Prior to this point, Ice Analyzer has seen little play, because, as mentioned by earlier reviews, it is not only a niche card, but one that, at some some point, will become useless, when all the programs are installed.

However, the appearance of Khan: Savvy Skiptracer's breakers changes that. With Golden's and Peregrine's (and, presumably, the Fracter's) ability to derez the corresponding ice for 2 and returning themselves to grip, there now potentially could be a rig that never finishes installing all of its programs.

Of course, the Khan breakers are expensive, with install costs of 5 normally, or 4 if Khan passes an ICE first). Consequently, their derez ability synergizes powerfully with Ice Analyzer. Were one to have 3 installed, each reinstall would only cost 2, and the Corp would be subsidizing the remaining 60% by re-rezzing the ICE.

Throw in some additional derez cards, and maybe something like LLDS Processor, and there'd be a decent-strength criminal ICEbreaker suite that could do serious economic damage and still get in anywhere.

Can be a surprisingly good card though doesn't see much play, probably because on paper it doesn't look that good. But in my experience with it it actually can save a lot of money, I've actually gotten a Femme Fatale down with this thing paying only 1 that's how much they can save.

I feel this fits best into Nasir Meidan: Cyber Explorer decks or any Ice Destruction deck as the corp will be resin alot of ICE this way.

Pro's

Free to Install.

Can give alot of 's.

's are not in your Credit pool so can't be lost. (unless trashed)

Effects are cumulative. (more Ice Analyzer's = more 's per ICE.)

Works on any res of ICE ( Forged Activation Orders / Howler / Oversight AI etc. )

Only 1 Influence to take out of Faction.

Con's

It's a resource so can be trashed when tagged.

The longer it takes to get one into play the less useful they become.

Poor against Low Ice decks.

's can only be used on programs (so if you run out of things to install it becomes useless).

Ice Analyzer is basically Compromised Employee for Shapers. However, there are a few differences between the two, some obvious, some more subtle. They are, from most obvious to least (in my opinion):

• Compromised Employee costs 2 to install, while IA is free. However, Compromised Employee can potentially be worth more in the long run, with its 1 for traces, especially against NBN.
• IA's credits can only be spent on installing programs, while Compromised Employee's can be spent for anything, as they're just added to your credit pool.
• IA is virtual so it can survive Sacrificial Clone (as if it matters), while Compromised Employee is a connection and link. Thus, CE is more vulnerable to things like Snatch and Grab, but is also more useful for things like Calling in Favors.
• IA's credits are stored on IA.

That last one can be both good and bad. On the one hand, if it's trashed by, say, Corporate Town, you'll lose all your credits in IA's bank. On the other hand, if you get hit with Closed Accounts, the corp would also have to pay a and 2 per copy of IA with credits on them to completely drain you of your cash available for installs.

Ultimately, I think both cards have their place. In either case, getting them out early is everything. For the most part, I'd just expect IA to be chosen over Compromised Employee for Shapers, and vice-versa for Criminals. Anarachs get their pick between the two, if they really want either, but usually they'd rather spend their influence elsewhere.