How to win lane as Illaoi against Maokai · 52.2% win rate over 569 Emerald+ games · Updated 2026-07-27
| Stage | Favoured | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Maokai | Level 1 Maokai out-sustains and can W-root you before you own a gap-closer. |
| Level 2 | Illaoi | By Level 2 you gain W to stick and swing, flipping short trades your way. |
| Level 3 | Illaoi | Level 3 gives you the E grab, and his only counter is spending his W root. |
| Levels 4-5 | Illaoi | Through Levels 4-5 stacked tentacles out-damage his sapling sustain decisively. |
| Level 6 | Illaoi | At Level 6 your R field overwhelms him while his R is just a slow engage wall. |
| First item | Illaoi | At first item bruiser scaling keeps you out-slamming his passive healing. |
| Two+ items | Maokai | Into 2+ items tank Maokai shrugs off tentacles and out-values you in fights and roams. |
Level 1 Maokai out-sustains you with saplings and can W-root you for a free trade before you have your dash, so play the minions and wait for W.
The full Illaoi 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 Illaoi guide →
All Illaoi top lane matchups →