like Hecarim, Amumu, and Kayn can counter Maokai.
