How to win lane as Caitlyn against Smolder · 52.57% win rate over 11,302 Emerald+ games · Updated 2026-07-27
| Stage | Favoured | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Caitlyn | Level 1 is yours because Smolder is stack-starved and can't answer your ranged Headshot trades. |
| Level 2 | Caitlyn | Level 2 favours you as your range punishes every last-hit while his Q is still weak. |
| Level 3 | Caitlyn | Level 3 stays yours since traps and freezes deny the stacks he desperately needs. |
| Levels 4-5 | Caitlyn | Levels 4-5 you keep the lead trading on his Q cooldown and starving his farm. |
| Level 6 | Caitlyn | Level 6 is yours because Ace in the Hole punishes any over-extension for stacks. |
| First item | Caitlyn | First item is still yours as your burst out-duels an unstacked Smolder. |
| Two+ items | Smolder | At 2+ items Smolder flips ahead once his stacked Q becomes a long-range execute that out-damages you. |
Levels 1-2 are firmly yours: Smolder is helpless before his stacks, so use your superior range and Headshot to punish every last-hit he goes for. Plant a trap in his path and let your support poke; the goal is to starve his stacks so his power spike arrives late.
The full Caitlyn vs Smolder report continues with the mid-game plan, the late-game and teamfight plan, every power spike to play around, and the win conditions for both sides — plus cooldown tracking and the live enemy-jungle tracker inside the app.
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Playing the other side? Smolder vs Caitlyn guide →
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