If the Runner chooses to use Carnivore, can they draw with René “Loup” Arcemont before trashing cards from their grip?
No. The Runner must fully resolve Carnivore’s ability before the trigger condition on Loup’s ability is met.
If the Runner plays Wildcat Strike with fewer than 4 cards left in their stack, can the Corp choose the draw option? What if the Runner cannot draw cards due to some other effect?
The Corp can choose either option regardless of the Runner’s stack or abilities affecting the Runner’s ability to draw cards. Making the choice for Wildcat Strike is not taking an action or using an ability, so it does not need to have the potential to change the game state.
If the Runner chooses to use Carnivore, can they draw with René “Loup” Arcemont before trashing cards from their grip?
No. The Runner must fully resolve Carnivore’s ability before the trigger condition on Loup’s ability is met.
Can the Runner use Carnivore to trash an operation or piece of ice?
Yes. Carnivore does not care whether a card you access has a trash cost.
Can the Runner use Carnivore to trash an agenda they don’t want to steal?
Yes. Once the agenda is trashed, the access ends. The Runner will not steal it.
Can the Runner use Carnivore if the last subroutine on Ansel 1.0 resolved earlier in the run?
No. That subroutine prohibits the Runner from trashing cards they access in any way, not just by using the basic trash ability.
What is Botulus’s strength?
Botulus is not an icebreaker, so it does not have a strength value. Its ability can be used to break subroutines on ice of any strength.
What happens to Botulus if the ice hosting it is trashed or derezzed?
If the host ice is trashed or otherwise uninstalled, any cards and counters hosted on it, including Botulus, are trashed. If the host ice is merely derezzed, it keeps all of its hosted cards and counters, including Botulus.
Can the Corp use Cyberdex Virus Suite in the middle of the Runner using Fermenter to stop them from gaining credits?
No. Paid abilities can only be used when a player has priority in a paid ability window, not in the middle of resolving another ability.
Is Leech a functional reprint of Datasucker?
Not quite. Because Datasucker says that the ice you are encountering must be rezzed, there are some rare encounters where it cannot be used, such as an encounter with an Archangel being accessed from the Corp’s hand or deck. Leech can be used even during these encounters.
Suppose the Runner has Cookbook and Hivemind installed, with 1 virus counter on Hivemind. If they then install Tranquilizer, is the host ice derezzed immediately? Or does it wait for the next check at the beginning of the Runner's next turn?
By managing their abilities carefully, the Runner can choose whether to derez the ice right away or not. Hivemind’s second ability is a static ability, so it always applies as soon as Tranquilizer is installed. But the conditional abilities on Cookbook and Tranquilizer meet their trigger conditions at the same time, so the Runner can choose the order to resolve them. If they resolve Tranquilizer first, it will only have 2 hosted virus counters (including the one shared from Hivemind) at the time that the number of counters is checked. If they resolve Cookbook first, then by the time Tranquilizer resolves, it will have 3 hosted virus counters and will derez the ice.
Why does Zahya Sadeghi say “for each time you accessed a card” instead of “for each card you accessed”?
Although the Runner is not usually allowed to access any given card more than once during a single breach, some cards, such as Bacterial Programming, have abilities that can move cards around in the middle of a breach, potentially resulting in the Runner having to access 1 or more cards for a second time. Zahya’s wording emphasizes that these repeat accesses still count toward the number of credits the Runner can gain.
If the Runner runs HQ or R&D, accesses a card during the run due to Otoroshi, and then the run ends unsuccessfully, can they still claim 1 from Zahya Sadeghi's ability?
Yes, the card accessed would still count. Zahya’s ability does not require a successful run.
If an Asteroid Belt has 4 hosted advancement counters, how much does it cost to rez it during a run made with Tread Lightly?
It would cost 0. To determine what a cost is when effects are modifying its value, start with the default value for that cost (Asteroid Belt’s printed rez cost is 9), apply each effect that increases the cost (Tread Lightly adds 3), and then apply each effect that lowers the cost (Asteroid Belt’s ability subtracts 3 for each hosted advancement counter).
9 + 3 – (3 ✕ 4) = 12 – 12 = 0.
If breaching HQ is replaced with another effect, such as gaining 2 with Security Testing, will the Runner get the additional access with Docklands Pass if they make a successful run on HQ again later in the turn?
Yes. “The first time you breach HQ” refers to a breach actually taking place, not just reaching the “Breach the attacked server.” step of the run.
What happens to Tranquilizer after it derezzes its host ice?
Tranquilizer remains installed and hosted on the derezzed ice and keeps its virus counters. If that ice is later rezzed again, Tranquilizer could potentially derez it again.
If Tranquilizer gets to 3 virus counters in the middle of the turn, does the ice derez?
No. Tranquilizer can only derez ice when its ability resolves: when it is installed and when the Runner’s turn begins.
Suppose the Runner has Cookbook and Hivemind installed, with 1 virus counter on Hivemind. If they then install Tranquilizer, is the host ice derezzed immediately? Or does it wait for the next check at the beginning of the Runner's next turn?
By managing their abilities carefully, the Runner can choose whether to derez the ice right away or not. Hivemind’s second ability is a static ability, so it always applies as soon as Tranquilizer is installed. But the conditional abilities on Cookbook and Tranquilizer meet their trigger conditions at the same time, so the Runner can choose the order to resolve them. If they resolve Tranquilizer first, it will only have 2 hosted virus counters (including the one shared from Hivemind) at the time that the number of counters is checked. If they resolve Cookbook first, then by the time Tranquilizer resolves, it will have 3 hosted virus counters and will derez the ice.
What happens if the Corp rezzes ice that is hosting a Tranquilizer with 3 virus counters?
The ice remains rezzed. If Tranquilizer still has 3 or more virus counters at the start of the Runner’s turn, then it will become derezzed again.
If the Runner uses Sneakdoor Beta to run Archives and then switch to HQ, does Red Team count that as a run on Archives or HQ?
Red Team cares about the server the Runner declared to be the attacked server at the beginning of the run. Therefore, it will always count a run made with Sneakdoor Beta as a run against Archives. The Runner will not be able to use Red Team to run Archives later in the turn.
If the Runner is playing as Tāo Salonga and manages to steal an agenda during an encounter, can they use his ability to change the attacked server by moving the currently encountered ice to another server?
Yes. If a piece of ice moves while the Runner is encountering it, the Runner moves with the ice.
Can the Runner use Tāo Salonga to swap a piece of ice protecting a server with ice hosted on Awakening Center?
Yes, but only if that piece of ice is a rezzed bioroid, because Awakening Center is only a legal location for bioroid ice. If the ice is unrezzed, the Runner cannot demonstrate that the swap is legal. It does not matter if the ice was exposed earlier in the game or is otherwise known by the Runner; it only matters whether the Runner is allowed to see the bioroid subtype at the time Tāo’s ability resolves. If a rezzed bioroid is swapped this way, the Corp will not be able to pay the cost to force the Runner to encounter it with Awakening Center’s second ability unless another effect derezzes the bioroid.
Can the Runner play Creative Commission if they only have 1 click left?
Yes. The Runner only needs to spend the 1 click required for the basic action to play an event. The second sentence on Creative Commission is part of its effect, not a cost to play the card.
Can the Runner play VRcation if they only have 1 click left?
Yes. The Runner only needs to spend the 1 click required for the basic action to play an event. The second sentence on VRcation is part of its effect, not a cost to play the card.
If I have multiple DZMZ Optimizers installed, do their discounts stack?
Yes. If you have 2 DZMZ Optimizers installed, you will pay 2[c] less to install your first program each turn.
If the Runner steals an agenda with their first R&D access and uses Pantograph to install eXer, can they access another card?
No. The limit to how many cards the Runner can access from R&D is determined at the beginning of breaching R&D. If an ability that would modify a breach, such as eXer’s ability, becomes active after the Runner has accessed a card, then it is too late to affect that breach.
If the Corp scores an agenda, and the Runner uses Pantograph to install Mystic Maemi, does the Runner put a credit on Mystic Maemi?
No. Conditional abilities must be active at the time their trigger condition is met in order to resolve. Mystic Maemi was not installed until after the agenda was stolen, so the Runner cannot trigger its ability at that time.
If the Runner uses Conduit's paid ability and makes a successful run on R&D, do they put a virus counter on Conduit before or after they breach R&D?
After. A run is still in progress while the attacked server is being breached, and Conduit’s first ability waits for the run to end.
If the Runner uses Conduit’s action ability to run R&D, but Conduit is trashed before R&D is breached, how many additional cards does the Runner access?
Conduit’s action ability checks the number of hosted counters at the time its nested “when you breach R&D” ability resolves. If Conduit is trashed before this, there are no longer any hosted counters, so the Runner will not access any additional cards.
The Runner uses Conduit's action ability while there are 2 virus counters on Conduit. The second card the Runner accesses is Cyberdex Virus Suite and the Corp purges virus counters. Does the Runner access a third card in R&D?
Yes. The limit to how many cards the Runner can access from R&D is determined at the beginning of breaching R&D. Once accessing cards begins, changing the number of virus counters on Conduit will have no effect on the breach already in progress.
Does Unity's boost ability give +1 strength to each installed icebreaker?
No, Unity's boost ability increases the strength of Unity by an amount equal to the number of installed icebreakers.
When does the Runner draw 1 card with Jailbreak?
When the run is declared successful at step 5a.
If the Runner uses Jailbreak to run a server with a rezzed Crisium Grid, will they access an additional card?
No. Jailbreak’s ability that gives an additional access is a delayed conditional ability created by its “If successful” ability. Since Crisium Grid stops the run from being declared successful, that ability is never resolved.
If the Runner plays Jailbreak or another run event to make a successful run on HQ, can they choose that event as one of the cards for Steve Cambridge’s ability?
No. An event that initiates a run is not fully resolved until that run is complete, and thus is in the play area, not the heap, at the time Steve Cambridge’s ability resolves.
If the first subroutine on Whitespace resolves, can the Runner lose credits from Overclock?
No. Credits are always lost from the credit pool.
Can the Runner use Mayfly to break more than one subroutine in a run?
Yes. Each time Mayfly’s interface ability resolves, it creates a delayed conditional ability that will wait until the end of the run to trash Mayfly, but extra copies of this ability that try to resolve after Mayfly is already trashed will simply do nothing.
Can the Runner use the action to place credits on Smartware Distributor if there are already credits on it?
Yes.
How does Verbal Plasticity interact with The Class Act?
Verbal Plasticity’s ability resolves immediately after the Runner pays the cost to take the basic action to draw 1 card, before the actual draw becomes imminent. The Class Act’s second ability resolves later, during the interrupt window that occurs while the draw effect is imminent. If both abilities are applicable, the Runner will draw 3 cards and put 1 of those cards on the bottom of their stack.
If the Runner trashes Nico Campaign, does the Corp draw a card?
No. The Corp only draws a card if Nico Campaign is trashed by its own ability.
Can the Runner use Carnivore if the last subroutine on Ansel 1.0 resolved earlier in the run?
No. That subroutine prohibits the Runner from trashing cards they access in any way, not just by using the basic trash ability.
If the Corp installs a piece of ice with the second subroutine on Ansel 1.0 and trashes Ansel 1.0 as part of the installation process, what happens?
If the Corp trashes Ansel 1.0 this way, they finish resolving the install instruction, then the encounter ends and the Runner passes Ansel 1.0’s former position. The third subroutine on Ansel 1.0 will not have the opportunity to resolve, because it is no longer active.
If the Corp installs a piece of ice with the second subroutine on Ansel 1.0, can they force the Runner to approach the new ice by trashing Ansel 1.0 and/or other ice protecting the attacked server as part of that install?
No. The new ice must be installed in the outermost position protecting the server. Since the Runner already has a position relative to the other ice protecting the server, the new ice will necessarily have a position outward from the Runner. Trashing multiple ice does not allow new ice to “leapfrog” the Runner’s position, but just moves the Runner 1 position toward the server for each trashed piece of ice that was inward from their earlier position.
When the Corp installs ice with the first subroutine on Brân 1.0, can they trash other ice? Can they trash Brân 1.0 itself? What happens if they do?
Yes, the procedure for installing ice is followed normally, except for the destination position being behind Brân 1.0 instead of the outermost position. However, the relative position of each piece of ice protecting the server is established before any cards are trashed. If Brân 1.0 is trashed, the encounter will end as soon as the install effect is complete, no more of its subroutines will resolve, and the Runner’s next position will correspond to the newly-installed ice.
Does the Corp have to pay to rez ice installed with Brân 1.0?
Yes. The “ignoring all costs” clause only applies while the ice is being installed, not when it is later approached and rezzed.
Can the Corp use Seamless Launch to place advancement counters on 1 of their cards that they could not normally advance?
Yes.
Can the Corp use Seamless Launch to place advancement counters on 1 of the Runner’s installed cards?
Yes.
Does placing advancement counters with Seamless Launch meet the trigger condition for “when you advance” abilities like the one on Oaktown Renovation?
No. Advancing a card results in placing an advancement counter on it, but placing advancement counters does not by itself count as advancing a card.
When is the Corp’s last chance to rez Manegarm Skunkworks for its ability to apply to a run?
The Runner has an opportunity to jack out after passing the last piece of ice protecting the server. The “last chance” you are looking for is the paid ability window just after this (step 4e).
What happens if the Runner uses Omar Keung’s ability to run R&D with Manegarm Skunkworks rezzed?
Manegarm Skunkworks will not affect this run unless it is rezzed in the root of Archives. Omar Keung’s ability moves the attacked server just before step 5a, which is after the step that can meet Manegarm Skunkworks’s trigger condition, step 4g.
Can the Corp trigger Jinteki: Restoring Humanity if they have no facedown cards in Archives for most of their turn, but they discard cards to their maximum hand size?
Yes!
What’s the difference between "when your discard phase ends" and "when your turn ends"?
We sometimes write abilities with “when your discard phase ends” to emphasize that they resolve after your hand size is checked. There is no difference in timing or functionality between this wording and “when your turn ends”.
If the Runner has Spoilers installed and the Corp scores Longevity Serum, can the Corp choose to add the card trashed by Spoilers to R&D?
No. The abilities on both Spoilers and Longevity Serum have the same trigger condition. Since agendas are always scored on the Corp’s turn, the Corp is the active player and must fully resolve their abilities before the Runner resolves any of theirs.
Can the Corp advance Urtica Cipher if it’s unrezzed?
Yes. Abilities that allow the Corp to advance a card are active even if the card is unrezzed.
Does Urtica Cipher do damage even if it has no advancement counters on it?
Yes, as long as it is installed. The 2 damage indicated in the card text is not contingent on adding more damage for advancement counters.
Does Urtica Cipher do its damage all at once, or in increments?
Urtica Cipher’s ability causes a single occurrence of damage, whether or not Urtica Cipher is advanced.
What happens if Diviner trashes a card with a play or install cost of 0?
Diviner will not end the run.
What happens if Diviner trashes a card with play or install cost of X?
Diviner will not end the run. A play or install cost of X is considered to be 0 until the card is played or installed.
Does Diviner’s subroutine require you to trash cards from HQ like Anoetic Void?
No. Diviner’s subroutine is checking the install/play cost of the card that was trashed from the Runner’s grip by the net damage.
If Karunā’s first subroutine resolves while the Runner is already breaching the attacked server (perhaps because of Ganked!), can the Runner still jack out? Does that stop them from accessing any more cards?
Yes and yes. Nothing stops the Runner from jacking out at unusual times if given the opportunity by a card ability. Jacking out ends the run, which ends any breach in progress as well.
Is Hansei Review a card in HQ while its own ability is resolving?
No. Operations and events are placed into the play area before they begin to resolve.
If the Corp scores an agenda, but then forfeits that agenda later in the turn, how much damage does Neurospike do?
Neurospike doesn’t look for agendas in any particular location. Rather, it looks back at the history of the Corp’s turn for each time that they scored an agenda, then checks the printed point value of each of those scored agendas at the time when they were scored. Forfeiting an agenda has no effect on the amount of damage it adds to Neurospike’s total.
When is the Corp’s last chance to rez Anoetic Void for its ability to apply to a run?
The Runner has an opportunity to jack out after passing the last piece of ice protecting the server. The “last chance” you are looking for is the paid ability window just after this (step 4e).
If Anoetic Void is installed in the root of HQ, can it be one of the cards trashed from HQ for its ability?
No. “Cards from HQ” only refers to cards in the Corp’s hand. Upgrades installed in the root of a central server are not “in” that server.
If the Corp uses Public Trail or another card to give the Runner a tag, can they trigger NBN: Reality Plus?
Yes. Giving the Runner 1 or more tags results in the Runner taking tags.
If the Runner prevents taking a tag, can the Corp still trigger NBN: Reality Plus?
No. If a tag is prevented, then the Runner does not take the tag.
If the Runner prevents taking a tag and then takes a tag later in the turn, can the Corp trigger NBN: Reality Plus?
Yes. NBN: Reality Plus’s ability looks for the first time a tag is actually taken. It doesn’t care whether it’s the first time an ability tried to give the Runner a tag.
If the Runner accesses Snare! from R&D and takes a tag, can they still trash the Snare! if the Corp draws it with NBN: Reality Plus?
No. Once a card being accessed moves to another zone, the access ends immediately.
The Runner accesses Behold! in the middle of accessing multiple cards from R&D. The Corp, playing NBN: Reality Plus, uses Behold! to give the Runner 2 tags, and draws 2 cards. Where does the Runner resume accessing cards?
The Runner continues accessing from the topmost card of R&D that they have not already accessed. If the Corp drew past the point the Runner already accessed, the new top of R&D is the next card accessed. If the Corp uses the effect of NBN: Reality Plus to draw 2 cards the Runner has already accessed, the Runner continues accessing R&D from the position they were already accessing.
Can the Corp use Spin Doctor’s ability to remove it from the game without choosing any cards in Archives? Does this cause R&D to be shuffled?
Yes and yes.
If there are no cards in Archives, can the corp activate Spin Doctor’s ability to remove it from the game in order to shuffle the deck?
Yes. Shuffling the deck is a change in game state, so you could activate this ability without any targets to shuffle back. Note that you must have at least 2 cards in R&D to do this, because if you only have 1 card, you aren’t actually shuffling the deck.
When rezzing or using Spin Doctor, can the Corp quote Malcolm Tucker from the BBC series The Thick of It?
Maybe! Please be mindful of what is appropriate language for your play environment. NISEI encourages players to be respectful and welcoming to each other, and some players may find strong expletives to be off-putting. Refer to the NISEI Code of Conduct and Organized Play Policies for more information.
If the Runner uses the first ability of Hannah "Wheels" Pilintra to run a remote server containing Spin Doctor, what happens if the server ceases to exist due to the Corp removing Spin Doctor from the game?
If the server ceases to exist during a run, that run is neither successful nor unsuccessful. The Runner will not take a tag.
Can the Runner stop Funhouse from ending the run by choosing to take the tag and then preventing it?
No. The “unless” in Funhouse’s ability indicates a nested cost. If the Runner does not take a tag, the cost is not paid and Funhouse will end the run.
What happens if the Runner has a mandatory ability that would prevent the tag from Funhouse, such as the ability on Jesminder Sareen: Girl Behind the Curtain?
Players cannot attempt to pay a cost that would be prevented. If Jesminder’s ability is applicable, the Runner must choose to end the run.
If the Runner plays Inside Job and bypasses Funhouse or Tollbooth, do the non-subroutine abilities on those cards resolve?
No. An ability that meets its trigger condition due to an encounter beginning can only resolve if the encounter is still taking place. Inside Job’s bypass ability meets its trigger condition at the same time as Funhouse or Tollbooth’s ability, and as it’s the Runner’s turn, they will resolve the ability they control first. Bypassing a piece of ice immediately ends the encounter, stopping the Corp from resolving their ability before they can tag the Runner or charge a toll.
Can the Runner use No Free Lunch to remove a tag gained from encountering a Funhouse before the Corp can remove that tag with B-1001 to end the run?
Yes. The active player will get priority first in the next paid ability window.
If the Corp uses a card ability to rez Ping at a time other than while the Runner is approaching it, will its ability give the Runner a tag?
Yes, as long as there is a run in progress and Ping is protecting the attacked server.
Can the Runner use No Free Lunch to remove a tag gained from the rezzing of Ping before the Corp can remove that tag with B-1001 to end the run?
No. The Corp has priority when they rez Ping, and its ability resolves in the immediately-following reaction window. After the ability resolves, the Corp receives priority again in the same paid ability window, and they can end the run with B-1001 before the Runner’s next opportunity to use a paid ability.
If the Corp plays Predictive Planogram while the Runner is tagged, can they choose the order to resolve its effects?
Yes, but the Corp must decide before resolving either effect whether they will be resolving both of them or only 1.
If the Corp uses Public Trail or another card to give the Runner a tag, can they trigger NBN: Reality Plus?
Yes. Giving the Runner 1 or more tags results in the Runner taking tags.
If the Runner uses Political Operative to trash AMAZE Amusements, does its ability remain active?
No. The ability only persists if the Runner trashes AMAZE Amusements while accessing it.
If the Runner accesses and trashes an unrezzed AMAZE Amusements, does its ability apply?
No. The persistent flag only indicates that an active ability can remain active beyond its source card. The ability must be active to begin with in order for it to persist.
What does “if it had no advancement counters” mean?
Usually, it simply refers to the first time you advance a card.
More precisely, the ability on Weyland Consortium: Built to Last meets its trigger condition if there are no advancement counters hosted on a card at the time the Corp advances it. The ability does not look any further back into the history of the card and when or whether it had any hosted counters. This condition is written in the past tense because by the time the ability resolves, advancing is complete, and now the card will have a hosted advancement counter.
If the Corp is playing Weyland Consortium: Built to Last and uses Seamless Launch to place 2 advancement counters at the same time, how many credits do they gain?
None. Placing or moving advancement counters directly does not count as advancing a card.
If the Corp is playing Weyland Consortium: Built to Last and uses Success to advance a card multiple times at once, how many credits do they gain?
Success advances its target multiple times in sequence, not simultaneously. Only the first advancement can meet Weyland Consortium: Built to Last's trigger condition, so the Corp can gain 2.
Can the Corp advance Clearinghouse if it’s unrezzed?
Yes. Abilities that allow the Corp to advance a card are active even if the card is unrezzed.
Who chooses whether to trash a program or end the run?
The Corp makes any choices in resolving subroutines unless the ability specifically directs the Runner to perform its effect.
Can the Corp advance Pharos if it’s unrezzed?
Yes. Abilities that allow the Corp to advance a card are active even if the card is unrezzed.
What does it mean to “score an agenda from this server”?
This ability meets its trigger condition when the Corp scores an agenda that was in or in the root of the same server as Malapert Data Vault.
Can the Corp use Send a Message’s ability to rez an Archer without forfeiting an agenda?
Yes. “Ignoring all costs” in Send a Message’s ability refers to both the rez cost of the ice and any additional costs.
Does Whitespace check for the Runner having 6 or less before or after the Runner loses 3?
After. Resolve each subroutine 1 at a time, in the order they appear on the card.
Can the Runner lose credits hosted on Overclock or Penumbral Toolkit for the first subroutine on Whitespace?
No. Those credits are only available to be spent. “Losing” credits always drains the Runner’s credit pool.
Do credits hosted on cards like Overclock and Penumbral Toolkit count toward whether the Runner has more than 6?
No. The Runner only “has” credits in their credit pool. The abilities on these cards only allow players to spend their hosted credits.