History Main / EliteMooks

** The third game has the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]], which tend to be common and not as easy to eliminate as the weak Grublins or Shadows, but still outmatched by stronger and bigger foes, such as Trolls. It also has "Elite Enemies" as optional, hidden but also extremely powerful variants of normal enemies wearing elemental-themed masks which must be removed with the proper breath weapon to make them vulnerable. Since they have their own health bar, they're more BossInMookClothing.

* ''Anime/UsagichanDeCue: Dekao is an "admonisher" (assassin) brought in when regular mooks don't get the job done.

* ''VideoGame/FarCry'':
** Elite Guard mercenaries are this for the human enemies, as they're all equipped with [=OICWs=] and automatic shotguns, are smarter than the grunts (and harder to sneak up on), and wear such heavy armor that their torsos are outright immune to basic assault rifle fire. For the trigens, there are [[SuperpoweredMooks invisible mutants]] that could only be seen through the night-vision goggles and the tall, rocket-launcher wielding mutants.

* ''Manga/DigimonVTamer01'' has Angemon for Lord [=HolyAngemon=]'s army, Boltmon for Demon's forces and [=NeoDevimon=] for Neo's. These generally act as a given MookLieutenant's trump card in the first arc of ''Anime/DigimonXrosWars''. The armies of the second arc's [[OlympusMons Death Generals]] are this relative to the rest of the [[TheEmpire Bagra Army]]. Subverted in most cases of the latter, however, as the heroes are much more powerful by this point and able to curb-stomp anyone who isn't a major villain.

* The giant mecha in the festival arc of ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' had their weaponry quietly upgraded to no longer fire mere [[ClothingDamage stripper rays]]. Apart from that they were indistuinguishable from their predecessors.

* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': The Eight Bullets of the [[TheYakuza Shie Hassaikai]] are essentially this. They do not seem to occupy a place much higher than [[{{Mooks}} normal grunts]] in their structure, but they are definitely far stronger and much more dangerous since they don't care whether they live or die.

** Both [[TheMafia Intergang]] and the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast the Secret Society of Super-Villains]] were secretly organized by ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} to act as his elite mooks on Earth in various 1970s comics, with the latter intended to replace the former. The Secret Society was reformed by Darkseid's pawn Libra for this reason in ''Comicbook/FinalCrisis'' [[ContinuityNod as well]]. Darkseid also has his own Elite on Apokolips, who stand above and beyond his Dog Soldiers and Parademons, though they're more of a QuirkyMinibossSquad.

** Another Marvel subversive group, Advanced Idea Mechanics, started as the Elite Mooks of HYDRA (aka THEM), being its super-science division; AIM itself mass-produced synthetic soldiers like its "chemical androids" and Adaptoids. ComicBook/{{HYDRA}} itself developed robotic soldiers called Dreadnoughts for this purpose, and in some continuities HYDRA itself started out as or becomes the Elite Mook organization working for the Comicbook/RedSkull.
** For more conventional criminals like Franchise/SpiderMan and Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} archfoe ComicBook/TheKingpin, [[{{Ninja}} the Hand]] frequently serves as a group of killers and enforcers a cut above the average mob wiseguy. The Hand usually [[HiddenAgendaVillain has its own plans]], though. Unsurprisingly, the Hand and HYDRA share a history and have alternately served as elite mooks for one another on separate occasions.

* Throughout the MLP FanFic ''FanFic/HarmonyTheory,'' Max Cash, one of the two [[BigBadEnsemble Big Bads]], had been mostly relying on hired-and occasionally brainwashed-thugs to do his bidding, sans his [[TheDragon Dragon]] and personnel body guard. But when its time to raid the estate of a politician with a lot of security, he brings out a small army of top dollar mercenaries [[spoiler: Who are brainwashed into being completely loyal and willing to die for him]] with him. [[spoiler: Unfortunately for him, a now fully grown Spike, makes sure they never get to show their true ability.]]

* The CIA agents in the ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'' fic ''FanFic/FallOfLiberty''.

* ''Videogame/AIWarFleetCommand:'' and ''AI War 2'': If one counts the regular starships both you and the AI throw around as mooks, then one could count two tiers of these: Guardians, who pick a strategy and stick to it potently and are usually found by the handful after the first few planets, and Dire Guardians, who are ''far'' stronger and are practically boss fights in the earlier parts of the game, outsizing even your flagships. Royalist-type [=AIs=] are characterized by having significantly more of both, and making them stronger to boot; this makes them one of the hardest types to face, as waves get extremely dangerous once they can start sending the big stuff and their planets are ironclad and need endless attrition to claim.

* Partway through ''Videogame/BattleZone1998'''s Soviet campaign, the standard American NSDF forces are replaced by the Black Dog squadron which fields heavily upgraded and [[NoseArt customized]] tanks compared to the rank-and-file NSDF troops. The Black Dogs [[LeaveNoSurvivors are far more brutal in their tactics]]. In the sequel, AI commanders will upgrade their forces once they have the tech base and resources to do so; ISDF tanks replace AT-Stabber cannons with more deadly SP-Stabbers, while the Scions get DeflectorShields.

* In ''[[Videogame/ModernWarfare Call of Cuty: Modern Warfare 2]]'', the last three missions involve fighting against [[PrivateMilitaryContractors Shadow Company]], an elite unit of mercenaries commanded by General Shepherd. They wear all-black uniforms, heavy body armor, and carry advanced weapons, and all of their communications are tight, terse, and professional, all of which emphasizes that they are very dangerous opponents. Compared with enemies in earlier levels, they respond faster, shoot more accurately, and take a couple more shots to kill.

* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' has the Balder Knights (also known as Elite Undead Soldiers) starting from Undead Parish. While most Undead Soldiers you face so far aren't much of a threat, Balder Knights intend to shock newbies into a much more careful playing style, as the swordsman-type Knights wield their iconic Balder Shield with rapid attacks from their Balder Straight Swords, while Fencer-type Knights are even faster, and is able to parry you, with usually disastrous consequence if they do. In NG+ onwards, stories of Balder Fencers one-hit-KO-ing experienced, but careless players abound.

* Each of ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' installments had these: from the Abyss in ''[=DMC3=]'' to Dream Runners in ''[=DmC=]'' remake.

* ''{{VideoGame/Iji}}'' had the [[spoiler: Komato]] Berserkers and Assassins as the elite varieties of simple troopers. The former had great health, carried powerful Shocksplinters for ranged attacks and Resonance Deflectors up close, and would reflect the missiles in front of them back at you. The latter had [[FragileSpeedster a lot less health]], but [[TeleportSpam teleported around like crazy]], had great variety of powerful moves and would reflect explosive projectiles regardless of direction.

* ''Videogame/PokemonCrystalKaizo'', a super-hard mode romhack, still has Cooltrainers embodying this trope, but additional examples comes from gym trainers, who uses Pokemon that the gym leaders might've used, and Team Rocket as an organization of elite criminals. The female rocket grunts count among their ranks, having some rarer or stronger Pokemon.

* ''Videogame/{{Sinjid}}'' has Mistwalkers, the foreign ninjas who kidnap your allies during the war arc. They are described as being incredibly deadly due to a very toxic poison they utilize, and they are excellent at their job; that poison will kill you in mere seconds if they hit you.

* ''{{VideoGame/Whiplash}}'': The Hazmat Hunters. They are the most powerful of the enemies and are considered Genron's elite force.

* ''{{VideoGame/Wolfenstein 2009}}'' had the the PoweredArmor Nazi troopers who could only be defeated by having the two lamps on their back shot. Then, there were elite mutants, including one that was completely invisible.
* The Terran State in ''[[Videogame/{{X}} X3: Terran Conflict]]'' has the AGI Task Force (ATF) Elite Mooks. The ATF have their own fleet of entirely [[CoolStarShip unique ship designs]], carry ridiculously powerful missiles for their [[MacrossMissileMassacre missile frigates]], and ATF ships will ''never'' bail out or surrender. Other races typically have their plain "Military" ships making up their Elite Mooks - if you were to attack the [[FishPeople Boron]], for example, you'd mostly be attacking their poorly armed Police and Border Control ships before the military shows up with much better equipped ships.
** The ridiculously powerful missiles were actually a [[GoodBadBugs typo]]. Missile Frigates carry anti-fighter missiles, and anti-capital missiles. The former are swarm missiles, which break into 8 smaller warheads when launched. The latter are intended to much larger, much longer ranged, but single fire missiles. Terran and ATF versions however were accidentally designated as Swarm Missiles. This was corrected in ''[[Videogane/{{X}} X3: Albion Prelude]]''.

** 5E has Tasha's, which has the Sidekick rules. Basically, a CR 1/2 monster, NPC, animal, or whatever, can take levels in Expert, which is rogue-like with a bit of Bard thrown in, a Spellcaster, who can become a Mage with the Wizard's spell-list, a Healer with the Cleric and Druid spell-lists, or a Prodigy with the Bard and Warlock spell-lists, and finally the Warrior, which is similar to a Champion Fighter with a bit of Barbarian thrown in. While not as fancy as the options a player gets, they can be useful to give parties appropiate foes in settings where a fancy counterpart wouldn't fit, like using leveled up guards and scouts to fight a party instead of using reskinned Knights and Archers. Alternativily, the DMG also has a section for applying class leveles to monsters, the example being applying barbarian levels to a werewolf, and how to calculate the CR there.

* ''Series/Daredevil2015'': A couple of Wilson Fisk's henchmen seem to fill this role, particularly the ones that are able to pose a challenge to Matt. Rance in the first episode of season 1 (the assassin sent to kill Karen in her apartment) is a KnifeNut and martial artist. John Healy in "Rabbit in a Snowstorm" similarly gives Matt a run for his money. The standout one is Benjamin "Dex" Poindexter, who is responsible for both of season 3's major character deaths (Father Lantom and Ray Nadeem), as well as a large number of minor character killings or hospitalizations (Ellison, Jasper Evans, etc) and whom manages to best Matt twice.

** The [[FacelessGoons masked guards]], Shang Tsung's personnel PraetorianGuard who can be found at strategic points in the various levels and implied to be offshoots of the samurai and will NoSell all your attacks, unless you counter their's first.
** The game also has [[DemonicSpiders The Shadow Priests]], who attack by summoning lightning down on you, firing energy balls, and using a magical choking attack the ''drains'' some of your health, can teleport, are immune to throw attacks and fatalities, can summon Tarkatan troops ''and'' buff them up with magic, and are often found guarding the portals you need to use to travel in pairs. Have fun.
** They're are also, the Red and Black Dragon Mercenaries you can find [[EnemyCivilWar battling each other]] in the wasteland, [[EnemyMine between working together]] for the "noble" cause of murdering you.
** Also they're are the the demonic troops you find throughout Outworld, who are significantly tougher than the Tarkatans, wear armor, use magically enhanced weapons, and come in four different varieties: the BattleBoomerang wielding captains, magical crossbow wielding archers, the demon handlers, who use a magical staff for both long range and close range attacks, and the Generals who wield ''flaming Naginatas''.

** In ''VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth'', each dungeon has an enemy type that appears alone and is considerably stronger than other enemies in the area. Examples include Burning Beetle in the first dungeon and Gorgeous King in the second. Not only they hit hard, has tons of HP, they also get to act twice per turn. In addition, they resist both [[OneHitKO Hama and Mudo spells]], which otherwise obliterate other random encounters.

** Also in ''4'', every major player in the Commonwealth has something that qualifies. The Brotherhood of Steel have their classic Brotherhood Knights and Paladins clad from head to toe in tough PoweredArmor; the Institute have the Coursers, which are basically Franchise/{{Terminator}} {{Exp|y}}ies with ludicrous stats and {{Badass Longcoat}}s; and the Railroad have their Heavies, who weave armour into their clothes and carry huge steam-powered nailguns. The [[WeHelpTheHelpless Minutemen]] (who are basically the player's personal Elite Mooks) don't have an equivalent, but [[ZergRush there is strength in numbers]], and their [[WeaponOfChoice Laser Muskets]] pack a massive punch. Even raiders have survivalist and veterans, the latter of which can border on BossInMookClothing in mid-level areas.

** The villains in ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuRanger'' have the aptly named Golem Soldiers as their standard set of Mooks, which get upgraded midway into the much stronger Dokiita Golem Soldiers, who are capable of self replication.

-->-- '''Dr. Robotnik''', ''[[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog Sonic Issue #74]]''

* ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' had the very infamous Artificial Chaos. Enemies found in the later stages of the Ark levels, they are robotic versions of Chaos, the god of destruction. [[GoneHorriblyRight They may actually be more effective at destroying players than the original]], with tentacles striking you with blinding speed, and frightening accuracy, and their only weak spot is protected somewhat by eyebeams, or in mech cases, their aquatic bodies blocking homing missiles. You can punch them, but otherwise, you have a split second before they damage you. Variants for Sonic can split apart and explode, making it difficult to homing attack the weakspot. Unlike most elite mooks, they thankfully die in one hit like any other, but they are regarded as the ultimate DemonicSpiders of the Sonic Adventure franchise for a reason. The ''extremely rare'' Vulcan Fighters are Elite Mooks for G.U.N. They hover and do rapid fire gunshots unlike any other enemy, and are actually really difficult to homing attack without getting hurt. Only Tails and Shadow can very rarely encounter them in Mission Street or Radical Highway, depending if certain Jets pass by.
* ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' has the Hard-Boiled Heavies, five customized Eggrobos that serve as bosses in some zones.

* Zull and Vinz Clortho from ''Film/Ghostbusters '' . They are intimidating and frightening by themselves, but ultimately they are not the the main villain .

** In ''Series/MashinSentaiKiramager'', the MoTWs are actually upgraded mooks, so they kinda fit here.

** In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' Collectors supplement their standard drones with harder-hitting Assassins and more defensive-minded Guardians. Harbinger can convert any of them, even the bog standard drones, into an [[SuperpoweredMooks Even-More-Elite]] Mook by ([[OverusedRunningGag sigh]]) '''[[VillainOverride ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL]]'''. Also, [[BodyHorror Scions]], which are three husks gruesomely fused together, and can drain your shields in one shot. But the worst offender has to be [[BossInMookClothing the Praetorian]], a [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot flying tank made up of THIRTY husks.]] Then, in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', under certain circumstances in multiplayer, Harbinger can possess Scions and Praetorians, turning them into a BossInMookClothing.

*** The [[DishingOutDirt Dai Li]] are the highly-trained SecretPolice of the Earth Kingdom, with their leader being the true power behind the throne.

* Witches from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' command several armies of familiars each, but all of them are generally measly RedShirt compared to the witches or magical girls who fight them. That is, until we get to ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMovieRebellion'', where the primary witch in the story possesses not just the typical armies of familiars, but fourteen elite familiars, each of which is at least as strong as a magical girl.