Nautilus vs Maokai SUPPORT Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Nautilus

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Support

Maokai

Nautilus vs Maokai

Confidence mediumUpdated Jun 8, 2026

Overview

Control brush to threaten (Q) hook angles and deny Maokai's sapling vision control.
Use engage windows with your ADC follow-up to punish Maokai's limited poke and root reach.
Prioritize river vision to prevent (R) engage through narrow corridors and enable safer objective setups.

Trading pattern

Threaten (Q) from brush while holding (R) to lock down dodging targets for ADC follow-up.
Avoid engaging without ADC range or when wave blocks hook angle to prevent large punish windows.
Hold peel cooldowns to protect ADC from (W) root and counter-engage attempts.

Danger windows

Respect (W) root follow-up when your ADC steps near sapling brush.
Avoid clustering in river corridors vulnerable to (R) ultimate engage.
Punish missed (Q) hooks immediately to prevent losing ADC access and brush control.

Early game

Win the level 2 race to layer (Q) hook plus passive root for strong all-in threat.
Thin the wave early to create favorable hook angles and limit Maokai's sapling brush control.
Coordinate with ADC to crash wave before roaming, ensuring ADC safety and vision control.

Power spikes

Level 2 unlocks (Q) hook plus passive root, enabling strong engage with ADC follow-up.
Level 3 grants (W) shield and (E) slow, enhancing trades and peel around brush control.
Level 6 (R) secures reliable lockdown, turning fights and river skirmishes in your favor.

Win conditions

Convert brush control and hook pressure into denied enemy ADC positioning and safer ADC access.
Use (R) to initiate fights with guaranteed ADC follow-up for objective control like dragon.
Ward river and track Maokai's roam timer to enable safe ADC roams and mid pressure setups.