- Best weapons in Into The Hive are high-damage assault rifles for all-round runs.
- Upgraded turrets hold chokepoints and cover flanks while your squad pushes objectives.
- Throwables are your emergency crowd control when the swarm closes in.
- Weapon damage upgrades should be your first Equipment Token investment.
- Starter weapons are C-tier — replace them as soon as tokens allow.
Into The Hive Best Weapons Overview
Choosing the right loadout makes or breaks a run in this 1–4 player co-op extraction shooter. Every cave dive is a balance between raw damage, crowd-clearing power, and survivability on the way to extraction. Weapons in Into The Hive fall into three broad categories: primary guns, defensive turrets, and throwables — and each shines in different parts of a run.
This tier list grades every weapon category from S to C based on damage output, crowd-clearing ability, and how well each fits the different stages of a hive run. Because the game is actively updated by developer To The Earth's Core, treat these rankings as a framework: the exact roster and numbers may shift between patches.
| Weapon Category | Damage | Crowd Clear | Best For | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Damage Assault Rifles | Very High | Strong | All-round combat, bossing, waves | S |
| Defensive Turrets (upgraded) | High (sustained) | Excellent | Holding chokepoints, covering flanks | A |
| Area-Effect Throwables | Burst High | Good | Emergency swarm control | B |
| Starter Weapons | Low | Weak | Earliest waves only | C |
Exact per-weapon damage and fire-rate stats require in-game testing and change with patches. Use this tier framework to guide priorities, not as fixed in-game data.
Weapon Tier List Explained
S-Tier: Top-Tier Weapons
High-damage assault rifles are the best-in-slot picks thanks to top damage and versatility. They handle crowd control and tough single targets alike, making them the priority for late-game waves and deeper cave zones where the swarm density spikes.
A-Tier: Strong Choices
Upgraded defensive turrets deliver excellent sustained crowd-clearing from a fixed position. They are reliable when holding a chokepoint or covering a flank while teammates complete objectives. With the right utility Augments, turrets climb close to S-tier performance in defensive play.
B-Tier: Solid Options
Area-effect throwables offer burst damage and good crowd control in emergencies. Use them to break tight enemy clusters or buy space when surrounded. They are situational — good filler and backup when ammo runs low, not a primary damage plan.
C-Tier: Situational Picks
Starter weapons have low damage and weak crowd-clearing. They get you through the earliest waves, but swap them out as soon as you can spend Equipment Tokens on better gear.
Solo Players
- Assault rifle focus
- Save throwables for swarm events
- Prioritize mobility upgrades
Squad DPS
- Rifle plus damage Augments
- Focus fire on nests
- Stagger reloads with teammates
Squad Anchor
- Turret plus utility Augments
- Hold chokepoints
- Cover flanks and revive lanes
Match your weapon tier choice to your role. In a 3–4 player squad, one turret anchor plus rifle DPS extracts more consistently than four players running the same loadout.
Best Weapon Pairings with Augments
Weapons only reach their potential when paired with the right Augments. Damage and fire-rate Augments transform an S-tier rifle into a wave-shredding machine, while utility and survivability Augments turn turret builds into the anchor of a squad's defense.
| Weapon Build | Best Augments | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Assault Rifle DPS | Damage + Fire Rate | Maximum sustained DPS for melting waves |
| Turret Defense | Utility + Survivability | Longer uptime while you tank for your turrets |
| Throwable Support | Damage Augments | Bigger bursts to break clustered swarms |
| Early-Game Starter | Damage Augments | Compensates for low base damage until upgrades |
Follow this sequence to build a loadout that scales:
Secure a Reliable Primary
Spend your first Equipment Tokens on a high-damage assault rifle — the S-tier all-rounder that works in every wave.
Add Crowd Insurance
Keep area-effect throwables in your kit as emergency swarm breakers when enemies close in from multiple angles.
Invest in a Turret
Once token income is steady, add an upgraded turret for chokepoint defense and objective coverage.
Layer Augments
Stack damage and fire-rate Augments on rifles, or utility and survivability Augments on turret builds.
Reinvest After Every Extraction
Banked tokens from safe extractions fund your next upgrade — conservative loops beat risky deep pushes early on.
Weapon damage first, armor and mobility second. Faster kills mean fewer insects on you at once, which makes every later run safer and more profitable.
Weapon Tactics Against the Swarm
The best weapon is only as good as your positioning. Enemy types in the hive reward different weapon choices, and reading the threat tells you which tool to draw.
| Enemy Type | Danger | Best Weapon Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Worker Ants | Low | Any weapon; burst fire, aim for headshots |
| Soldier Ants | Medium | Heavy-hitting rifles during lunge recovery |
| Wasps | Medium | Ranged rifles on predictable dive lines |
| Spiders | High | Ranged fire; clear webs from distance |
| Nests & Brood Mothers | High | Focused fire and explosives — kill the source |
| Swarm Events | Extreme | Turrets at chokepoints plus throwables |
Always prioritize destroying nests over killing the enemies they spawn. Leaving nests alive turns a manageable run into an endless fight, no matter how good your weapon is.
Loadout Checklist Before Every Run
Run through this quick checklist in the lobby before dropping into the hive. Each item takes seconds and directly improves your extraction odds.
Pre-Run Loadout Checklist:
- Primary weapon upgraded with damage Augments
- Throwables stocked for swarm emergencies
- Turret ready for chokepoint defense
- Exit route planned from your drop point
- Squad roles assigned before descending
If you die in the hive, you lose the gear and loot from that run. Banked tokens from previous extractions are safe — one reason to favor short, safe farming loops while your arsenal is still growing.
Best Weapons FAQ
Q: What are the best weapons in Into The Hive?
High-damage assault rifles are the top pick — S-tier for all-round combat, bossing, and crowd control. Upgraded defensive turrets are close behind for squad play, earning A-tier for holding chokepoints during objectives and swarm events.
Q: Are turrets better than guns in Into The Hive?
Turrets excel at sustained crowd-clearing from a fixed position, making them the best choice for defensive squad roles. Rifles remain more versatile overall — most balanced squads run both, with one player anchoring on turrets while others push with rifles.
Q: When should I stop using starter weapons?
As soon as you can afford an upgrade with Equipment Tokens. Starter weapons are C-tier with low damage and weak crowd-clearing — fine for the earliest waves, but a liability once swarm events and armored enemies appear.
Q: Which Augments work best with the best weapons?
Pair damage and fire-rate Augments with assault rifles for maximum sustained DPS. Combine utility and survivability Augments with turret builds to become the defensive anchor of your team while your turrets shred incoming waves.