Talk:Maokai/@comment-24.6.194.76-20120114212140/@comment-69.141.8.150-20120115201325

He can do two things very well past the laning phase (which he is awesome at in several roles):

1. Catch a squishy out of position and root them E. And 2. Force enemies to back off with R, or else fight in a spot where they're at a disadvantage.

But there are many other tanks and tanky champs who initiate and peel much, much better.