Caltrops

Active Skill · Defensive · Demon Hunter

5 Runes
From level 4

Effect

Cost: 6 Discipline

Lay a trap of caltrops on the ground that activates when an enemy approaches. Once sprung, the caltrops Slow the movement of enemies within 12 yards by 60%. This trap lasts 6 seconds.

Runes

5 Runes

Hooked Spines

from level 12 · Physical damage

Increase the slowing amount to 80%.
Torturous Ground

from level 18 · Physical damage

When the trap is sprung, all enemies in the area are immobilized for 2 seconds.
Jagged Spikes

from level 28 · Physical damage

Enemies in the area also take 270% weapon damage as Physical over 6 seconds.
Carved Stakes

from level 41 · Physical damage

Reduce the cost of Caltrops to 3 Discipline.
Bait the Trap

from level 54 · Physical damage

Become empowered while standing in the area of effect, gaining an additional 10% Critical Hit Chance.

The proc coefficient scales the chance of on-hit effects (e.g. legendary powers, gems, Life per Hit) for each hit of the skill. Game files, version 2.8.0.

Caltrops

Caltrops is a defensive Discipline skill with which you lay a trap that heavily slows approaching enemies. As a control and kiting tool it's ideal for holding enemy groups in place, creating space, or slowing pursuers while you fire from a safe distance. It thus rounds out the Demon Hunter's defensive repertoire with an anticipatory, area-covering component.

Among the runes, Jagged Spikes is worthwhile if you want to use the trap not just for control but also as an extra damage source, since enemies in the area take damage over its duration. If you run low on resources, Carved Stakes noticeably lowers the Discipline cost and lets you lay traps more often, while Bait the Trap can raise your critical hit chance while you fight within the area, which suits builds chasing pure damage gain.

Hooked Spines and Torturous Ground

Caltrops is available from level 4. Two early runes strengthen the control:

Hooked Spines (level 12): the slow rises from 60 to 80%.
Torturous Ground (level 18): when the trap springs, every enemy in the area is immobilized for 2 seconds.

The base values: 6 Discipline, a slow on all enemies within 12 yards, and a 6-second duration. Carved Stakes halves the cost to 3 Discipline.

Bait the Trap in practice

In practice, Caltrops is run with Bait the Trap (level 54): while you stand inside the area yourself, you gain an extra 10% Critical Hit Chance. The trap becomes an empowerment zone you deliberately step into. The Custom Engineering passive doubles the duration, so you need to re-lay it less often.

Natalya's Vengeance and Helltrapper

The Natalya's Vengeance set is built around Caltrops: with 2 pieces, Spike Trap deals 100% increased damage to enemies affected by your Caltrops, and each detonation restores 2 Discipline. With 4 pieces the explosions blast enemies toward the nearest Caltrops, and laying a Spike Trap grants 75% damage reduction. The hand crossbow Helltrapper has a 7–10% chance on hit to summon a Spike Trap, Caltrops or Sentry.

Since Caltrops slows enemies, it also meets the condition of Cull the Weak, which increases damage against Slowed enemies.

by eRnstl