Caitlyn Counters
The best Caitlyn counters in League of Legends patch 26.1 are Ziggs, Sivir, Jinx, Smolder, Varus. The best Caitlyn counter is Ziggs, with Caitlyn having only a 43.17% win rate in this matchup. Secondary patch 26.1 Caitlyn counter choices are Nilah, MissFortune, Samira, Jhin, Twitch. Below are the top Caitlyn counters and matchups alongside their win rates.
Headshot
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.
Piltover Peacemaker
Caitlyn revs up her rifle for 1 second to unleash a penetrating shot that deals physical damage (deals less damage to subsequent targets).
Cost:- 55/
- 60/
- 65/
- 70/
- 75
Cooldown:- 10/
- 9/
- 8/
- 7/
- 6
Range:- 1250
Yordle Snap Trap
Caitlyn sets a trap that, when sprung, reveals and immobilizes the enemy champion for 1.5 seconds, granting Caitlyn an empowered Headshot.
Cost:- 20
Cooldown:- 1
Range:- 800
90 Caliber Net
Caitlyn fires a heavy net to slow her target. The recoil knocks Caitlyn back.
Cost:- 75
Cooldown:- 16/
- 14/
- 12/
- 10/
- 8
Range:- 750
Ace in the Hole
Caitlyn 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.
Cost:- 100
Cooldown:- 90
Range:- 3500
- Marksman
These champions are Caitlyn's hardest counters in League of Legends patch 26.1. Ziggs is Caitlyn's biggest counter with only a 43.17% win rate for Caitlyn. When facing these Caitlyn counter picks, focus on safe farming and waiting for jungle assistance. Avoid extended trades and play around your power spikes to survive difficult Caitlyn matchups.
Ziggs
Sivir
Jinx
Smolder
Varus
Nilah
Miss Fortune
Samira
Jhin
Twitch
When facing Caitlyn in League of Legends, understanding Caitlyn's primary damage profile is essential for building effective counter strategies. Caitlyn deals primarily physical damage, which means prioritizing armor in your defensive itemization will significantly reduce Caitlyn's threat in fights. Top defensive items against Caitlyn include Plated Steelcaps, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, and Thornmail. These items provide substantial armor stats that directly mitigate Caitlyn's damage output throughout all stages of the game.
From a champion selection perspective, the strongest Caitlyn counters are Ziggs, Sivir, Jinx, and Smolder. These champions either out-trade Caitlyn in lane, have abilities that negate Caitlyn's core mechanics, or scale better into team fights. Ziggs in particular exploits Caitlyn's weaknesses by providing consistent pressure while being difficult to punish.
Beyond item builds and counter picks, successful counter play against Caitlyn involves understanding Caitlyn's power spikes and cooldown windows. Engage on Caitlyn when key abilities are on cooldown, and coordinate with your team to focus Caitlyn in team fights before Caitlyn can output maximum damage. Vision control is also crucial when playing against Caitlyn to avoid getting caught out of position. By combining proper defensive itemization with smart champion selection and strategic gameplay, you can effectively neutralize Caitlyn's impact and secure victory.
Understanding Caitlyn's power curve is essential for effective counter play. Here's when Caitlyn is most vulnerable throughout the game.
EARLYEarly Game (Levels 1-6)
Caitlyn is weak to all-ins before completing attack speed items. Zone from farm and punish aggressive positioning. Supports with hard engage excel against Caitlyn.
MIDMid Game (Levels 7-13)
Caitlyn spikes hard with 2-3 items. Dive and burst before Caitlyn can kite. Assassins and engage supports are effective.
LATELate Game (Levels 14-18)
Caitlyn reaches maximum DPS potential late. Focus Caitlyn immediately in fights or use zone control to deny positioning.
Use these actionable tips to gain an advantage when facing Caitlyn in lane or team fights.
- Pick Ziggs or similar champions with kits that exploit Caitlyn's weaknesses
- Build Plated Steelcaps or Seeker's Armguard early to reduce Caitlyn's damage in lane
- Track Caitlyn's cooldowns and engage when key abilities are unavailable
- Ward Caitlyn's common roam paths and ping missing immediately
- Coordinate with your jungler to gank Caitlyn during vulnerable windows
- Close the gap quickly - Caitlyn is weaker in melee range
- Target Caitlyn in team fights to remove the primary damage threat
Caitlyn performs exceptionally well against these champions in patch 26.1. Ezreal is Caitlyn's best matchup with a 56.06% win rate. When playing Caitlyn into these favorable matchups, look for early aggression and lane dominance. Caitlyn can capitalize on these champions' weaknesses to snowball leads and carry games.
Ezreal
Yunara
Zeri
Draven
Tristana
Lucian
Ashe
Vayne
Xayah
Aphelios
Caitlyn Counters - Frequently Asked Questions
Who counters Caitlyn?
The best Caitlyn counters are Ziggs, Sivir, and Jinx. These champions have favorable matchups against Caitlyn and can exploit Caitlyn's weaknesses effectively in League of Legends patch 26.1.
What is Caitlyn's hardest counter?
Ziggs is Caitlyn's hardest counter with Caitlyn having only a 43.17% win rate in this matchup. Sivir (44.89% WR) and Jinx (46.67% WR) are also strong Caitlyn counters.
Who does Caitlyn counter?
Caitlyn performs well against Ezreal, Yunara, and Zeri. These are Caitlyn's best matchups where Caitlyn has favorable win rates and can dominate lane in patch 26.1.
How do I beat Caitlyn in lane?
To beat Caitlyn in lane, pick a counter champion like Ziggs or Sivir. Focus on trading when Caitlyn's key abilities are on cooldown, and build armor items to reduce Caitlyn's damage output. Ward defensively and call for jungle assistance if Caitlyn gains an advantage.
What items counter Caitlyn?
The best items to counter Caitlyn are Plated Steelcaps, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, and Thornmail. These items provide armor which directly reduces Caitlyn's damage. Consider building these items early if you're struggling against Caitlyn in lane.
When is Caitlyn weakest?
Caitlyn is typically weakest during specific power troughs between item spikes. Exploit windows when Caitlyn's ultimate or key abilities are on cooldown. Coordinate with your team to engage on Caitlyn before Caitlyn can set up fights on Caitlyn's own terms.
How do I play Caitlyn into counter matchups?
When playing Caitlyn into counters like Ziggs, focus on safe farming, waiting for jungle assistance, and playing around power spikes. Avoid extended trades in unfavorable matchups and look for opportunities to scale into mid and late game.
What champions are similar to Caitlyn's counters?
If Ziggs, Sivir, or Jinx are banned or picked, look for champions with similar kits that can exploit Caitlyn's weaknesses. Champions with crowd control, burst damage, or sustained damage (depending on Caitlyn's vulnerabilities) can serve as alternative counters.