Caitlyn Build Guide by Catgomoo

Introduction

Welcome to my Caitlyn guide.

This guide is intended for players who need to adapt and cope with they team they face.
This guide is intended to showcase various builds for Caitlyn players to use in different situations, and in no way is a play-style etc. guide.

It will consist of different sections for each specific build, and will discuss item choices and how that build should be played in accordance.

Without further ado, please explore the guide and do not forget to comment and rate!

Sincerely,
Catgomoo

Caitlyn and Her Statistics/Abilities

Her Story:

One of the reasons Piltover is known as the City of Progress is because it has an extraordinarily low crime rate. This hasn't always been the case; brigands and thieves of all sorts used to find the city-state an ideal mark for plunder, primarily due to the valuable resources it imports to fuel its techmaturgical research. Some even theorize that it would have fallen long ago to the chaos of organized crime if not for Caitlyn, the Sheriff of Piltover. Born the daughter of a wealthy statesman and a pioneering hextech researcher, Caitlyn discovered her natural gift for investigation when, at age 14, her father was assaulted and robbed on his way home. She snuck out of her house that night with her father's rifle and tracked down the muggers from the crime scene. At first, her parents did their best to discourage her from such risky hobbies, but she was incorrigible. Wishing to protect her daughter in the only way she knew how, Caitlyn's mother began outfitting her with techmaturgical devices tailored to her sleuthing needs.

Caitlyn quickly gained notoriety, both because she was single handedly defeating crime in Piltover and also because she soon developed into a ravishing beauty. She never backed down from a case or a challenge, and she was one of the sharpest shots in the city-state. Her services were soon requested by Demacia to help track down a mysterious outlaw who had begun committing high-profile heists. The bandit, who always left a card with an ornate 'C' at the scene of the crime, became Caitlyn's arch-nemesis. To this day, Caitlyn still searches for this cat burglar, and the chase has led her all across Valoran. She has joined the League to hone her skills and gain the influence necessary to track down the only quarry that has managed to evade her.

''Go ahead, run. I'll give you a five minute head start.''
- Caitlyn, from her book 'Willing Apprehension'.

Stats:

Damage 47 (+3 / per level)
Health 390 (+80 / per level)
Mana 255 (+35 / per level)
Move Speed 305
Armor 13 (+3.5 / per level)
Spell Block 30 (+0 / per level)
Health Regen 0.95 (+0.11 / per level)
Mana Regen 1.3 (+0.11 / per level)


Abilities

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).
Caitlyn revs her rifle for 1/1/1/1/1 second to fire a penetrating shot that deals 20/65/110/155/200 (+) physical damage. However, it deals 15/15/15/15/15% less to subsequent targets, down to a minimum of 40/40/40/40/40%.
Cost
50/60/70/80/90 Mana
Range
1300
Yordle Snap Trap - Caitlyn sets a trap to find sneaky yordles. When sprung, the trap immobilizes the champion, reveals them for a short duration, and deals magic damage over 1.5 seconds.
Caitlyn sets up to three traps to find sneaky yordles, which trigger on champions. When sprung, the trap immobilizes the target, reveals them for a short duration, and deals 80/130/180/230/280 (+0.6) magic damage over 1.5/1.5/1.5/1.5/1.5 seconds.

Traps last for 4/4/4/4/4 minutes.
Cost
50/50/50/50/50 Mana
Range
800
90 Caliber Net - Caitlyn fires a heavy net to slow her target. The recoil knocks Caitlyn back.
Caitlyn fires a net to slow her target by 50/50/50/50/50% for 1/1.25/1.5/1.75/2 second(s). This deals 80/130/180/230/280 (+0.8) magic damage and knocks Caitlyn back.
Cost
75/75/75/75/75 Mana
Range
10000
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.
Caitlyn takes time to line up the perfect shot, dealing 250/475/700 (+) physical damage at 1900/2050/2200 range.

Enemy champions can intercept the bullet for their ally.
Cost
100/100/100 Mana
Range
2200
Headshot - Every @f1@ basic attacks (attacks while in brush count as 2), Caitlyn will fire a headshot, dealing either 150% damage to a champion or 250% damage to a minion.

Of course, all credit goes to:

© 2011 Riot Games Inc. All rights reserved.
League of Legends and Riot Games Inc. are trademarks or registered trademarks of Riot Games, Inc.

Build#1: Your Standard Pub-Stomping Build

Welcome to build #1, consisting of the items you would want on Caitlyn in a perfect world. In other words the maximum damage possible.

Section 1: THE ITEMS

Doran's Blade - Great starting item period. Health, damage, and a minute amount of life-steal is helpful to start out with; and the item only needs to be sold late-game when you need room.
Boots of Speed - Grab these after your blade just for some extra mobility, but try to use your range to your advantage and farm. This stage is the most important for farming because once you can afford your BF Sword, it's much easier to farm and deal that much needed damage.
The Bloodthirster - Your first big item. Great for life-steal and damage. Keep in mind that this item is MUCH more effective if you DON'T die, so try to farm up the extra damage and hit enemies hard while you can.
Berserker's Greaves - Some nice attack speed, which is sufficient for this stage of the build and will come in handy later.
Infinity Edge - NOW you hurt. Massive crits combined with your Headshot while HURT.
Phantom Dancer - The best of both worlds for Cait. The added attack speed procs your passive more often and also gives you more chance of those massive crits from Infinity.
The Black Cleaver - Further attack speed and lower armor of enemies is a WIN-WIN.
Madred's Bloodrazor - The final item. Great all around, but more designed to work in combination with your passive while being able to tear down larger health enemies.

Section 2: The Situation

Let's be honest here. This build is ideal for Cait, but you aren't always going to get the situation where you can flourish without being targeted. If you in the mood for a pub-stomp, by all means indulge yourself.

Build #2: Anti-Mage Build Utilizing Attack Speed

Welcome to build #2, consisting of items useful with a heavy (or fed) array of casters on the enemy team. In my opinion, this build is the most useful overall. It factors in useful amounts of damage while adding survivability and triggering your passive often with a high amount of attack speed.

Section 1: THE ITEMS

Long Sword - This is my personal preference. Of course a Doran's Blade would also be a great choice, but I find Hexdrinker is best early game and it is smart to build it sooner than later.
Berserker's Greaves - Merc Treads are also viable, but I opt for berserker greaves to add that extra attack speed, which will make you much more deadly.
Hexdrinker - An underrated item. Some AD for your abilities, MR for protection, and a shield that will save your life numerous times. Great against people who need to get that last spell off to finish you.
Wit's End - More attack speed, MR, and stacking MR, as well as damage on hit which synchronizes well with the focus on attack speed.
Madred's Bloodrazor - Great all around item, your main damage dealer. Now you deal plenty of damage on hit and will proc your passive often.
Banshee's Veil - After Banshee's you will be more sturdy and harder to catch off-guard. At this stage item-wise, with good positioning you should be able to survive most fights without intense focus.
Guardian Angel - An optional item, nice to have and protect yourself, but if you want more heavy damage output you could easily invest in and Infinity Edge or Bloodthirster.

Section 2: The Situation

Against a magic-heavy team, you want to be prepared. This build utilizes attack speed with Madred's Bloodrazor to deal out great damage, while keeping yourself alive and well. Be sure to focus those with little health first, like the mages. Use your Bloodrazor to focus down larger health targets and just all around dominate.

Build #3: Anti-DPS Build Utilizing Slows and Survivability

Welcome to build #3, consisting of items focused on keeping yourself alive, while making sure the other team well.... isn't. This build is for players who want to be unconventional and show what true potential you have as a player. It factors in slows and survivability to make sure you foes can't touch you.

Section 1: THE ITEMS

Doran's Blade - Starting off with extra damage for farming, and some life-steal can never hurt. Especially when it's accompanied by some extra health.
Berserker's Greaves - The only attack speed item in the build. This ensures that you pack a punch after securing you larger damage items.
The Bloodthirster - Great damage, life-steal, and all around damage is essential for Cait. By getting this before frozen, you get some more damage and sustainability.
Frozen Mallet - Frozen is you friend. Kite you foes to an icy grave. And if they try and touch you, you have a much larger health bay to keep you nice and safe.
Atma's Impaler - Armor and crit. Why Atma's? Because by getting Atma's we capitalize on Frozen's health bonus while adding damage, and crit.
Infinity Edge - Capitalizing on Atma's crit chance is essential. With enough survivability for now, we want damage. Infinity Edge=Damage... why not?
Banshee's Veil - Rounding of the build with some more health, mana, magic resist, and a spell shield can never hurt.

Section 2: The Situation

This build is the most unique of the three. It's for those ambitious players who want to shake things up. If the standard ranged DPS is too boring, or your having trouble being focused, this is the build for you.

Summary

In summary, this page is mainly a preface for builds on Caitlyn, and diversifying the builds out there. While there is no formal guide on "WHAT EXACTLY TO DO AT EVERY MOMENT" here, don't think for a second that this guide was meant for that. These are simply builds, and the situations in which they flourish. I do value criticism, so please provide feedback!

Farewell

I hope you liked my builds. Please please please leave feedback and let me know how the builds go for you. I strongly encourage you to try them out and leave suggestions or praise (especially praise :D ).