Pros

• Can be searched with Djinn.
• Combos well with Grimoire, Imp and Demolition Run
• Triggers Noises ability

Cons

• Is dangerous to use when net damage ambushes like Snare! and Fetal AI are around, but you can choose how much you want to access, so be careful.
• Can be useless, if R&D is well defended and virus counters get purged.

Thoughts

• Very dangerous if you can make multiple runs during a single turn
• Multiple Mediums stack, just be aware that the total number of accesses is x+y-1 and not x+y (if the Mediums have x and y virus counters respectively)
• This is especially dangerous with Personal Workshop since you can install Medium from the Workshop without spending clicks during that turn. It is not uncommom to blast R&D wide open and run multiple times
• When to purge? That's the big question. If R&D is poorly defended then purging won't do any good because the virus counters can be regained too soon. So keep R&D well defended when suspecting (or facing) a Medium. This makes Medium a pretty strategy defining card. When the runner could install a Medium and run thrice on R&D, then you better get cracking elsewhere or defend R&D better.
• For that purpose Ice with an unbreakable component probably works best to keep the runner from stomping R&D, Tollbooth or Data Raven come to mind
• another interesting way of defending R&D against Medium is with an Ice Wall plus Matrix Analyzer. As the runner loads his Medium with counters, you improve your Ice Wall along, so you kind of "keep up". Additionally Anarchs are usually the easiest to trace, so even a Trace2 for a tag is probably a concern for them, especially when they want to use as many clicks per turn on running.

This might be a little bit of a "no duh" kind of note for those that have been playing but: you add the virus counter onto Medium whenever the run is successful. A run is successful when you make it past the last piece of ICE, but before accessing the server.

This means you can bring this into play with Grimoire active, giving it 1 counter, and then on your first successful run on R&D you get to place a second virus counter on the card, thus giving you a chance to look at two cards off R&D on the first click.

Even if this card does not end up grabbing you any Agendas, the mere fact that it exists will either cause the Corp to think about purging virus counters, or spending clicks and money setting up extra defense on the R&D.

Medium is possibly the fastest way for the runner to win in the game.

It's an incredible threat which can get underestimated. And is in the top two programs most likely to induce a virus purge. (After Datasucker.)

To me, the single best Anarch card, and potentially the only good Anarch card in the Core set which isn't hideously under influence-costed.

From the Salvaged Memories meta, the return of Medium changed thing the most, along with Indexing.

With Medium, ice destruction, using any anarch tools (including the return of Parasite), will allow the runner to get rid of R&D protection. After which the runner can run run run on R&D, seeing many cards. If Medium was unique, it would be an okay card, but since you can put 3 of them on the board, each run after the first will let the runner see 3 more cards.

Medium combine well with #toerh viruses tools, like Knobkierie and MemStrips. Contaminate suddently becomes a multiaccess card!

By mid-game, depending on the draw of the corp, the runner might be able to see most of R&D in one turn.

Of course, this can be mitigated with purging the viruses frequently, or make R&D a glacier. The other alternative are traps. Snare!, Archangel, Sapper, Chrysalis, News Team will deter the runner from seeing too much card in one go.

Funny part, Medium combined with Mwanza City Grid will make the corp rich in no time, if the corp does not lose on the spot.

The best mitigation for Medium is still Macrophage, which will destroy it or else, be very taxing to the runner.

The quote is great. The graphic is nice. A good card.

The Virus program is an excellent addition for players aiming to maximize their efficiency in accessing cards during runs. With its ability to accumulate virus counters and provide additional accesses, it can turn the tide in a game when used strategically. What are some effective cards to pair with the Virus program? slope game asks.