Maokai - League of Legends Champion
Win Rate
52.0%
Pick Rate
1.6%

Maokaivs Zilean

STankSupport
Patch26.11
Matches776,441
LaneAll Lanes
TierAll Tiers
Last UpdatedJun 6, 2026
MethodologyData Methodology

Maokai vs Zilean is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.11. Maokai wins with a 57.9% win rate (+15.8%) over Zilean based on 19 games. Maokai wins the early laning phase while Zilean scales better into the late game. Below you'll find the best Maokai build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Maokai vs Zilean matchup.

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Maokai Matchup Breakdown

Use the dropdown to select an opponent and see a detailed breakdown of how Maokai performs against them. You'll get head-to-head win rates, laning stats, the best build and runes for the matchup, and early vs late game analysis — all based on real ranked data.

Compare against an opponent
Maokai - 57.9% win rate in this matchup
Maokai
57.9% WR
VS
Zilean vs Maokai matchup - 42.1% win rate
Zilean
42.1% WR

Who Wins the Maokai vs Zilean Matchup?

Maokai wins the Maokai vs Zilean matchup
Winner
Maokai
Matches: 19
57.9%
Win Rate
42.1%
1.3
CS / min
1.4
471
DMG / min
395
9,834
Gold / game
9,970
301
Heal / min
284
1,184
DMG Mitigated / min
363
2.4
CC / min
0.9
100.0%
Early Game WR
0.0%
46.7%
Late Game WR
53.3%

Maokai vs Zilean Matchup Summary

The Maokai vs Zilean matchup is a decisive matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 19 recent matches analyzed, Maokai wins with a 57.9% win rate compared to Zilean's 42.1%, giving Maokai a 15.8 percentage point advantage. Game phase dynamics play a critical role here: Maokai controls the early laning stage, but Zilean outscales as the game goes longer. The matchup shifts dramatically depending on game length — Maokai needs to press advantages before Zilean reaches their power spikes, while Zilean should focus on safe farming and hitting key item breakpoints. The most significant statistical gap is in crowd control, where Maokai leads by 1.6s CC/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Maokai players can confidently pick into Zilean and play aggressively from level 1. Look to establish lane dominance early through favorable trades and zone Zilean away from CS whenever possible. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.

Maokai vs Zilean Laning Phase Breakdown

Maokai wins the laning phase against Zilean in League of Legends

Maokai is favored during the laning phase against Zilean, winning 3 out of 5 key stat categories. Maokai holds advantages in damage, crowd control and sustain, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.

Farming
1.3Maokai
1.4Zilean
Maokai and Zilean farm at nearly identical rates in this matchup, with only a 0.1 CS/min difference. Neither champion holds a meaningful farming advantage, so lane dominance will come from trading and jungle interaction rather than CS leads.
Damage
471Maokai
395Zilean
Maokai deals 77 more champion damage per minute than Zilean. While noticeable in extended trades, this gap can be offset by Zilean choosing favorable fight windows, such as engaging when Maokai's key abilities are on cooldown or trading immediately after dodging a skillshot.
Economy
9,834Maokai
9,970Zilean
Maokai and Zilean generate nearly equal gold per game, with just a 136 gold difference. Neither champion has a clear economic advantage, so gold leads will depend on individual play quality, kill participation, and objective contributions.
Utility
2.4Maokai
0.9Zilean
Maokai brings significantly more crowd control than Zilean, with 1.6 more seconds of CC per minute. This large utility gap makes Maokai far more valuable in setting up jungle ganks, controlling objectives, and locking down targets in team fights. Zilean should invest in tenacity and position carefully to avoid being chain-CC'd.
Sustain
1,484Maokai
648Zilean
Maokai vastly out-sustains Zilean, healing and mitigating 836 more damage per minute. This massive durability gap means Maokai can absorb significant punishment and remain in lane while Zilean is forced to recall. Building grievous wounds early is essential for Zilean, and focusing on burst trade patterns rather than sustained fights is critical.

Best Maokai Build Against Zilean

Boots of Swiftness is the optimal boots choice against Zilean, providing the mobility and stats Maokai needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Maokai against Zilean are Locket of the Iron Solari, Thornmail and Spirit Visage. This combination gives Maokai an effective balance of damage, survivability, and utility for the matchup. This build achieves a solid 50.0% win rate across 2 games, proving it to be a reliable item path when facing Zilean. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Maokai vs Zilean matchup.

Early Game vs Late Game

Early Game
Maokai
100.0%
+100.0% advantage
Maokai early game win rateMaokai100.0%
Zilean early game win rateZilean0.0%
Late Game
Zilean
53.3%
+6.7% advantage
Maokai late game win rateMaokai46.7%
Zilean late game win rateZilean53.3%

Maokai dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 100.0% win rate — a 100.0 percentage point lead over Zilean. This lopsided early game means Maokai can dictate the pace of the lane from level 1, controlling trades, wave state, and river priority.

Zilean is far superior in the late game (25+ minutes), boasting a 53.3% win rate — 6.7 points above Maokai. Extended games heavily favor Zilean, whose kit and scaling make them a dominant force in team fights and objective control.

This matchup features a dramatic power shift: Maokai must aggressively press their early advantage and close out the game before Zilean reaches their scaling breakpoints. If Zilean survives the laning phase without falling too far behind, the matchup flips in their favor. Dragon and Rift Herald control are pivotal — the team that secures early objectives can snowball or buy time to scale.

Best Maokai Runes Against Zilean

Resolve rune tree - Maokai primary runes vs ZileanResolve
Aftershock - best Maokai rune vs ZileanFont of Life - best Maokai rune vs ZileanBone Plating - best Maokai rune vs ZileanUnflinching - best Maokai rune vs Zilean
Inspiration rune tree - Maokai secondary runes vs ZileanInspiration
Biscuit Delivery - best Maokai rune vs ZileanCosmic Insight - best Maokai rune vs Zilean
80.0% WR

Running Resolve primary with Inspiration secondary allows Maokai to press their advantage against Zilean, amplifying the strengths that make this a favorable matchup.


Maokai matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.11. The table below shows Maokai's win rate, gold difference, and performance stats against every champion in the current meta. Click any champion name to see a detailed head-to-head breakdown including the best Maokai build, runes, laning stats, and early vs late game analysis for that specific matchup.

Maokai matchup win rates and stats in League of Legends patch 26.11
Opponent
Win Rate
Matches
CS/min
DMG/min
Gold/game
Early WR
Late WR
50.00%1201.44639,16347.2%52.2%
51.79%1121.34559,21947.9%54.7%
53.21%1091.34718,61744.4%61.8%
39.42%1041.35078,86141.2%37.7%
50.00%781.34719,13444.4%54.8%
44.87%781.34968,93248.5%42.2%
44.78%671.45289,10543.8%45.7%
56.92%651.35589,18451.4%63.3%
44.44%631.44829,14440.9%46.3%
46.43%561.34188,92744.0%48.4%
63.27%491.44948,66267.9%57.1%
54.17%481.45749,03245.5%61.5%
44.68%471.85928,87028.0%63.6%
48.89%451.44878,80742.1%53.9%
57.78%451.14649,32555.0%60.0%
52.27%442.06269,97840.0%58.6%
51.16%431.24638,54652.0%50.0%
39.02%411.44669,33058.8%25.0%
56.41%391.45399,58073.3%45.8%
73.68%381.44619,20079.0%68.4%
47.37%381.34559,13846.7%47.8%
48.65%371.24118,23057.1%37.5%
61.76%341.34958,93266.7%56.3%
51.61%311.45099,57146.7%56.3%
37.04%271.45669,26250.0%31.6%
62.96%271.24519,11254.5%68.8%
57.69%261.44248,03576.9%38.5%
57.69%264.069310,14360.0%56.3%
56.00%253.563311,87683.3%47.4%
40.00%251.24539,02960.0%26.7%
37.50%246.47258,32030.8%45.5%
47.83%231.455110,56362.5%40.0%
60.87%231.450910,06360.0%61.5%
68.42%192.05949,66263.6%75.0%
57.89%191.34719,834100.0%46.7%
44.44%181.34468,39541.7%50.0%
58.82%171.554110,55950.0%63.6%
43.75%160.765911,19650.0%33.3%
53.33%154.081710,19133.3%66.7%
35.71%142.159310,01340.0%33.3%
50.00%144.59349,7490.0%87.5%
69.23%131.16008,40487.5%40.0%
38.46%130.95959,65114.3%66.7%
7.69%134.87378,6560.0%16.7%
53.85%131.762012,14950.0%55.6%
46.15%132.763210,78250.0%44.4%
41.67%122.060212,17866.7%33.3%
41.67%120.961911,29420.0%57.1%
66.67%124.86279,70785.7%40.0%
58.33%121.244710,01433.3%66.7%
58.33%121.965811,11580.0%42.9%
54.55%110.969010,76375.0%42.9%
45.45%111.062911,70133.3%50.0%
63.64%111.059311,54775.0%57.1%
60.00%102.974112,05875.0%50.0%
70.00%103.068011,1870.0%100.0%
40.00%104.466111,59766.7%28.6%
60.00%104.367110,94175.0%50.0%
20.00%100.95429,41625.0%0.0%
10.00%105.01,03710,68333.3%0.0%
70.00%101.557910,57766.7%75.0%
44.44%92.467611,1410.0%50.0%
55.56%95.86399,48860.0%50.0%
77.78%91.444110,94150.0%85.7%
55.56%91.55789,56850.0%66.7%
44.44%95.37488,79425.0%60.0%
50.00%80.863911,35625.0%75.0%
62.50%81.455710,10050.0%75.0%
12.50%85.278311,3720.0%20.0%
75.00%81.13738,16085.7%0.0%
62.50%86.181310,18260.0%66.7%
50.00%85.993911,55966.7%40.0%
57.14%72.656310,68350.0%60.0%
42.86%72.377412,5640.0%60.0%
42.86%71.64869,62842.9%0.0%
14.29%71.062611,5780.0%20.0%
42.86%71.562012,9750.0%42.9%
28.57%73.362410,6310.0%66.7%
42.86%71.35249,55450.0%33.3%
42.86%73.26749,98533.3%50.0%
42.86%71.55899,80750.0%40.0%
42.86%76.673210,32175.0%0.0%
85.71%71.54408,942100.0%0.0%
85.71%71.24328,58980.0%100.0%
42.86%76.28449,18825.0%66.7%
57.14%72.54629,73350.0%66.7%
42.86%74.361510,5730.0%50.0%
28.57%75.24625,70940.0%0.0%
57.14%73.14749,25550.0%60.0%
50.00%65.36427,94033.3%66.7%
66.67%60.962211,69375.0%50.0%
66.67%62.062411,833100.0%60.0%
80.00%52.046810,317100.0%75.0%
40.00%55.06718,00650.0%0.0%
20.00%53.25949,9550.0%33.3%
60.00%53.954811,088100.0%50.0%
20.00%51.971811,8130.0%20.0%
60.00%52.259210,15266.7%50.0%
60.00%56.36669,08275.0%0.0%
40.00%55.14658,12166.7%0.0%
40.00%52.860411,820100.0%25.0%
40.00%50.748811,6270.0%50.0%
60.00%51.858910,91050.0%66.7%
40.00%52.570113,6570.0%50.0%
60.00%50.766511,34466.7%50.0%

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Maokai vs Zilean - Frequently Asked Questions

How does Maokai do against Zilean in League of Legends?

Maokai wins the Maokai vs Zilean matchup with a 57.9% win rate compared to Zilean's 42.1%, a 15.8 percentage point difference. This data is based on 19 recent ranked games in patch 26.11.

How does Maokai do against Zilean in the early game?

In the early game, Maokai has the advantage against Zilean with a 100.0% win rate versus 0.0%. Maokai players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.

How does Maokai do against Zilean in the late game?

In the late game, Zilean takes over the Maokai vs Zilean matchup with a 53.3% win rate compared to 46.7%. Zilean scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.

Who wins the Maokai vs Zilean matchup?

Maokai wins the matchup against Zilean with a 57.9% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.11. The 15.8 percentage point advantage means Maokai is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 19 games analyzed.

What is the best Maokai build against Zilean?

The best Maokai build against Zilean includes Locket of the Iron Solari, Thornmail, Spirit Visage with Boots of Swiftness. This build achieves a 50.0% win rate in the matchup. Check the matchup breakdown above for the full item path and build order.

What are the best Maokai runes against Zilean?

The best Maokai runes against Zilean use the Resolve primary tree with Inspiration secondary. This rune setup achieves a 80.0% win rate in the Maokai vs Zilean matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.

Does Maokai counter Zilean?

Yes, Maokai has a favorable matchup against Zilean with a 57.9% win rate. Maokai strongly counters Zilean in lane based on current patch 26.11 data.

How do I play Maokai against Zilean?

When playing Maokai against Zilean, leverage your statistical advantages by trading aggressively during favorable windows. You have early game priority — look for kills and zone control before first recall. Build the recommended items and runes for this specific matchup for the best results.