Swarm and Colony

This page shows the mechanics of swarm enemies.

Swarm enemies

Swarm enemies are any enemies that don't come from brood tiles. They either exist from the start of a mission or appear over time through spawners.

Ants and termites have their own swarm variants. Swarm queens can move but can't lay eggs. Swarm workers and soldiers can't take aphids, mount enemies or build floating bridges.

Underground enemies

Red exclamation marks represent hidden enemies in underground caverns. You can estimate the strength of the respective enemies through their size.

Aggressive enemies immediately move toward your queen when they are excavated while docile enemies just wander about.

Underground enemies can excavate in your nest in certain missions either to expose your queen or to release more enemies in your nest.

Underground enemies can move through the soil and connect underground caverns in certain missions. Connected caverns will be excavated at once when you dig into their paths and residing enemies will be released in your nest.

Surface enemies

The game can place and remove swarm markers along predetermined paths over time to make surface enemies in the respective groups move across the map. It works similar to your pheromone system but without forming trails.

Surface enemies can follow their circadian rhythm in documentary missions and custom games. Nocturnal enemies only appear at night while diurnal enemies only appear during the day.