Shiv

Shiv 0[credit]

Program: Icebreaker - Killer - Cloud
Memory: 1 • Strength: 0
Influence: 2

If you have at least 2[link], the memory cost of this program is 0[memory unit], even if it is not installed.

This program gets +1 strength for each installed icebreaker.

Interface → [trash]: Break up to 3 sentry subroutines.

Illustrated by Adam S. Doyle
Decklists with this card

The Underway (uw)

#66 • English
Startup Card Pool
Standard Card Pool
Standard Ban List (show history)
Printings
Rulings

No rulings yet for this card.

Reviews

I struggle to see the draw of this card over Faerie. Faerie costs the same, starts with 2 strength, and breaks any number of subroutines in exchange for trash. As a breaker, Faerie is better in almost every way.

I do see a few edge cases where Shiv has an advantage:

Are those advantages worth giving up the ability to pump strength for 1 and break >3 subroutines? In my opinion - no.

(The Underway era)
165
In the cloud deck I'm running it's purely a memory thing. I'm running Data Folding and only the precise amount of memory I need to keep it going. (Thanks Desperado - the memory I need AND cash? Can't argue!) But generally I don't disagree. If you've got enough memory and / or are running Geist - Faerie just comes out on top every time. —
You play this WITH Faerie. Shiv can break lower strength sentries, Faerie (even backed up by #Sacrificial Construct) breaks the high strength ones, and both boost the strength of the criminal cloud breakers. —
At least with Geist the card had draw, ba-doom-ching. —
If you have three or more Icebreakers installed, this is also cheaper to break with. —
Tech Trader now gives it some extra legs over Faerie. —

The cheap install cost gives this code gate breaking killer a lot of flexibility. I imagine that it might end up seeing some play in Eternal. It compares favorably to other 'cloud' breakers like ZU.13 Key Master.

(System Update 2021 era)
3049

The weakest of the Breaking and Entering Suite, in my opinion. Most of the high impact or important sentry cards tend to hover around Strength 5-6.

The relevant sentry cards it will generally break are: Architect, Ichi 1.0, Cortex Lock, Swordsman, Neural Katana, Komainu, Data Raven, Caduceus.

When I play Armand "Geist" Walker: Tech Lord I still run 2 however. A cheap easy way to break those cards that digs you into more economy or more powerful breakers, such as Faerie for the glorious derezing of Archer with Crescentus.

(The Universe of Tomorrow era)
37