History Main / EliteMooks

* Near the climax of ''Film/TheHeroicOnes'', when Li Chun-Hsiao and his army are winning the penultimate battle, the enemy forces parts way for the Bladesman Unit - twenty highly-trained [[BladeOnAStick halberd-wielding experts]], who puts up a far more competent fighht than the regular soldiers. They manage to kill many of Li's men until Li takes on the twenty in an extended spear-vs-halberd duel.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'', Syndrome doesn't simply hire DumbMuscle for his armed guards. Many are trained to handle a super threat or potential ones. When seeing two stranded kids on the island, the guards attempt to hold them at gunpoint and detain them, rightly suspecting they're not here for a vacation. A few just won't give up on chasing Dash all over the terrain, even as he accumulates a body count. Violet attempts to take one on with a stick and her invisibility powers, but he forces her to retreat into the nearby lake and tracks her location using dirt to shoot her. The family has to team up to stand a fighting chance against them.

*** Elite choices vary between specialized units tailored for a specific purpose and simply better-armed and more expensive versions of the army's [[JackOfAllStats core troops]]. Space Marines have Veterans, Chaos Space Marines have Chosen, Orks have Nobz, Eldar have Dire Avengers (elite guardians), Dark Eldar have Trueborn (elite raiders), Necrons have Immortals (elite warriors), and so on and so on. All the Chaos Gods have daemons like this.

Not to be confused with the generally solitary GiantMook, the HeavilyArmoredMook or the SurprisinglyEliteCannonFodder. Compare EliteArmy, which is what the Elite Mooks may make up. Also compare MookCommander, which has a main purpose of buffing other mooks but usually fulfills this role as well. Compare the PraetorianGuard as well, which are variants that personally protect the king or other head of government, although those are not necessarily evil. Contrast the KingMook, which is a boss version of a typical Mook, and the MookLieutenant, which is a higher ranking mook, who doesn't need to be an Elite Mook to become one.

** The role of elite mooks is filled by the Hana Kunoinchi Gumi, five cats that were turned into women and give powers similar to the Kakurangers. They are not quite as powerful as the Kakurangers but are tough enough that they occasionally are able to get the upper hand against them and even end up surviving until the very last episode, long after their creator was killed.

** ''Film/JohnWickChapter3Parabellum'' has the High Table soldiers that [[TheHeavy the Adjudicator]] sends to [[spoiler: assault the Continental]] at the climax. They are [[HeavilyArmoredMooks covered head-to-toe in heavy body armor]], making it near impossible to take them down with Wick's usual GunFu, and which enable them to [[CurbStompBattle slaughter]] [[spoiler: [[RedShirtArmy Continental security]]]].

* In ''Film/JohnWickChapter2'', at the end when John is closing in on Santino, [[TheDragon Ares]] shows up with a quartet of well-trained elite bodyguards. [[OneManArmy Unlike the dozens of mooks John mowed through earlier]], they have armor, assault rifles, and move and fight as a well-coordinated team that John has to use careful tactics to take down.
* ''Film/JohnWickChapter3Parabellum'' has the High Table soldiers that [[TheHeavy the Adjudicator]] sends to [[spoiler: assault the Continental]] at the climax. They are covered head-to-toe in heavy body armor, making it near impossible to take them down with Wick's usual GunFu, and which enable them to [[CurbStompBattle slaughter]] [[spoiler: [[RedShirtArmy Continental security]]]].

* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'' features, in the ninth season, a flamethrower-wielding soldier who manages to give a couple of the top Freelancers a tough fight. Lampshaded by Wash when he first appears: "What the fuck is with this guy?" Later in the same mission, a few jetpack-equipped soldiers prove a challenge.
** The flamethrower equipped soldier, referred to as Sharkface because of the decorations on his armor, is just one member of an elite squad among the Insurrection. The others appear in season nine and ten, and include TheLeader, who uses a pair of collapsible tomahawks that he can use hand to hand, or accurately throw great distances. He’s also [[spoiler: C.T.’s lover, and after her death in season ten, he takes her identity, setting up his reappearance in the chronologically later season seven.]], [[TheBrute The sleeveless soldier]], who physically can match any of the freelancers but [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter Maine]]. Demo Man, who holds a grudge against the freelancers for causing him to lose an arm the first time they meet face to face, TheHeart, who is a obsessed with knives and is a rival to Carolina, the ColdSniper, and the twins, two creepy, mostly silent soldiers that carry [[GatlingGood miniguns]].
** Sharkface returns in Season 13, having [[NotQuiteDead survived]] his initial encounter with the Freelancers, and [[ItsPersonal seeking revenge for the death of his squad]]. He joins Felix and Locus in the BigBadDuumvirate in the final season of the Chorus Trilogy, but unlike the other two he’s still more of an EliteMook, as he wears the same armor as the rest of the space pirates, but with red trim.

* ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'': has the heavy-weapons HYDRA soldiers, who unlike the rank and file troops, actually manage to at the very least, back the heroes into a corner every time they appear.

** Despite their prominence in the original trilogy, stormtroopers are this for the Empire. Otherwise they use regular Imperial Army troopers (the dudes with the funny hats in the Death Star prison block). Oddly enough, many works in the Star Wars 'verse (including but not limited to video games) depict stormtroopers as the rank-and-file soldiers instead, with no mention of the actual troopers.

*** The Fire Nation also had the Royal Procession, a group of elite Firebenders who accompanied Azula in order to capture Zuko and Iroh. Unfortunately for them, their only chance to prove themselves was against Iroh who took out all 12-15 of them without breaking a sweat. Furthermore Azula soon decided that this group allowed no element of surprise and instead formed a smaller more elite group with Mai and Ty Lee.

** The Pacifista Units became this after the TimeSkip. Before, the one that the Straw Hats defeated was a legitimate boss, but then they were hit with [[DegradedBoss degradation]] two years later. Justified as those were outdated models and it's stated that there are actually upgraded Pacifistas now[[note]]In ''One Piece'', unless a cyborg -such as the Pacifista- is modified, they cannot grow stronger[[/note]], meaning that there's now Elite ''Elite'' Mooks. [[spoiler:And then the Seraphims, newer and much more effective Pacifistas, are deployed...]]

** Harribel's Fraccion fit this trope best of all. Why? They're by FAR the most effective of ANY Fraccion shown. While most of the Fraccion are defeated by, at best, the [[NumberTwo Number Twos]] of the various Gotei divisions, [[AmazonBrigade Harribel's trio]] manages to take out a grand total of ''FOUR'' Lieutenants (Matsumoto, Hinamori, Hisagi, and Iba--in that order, and Kira was ''next'') by summoning their pet GiantMook. It took the [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking Commander General]] ''himself'' to get fed up and [[KillItWithFire take them out.]]

* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': In this ''Franchise/{{godzilla}}'' Franchise/MonsterVerse fanfiction, [[Characters/AbraxasHrodvitnonTitansAndOtherCreatures MaNi/Elder Brother]] is described by WordOfGod as a "weird combat form" amongst the Many which serve [[spoiler:Keizer Ghidorah]]. Unlike other Many {{Mind Hive}}s, [=MaNi=] has a [[BreathWeapon Gravity Beam]], and instead of being driven by a [[HorrorHunger hunger to devour and assimilate biomass endlessly]], he's driven by by an utterly AxCrazy [[BloodKnight bloodlust for fighting]].

* ''Fanfic/HarmonyTheory,'':
** Throughout this MLP FanFic, 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 Griffons and the Changelings serve as this, to the Solar Empire and Lunar Republic respectively, The Lunar Republic uses the changelings, as both spies and shock troops, and The Solar Empire using the Griffons as bodyguards and trackers/hunters. Naturally, this makes them [[ArchEnemy natural enemies.]]

** Later on, even they get one upped by the thestrals who defect to Vulcan's horde -- as they no longer have to suppress their carnivorism, as they've had to in "polite" Equestrian society, they're able to properly feed and access their full strength as the {{Super Soldier}}s Luna designed their race as, putting their full power at Vulcan's disposal.

** The Leo Zodiarts in ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'' has the ability to summon the Leo Dustards, which are modified versions of the regular mooks wearing Kabuki wigs.

* ''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/DigimonFusion''. 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.

** Season 7 has elite vampires called Turok-han. The first one to make an appearance is actually incredibly dangerous, but once a whole army of them are released at once, they [[ConservationOfNinjutsu go down easily.]]

* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'': In King Cold and Frieza's universe-spanning empire, the Saiyans were this, being their strongest enslaved race based on quantity ''and'' quality. {{Deconstructed}} in that this trope is partly why Frieza decides to wipe them out in the first place: ''because'' they were apparently increasing in strength and numbers, the tyrant ([[CreateYourOwnHero correctly]]) assumed that they, or at least a ChosenOne, would eventually be able to challenge him.

* 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.]]
** Also, the Griffons and the Changelings serve as this, to the Solar Empire and Lunar Republic respectively, The Lunar Republic uses the changelings, as both spies and shock troops, and The Solar Empire using the Griffons as bodyguards and trackers/hunters. Naturally, this makes them [[ArchEnemy natural enemies.]]

* ''Fanfic/TheRiseOfDarthVulcan'': Vulcan eventually gains a second group of minions in the form of the Crimson Guard, [[spoiler: a group of Changelings recruited from Chrysalis]], who are far more powerful (and competent) than his standard Diamond Dog soldiers.

* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' has the Uruk-hai, elite orcs who are significantly bigger and stronger than their lesser kin, with those of Isengard able to endure sunlight. There's also the Olog-hai, elite [[GiantMook trolls]] who are more intelligent and able to operate in sunlight.

*** The [[ComicBook/GIJoeARealAmericanHeroMarvel comics]] considered the Siegies too elite for typical combat, as they were more valuable infiltrating society and making money for Cobra through good ol' capitalism. Guardsmen were required to have a degree in either law or accounting (if not both), or be highly skilled in a technical or scientific field, and uniformed Siegies rarely saw conflict beyond [[EnemyCivilWar internal power struggles]].

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars'' introduced the counterpart for the clones, the Advanced Recon Commandos (ARC) Troopers (Pictured above). They starred in a few episodes, showing that a team of them could do what even Jedi would struggle to accomplish. (They notably force General Grievous to retreat in his first appearance, after he's taken out an entire team of Jedi solo.) ARC troopers would later feature in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', where some of the recurring clone characters underwent ARC training and became commandos.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheBadBatch'': [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] with the Elite Squad, as despite the name, they’re never really shown doing anything impressive. They’re simply a squad of non-clones to follow Crosshair around now that he’s been promoted to squad leader, as well as a reminder that eventually the Empire will stop using clones altogether. In actual combat, especially against the titular squad, they don’t fare much better than their clone counterparts.

** ''R2'' diversifies by giving out two as [[SoLastSeason the Sutherlands and Gloucesters become outdated]]. With the introduction of the brand-new ''Vincent Ward'' as a 7th Generation [[{{Mooks}} mook]] Knightmare, the ''Vincent Commander Model'' is introduced as an elite Knightmare for any notable pilot who isn't a Knight of the Round. They resemble the original ''Vincent'' model owned by [[TykeBomb Rolo Haliburton]], but lack some of the specs that made the ''Vincent'' such a high-performance model. Later on in ''R2'', the ''Gareth'' is deployed; these are mass-production models of the ''Gawain'' from Season 1, created for unleashing intense firepower with their [[WaveMotionGun Hadron Cannons]].

** [[TheEmpire The Holy Britannian Empire]] has the ''Gloucester'' Knightmare Frame, a high-performance 5th Generation model designed for close quarters. More numerous among [[WarriorPrince Princess]] [[LadyOfWar Cornelia]]'s forces, they qre considered superior to the stock ''Sutherland'' model and are usually piloted by Cornelia's top pilots or the Imperial Royal Guard.

** The flamethrower equipped soldier, referred to as Sharkface because of the decorations on his armor, is just one member of an elite squad among the Insurrection. The others appear in season nine and ten, and include TheLeader, who uses a pair of collapsible tomahawks that he can use hand to hand, or accurately throw great distances. He’s also [[spoiler: C.T.’s lover, and after her death in season ten, he takes her identity, setting up his reappearance in the chronologically later season seven.]], [[TheBrute The sleeveless soldier]], who physically can match any of the freelancers but [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter Maine]]. Demo Man, who holds a grudge against the freelancers for causing him to lose an arm the first time they meet face to face, TheChick, who is a obsessed with knives and is a rival to Carolina, the ColdSniper, and the twins, two creepy, mostly silent soldiers that carry [[GatlingGood miniguns]].

[[caption-width-right:350:''"ARC troopers, you were selected for this task because you are the best; the elite. You all know what to do."'']]
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** Harribel's Fraccion fit this trope best of all. Why? They're by FAR the most effective of ANY Fraccion shown. While most of the Fraccion are defeated by, at best, the [[NumberTwo Number Twos]] of the various Gotei divisions, [[AmazonBrigade Harribel's trio]] manages to take out a grand total of ''FOUR'' Lieutenants (Matsumoto, Hinamori, Shuuhei, and Iba--in that order, and Kira was ''next'') by summoning their pet GiantMook. It took the [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking Commander General]] ''himself'' to get fed up and [[KillItWithFire take them out.]]

* ''Manga/FairyTail'' has Yomazu and Kowazu. The dark guild, Grimoire Heart, is lead by Hades with seven established lesser bosses who oversee the many Mook soldiers associated with Grimoire Heart. Yomazu and Kowazu however, are in between. They're strong enough to be classified higher then a Mook, even having established names, but not strong enough to be standing alongside the leaders. They beat up Gajeel and Levy before they are defeated by them. However, Gajeel is so injured, he's PutOnABus until Hades' defeat.

** The Pacifista Units became this after the TimeSkip. Before, the one that the Straw Hats defeated was a legitimate boss, but then they were hit with [[DegradedBoss degradation]] two years later. Justified as those were outdated models and it's stated that there are actually upgraded Pacifistas now[[note]]In ''One Piece'', unless a cyborg -such as the Pacifista- is modified, they cannot grow stronger[[/note]], meaning that there's now Elite ''Elite'' Mooks.

* In episodes 7 and 8 of ''Series/TheMandalorian'', [[spoiler:[[Film/RogueOne Death Troopers]]]] fulfill this role again, gunning down [[spoiler:The Client]] and his men in seconds and giving the title character of the show much more difficulty than the rank-and-file goons. As a visual lampshading of sorts, in wide shots they're clearly shown ''[[EvilIsBigger towering]]'' over the rest of the stormtroopers.

When the enemies are too easily taken down by the heroes and there is a need to increase the challenge, the easiest way to is to upgrade the {{Mooks}} into Elite Mooks. They may come with better weapons, more training, additional skills, or various powers the normal Mooks do not possess. The look of the Elite Mooks may be noted with various appearance changes from a simple PaletteSwap, adding SpikesOfVillainy, a fancier uniform and other cosmetic alterations that make them stand out from the crowd of regular Mooks. Great BigBad's personal security detail may be a group of Elite Mooks.

When the enemies are too easily taken down by the heroes and there is a need to increase the challenge, the easiest way to is to upgrade the {{Mooks}} into Elite Mooks. They may come with better weapons, additional skills, or various powers the normal Mooks do not possess. The look of the Elite Mooks may be noted with various appearance changes from a simple PaletteSwap, adding SpikesOfVillainy, and other cosmetic alterations that make them stand out from the crowd of regular Mooks.

* In ''Fanfic/{{Kokuten}}'', it's said (and shown) that thanks to the Sharingan, one regular Uchiha shinobi can take on three regular Konoha chunin. Essentially, the Uchiha Clan has [[ExaggeratedTrope an entire army}} of elite mooks at its disposal -- any less would get them absolutely butchered by Konoha's both superior numbers and diversified abilities.