Hives progress through a semi-lifecycle. In-game, this is displayed through non-visible stages within a hive that grow with specific requirements. This system is usually referred to as Hive Stages or The Hive Lifecycle. Through this, hives progress overtime rather than gaining their full power upfront immediately, a gradual growth that follows with the player.

Proto-Hive. (0-4+ Hive Members)

The shortest hive stage, a Proto-Hive is the beginning hive stage when a Queen first begins founding / leaves hibernation. In this stage the Queen will summon five Drones to help build the beginning Royal Chamber hive room allowing the hive to move onto the next stage.

Larval Stage. (5-49+ Hive Members)

One of the longer stages within a hive, this stage begins once a Royal Chamber and the four large tunnels have been created. From this, a hive will begin expanding outwards claiming new territory and developing more tunnels and hive rooms to further boost progress and strength. At this stage vents will appear on the surface where runners will kidnap new hosts.

Once 50+ Hive Members have been reached, the hive moves onto the next stage.

Warrior Stage. (50-74+ Hive Members)

A hive that manages to develop 50+ Hive Members can now develop Warriors and Prowlers. At this stage, they may very rarely even gain Praetorians but will now be much harder to combat.

At this stage, hives will begin producing Royal Jelly much more frequently, and using this will help speed up the development of these new warriors. Using this, players will expect to see more Royal Jelly in a Warrior Stage hive than one in a lower stage.

Surface appearances for kidnapping parties may become infrequent or slower due to the lack of avaliable runners when most become Prowlers. However, once a hive eventually develops up to 75+ Hive Members it can move onto the next stage.

Praetorian Stage. (75-99+ Hive Members)

Once a hive reaches a stable point of 75+ Hive Members, it will begin to actively develop Praetorians. At this stage, Praetorians will act as the royal guards for Queens or Empress’s but also military leaders for raids and major defences against intruders.

Very rarely, Praetorians may naturally begin developing into a Queen or Harbinger without interference from a player or their mother Queen directly.

Once the hive reaches 100+ Hive Members, they enter the longest and most stable stage.

Queen / Harbinger Stage. (100+ Hive Members)