Hive Pocket Pillbug Expansion – Complete Your Portable Collection | Defensive Strategy Piece for Hive Pocket

Complete Your Hive Pocket Travel Collection

The Hive Pocket Pillbug Expansion adds the final strategic piece to your portable Hive Pocket game collection. This travel-sized expansion introduces the unique defensive Pillbug piece in the compact 25mm format designed specifically for Hive Pocket edition. The Pillbug expansion piece was intentionally designed to provide defensive counterplay against the offensive Mosquito and Ladybug pieces (already included in Hive Pocket), creating more balanced, competitive matches with complete strategic options—all in a portable, travel-friendly format.

Requires: Hive Pocket Edition base game (sold separately)
Number of Players: 2 players
Recommended Age: 9 years and up
Average Game Time: 20-30 minutes
Tile Size: 25mm (1 inch) across – Pocket size matching Hive Pocket
Weight: Lightweight for travel (approximately 14g)
Color: Multi-colored to match Hive Pocket aesthetic
IMPORTANT: Not compatible with Standard Hive or Hive Carbon (different tile sizes)

What Makes the Pocket Pillbug Special?

The Pillbug is unlike any other piece in Hive Pocket. While it moves slowly like the Queen Bee—just one space at a time—its true power lies in its remarkable special ability. Instead of moving itself, the Pillbug can pick up any adjacent piece (friendly or enemy) and relocate it to a different empty space next to itself. This extraordinary ability makes the Pillbug both a formidable defensive tool for rescuing threatened pieces and a powerful offensive weapon for disrupting opponent strategies—all while maintaining the ultra-portable format that makes Hive Pocket perfect for travel.

Since Hive Pocket already includes the Mosquito and Ladybug expansions in the base game, adding the Pillbug expansion completes your entire collection with all three official expansion pieces. This gives you the full tournament-level Hive experience in a compact package that weighs only 200g total and fits in your pocket or backpack.

How the Pillbug Works

Movement: The Pillbug moves exactly like the Queen Bee—one space at a time around the perimeter of the hive.

Special Ability: Instead of moving, the Pillbug can use its signature power to relocate adjacent pieces. The action happens in two steps:

1. The Pillbug lifts an adjacent unstacked piece (friend or foe) onto itself
2. The Pillbug places that piece into an empty space adjacent to itself

This special ability allows incredible tactical flexibility—rescue your own pieces from danger, disrupt opponent formations, or create unexpected strategic opportunities that completely change the flow of the game.

Important Pillbug Rules & Restrictions

Cannot Move Recently Moved Pieces: The Pillbug cannot move any piece that was moved by the opponent on their immediately previous turn. Similarly, any piece moved by the Pillbug cannot be moved again on the next player’s turn.

Cannot Move Stacked Pieces: The Pillbug can only move pieces on the main hive level, not pieces covered by Beetles or Ladybugs.

Must Respect One Hive Rule: The Pillbug cannot move a piece if doing so would split the hive into separate groups.

Cannot Create Beetle Gates: The Pillbug cannot move pieces through narrow gaps created by stacked Beetles.

Movement Immunity: Any piece that was physically moved (either directly or via Pillbug action) is rendered immobile on the next player’s turn.

Mosquito Interaction: When the Mosquito (included in Hive Pocket base game) is adjacent to a Pillbug, it can mimic both the Pillbug’s movement AND its special relocating ability, creating even more tactical complexity.

Why Add the Pillbug to Hive Pocket?

Complete Your Collection: Hive Pocket includes Mosquito and Ladybug expansions—the Pillbug completes the full tournament set of all three official expansions in portable format.

Enhanced Strategic Depth: The Pillbug adds an entirely new dimension to Hive Pocket strategy—direct piece manipulation—creating more complex decision trees and deeper tactical planning.

Defensive Balance: Designed specifically to counter the offensive power of Mosquito and Ladybug (already in your Hive Pocket), creating more balanced, competitive gameplay.

Tournament Complete: With all three expansions (Mosquito, Ladybug, and Pillbug), your Hive Pocket matches tournament-standard competitive play—all in a 200g travel package.

Perfect for Serious Travel Gamers: If you take Hive Pocket camping, backpacking, or on flights, the Pillbug adds strategic depth without adding significant weight or bulk.

Maintains Portability: At only 14g for two pieces, the Pillbug expansion doesn’t compromise Hive Pocket’s travel-friendly design.

Compact Size Matches Perfectly: 25mm tiles integrate seamlessly with your Hive Pocket collection—same size, same quality, same portable convenience.

Comeback Potential: The Pillbug’s rescue ability means games are never truly over until the Queen is surrounded—creating exciting comeback opportunities even on airplane tray tables.

What’s in the Box

2 Premium Bakelite Hexagonal Pocket-Sized Pillbug Tiles:

• 1 White/Cream Pillbug piece with colored markings
• 1 Black Pillbug piece with colored markings

Also Includes:

• Illustrated rules leaflet with detailed Pillbug movement examples
• Special ability explanations and restriction guidelines
• Multilingual instructions (English, French, Spanish)

Each Pillbug tile measures 25mm (1 inch) across and 10mm thick—identical to your Hive Pocket game pieces. The tiles are crafted from premium, durable Bakelite with raised insect designs, ensuring they match perfectly with your existing Hive Pocket collection in both size and quality. The multi-colored design integrates seamlessly with Hive Pocket’s vibrant aesthetic while maintaining the compact, portable format.

Strategic Applications

Defensive Uses:

• Rescue your Queen Bee when surrounded on multiple sides
• Reposition threatened pieces to safety during travel games
• Move your own pieces away from opponent Beetle attacks
• Create protective formations in tight spaces

Offensive Uses:

• Disrupt opponent defensive formations
• Move enemy pieces away from protecting their Queen
• Force opponent pieces into disadvantageous positions
• Control the game tempo by manipulating enemy piece placement

Advanced Tactics:

• Coordinate Pillbug movements with the included Mosquito piece
• Use Pillbug to counter aggressive Beetle and Ladybug strategies (both in Pocket base game)
• Create comeback opportunities when traveling

Tournament Standard in Pocket Format

Most serious Hive tournaments now use the complete MLP set (Mosquito, Ladybug, Pillbug). With this expansion, your Hive Pocket collection becomes tournament-complete, giving you professional-level strategic options in a format that fits in your jacket pocket and weighs less than a smartphone.

Who Needs the Pocket Pillbug Expansion?

This expansion piece is essential for Hive Pocket owners who want complete collection with all expansions, travel gamers seeking tournament-level strategy in portable format, backpackers and campers who want maximum strategic depth with minimum weight, frequent flyers who play Hive on airplane tray tables, competitive players practicing Hive strategy on the go, and anyone who has mastered Hive Pocket with Mosquito and Ladybug and wants defensive balance. If you carry Hive Pocket with you and play seriously, the Pillbug expansion completes your travel chess set with full strategic options.

Official North American Distributor – Authentic Gen42 Games Product
IMPORTANT NOTE: This expansion is ONLY compatible with Hive Pocket edition (25mm tiles). NOT compatible with Standard Hive (38mm) or Hive Carbon (38mm). Make sure you own Hive Pocket before purchasing.