Maokai excels as a tank support champion, offering strong engagement potential and utility through his versatile ability kit.

Core Abilities Overview:

• Passive (Sap Magic): Heals Maokai on basic attacks, scaling with max health
• Q (Bramble Smash): Knock back and slow enemies
• W (Twisted Advance): Root target enemy
• E (Sapling Toss): Vision and area control
• R (Nature's Grasp): Long-range root that grows stronger with distance

Ability Priority:

1. Q - Bramble Smash
2. W - Twisted Advance
3. E - Sapling Toss

Early Game Strategy:

• Level 1 flexibility based on situation:
  • W for early invades
  • E for vision control
  • Q for standard laning

Build Path: Starting Items:

• Steel Shoulderguards
• Health Potions

Core Items:

• Evenshroud
• Knight's Vow
• Zeke's Convergence

Situational Items:

• Thornmail (vs heavy AD/healing)
• Force of Nature (vs heavy AP)
• Redemption (for additional team utility)

Key Strengths:

• Strong engage potential
• Natural tankiness through passive
• Excellent area control
• Versatile utility for team

Laning Tips:

• Use saplings for bush control
• Coordinate engages with ADC
• Save W for guaranteed CC chains
• Position aggressively when passive is up

Team Fighting:

• Initiate with R from unexpected angles
• Peel for carries with Q and W
• Use passive healing during extended fights
• Chain CC with team's abilities

Maokai's strength lies in his ability to engage fights while providing consistent crowd control and survivability for his team.

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