Pros
- 1 install cost for a 2 strength, 1 per subroutine Decoder is awesome by itself
- 1 stealth credit for 3 strength boost is also fantastic
Cons
- cannot defeat code gates of 3+ strength without the help of cards that provide stealth credits
Notable interactions
- most importantly, needs a source of stealth credits that can be spent on a decoder, which right now means Lockpick, Cloak and/or Ghost Runner
- A very strong breaker for Rielle "Kit" Peddler, since the first ice she encounters each turn gains the code gate subtype, so this can then break it
- At 2 base strength, without boosting, this can already defeat Enigma, Quandary, NEXT Bronze (for a while at least), and Yagura
- With a single stealth credit boost up to 5 strength, can now defeat some popular heavy-hitting ice like Tollbooth, Inazuma, Lotus Field, and Viktor 2.0
Final Thoughts
- Probably the best stealth breaker at the moment due to its low install cost, and ability to defeat some early game ice before finding any stealth credits
- The synergy with Kit is so strong that there is a reasonably successful deck archetype built with her, the sources of stealth credits, then usually also Dagger, and some form of heavy R&D attack.
(Order and Chaos era)
Can the credits for breaking subroutines still come from Stealth cards?
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Kutpurse
@Kutpurse: Yes. Stealth credits function as a regular credits, some abilities just require
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Cpt_nice
the credits to be stealth. So you can use Smoke's or Cloak's credit to pay for Corroder or for the "break a subroutine" ability on Refractor or Dagger.
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Cpt_nice