Foot Elite (Image)

The Foot Elite Guard also known as the Shredder's Elite Guard or Elite Ninja ( traditionally they once were known as the "Shredder Elite" ). They are a group of the most accomplished ninjas in the Foot Clan who serve The Shredder as bodyguards and field leaders. The weapons they use are the Sai Prong, Kama, Sword, Battle Ready Axe, Bow and Arrow, Tantō, Swift Sinister Swords, Chaos Club, trident, tetsu-bishi, kusarigama, manriki-gusari, spear, ax, and twin bladed sword. They will stop at nothing to destroy their foes. As Master Splinter said in The Shredder Strikes Back, Part 2, they "are the deadliest of his warriors. Lethal assassins". This matches their menacing look and builds. They serve the Shredder with absolute loyalty.

Sometimes they are also leaders of small foot ninja teams in order to hunt down the turtles or other enemies.

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Years later, to infiltrate the headquarters of the new Shredder, Raphael, the other Turtles took out two Shredder Elite and disguised themselves in their clothing. The Elite in question had evidently pledged allegiance to Raphael when he became the Shredder, though Raphael was unaware of them (TMNT Vol. 3, #16). It then seemed the Elite had pledged allegiance to a different claimant to leader of the New York Foot, possibly Pimiko, the daughter of Oroku Saki (TMNT Vol. 3, #18). With the impartial support of two members of the Japan Foot Clan's ruling Council of Five, she appeared before Raphael with her now-clearly loyal Shredder Elite, proclaiming her birthright as the heir to the mantle of the Shredder, issuing a challenge (TMNT Vol. 3, #20 & 21). The last of the Shredder Elite were killed off by Pimiko (TMNT Vol. 3, #23).