Counters for Caitlyn
Champion guide
Patch 7.3a
Champions against Caitlyn
Favorable matchup
Sivir vs Caitlyn
Sivir answers Caitlyn's plan with wave clear and a Spell Shield that stops one important ability. She doesn't outrange Caitlyn's basic attacks: she gains value by preventing the siege and saving resources for a prepared trade.
Why Sivir works against Caitlyn
01
Wave clear keeps you from living under siege
Your first ability and the ricochets help you handle minions without stepping up for every basic attack. If you match the push, Caitlyn has less time to set traps under your tower. You need mana: spending your whole pool on poke leaves you with no answer to the next wave.
02
One shield for one threat, not the whole combo
Spell Shield can answer an ability such as Caitlyn's first or a trap with the right timing. It doesn't block her basic attacks or automatically remove Headshot. The enemy support can also pop it before the main threat arrives.
When to attack
Look for the trade when the wave is under control and Caitlyn has used her net, with your shield still available. If the enemy support still has their crowd control, don't walk up just to contest basic attacks.
How to play Sivir
- 1Use abilities to keep the wave out of your tower and save enough mana for the next minion wave.
- 2Throw your boomerang when you can land it without walking into Caitlyn's comfortable range.
- 3Save your shield for the ability that actually catches you or forces you to lose health; don't activate it preemptively throughout a whole chase.
- 4With your ultimate and allied crowd control, you can close the gap once the net is down. If there's no safe engage, preserve your ability to clear and rotate.
Mistakes to avoid
- Taking repeated basic attacks because your shield is active: it isn't a defense against attacks.
- Spending mana on poke, losing the push and getting boxed in between your tower and the traps.
Playing Caitlyn against Sivir
As Caitlyn, pressure Sivir with basic attacks when she uses abilities on the wave, and don't give her a shield on an isolated ability. Coordinate crowd control with your support to pop her defense before the important threat. Keep your net if Sivir and her team can speed up and close the gap.
Execution matters
Ezreal vs Caitlyn
Ezreal can ease Caitlyn's pressure by farming from range and holding a defensive dash. It's an answer for surviving and contesting windows, not a promise to dominate the lane: minions and the wave push limit his first ability.
Why Ezreal works against Caitlyn
01
Mystic Shot saves you from walking up for every last hit
Your first ability lets you last-hit or poke from afar, but it hits the first target. If Caitlyn hides behind the wave, find another firing line or use the ability to farm; it doesn't pass through every minion to hit her.
02
A dash to avoid getting caught
Your third ability helps you reposition against an engage or a trap in your path. Use it before you're immobilized: it doesn't remove the immobilization of a trap you've already stepped on. Anticipating the catch lets you preserve health and go back to poking from a safe angle.
When to attack
Poke from a clear line when Caitlyn commits to a last hit, and keep your third ability. You can be more aggressive if she spends her net and your support opens an engage, without dashing through a trap zone.
How to play Ezreal
- 1Use your first ability for the last hit you can't contest with a basic attack, accepting the loss of one minion rather than giving up a combo.
- 2Change angles to shoot when there's no minion between you and Caitlyn; don't expose yourself to the support looking for that angle.
- 3Save your third ability for the engage and dangerous terrain. Walking onto a trap and then trying to escape isn't the plan.
- 4With resources and a favorable wave, weave attacks into your abilities; playing safe doesn't mean you stop hitting when the fight is actually set up.
Mistakes to avoid
- Spending your third ability forward to poke and getting caught between traps, net and the support's crowd control.
- Expecting Mystic Shot to pass through minions or the dash to cleanse an immobilization.
Playing Caitlyn against Ezreal
As Caitlyn, protect your last hits behind your minions and use wave pressure so Ezreal has to spend his shots on farming. Watch when he uses his third ability; that's your window to catch him with your support. If he stays safe, turn the push into tower damage and vision instead of forcing a chase.
Execution matters
Varus vs Caitlyn
Varus can contest Caitlyn outside her comfortable basic-attack trade with charged arrows and threaten an engage with his ultimate. He depends on landing shots and on the support matchup: Varus has no dash to fix bad positioning.
Why Varus works against Caitlyn
01
Trade basic attacks for a firing line
His charged first ability lets you poke from afar without contesting every basic attack with Caitlyn. The arrow passes through units, though its damage drops as it goes through them; it isn't blocked just by standing behind a minion. Look for a clean angle without leaving a protected position.
02
Punish a net that's already down
His ultimate can immobilize and makes your support's crowd control easier to land. The best window comes when Caitlyn has already used her net or has a limited escape. It doesn't instantly chain her whole team, and if it misses, Varus is still a marksman with no dash, exposed to the siege.
When to attack
Charge an arrow when Caitlyn commits to a last hit or an ability. To go for the kill, wait until her net is down and your support can follow up the crowd control from your ultimate.
How to play Varus
- 1Contest last hits with arrows from a position that also protects you from the enemy support.
- 2Avoid standing behind a trap while charging: holding the charge isn't worth eating the enemy combo.
- 3Save your ultimate for a prepared engage or to defend yourself if the enemy can reach your position.
- 4If your arrows aren't landing and your team can't engage, manage mana and the wave; don't force basic attacks at shorter range just because you picked a counter.
Mistakes to avoid
- Always firing through the whole wave and losing damage, or stepping up expecting your ultimate to immobilize every enemy instantly.
- Walking into net and trap range to cast your ultimate without backup; Varus has no escape of his own.
Playing Caitlyn against Varus
As Caitlyn, move sideways when you see Varus charging: minions can reduce the damage, but they don't stop the arrow completely. Save your net for a predictable threat and avoid sharing a narrow passage with allies when his ultimate is up. Pressure him with your support when he misses an arrow or his crowd control.