Maokai Counters Classic 26.22

Vengeful Maelstrom reduces the damage allied champions standing inside it take from everything except towers, and it covers an area instead of a single ally. Throwing Infected Cleaver into that circle is worth less than throwing it at whoever has not walked in yet. Pick the target outside first.

Rely on the health from Sadism, not the speed it also gives you. It hands back a large share of your maximum health across its run, and that speed cannot move you while Twisted Advance has you rooted, though Burning Agony shortens how long the root holds.

Masochism briefly gives more Attack Damage the lower your health drops, and Burning Agony drains that health while toggled on. Sap Magic stores a charge for each spell cast near Maokai, and the fifth turns his next basic attack into a heal. Trade long enough and every button you press is feeding his next heal.