Brain Chip

♦ Brain Chip 2[credit]

Hardware: Console
Influence: 3

+X[memory unit]

Your maximum hand size is increased by X.

X is equal to the number of agenda points you have.

Limit 1 console per player.

Illustrated by Jessada Sutthi
Decklists with this card

Data and Destiny (dad)

#39 • English
Startup Card Pool
Standard Card Pool
Standard Ban List (show history)
Rulings
  • Updated 2017-04-09

    If the Runner has negative agenda points, Brain Chip does not lower his or her hand size or MU: these cannot be increased by a negative number. [Official FAQ] [Negative agenda points can be gained from News Team or Shi.Kyū.]

Reviews

This is probably one of my favourite consoles.

Most consoles you want to have out as early as possible because they give , , on runs, virus tokens or even card draw.

This means you would run 2x or even 3x a console which can be installed only once.

The fact that Brain Chip is essentially a late game console makes it such a nice one of in all those decks that don't rely on an early console with the above features, thus saving deck slots and possibly some influence.

(Democracy and Dogma era)
120

One of the best console in the game. As the runner progresses in the game, stealing agendas, the console progresses as well. This is unique! By the end game, you'll have more MU and a bigger hand size than your need! All of this for the very low price of 2, making it the cheapest way to gain that many MU and handsize.

The closest comparable consoles are Obelus, Supercorridor and T400 Memory Diamond. The first need tags, making you build your entire deck around it. The second has a rider that happen, at best, once or twice per game. The third outscale the second and can sort of progress with you, as the game progresses. But none can do it like Brain Chip.

But 3 influences is a lot and in the early game, it does nothing for the runner. But it is still worth it if you plan to use more and more programs as the game progresses. But unlike Adam, you will not be able to tutor it and must hope to get it early enough.

For Adam, it is perfect with Safety First, since you will be able to draw card while having more cards in your hand, as the game progresses. And since Adam can tutor Brain Chip with Emergent Creativity, it is much easier to get it on time for it to have a lot of value.

The art shows us a piece of lore about bioroid : the brain is in the torso. Again, a phrase for a quote would have been easy to fit in I think. Rather plain for such an exceptionnal console.

(Parhelion era)
4224