AirbladeX (JSRF Ed.)

♦ AirbladeX (JSRF Ed.) 1[credit]

Hardware: Vehicle
Influence: ●○○○○

When you install this hardware, load 3 power counters onto it. When it is empty, trash it.

interrupt → Hosted power counter: Prevent 1 net damage. Use this ability only during a run.

interrupt → Hosted power counter: Prevent a "when encountered" ability on a piece of ice.

Illustrated by Martin de Diego Sádaba
Decklists with this card

The Automata Initiative (tai)

#22 • English
Startup Card Pool
Standard Card Pool
Standard Ban List (show history)
Printings
The Automata Initiative
Rulings
  • Updated 2023-10-01

    Can the Runner use multiple hosted power counters on AirbladeX (JSRF Ed.) to prevent more than 1 net damage from the same effect?

    Yes

  • Updated 2023-10-01

    Can the Runner use AirbladeX (JSRF Ed.) to prevent the conditional ability granted by ZATO City Grid? When exactly does this happen?

    Yes, the ability granted by ZATO City Grid is a “when encountered” ability on ice, so it can be prevented this way. The Runner’s opportunity to prevent it is during the interrupt window for the ability’s first instruction. Targets are chosen as an interrupt window opens, and subroutines are targets, so the Corp must declare which subroutine they will choose first, then the Runner can use AirbladeX (JSRF Ed.). Finally, if the Runner does not prevent the ability, the Corp chooses whether to trash the ice to resolve the subroutine they chose.

  • Updated 2023-10-01

    Can the Runner use AirbladeX (JSRF Ed.) to prevent the conditional ability from Saisentan? Does this happen before or after the card type is chosen?

    Yes, Saisentan’s conditional ability can be prevented by AirbladeX (JSRF Ed.). The Runner must do so before the Corp chooses a card type. Since a card type is not a target, the choice is made when the ability resolves, after the interrupt window in which AirbladeX (JSRF Ed.) can be used closes.

  • Updated 2023-10-01

    If the Runner would take net damage during a run while AirbladeX (JSRF Ed.) is installed and the Corp has a rezzed copy of Prāna Condenser, which effect has priority to prevent the damage?

    The active player can choose to prevent the net damage first. The active player is the Runner, unless a run is happening on the Corp’s turn.

Reviews

As a rollerskating enthusiast, i am so hyped for this card :D Two very useful defensive uses, sounds like it could be a useful staple for any Shaper player, or even other factions considering it is only one influence. And of course it is lore-accurately very fitting for Arissana's aggressive playstyle ! You could easily slot this cool new vehicle in any Runner deck, especially if it already has some support for power counters, but will still be useful if you don't ! Enjoy and have fun :) Always be skating !

(The Automata Initiative era)
24

With the Automata Initiative cards, a lot more cards have a "when encountered" effect. AirbladeX (JSRF Ed.) will help solve this in a beautiful manner.

This card can be compared to the old Hunting Grounds, which is now rotated (in Q3 2023), along with most of the Apex: Invasive Predator card pool. But it is better, since is can be recharged (go Captain Padma Isbister: Intrepid Explorer!), can be used multiple times in one turn, is cheaper and hard to trash (not a ressource). At one influence, it is a great card to have for any runner.

If that was the only ability, it would be a good card.

But it gets better. It protect you when you run! This solve the problem a runner has against Jinteki : encountering Snare!, Urtica Cipher, Fujii Asset Retrieval, Anemone or Sting!, all of which could be lethal. So good!

Finally, this combo perfectly with a great card : Tsakhia "Bankhar" Gantulga. For 1 and one influence, you can foil 3 subroutines. Tsakhia "Bankhar" Gantulga was already a powerful card, be with this, it becomes absurd and allow a runner to pass the first rezzed ice of a server at little cost, WITHOUT breaking any subs. And who love to NOT break any subs : Mercury: Chrome Libertador!

I rate this card has slightly better than Hush. Because it does not take MU, solved multiple problems, all for the same cost and influence. Load of runner deck will be made more resilient with this. If you combo it with Tsakhia "Bankhar" Gantulga, it actively help you winning the game, which you cannot say for Hush.

All in all, a great hardware!

The art depict levitating "rollerblade". Skating by levitating is a fun concept that is very futuristic, regardless of the fact that frictionless skating (you cannot push with the side of the skate) means that you need almost no muscle strength to go forward, but you'll need plenty of muscle to stay standing with propulsors on your feet (have you ever heard of momentum). While the art is fun and colorful, it is actually failing at describing the effect of the card. How are skates helping you avoid NET damage? If it was meat damage, it would make sense. Unless those are virtual skates for the virtual avatar that is encountering the ices? In which case, it kind of make sense. A quote would have helped here. This get a passing grade, only because I want to believe those are virtual (even if it contradict the fact that it is a vehicle hardware), which give makes sense for the concept of avoiding damage and dangerous ices.

(The Automata Initiative era)
3579

Worth noting that while this card is surprisingly good, there are some ice which it doesn't work on, such as Virtual Service Agent and notably Anansi

—

AirbladeX (JSRF Ed.) prevents three “when encountered” triggers and/or points of net damage, and is charge-able.

Compare: Hunting Grounds crossed with a Feedback Filter.

Flavor: Padma's vehicle was a big boat, Arissana's vehicle is a pair of rollerblades. Also, Asmund Pudlat being a blue “weapons-matter” card, I'm hoping for a green “vehicles-matter” card (once enough bikes, hover-bikes, cyber-bikes, and space-bikes have been printed).

PS. I wish Arissana could flash this in against a rezzed AP though, like she can flash in a splashed Laser Pointer.

(The Automata Initiative era)
123