- Best Augments in Into The Hive depend on your weapon style: damage for rifles, fire rate for automatics
- Damage Augments are the strongest early Equipment Token investment for faster kills
- Survivability Augments shine for frontline players and turret-based squads
- Synergy matters more than raw stats: pair damage with fire rate for maximum DPS
- Earn more tokens by completing objectives, destroying nests, and surviving swarm events
How the Augment System Works
Augments are the passive upgrade layer that defines your build in Into The Hive. Unlike weapons and gear, which you bring into the hive on each run, Augments are persistent improvements purchased and upgraded with Equipment Tokens — the core currency earned from objectives, enemy kills, nest destruction, and surviving swarm events back at base.
Because the game is a co-op extraction shooter, every augment choice ultimately serves one goal: getting out alive with your haul. Faster kills mean fewer insects on you at once. Better survivability means you can hold chokepoints during extraction. Utility augments strengthen turrets and throwables so your squad can anchor a defense while objectives get completed.
Augments amplify the gear you already use. Pick upgrades that match your weapon style before starting a run — a damage augment on a starter weapon wastes tokens compared to investing in the weapon itself first.
| Augment Category | Main Effect | Primary Currency Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damage | Raises raw weapon damage and burst | Equipment Tokens | Rifle and high-DPS builds |
| Fire Rate & Reload | Boosts attack speed, cuts reload downtime | Equipment Tokens | Automatic weapon users |
| Survivability | Raises health, resistance, healing | Equipment Tokens | Frontline and solo players |
| Utility & Support | Improves turrets, throwables, team revives | Equipment Tokens | Support and turret builds |
Augment Tier Rankings
Rankings below reflect practical value across a typical run cycle: early farming, mid-game swarm events, and late-game deep pushes. Since the game launched on October 21, 2026, exact augment stats are still being tested by the community, so treat these rankings as build guidance rather than verified numbers.
| Tier | Augment Type | Rating | Why It Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Damage Augments | ★★★★★ | Shortens time-to-kill on every enemy, including brood defenders |
| S | Fire Rate & Reload | ★★★★☆ | Keeps damage uptime high during sustained swarm waves |
| A | Survivability | ★★★★☆ | Essential for frontline roles and deep-zone pushes |
| A | Utility & Support | ★★★☆☆ | Huge value in 3–4 player squads, weaker solo |
| B | Mixed early spread | ★★☆☆☆ | Spreading tokens thin across categories delays your power spike |
Damage (S-Tier)
- Fastest kills on tough enemies
- Best early token investment
- Scales with every weapon upgrade
Fire Rate (S-Tier)
- High damage uptime in swarms
- Pairs perfectly with damage augments
- Great vs. fast flying insects
Survivability (A-Tier)
- Tank hits at chokepoints
- Strong with turret builds
- Critical for extraction holds
Utility (A-Tier)
- Better turrets and throwables
- Faster team revives
- Anchor role in co-op squads
Do not split your early Equipment Tokens across all four categories. A focused damage-then-fire-rate path produces a reliable power spike; a scattered spread leaves you underpowered in every category when swarm events hit.
Best Augment Combos by Playstyle
The strongest builds come from combining augment categories that reinforce each other. Below are the proven pairings for the three core playstyles in Into The Hive.
| Playstyle | Augment Combo | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle DPS | Damage + Fire Rate | Highest sustained DPS, melts waves | Squishy if swarmed |
| Turret Anchor | Survivability + Utility | Holds chokepoints, faster revives | Low personal damage |
| Balanced Runner | Damage + Survivability | Safe solo farming, reliable extraction | No standout spike |
For squad play (3–4 players), the optimal composition assigns at least one player to the turret anchor build. While upgraded defensive turrets shred enemies at chokepoints, that player stacks survivability and support augments to stay alive and revive teammates — becoming the defensive backbone during swarm events and extraction holds.
For solo and duo runs, the balanced runner combo wins on consistency. Damage augments keep nest clears fast, while survivability insurance means a single mistake near a spider ambush or soldier ant lunge doesn't end the run and cost your entire haul.
Damage and fire rate multiplies your offense. Survivability and utility multiplies your defense. Never combine two offensive augments with no defensive backup on deep runs — extraction waits are the most common death spot.
Step-by-Step Upgrade Order
Farm Tokens with Short Safe Runs
Drop in, clear nearby nests, trigger one swarm event, and extract. Dying loses your current haul, so repeated short runs beat one long risky push.
Invest in Weapon Damage First
Spend your first tokens on damage augments. Faster kills directly reduce incoming damage, making every later run safer and more profitable.
Add Fire Rate and Reload
Once kills are fast, reduce downtime. Fire rate and reload augments keep pressure constant during sustained waves.
Layer Survivability or Utility
Branch into your playstyle's second category: survivability for frontline and solo play, utility for turret and support roles.
Push Deeper Zones
With a complete combo, attempt deeper cave regions. Higher danger pays more Tokens per run, compounding your upgrade speed.
The biggest single payout per run usually comes from surviving a full swarm event without a team wipe. Prioritize nests and objectives — kills alone trickle in slowly.
Augment Priorities Checklist
Build Milestones:
- Complete five safe extraction runs to bank starting tokens
- Unlock first Damage Augment tier
- Add one Fire Rate or Reload Augment
- Pick a playstyle and unlock its second category
- Survive a full swarm event without a team wipe
FAQ
Q: What are the best Augments in Into The Hive overall?
Damage Augments combined with Fire Rate Augments form the strongest general-purpose combo, giving the highest sustained DPS against waves and tough enemies. Survivability Augments are the best second investment for solo or frontline players.
Q: How do I unlock and upgrade Augments?
Augments are unlocked and upgraded at base using Equipment Tokens, which you earn by completing hive objectives, destroying nests, killing enemies, and surviving swarm events. Redeemable codes like HIVE1 can also grant bonus tokens.
Q: Should I upgrade Augments or buy better weapons first?
Prioritize weapon damage upgrades early. Augments amplify the gear you already carry, so boosting a weak starter weapon with augments is less efficient than upgrading the weapon itself and then stacking damage augments on top.
Q: Do Augments help during extraction holds?
Yes. Extraction is not instant and often escalates enemy pressure. Survivability and Utility Augments help you hold the extraction point like a mini swarm event, which is one of the most common death spots in a run.