How to win lane as Maokai against Pantheon · 59.77% win rate over 87 Emerald+ games · Updated 2026-07-27
| Stage | Favoured | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Pantheon | He out-trades your single ability at Level 1 with Q spear poke and a point-click W stun before your combo exists. |
| Level 2 | Maokai | You complete W-root into Q-Bramble and Sap Magic heals the trade — his spear can't out-damage your sustain now. |
| Level 3 | Maokai | Adding the Sapling lets you zone his poke and repeat W-into-Q trades faster than his W stun comes back. |
| Levels 4-5 | Maokai | Your root cooldowns and constant Sap Magic healing grind out repeat favorable trades all through Levels 4-5. |
| Level 6 | Even / skill | His global R is a roam tool and your R is for ganks — neither swings the 1v1, so this level is even. |
| First item | Maokai | Your first sustain/tank item makes your resists and Sap Magic eat his spear; he has no scaling answer. |
| Two+ items | Maokai | Pantheon has zero item scaling — your durability and healing fully out-last him while he has nothing left. |
Level 1 is genuinely his — you have one ability and no combo, so his W point-click stun into an empowered Q spear out-trades you; don't contest the first wave, just soak it. The instant you hit 2 and 3 the lane flips: W (Twisted Advance) roots him in place, Q (Bramble Smash) hits the knockback, and Sap Magic procs to heal the spear poke right back. Watch his passive — it blocks one auto, so don't waste your Sap Magic heal-empowered hit into a blocked attack; throw a Sapling first to bait it.
The full Maokai vs Pantheon 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? Pantheon vs Maokai guide →
All Maokai top lane matchups →