- What to do first in Into The Hive: redeem the code HIVE1 in the Shop, then run an easy first mission with starter gear.
- Core loop: drop into the cave, destroy nests, complete objectives, and extract alive — loot only counts if you survive.
- First upgrades: spend early Equipment Tokens on weapon damage before anything else.
- Death penalty: dying in the hive loses that run's haul, so short safe runs beat one risky deep push.
- Co-op tip: 1–4 player squads work best with assigned roles — crowd control, damage, and support.
Your First 10 Minutes in Into The Hive
Into The Hive is a 1–4 player co-op PvE extraction shooter on Roblox, developed by To The Earth's Core and released on October 21, 2026. Before your first descent, handle the lobby basics: redeem your code, pick a loadout, and learn the controls. Doing these three things first saves you from wasting your opening runs.
Video Highlights:
- Lobby setup and Shop menu walkthrough
- Starter weapon selection basics
- First cave run demonstration
Before anything else, open the Shop menu in the lobby, enter HIVE1 in the Redeem Code box, and press Enter. This code (added November 10, 2026) grants a free Equipment Token — free early upgrade currency you should never leave on the table.
| Order | Action | Where | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redeem code HIVE1 | Lobby Shop menu | Free Equipment Token for your first upgrade |
| 2 | Pick starter weapon | Loadout menu | Any weapon works for early waves |
| 3 | Learn controls | Lobby / early waves | Movement, aim, reload, weapon swap |
| 4 | Learn first/third person toggle | Settings | Pick the camera that fits your aim style |
| 5 | Queue first mission | Mission board | Short shallow objective for run one |
Extraction shooters pay out on extraction, not on kills. New players who chase insects into open tunnels usually die before reaching the exit. Secure the objective first.
Understanding the Extraction Loop
Everything in Into The Hive revolves around one rule: whatever you earn underground only counts if you make it back to the surface. Learn this loop before your first run and every session after becomes safer and more profitable.
Drop In
- Enter the randomly generated cave
- Take note of the entrance location
- Move as a group if playing co-op
- Start with nearby nests and objectives
Earn
- Destroy nests to stop enemy spawns
- Complete mission objectives
- Survive swarm events for big payouts
- Bank Equipment Tokens as you go
Extract
- Retreat to the extraction point
- Clear the exit path as a team
- Hold position while extraction activates
- Survive the final pressure wave
| Situation | Recommended Choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Team low on health or ammo | Extract now | Dying loses the entire run's haul |
| Objectives complete, tokens banked | Extract | Guaranteed profit beats risky greed |
| Team healthy, ammo stocked | One more shallow objective | Deeper objectives pay more tokens |
| Swarm event triggered near exit | Hold chokepoint, then extract | Don't fight swarms in open tunnels |
Drop in, clear nearby nests, trigger one swarm event, extract. Repeating short, safe runs consistently outearns one long run that ends in a wipe.
Equipment Tokens and Augments: What to Buy First
Equipment Tokens are the core upgrade currency. You earn them from objectives, enemy and nest kills, surviving swarm events, and codes like HIVE1. Where you spend your first tokens matters — a bad early purchase slows down every run after it.
Weapon Damage First
Spend your first tokens on weapon damage upgrades. Faster kills mean fewer insects on you at once, which directly reduces incoming damage and makes every following run safer.
Armor and Mobility Second
After weapons, invest in armor durability and movement speed. Kiting the swarm and escaping overrun chokepoints is far easier with upgraded mobility gear.
Pick Matching Augments
Augments are passive buffs chosen in the Augments menu. Match them to your weapon style — damage augments for rifle builds, survivability for frontline roles, utility for turret players.
Stack Synergies
Combine damage with fire-rate augments for the strongest all-round DPS, or survivability with utility augments to anchor your team's defense.
| Augment Category | Effect | Best For | Strong Combo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damage | Higher raw damage, faster kills | Assault rifle / DPS builds | Pair with fire-rate augments |
| Fire Rate & Reload | Faster attacks, less downtime | Automatic weapons in sustained waves | Combine with damage augments |
| Survivability | More health and resistance | Frontline squad players | Great with turret builds |
| Utility & Support | Better turrets, throwables, revives | Support players in 3–4 player squads | Stack with survivability |
Tokens banked from previous successful extractions are safe even if you die later. Steady extraction income is what actually funds your Augment and gear progression.
Enemy Threats to Watch on Early Runs
The hive is crawling with hostile insects, and reading enemy behavior is the difference between a clean extraction and a wipe. Learn these priorities before your first mission.
| Enemy | Danger | Weakness | How to Counter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worker Ants | Low | Direct damage | Burst fire, back up, never get surrounded |
| Soldier Ants | Medium | Heavy weapons, lunge recovery | Bait the lunge, sidestep, punish recovery |
| Wasps | Medium | Predictable dive lines | Wait for the committed dive, shoot the path |
| Spiders | High | Light sources, awareness | Check ceilings, kill webs at range |
| Nests / Brood Mothers | High | Focused fire, explosives | Kill the source, not the spawns |
| Swarm Events | Extreme | Chokepoints, coordination | Pre-pick a defensive room and hold it |
Priority One: Nests
- Nests spawn enemies endlessly until destroyed
- Leaving them alive creates an unwinnable fight
- Focus all team fire on the nest itself
Priority Two: Spiders and Ceilings
- Spiders ambush from ceilings and side tunnels
- Their webs slow you into swarm deaths
- Sweep tight tunnels before passing through
Ambush predators love tight, dark tunnels. Keep moving, watch the ceiling, and never stand still in enclosed areas between objectives.
Co-op Roles and Your First-Run Checklist
Into The Hive supports 1–4 player squads, and coordination multiplies survival odds. Assign roles before dropping in: one player on crowd control, one on burst damage, and others on reviving and support. Stick together, cover different angles, and call out threats.
Before Your First Run:
- Redeem code HIVE1 in the Shop menu
- Practice movement, aiming, and reloading
- Memorize the extraction point location
- Assign squad roles if playing co-op
- Spend first tokens on weapon damage
- Complete one short objective and extract safely
If you die, don't re-drop with your best gear. Equip a cheap starter loadout, run a short shallow loop, rebuild your Token bank through safe extractions, then attempt deeper runs again.
FAQ
Q: What should I do first in Into The Hive?
Redeem the code HIVE1 in the Shop menu for a free Equipment Token, learn the basic controls in the lobby, then queue a short first mission with starter gear. Complete one objective and extract safely to bank your first rewards.
Q: Is Into The Hive single-player or co-op?
It supports 1–4 player co-op. You can run solo, but squads with assigned roles — crowd control, damage, and support — survive deeper waves far more consistently.
Q: What happens if I die in the hive?
You lose the gear and loot you brought on that run. Tokens banked from previous successful extractions are safe, which is why conservative extraction loops are recommended for new players.
Q: What should I spend my first Equipment Tokens on?
Weapon damage upgrades first. Faster kills mean fewer enemies reaching you, which makes every subsequent run safer. Follow up with armor and mobility upgrades, then invest in Augments that match your build.