ADC Matchup

Varus vs Caitlyn

Patch: 15.15 (25.15)
League: Platinum+
Varus

Varus

the Arrow of Retribution
ADC
Varus ADC Overall Win Rate
47.51%

Matchup Win Rate

51.2%
Varus vs Caitlyn Wins
⚔
48.8%
Caitlyn vs Varus Wins
Caitlyn

Caitlyn

the Sheriff of Piltover
ADC
Caitlyn ADC Overall Win Rate
49.00%

Varus vs Caitlyn - ADC Matchup Guide Patch 15.15 (25.15)

Varus ADC vs Caitlyn ADC - Who is stronger?

Varus ADC has a slight edge over Caitlyn (51.2% win rate) based on 2169 games. The matchup slightly favors Varus.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Varus ADC vs Caitlyn ADC in patch 15.15 (25.15), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 61.4% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

With 5.1% popularity, Varus constantly encounters meta-dominant Caitlyn (11.3%, 7th place out of 30 ADC champions). Understanding how to play against this popular champion becomes essential for consistent Varus performance in the current patch. Silver lining: While Varus's 47.5% overall win rate (28th among ADC) struggles in the current meta, this matchup against Caitlyn offers a bright spot for dedicated players. Optimize for consistency: Lethal Tempo paired with Triumph (64.9% win rate, 2.9% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Youmuu's Ghostblade > Manamune > Edge of Night with Berserker's Greaves delivers 61.4% win rate against Caitlyn.

Lane dominance: Varus not only wins the matchup but crushes CS (6.23/min vs 6.16 for Caitlyn). This 0.07 CS/min advantage generates significant gold leads that compound your already favorable position. Quality over quantity: Varus wins through smart play rather than raw damage - despite lower DPS (744 vs 822/min), the 51.2% win rate shows superior utility, positioning, and team fight impact. Statistical dominance: Varus leads in both matchup win rate (51.2%) and KDA (2.30 vs 2.10) - complete superiority across all metrics.

Varus vs Caitlyn - ADC Stats Comparison

Varus ADC
Varus ADC		Versus
Caitlyn ADC
Caitlyn ADC
DTierC
51.2%Matchup Winrate48.8%
47.51%Role Winrate49.00%
#28Winrate Rank#25
5.1%Pickrate11.3%
2.3Average KDA2.1
401Gold per Minute435
6.23CS/Min6.16
0.30Wards per Minute0.29
744Damage per Minute822

How to Beat Caitlyn as Varus (ADC)

While statistically Varus is slightly stronger than Caitlyn as ADC, neither champion has an overwhelming advantage in this matchup. The winner is determined by player skill and understanding the intricacies of the confrontation. Studying this guide will improve your chances of success.

Except for rare builds, Varus deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Caitlyn deals mainly physical damage (93.79%), additional items against this damage type may be required against snowballing or aggressive play.

An important advantage of Varus is higher farming statistics (ranked 27th among role champions) (versus 29th for Caitlyn), which provides a stable gold advantage in extended games and allows faster access to key items. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (2.1 versus 2.3) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Varus ADC versus Caitlyn ADC matchup

Despite the statistical advantage in the matchup, overconfidence can be the main mistake. It is important for the Varus player to maintain constant pressure on Caitlyn, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Varus vs Caitlyn: ADC Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Barrier
Barrier Gain a brief Shield.
51.6% Win Rate83.5% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Cleanse
Cleanse Removes all disables (excluding suppression and airborne) and summoner spell debuffs affecting your champion and gives Tenacity.
Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
53.7% Win Rate8.9% Pick Rate

Varus vs Caitlyn: ADC Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Arcane Comet
Arcane Comet Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet is on cooldown, reduces its remaining cooldown.

Adaptive Damage: 30 - 130 based on level (+0.05 AP and +0.1 bonus AD)
Cooldown: 20 - 8s

Cooldown Reduction:
Single Target: 20%.
Area of Effect: 10%.
Damage over Time: 5%.

Arcane Comet

Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet …

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

Transcendence
Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

Scorch
Scorch Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus magic damage based on level after 1s.

Cooldown: 10s

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus mag…

Secondary Path
Inspiration
Biscuit Delivery
Biscuit Delivery Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until 6 min.

Biscuits restore 12% of your missing health. Consuming or selling a Biscuit permanently increases your max health by 30.

Biscuit Delivery

Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until …

Cosmic Insight
Cosmic Insight +18 Summoner Spell Haste
+10 Item Haste

Cosmic Insight

+18 Summoner Spell Haste+10 Item Haste

Adaptive
Attack Speed
Attack Speed Increases attack speed by 10%

Attack Speed

Increases attack speed by 10%

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

+65 Health
+65 Health +65 Health

+65 Health

+65 Health

52.7% Win Rate50.2% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Lethal Tempo
Lethal Tempo Attacking an enemy champion grants you [6% Melee || 4% Ranged] Attack Speed for 6 seconds, up to 6. At max stacks, deal [9 - 30 Melee || 6 - 24 Ranged] bonus adaptive damage On-Attack, increased by 1% per 1% Bonus Attack Speed.

Lethal Tempo

Attacking an enemy champion grants you [6% Melee || 4% Ranged] Attack Speed for 6 seconds…

Triumph
Triumph Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health, 2.5% of your max health, and grant an additional 20 gold.


'The most dangerous game brings the greatest glory.'
—Noxian Reckoner

Triumph

Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health, 2.5% of your max health, and grant…

Legend: Alacrity
Legend: Alacrity Gain 3% attack speed plus an additional 1.5% for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).

Earn progress toward Legend stacks for every champion takedown, epic monster takedown, large monster kill, and minion kill.

Legend: Alacrity

Gain 3% attack speed plus an additional 1.5% for every Legend stack (max 10 sta…

Cut Down
Cut Down Deal 8% more damage to champions who have more than 60% health.

Cut Down

Deal 8% more damage to champions who have more than 60% health.

Secondary Path
Resolve
Bone Plating
Bone Plating After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you receive from them deal 30-60 (based on level) less damage.

Duration: 1.5s
Cooldown: 55s

Bone Plating

After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you re…

Overgrowth
Overgrowth Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanently gaining 3 maximum health for every 8.

When you've absorbed 120 monsters or enemy minions, gain an additional 3.5% maximum health.

Overgrowth

Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanent…

Adaptive
Attack Speed
Attack Speed Increases attack speed by 10%

Attack Speed

Increases attack speed by 10%

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

64.9% Win Rate2.9% Pick Rate

Varus vs Caitlyn: ADC Item Builds

Most Popular Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Doran's Blade
Doran's Blade (450 gold) 10 Attack Damage
80 Health
3% Life Steal
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
50.6% Win Rate91.6% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Berserker's Greaves
Berserker's Greaves (1100 gold) 25% Attack Speed
45 Move Speed
52.3% Win Rate36.5% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
54.7% Win Rate32.1% Pick Rate
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed
Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
49.2% Win Rate16.6% Pick Rate
Core Build
Serrated Dirk
Serrated Dirk (1000 gold) 20 Attack Damage
10 Lethality
->
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Youmuu's Ghostblade (2800 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
4% Move Speed
Haunt
Gain Move Speed while out of combat.
Wraith Step
Gain Move Speed and Ghosting for seconds.
Manamune
Manamune (2900 gold) 35 Attack Damage
500 Mana
15 Ability Haste
Awe
Gain bonus Attack Damage.
Manaflow (8s, max 4 charges)
Landing Attacks and Abilities grants 3 max Mana (doubled vs. champions).
Transforms into Muramana at 360 max Mana.
Edge of Night
Edge of Night (3000 gold) 50 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
250 Health
Annul
Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy Ability.
52.0% Win Rate20.5% Pick Rate
Final Build
Guardian Angel
Guardian Angel (3200 gold) 55 Attack Damage
45 Armor
Rebirth
Upon taking lethal damage, restores 50% base Health and 100% max Mana after 4 seconds of Stasis.
58.7% Win Rate15.5% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Tear of the Goddess
Tear of the Goddess (400 gold) 240 Mana
Manaflow (8s, max 4 charges)
Landing Abilities grants 3 max Mana (doubled vs. champions), up to 360.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal an additional 5 physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
68.3% Win Rate3.3% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
54.7% Win Rate32.1% Pick Rate
Berserker's Greaves
Berserker's Greaves (1100 gold) 25% Attack Speed
45 Move Speed
52.3% Win Rate36.5% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
49.5% Win Rate5.0% Pick Rate
Core Build
Rectrix
Rectrix (775 gold) 15 Attack Damage
4% Move Speed
->
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Youmuu's Ghostblade (2800 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
4% Move Speed
Haunt
Gain Move Speed while out of combat.
Wraith Step
Gain Move Speed and Ghosting for seconds.
Manamune
Manamune (2900 gold) 35 Attack Damage
500 Mana
15 Ability Haste
Awe
Gain bonus Attack Damage.
Manaflow (8s, max 4 charges)
Landing Attacks and Abilities grants 3 max Mana (doubled vs. champions).
Transforms into Muramana at 360 max Mana.
Edge of Night
Edge of Night (3000 gold) 50 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
250 Health
Annul
Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy Ability.
61.4% Win Rate2.4% Pick Rate
Final Build
Serylda's Grudge
Serylda's Grudge (3000 gold) 45 Attack Damage
35% Armor Penetration
15 Ability Haste
Bitter Cold
Damaging Abilities Slow enemies below 50% Health by 30% for 1 second.
65.6% Win Rate10.3% Pick Rate
Other Items
Opportunity
Opportunity (2700 gold) 55 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
Preparation
After being out of combat with Champions for 8 seconds gain Lethality. This Lethality lasts for 3 seconds after dealing damage to champions.
Extraction
When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, gain 200 decaying Move Speed for 1.5 seconds.
51.4% Win Rate15.4% Pick Rate
Serylda's Grudge
Serylda's Grudge (3000 gold) 45 Attack Damage
35% Armor Penetration
15 Ability Haste
Bitter Cold
Damaging Abilities Slow enemies below 50% Health by 30% for 1 second.
65.6% Win Rate10.3% Pick Rate
Wit's End
Wit's End (2800 gold) 50% Attack Speed
45 Magic Resist
20% Tenacity
Fray
Attacks deal bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
54.1% Win Rate4.9% Pick Rate
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor

Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
64.1% Win Rate4.2% Pick Rate
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Jak'Sho, The Protean (3200 gold) 350 Health
45 Armor
45 Magic Resist
Voidborn Resilience
After 5 seconds of champion combat, increase your bonus Armor and Magic Resist by 30% until end of combat.
63.4% Win Rate4.1% Pick Rate
Terminus
Terminus (3000 gold) 30 Attack Damage
35% Attack Speed
Shadow
Attacks deal 30 bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
Juxtaposition
Alternate between Light and Dark Attacks against champions:
  • Light Attacks grant Armor and Magic Resist for 5s.
  • Dark Attacks grant 10% Armor Penetration and Magic Penetration for 5s.
    • 33.4% Win Rate3.4% Pick Rate
    Serpent's Fang
    Serpent's Fang (2500 gold) 55 Attack Damage
    15 Lethality
    Shield Reaver
    Damaging an enemy champion reduces Shields they gain by % for 3 seconds.
    If they were not already affected by Shield Reaver, reduce Shields on them by %.
    50.3% Win Rate3.0% Pick Rate

    Varus vs Caitlyn: ADC Skill (abilities) Orders

    Most Frequent Skill Order

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    Q
    Q
    Piercing Arrow Varus readies and then fires a powerful shot that gains extra range and damage the longer he spends preparing to fire.
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    W
    W
    Blighted Quiver Passive: Varus' basic attacks deal bonus magic damage and apply Blight. Varus' other abilities detonate Blight, dealing magic damage based on the target's maximum Health. Active: Varus empowers his next Piercing Arrow.
    W
    W
    W
    W
    W
    E
    E
    Hail of Arrows Varus fires a hail of arrows that deal physical damage and desecrate the ground. Desecrated ground slows enemies' Move Speed and reduces their self healing and regeneration.
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    R
    R
    Chain of Corruption Varus flings out a damaging tendril of corruption that immobilizes the first enemy champion hit and then spreads towards nearby uninfected champions, immobilizing them too on contact.
    R
    R
    R
    Max Order: Q > W > E
    47.8% Win Rate28.5% Pick Rate

    Highest Win % Skill Order

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    R
    Q
    Piercing Arrow Varus readies and then fires a powerful shot that gains extra range and damage the longer he spends preparing to fire.
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    R
    W
    Blighted Quiver Passive: Varus' basic attacks deal bonus magic damage and apply Blight. Varus' other abilities detonate Blight, dealing magic damage based on the target's maximum Health. Active: Varus empowers his next Piercing Arrow.
    W
    W
    W
    W
    W
    R
    E
    Hail of Arrows Varus fires a hail of arrows that deal physical damage and desecrate the ground. Desecrated ground slows enemies' Move Speed and reduces their self healing and regeneration.
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    R
    R
    Chain of Corruption Varus flings out a damaging tendril of corruption that immobilizes the first enemy champion hit and then spreads towards nearby uninfected champions, immobilizing them too on contact.
    R
    R
    R
    Max Order: Q > E > W
    59.4% Win Rate2.4% Pick Rate

    Varus tips:

    • An early point in Blighted Quiver helps harass enemy champions and get killing blows on minions.
    • During short range fights it's sometimes best to fire Piercing Arrow quickly, rather than charging it to full power.
    • Try to take advantage of Piercing Arrow's very long range to snipe at enemy champions before a fight or as they're trying to flee.

    Playing Against Caitlyn

    • Keep behind allied minions if Caitlyn is harassing you with Piltover Peacemaker (it deals less damage with each subsequent target).
    • You can intercept Ace in the Hole's missile from hitting an ally if you stand in its path.

    Varus ADC other Matchups

    Varus
    +3.7%
    Zeri

    Varus vs Zeri

    Varus
    +3.0%
    Senna

    Varus vs Senna

    Varus
    +2.8%
    Aphelios

    Varus vs Aphelios

    Varus
    +2.3%
    Mel

    Varus vs Mel

    Varus
    +2.0%
    Lucian

    Varus vs Lucian

    Varus
    +1.5%
    Xayah

    Varus vs Xayah

    Varus
    +1.1%
    Samira

    Varus vs Samira

    Varus
    +1.1%
    Draven

    Varus vs Draven

    Varus
    -1.0%
    Kai'Sa

    Varus vs Kai'Sa

    Varus
    -1.6%
    Kalista

    Varus vs Kalista

    Varus
    -2.2%
    Yunara

    Varus vs Yunara

    Varus
    -2.2%
    Jinx

    Varus vs Jinx

    Varus
    -2.3%
    Nilah

    Varus vs Nilah

    Varus
    -2.4%
    Ashe

    Varus vs Ashe

    Varus
    -2.4%
    Sivir

    Varus vs Sivir

    Varus
    -2.5%
    Smolder

    Varus vs Smolder

    Varus
    -3.0%
    Jhin

    Varus vs Jhin

    Varus
    -3.2%
    Miss Fortune

    Varus vs Miss Fortune

    Varus
    -3.3%
    Vayne

    Varus vs Vayne

    Varus
    -3.6%
    Ezreal

    Varus vs Ezreal

    Varus
    -4.6%
    Tristana

    Varus vs Tristana

    Varus
    -5.1%
    Corki

    Varus vs Corki

    Varus
    -5.8%
    Kog'Maw

    Varus vs Kog'Maw

    Varus
    -5.9%
    Twitch

    Varus vs Twitch

    Varus
    -6.6%
    Ziggs

    Varus vs Ziggs