Few Destiny factions are as recognizable as the Hive. Their undead-like appearance and twisted philosophies on life have resulted in some of the most unique lore entries and characters in the Destiny franchise. Oryx, Savathûn, and many more characters have impacted this franchise in some shape or form.
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With Savathûn's planning starting to reveal itself in Season of the Lost, now is a great time to reflect on some of the Destiny franchise's best Hive characters. Some of these characters are renowned for what they've accomplished in the lore. Others are remembered for how tough (or easy) they were to kill. Here are eight of the best Hive characters in the Destiny franchise.
Phogoth, The Untamed
Many Destiny veterans have nightmares about this boss. This massive Ogre was the final boss of The Summoning Pits strike, chained up in a rather large boss arena. Free him, and Phogoth will release a devastating beam of energy your way that would disintegrate Guardians. If Phogoth caught a glimpse of you in a Nightfall, it was over.
Phogoth's reign of terror is fondly remembered by some, hence why Bungie brought Phogoth back as a Nightmare in Destiny 2's Shadowkeep expansion. Phogoth isn't nearly as scary in Destiny 2, but this Ogre still retained its unique design. If nothing else, Phogoth is a reminder of how far the Destiny franchise has come since its humble beginnings in 2014.
Golgoroth
Golgoroth is one of the main bosses in Destiny's King's Fall raid. Guardians would have to juggle Golgoroth's attention as the rest of the raid team prepared to damage the boss. It's easily one of the franchise's most memorable boss fights.
What isn't made apparent in King's Fall is why Golgoroth exists. He was originally created by the worm god Xol to consume Oryx and his family. Of course, his purpose was changed to assist Oryx in his court through a second worm god, Eir. This makes Golgoroth one of the most powerful Hive Ogres in the franchise, arguably one of the most powerful raid bosses as well.
Crota, Son Of Oryx
Most remember Crota as either Oryx's son or the final boss of a fairly easy raid. Either way, Crota's accomplishments are typically overshadowed by his representation in the original Destiny. That's a shame considering just how powerful he is in the game's lore.
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Crota used his trusty sword to slay thousands of Guardians on Earth's moon, a bloody conflict that has left its survivors scarred. He has his own brood, the Spawn of Crota, and uses the Oversoul to eradicate anyone that dares to slay him. He was ultimately bested in the Crota's End raid in the original Destiny, but his jaw-dropping boss arena and equally impressive lore make him one of the Destiny franchise's most memorable Hive characters.
Nokris, Supplicant To Savathûn
Nokris is frequently regarded as a heretic by the Hive. His practice of necromancy stands against everything the Sword Logic stands for. Reviving the dead is bringing back the weak, those that don't deserve life. Does Nokris care? Not really.
His appearance in the Warmind DLC was somewhat underwhelming, as he was used as a pawn for the worm god Xol. But it's when players got to face Xol once again in Season of Arrivals that his true character started to shine. By order of Savathûn, Nokris and his Hive minions prevented the Darkness from speaking to humanity for 18 weeks. When the Guardian could finally face Nokris to end the interference, he made it clear that they are merely a pawn in the Light and Dark's schemes. Nokris was willing to break the Sword Logic and listen to The Witch Queen herself to meddle in humanity's affairs. Few Hive gods would have made the same sacrifice.
Xivu Arath, God of War
The Hive live by the Sword Logic, a philosophy that only the strong survive. Many of the Hive are skilled warriors who thrive in combat, which makes Xiva Arath all the more terrifying.
Xivu Arath is the Hive's God of War. That's not just a title for show; Xivu has slain millions in her pursuit of total domination. Her Cryptoliths caused mass hysteria across the Sol System, likely aiding Savathûn with Osiris' kidnapping. That carnage extended beyond the system, extending all the way to the Cabal homeworld of Torobatl. Xivu Arath and her forces killed so many Cabal that they retreated to Sol just to negotiate a treaty with humanity. Her actions have been the powderkeg for Year 4's story arc, arguably one of the best stories we've seen in the Destiny franchise.
Dul Incaru, The Eternal Return
Unlike Crota, Dul Incaru's descendence from Savathûn hasn't overshadowed Dul Incaru's impact in the Destiny franchise. Thanks to her, the Dreaming City continues to this day, weakening the Awoken more and more with each passing cycle.
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Dul Incaru serves as the final boss to Destiny 2's Shattered Throne dungeon, resetting the Dreaming City curse back to its original state. That change doesn't last for long, as the curse continues to spread regardless. Arguably the most memorable part of Dul Incaru is the Truth to Power lore entries where she talks to the player through a web of lies and deception. It also led to one of the most memorable Bungie posts in Destiny 2 history. Once the player base defeated Dul Incaru at 999 Power Level, just as the lore book asked you to, Bungie released a unique blog post entry under the guise of Savathûn.
Savathûn, The Witch Queen
Savathûn, the queen of deception, is one of the most powerful Hive beings in the Destiny franchise. She doesn't fight opponents head-on like her brethren. Savathûn's weapon of choice is trickery.
Everything Savathûn says can't be taken at face value. Every action, every word that comes from Savathûn is meticulously planned. It's thanks to Savathûn that the Dreaming City is eternally cursed, why the Last City fell into an Endless Night, and why Osiris is currently missing. Nothing she does is for your benefit, no matter how she phrases it.
That's what makes Savathûn such an incredible character. You can never truly tell her intentions. Season of the Lost has shown players a much more pragmatic side to Savathûn that dispels her history of cunning, at least initially. And with what we've seen of The Witch Queen expansion thus far, her plan is far more terrifying than what anyone could have imagined.
Oryx, The Taken King
It should come as no surprise that Oryx has taken the top spot on our list. Many Destiny veterans consider The Taken King as the franchise's best expansion, fixing many of the original Destiny's issues. Part of that expansion's success was its main antagonist, Oryx. Not many Destiny villains can say they've:
- Single-handedly destroyed an Awoken fleet.
- Slain a worm god and stolen its powers.
- Created the Taken with stolen worm god powers.
It would take an elite group of Guardians to delve into the Ascendant Plane to slay Oryx once and for all. Yet the Taken King's impact on the franchise can be felt to this day, both in terms of story and Destiny's content structure. Not many Destiny antagonists can say the same.
Next: Destiny 2: Beyond Light Complete Guide And Walkthrough
