Iceborn Gauntlet Maokai Build

ARAM Build Guide for champion Maokai and build Iceborn Gauntlet.

Iceborn Gauntlet Maokai build with runes and items. Iceborn Gauntlet Maokai guide offers in-depth how-to play, skill order and tips. Play Iceborn Gauntlet Maokai build in League of Legends Patch 14.21!

Updated: 2024-05-16 ()

TLDR

Starting items
Cloth Armor should be final item in your build.
Ruby Crystal should be final item in your build.
Sheen should be final item in your build.
Quick Skill Order
Maokai ability Bramble Smash should be leveled first.
Q
Maokai ability Twisted Advance should be leveled second.
W
Maokai ability Sapling Toss should be leveled third.
E
Final items
Plated Steelcaps should be final item in your build.
Iceborn Gauntlet should be final item in your build.
Randuin's Omen should be final item in your build.
Frozen Heart should be final item in your build.
Thornmail should be final item in your build.
Imperial Mandate should be final item in your build.
Quick Runes
Major rune Aftershock from Resolve tree.
Minor rune Precision.
Summoner spells
Pick Mark as your Summoner Spell.
Pick Flash as your Summoner Spell.

Iceborn Gauntlet Maokai Runes

Resolve
Resolve major tree Grasp of the Undying rune.
Resolve major tree Aftershock rune.
Resolve major tree Guardian rune.
Resolve major tree Demolish rune.
Resolve major tree Font of Life rune.
Resolve major tree Shield Bash rune.
Resolve major tree Conditioning rune.
Resolve major tree Second Wind rune.
Resolve major tree Bone Plating rune.
Resolve major tree Overgrowth rune.
Resolve major tree Revitalize rune.
Resolve major tree Unflinching rune.
Precision
Precision minor tree Absorb Life rune.
Precision minor tree Triumph rune.
Precision minor tree Presence of Mind rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Alacrity rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Haste rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Bloodline rune.
Precision minor tree Coup de Grace rune.
Precision minor tree Cut Down rune.
Precision minor tree Last Stand rune.
Passive
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Attack Speed rune (+10% Attack Speed).
Passive tree Ability Haste rune (+8 Ability Haste).
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Move Speed rune (+2 Movement Speed).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).
Passive tree Health rune (+65 Health).
Passive tree Tenacity And Slow Resist rune (+10 Tenacity and Slow Resist).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).

How it works

General
  1. You rush Iceborn Gauntlet and optionally Imperial Mandate.
  2. You play as Tank, but with focus on kitting the enemy team and utility for your team.

How to play

General
  1. You rush Iceborn Gauntlet #1, then you need to adapt your items to the game. Enemy team heavy on AP? Buy MR. They heavy on AD? Buy Armor. You need some damage? Well buy that.
  2. You can rush Imperial Mandate #2 if you can afford it, this makes this build more fun. However, if you are behind, it is okay to just skip it.
  3. There's great synergy between Iceborn Gauntlet + Imperial Mandate + Font of Life. You create frozen pools that will persist for a few seconds, slowing enemies, applying Imperial Mandate debuff + Font of Life heal mark for your allies.
  4. For more utility oriented build, you can get Locket of the Iron Solari (sustain) or Shurelya's Battlesong (engages).
  5. Triumph is better overall (heal + gold), but if you want to have easier time with your mana, go Presence of the Mind.
  6. Be careful to not waste Aftershock. Try timing it and keeping it for going in.

Tips and Tricks

General
  1. You can use E for brush control.
Riot
  1. Saplings can be tossed into brush for empowered effect - but don't stack well.
  2. Try looking for flanks or other situations where Nature's Grasp is unavoidable or takes enemies by surprise.
  3. Maokai's passive makes him extremely durable against focus fire from spells - so long as he can still basic attack something.

Skill Order

  • Maokai [object Object] ability.
    Q
    Bramble Smash
  • Maokai [object Object] ability.
    W
    Twisted Advance
  • Maokai [object Object] ability.
    E
    Sapling Toss
  • Maokai [object Object] ability.
    R
    Nature's Grasp

Items

Starting items
Cloth Armor item.
Ruby Crystal item.
Sheen item.
Starting items vs poke
Guardian's Horn item.
Ruby Crystal item.
Boots
Ionian Boots of Lucidity item.
Plated Steelcaps item.
Mercury's Treads item.
Rush #1
Iceborn Gauntlet item.
Optional #2 rush
Imperial Mandate item.
Good tank items
Jak'Sho, The Protean item.
Fimbulwinter item.
Warmog's Armor item.
Good utility items
Shurelya's Battlesong item.
Trailblazer item.
Knight's Vow item.
Locket of the Iron Solari item.
Zeke's Convergence item.
Good MR items
Force of Nature item.
Kaenic Rookern item.
Hollow Radiance item.
Spirit Visage item.
Abyssal Mask item.
Good Armor items
Thornmail item.
Sunfire Aegis item.
Dead Man's Plate item.
Unending Despair item.
Frozen Heart item.
Iceborn Gauntlet item.
Randuin's Omen item.
Situational DMG items
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Overlord's Bloodmail item.
Wit's End item.
Zhonya's Hourglass item.
Titanic Hydra item.
For the last fight
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Elixir of Iron item.
Elixir of Sorcery item.
Example final build
Plated Steelcaps item.
Iceborn Gauntlet item.
Randuin's Omen item.
Frozen Heart item.
Thornmail item.
Imperial Mandate item.