History Main / Caltrops

* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' first added a [https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=1640 Wall of Caltrops] in an expansion, which is a defend only-creature that was considered subpar (because there's much better options available), but at least had a funny quote at the bottom. [https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=15252 Calrops] as added in a later expansion, affects all creatures for both sides, and interestingly even if they fly.

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Vriska from ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' has [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=004097 trouble]] with four-sided die as well.
[[/folder]]

* ''VideoGame/DarkestDungeon'': A little while after release, the Bounty Hunter's "Hook and Slice" attack got replaced by tossing a handful of caltrops directly at the target. The victim takes minor base damage, [[DamageOverTime bleeding damage]], and gets a big speed debuff; the main downside is that it can only target the very back of a formation.

* Any TabletopGames player who has stepped on a d4 understands acutely how these things are supposed to work. As has any kid, or parent whose kids didn't put away their toys, who's stepped on a Lego piece.

** Caltrops were in the rules as far back as First Edition. Some are even {{Clockwork Creature}}s. As of Fifth Editions release, caltrops are treated as an item that anyone can throw into a five-foot square on the ground. Anything that doesn't carefully step through the caltrops has a chance to take a small amount of piercing damage and instantly stop moving.

* The standard pyramid-shaped four-sided die is sometimes jokingly referred to as such, especially if you've just trodden on one barefoot. Another popular name for them is the "Sonofabitch". Most modern d4s at least have flattened corners. Not so with the early boxed sets of ''Basic Dungeons & Dragons'' (the one that came out ''before'' what we now call "1st Edition"). The d4 that came with that set was easily sharp enough to put an eye out.

** Caltrops were in the rules as far back as 1[[superscript:st]] Edition. Some are even {{Clockwork Creature}}s.

* In ''Anime/KemonoFriends'', Panther Chameleon has these as part of her general {{Ninja}} motif. However, rather than using them to injure her opponents she throws them to try and [[NonLethalWarfare pop balloons on their heads]]. She succeeds...[[HoistByHisOwnPetard and then a stray caltrop pops her own balloon]].

* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': Aizawa uses these in during his fight against Todoroki and Yaoyorozu; to incapacitate Todoroki, Aizawa leaves him hanging in the air and drops caltrops on the ground below him to ensure he won't escape.

* In ''Manga/TokyoShinobiSquad'', Jin throws a handful of these on the ground to pop the tires of the shinobi squad hounding En at the start the story.

* When the players get angry in ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable'' and start throwing dice at one another, a common battlecry is "No 4-siders! No 4-siders!" (See Tabletop Games below.) There is also a punishment in the group called "The Walk of a Thousand Four-siders".

* ''Film/KillerConstable'' has a fight scene at night where the titular Constable, Master Leng, gets ambushed in his bedroom by two assassins. As Leng is wearing only his socks, one of the asssassins then spills a pouch of spiked ball bearings all over the bedroom floor.

* Literature/{{Sharpe}} uses these in the book version of ''Sharpe's Rifle'', as a defence against Co
** , lonel de l'Eclin's cavalry.

* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'': one of tools Catwoman can use.

* In ''VideoGame/GuildWars2'', the thief profession has two caltrop abilities: a utility skill to drop caltrops around the thief which cause bleeding damage and reduced movement for enemies, and a unlockable trait that causes this to happen automatically when the thief dodges. In neither case is the thief or allies affected.

* Caltrops are a hold item in Kongregate's online game ''Videogame/{{Kongai}}'' where they do 14 damage if you or your oppponent switched out if a character holding that item is in play (it used to be 10 damage).

** The moves Spikes and Toxic Spikes affect Pokemon when opposing trainer tries to switch {{Mons}}, unless they're of the Flying type, have the Levitate or Magic Guard abilities, or (in the case of Toxic Spikes), immune to [[UniversalPoison poisoning]]. A double layer or Toxic Spikes will badly poison the target. Spikes was even ''called'' Caltrops in the Japanese version. [[spoiler: Poison types that aren't also one of the above are able to neutralize Toxic Spikes.]]

* ''Videogame/ShadowWarrior'' features these as an useable item: Lo Wang can get a box with three charges that can be deployed at will. Certain traps also scatter oodles of these around when triggered. They don't tell friend from foe, though, and if necessary they can be destroyed with explosives.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse2013'' short "Three Legged Race", Huey, Dewey and Louie use jacks as caltrops to sabotage the other racers. They puncture Horace and Clarabelle's feet, causing them to deflate.

*** The second time happened when they met the more traditional [[SpikedWheels scythed chariots]] in their wars against the Hellenistic kingdoms. While already declining on its own due to the creation of effective cavalry and infantry formations to resist their charges, the scythed chariots could occasionally pose a danger to an unprepared force (in fact a Roman army was nearly ''routed'' by a sudden charge that caught them with their pants down). That very army had inflicted the worst humiliation to scythed chariots in the history of warfare just a few weeks before, until the Romans brought back their caltrops. Once they did, the chariot charge would always stop abruptly and the Romans would calmly walk to the enemy to slaughter both the horses and the charioteers.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulus_terrestris Goatheads]] [[TropeNamer are the plants which give Caltrops their name]], and are a pain in the ass for bikers everywhere, since they love to stick in tires and cause them to go completely flat. The fact that they grow fast, grow almost everywhere in the world and prefer dry climates where bikers not only flock to but people are also likely to go barefoot does not help matters.

* One thing to note about modern AntiVehicle caltrops is that they're most efficient when hollow to let air out. The variety with solid spikes will also work, but won't empty tubeless tires as quickly, because they also act as plugs.

*** The second time happened when they met the more traditional [[SpikedWheels scythed chariots]] in their wars against the Hellenistic kingdoms. While already declining on its own due to the creation of effective cavalry and infantry formations to resist their charges, the scythed chariots could occasionally pose a danger to an unprepared force (in fact a Roman army was nearly ''routed'' by a sudden charge that caught them with their pants down. That very army had inflicted the worst humiliation to scythed chariots in the history of warfare just a few weeks before, until the Romans brought back their caltrops. Once they did, the chariot charge would always stop abruptly and the Romans would calmly walk to the enemy to slaughter both the horses and the charioteers.

[[folder:Film -- Animated]]

* The Dodge Interceptor from ''Literature/FreewayFighter'' comes armed with three spike canisters, which can be used to puncture tyres of pursuing enemy vehicles.

* Literature/{{Sharpe}} uses these in the book version of ''Sharpe's Rifle'', as a defence against Colonel de l'Eclin's cavalry.

* In an episode of ''Series/TheFlash1990'', the second Nightshade uses them to stop the Flash from pursuing him.

** When the players get angry in ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable'' and start throwing dice at one another, a common battlecry is "No 4-siders! No 4-siders!"
*** There is also a punishment in the group called The Walk of a Thousand Four-siders.
** Vriska from ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' has [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=004097 trouble]] with them as well.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': Caltrops were in the rules as far back as 1[[superscript:st]] Edition. Some are even {{Clockwork Creature}}s.

* Batman uses bat-shaped ones in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanUnderTheRedHood''.
* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': Doofenshmirtz tries to use this trick during a race. It backfires because the caltrops come from the ''front'' of his car.

* Usopp from ''Manga/OnePiece'' sometimes uses these, and in one of the VideoGames, he throws them on the ground as an attack.
* Early in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', Kakashi uses some of these to prevent Zabuza from running over to attack him while he was open.
* In ''Manga/{{Gintama}}'', Gintoki and Kagura end up becoming ninjas in order to help rescue Elizabeth in a particular story arc, and are provided with these to shake off some pursuers. However, they have no clue as to how to use them properly and start throwing them directly at their pursuers, which does slow them down still, but not much.
* In ''Anime/KemonoFriends'', Panther Chameleon has these as part of her general {{Ninja}} motif. However, rather than using them to injure her opponents she throws them to try and [[NonLethalWarfare pop balloons on their heads]]. She succeeds...[[HoistByHisOwnPetard and then a stray caltrop pops her own balloon]].
* In ''Manga/DragonBall'', Ninja Murasaki spreads these on the ground to prevent Goku from chasing him. Goku tries to follow him anyway and hurts his feet. He looks around and finds some wooden sandals that he can use to walk over them safely.
* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': Aizawa uses these in during his fight against Todoroki and Yaoyorozu; to incapacitate Todoroki, Aizawa leaves him hanging in the air and drops caltrops on the ground below him to ensure he won't escape.

* ''Film/LesTontonsFlingueurs'': After Theo tricks Fernand into driving a truck of bootleg alcohol to set a trap for him (and blame the Wolfonis), his goons first drop a box of caltrops over the road to make the truck crash, before trying to gun Fernand down.
* Film/JamesBond's CoolCar from ''Film/TomorrowNeverDies'' has the ability to drop a whole bunch of these to pop enemy tires and mess up pursuit. See JustForFun/TropesExaminedByTheMythBusters for a report on how well that would really work. Bond gets double points for driving over his own caltrops, and fixing and reinflating the tires with just the press of a button!
* ''Film/KillerConstable'' has a fight scene at night where the titular Constable, Master Leng, gets ambushed in his bedroom by two assassins. As Leng is wearing only his socks, one of the asssassins then spills a pouch of spiked ball bearings all over the bedroom floor.

%%* It's fairly common for scattered jacks to play this role in kid's films for AmusingInjuries among the parents.
%% Generic example.

* In ''Film/TheAggressionScale'', Owen uses jacks as improvised caltrops in his [[TrapMaster series of traps]]. He must have sharpened the tips, given how far they stick into Lloyd's flesh.
* ''Film/DeathRace''. Among the various [[WeaponizedCar weapons used by the participants]] in the eponymous race.

* The Dodge Interceptor from ''Literature/FreewayFighter'' comes armed with three spike canisters, which can be used to puncture tyres of pursuing enemy vehicles.
* Literature/{{Sharpe}} uses these in the book version of ''Sharpe's Rifle'', as a defence against Colonel de l'Eclin's cavalry.

* Early in ''Literature/TheHighCrusade'', after the dust settles from foraying ''into a hostile alien spaceship,'' the invaders, who ''were'' quite caught by surprise, are mildly remarked to have not prepared any caltrops.
* Caltrops smeared with poison are one of the defenses improvised during the Siege of Chyrellos in ''Literature/TheElenium''. This was particularly effective against the Rendorish mercenaries due to their footwear mostly consisting of thinsoled sandals.

* ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'' has secondary Rider Ryusei Sakuta using caltrops for laughs on a very clingy and amourous girl that has fallen for our primary hero Gentaro Kisaragi. [[HilarityEnsues And that's just was the beginning]].
* In an episode of ''Series/TheFlash1990'', the second Nightshade uses them to stop the Flash from pursuing him.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': Caltrops were in the rules as far back as 1[[superscript:st]] Edition. Some are even {{Clockwork Creature}}s.
* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'': High-Tech mentions that a cheap way to make them more dangerous was to [[PoisonedWeapons cover them in dung.]]

* The best line of defense in ''Deathtrack''.
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''
** The moves Spikes and Toxic Spikes affect Pokemon when opposing trainer tries to switch {{Mons}}, unless they're of the Flying type, have the Levitate or Magic Guard abilities, or (in the case of Toxic Spikes), immune to [[UniversalPoison poisoning]]. A double layer or Toxic Spikes will badly poison the target. Spikes was even ''called'' Caltrops in the Japanese version. [[spoiler: Poison types that aren't also one of the above are able to neutralize Toxic Spikes.]]
** It's possible to think of Stealth Rock as floating caltrops, seeing as they can also hurt Flying-types (for massive damage, too, thanks to ElementalRockPaperScissors).
* In the 6th ''VideoGame/BloonsTowerDefense'' game, the Ninja Monkey can drop Caltrops which serve the same role as spikes.
* Caltrops are a hold item in Kongregate's online game ''Kongai'' where they do 14 damage if you or your oppponent switched out if a character holding that item is in play (it used to be 10 damage).
* Part of the Scout's arsenal in ''VideoGame/TeamFortressClassic''. Apart from doing a little damage, they also greatly slow down the victim.

* Their use is inverted in ''Thievery'', a GameMod for ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament''. The tough and armored guard team can set caltrops in order to damage and slow down members of the evasive thief team. Guards are immune to their own caltrops.
* ''ShadowWarrior'' features these as an useable item: Lo Wang can get a box with three charges that can be deployed at will. Certain traps also scatter oodles of these around when triggered. They don't tell friend from foe, though, and if necessary they can be destroyed with explosives.
--> "Who put these here? Ow!"
* One of the weapons available in ''VideoGame/MiniNinjas''.
* Used by Burglars in ''VideoGame/TheLordOfTheRingsOnline''.
* ''VideoGame/IzunaLegendOfTheUnemployedNinja'': Izuna can scatter caltrops to damage whatever steps on the square next (possibly herself, if the player's not careful).

* A mainstay of the ''VideoGame/{{Tenchu}}'' series, caltrops do a small amount of damage and stun anyone (including the player) who steps on them for a short time.
* ''VideoGame/{{Shinobido}}'' features makibishi as part of your Ninja equipment along with shuriken, grappling hooks, five-colored rice and various explosive stuff. Those caltrops though [[DeathOfAThousandCuts can actually kill enemies]], but it takes some time...
* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations'': caltrop ''[[TrickBomb bombs]]''
* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'': one of tools Catwoman can use.
* Caltrops are one of the trap types you can craft and deploy in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins''. If standard caltrops aren't good enough, you can also create and use poisoned caltrops for extra damage.
* If your ninja in ''VideoGame/ShogunTotalWar'' and ''VideoGame/TotalWarShogun2'' are detected, they will scatter a handful of caltrops behind them in an attempt to slow down the pursuers. It is often highly effective. Fun to watch, too.
* The Chill Spike from ''VideoGame/MegaMan10'' works like a spike strip (see RealLife below), damaging enemies that move onto it. Not surprisingly, it is effective against the robot/motorbike transformer Nitro Man, in the sense that it hurts his tires.
** While he did not have access to them in ''VideoGame/MegaMan3'', noted ninja Shadow Man gains the ability to throw caltrops in ''VideoGame/MegaMan2ThePowerFighters''.

* An absolutely essential tool in the arsenal of "Grey morality" Avatars in ''VideoGame/UltimaVII''. Placed properly, you could use them to knock out mages for ease of stealing the potions they somehow managed to produce from nothing. Also a good way to knock out dragons for one-hit KO experience grinding. In the ''[[VideoGame/UltimaVIIPartII sequel]]'', it was a way to get easy victories(and thus quicker/better training) in the arena of Monitor.

* Some of the black-clad ninja in ''VideoGame/BadDudes'' toss ''makibishi''. If you don't have a weapon, you can low-kick them out of the way. (If you've got the nunchucks, you can possibly fire upwards at them from a lower level. If you've got the knife, you suck.)
* One of the standard wall defenses in ''Kingdoms of Camelot'' on Facebook. Best against mounted troops.
* Caltrops are one of the many traps that are scattered around the grounds in ''VideoGame/DungeonsOfDredmor''. The ones that do higher damage tend to be made of magical elements, such as Aetheral energy or Dragonsbreath.
* In ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'', one of [[TheGunslinger Erron]] [[CombatPragmatist Black's]] special moves sees him drop caltrops on the floor. They stop running opponents cold and do small but steady damage when they're on top of them.
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' has caltrops appear as a type of terrain hazard, slowing down units trying to walk through them and dealing damage to everyone who stands on them at the beginning of turn.

* In ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'', Demon Hunters can drop caltrops that damage and slow down enemies who step close to them.
* Available as a catalog item in ''Roblox''. They do quite a bit of damage and cause their victim to play the death sound.
* In ''VideoGame/Gamer2'', the police enemies have laid out caltrops in their sector. If Hailey steps on them, she'll lose her deflector plate.
* ''VideoGame/DarkestDungeon'': A little while after release, the Bounty Hunter's "Hook and Slice" attack got replaced by tossing a handful of caltrops directly at the target. The victim takes minor base damage, [[DamageOverTime bleeding damage]], and gets a big speed debuff; the main downside is that it can only target the very back of a formation.
* The Kishu enemy units in ''Videogame/MarvelPuzzleQuest'' uses the Caltrops ability to deploy trap tiles, that once matched, hurt the whole player team.

* ''Film/KillerConstable'' has a fight scene at night where the titular Constable, Master Leng, gets ambushed in his bedroom by two assassins.As Leng is wearing only his socks, one of the asssassins then spills a pouch of spiked ball bearings all over the bedroom floor.

** The moves Spikes and Toxic Spikes affect Pokemon when opposing trainer tries to switch {{Mons}}, unless they're of the Flying type, have the Levitate or Magic Guard abilities, or (in the case of Toxic Spikes), immune to [[UniversalPoison poisoning]]. A double layer or Toxic Spikes will badly poison the target. Spikes was even ''called'' Caltrops in the Japanese version.

-->-- '''Todoroki''' (to Aizawa), ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia''

** Conina in ''Discworld/{{Sourcery}}'' uses these, though they're not explicitly referred to as such.
** Caltrops are among the ninja-esque equipment included in trainee Assassin Teppic's comically-extended LockAndLoadMontage at the beginning of ''Discworld/{{Pyramids}}''. In his final examination, he also has to avoid caltrops he suspects are poisoned.