Game info
- Melee support unit. Unlocked at Collaborative Thought.
The Nanohive is a 
Supremacy-
Harmony hybrid utility unit that can be considered a direct upgrade of the Ultrasonic Emitter (CivBE). The Nanohive emits tiny robotic drones that infiltrate enemy units through any open ends of the body, causing a violent death. It is for this reason that the Nanohive deals consistent damage over time to all units within two tiles of it. While not that powerful in combat itself (although still enough to handle a hit or two), the Nanohive excels hidden in walls of units to melt down Supremacy armies or high 
Strength units.
Unit Upgrades
Tier 1
Nanohives are very useful early game not just for military purposes. Nanohives deal damage to aliens however do not provoke their aggression, so a few can be deployed around your cities to kill off any aliens that could potentially blockade a few of your improvements (unintentionally, of course). If you combine this with early-game Traits/Virtues to get Science from killing aliens, you can place Nanohives in the middle of nests and use them to farm Science. Their cost is also quite low and their Strength is very respectable for the time. If you have an abundant amount of Titanium, you can even build an army of these and maul an enemy sponsor with the power of attrition.
The Nanohive dispensing its drones (left) and its upgrade pose (right)
| Subject | Tier 1 (Nanohive) |
|---|---|
| Tech Prerequisites | Collaborative Thought |
| Affinity Prerequisites | 3 Supremacy
3 |
| Resource Cost | 1  Titanium
|
| Production Cost | 240  Production
|
| Combat Strength | 28 Strength
|
| Movement | 2
|
| Passives | Invisibility, Deploy Nanodrone Cloud |
- Deploy Nanodrone Cloud: Deals -10HP damage to all enemy units within two tiles of its radius. Must be activated, but costs nothing. Deactivated on movement
Tier 2
Tier 2 Nanohives remain useful for the entire game. Their cheap resource requirement and relatively cheap Production cost and decent durability allow them to deal valuable area of effect damage to frontline units. Their attrition damage can be doubled as well, or they can become very powerful ranged blockers: one of their perks provides the largest Strength bonus in the game, which is +80% Strength when defending against ranged. So, if you want you can place these just behind a melee unit and not worry about ranged units trying to snipe it down. They are valuable scout, utility and assault units throughout the whole game.
|
Subject |
Tier 2 (Evolved Nanohive) |
Tier 2 (Elder Nanohive) | Tier 2 (Prime Nanohive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tech Prerequisites | Collaborative Thought | Collaborative Thought | Collaborative Thought |
| Affinity Prerequisites | 4 Supremacy
10 |
8 Supremacy
8 |
10 Supremacy
4 |
| Resource Cost | 1 Titanium
|
1 Titanium
|
1 Titanium
|
| Production Cost | 370 Production
|
370 Production
|
370 Production
|
| Combat Strength | 64 Strength
|
64 Strength
|
64 Strength
|
| Movement | 2
|
2
|
2
|
| Perk Choice A | Double effectiveness of Nanodrone Cloud | Double effectiveness of Nanodrone Cloud | Double effectiveness of Nanodrone Cloud |
| Perk Choice B | -20HP damage to adjacent enemy units on death | +80% Strength when defending from ranged attacks
|
+2 Sight |
| Passives | Invisibility, Deploy Nanodrone Cloud | Invisibility, Deploy Nanodrone Cloud | Invisibility, Deploy Nanodrone Cloud |
- Deploy Nanodrone Cloud: Deals -10HP damage to all enemy units within two tiles of its radius. Must be activated, but costs nothing. Deactivated on movement.
Trivia
- The Ultrasonic Emitter could possibly be an early model of the Nanohive when it was in development, due to their functional similarities.