Stegodon MK IV

Stegodon MK IV 3/1

Agenda: Security

Each run, as long as a piece of ice has been derezzed during that run, each installed icebreaker gets −2 strength.

Whenever a run begins, you may derez 1 piece of ice not protecting the attacked server to gain 1[credit]. Use this ability only once per turn.

Exceeding expectations for armor superiority.
Illustrated by Vitalii Ostaschenko
Decklists with this card

The Automata Initiative (tai)

#32 • English
Startup Card Pool
Standard Card Pool
Standard Ban List (show history)
Rulings
  • Updated 2023-10-01

    If the Runner installs an icebreaker during a run after the Corp has derezzed a piece of ice with a scored Stegodon MK IV, does that icebreaker get −2 strength?

    Yes. Stegodon MK IV’s strength reduction is a static effect that applies continuously during the run.

  • Updated 2023-10-01

    If the Corp has derezzed a piece of ice through another card, does that satisfy Stegodon MK IV’s ability and reduce the strength of installed icebreakers?

    Yes.

  • Updated 2023-10-01

    Do multiple copies of Stegodon MK IV stack?

    Yes. For example, if two copies of Stegodon MK IV are in the Corp’s score area and a piece of ice has been derezzed during the current run, each installed icebreaker will get −4 strength.

Reviews

The near-grinder type agenda of HB. This agenda define an entire archetype in HB, done around rez-derez. It is also the reason why Formicary became banned.

Once scored, this will make runs on any server much more expensive for the runner, if they use any breakers (Botulus, Physarum Entangler, Boomerang and bypasses will not be affected).

Some ices are really good with this, here is a few :

But also, some other cards get enabled :

Scoring a 1-3 agenda is not too demanding and can be done early in the game. The main issue is that you need to be able to rez back ices. For this, you have Vovô Ozetti, which will help rez back ice for cheaper.

This is a very good agenda, unique in style to Haas-Bioroid, and it enable good player expression within the game. Only draw back is that deck with this agenda tend to be slower. I love how it enable a very different archetype around a basic mechanic like rez and derez. Great design.

Nice art, good quote, all in line with the name of the card. All of which seems to have no relation with the effect of the card, which is a missed opportunity.

(Rebellion Without Rehearsal era)
4224

Could you explain, why you're saying that Echo, a 0 strength barrier, is particularly good with reducing icebreaker strength? Your list is mostly comprised of low strength ice that can still be broken cheaply even if you reduce a fixed strength breaker suite down from 3 to 1. Wouldn't actually big ice benefit more from building on that strength gap? Brân 1.0 is already good versus a turbined cleaver, but with 2 extra strength to gap it get's 4c more expensive to break, which is quite a tax.

@Krams, those are fair points. I was focusing more on the derez effect. Doing multiple rez-derez will increase the number of subs on Echo. It could be added that against bigger ice, and especially in a glacier, this will dramatically increase the cost of breaking ices for the runner, just like you say.

How come only one of the spectators gets a chair? What's up with that?

(Rebellion Without Rehearsal era)
140