/dev speaking here. Trip mine is your friend! When you see that purple boss lurking at the end of your mission laughing at you, dont quit, PREPARE!
Go to the nearest corner and plant several trip mines, when 3-5 mines are down, throw some caltrops and snipe the boss. When he turns the corner he is in for a BIG surprise : ).
It help dramatically if you slot Trip mine with 2 accuracy SO's since you will normally be using it against higher level enemies and TD doesnt affect it.
If no corner is available, caltrops and an Auto Turret work Nicely when available.