Talk:Maokai/@comment-24630260-20140314072303/@comment-8468980-20140326024207

Riot considers champs with "ranged abilities," even though they are melee, effectively "ranged."

This isn't true. There are even more examples of melee champs with ranged abilities who get MR per level including Mundo, Aatrox, Chogath, J4, and Kha.

There's really only speculation as to why some melee champs don't get MR per level in their kit. My best guess is that these melee champions all gain some form of damage reduction like Grag's W or Mao's R. Or get something that boosts their MR like Galio's Bulwark.