Into The Hive Enemies: Bugs, Counters and Swarm Warnings
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Into The Hive sends ground bugs, flying insects and armored enemies through its caves. Identify each threat and choose a counter while keeping the rest of the swarm in view.
Shoot a Brute’s breakable legs, move to a Shieldback’s side for a clearer weak-spot shot, and repeatedly press to escape a Tunnel Digger’s grab. Keep your distance from Exploders and watch both ground and airborne approaches during a swarm.
Ground, flying and armored enemies
Check the ground, nearby passages and ceiling as you move. Ground swarms include orange or orange-and-black many-legged bugs with glowing yellow eyes, while winged insects attack above them. Larger enemies require more specific responses, so use their names and visible features to distinguish them.
Enemy and nest directory
Use the directory to identify a bug or nest and find its immediate counter. Open an entry for its conditions and additional details.
Identify cave bugs and nests and find their combat responses.
9 objects
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Small bug | — | Lure Beacon |
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A small bug attracted by Lure Beacons.
TipsUse Lure Beacon to draw Crawlers away with other affected small bugs. |
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Flying bug category | Winged insects | Track upward; use Lure Beacon |
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Airborne insect enemies accompany ground swarms and are attracted by Lure Beacons.
TipsTrack targets above the ground swarm. Lure Beacon attracts flyers and provides an opening to reposition. |
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Large ground bug | Orange body; pale back spikes | Attack the legs |
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A large, spiked, many-legged cave enemy with breakable legs.
TipsShoot its breakable legs. In the tutorial, hold its attention while Rusty flanks; in crowded passages, move backward while attacking and reload as needed. |
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Large armored bug | Broad shell; glowing orange end | Attack from the side |
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A large armored insect with a broad shell and a weak spot that is easier to hit from the side.
TipsMove to the side for easier weak-spot shots. Reposition while MG-03 cools, then resume firing from the new angle and clear the remaining small bugs. |
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Large grabbing bug | Orange and pale armored body | Shoot; escape with repeated presses |
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A large armored cave bug that emerges from rock walls and can grab players.
TipsShoot the Digger as it emerges and preserve room in narrow passages. If grabbed, use repeated presses to escape; the November 14 update halved the required count. |
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Cave bug | Glowing green sac | Rifle or pistol fire |
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An orange cave insect with a glowing green sac, encountered around green liquid patches.
TipsIdentify the named target by its glowing green sac and keep firing while your turret and squad handle nearby bugs. |
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Explosive bug | Glowing orange-yellow body | Keep distance and shoot |
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A glowing insect whose explosion damages players.
TipsKeep space and attack at range, especially in stair passages. Its November 14 explosion deals twice the preceding player damage and reaches 30% farther. |
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Segmented cave bug | Long segmented body; many legs | Rifle or pistol fire |
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An orange-red, many-legged, segmented cave enemy encountered near walls and at close range.
TipsUse the Ambusher nameplate to identify the segmented enemy. Respond to an AMBUSH alert by covering the full incoming swarm. |
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— | Dark sac with orange glowing ridges | — |
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A destructible bug nest used as a mission objective. Attacking it brings its brood into the fight.
TipsKeep damaging the nest while controlling its brood. NEST DESTROYED confirms destruction, and surviving bugs remain active. Use the Nest Clearing walkthrough for the full mission sequence. |
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Control a mixed swarm
Switch your aim between approaching ground bugs and flyers overhead. Keep moving through reloads and cooldowns; with MG-03 and FT-03 equipped, switch to FT-03 while MG-03 cools, then return to the minigun. Deploy a Sentry or Heavy Cannon for supporting fire while you shoot and reload.
Choose control tools for the enemies in front of you:
- Lure Beacon: Draw Crawlers, flyers and other small bugs away to create room to move. Its 24-second recharge starts when the beacon switches off.
- Arc Tower: Briefly stun small bugs with each pulse and interrupt their bites.
- Blast Grenade: Deal an additional 10% of each bug’s maximum health as damage. Bosses are excluded from that additional damage.
Bugs can climb the Extraction Pod ramp and the drill in Hold the Drill, so continue covering their approaches while defending either position. Compare utility equipment and throwables when choosing support for your loadout.
Read ambush and nest warnings
AMBUSH warns that bugs are pouring in. Cover the incoming ground and flying enemies; the alert is not specific to the named Ambusher, an orange-red segmented bug identifiable by its nameplate.
NEST PROVOKED warns that a nest’s brood is coming after the nest is attacked. Keep watching nearby approaches while damaging it. NEST DESTROYED confirms the nest is down, but surviving bugs remain active and still need to be cleared.
Bosses and mission tactics
For larger encounters, see the boss directory. Follow the Nest Clearing walkthrough for the mission route and extraction, or use the solo Layer 1 Insane loadout for a specific high-difficulty setup.