History Main / Caltrops

* Available as a catalog item in ''Videogame/{{Roblox}}''. They do quite a bit of damage and cause their victim to play the death sound.

* ''Film/TheChallenge'' has the samurai-like OldMaster character (as played by Creator/ToshiroMifune) disabling some pursuing guards by dropping a dozen ninja spikes on the floor. AgonyOfTheFeet ensues for mooks.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfTianDing'' have these, depicted as tiny balls of spikes, as a not-too-common short-range weapon. When used, you throw them a handful at a time at the enemy immediately before you, dealing a decent damage given it's lack of distance compared to firearms.

** The moves Spikes and Toxic Spikes affect Pokémon 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 of 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.]]

** 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.]]

* ''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]].

* ''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 debuff that reduces speed and makes them take more damage; the main downside is that it can only target the back row of a formation.

* Kevin improvises these in ''Film/HomeAlone''. First, he uses tar to force Marv to take off his shoes, then puts a nail on the steps after said shoes are gone. If that wasn't enough, when Marv tries climbing in to Kevin's house through a window, Kevin's placed glass Christmas ornaments on the floor, which Marv also steps on.

* In ''VideoGame/ShovelKnight'', this is Donovan's standard subweapon when you play as him. [[spoiler:At least, before he became Specter Knight. He regains access to them if he collects every red skull in the game.]]

* The best line of defense in ''VideoGame/{{Deathtrack}}''.

** The series features spike strips used by various police agencies to stop wanted players. Across all games they appear in, they usually start getting deployed at 3 Star Wanted Levels and higher by either random foot patrolmen in the 3D era or police blockades in the HD eras. Naturally, the LemmingCops are all too happy to plow their own vehicles through the very same deployed spikes in their ever-relentless pursuit of the players regardless of their own safety.

** ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' features the [[CoolCar JB 700]], an Expy of the famous [[Franchise/JamesBond Aston Martin DB5]] which has amongst an array of spy movie-esque gadgets, caltrops dispensers in the rear bumper. In the mission "Pack Man", Franklin commandeers the JB 700 and uses its entire arsenal, including the caltrops dispensers against the Los Santos Police Department pursing the crew.

** It should be noted that, unlike their common depiction in media, tetsubishi were most definitely ''not'' weapons. While they could be used for several purposes (like ''all'' ninja tools), they were primarily used exactly like western caltrops: spread out across an area to make it harder to traverse quickly.

* 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. UK plugs, with their three thick pins that are tapered to a blunt point at the top, are another hazard if they are left on the floor pointing up.

* 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, as tested by the Mythbusters.

** In UsefulNotes/JuliusCaesar's circumvallation of Alesia, he planted a "garden" of these on both sides of his encircling walls: to keep the Gaulish chieftains in, and the relieving army out. It included hidden caltrops made of iron, followed up by spiked pits, and then upward-pointing branching stakes designed to take a horse in the chest. Followed by two trenches, one filled with water and one not, and a stockade built from the top of the far back of the second trench, which was pointed at the bottom, making it much more difficult to cross while under fire. Oh, and ballistae and scorpions were aimed into the trench as well. Have fun and stay safe, boys.

* In ''[[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin]]'' #80, Steph uses caltrops to blow the tires on the van carrying the gun runners as they try to leave with guns blazing out every window after shooting Star.

* Both Nioh titles allow the Player Character to ready & throw small groups of Caltrops at the floor. Though they deal very little damage, they come with an added side-effect of slowing down the enemy's movement. It even becomes possible to throw Bombs that explode into more Caltrops later on.

* 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.

* The ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' series features spike strips used by various police agencies to stop wanted players. Universally across all games, they usually start getting deployed at 3 Star Wanted Levels and higher by either random foot patrolmen in the 3D-era or police blockades in the HD-eras. Naturally, the LemmingCops are all too happy to plow their own vehicles through the very same deployed spikes in their ever-relentless pursuit of the players regardless of their own safety.

[[JustForFun/TropesExaminedByTheMythbusters Mythbusters tested their effectiveness]] in a police chase scenario and while they do work, what tends to happen is the Caltrops plug the hole they create in the tire, meaning their effective power tends to take a few minutes to kick in.

* In the Franchise/SherlockHolmes short story, "The Noble Bachelor," caltrops appear on a coat of arms ("Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable").

* In ''Anime/FutureGPXCyberFormula'', Kaga throws some of these on the ground to pop the tires of a driver who tries to sabotage a checkpoint machine during the Fireball race.

* In ''Anime/FutureGPXCyberFormula'', Kaga throws some of these on the ground to PopTheTires of a driver who tries to sabotage a checkpoint machine during the Fireball race.

* In ''Anime/FutureGPXCyberFormula'', Kaga throws some of these to PopTheTires of a driver who tries to sabotage a checkpoint machine during the Fireball race.