Maokai (Development)

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Maokai

Champion Sneak Peek: Maokai, the Twisted Treant[]

By ByronicHero^[1]

Sometimes, when you look at the League of Legends champion lineup, it's easy to feel like you've seen it all. You've seen light mages, thorn mages, mad scientists, illusionists, ninjas, and warriors with gigantic swords. But there's something that this next champion has that none of them do: roots. That's right, while you may have been engaged in epic, pitched battles with trolls, gargoyles, ogres, scarecrows, minotaurs, mummies, and mutant armadillos, I bet you've never had to fight a tree before! Introducing Maokai, the Twisted Treant; a groundbreaking new champion in the League of Legends whose bark may or may not be worse than his bite. You decide.

Champion Update: Maokai[]

By Conor 'fizzNchips' Sheehy^[2]

Maokai's the latest champ to go into the champion update workshop, and has come out the other end with some fancy new bark to wear on all of his skins!

Just like Singed, Maokai's rig was in a fairly good spot while the rest of his look was a bit... well... old. So we changed it up, updating his model, textures, spell effects, and a few of his animations on his base model and each of his skins!

Midseason 2017[]

Maokai's getting back in touch with his roots as a vengeful nature spirit. By summoning a giant wall of roots.^[3]

Abilities

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Q
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E
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Sap Magic

Maokai's basic attacks periodically heal him.

Sap Magic's cooldown is reduced for each spell Maokai casts or is struck by.

Bramble Smash

Maokai smashes his fist into the ground,

knocking back nearby enemies,

slowing enemies in front of him, and damaging all affected enemies.

Twisted Advance

Maokai transforms into a moving mass of roots, dashing to and

rooting his target.

Sapling Toss

Maokai flings a sapling to stand watch over an area. Saplings chase nearby enemies, exploding if they come in contact and slowing everything hit.

Saplings placed in brush last longer and deal additional damage over time.

Nature's Grasp

Maokai summons a colossal wall of brambles and thorns that advances forward,

rooting enemies struck.

Root duration increases the farther the wall travels.

Trivia[]

Maokai is voiced by Jay Preston, whom also voices Maksim in Ruination.
- Pre-V7.9, Maokai is voiced by Scott McNeil.
  - Hecarim, Sion, Mecha Zero Sion, 4Veigar in Legends of Runeterra and Final Boss Veigar are also voiced by the same voice actor.
Maokai is named after a Riot 3D artist at the time.^[4]
He re-explores the treant theme of the cancelled champion Gavid.
- The Plant King's plant-growing theme was re-explored by Zyra.
During development, he was called Maoki or Moakai.
For Maokai's Visual Update, Twisted Advance's rooting was made to resemble Grasping Roots'.

Media[]

Legends_of_the_Field_-_Login_Screen — Legends of the Field - Login Screen

2014 FIFA World Cup Theme

Related Music

April Fools 2016 - Login Screen

Snowdown 2011 - Login Screen

Maokai_Reveal_New_Champion_-_Legends_of_Runeterra — Maokai Reveal New Champion - Legends of Runeterra

Related Videos

Maokai Art Spotlight

Maokai Champion Spotlight

Legends of the Field

KNKL SHOW 204 MAOKAI VU Process!

Fried Chicken and Pizza Delivery April Foods Skins Trailer - League of Legends

Be Your Best Santa Snowdown 2017 Event Trailer - League of Legends

Main article: Summoner icon

Main article: Emotes

References[]

[1] Champion Sneak Peek: Maokai, the Twisted Treant

[2] Champion Update: Maokai

[3] Midseason 2017

[4] Maokai's name origin

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League of Legends Wiki