Arrr, VRC.LOL

Support · Normal DraftMatchup chartPatch 16.20.1

Maokai vs Vex

Loadout, runes, tricks and practical pre-battle checks in one queue-aware reference.

MaokaiVSVex

Matchup chart

Pick th' matchup

Scan th' horizon every champion, choose th' assigned role, then open th' exact queue chart.

VS
Role
Picked courseSupport

Pick two champions from th' list.

Arrr, role fit

SupportMaokai

Maokai has an established low-income Support course wit' useful course pressure, protection, engage or crew utility.

Arrr, primary role
Review patch be unknownRecommendations await inspection

These patches keep recommendation review, build checks and item lookup on separate charts, matey. Fresh item data does not finish a build review.

Recommendations’ patch
— Data Dragon
Build check’s patch
16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup’s patch
16.20.1 Data Dragon

Arrr, normal Draft · Support

Arrr, reviewed Maokai engage Support

Follow th' completed-gear order as a pre-battle reference. Components and owned gear do nay create extra inventory slots.

Arrr, primary role
S
Draft / Ranked opening · separate from gear 1

World Atlas

400 doubloons

Arrr, starts Support income and progresses into wards.

1
Arrr, free quest choice

Solstice Sleigh

400 doubloons

Adds a reviewed part o' this champion and role core.

2
First aboard gear

Locket of the Iron Solari

2,200 doubloons

Adds an immediate shield fer nigh th' ship crewmates after a crew commit.

3
Boots

Boots of Swiftness

1,000 doubloons

Arrr, adds movement speed and stronger resistance to slows.

4
Arrr, core utility

Bandlepipes

2,300 doubloons

Builds hull and a moving crew aura after th' first aboard affordable Support gear.

5
Crew utility

Thornmail

2,450 doubloons

Adds armour and anti-heal when attack-heavy enemies must hit ye.

6
Flexible

Knight's Vow

2,300 doubloons

Arrr, redirects protection toward one priority ally.

Shipshape loadout choices

Pick th' course afore play

Recommendations await inspection

AlternativeArrr, too much healingApply anti-heal only when repeated healing be materially changing fights.Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Apply anti-heal only when repeated healing be materially changing fights.

  1. Arrr, free quest choiceSolstice Sleigh
  2. First aboard gearLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. BootsBoots of Swiftness
  4. Morellonomicon
  5. Crew utilityThornmail
  6. FlexibleKnight's Vow
AlternativeArrr, crowd controlMikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; inspect that th' effect can actually be cleansed.Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Mikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; inspect that th' effect can actually be cleansed.

  1. Arrr, free quest choiceSolstice Sleigh
  2. First aboard gearLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. BootsBoots of Swiftness
  4. Mikael's Blessing
  5. Crew utilityThornmail
  6. FlexibleKnight's Vow
AlternativeCannae set sail fightsShurelya's movement speed helps th' crew engage or disengage when positioning be th' problem.Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Shurelya's movement speed helps th' crew engage or disengage when positioning be th' problem.

  1. Arrr, free quest choiceSolstice Sleigh
  2. First aboard gearLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. BootsBoots of Swiftness
  4. Shurelya's Battlesong
  5. Crew utilityThornmail
  6. FlexibleKnight's Vow

Shipshape loadout comparison

Shipshape loadout comparison

Recommendations await inspection

Build chart needs reviewArrr, reviewed Maokai engage SupportRecommendations await inspectionSpy full course

Recommendations await inspection

  1. Arrr, free quest choiceSolstice Sleigh
  2. First aboard gearLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. BootsBoots of Swiftness
  4. Arrr, core utilityBandlepipes
  5. Crew utilityThornmail
  6. FlexibleKnight's Vow
AlternativeArrr, too much healingApply anti-heal only when repeated healing be materially changing fights.Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Apply anti-heal only when repeated healing be materially changing fights.

  1. Arrr, free quest choiceSolstice Sleigh
  2. First aboard gearLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. BootsBoots of Swiftness
  4. Morellonomicon
  5. Crew utilityThornmail
  6. FlexibleKnight's Vow
AlternativeArrr, crowd controlMikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; inspect that th' effect can actually be cleansed.Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Mikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; inspect that th' effect can actually be cleansed.

  1. Arrr, free quest choiceSolstice Sleigh
  2. First aboard gearLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. BootsBoots of Swiftness
  4. Mikael's Blessing
  5. Crew utilityThornmail
  6. FlexibleKnight's Vow
AlternativeCannae set sail fightsShurelya's movement speed helps th' crew engage or disengage when positioning be th' problem.Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Shurelya's movement speed helps th' crew engage or disengage when positioning be th' problem.

  1. Arrr, free quest choiceSolstice Sleigh
  2. First aboard gearLocket of the Iron Solari
  3. BootsBoots of Swiftness
  4. Shurelya's Battlesong
  5. Crew utilityThornmail
  6. FlexibleKnight's Vow

Arrr, runes and summoner spells

Arrr, runes and summoner spellsMaokaiSupport

Use controlled poke and preserve th' cooldown that makes th' next aboard catch seaworthy.

Normal Draft, matey
Arrr, primary tree

Sorcery

Arcane CometManaflow BandTranscendenceScorch
Arrr, secondary tree

Inspiration

Biscuit DeliveryCosmic Insight
Arrr, summoner spells
FlashIgnite
Coordinate th' Bot pair

Inspect which defensive spell th' Bot partner picked afore duplicating Heal, Barrier or Exhaust.

Clash th' course threat

Exhaust answers a committed damage dealer; Ignite adds pressure and anti-heal; Heal protects both nigh th' ship partners.

Arrr, matchup notes

What changes when Vex is opposite you?

Pre-battle kit comparison
Arrr, kit comparison

Respect th' foe's reliable threat

Track th' cooldown and range o' th' trick that starts their safest trade. Do nay treat this chart as a statistical counter claim.

Yer course

Use th' course ye prepared

Keep Vex visible afore committing. Th' second Bot-course champion and nigh th' ship Jungler can change whether th' same engage be seaworthy.

Trick reminders

Maokai reminders

  • Saplings can be tossed into brush fer empowered effect - but don't stack well.
  • Try looking fer flanks or other situations where Nature's Grasp be unavoidable or takes enemies by surprise.
  • Maokai's passive makes him extremely durable agin' focus fire from spells - so long as he can still basic attack something.

Arrr, static alternatives

Compare th' problem afore changing th' course

These choices be nay picked from live scores. Use one only after ye identify th' stated clash problem yourself.

Arrr, Only when enemy healing is deciding fights

Oblivion Orb

Arrr, Oblivion Orb supplies healing reduction without committing to a completed Morellonomicon. Skip both when healing is not the problem or an ally already covers your target reliably. Healing reduction does not reduce shields.

Arrr, Conditional component, not a core item. Complete Morellonomicon only when its stats and slot efficiency justify delaying another purchase.
Arrr, crowd control

Mikael's Blessing

Mikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; inspect that th' effect can actually be cleansed.

Cannae set sail fights

Shurelya's Battlesong

Shurelya's movement speed helps th' crew engage or disengage when positioning be th' problem.

Trick reference

Arrr, compare both kits

Trick reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Wait fer reload (s) / Cost / Charted reach (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1

Maokai

  1. P
    Sap MagicEnglish

    Maokai's basic attack also heals him and deals additional damage on a moderate cooldown. Each time Maokai casts a spell or is struck by an enemy's spell, this cooldown is reduced.

  2. Q
    Bramble SmashEnglish

    Maokai knocks back nearby enemies with a shockwave, dealing magic damage and slowing them.

    Wait fer reload (s) 7/6.5/6/5.5/5 · Cost 40 · Charted reach (units) 600
  3. W
    Twisted AdvanceEnglish

    Maokai contorts into a mass of moving roots, becoming untargetable and dashing to the target. Upon arrival, he roots the target.

    Wait fer reload (s) 14/13/12/11/10 · Cost 60 · Charted reach (units) 525
  4. E
    Sapling TossEnglish

    Maokai flings a sapling to the target area to stand guard. More effective in brush.

    Wait fer reload (s) 18/17/16/15/14 · Cost 60/65/70/75/80 · Charted reach (units) 1100
  5. R
    Nature's GraspEnglish

    Maokai summons a colossal wall of brambles and thorns that slowly advances forwards, damaging and rooting any enemies in the path.

    Wait fer reload (s) 130/110/90 · Cost 100 · Charted reach (units) 3000

Vex

  1. P
    Doom 'n GloomEnglish

    Vex periodically becomes empowered, causing her next basic Ability to fear enemies and interrupt dashes. Whenever a nearby enemy dashes, Vex applies a mark that can be consumed for bonus damage that also reduces the cooldown of her empowered state.

  2. Q
    Mistral BoltEnglish

    Launch a damaging missile that accelerates mid-flight.

    Wait fer reload (s) 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Charted reach (units) 1200
  3. W
    Personal SpaceEnglish

    Gain a shield and damage nearby enemies.

    Wait fer reload (s) 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 75 · Charted reach (units) 475
  4. E
    Looming DarknessEnglish

    Summon a damaging and slowing zone that applies Gloom to enemies.

    Wait fer reload (s) 12 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Charted reach (units) 800
  5. R
    Shadow SurgeEnglish

    Fire a missile that marks an enemy champion. Recast to dash to them and deal damage.

    Wait fer reload (s) 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Charted reach (units) 2000/2500/3000

Adapt th' course

What to do when th' battle changes

Judge th' whole course or sea chart state, nay only personal kills. Pick th' situation closest to th' present battle.

Even course

Balance course pressure wit' protection fer th' carry

1
Course

Hold th' trick that makes foes respect yer course and trade when both Bot-course partners be shipshape.

2
Sea chart play

Recall and move on seaworthy wave timings; an unsupported roam can cost th' carry an entire wave or a dive.

3
Fights

Control one approach and keep enough protection fer th' foe's most likely engage.

Pings, movement and prizes

Maokai Support sea chart course

Turn ship's intelligence into a shared decision. Move wit' an ally and preserve th' tool that makes th' next aboard fight seaworthy.

Ahead

Make th' lead open th' sea chart

Ping
Use On Me Way afore changing angle, then Assist Me on Dragon after Bot be seaworthy to move. Use Peril if th' carry starts following through an unsafe course.
Sea chart movement
Roam after a pushed wave, shared recall or when th' carry can collect safely. Deep wards still require th' Jungler or another nigh th' ship ally.
Prize
Arrive early, clear th' deck th' foe entrance and hold th' key engage or peel spell. Do nay chase astern from Dragon and hand th' foe a free course back aboard in.
Even

Create one clear th' deck numbers advantage

Ping
Use On Me Way afore an engage or roam, Foe Lost overboard as soon as a course foe disappears, and Peril when yer carry cannae follow.
Sea chart movement
Leave only on a seaworthy wave or recall timing. If th' carry would meet defeat a full wave or face a dive, stay Bot and communicate that ye be nay moving.
Prize
Lend a hand Bot finish th' wave, then enter river wit' th' Jungler. Set vision afore starting and avoid turning an even prize into an unseen gamble.
Behind

Stop th' next aboard defeat afore seeking a play

Ping
Use Retreat or Peril afore an ally enters darkness, Foe Lost overboard immediately, and Assist Me when ye need company to restore defensive vision.
Sea chart movement
Do nay abandon a crashing wave or vulnerable carry. Move after th' wave be stable and use th' nearest seaworthy ward line rather than forcing deep vision.
Prize
If yer crew cannae enter river safely, ping Retreat and trade fer farm, vision or another sea chart resource. Contest only after creating a seaworthy course together.
Prize setup

Arrr, four calls, in order

Pings create a shared course; they do nay replace checking waves, vision and who can move.

  1. 1
    Afore th' move

    'Round a minute afore Dragon, ping th' course, spend doubloons if needed and make sure Bot and Mid know whether they can move.

  2. 2
    Arrr, enter together

    Walk wit' th' Jungler or another ally. Sweep one course, place useful entrance vision and ne'er face-inspect alone.

  3. 3
    Afore starting

    Inspect nigh th' ship waves and foe positions. Hold th' spell that either starts a reachable fight or protects yer main damage dealer.

  4. 4
    During th' contest

    Keep enemies astern from th' seaworthy entrance, mark th' reachable threat and avoid chasing so far across th' waters that Dragon be left unprotected.

Later prizes: Use th' same pattern fer Rift Herald or Baron: communicate first aboard, move through controlled vision wit' an ally, then choose engage or peel afore th' fight begins.

Arrr, keep preparing

Use th' champion chart or choose another foe

Th' matchup chart be a pre-battle reference. It does nay predict th' result or alter its recommendation from changing live clash data.

Unfurl full loadoutArrr, compare counter options