How to win lane as Maokai against Olaf · 45.33% win rate over 75 Emerald+ games · Updated 2026-07-27
| Stage | Favoured | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Olaf | Olaf throws an axe to slow and walk up while you have only one ability and no combo to answer. |
| Level 2 | Maokai | Your W-root into Q-knockback finally gives you a real trade, and Sap Magic heals the chip he deals back. |
| Level 3 | Maokai | With E saplings added you tax his axe pickups and repeat your W-Q on his cooldowns for a sustain edge. |
| Levels 4-5 | Even / skill | Your root resets keep trades favorable, but his ramping axe true damage starts matching your Sap Magic heal. |
| Level 6 | Even / skill | Ragnarok makes him CC-immune so your W root and R wall whiff, but he can't yet kill you outright — it's a coinflip. |
| First item | Olaf | His first item plus axe slow and true damage out-DPS your Passive sustain, reclaiming the lane. |
| Two+ items | Olaf | Olaf's R true damage shreds your stacked resistances and his lifesteal out-sustains you, so you only have teamfight peel left. |
Level 1 is his — Olaf can throw an axe, slow you, and walk up to auto before you even have a combo, so concede the first push and just last-hit. The lane swings to you at 2-3: once you have W (Twisted Advance) to root and Q (Bramble Smash) to knock him back, you get a real trade with a Sap Magic heal to undo his chip. Always step on his thrown axe or walk away from it so he can't pick it up for the move speed, and drop E saplings on the axe spot to tax his mana.
The full Maokai vs Olaf 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? Olaf vs Maokai guide →
All Maokai top lane matchups →