Mastering Maokai Support: Dominating League Season 11 with Imperial Mandate
Why Maokai Dominates the Support Meta
Season 11’s item overhaul transformed Maokai from a niche pick into the premier support champion, with Imperial Mandate serving as the catalyst for his dominance. This guide breaks down how to leverage his current power spike.
The League of Legends meta underwent seismic shifts in Season 11, and Maokai’s transition from top lane bruiser to support powerhouse exemplifies this transformation. His entire kit synergizes perfectly with Imperial Mandate, creating unprecedented value in the bot lane.
While strategies like the ‘MoonStaff’ enchantress combo gained attention, Maokai’s rise proved more impactful. The Twisted Treant’s resurgence isn’t temporary – current statistics confirm his position as the most reliable support choice.
OP.GG data reveals Maokai maintains a 53.05% win rate post-11.2 nerfs, ranking first among supports. His 15.47% pick rate trails only Thresh and Alistar, demonstrating both popularity and effectiveness. Pro players across major regions have adopted him, with DAMWON’s BeryL showcasing his potential even before the Mandate meta emerged.
Advanced Maokai Support Strategies
Mastering Maokai begins with proper ability sequencing. Despite patch 11.2 nerfs, Sapling Toss (E) remains your priority max – its vision control and Mandate procs create constant lane pressure. The delayed explosion timing now requires more precise placement near choke points.
Rune selection separates adequate Maokais from exceptional ones. While Arcane Comet tempts with poke potential, Aftershock provides crucial survivability during engages. Combine this with Hexflash for unpredictable initiations – the Flash-W (Twisted Advance) into Q knockback remains your primary engage tool.
Matchup knowledge is critical. Against aggressive engage supports like Leona, position behind minions and use saplings defensively. Versus enchanters, leverage your sustain through passive healing and Revitalize. Post-Mandate, Demonic Embrace amplifies your damage against tankier compositions, while Oblivion Orb counters healing-heavy teams.
Pro Tip: Place saplings in lane bushes 10 seconds before objective spawns to create zone control during dragon/baron fights.
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