This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something we may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. (Learn more).
Credit: Riot Games
The beauty of skins in League is that they can take a very simple concept, like “tree dude children chucker”, and make them into something truly amazing.
I’m still waiting on Reversed Maokai, where you are a giant sapling and just toss little versions of Maokai into the enemy team.
But until then, let’s see what we’re working with for existing skins.
9. Victorious Maokai
Credit: Riot Games
Released: November 8th, 2016 Price: Ranked Reward
Victorious skins are always a nice badge of honor for you to wear, so people know you hit at least Gold last season.
But as stand-alone skins, they aren’t anything special.
Yes, it’s better than the base skin. And it does offer some nice new particles and a new recall animation. But it just feels like a fancier version of the base skin.
The character model here is very clean and nice, but since it doesn’t really have a specific theme, it just comes off as a bit bland.
That’s especially true in Maokai’s case, as all of his skins are super specific when it comes to the aesthetic.
So this skin is not worth selling your soul to the Ranked devil for.
8. Totemic Maokai
Credit: Riot Games
Released: February 16th, 2011 Price: 520 RP
Totemic Maokai just makes Maokai unsettling as hell.
He already looked like a grumpy tree guardian that will probably break your bones. But now he looks like he’s also going to eat your face afterwards.
The mask is the central selling point for this skin. And it’s rather terrifying, somewhat trippy, and very unique.
Plus, your main arm face looks more alive than usual – which adds to the Maokai vibe quite a bit.
And your saplings look like they’re going to take out the president at a ball.
It’s a very specific aesthetic that probably isn’t for everyone. But you definitely can’t say that Riot didn’t give it their all.
7. Festive Maokai
Credit: Riot Games
Released: December 14th, 2011 Price: 975 RP
Festive Maokai is definitely an S-tier choice come the winter season. But just feels a bit weak the rest of the year.
I mean, it is as Christmas-y as you can physically get.
That said, the character model is amazing, with Maokai rocking the Grinch smile. And even your arm face gets its own little Santa hat.
The saplings are terrifying little present demons here, and even your ult branches are sporting some festive decorations.
But again, since the skin relies so heavily on it being Christmas (and you probably loving Christmas), I can’t really put it all that high on the list.
6. Goalkeeper Maokai
Credit: Riot Games
Released: June 18th, 2014 Price: 750 RP
This is quite the polarizing skin. But I have to say it’s the best one to have come out of the whole soccer skin line.
First off, the goal on top of your head is just such a cool detail. It feels like you just happened to awaken underneath a soccer field and then decided to keep it as a hat.
Goalkeeper Maokai also gets the standard goalkeeper glove, and your little ball saplings are there to really round out the aesthetic.
The skin does have some issues, though. Like the fact that there’s no face on your arm, so your saplings just phase out of your hand randomly. And the character model is a bit on the smaller side.
But for such a low price, I think this deserves at least some attention for what it tried to do.
5. Charred Maokai
Credit: Riot Games
Released: February 16th, 2011 Price: 975 RP
Charred Maokai is basically just regular Maokai, but way more intimidating.
The character model outline is pretty much identical. And it’s only the textures that have changed, while your particles have just been recolored into an orange/red color.
And yet this skin does have a certain charm buried in there.
It doesn’t change Maokai beyond recognition like the rest of the catalogue. But it still does make him look a lot cooler.
Plus it has one of the best splash arts in the game.
I’m a bit salty that they didn’t use more fire particles, especially on his ult roots, but it’s still pretty decent either way.
4. Worldbreaker Maokai
Credit: Riot Games
Released: April 9th, 2020 Price: 1350 RP
Worldbreaker skins are a weird bunch.
On the one hand, they all look to similar to one another, which makes them kind of lame.
On the other hand, they do have some cool color palettes and design choices.
And just like the rest of them, Worldbreaker Maoki looks like an ancient being that was just woken up to achieve some higher cause.
His arm looks like a door to an ancient temple. And the red tree on his back gives him a rather exotic fantasy vibe.
The skin does also come with some rather cool features, like a new recall animation, and an ult animation that makes you feel like you’re being chased by the souls of the damned.
Overall, this skin does fit Maokai’s schtick pretty well.
But since it looks so similar to all the other Worldbreaker skins I just don’t like it as much as I could have.
3. Haunted Maokai
Credit: Riot Games
Released: October 26th, 2012 Price: 975 RP
I’m a sucker for a good old-fashioned spook fest.
And Haunted Maokai scratches that itch so well.
Just look at that character model! My dude is literally carrying corpses on his back while grinning like he’s about to burn your house down.
His arm looks like it’s about to eat my soul, and his saplings look like they haunt the dreams of my sleep paralysis demon.
I also have to point out his skeleton arm, because that is awesome.
This skin gets slept on a lot since it isn’t all that flashy, and it is rather old. But I can confidently say that it is top-tier material here – and it should be your number one choice if you don’t feel like going over 975 RP.
2. Astronaut Maokai
Credit: Riot Games
Released: July 1st, 2021 Price: 1350 RP
With this being so new, you already know that Astronaut Maokai has all the bells and whistles you’ve been starved for.
The character model alone is impressive, with branches breaking out of your suit, and your little alien bros just chilling in your hand.
Plus the animations are just as impressive. Namely, your W turns you into an alien for a split second, and your ult just launches tentacles at the enemy.
And we all know how the meme goes about tentacles.
This skin even gets you a really nice new backing animation, and some oddly calming sound effects on all of your abilities. It definitely leans towards the cuter side of things – but still keeps a certain dose of seriousness to it.
1. Meowkai
Credit: Riot Games
Released: March 31st, 2016 Price: 1350 RP
This skin is stupid, and I hate the fact that we all universally love it to death.
I think the name alone sold about 80% of the player-base and made them empty their wallets.
There’s just something so oddly hilarious and satisfying about throwing exploding cats at enemies, all while grinning as a pajamas-wearing tree dude.
Other Maokai skins don’t even come close.
Oh, and that ult is just perfect. Getting killed because Meowkai caught you with his meowing bundle of death is like pouring salt on the wound. And League players live off that misery.
Also, this skin is a true testament to the fact that Riot can make just about anyone or anything adorable. Because the backing animation here gets an “aww” out of me every time.
As long as it doesn’t start using the OwO language, Meowkai has to take the top of this ranking.
Note: this content was created under Riot Games’ “Legal Jibber Jabber” policy using assets owned by Riot Games. Riot Games does not endorse or sponsor this project.
