Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHeavy poke

You are stronger early — look to snowball before your opponent scales.

Build vs Caitlyn

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Tear of the Goddess
1
Malignance
2Mage
Seraph's Embrace
3Mage

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Zhonya's Hourglass
5vs AD

Summoner spells

41271%
41429%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Zhonya's Hourglass
5vs AD

Anti Heal

Morellonomicon
6vs Heal

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Void Staff
5vs Tank

DPS

Liandry's Torment
Mage tank
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Cosmic Drive
Mage tank

Other options

Rod of Ages
HP
100.0% WR1 games
DominationDomination
ElectrocuteElectrocute
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Relentless HunterRelentless Hunter
SorcerySorcery
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
ScorchScorch
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
AniviaAnivia
CaitlynCaitlyn
Passive
Favorable
Favorable

Caitlyn's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Headshot (P)

Every few basic attacks, or against a target she has trapped or netted, Caitlyn will fire a headshot dealing bonus damage that scales with her critical strike chance. On trapped or netted targets, Caitlyn's Headshot attack range is doubled.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s0.5s16s
68s0.5s16s1m30
96s0.5s16s1m30
116s0.5s16s1m30
166s0.5s12s1m30
186s0.5s8s1m30

Playing against Caitlyn

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Caitlyn is the queen of early game thanks to her range (650) — she's weaker in mid game before her 3rd item.

2

Traps (W) are visible: don't walk over them, go around. They're often placed under turrets.

3

An ally can block her R (Ace in the Hole) by stepping in front — protect your wounded carry.

4

Engage in melee: Caitlyn is weak up close and her E has a long cooldown.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026