Of the four ice in the 'pioneer' ice set, Meru Mati is quite plain and a bit underwhelming to read. (Others in the set are Gutenberg, Crick, and Turing).

To properly consider its merits, we should look at it on HQ and elsewhere separately:

• On HQ: It is a 2 rez, 4 strength, simple EtR (End the Run) barrier. The low rez cost combined with straightforward EtR would qualify it as a good binary 'gearcheck' ice (that forces the runner to find and install a breaker in order to continue). But it also has a favourable comparison of 2 rez to 3 to break using the benchmark fracter Corroder, which would quality it as a pretty good taxing piece of ice.

• Other servers: it's a 2 rez, 1 strength, simple EtR barrier. This is still pretty good as gearcheck ice - not quite as cheap as Ice Wall, but reasonably priced for the effect. However, at the lower 1 strength it will be 1 to break with basically any fracter in the game, so it's not at all taxing anymore.

So, it's outstanding value on HQ - especially against criminal runners that love to run all over a weakly defended HQ - and also sometimes useful on other servers. Overall, worth considering in Weyland decks, but the simple economic value it provides is unlikely to justify spending influence bringing it to other factions.

A low cost barrier for the Corp to rez and for the runner to break. Installed on any server but HQ, this is a Wraparound without the AI defense, with one strength. Corroder, Cerberus "Lady" H1, Breach, even Inti can beat this easily.

The only way this is worth an inclusion in your deck is if it is on HQ. That boosts its strength to Eli 1.0 power, but 1 less to res but with one less subroutine. Again, cheaper to rez and cheaper to break, unless the runner clicks through. So, unless you get one in your opening hand when money is tight, Eli is more adaptable and doesn't have the same crippling focus on one server. Also, this card has twice the influence of Eli.

Not being able to be clicked through is the major upside to this card, but for the same effect you could use a Wraparound, Ice Wall, or even a Paper Wall to save on up front cash.

With its glaring weaknesses and mostly superior counterparts, it hard to justify an inclusion. It's best considered for a Weyland deck that forgot Ice Wall exists and somehow blew all of its influence on SEA Source and other NBN tag cards.

Speaking of, Weyland kill decks should consider Gutenberg, the R&D counterpart, instead.