Viper

Viper 3[credit]

Ice: Code Gate - Tracer
Strength: 4
Influence: 1

[subroutine] Trace[3]. If successful, the Runner loses [click], if able.

[subroutine] Trace[3]. If successful, end the run.

Dont Tread On Me
Illustrated by Bruno Balixa
Decklists with this card

Cyber Exodus (ce)

#52 • English
Startup Card Pool
Standard Card Pool
Standard Ban List (show history)
Printings
Cyber Exodus
Rulings

No rulings yet for this card.

Reviews

Viper might be the new Eli 1.0 post-MWL. One influence, str 4, 2 trace-3 subs. AI breakers are such a problem now that basically all ICE is porous so the 'disadvantage' of Viper is quite minimal.

At 3 to rez and armed with s that end the run as well as punish the runner for facechecking (losing a ) Viper is extremely similar to Enigma. The only difference is that it trades strength for porousness and vulnerability to runner . Given that Faust and Parasite are such big threats this is a good trade in the mid-2016 meta.

The most useful function of Viper is as a one-inf card that can help get the corp deck closer to 6 cards in order to activate the Jeeves alliance. Viper also slots well into every other faction too: needs code gates, needs ETR ICE with decent strength and low rez cost and also benefits for the same reasons as Jinteki, with the added bonus of having trace boosting cards in-faction.

Key stats:

P.S. Even though it is porous, it still has a degree of built-in Account Siphon defense, since the corp can pump an unbroken trace to dump s.

(Salsette Island era)
492
Not to mention that pumping the ETR trace might actually, yanno, ETR and stop the Siphon...(essentially dumping creds in there is zero cost because they were just gonna get nicked anyway) —

Like Caduceus, Viper is one of the Snake ICE, with a very similar setup. It may be a little easy for the runner to pay through the traces if they wish, but truthfully told even for a one link runner that would be a minimum of four credits. Perhaps only two credits if running on the last click, but that is a very dangerous proposition. It is also something that some newer concept HB decks are trying to push - Run last click and face the dangers, or run early and let me rez my Bioroids at a reduction.

It has seen a lot of use in that style click denial deck, and has even seen some use in combination with Enigma. Its higher strength yet the same rez cost is balanced by the fact that it is a trace style ICE, but that higher strength keeps it relevant later into the game. Plus it means that other resources must be spent for the all too common fixed strength breakers to be used to get through it, which is a different sort of tax in itself.

(Chrome City era)
418
I've never understood why this isn't as popular as Eli in HB. Same cost, strength, and # of subroutines. Same weakness of being able to be beaten without a breaker, but where Eli saps clicks, Viper saps credits. Double icing an early server with Viper and Eli creates a losing proposition for the runner every time. Love it. —
Note: Apex HATES this ice. Because neither of the subroutines is "end the run", Endless Hunger can't touch it. —