Elite Pirate

Elite Pirates are Phazon-enhanced Space Pirates. They are incredibly strong, armored, and well-armed. They are very potent foes; they have an energy siphon system that absorbs beam shots. The shots are then used to fuel their massive Plasma Artillery Cannon. Due to this system, they are vulnerable to concussive weapons. They are very effective at both close combat and at long range. However, their immense size can be a weakness, along with their sluggish speeds, allowing their opponents to easily evade their attacks.

Samus encounters three Elite Pirates in the Phazon Mines on Tallon IV. They live in stasis tanks due to their short lifespans. They are part of Project Helix, a program where Space Pirate embryos are infused with Phazon. Initial results were horrific; most died, and the few that survived their infanthood suffered severe psychotic breakdowns as juveniles, killing anything within their zone of perception. However, the Space Pirates saw how powerful a force of Phazon Elites would be, and hoped that one day they would make an army of Phazon Elites.

When Samus encounters them, they break out of their stasis tanks and immediately engaged in combat. Samus can only fire Missiles or Super Missiles at them due to their energy siphon system.

The Space Pirates also created a Phazon Elite, a Space Pirate infused with energized Phazon, and the Omega Pirate, a very powerful Elite Pirate.

After continued Phazon research it is believed that the Elites were replaced by the more advanced Berserker Knights and Berserker Lords.