Cho'Gath vs Maokai — Top Lane Matchup Guide

Cho'Gath splash art
Maokai splash art

You

Cho'Gath

VS

Opponent

Maokai

Top
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Your ranked stats

50.0%

Win rate

4.0%

Pick rate

1.0%

Ban rate

2.07

KDA

C

Tier

#110

Rank

Opponent stats

50.0%

Win rate

3.0%

Pick rate

0.0%

Ban rate

2.43

KDA

C

Tier

#145

Rank

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A level-by-level game plan for Cho'Gath vs Maokai.

Levels 1-2

Lane priority is decided by who wins the level 1-2 skirmish or poke exchange.

  • Cho'Gath should soak poke and hold lane priority through durability, not even trades.
  • Maokai can soak your poke easily — don't waste resources trying to out-trade durability.
  • OP.GG data flags Maokai as a strong counter to Cho'Gath in this role — expect them to look for early trades, so play a touch safer than usual.

Levels 3-5

Trading windows open as skills come online — track cooldowns before you commit.

  • Look for CC chains that let your jungler or teammates punish overextensions.
  • Watch for CC chains that set up their jungler or teammates — respect their engage range.

Level 6

Ultimates come online. This is usually the first real all-in window of the lane.

  • Your ultimate usually turns you into a real engage or peel threat — use it on your terms.
  • Their ultimate usually enables a hard engage — keep an escape option up once it's available.

Levels 7-11

Priority shifts toward objectives — use a lane lead to pressure river, dragon, or Herald.

  • Front line for your team around objectives so your carries can output freely.
  • They'll front line for their team — focus their carries instead of the tank.

Levels 12-15

Item spikes start deciding fights more than levels do.

  • Tank items complete — you should be nearly unkillable while still landing your CC.
  • They become very hard to kill directly — punish their team instead of all-inning them.

Level 16+

Both ultimates are maxed — play for your team's win condition, not just the lane.

  • You start most teamfights and decide their shape — landing your engage matters most.
  • Their engage decides the fight — respect flanks and don't clump up for an easy multi-CC.
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OP.GG data as of Jul 13, 2026 · patch 16.13.1

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