Caitlyn · ADC

Caitlyn Laning Guide

Laning phaseData-drivenMediumPatch 16.19.1

6.5KUpdated 23 hours ago

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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.

Overview

Bot is a two-on-two: your support decides a lot of the lane. Last hit, trade when your support engages and track the enemy jungler for dragon. Early, dragon is the objective of your lane: have your wave pushed when it spawns.

Strengths

Long attack range (650) for safe trades in lane.
High physical damage: Riot rates it 8/10 in attack.
Clear job in the team: farm safely, deal sustained damage and take down towers.

Weaknesses

Fragile: Riot rates it 2/10 in defense.
No dash or blink in the kit: vulnerable to ganks without vision.
Relies on the team's peel in fights.

Build cheat sheet

Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.

Lane buildBalancedRecommendedHow to open: starting items, then the components of Stormrazor on your first backs, and boots when the lane allows.
Standard buildBalancedAdvancedThe default path: Stormrazor, Yun Tal Wildarrows and Blade of The Ruined King give the attack damage, critical strike and attack speed this class relies on. Pick it when you have no reason to adapt. Built from Riot's item tags and the champion's class; Riot publishes no build statistics.

Builds

Lane build

BalancedRecommended

Open build

When to use it

How to open: starting items, then the components of Stormrazor on your first backs, and boots when the lane allows.

Where it's played

Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.

Summoner's RiftRed side · bottom leftBlue side · top right

Bottom (ADC)Main100% of matches

Starting items

Doran's BladeHealth, attack damage and life steal.Health PotionHealth regeneration.

Early game

B. F. SwordAttack damage.Cloak of AgilityCritical strike.Scout's SlingshotAttack speed.

Core items

1Stormrazor

Boots

Berserker's Greaves

Runes

Primary· Precision

Secondary· Inspiration

Shards

Summoner spells

Flash
Heal

Abilities

HeadshotPassiveEvery 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.
QPiltover Peacemaker10/9/8/7/6s55/60/65/70/75 mpCaitlyn revs up her rifle for 1 second to unleash a penetrating shot that deals physical damage (deals less damage to subsequent targets).
Cooldown
10·9·8·7·6
Cost
55·60·65·70·75
Range
1250
WYordle Snap Trap0.5s20 mpCaitlyn sets a trap that, when sprung, reveals and immobilizes the enemy champion for 1.5 seconds, granting Caitlyn an empowered Headshot.
Cooldown
0.5
Cost
20
Range
800
E90 Caliber Net16/14/12/10/8s75 mpCaitlyn fires a heavy net to slow her target. The recoil knocks Caitlyn back.
Cooldown
16·14·12·10·8
Cost
75
Range
750
RAce in the HoleUltimate90s100 mpCaitlyn takes time to line up the perfect shot, dealing massive damage to a single target at a huge range. Enemy champions can intercept the bullet for their ally.
Cooldown
90
Cost
100
Range
3500
Ultimate. Plan your fights around its cooldown.

Strategy

1Starting and early items

The first items decide how comfortable the lane is. The lane build below lists them with what each one gives you.

Key early items: B. F. Sword and Cloak of Agility.

2Trading

Auto-attack the enemy when they walk up to last hit, and step back behind your minions as soon as they answer.

3Wave management

Freeze the wave near your tower when you're weaker, slow push before a back and crash the wave when you want to roam or take a plate.

4Early objectives

Early, dragon is the objective of your lane: have your wave pushed when it spawns. Your spikes are level 6, when Ace in the Hole comes online, and each completed item: Stormrazor first, then Yun Tal Wildarrows.

Tips

Auto-attack the enemy when they walk up to last hit, and step back behind your minions as soon as they answer.
B. F. Sword is your first purchase that changes the lane: get it early.
Make use of her Yordle Snap Traps by placing them pre-emptively to ensure that you'll have one off of cooldown during combat.
Early, dragon is the objective of your lane: have your wave pushed when it spawns.

Matchups

Strong against

Nilah
Caitlyn attacks from 650 units and Nilah from 225: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Trundle
Caitlyn attacks from 650 units and Trundle from 175, with no dash in the kit to close the gap.
Zac
Caitlyn attacks from 650 units and Zac from 175, with no dash in the kit to close the gap.