Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1
Doran's Bow
400 goldThis is the most-supported Draft/Ranked starting item in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Compare its durability, sustain and damage trade-off before leaving base.
Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Caitlyn Bot · Ranked Solo/Duo
Caitlyn has an established Bot carry plan that can scale through shared-lane farm and work with a Support partner.
Primary roleRanked Solo/DuoHistorical referenceRecommendation review pending
These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.
- Recommendation patch
- 16.16 Data Dragon
- Build validation patch
- 16.19.1 Data Dragon
- Item lookup patch
- 16.20.1 Data Dragon
Ranked Solo/Duo · Bot
Evidence-supported Caitlyn Bot
Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.
First item
Hexoptics C44
2,800 goldThis item is part of the most-supported coherent core in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Treat the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly identified matchup problem.
Boots
Berserker's Greaves
1,100 goldThis is the most-supported Boots choice in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot; change it when the opposing damage or crowd control calls for a different defence.
Core
Infinity Edge
3,500 goldThis item is part of the most-supported coherent core in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Treat the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly identified matchup problem.
Late
Rapid Firecannon
2,650 goldThis item is part of the most-supported coherent core in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Treat the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly identified matchup problem.
Flexible
Lord Dominik's Regards
3,300 goldKeeps a reviewed late option after the prior-patch cross-check; move or replace it only when its stated match problem is present.
Late sustain
Bloodthirster
3,400 goldCompletes the six-item inventory with high attack damage and sustain for extended late fights.
Complete build choices
Choose the route before play
Recommendation review pending
AlternativeThey burst meGuardian Angel protects a completed damage core from one decisive death.
View full route▾
Best when: Guardian Angel protects a completed damage core from one decisive death.
- First itemHexoptics C44
- BootsBerserker's Greaves
- CoreInfinity Edge
- LateRapid Firecannon
- Guardian Angel
- Late sustainBloodthirster
AlternativeMagic damage reaches meWit's End adds magic resistance without giving up attack speed.
View full route▾
Best when: Wit's End adds magic resistance without giving up attack speed.
- First itemHexoptics C44
- BootsBerserker's Greaves
- CoreInfinity Edge
- Wit's End
- FlexibleLord Dominik's Regards
- Late sustainBloodthirster
Runes and summoner spells
Runes and summoner spellsCaitlynBot
Preserve firing space and turn longer fights into sustained damage.
Precision
Lethal Tempo
Presence of Mind
Legend: Alacrity
Cut Down
Sorcery
Celerity
Gathering Storm
Flash
BarrierAvoid duplicating the same defensive spell without a reason. Barrier protects the user; Heal can protect both nearby lane partners.
Choose Cleanse only when removable crowd control is the lane or fight problem and you can use it reliably.
Static alternatives
Compare the problem before changing the plan
These choices are not selected from live scores. Use one only after you identify the stated match problem yourself.
They burst me
Guardian Angel
Guardian Angel protects a completed damage core from one decisive death.
Magic damage reaches me
Wit's End
Wit's End adds magic resistance without giving up attack speed.
Kit reference
Caitlyn abilities
Ability names, descriptions and numeric fields come from Riot Data Dragon. Practical reads are independently written; the current in-game tooltip remains authoritative.
Abilities Data Dragon 16.20.1Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1
P
Passive
Headshot
What it doesEvery 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.
Practical readHeadshot is an automatic part of the kit involving damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.
Q
Q ability
Piltover Peacemaker
What it doesCaitlyn revs up her rifle for 1 second to unleash a penetrating shot that deals physical damage (deals less damage to subsequent targets).
Practical readPiltover Peacemaker contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown10/9/8/7/6 secCost55/60/65/70/75Listed range1250 units
Damage falloff
Targets after the first receive reduced damage, so the order of units in the line changes the result.
W
W ability
Yordle Snap Trap
What it doesCaitlyn sets a trap that, when sprung, reveals and immobilizes the enemy champion for 1.5 seconds, granting Caitlyn an empowered Headshot.
Practical readYordle Snap Trap creates setup or area pressure. Place it where the opponent must choose between entering its space, changing route or giving up the immediate contest.
Cost20Listed range800 units
Vision
This ability supplies sight or reveals its target. That information effect can matter even when damage is not the main reason to cast it.
E
E ability
90 Caliber Net
What it doesCaitlyn fires a heavy net to slow her target. The recoil knocks Caitlyn back.
Practical read90 Caliber Net is a ranged cast involving a slowing effect. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.
Cooldown16/14/12/10/8 secCost75Listed range750 units
Movement
The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.
R
Ultimate
Ace in the Hole
What it doesCaitlyn 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.
Practical readAce in the Hole contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown90 secCost100Listed range3500 units
Same damage near or far
Ace in the Hole does not become weaker when Caitlyn fires from nearby. Distance changes whether she can start the cast, but it does not change the shot's damage.
Another champion can block it
The bullet hits the first enemy champion in its path. An opponent can protect the marked target by standing between that target and Caitlyn.
Needs time to fire
Caitlyn must finish lining up the shot before it fires. Interrupting her channel or making the target untargetable can stop the normal hit.
Armour reduces the shot
Ace in the Hole deals physical ability damage. Plated Steelcaps help through their armour, but their basic-attack reduction passive does not reduce this ultimate. Mercury's Treads do not directly reduce the physical hit.
Adapt the plan
What to do when the game changes
Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.
Ahead plan
Protect the carry lead and finish the next objective
Lane
Pressure farm with your Support while keeping the wave and river warded; two opponents can still punish an isolated carry.
Map play
Move after the wave is secured and attack the objective from a position your team can defend.
Fights
Deal damage to the closest safe target and preserve the shutdown. The lead matters only while you remain alive.
Even plan
Prioritise farm, spacing and coordination with Support
Lane
Match the opposing carry's income and trade when both lane partners can participate.
Map play
Finish the wave before rotating unless the fight is immediate and clearly reachable.
Fights
Stand behind allied control and build damage on reachable targets before stepping toward the back line.
Behind plan
Keep collecting safe gold and shorten dangerous exposure
Lane
Farm near tower or with nearby allies. Give up isolated minions instead of offering another kill.
Map play
Avoid being first into river and trade an unsafe objective for income when the team cannot contest.
Fights
Wait for enemy cooldowns and attack whoever enters your safe range; survival creates more damage than a desperate flank.
Pings, movement and objectives
Caitlyn Bot map plan
Protect income and coordinate with Support. Your movement should follow the wave, while your pings make target choice and danger clear before the fight begins.
Carry the lead into the next safe fight
- Ping
- Use Target on the reachable opponent, Danger when Support or Jungle is too far away, and On My Way after the wave is secured.
- Farm or rotate
- Finish the wave, recall on the item timing and rotate with protection. Do not cross river alone to save a few seconds.
- Objective
- Attack from the safe side of the objective and keep damaging the nearest reachable threat. Preserving the shutdown matters more than chasing.
Build the item timing and move together
- Ping
- Use Target to align with Support, Enemy Missing when either Bot opponent leaves and Danger if an engage begins outside your safe range.
- Farm or rotate
- Rotate after the wave or when the objective fight is immediate and reachable. Communicate if staying for the wave is the safer call.
- Objective
- Enter behind vision and allied control. Keep a route away from the enemy engage before starting sustained damage.
Shorten exposure and recover guaranteed gold
- Ping
- Use Retreat before Support or Jungle forces a fight you cannot damage, and Enemy Missing as soon as the winning Bot lane leaves.
- Farm or rotate
- Avoid being first into river. Move with Support after the safe wave, or trade an unsafe objective for protected farm.
- Objective
- Stand beside peel and attack whoever enters safe range. Do not cross enemy control to reach the opposing carry.
Objective setup
Four calls, in order
Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.
- 1Secure the wave
Finish safe farm and communicate the recall or move before the objective setup begins.
- 2Enter protected
Walk with Support or another ally and choose the side where enemy engage cannot reach you first.
- 3Set attack space
Keep an exit route and identify the nearest target you can damage without crossing enemy control.
- 4Stay alive
Continue useful damage without chasing away from the objective or donating a shutdown.
Later objectives: Repeat the same process around later major objectives: handle nearby income, communicate the route, enter through vision and agree on the fight before committing.
Use the guide
Put Caitlyn into a real matchup
Compare a specific opponent, return to the champion overview, or choose another champion without losing the queue distinction.