Meridian

Meridian 3[credit]

Ice: Barrier
Strength: 4
Influence: 3

[subroutine] Gain 4[credit] and end the run unless the Runner adds this ice to their score area as an agenda worth -1 agenda point.

You don't cross it—it crosses you.
Illustrated by Adam S. Doyle
Decklists with this card

Reign and Reverie (rar)

#28 • English
Startup Card Pool
Standard Card Pool
Standard Ban List (show history)
Printings
Rulings
  • Updated 2022-07-08

    ANCUR UFAQ 24 [Michael Boggs]

    If the Runner takes Meridian as a -1 point agenda, does the Corp still gain 4?

    No.

    If Meridian is hosting a Sub Boost when the Runner chooses to add Meridian to their score area, does the run still end?

    No. Once Meridian is uninstalled, all hosted cards and counters are trashed, the encounter ends, and the Runner passes the position Meridian had occupied.

    What happens if the Corp uses Wormhole to resolve Meridian's subroutine?

    The subroutine resolves as normal. The Runner can add Meridian to their score area; if they don't the run ends and the Corp gains 4.

    Audited by NISEI Rules (2022.07).

  • Updated 2022-07-08

    NISEI [NISEI Rules Team Update]

    What happens if the Corp uses Loki to copy Meridian's subroutine?

    Because of the text update to Meridian to remove the self-reference, the subroutine resolves as normal. The Runner can add Loki to their score area; if they don't the run ends and the Corp gains 4.

    Updated (2022.07).

  • Updated 2023-10-01

    If the Runner uses Banner to prevent Meridian from ending the run, what happens?

    Meridian’s subroutine offers the Runner an opportunity to pay the cost of adding Meridian to their score area to prevent it from ending the run. If the runner chooses not to pay that cost and uses Banner’s ability, the Corp will gain 4, but will be prevented from ending the run.

Reviews

Despite being one of a series of "-1 agenda point" cards that aim to supplement Sportsmetal: Go Big or Go Home, Meridian isn't a particularly effective piece of ICE. The potential tempo swing is such that a Runner will nearly always opt-in to the -1 point at least once, and the single subroutine is easily broken with any number of Runner tools once they have their board set up. In this way it ends up being something of a gimmicky binary ice with a Runner's-choice bypass, albeit a relatively costly one for them.

However... where Meridian shines is with Sportsmetal's suite of "Runner's score area" cards. Alas, Game Changer is no more, and I'll miss Project Vacheron just as much as Domestic Sleepers; but Meridian is most useful when it's fueling a Fast Break or preventing access on the Giordano Memorial Field. Out of faction there's always a good ol' Stock Buy-Back

As ICE itself it needs something more by way of support in order to be worthwhile. Maybe a Rover Algorithm or perhaps even a Rime to boost strength?

(Parhelion era)
112