Varus vs Tristana ADC Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Varus

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ADC

Tristana

Varus vs Tristana

Confidence highUpdated Jun 7, 2026

Overview

Varus wins by punishing Tristana's last-hit approach with charged (Q) poke and (E) slows before she can engage.
Tristana thrives on level 2 all-ins and turret pressure, so Varus must control wave state to limit her jump windows.

Trading pattern

Step forward to auto and detonate blight stacks with (W) when Tristana commits to last hitting low-health minions without support threat.
Use (E) to slow Tristana when she walks up for CS, then follow with charged (Q) if support cooldowns allow.
Avoid charging (Q) when (W) is available or enemy support controls brush and can punish your forward position.

Danger windows

Tristana's level 2 all-in with support follow-up is lethal; avoid extended trades until (R) or support peel is ready.
When Tristana uses (W) forward without reset, punish immediately as her all-in threat drops.
Respect enemy support control of brush or engage zones that can follow Tristana's jump for kill setups.

Early game

Use the first three waves to hold a thin wave near your tower to reduce Tristana's jump angles.
Punish Tristana's last hits on caster minions with (Q) when her (W) jump is down and support is out of range.
Avoid charging (Q) fully if enemy support threatens engage or Tristana is ready to jump in with (W).

Power spikes

Level 6 (R) adds pick threat and peel; hold (R) to punish Tristana's jump or disengage her all-in.
First completed damage item strengthens poke and on-hit burst, enabling safer wave pressure before dragon or turret fights.
Tristana's level 2 spike with (W) jump and (E) burst demands cautious positioning until you can punish her cooldowns.

Win conditions

Convert poke damage and last-hit punishment into forced recalls to crash waves and take turret plates.
Use (R) pick threat to secure bot priority and set up dragon vision and objective control.
Scale into mid-game teamfights where Varus's poke and root control DPS windows against immobile targets like Tristana.