Review from Kit-prespective.

This breaker competes against Gauss. Against smaller ice up to strength 3, they are identical apart from the install cost. At strength 4, 6+, Pressure Spike becomes more efficient. Also Laamb can be considered, but I will not compare Laamb with Pressure Spike in this review.

Install turn, against Bran:

• Gauss: 5 to break, 2 to install (=7)
• Pressure Spike: 7 to break, 4 to install (=11)

Future turns, against Bran:

• Gauss: 9 to break
• Pressure Spike: 7 to break
• Pressure Spike (Threat): 5 to break

Assuming Gauss's strength bonus was utilized to break Bran once on that turn, then Pressure Spike needs to break Bran 2 more times in future turns to break even. If Gauss was pre-installed, then they break even on the first break.

Install turn, against Sandstone-1:

• Gauss: 3 to break, 2 to install (=5)
• Pressure Spike: 5 to break, 4 to install (=9)

Future turn, against Sandstone-1/Akhet-3:

• Gauss: 5 to break
• Pressure Spike: 5 to break
• Pressure Spike (Threat): 3 to break

Sandstone does get cheaper on the second encounter for Pressure Spike than third, but it is definitely a tricky ice for both breakers.

When playing as Kit, my answer to big barriers has been Gauss, Pelangi/Egret, and DJ-Quetzal, which deals with most big barrier problems. Pressure Spike provides a longer-term solution that covers her weakness against stacked barriers. But how often do I actually see BTL-style stack of big barriers, over-advanced ice walls, or PD-style stacked Brans? And do I actually go through those more than twice in a game? I don't know the answer yet, but I am happy to at least to have the option to swap in Pressure Spike now.

For those who have influence with slots to spare, the answer is probably still Cleaver with strength supports.