Shadow Guard

""Tough" is too sissy a word to describe those guys."

- Bentley, on the Shadow Guard.

The Shadow Guard were an elite force of vultures assigned by The Contessa to protect her re-education tower. Although Sly never actually faces them, they are said to be extremely resilient to damage and are very powerful.

Description
They look very similar to the regular vulture guards, except they also wear a Pickelhaube helmet, which likely serves as an indicator of their status as the Contessa's elite forces. They also seem to serve as the Contessa's personal bodyguards during her conflict with Neyla, only leaving under orders from Contessa herself after the castle's defenses were breached due to the efforts of the Cooper Gang.