Elites

Elite enemies are much stronger versions of regular enemies and will show up more often the further the player gets. The first elite in a regular run can always be found in Level 1-2. Later areas will have more elites. All levels in looped runs will have elite enemies.

Elite enemies can be identified by the pulsating, reddish elite indicator circle below their feet. Human elites also carry a shield with a characteristic pattern.

Most elites can spawn in increasingly powerful variants. Not all enemy types have an elite variant.

The purpose of elites is to give the player a mini boss challenge with helpful rewards if successful. Elites also sometimes carry a key that can be used to open locked crates. The player is not forced to fight elites but often they are unavoidable.

Elite levels
Human elites come in different levels. Their level is randomized and can become higher the later in a run they spawn, but it is also influenced by how well the player is doing. If the player is doing well the elites have an increased chance to spawn as higher level variants.

The level is indicated by the kind of shield the elite is carrying and the speed at which the elite indicator is pulsating. The easiest way to find out how strong a elite is is by looking for the amount of pixels that stick out from the shield, especially at the top of the shield.

Higher level elites will have more health and be more skilled. Their shield is also much stronger than the shield of lower levels.

In non-looped runs the maximum elite level is 3. In looped runs Level 4 elites can show up.

Combat
Elite enemies are more skilled than their non-elite version and will spot you before you are able to strike a stealth takedown. They also often carry better weapons and deal more damage. They also have additional health. Their shield will make it even harder to hurt them.

Here is some advice on how to fight elites:

An easy way to fight elite enemies is by utilizing dynamite. Just make sure to time it right and to not make it bounce off their shields.

If you are rocking a weapon with explosive projectiles, like a cannon, now is the time to use them. The shield is not going to help the elite.

A different strategy is to outmove their defense. Dodging close to them allows you to get behind their shield. A quick shot with a powerful weapon into the elite's back will be very effective.

Using rifles with high penetration power might allow you to shoot right through the elite's shield. This might not work on high-level elites.

Finally you can try to destroy their shield by simply shooting everything you have at them. The best choice here is a high-damage weapon like shotguns. Afterwards you can fight them like regular enemies.

Spawning behavior
Elite enemies will usually only be found in the right half of the level. Only after looping elites can show up anywhere in the level.

Assuming default run settings, non-looped run:


 * In the first area only one elite can show up, it will spawn in Level 1-2.
 * In the second area there will be an elite in Level 2-2 and 2-3.
 * In the third area every level will have at least one elite. Level 3-2 and 3-3 can have two elite enemies.

In looped runs every level will tend to have at least three elite enemies and even more that that in later levels or deeper loops.

Trivia
The elite's health is indicated like the health of a boss. In their alertness indicator their health is represented by how much the exclamation mark is filled up. It will look like a regular attention indicator at first, but the more damage was dealt to the elite the less filled the indicator will be.