Smolder vs Caitlyn

Smolder
vs
Not enough games
Caitlyn
Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHeavy pokeHigh burst

You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Caitlyn

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Smolder: Essence Reaver, Black Cleaver, Spear of Shojin, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Rapid Firecannon, Infinity Edge, Lord Dominik's Regards, Guardian Angel.

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Essence Reaver
1
Black Cleaver
2
Spear of Shojin
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Rapid Firecannon
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport50%
FlashBarrier50%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Rapid Firecannon
Infinity Edge
Lord Dominik's Regards
Guardian Angel
Endless Hunger
SorcerySorcery
Deathfire TouchDeathfire Touch
Axiom ArcanistAxiom Arcanist
Absolute FocusAbsolute Focus
Gathering StormGathering Storm
InspirationInspiration
Jack Of All TradesJack Of All Trades
Cash BackCash Back
Adaptive ForceMove SpeedHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

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 as Smolder

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Last-hit minions with your fireball

    Last-hit minions with Super Scorcher Breath (Q): each kill with the spell gives you a Dragon Practice (passive) stack, which empowers your basic spells.

  2. Poke with your sneeze

    Poke with Achooo! (W): the sneeze slows, explodes on champions hit, and each champion hit gives you a Dragon Practice stack.

  3. Aim for the final tier

    Build enough stacks for the final tier of Super Scorcher Breath (Q): it burns its target, and kills a champion who drops below a health threshold.

  4. Take flight to escape

    Escape or reposition with Flap, Flap, Flap (E): you fly over obstacles, bombarding the enemy with the lowest health.

  5. Call your mom from far away

    Cast MMOOOMMMM! (R) to finish or slow from far away: the center of the breath hits harder and slows, and if it hits you, your mom heals you.

Playing against Caitlyn

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. 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.

  2. 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).

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Patch 16.21.1