Jinx vs Caitlyn
Skill matchup
Build vs Caitlyn
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Jinx: Hexoptics C44, Runaan's Hurricane, Infinity Edge, Berserker's Greaves, Lord Dominik's Regards, B. F. Sword, Yun Tal Wildarrows, Kraken Slayer.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Caitlyn's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 0.5s | 16s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 0.5s | 16s | 1m30 |
| 9 | 6s | 0.5s | 16s | 1m30 |
| 11 | 6s | 0.5s | 16s | 1m30 |
| 16 | 6s | 0.5s | 12s | 1m30 |
| 18 | 6s | 0.5s | 8s | 1m30 |
Playing as Jinx
Tips to maximize your impact
- Poke with rockets, trade with minigun
Poke with Fishbones, the rocket launcher of Switcheroo! (Q), for its range and splash damage, then swap back to the minigun for long trades.
- Kite whoever charges you
Fire Zap! (W) to kite the bruiser running at you or catch an enemy who's fleeing: it slows and reveals the first enemy hit.
- Put your traps in their path
Throw Flame Chompers! (E) in the path of their engage or their escape: they root the champion who steps on them and last 5 seconds.
- Focus the lowest-health target
In teamfights, focus the lowest-health target first: each takedown triggers Get Excited! (passive), a big boost to attack speed and move speed.
- Save your rocket to finish
Fire Super Mega Death Rocket! (R) to finish a fleeing enemy rather than to start a fight: its damage grows with their missing health and over its first second of flight.
Playing against Caitlyn
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Don't stay in her range
Don't stay in her range for no reason: her autos reach 650, and every few autos, Headshot (passive) hits harder.
- Walk around her traps
Walk around her traps: stepping on a Yordle Snap Trap (W) roots you, reveals you for 3 seconds and gives her a double-range Headshot (passive).
- Engage after her net
If you can engage, wait for her 90 Caliber Net (E): it's her only way to hop backward, on a 16 to 8 second cooldown.
- Cover your wounded ally
If a wounded ally is targeted by Ace in the Hole (R), step into the line of fire: any champion on your team can intercept the bullet.
Other Jinx matchups
Patch 16.21.1