How to use Explosive Caltrops in Plunderstorm
With its powerful slow and damaging trigger effect, 
Explosive Caltrops is a
tremendously versatile ability that can turn the tide of battle in many
situations.
In the no-holds-barred brawls of Plunderstorm, sometimes the best way to get ahead is to watch your back - and no ability embodies this principle better than Explosive Caltrops.
These sneaky snares are the ultimate tool for any adventurer looking to control the battlefield and dictate the terms of engagement - from their unique rearward placement to their devastating damage potential, Explosive Caltrops are a must-have for anyone seeking to dominate in both solo and duo play. But wielding these booby-trapped beauties effectively requires more than just spamming traps and hoping for the best - from strategic placement to canny combos, there's a surprising amount of finesse involved in mastering this deceptively simple skill.
In this guide, we'll disarm the secrets of Explosive Caltrops virtuosity, from zoning out enemies to synergizing with allies and everything in between.
Kiting and Escaping
Explosive Caltrops' primary use is as a powerful kiting and escape tool. When activated, your character will backflip a short distance and scatter a field of caltrops behind them. Any enemy that tries to chase you through this field will trigger the caltrops, causing them to take damage and be slowed by 60% for 3 seconds.
This slow effect is one of the strongest in the game, and makes it extremely difficult for enemies to close the gap on you once you've laid down your caltrops. By repeatedly backflipping and refreshing your caltrop field, you can effectively kite melee enemies indefinitely, whittling them down with ranged attacks or DoTs while they struggle to reach you.
When using Explosive Caltrops to escape, try to create as much distance as possible before activating the ability. The further away you are when the caltrops are triggered, the more ground the enemy will have to cover while slowed, buying you more time to get away.
In solo play, Explosive Caltrops is your best friend when dealing with
aggressive melee players. If you're fighting in an open area, you can use
Explosive Caltrops to effectively neutralize melee enemies, keeping them
slowed while you burn them with ranged abilities like 
Rime
Arrow or 
Holy Shield. In more
enclosed spaces, look to create choke points with your caltrop fields,
forcing enemies to either take the slow or find another path to reach you.
Explosive Caltrops can be an invaluable peeling tool in duos. If your
partner is being focused by melee enemies, lay down a caltrop field. You
can also use Explosive Caltrops to set up kills on fleeing enemies.
Predict when an opponent is about to use a movement ability like
Faeform to escape and lay caltrops in their path to
secure a kill.
Zoning and Area Denial
In addition to its kiting power, Explosive Caltrops can also be used to control space and deny areas to the enemy team. The threat of the damaging slow effect forces opponents to think twice before chasing you through a caltrop field, effectively zoning them out of certain areas.
When using Explosive Caltrops for area denial, try to anticipate where the enemy team will want to go, and lay your caltrops accordingly. Pay attention to natural choke points like doorways and narrow corridors - a well-placed caltrop field in these locations can completely shut down an enemy advance.