Heartsteel Maokai Build

Heartsteel Maokai Build.

Heartsteel Maokai build with runes and items. Heartsteel Maokai guide offers in-depth how-to play, skill order and tips. Play Heartsteel Maokai build in League of Legends Patch 14.24!

Updated: 2024-12-18 ()

TLDR

Starting items
Giant's Belt should be final item in your build.
Ruby Crystal 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.
Heartsteel should be final item in your build.
Titanic Hydra should be final item in your build.
Overlord's Bloodmail should be final item in your build.
Thornmail should be final item in your build.
Kaenic Rookern should be final item in your build.
Quick Runes
Major rune Grasp of the Undying from Resolve tree.
Minor rune Precision.
Summoner spells
Pick Mark as your Summoner Spell.
Pick Flash as your Summoner Spell.

Heartsteel 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 to play

General
  1. You rush Heartsteel #1 unless it is going to be hard to proc it - they are all ranged and just poke you. Then you start slow with Guardian's Horn.
  2. After Heartsteel, you can rush Titanic Hydra (more fun, damage and some survi) AND/OR Sundered Sky or just go full tank - depending on if you are behind and if your team needs more damage.
  3. Sundered Sky is very good damage item for this build. It scales off your HP (so Grasp, Heartsteel, Overgrowth). It gives damage and pretty good sustain in fights. Remember to switch targets to maximize the effect!
  4. This is auto attack oriented Maokai build, so do it! Especially if running with Titanic Hydra and Sundered Sky as well.
  5. Guardian's Horn is a surprisingly good item for its price. You can keep it for a very long time (or even have it as 6th item).
  6. Triumph is better (heal + gold), but if you want to have easier time with your mana, go Presence of the Mind.
  7. 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.
  8. Remember to consume your Heartsteel procs!
  9. Remember to consume your Grasp of the Undying procs!

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
Giant's Belt item.
Ruby Crystal item.
Starting items vs poke
Guardian's Horn item.
Ruby Crystal item.
Boots
Plated Steelcaps item.
Mercury's Treads item.
Ionian Boots of Lucidity item.
Rush this
Heartsteel item.
Dmg items
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Zhonya's Hourglass item.
Sundered Sky item.
Wit's End item.
Titanic Hydra item.
Overlord's Bloodmail item.
Good tank items
Warmog's Armor item.
Jak'Sho, The Protean item.
Fimbulwinter item.
Good MR items
Force of Nature item.
Hollow Radiance item.
Spirit Visage item.
Abyssal Mask item.
Kaenic Rookern item.
Good Armor items
Thornmail item.
Iceborn Gauntlet item.
Dead Man's Plate item.
Randuin's Omen item.
Frozen Heart item.
Unending Despair item.
Sunfire Aegis item.
Situational items
Zeke's Convergence item.
Knight's Vow item.
Trailblazer 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.
Heartsteel item.
Titanic Hydra item.
Overlord's Bloodmail item.
Thornmail item.
Kaenic Rookern item.