Tristana vs Caitlyn
Skill matchup
Build vs Caitlyn
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Tristana: Yun Tal Wildarrows, Infinity Edge, Navori Flickerblade, Berserker's Greaves, Lord Dominik's Regards, The Collector, B. F. Sword, Bloodthirster.
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 Tristana
Tips to maximize your impact
- Bomb, then Rapid Fire
Plant Explosive Charge (E), then activate Rapid Fire (Q): the attack speed helps you land the 4 hits that make it explode right away, at full power.
- Keep them at a distance
Hit from range and back off as soon as they come close: Draw a Bead (passive) increases your attack range with each level.
- Chain your jumps
Chain your jumps in teamfights: Rocket Jump (W) resets right away on a champion takedown, or when Explosive Charge (E) explodes at max stacks on a champion.
- Knock back the assassin with your ult
Save Buster Shot (R) for the assassin who jumps on you: the cannonball knocks back your target and nearby enemies, and stuns them.
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 Tristana matchups
Patch 16.21.1