About Caitlyn's Traps

Hauling Ashe·Nov 14, 2016·2 votes·1,351 views

People complain about Caitlyn's free headshot on the trap snap all the time. But there is no nerf that will make people stop complaining.

As a Cait main, I have noticed this obsessive compulsion of players to step on her traps intentionally, even when the Cait is quite obviously within range. Whether it be Janna or Blitz, Varus or Trist, Jax or Graves, they all seem to think they can just step on my traps without being punished for it. It doesn't matter how oppressive I'm playing or how squishy they are. They will still step on them even if I haven't laid my traps in a position that hinders their movement.

WHY do people do this??? Would you step on a Teemo shroom if you knew it was there?

Stop complaining about Cait's traps if you're literally going out of your way to step on them.

13 Comments

NodirjonSattarovNov 14, 20162 votes

Caitlyn's traps are for zoning, most of the time anyway. Majority of the Caitlyn's I've played against aggressively attempt to place traps underneath my feet instead of using it as a zoning method. I love that you compared Caitlyn traps to Teemo shrooms. The counter play to Teemo shrooms are 1) sweep 2) don't step on them 3) clear them. The counter play to Caitlyn traps is to not step on them. That is the only option. I remember a moment in a game that a Cait barricaded me from walking to my turret. Maybe the people you play with try to clear the traps but in my elo it is best to do nothing since nothing is all you can do. You can also compare the traps to Nidalee traps. The difference is that Nidalee has to be in melee range to proc most of her damage, the trap itself doesn't snare for a second, and there are not "crit" multipliers on Nidalee abilities (crit multipliers as in an AP multiplier). I wouldn't consider the below 40% health double damage a multiplier because its conditional. Jhin traps are another comparison. His, however, can be cleared and easily walked out of to avoid damage. Let me know what you think.

Hauling AsheNov 14, 20161 votes

As I have stated already in this thread, I'm not for or against her traps being negated if under turret. I feel like most of her abilities are highly telegraphed so that's her one big advantage, but I can understand it also feels unfair to be zoned away from your own objectives. Personally I just walk around the traps when I'm up against a Cait. She only gets 3 in the early game, so it's not hard to avoid. But maybe that's just because I'm a Cait main and know her output.

This thread is just about why people step on traps on purpose and then type WTF in all chat like they didn't expect me to shoot them.

afmghostNov 14, 20162 votes

Here is my input on this matter: While they snare and can give Caitlyn a free longer ranged headshot, they are very weak by themselves. When I play against a Caitlyn and I know there isn't anyone around me I will step on the traps to get rid of them. In a controlled environment, you can step on them with very little punishment. During a fight, stepping on them could result in taking serious (if not terminal) damage. Dodging them during said team fight can be tougher if you aren't paying attention, or if it means making it harder to flee. They also only stand for about three minutes (it might be four or five, correct me if I'm wrong), and it has no AOE effect. This makes them significantly more tolerable than the infamous Teemo mushrooms that can kill the beefiest of tanks with ease. They are also never cloaked or camouflaged, and do not leave behind any DOT effect. Granted, this is a basic ability, not an ultimate. Ultimates should be more powerful as that is their design. However, Teemo mushrooms can be shot for a reason: they alone could otherwise kill you even when you're healthy.

Other potential theory: if you are in bronze, traps work like charms. When I play Thresh and use my Q, the enemy sometimes dodges it. 95% if the time, however, my opponent thinks, "Ooooo, shiny. Must grab." Needless to say, certain traps work like I do (much more than my co-workers).

Helpful tip: If you're Nocturne, you can use your w and step on any trap, Caitlyn or Teemo. They lose the trap, you leave unharmed, and your attack speed increases for a few seconds. If youre feeling cocky, thank the player who placed said trap.

Hauling AsheNov 14, 20161 votes

Finally someone who actually responds to the point of my post! [slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

Teemo shrooms may be counterable, but you can only use sweeper lens for a short duration and in the middle of a battle, that doesn't help much. The new control wards give a little help now, but the shroom bounce is even more effective than Cait traps. You don't get permaslowed by them and they don't inherently damage you.

Caitlyn also has to be in range of her traps to provide this damage, which can actually work against a stupid or overzealous Caitlyn. If you're playing against one of these Caits, it's a good idea to have your tank step on one to draw her into a vulnerable position!

Also, just FYI, Cait traps last only 90 seconds. 3 minutes sounds absurdly long even to me! D:

ShadòwNov 14, 20161 votes

thing is you can't remove them without walking into them or waiting.

even under your own turret

and that is just pure BS. they should be targetable at least under your turrets

Hauling AsheNov 14, 20161 votes

I'm not saying you're wrong. But this happens no matter where the traps are. Whether I have laid them in open mid lane or at my own base, they intentionally will walk into them like it's a game to see how much free damage you can take without dying.

ShadòwNov 14, 20161 votes

the posts about the traps are mainly about the fact that they can zone you out of your own turret BECAUSE the damage is so high when you step into them. so it's mainly not about the damage it does, but about the zoning potential.

maybe some people walk into the traps intentionally when Cait is near even if they shouldn't do it, but that's not what the problem with Cait is.

Hauling AsheNov 14, 20161 votes

Again, I'm not saying you're wrong about zoning you out from your own turret. It's just this literal insanity. I had a Graves in a recent game keep doing it in open lane even though I punished him for it every time.

But maybe that's why he lost his cigar.

Ravenous HowlsNov 14, 20161 votes

{quoted}

thing is you can't remove them without walking into them or waiting.

even under your own turret

and that is just pure BS. they should be targetable at least under your turrets

Exactly this. Her traps are one of the most frustrating to deal with b/c you can not remove them from play and they have a lot of power in that they are a root and give her a lot of damage. I think the traps should be limited to 3 all game as well or at least have some ability to disable them when she is trying to siege or counter siege.

The problem with your post is that you are saying you don't understand why people step on them, but you've been answered by many here with that it is the only way to clear them from the field. While it is not ideal but sometimes it is the only way to allow your team to get some breathing room but then it crits so hard that you lose half your HP. So I think it's pretty clear why but what is not so clear is why it should be the only way.

YoobaNov 14, 20161 votes

Give Caitlyn traps the Azir treatment.

Hauling AsheNov 14, 20161 votes

I'm not saying you're wrong, but that's not the point of my post. It's this obsession with stepping on them even when they're clearly not in the way.

Mysticman89Nov 14, 20161 votes

I mean I'll step on them if I know you're out of headshot range, since they do no damage and I want to clear the area for later when you are in range and they'd be an issue.

Still, some people (probably low elo people) are probably oblivious to the trap changes and don't even realise it procs a longrange headshot (instead of doing a little bit of magic damage like before). After a certain elo though people certainly avoid them, and people just take issue with the fact that with 5 traps, avoiding them means not defending a turret at all or similar oppressive levels of zone.