How to win lane as Neeko against Maokai · 49.71% win rate over 340 Emerald+ games · Updated 2026-07-27
| Stage | Favoured | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Neeko | You out-poke and out-trade Maokai at level 1 with Q outer-ring before his Saplings matter. |
| Level 2 | Neeko | Your level-2 Q+E root spike beats his slow, sapling-dependent early kit. |
| Level 3 | Even / skill | By 3 Maokai's Saplings match your poke, so trades even out. |
| Levels 4-5 | Maokai | At 4-5 his W engage and sapling wave control let him dictate the lane. |
| Level 6 | Neeko | Pop Blossom at 6 gives you the stronger all-in flip over his single-target W. |
| First item | Even / skill | First item is even: your burst answers his Liandry's poke and both scale into fights. |
| Two+ items | Even / skill | Two items stays even as both kits are AoE engage that trade blow for blow. |
You win the opening levels: Q outer-ring poke and a level-2 Q+E root out-trade Maokai before his Saplings and W come online, and his low base damage means he can't punish your step-ups.
The full Neeko vs Maokai report continues with the mid-game plan, the late-game and teamfight plan, every power spike to play around, and the win conditions for both sides — plus cooldown tracking and the live enemy-jungle tracker inside the app.
Become a Founding Member — $1.99/month →🔒 Secure checkout · 💰 7-day money-back guarantee · ✋ Cancel anytime
Early Access price — $3.99/month for new members after launch.
Playing the other side? Maokai vs Neeko guide →
All Neeko support matchups →
Also played in: Top Lane