Hive ships can heal and absorb heavy damage, but their living structure is inefficient, vulnerable to sickness, and difficult to replace. Darts let the hive remain at distance while fighters conduct defense, attack, and the Wraith's harvesting mission. Keeping the capital ship aloft also avoids the difficulty of landing and later lifting a living vessel that begins growing into its surroundings. Adding Ancient power technology creates a much stronger super-hive with still more darts, reinforcing rather than replacing the carrier relationship.
Chapter · 1:05:38-1:08:37
The Wraith hive ship's biology favors carrier warfare
Wraith hive ships use darts for combat and harvesting because exposing a scarce living capital ship creates biological and operational risks.