Test Run

Test Run 3[credit]

Event
Influence: 3

Search either your stack or your heap for 1 program. (Shuffle your stack after searching it.) Install that program, ignoring all costs. When your turn ends, if that program has not been uninstalled, add it to the top of your stack.

Illustrated by Eko Puteh
Decklists with this card

Cyber Exodus (ce)

#47 • English
Startup Card Pool
Standard Card Pool
Standard Ban List (show history)
Rulings
  • Updated 2022-04-24

    Why does Test Run now say "has not been uninstalled"?

    The lingering effect to place the program on top of the stack only affects the object installed with this event, not the program as a whole. If the Runner reinstalls that program, for example with Rejig, then the lingering effect does not apply to the newly installed object anymore. This wording was chosen to clarify this interaction; this is not a change in the functionality of the card.

Reviews

This card speaks for it self, then whispers sweet things in your ear when you dont expect it.

Its one of the most powerful tutors you can find, here's why: 1 and 3 get you: One free turn to use near any icebreaker you want, regardless of cost. One turn to exploit superpowered super expensive icebreakers like Femme Fatale or Torch for just a 3 "install" cost. After youre done with what was hopefully a fruitful turn, the tutored card goes to the top of your stack, which means it is ready to be drawn and installed, no useless random draws blocking your path.

At first glance you might think this is where this card ends in its usefulness, but wait, theres more! For starters this card can recover discarded cards, thats great by itself. The fact that the tutord card goes back to the stack is a downside, a "cost" to balance against Test Runs great power, but there are some cards where this is actually an upside.

The most obvious raw power synergy is with the limited-charge breakers that have surfaced in recent expansions, Overmind, D4v1d, Cerberus "Cuj.0" H3, Cerberus "Rex" H2 and Cerberus "Lady" H1. Test run lets you play the breaker and use some counters, then later you draw and reinstall with fresh counters! Combine with e3 Feedback Implants to potentially double the effect.

A few programs and breakers need/can select targets, such as Femme Fatale, Cyber-Cypher and Knight, with test run you can target different targets with each install, though not allways needed this option can come in handy in certain scenarios.

One more synergy worth mentioning: If you Scavenge the Test Run card, that makes it permament, no returning to the stack, this combo play can easily pay your way to victory.

(Old Hollywood era)
Another interaction is with the #Eureka card, which allows for some sweet, albeit underused, next-turn installing for those big juicy programs. —
The only big downside, and the main reason that it doesn't see as much play as SMC, is that you need to know exactly what you need before you play it. But for less aggressive decks that isn't so bad. Also, this has slightly different synergy with Magnum Plus than SMC, because you can get your MO out with only 3 credits, then click 3 times and have enough money to install it next turn, as opposed to needing 7 credits up front with SMC. But at that point you are just spending more clicks and less credits. —
Test Run is also superior to SMC in London Library decks, since you don't want the program installed permanently. It just goes back to your stack, ready for your next visit to the Library. —
I've successfully used this card to jump-start economy by bootstrapping Magnum Opus. Play and get out MO then spend 3 clicks to gain 6 creds, next turn draw MO and install. Voila. —