Talk:Maokai/@comment-8468980-20140621034647/@comment-8468980-20140623041150

the problem with running maokai top is that it's essentially running nautilus, sej, or amu top. Technically, they deal fair damage for pure tanks, but if I really want a tanky magic damage dealer there are better choices like Elise or Rumble or Ryze or Vlad. Mao doesn't scale nearly as well as a half a dozen other champs that will fulfill virtually the same role a laning, farmed Mao would.

The beauty of Mao and these types of champs is that they survive with no damage items at all and just require some tank items to simply abuse the CC in their kit.