A tanky jungler with strong crowd control abilities, Maokai excels at initiating fights and disrupting enemy teams. His versatility allows for various build paths, from full tank to AP or hybrid support builds.

Core Abilities and Skills Order:

• Max Q first: Primary jungle clear ability and crowd control
• Max E second: Strong damage from bush-enhanced saplings
• Max W last: Used mainly for ganking and mobility

Expert Tip: When clearing Gromp, throw E into the top lane bush for enhanced damage. This strategy works for all camps except wolves.

Starting Items:

• Emberknife
• Refillable Potion

Core Build Path:

1. Sunfire Aegis
2. Demonic Embrace
3. Force of Nature
4. Randuin's Omen
5. Thornmail
6. Plated Steelcaps/Mercury's Treads

Alternative Items:

• Abyssal Mask (vs heavy AP)
• Dead Man's Plate (for mobility)
• Warmog's Armor (sustain)
• Spirit Visage (healing boost)

Summoner Spells:

• Smite (required)
• Flash

Runes: Primary (Sorcery):

• First Strike
• Perfect Timing
• Future's Market
• Cosmic Insight

Secondary (Domination):

• Cheap Shot
• Ultimate Hunter

Jungle Pathing:

1. Start Red Buff
2. Raptors
3. Wolves
4. Blue Buff
5. Gromp
6. Look for gank opportunities

Key Strategy:

• Focus on counter-ganking and objective control
• Use saplings for vision control
• Chain CC abilities for maximum team fight impact
• Prioritize ganking lanes with follow-up CC

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Game Impact:

• Excel at team fight initiation
• Strong objective control
• Reliable crowd control
• Flexible build paths for team needs

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