- Avg Place
- 4.05
- Top 4 rate
- 57.1%
- 1st Place
- 20.0%
Maokai TFT Build & Best Items · Set 18
Old Growth
Juggernaut
5 Cost- Set
- 18
- Games
- 122,943
- Tier
- All Tiers
- Rank
- All Ranks
- Last Updated
- Oct 27, 2026
- Author
- Dakota Chinnick
- Methodology
- Data Methodology
The best Maokai items in Set 18, ranked by how often they finish top 4 across 122,943 ranked games — plus full 3-item builds, what to slam first and the special items worth taking.
- BiS items
Steadfast Heart, Evenshroud, and Crownguard- Best full build
- 66.3%top 4
- First component
- Giant's Belt
- Played as
- Tank
- Top 4 rate
- 57.1%
- Games
- 122,943
Best items for Maokai in TFT Set 18
122,943 ranked gamesMaokai's best-in-slot items are Steadfast Heart, Evenshroud, and Crownguard. Steadfast Heart is the standout: 66.0% top 4 when Maokai holds it, and players put it on Maokai in 6% of games.
- Top 4
- 66.0%
- vs Maokai avg
- +8.9%
- Played
- 6%
- Top 4
- 65.3%
- vs Maokai avg
- +8.2%
- Played
- 5%
- Top 4
- 64.4%
- vs Maokai avg
- +7.3%
- Played
- 5%
Best Maokai builds (3 items)
The best full Maokai build is Bramble Vest, Gargoyle Stoneplate, and Warmog's Armor: 66.3% top 4 over 1,800 games, 9.2 points better than Maokai on average.
| Build | Role | Games | Top 4 | 1st | Avg. place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
   | Tank | 1,800 | 66.3% +9.2% | 31.8% | 3.46 |
 | Tank | 7,577 | 65.6% +8.5% | 32.3% | 3.48 |
| Tank | 1,901 | 64.7% +7.6% | 30.5% | 3.54 |
 | Tank | 1,577 | 63.5% +6.4% | 29.5% | 3.58 |
 Random items | — | 4,187 | 59.7% +2.6% | 16.3% | 3.96 |
Top-4 rate of boards where Maokai held exactly these three items. Thief's Gloves builds equip random items, so they count as one build.
Maokai builds by role
100% of full Maokai builds are defensive items — players use Maokai as a frontline that soaks damage while the carry deals it. That matches Maokai's tank role in the game files.
Tank · 100%
Best build: 66.3% top 4 · 1,800 games
Every Maokai item ranked – TFT Set 18
Steadfast Heart is the most reliable item on Maokai: 66.0% top 4 and held in 6% of games, against 57.1% for Maokai overall.
Top 4 vs Maokai average (57.1%)
| Item | Games | Played | Top 4 | Raw top 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steadfast Heart | 7,416 | 6.0% | 66.0% | 66.0% |
 Ionic Spark | 2,948 | 2.4% | 65.7% | 65.8% |
| Evenshroud | 5,599 | 4.6% | 65.3% | 65.3% |
 Adaptive Helm | 3,516 | 2.9% | 65.6% | 65.6% |
| Crownguard | 6,666 | 5.4% | 64.4% | 64.5% |
 Sunfire Cape | 10,716 | 8.7% | 63.8% | 63.8% |
| Bramble Vest | 11,247 | 9.1% | 63.7% | 63.7% |
| Protector's Vow | 9,566 | 7.8% | 63.7% | 63.8% |
| Warmog's Armor | 36,807 | 29.9% | 62.9% | 62.9% |
 Dragon's Claw | 11,620 | 9.5% | 63.1% | 63.1% |
| Spirit Visage | 28,442 | 23.1% | 62.2% | 62.2% |
| Gargoyle Stoneplate | 45,047 | 36.6% | 60.8% | 60.8% |
| Thief's Gloves | 4,185 | 3.4% | 59.7% | 59.7% |
Top 4 is adjusted for sample size, so a rarely built item can't top the list on a lucky streak; raw top 4 is the unadjusted rate. Ranked by how confident that rate is.
Does Maokai need 3 items?
Yes — Maokai wants a full build: with three items it finishes top 4 64.1% of the time, against 46.6% with two. 52% of Maokai boards get all three.
- No items
- 49.5%30% of boards
- 1 item
- 53.3%10% of boards
- 2 items
- 46.6%10% of boards
- 3 items
- 64.1%52% of boards
What to slam on Maokai
Maokai's best builds use Giant's Belt and Chain Vest the most — take those first from carousels and early drops, then use the planner to see what you can complete right now.
Component priority
Item slam planner
Tap the components you hold. Completed items are ranked by their top-4 rate on Maokai.
Add the components you hold to get a slam plan.
Maokai items at 2 and 3 stars
3-star Maokai boards build the same core items as 2-star boards — the upgrade, not the items, is what changes.
★★ 2-star
- Gargoyle Stoneplate54%80.4%
- Warmog's Armor44%81.7%
- Spirit Visage34%80.8%
- Dragon's Claw13%81.0%
- Bramble Vest13%81.9%
- Sunfire Cape12%81.8%
★★★ 3-star
- Gargoyle Stoneplate59%100.0%
- Warmog's Armor45%100.0%
- Spirit Visage37%100.0%
- Dragon's Claw17%100.0%
- Protector's Vow14%100.0%
- Sunfire Cape12%100.0%
Share of boards at that star level holding the item, and its top-4 rate. Maokai 3-star stats →
Maokai emblems, artifacts & radiants
Players have tried 20 different emblems, 27 artifacts and 23 radiant items on Maokai. The strongest so far is Rapidfire Emblem at 69.8% top 4.
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Maokai build FAQ – TFT Set 18
What are the best items for Maokai in TFT Set 18?
The best items for Maokai are Steadfast Heart (66.0%), Evenshroud (65.3%), and Crownguard (64.4%), ranked by top-4 rate when Maokai holds them. Maokai finishes top 4 57.1% of the time overall, based on 122,943 ranked games.
What is the best-in-slot build for Maokai?
The strongest full build on Maokai is Bramble Vest, Gargoyle Stoneplate, and Warmog's Armor: 66.3% top 4 and a 3.46 average placement over 1,800 games.
What should I slam first on Maokai?
Prioritise Giant's Belt and Chain Vest: Maokai's best builds use them the most. If you can complete only one item early, Steadfast Heart has the best top-4 rate on Maokai.
Is Thief's Gloves good on Maokai?
Yes. Maokai with Thief's Gloves finishes top 4 59.7% of the time against 57.1% on average, and players pick it in 3.4% of games.
Should Maokai be a carry or a tank?
100% of full Maokai builds are defensive items — players use Maokai as a frontline that soaks damage while the carry deals it. That matches Maokai's tank role in the game files.
Does Maokai need three items?
Yes — Maokai wants a full build: with three items it finishes top 4 64.1% of the time, against 46.6% with two. 52% of Maokai boards get all three.
What items does 3-star Maokai use?
3-star Maokai boards most often hold Gargoyle Stoneplate, Warmog's Armor, and Spirit Visage; the top one finishes top 4 100.0% of the time.
What is the best emblem or artifact for Maokai?
Rapidfire Emblem is the strongest special item tracked on Maokai: 69.8% top 4 over 47 games.