A η-class (eta class) or Hive World is a category of Imperial planet distinguished by vast, continent-spanning cities, often built high into the sky and deep beneath the earth.[4a]
Overview
The Hive Worlds are estimated to comprise between 10-25% of the total quantity of Imperial planets. The exact numbers is difficult to establish due to the bureaucratic features of the Imperium itself.[5] Populations of every Hive World are enormous, and almost all food needs to be imported. A Hive World rendered temporarily inaccessible through Warp space will suffer a devastating famine within a very short space of time. It will become a vast catacomb of lunatics driven to excesses of anarchic, urban savagery by starvation and claustrophobia. Hive Worlds are dangerous, being too large to monitor safely, and their citizens are typically unbalanced, if not utterly crazed. It has been known for the Adeptus Arbites to cull these planets in order to bring their populations down to manageable levels.[1]
Billions of people can live crowded together in a single Hive city.[Needs Citation] Each of these Hive Worlders is a potential soldier for Imperial forces, including the Imperial Guard[4a] and the Space Marines. Hive Worlds contribute the vast bulk of the recruits for the Imperial Guard. The violent gangland lifestyle which most residents are forced to live means they are already hardened and experienced in warfare. Almost every recruit will already know how to handle a gun. Hive Worlds also serve to populate newly discovered planets. Imperial citizens are gathered from various Hive Worlds (willingly or unwillingly) and shipped off to distant colonies. An example of this would be Medusa V. Hive Worlds have huge import/export ratios, exporting a vast range of materials, and relying on imports of food and water. In common with most other Imperial worlds, Hive World society has distinct classes, with a ruling class and a working class. Invariably the lower classes inhabit the lower and more decayed and polluted levels of the Hive.[Needs Citation]
There are approximately 32,380 Hive Worlds in the Imperium.[2a] Most consist of various enclosed Hive cities or Hive clusters surrounded by wasteland, jungle, ice, plains, etc. In the most extreme examples the Hive World has developed beyond the point of separate Hive clusters - the planet's surface instead is completely urbanised with hundreds of stacked layers of arcologies, covering the entirety of the planet. Holy Terra is an example of this "city-planet". The sheer numbers of workers in a Hive makes them hard to control. Gangs grow up and control sections, fighting among themselves and millions subsists on scraps. Further up power reaches the ancient lighting system, while even further up, air circulation systems clean the air for those rich enough to afford it. It is a hierarchical system, and a ruthless one, but given sufficient forces to keep the populace down, it is a very efficient way of housing billions of people. If each person had a house on the ground, the entire planet would be overrun with living quarters and no room for production facilities.[Needs Citation]
Hive Worlds are important due to their output. They don't reach anywhere near the production of a Forge World, but the number of workers give out a huge quantity of materials. Hive Worlders, being just as brutal and savage as those on Feral Worlds also provide the best fighting material to the Imperium.[Needs Citation]
Notable Hive Worlds
Planet name | Segmentum | Sector | Subsector | System | Population | Notes | |
Absolom Reach (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Now — Daemon World, also former Desert World | |
Acheron IV | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — War World; Imperium fought with Orks | |
Aerius (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Now - status unknown. Suffered great losses due to the plague. | |
Agrellan (former) | Ultima | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Was captured by Tau and renamed to Mu'gulath Bay, then subjected to Exterminatus by Imperium though part of the Tau population survived | |
Algol | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 18,000,000,000 | ||
Amarah Prime | Segmentum Tempestus | Orpheus | Capitoline Subsector | Amarah | Unknown | ||
Anshur (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Status unknown, former Imperium | |
Aralan | Unknown | Aralan Sector | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Arcadia | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Archaos | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Drusus Marches | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Armageddon | Segmentum Solar | Armageddon Sector | Armageddon Subsector | Armageddon System | Unknown | ||
Aryand | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Now — Necron world | |
Ashek II | Pacificus | Sabbat Worlds | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Attacked by Chaos with unknown result | |
Auxilion | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Now — Dead World | |
Avalan | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — War World | |
Avellorn | Segmentum Solar[3] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Badab Primaris | Ultima Segmentum | Badab Sector | Unknown | Badab System | 5,170,000,000 | Former Adeptus Astartes Homeworld (Astral Claws) | |
Bakus III | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Baraspine | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Adrantis Nebula | Baraspine System | 2,000,000,000 | ||
Belacane | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Markayn Marches | Belacane System | 2,700,000,000 | Also — Forge World | |
Belial | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — Industrial World | |
Beta-Garmon III | Solar | Beta-Garmon Cluster | Unknown | Alpha-Garmon System | Unknown | Devastated during the Horus Heresy | |
Black Reach (Blackreach) | Ultima Segmentum | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Bront | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Golgenna Reach | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Caldera | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — Death World | |
Canopus | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Josian Reach | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Carcharias | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — Adeptus Astartes Homeworld (Crimson Consuls) | |
Chima Lomas | Obscurus | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Clove | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Hazeroth Abyss | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Coronis Agathon[2c] | Segmentum Obscurus | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 120,000,000,000[2c] | Also — Fortress World | |
Corvus Majoris | Ultima | Unknown | Corvus Sub-Sector | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Crixos | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Cthonia (former) | Segmentum Solar | Unknown | Unknown | Cthonia system | Unknown | Now - destroyed | |
Cyclopean Prime | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Cyclopia | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Delaphina | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Derdoni (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Primary Hive was destroyed, status unknown | |
Don-Croix | Ultima | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Drachu | Segmentum Tempestus | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Ephisia | Segmentum Tempestus | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Site of rebellion | |
Falchat (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Hives were stormed by Chaos, current status unknown | |
Fell Core (former) |
Ultima | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Now — Dead World | |
Fenksworld | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Josian Reach | Unknown | 1,000,000,000 | ||
Formal Prime | Pacificus | Sabbat Worlds | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Fornax Aleph | Pacificus | Sabbat Worlds | Newfound Trailing Group | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Forsarr (former), now - (Garaghak's World) |
Segmentum Tempestus | Forsarr Sector | Unknown | Kastorel System | Unknown | Now — Ork World | |
Galaspar | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Galaspar System | Billions | ||
Gantor Terentes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Gehenna Prime | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Gehenna System | Unknown | ||
Gethsemane | Segmentum Obscurus | Gothic Sector | Gethsemane sub-sector | Gethsemane System | Unknown | ||
Greyshroud | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Gunpoint | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Hazeroth Abyss | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Guytoga | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Hazeroth Abyss | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Hamclov | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Harakon | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Hazhim | Ultima | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Hermetica | Segmentum Solar | Chonma Sector | Unknown | Hermetica System | Unknown | ||
Hexis Alpha | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Hranx | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — War World, divided the planet between the Imperium and the Alpha Legion | |
Hredrin | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Josian Reach | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Ichar IV | Ultima Segmentum | Unknown | Unknown | Ichar System | 500,000,000,000 | ||
Ichorax (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | None, former billions | Now — Dead World | |
Ishraq | Ultima | Unknown | Corvus Sub-Sector | Unknown | Unknown | Though polluted by Chaos, the Imperium thinks that the population may be cleanced of its filth | |
Isstvan III (former) | Ultima Segmentum | Unknown | Unknown | Isstvan system | None, was 12 billion pre-Heresy | Now — Dead World, site of the famous Battle of Isstvan III | |
Japheth | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Now belongs to Chaos | |
Jones Crispin World | Ultima Segmentum | Charadon sector | Unknown | Eydolim System | Unknown | ||
Kado | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — War World, the Imperium fought there with the Chaos | |
Khadenghast | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — War World, the Imperium fought there with renegade PDF | |
Kiavahr | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — Adeptus Astartes Homeworld (Raven Guard) | |
Krieg (former) | Segmentum Tempestus | Uhulis Sector | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Now — Death World | |
Lakadamon | Tempestus | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Landunder | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Malfian Subsector | Landunder System | <1,000,000,000 | ||
Lastrati [Needs Citation] |
Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Lavantia | Tempestus | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — Desert World and Adeptus Astartes Homeworld (Night Swords) | |
Lethe Eleven (former) | Segmentum Obscurus | Scarus Sector | Helican Subsector | Thracian Primaris system | Unknown | Now — Ork World | |
Levion Gamma | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Suffered great losses through Ork invasion | |
Lo | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Drusus Marches | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Lystra (former) |
Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Was overwhelmed by a Poxwalkers epidemy | |
M'kond | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Malfi | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Malfian Subsector | Malfi System | 23,000,000,000 | ||
Medusa V (former) | Ultima Segmentum | Unknown | Unknown | Medusa system | None | Now — Dead World, also formerly Mining World | |
Mefara Secundus (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Now — Desert World | |
Megheim | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Meridian | Ultima | Korianis | Subsector Aurelia | Unknown | 32,000,000,000 | ||
Meridian (Maiden World) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Former Maiden World | |
Merov | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Golgenna Reach | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Merovincha | Segmentum Obscurus | Ixaniad Sector | Crassan Subsector | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Methalor | Segmentum Solar | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Methusela | Ultima Segmentum | Unknown | Unknown | Bane's Landing System | Unknown | ||
Minea[2a] | Ultima Segmentum[2a] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 154,000,000,000[2a] | ||
Mitra Prime | Segmentum Solar | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Now belongs to Chaos | |
Mordian | Segmentum Obscurus | Unknown | Unknown | Mordian system | Unknown | ||
Morrigar (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | None | Now — Dead World, also — Tomb World | |
Necromunda | Segmentum Solar | Unknown | Unknown | Necromunda System | Unknown | ||
Nonimax | Segmentum Pacificus | Sabbat Worlds | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Nostramo (former) | Ultima Segmentum | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Destroyed, also - former Adeptus Astartes Homeworlds (Night Lords) | |
Nova Sulis | Segmentum Solar | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Nova Terra (Constantinium) | Segmentum Pacificus | Viridis Sector | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Nucon VI | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | At least 100 Billion | The planet was plagued by Nurgle. Current status unknown | |
Optima Prima | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — War World and Mining World. Forces of the Imperium fought there with Chaos Space Marines of Nurgle | |
Orar | Segmentum Obscurus | Gothic Sector | Orar Subsector | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Orphidia Delta | Segmentum Solar | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Orphidia Prime | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Pandora Prime | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Paraghast | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Persepolis | Segmentum Pacificus | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Phaenon Prime (former) | Segmentum Obscurus | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | None, formerly 14 billion | Destroyed, also former Penal World and during some time belonged to Chaos | |
Piety | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Drusus Marches | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Port Maw | Segmentum Obscurus | Gothic Sector | Port Maw | Port Maw System | Unknown | ||
Praedis Zeta | Ultima Segmentum | Vidar Sector | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — Adeptus Astartes Homeworld (Imperial Reavers) | |
Praetoria | Segmentum Tempestus | Unknown | Unknown | Praetoria System | Unknown | ||
Prol IX | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Markayn Marches | Prol System | Unknown | ||
Pyros | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Radnar (former) | Ultima Segmentum | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Now — Dead World | |
Raxos (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Was invaded by Daemons, current status unknown | |
Rebas (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Now — Dead World | |
Regallus | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Now belongs to Chaos | |
Rora | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Eudymimous System | Unknown | ||
Saint Marduk's Bane (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Now — Dead World | |
Samson IV | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Hazeroth Abyss | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Schrodinger VII (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Tomb World, Ice World, also former Mining World. Now belongs to Necron | |
Scintilla | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Golgenna Reach | Unknown | 25,000,000,000 | ||
Sephlagm | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — War World where Imperium fought with rebels | |
Septius VII | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Shardenus | Unknown | Unknown | Contqual | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Shroud | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Millions | Also — Mining World, Ice World | |
Siprix | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Solomon | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Markayn Marches | Solomon System | 13,000,000,000 | ||
Stalinvast (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | N/A | Noe — Dead World | |
Subiaco Diablo (former) |
Segmentum Obscurus | Belis Corona Sector | Unknown | Belis Corona System | Unknown | Now — Dead World | |
Tanis (former) | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis | Unknown | Tanis System | Unknown | Now — Dead World | |
Targus VIII | Segmentum Tempestus | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Terra | Segmentum Solar | Solar sector | Sol subsector | Sol System | Unknown | ||
Temperis[2b] | Segmentum Pacificus[2b] | Unknown | Unknown | Cabulis System[2b] | Unknown | Also — War World. Attacked by Orks | |
Tephaine | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Adrantis Subsector | Tephaine System | Unknown | ||
Terra | Segmentum Solar | Sector Solar | Sub-Sector Solar | Sol System | Billions | ||
Thical | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Drusus Marches | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Thracian Primaris | Segmentum Obscurus | Scarus Sector | Helican Subsector | Thracian Primaris system | 22,000,000,000 | ||
Thranx (former) |
Segmentum Solar | Unknown | Unknown | Thranx System | Unknown | Now — Dead World | |
Thridia | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Also — Tomb World | |
Tobias Halt | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Halt System | Unknown | ||
Tranch | Segmentum Obscurus | Scarus Sector | Adrantis Subsector | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Turren Primus | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Urlon IV | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Vanqualis | Unknown | Scaephan Sector | Unknown | Obsidian System | Unknown | ||
Vaust | Segmentum Pacificus | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Vaxanide | Segmentum Obscurus | Calixis Sector | Malfian Sub-Sector | Vaxanide System | 3,000,000,000 | ||
Vendettum[4b] | Ultima Segmentum | Unknown | Unknown | Bane's Landing System | Unknown | ||
Verghast | Segmentum Pacificus | Sabbat Worlds | Newfound Trailing Group | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Vigilus | Segmentum Obscurus | Unknown | Nachmund Gauntlet | Vigilus System | ~167,000,000,000 | Key route through the Great Rift | |
Volcanis Ultor | Segmentum Solar | Unknown | Unknown | Volcanis System | Unknown | ||
Vorlanthus IV | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Vorsk (former) | Unknown | Unknown | Vorsk Subsector | Betalis System | Unknown | Now — Ork World | |
Vyaniah | Ultima Segmentum | Khymaran Drift | Unknown | Unknown | 2,500,000,000 | Early stage Hive World |
Sources
- 1: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, pg. 134
- 2: Warhammer 40,000 5th Edition Rulebook
- 3: Codex: Chaos (2nd Edition), pg. 48
- 4: Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition Rulebook
- 5: Urban Conquest, pg. 9
Uncited