MaokaiTFT Build
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3 CostBest Maokai build for TFT Set 17 with 66.2% top 4 rate. Top items: Steadfast Heart, Dragon's Claw, and Bramble Vest. Learn optimal components & itemization strategy.
Set 17 Maokai builds: Gargoyle Stoneplate, Sunfire Cape, Warmog's Armor (66.19% top four rate, +13.66% difference); Gargoyle Stoneplate, Sunfire Cape, Spirit Visage (64.45% top four rate, +11.92% difference); Sunfire Cape, Spirit Visage, Warmog's Armor (63.91% top four rate, +11.38% difference)
Maokai Component Priority Order in Set 17
When playing Maokai in TFT Set 17, prioritize collecting Chain Vest, Negatron Cloak, Giant's Belt from the carousel and item drops. Tear of the Goddess and Sparring Gloves are also valuable secondary components. These components build into Maokai's highest win rate items and will help you secure consistent top four placements. Focus on slamming items early using these components rather than holding for perfect items, as tempo is crucial for maintaining a healthy economy.
Why These Components for Maokai?
Chain Vest is the 1st priority component for Maokai, appearing in 7 of the top item builds. This component builds into Steadfast Heart, Protector's Vow, Bramble Vest, which are core items for maximizing Maokai's effectiveness.
Negatron Cloak is the 2nd priority component for Maokai, appearing in 6 of the top item builds. This component builds into Dragon's Claw, Adaptive Helm, Gargoyle Stoneplate, which are core items for maximizing Maokai's effectiveness.
Giant's Belt is the 3rd priority component for Maokai, appearing in 5 of the top item builds. This component builds into Spirit Visage, Warmog's Armor, Sunfire Cape, which are core items for maximizing Maokai's effectiveness.
Maokai Carousel & Item Drop Tips
- Early Game (Stage 1-2): Prioritize Chain Vest on the first carousel if available, as it builds into Maokai's best-in-slot items.
- Mid Game (Stage 3-4): Look for Chain Vest or Negatron Cloak to complete your core items. Don't greed for perfect components—slam items to preserve HP.
- Late Game (Stage 5+): Use any remaining components to build utility items or complete Maokai's secondary items for maximum power.
Should You Itemize Maokai in Set 17
When Itemized (Avg)
Base Champion Stats
Key Factors for Maokai Itemization in Set 17
Maokai's best item build provides +13.7% top four rate improvement. 4 builds achieve 10%+ improvement.
4 different item builds achieve 10%+ improvement, giving flexibility in itemization.
Itemized Maokai achieves 19.1% first place rate, making it excellent for winning lobbies.
Maokai is a 3-cost unit that can serve as either a primary carry or support depending on your composition.
Maokai Itemization Data Analysis
Our analysis of Maokai itemization in TFT Set 17 examines 5 item builds to determine how effectively this champion scales with items. Maokai has a base top four rate of 52.5%, and we compare each item build's performance against this baseline to measure itemization value.
The best Maokai item build achieves a 66.2% top four rate, representing a +13.7% difference from the base rate. 4 out of 5 builds show 10%+ improvement over baseline, 1 builds show 5-10% improvement, On average across all analyzed builds, itemized Maokai achieves 64.1% top four rate (+11.6% vs base) with 3.75 average placement.
For players aiming to win lobbies, itemized Maokai achieves a 19.1% first place rate. This is excellent first place potential, making Maokai a strong choice when you need to win rather than just top four.
✓When to Itemize Maokai
- When you find Maokai early and can build around it as your primary carry
- When you have the optimal item components (check the Component Priority section above)
- When the lobby isn't heavily contesting Maokai's key items
✗When NOT to Itemize Maokai
- When another carry in your comp scales better with the same items
- When you're pivoting to a different composition mid-game
Build the best items for Maokai
Tell Item Optimizer which components you're holding and it ranks every item you can build by average placement and top-4 rate, for any unit or your whole board.
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- Ranked by top-4 rate
- Best item for any unit
Best Maokai Items in TFT Set 17
The best Maokai item is Steadfast Heart with a 71.20% win rate (+18.67% vs base), 0.00% first place rate, and 4.79% pick rate. The most popular is Warmog's Armor with a 21.03% pick rate and 63.90% win rate. The top three Maokai items are Steadfast Heart, Dragon's Claw, and Bramble Vest.
Rank | Item | Components | Rating | Top 4 Rate | Top 4 Diff | 1st Place Rate | Pick Rate | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | - | 71.20% | +18.67% | 0.00% | 4.79% | 1,024 | ||
 | - | 66.55% | +14.02% | 0.00% | 8.51% | 1,820 | ||
 | - | 66.33% | +13.80% | 0.00% | 7.08% | 1,514 | ||
| 4 | | - | 66.55% | +14.02% | 0.00% | 5.76% | 1,231 | |
| 5 |  | - | 64.89% | +12.36% | 0.00% | 18.05% | 3,860 | |
| 6 | | - | 63.90% | +11.37% | 0.00% | 21.03% | 4,496 | |
| 7 | | - | 65.61% | +13.08% | 0.00% | 2.74% | 586 | |
| 8 |  | - | 64.87% | +12.34% | 0.00% | 2.79% | 596 | |
| 9 | | - | 63.31% | +10.78% | 0.00% | 5.29% | 1,131 | |
| 10 | | - | 60.27% | +7.74% | 0.00% | 17.26% | 3,690 | |
| 11 | | - | 59.40% | +6.87% | 0.00% | 10.45% | 2,234 | |
| 12 | | - | 60.12% | +7.59% | 0.00% | 2.42% | 517 | |
| 13 | | - | 59.44% | +6.91% | 0.00% | 3.00% | 641 |
Best Maokai Artifact Items in TFT Set 17
The best Maokai artifact item is Lightshield Crest with a 66.93% win rate (+14.40% vs base), 0.00% first place rate, and 0.24% pick rate. The most popular is Soraka's Miracle with a 0.68% pick rate and 56.06% win rate. The top three Maokai artifact items are Lightshield Crest, The Indomitable, and Silvermere Dawn.
Rank | Item | Rating | Top 4 Rate | Top 4 Diff | 1st Place Rate | Pick Rate | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 66.93% | +14.40% | 0.00% | 0.24% | 51 | ||
| - | 62.66% | +10.13% | 0.00% | 0.60% | 128 | ||
| - | 63.59% | +11.06% | 0.00% | 0.36% | 77 | ||
| 4 | - | 61.32% | +8.79% | 0.00% | 0.33% | 71 | |
| 5 | - | 63.08% | +10.55% | 0.00% | 0.07% | 16 | |
| 6 | - | 62.47% | +9.94% | 0.00% | 0.05% | 10 | |
| 7 | - | 61.73% | +9.20% | 0.00% | 0.12% | 25 | |
| 8 | - | 56.06% | +3.53% | 0.00% | 0.68% | 146 | |
| 9 | - | 58.58% | +6.05% | 0.00% | 0.26% | 55 | |
| 10 | - | 56.04% | +3.51% | 0.00% | 0.18% | 39 | |
| 11 | - | 54.62% | +2.09% | 0.00% | 0.17% | 37 | |
| 12 | - | 50.98% | -1.55% | 0.00% | 0.29% | 63 | |
| 13 | - | 57.96% | +5.43% | 0.00% | 0.05% | 11 | |
| 14 | - | 56.39% | +3.86% | 0.00% | 0.06% | 12 | |
| 15 | - | 53.90% | +1.37% | 0.00% | 0.05% | 10 | |
| 16 | - | 48.28% | -4.25% | 0.00% | 0.06% | 12 |
Best Maokai Radiant Items in TFT Set 17
The best Maokai radiant item is Radiant Warmog's Armor with a 65.03% win rate (+12.50% vs base), 0.00% first place rate, and 0.11% pick rate. The most popular is Radiant Thief's Gloves with a 0.27% pick rate and 55.26% win rate. The top three Maokai radiant items are Radiant Warmog's Armor, Radiant Gargoyle Stoneplate, and Radiant Thief's Gloves.
Rank | Item | Rating | Top 4 Rate | Top 4 Diff | 1st Place Rate | Pick Rate | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 65.03% | +12.50% | 0.00% | 0.11% | 24 | ||
| - | 55.26% | +2.73% | 0.00% | 0.27% | 58 | ||
| - | 59.66% | +7.13% | 0.00% | 0.07% | 15 | ||
| 4 | - | 47.30% | -5.23% | 0.00% | 0.08% | 17 |
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Maokai Set 17 Build - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Maokai's best build in Set 17?
The best Maokai build in TFT Set 17 features Gargoyle Stoneplate, Sunfire Cape, and Warmog's Armor as core items. This build has a 66.19% win rate and is picked 0.60% of the time. First place rate: 21.03%, avg placement: 3.66.
What is the best item for Maokai?
Steadfast Heart is the best item for Maokai with a 71.20% win rate and 4.79% pick rate across 1,024 matches.
Which item is most popular on Maokai?
Warmog's Armor is the most popular item on Maokai with a 21.03% pick rate. It has a 63.90% win rate across 4,496 matches.
What are the top 3 items for Maokai?
The top 3 items for Maokai are Steadfast Heart, Dragon's Claw, and Bramble Vest. These items provide the best stats and synergies for Maokai's kit.
How many matches do the Maokai item builds have?
The Maokai item build data is based on 25,106 matches analyzed in TFT Set 17. This sample size provides statistically significant results for item recommendations.
Should I always build Steadfast Heart on Maokai?
Steadfast Heart is a great choice but not always mandatory. Consider your lobby and available components. It has a 71.20% win rate on Maokai.
What components should I prioritize for Maokai in TFT Set 17?
Priority components for Maokai are Chain Vest, Negatron Cloak, and Giant's Belt. These components build into Maokai's best items and should be picked early on carousel and from PvE rounds.
What should I pick on carousel for Maokai in TFT?
On carousel for Maokai TFT builds, prioritize Chain Vest. These components are essential for Maokai's optimal items and may be contested so have backup plans.
Should I itemize Maokai in TFT Set 17?
Yes, Maokai is a strong item holder with a 66.2% win rate when properly itemized. Maokai should be a priority for your items in Maokai comps.
Is Maokai a good item holder in TFT Set 17?
Yes, Maokai is a great item holder because items significantly increase their win rate from 52.5% to 66.2%. Maokai scales well with items.
What is Maokai's top 4 rate with items in TFT Set 17?
Maokai's top 4 rate when itemized is 64.1%. With proper items, Maokai significantly exceeds the average champion top 4 rate of 50%.
What is the best Maokai emblem?
The best emblem for Maokai is Stargazer Emblem with a 72.37% win rate. This emblem activates the Stargazer trait on Maokai, providing additional bonuses.
What is the top Maokai radiant item?
The top radiant item for Maokai is Radiant Warmog's Armor with a 65.03% win rate. Radiant items are stronger versions of base items and should be prioritized when available.
What is the best Maokai artifact?
The best artifact for Maokai is Lightshield Crest with a 66.93% win rate. Artifacts provide unique effects that synergize with Maokai's kit.