How to win lane as Zac against Maokai · 65.75% win rate (73 Emerald+ games, lolalytics, sampled July 2026) · Matchup data reviewed on patch 26.15
Dodge his root — E-knock him up, out-sustain.
Track: Maokai's W — Twisted Advance (14–10s cooldown). His lock-on root. Dodge it.
Read from Zac's seat: which stage windows this plan plays for against Maokai.
This is Zac's own plan; across 73 pooled games the lane is Zac-favoured.
| Stage | Favoured | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Even / skill | Maokai's sapling poke and passive heal beat you at level 1. |
| Level 2 | Maokai | At 2 his sustain keeps refilling faster than your blobs. |
| Level 3 | Maokai | His W roots at 3, and he is untargetable mid-dash. |
| Levels 4-5 | Maokai | Levels 4-5 even out as anti-heal blunts Sap Magic. |
| Level 6 | Even / skill | At 6 your R returns sooner — 120s against his 130s. |
| First item | Maokai | First item: anti-heal lands and his sustain war stops working. |
| Two+ items | Even / skill | Late, your engage range and percent-HP W out-scale his utility. |
Maokai wins the early sustain war — saplings (E, and stronger in brush) plus Sap Magic top him off faster than your blobs regen, and from 3 his W (Twisted Advance) roots you for a free trade. He is untargetable through that dash, so your Q grab cannot answer it. Farm at range and hold E.
Pooled Emerald+ win rates from Zac's side, sampled July 2026.
The full Zac 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.
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Zac — a 65.75% win rate vs Maokai in top lane over 73 games is a real advantage.
Not really — Zac holds a real statistical advantage (65.75% win rate), so Maokai is the one working uphill.
Statistically yes — Zac counters Maokai in top lane, winning 65.75% of 73 Emerald+ games.
Zac takes Grasp of the Undying on the Resolve tree with Demolish, Second Wind and Overgrowth, and Precision secondary (Triumph and Legend: Haste) vs Maokai.
Start Doran's Shield + Health Potion and back for Executioner's Calling (≈800g) — cuts his healing. Build Heartsteel (HP feeds everything) first, then Spirit Visage / Thornmail, with Mercury's Treads.
Playing the other side? Maokai vs Zac guide →
All Zac top lane matchups →
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