Creation and Control Corp Review

Creation and Control Corp Review

59% 321 out of 540

Our staff has put together a first blush analysis of the newly released Creation and Control deluxe box. We’ve used a one through five scale; five being the best. The cards are listed in numeric order. Our reviewers are listed in alphabetical order. Let us know in the comments how you feel about the cards in this pack!


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_cerebral-imaging-infinite-frontiers-creation-and-control.jpg'] Cerebral Imaging: Infinite Frontiers 10 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
This new HB identity appears good at first glance in its potential to bury agendas in your grip. However, the downside to this is that a fluctuating economy might mean you will be tossing needed cards at some point or another. It is also in direct competition with one of the most top-shelf identities in the game with Engineering The Future. Perhaps its time will come, but not today neckbeards, not today.

Hraklea - 2 out of 5
I’m not sure about the decision of releasing this card when the metagame is completely dominated by Account Siphon. With Reina Roja coming out soon, it is likely that more Anarch players will move to a credit denial archetype too. I’m almost calling this card useless, but I’m open to the possibility of time proving me wrong.

Scud - 2 out of 5
I'm the guy that writes Tech Talk and even I'm a bit stumped as to what in the world to do with this ID. In theory, I suppose it could function as R&D protection if you were able to heavily protect HQ (and Archives *cough*Sneakdoor Beta (Core)*cough*) and then draw a bunch. If you are doing all that, though, how are you building up a huge credit pool? It also enables you to hold on to combo pieces until you have all of them assembled but NBN: The World Is Yours* (Future Proof) manages that with just one permanent extra card in hand (and a smaller deck minimum, of course), so this seems like overkill. I am very sure (as are most people out there) that this is an ID that is waiting for the cards that will make it shine (or at least shinier).

Hats & Suits 3 out of 5
While many people like the idea of having a lot of money, this card allows a Corp to gain a benefit directly linked with their money. Based on play style you may want to allow yourself to have a huge hand size, filled with traps or cards that will punish runners for going against your hand. However, in order to maximize your effectiveness in this Identity you have to be able to play with both a full hand and an empty hand. (As many runners will try to deplete your credits to negate your hand size, Ex. Rezzing ICE, Account Siphon.) Which isn’t bad if you can keep Agendas out of the trash and protect them with low cost ICE. This ID has good affinity with Oversight AI, Howler, and Biroid Efficiency Research, as they help you keep your ICE cheap. (And Milange Mining Corp for when you really need to get a quick boost to hand size). I would recommend this for a resource heavy, fast advance deck which focuses on Extra Click agendas.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_custom-biotics-engineered-for-success-creation-and-control.jpg'] Custom Biotics: Engineered for Success 11 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
This identity will one day be used to great advantage outside splashing Scorched Earth. For now, it will either be heading up a less than effective fast advance or a very predictable tag n’ bag. Again, this identity will live in the shadow of Engineering The Future.

Hraklea - 2 out of 5
As the cardpool grows up, you’ll need less and less influence for your decks. I don’t see why I would want to take that many out of faction cards - maybe you can take 3 copies of SanSan City Grid and something else -, but this can be strong someday. Now, it can’t beat the Core Set identity card.

Scud - 3 out of 5
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can build a Scorched Earth (Core) deck with this ID. But you can also do some other neat things. You can run a lot of non-Bioroid ICE. You can add more fast-advance tricks to your arsenal. You can grab more economy Assets and Operations. This ID has the ability to pull off some neat tricks and will only get better as the card pool grows.

Hats & Suits - 3 out of 5
(A tip of the Hat to FFG for going back into the Storyline for Android, as Jinteki and HB are at odds with each other much like Maas Neotek and Tessier-Ashpool in the Sprawl Trilogy.) Let us face it, we all like Jinteki for their Traps and advancement shifting abilities. And often a deck builder will use Jinteki for those cards to splash. Well with this ID you can go deeper into the other corps and really explore what HB cards have affinity with other Corps. Many HB players follow the same memes, and this card is the catalyst to a multitude of different play styles. I wouldn’t go so far to say that this is the Professor of Corps, but this allows the player to take on more aspects of each Corp into HB. (NBN -tags, resource denial, fast deck, Weyland- huge budget, meat burn, advance ICE.)
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_next-design-guarding-the-net-creation-and-control.jpg'] Next Design: Guarding the Net 15 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 4 out of 5
Wowie Maui. As things stand, this will be the 2nd HB identity competing to head up your HB decks. The stellar starts this one time ability will grant a well assembled fast advance deck will make it a common sight at tourneys worldwide.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
Now, this is an identity! This is a little lucky dependant and it is an “one turn only” ability, so I take this card with a grain of salt, just like I did with Andromeda: Dispossessed Ristie (still not a big fan, by the way). I can see this winning a game in the opening hand, but again, it is not as broken as the oldest identity card.

Scud - 4 out of 5
My rating may be a bit high because, let's face it, you don't get any extra cash with which to rez that cool pre-game ICE you install. However, getting a possible six clicks before the Runner gets even one can, under the optimal circumstances, be amazing, even if some of those clicks are locked into only installing ICE.


Hats & Suits 4 out of 5
HB - “We got ICE” This card and Accelerated Beta Test have awesome affinity for decks with almost nothing but ICE in your deck. Unfortunately ABT on average trashes agendas and operations. But with this you can potentially protect all three of your core servers or start off a protected remote for an early agenda or Adonis Campaign. Not bad for a one time advantage, but unless you got the ICE to back it up this has the potential of blowing up in your face. As we all know, free is nice, but the price is having some good early game ICE to install someplace in your deck within the first hand or Mulligen. Or at the very least using Howlers, Oversight AIs, or Biroid Efficiency to get those Three Janus cards rezzed for cheap. Limited play style, but great early game rewards.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_director-haas-pet-project-creation-and-control.jpg'] Director Haas’ Pet Project 17 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 4 out of 5
This is just a plain old zero downside card for your deck. This card will round you up to a nice even 20 agenda points while costing you basically nothing if stolen. Great card, and a wonderful HB auto-include.

Hraklea - 4 out of 5
I have to admit that, when I saw this at the first time, I thought it was bad, but it is good to be wrong sometimes. As more important assets and upgrades show up, the more dangerous this will be (I’m currently having nightmares about my friends using this to bring a Eve Campaign + Ash 2X3ZB9CY + SanSan City Grid back), and an “one per deck” agenda suggests that the factions I play will get strong agendas too!

Scud - 4 out of 5
More fast-advance goodness for HB. Got an Agenda in your hand and a fully-advanced Director Haas' Pet Project (Creation and Control) on the table? Score it at the top of your turn, freely install the Agenda, and score it. That makes this a 3-point Agenda (assuming you use it to score a 2-pointer). And that's just one thing you can do. You are basically getting double utility from the clicks you use to Advance this as long as you install three cards when you score it.

Hats & Suits 5 out of 5
With more cards for HB we are seeing a shift in playstyle towards a very Recycle dynamic which is great with Noise Mill and Runners who are trash happy. Assuming you can guard your archives and HQ, and play this card you can potentially make a server you can score another agenda on next turn. This card as huge affinity will ABT and Project Vitruvius as other agenda in your deck, more so if you are having to trash cards and get through your deck quickly (Or any card that lets you pull this from your deck.) It also works well with all HB IDs, whether it is replacing old ICE with the Base ID or having to play with a hand size of zero with Cerebral Imaging, this is a good way to recover from a bad game start. The limit of 1 is harsh, but wholly understandable.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_efficiency-committee-creation-and-control.jpg'] Efficiency Committee 10 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 2 out of 5
With a bevy of wonderful agendas to add to your decks, Efficiency Committee seems to fall short. If this were to hit your deck, what would you be excluding? You are also pigeonholing yourself into playing your turns in a very specific order. We are certain that this card will eventually be used to great effect, but for now, it leaves us a bit wanting.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
Unless I’m really lost about the game rules (and I’m not implying that is not a possibility), this doesn’t stop you from playing Trick of Light. Even if it does, I think that any card that allows you to install and active a Melange Mining Corp at the same turn deserves, at least, the B tier.

Scud - 3 out of 5
This little number is better than Private Security Force (Core) in a deck with little to no tagging, allowing you to pull off some neat-o tricks with Shipment from Kaguya (Core) and Trick of Light (Trace Amount). Or maybe you'd like to double tap a Melange Mining Corporation (Core) (by spending all three counters), taking you from 0 to 14 credits in one turn. I think the true power of this card will come in the little bumps you can get by spending just a single counter. Not an auto-include, but definitely something to consider if you think your deck could use the extra clicks well.

Hats & Suits 2 out of 5
Should you find yourself not wanting to advance an agenda or simply cannot, this ability is decent enough to use for operations and installing. The extra clicks could be wasted on credits, but unless you are hurting for them should be used on better cards. There are two ways to use this card, on a turn by turn basis, or use all the counters all at once. If you have previously scored a Private Security Force and use a Tag/ Midseason Replacements to deal damage or Gila Hands Arcology for loads of money, then you can waste the 6 clicks to get a quick advantage. Likewise you can always use a counter for that one extra action on a no advance turn (aka a Melange Install and use, or kill virus counters and still install a card). This just still limits your options more than helps, if you are looking for clicks stick with Mandatory Upgrades. Unless you know you can’t score a Mandatory Upgrades in a few turns then use this for your extra clicks but forfeit that scoring potential.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_project-wotan-creation-and-control.jpg'] Project Wotan 8 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 2 out of 5
Wu-Tang seems to be the ol’ Dirty Bastard of the new agenda pool. He’s not bringing the ruckus by adding this subroutine to your ICE as scoring him will more than likely happen mid to late game. By that time the runner should be rig ready with cash to burn.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
Looking at the others “in faction 5 advancements” agendas in the game, I really don’t think this is strong as Government Contracts and Restructured Datapool, and maybe even not as good as Fetal AI. It is too easy to avoid it, you can’t consistently score it soon enough to make a difference.

Scud - 2 out of 5
This Agenda is tailor-made for a Stronger Together deck, making your Bioroids even more of a pain to get through. As we all know, once your ICE is rezzed, it's just a math problem for the Runner. Anything that can add a little bit to the total sum, especially one that remains a variable (while there's a counter left on it, the Runner needs to make sure they have one more credit available) is useful. In most other decks, Priority Requisition (Core) is better, although the two compliment each other well, so maybe mix and match 'em?

Hats and Suits 1 out of 5
A surprise that you have to score in advance to use. I will note that this is great when playing with a player who isn’t counting all their credits and expecting to pay 3 more (depending on breaker this cost may go up, I am basing this off the current Crypsis heavy trend) for a single piece of ICE. But if they keep with their momentum this isn’t going to save your Agenda or Asset unless they didn’t expect to pay for this ability. I believe this was built to make people actually have to break a sub if they are faceplanting into ICE or just running without a rig. But most of the time the runner can still pay a click to break a subroutine on Biroid Ice, so this is almost exclusively good on 2.0 Biroids. Honestly if you want a card like this play Jinteki and use Nisei. Otherwise I would choose a different agenda that could be scored quicker or has more use.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_sentinel-defense-program-creation-and-control.jpg'] Sentinel Defense Program 13 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 4 out of 5
A great way to stack up some additional damage. Worth noting is that most people won’t be toting a way to stop both types of damage this card deals. We were awfully close to rating SDP as a 5, but being as taking brain damage is often left to the runner, we could not give it a perfect score.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
If you can build a deck that deals as much brain damage as you need to make this card worth the spot, you don’t really need this card - you’re already causing a lot of brain damage. It really punishes the runner if you can score two of these, but I won’t happen that often.

Scud - 3 out of 5
In the right deck (which is a pretty good deck), this Agenda will be a killer. Literally. Well, in-game literally, not, you know, literally literally. Anyway, coupled with Cerebral Overwriter (Creation and Control), this card can win you the game. And duplicates stack, so if you score two... Just smell that cerebral-spinal fluid frying. Mmm'mmm!

Hats & Suits 3 out of 5
Playing an Edge of World/ Cerebral Overwriter or any ICE traps that deal sweet Brainy Damage? Then this should go into your deck. You may stack these up and really bring the pain, so as you get closer to to winning the runner is that much closer to Flatlining. I would suggest this with a good rez and trash ICE deck so that you keep the runner guessing on your defenses. If not playing with brain damage of course don’t bother using this card.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_alix-t4lb07-creation-and-control.jpg'] Alix T4LB07 14 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
First off, the card is unique. Secondly, it needs to be rezzed in order for it to start working for you. Both points out of the way, this is a fantastic complementary asset to Engineering The Future. If this card is played and protected early game you could be looking at gaining a lot of credits.

Hraklea - 4 out of 5
This card stacks up very fast when it comes in your opening hand. It is cheap to rezz, it doesn’t cost you anything to advance, and it only requires one click to trigger. I can see myself using this rather than Melange Mining Corp in an Accelerated Beta Test based archetype. The 1 influence point cost is the icing on the cake for me.

Scud - 3 out of 5
This is an interesting Economy card, giving any HB ID a hint of Haas-Bioroid: Engineering the Future (Core). And at just one Influence, almost any ID can get a taste. Early game, it is a good way to force the Runner's hand, especially if you are playing EtF. Stick it out unprotected and the Runner is going to have to spend a click and two credits to get rid of it. Even if they leave it for a while, letting it build up counters before they trash it, you don't lose much of anything, since you were probably going to be installing cards anyway. Mid-game, put it in your datafort and start replacing some early-game ICE while you wait for your next Agenda. Solid if not overwhelming.

Hats & Suits 4 out of 5
What is there to say? Use the base HB ID and start earning money fast or protect this blood sucker with the early installed ice of the new HB ID. Rezzes cheap and gives you loads of money if you are playing around with a Trash and Install deck. When using this in other decks I suggest installing at least one card a turn with this. More so if you are using Jinteki shell game, a deck that often hurts for credits. Great overall card in any deck where installation is key.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_cerebral-overwriter-creation-and-control.jpg'] Cerebral Overwriter 17 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 5 out of 5
Here we have an excellent trap. Sorry, not just excellent, superb. Terrifying in an HB deck but even more so in a Jenteki build. Not much to be said for it tactically. It is just a straight up show stopper.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
It hits hard, no questions about that, but we still need more card like Trick of Light to make it good: we need cards that save us from the loss caused by a misfired ambush. I still hype about upgrades that punish the runner, like Bernice Mai and Hokusai Grid, but I’m not sold on Cerebral Overwriter yet. It is just an ambush.

Scud - 4 out of 5
Jinteki loves Project Junebug (Core) and they often have to scrape together the funds to make it hit. HB (regardless of ID) will usually be swimming in pools of cash, having drinks and backrubs delivered by sexy Bioroids. While it has the same drawbacks as other advancable traps (namely, you lose all your investment if the Runner doesn't run), the presence of another one in-faction is pretty great. This will also be a great splash in Jinteki, of course.

Hats & Suits 5 out of 5
Is it safe to to say this is the new Junebug? I feel that it is actually stronger since it also hurts the runner’s hand size. If traps and bluffing are your game, then you must put this and Junebug together in your deck. However it is a rough game playing the advanced traps route, I would be sure to make the runner see a Mandatory Upgrades or other high cost Advance agendas so they are more likely to run on cards like this. Take it slow and put a few tokens on a lot of traps and agendas and wait for them to slide into your web of horrible lies. Splash cost of 2 as well? Then all the better for any deck in need of a trap.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_director-haas-creation-and-control.jpg'] Director Haas 14 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 4 out of 5
You’re dancing awfully close to the flame playing Director Haas. A potential albeit expensive 2 agenda points go to the runner if you underestimate your opponent. If you’re ready for him/her though, this card gives you all the edge of Mandatory Upgrades without all the time required to rip it. We think the benefits outweigh the risk here. Big time.

Hraklea - 2 out of 5
I might be wrong here, but I prefer to underrate a card rather than overrate it. Extra agenda points in your deck is good for the runner, and the worst part is that you can’t score it. Even if you manage to draw it and play it well protected, you still can be hurt by a well played Stimhack. I hope Jack Weyland is better than this.

Scud - 4 out of 5
Um, yes please, thank you. You can build a server, protect Driector Haas, and then score a couple of Agendas out of hand. Get tricky and install a second copy in a lightly defended remote that you use for Adonis Campaign (Core) or the like, then, when the Runner gets through your big fort, rez the other copy of Director Haas, trashing the one that the Runner was about to access. If you're lucky, they don't have the money or clicks left to get in and you still have four clicks. Two Agenda points is nothing to sneeze at, but it's comprable to having a Mandatory Upgrades (What Lies Ahead) stolen and this is a lot easier to use.

Hats & Suits 4 out of 5
Affinity up with Encryption Protocols for obvious reasons. I don’t know how this would do in any other Crops besides HB since it splashes for a whopping 5. Also noting that tossing this into your Archives doesn’t allow a runner to score it. What else is there to say? Need an extra click? Then Haas has your back for a reasonable cost. I would like to put this in a deck with Accelerated Beta Tests and loads of ICE just for the joy for dropping this and then next turn scoring some of these agendas for free ICE installs. Still decent in any deck where you could use the lift and don’t mind the possibility of having it trashed. Stacking 3 is very dangerous as well. If you have any extras in your hand or RnD get them out of there quick!
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_haas-arcology-ai-creation-and-control.jpg'] Haas Arcology AI 15 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 4 out of 5
A dirty little way to up your HB fast advance game yet another notch. Extra clicks for the corp leads to the runner being able to do diddly squat in the way of stopping advancements from happening. Fantasy Flight sure is bottlenecking the HB players into rocking fast advance. With great cards like this, it’s getting harder to justify the choice to not play their game...

Hraklea - 4 out of 5
What’s the most dominant Corp deck before Creation and Control? Fast Advance Haas-Bioroid. ‘Nuff said. Its drawback is very bad, not being able to bluff in a bluff based game sucks, but this card still strong, and I won’t be surprised to see this splashed in other decks.

Scud - 4 out of 5
Super sweet as long as you don't get too greedy. Advance it once or twice in a solid fort, then use the counter(s) to score a couple of 2-pointers from hand. This ends up being slightly cheaper than Biotic Labor (Core) with the downside that it can get killed before you use it. Not a bad trade-off, really. The four pips of Influence mean we probably won't see it out-of-faction very often but in faction, it can be a nice bump.

Hats & Suits 3 out of 5
Director Haas too much of a risk for you? Don’t want to wait on advancing Mandatory Upgrades? Then here is a happy medium for you to use. Still a high Splash cost for other decks but HB and their fast advance is still at heart. It is not that this isn’t a good card to have in a fast advance deck, it just feels muddled up in the works when you got those others to choose from. On the bright side this works well in other decks needing some fast advance should you try and put some into your deck. Again, if you don’t like the risks of the other cards, this one is for you, and it shares an affinity with an advanceable trap deck and Trick of Light should you find your trap failed or are just tired of it.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_thomas-haas-creation-and-control.jpg'] Thomas Haas 11 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 2 out of 5
Economically speaking, this dood with the feather frills is a decent way to save credits. Safe too as trashing is a fast effect. But all you are doing is banking dollar for dollar as he’s a click and a credit to gain two credits... netting you zero. As it stands, there’s not much going for him aside from his popped collar and man cleavage.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
This card is cool. It baits the runner like a trap, but it is refundable even if the runner doesn’t dive into it. It costs only one influence, so you can use it in almost any deck. It would be nice if we get more “ambushes” like this.

Scud - 4 out of 5
A great way to cost the Runner money while not costing you a thing, since you can trash him after the Runner breaks through all the ICE protecting him but before they access him. This isn't so much an economy card as a trap that won't cripple your economy. However, at one pip of Influence, Thomas may make his way into some Weyland: Because We Built It (A Study In Static) decks, especially ones that also pack Simone Diego (Humanity's Shadow) as an actual economy card.

Hats and Suits - 2 out of 5
So lets look at this card like an HB player first, you have plenty of other cards to make money with and may choose to use this card with Trick of Light with trap cards. This card has massive affinity with Weyland however, since many cards allow you to advance for no cost to you besides the click. But for the most part it is something you will put down to keep the runner guessing what you have, and then at the last moment cash him out for the credits. Overall just bait for a lackluster trap that could net you some credits if you get a chance to advance it or move tokens onto it. Best to try using upgrades with this or Encryption Protocols to make the runner trash it when ran shortly after being put down.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_bioroid-efficiency-research-creation-and-control.jpg'] Bioroid Efficiency Research 10 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 2 out of 5
An HB Oversight AI without the trash. Not too shabby all in all, and it was close to a rating of 3 from us. Thing is, HB is usually rolling in the dough as it is. This beast will throw an early wrench in the runner’s game if you rez up something nice and big that’s loaded with subroutines. But once the runners rig is established, this may be a pretty big waste of 3 credits and a click.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
Haas-Bioroid doesn’t need to spend influence points using Oversight AI anymore to put that Janus 1.0 in your face. And if you manage to break it, it just derezzes, it is not trashed. But it is more expensive and less versatile, so - in my opinion - it is not as good as the Weyland version after all.

Scud - 3 out of 5
Good for getting out the beefier 2.0 Bioroids (and Janus 1.0 (What Lies Ahead)) but not much else. Since you have to rez the ICE before the Runner tries to get through, you are telling them exactly what the need to do to get through. In return, you (hopefully) buy yourself the time it takes them to get totgether the resources to break it completely.

Hats & Suits 2 out of 5
Like showing off all that strong ICE you have up front? Really and truly I hate the idea of showing off your plays early game. Though you know that with a Janus you can keep a runner out of your RnD and hand for a majority of the early game. Though if you show it off early it is just that more likely to be Inside Jobbed or Femme Fatale’d. Nothing is sweeter than making a runner sweat when not knowing what you have on the field, so unless you really need this for early game protection and are playing with the most expensive ICE possible I would leave this one out of your standard deck.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_successful-demonstration-creation-and-control.jpg'] Successful Demonstration 15 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 4 out of 5
This card will make some bank if paired with the right ICE at the right time. (Data Raven anyone?) aside from that, the longer the game goes on, the less this card will be useful. When economies are tight and all the cards are on the table, runners tend to make only the runs that count. That means the first requirement of this card may be tougher and tougher to meet.

Hraklea - 4 out of 5
This gives you more credits than Hedge Fund for less than half its price. And it costs only 1 influence point. And it is a transaction! I couldn’t be happier about a non-Weyland deluxe expansion, but the fact is that everybody should be. Unless your Corp deck can’t end runs (?!), you will use this card.

Scud - 3 out of 5
This card is great early and decreases in value as the game goes on. Jinteki: Replicating Perfection (Trace Amount) will probably like this alot, though, since Runners tend to bounce off Centrals now and again throughout the game, and one Influence makes it easy to grab three.

Hats & Suits 4 out of 5
A card to add insult to injury. More so if the runner is just faceplanting early game. I would splash this in any deck with either lots of damage that a runner will try to avoid, or tough ICE that will end runs when jumped up on the runner. This is a great hand filler along with Snare since it is an operation. Great for a quick burst of credits, which is great for some Jinteki players who need the money. If this wasn’t so situational I would give it a higher score, but extra points for the low Influence cost.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_heimdall-2-0-creation-and-control.jpg'] Heimdall 2.0 11 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
Well, he’s a beast. But he won’t be stopping anything if he’s protecting a server by himself. A nice Eli 1.0 placed in front of him will keep his effectiveness high early game. But most of us would gladly take a brain damage to score an agenda...

Hraklea - 2 out of 5
If I had 11 credits, I rather get a few more and rezz a Janus 1.0 rather than care about this card. From the “bioroid 2.0 generation”, I think I can safely say that this is the worst piece of ice, and I don’t think people will use this at all.

Scud - 3 out of 5
Brain damage is a thing now and the Runner is going to have to take one or pay quite a bit of cash to get through this bad boy. Sentinel Defense Program (Creation and Control) makes this one scary piece of ICE. Eleven is a step cost, which is what keeps him at a three for me.

Hats & Suits 3 out of 5
Not much to this card. It is high cost, high defense. And with the runner only have 3 clicks to spend on average after a run, this will make them think at least twice about running the server this ice is on. In a deck running Biroid Efficiency Research this is one of the good ICE to use with that card in order to keep the runner from hitting that server early game. I still stay this is best used when you can afford it and surprise them. Honestly HB does not have any issue getting money so I would put this in most of my decks, however unless you are using a big money NBN or Weyland I would keep this out of Jinteki since they always hurt for money. At the very least you will make the runner take brain damage, so be sure to make the run tempting for them to go after. I still stay this is best used when you can afford it and surprise them.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_howler-creation-and-control.jpg'] Howler 13 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
Crypsis and Darwin laugh at this guy. Other than that, he has some serious stopping power. Grabbing up an old discarded monster ice with brutal subroutines or ripping one from your hand could spell an early end for a reckless runner.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
This is something to worry about. I can’t believe I’ll say this, but this might be the first (reliable) sign of a Whirlpool Haas-Bioroid coming out. I’m not saying it is possible now, but I’m saying that it will happen someday. Even if I’m wrong, this card is solid by itself. Free Janus 1.0 is always “full of win”. (is that joke still popular?)

Scud - 3 out of 5
Howler is great early, allowing you to potentially hit hard with a piece of Bioroid ICE when the Runner isn't prepared for it. Chum (Core) into Howler is great, since, if it goes off, you'll then have Chum into whatever Bioroid you put down. And remember that, if you're playing Haas-Bioroid: Engineering the Future (Core), you get a credit when Howler's subroutine fires.

Hats & Suits 4 out of 5
This is a solid card in any deck. We all have the issues as a Corp not having any great ice or money at the time you really need it. Should you be going against any type of deck this card is always going to either come into effect or waste the runner’s money. So after a few turns in, or maybe in in late game this card is still useful. More so if you are going by the new Archetype HB Trash ICE. And at splash cost of 1, who could argue with this in any Jinteki or NBN deck? Always going to save you credits, and get more ICE out onto the field.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_ichi-2-0-creation-and-control.jpg'] Ichi 2.0 12 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
Very playable indeed. Aside from running without a rig, there is no good choice here. Implications of this with Scorched Earth make the imagination run wild. Another ICE with the potential to divvy out a tag. Custom Biotics prototype decks might feature this guy along with some other staple tag n’ bag components.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
This is pretty much what I was expecting from a bioroid 2.0 piece of ice. It costs more, it is stronger, and its subroutines are a little better. Trashing programs is good, but this guy’s main job is to make run more expensive. I can’t see people getting hit by this.

Scud - 3 out of 5
Yep, Brain Damage definitely is a thing now and only being able to break two of the subroutines with clicks means you'll be more likely to hit with one. This guy still suffers the same problem as his little brother, though – a naked Runner doesn't care about you trashing Programs because she doesn't have any. This big boy is still going to cost them two clicks, if they want to avoid the Trace though, so that's nice.

Hats & Suits 3 out of 5
Like the 2.0 Heimdal, except that given the program damage instead of just ending run this isn’t going to do much except slow down a runner and clear the board of programs. With the possibility of Cassia programs and more viruses coming into play from Anarch, this card is great to give you that extra edge. Consider using this in combination with other ICE since this alone is a joke against a Rigless Criminal, and if you get this off on some Shapers this could be a game ender for them if they are not recovering programs.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_minelayer-creation-and-control.jpg'] Minelayer 14 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 4 out of 5
Pretty self explanatory. Save some money, or possibly gain it by installing ICE out of your turn. We’ll be seeing this guy around our meta for sure. Nice high strength for a nice low cost.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
Finally! We were in need of a card like this, specially for that Cell Portal deck that refuses to work, but it should be neutral. The influence cost - and I don’t care it is just 1 influence point - hurts it too much to make it solid. By now, I take it as a low B tier card.

Scud - 3 out of 5
A decent, low-cost, high(ish)-strength Code Gate with an interesting Subroutine. Again, remember to take your extra credit from Haas-Bioroid: Engineering the Future (Core) when the Sub fires.

Hats & Suits 4 out of 5
Has enough strength to work against Yog.0, so this is great early game ICE. If you had 3 of these in your hand and the HB ID to set them into place before the game starts I would say you have a great chance to make some easy installs at the cost of allowing the runner to access the server the first time. When kept into late game however, you may need to stock up on ICE before a runner goes, or simply install over this once it is used up.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_viktor-2-0-creation-and-control.jpg'] Viktor 2.0 15 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 4 out of 5
The rating of 4 was hard fought for. Not all of the Bad Publicity members think this card is as good as it looks. Comparable to a Data Raven, the hosted power counter could win you the game... but only against a poor opponent. Lest we forget he can be clicked through.

Hraklea - 4 out of 5
It costs 5 credits and it can handle Yog.0 + Ice Carver, that’s enough to make it strong for me. I’m not a big fan of the trace subroutine, but it ends the run. And Yog.0 can’t beat it that easily. I promise this is the last time: suck it, Yog.0! Ok, I feel better now.

Scud - 3 out of 5
I actually like Viktor 2.0 a lot as far as Bioroids go. He's a high-strength Code Gate that will cost the Runner a decent chunk of change or half a turn to get through. If you can get a power counter on this guy when you're running Sentinel Defense Program (Creation and Control), that'll be funsies, but really, he's a decent mid-cost speedbump for the Runner.

Hats & Suits 4 out of 5
Ow ow ow ow ow! Cost 5 for 5 strength makes any runner shake in their boots a bit. Yes it is a weak Trace and many players aren’t defending on most traces yet. This is really great on how simple it really is in any phase of the game. In early game it stacks well with Eli or Hourglass, then someplace down the line you can use Sentel Defense Program with only 3 (if lucky less) counters to end the game with 3 brains and 3 net = 6 damage. Runners are going to start having to think more about defense and Public Sympathy at the rate HB is getting cards which can combo. I may use this in an NBN deck just for the trace, but I feel it is going to stay with HB.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_zed-1-0-creation-and-control.jpg'] Zed 1.0 8 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
What a weird card. If the runner is prepared for it, it’s not much of a threat at all. It holds all the usual tells that 99% of all damaging cards have,(sentry, AP) so you won’t be getting the drop on any seasoned players with it. Still nice to have early game sitting behind an Eli.

Hraklea - 2 out of 5
This would work in a pre-release tournament, where you would had no idea this exist. Now that we know, we’ll play careful not to get hit by this. This is just an below average card to use on that Whirlpool Haas-Bioroid deck that we won’t see working soon. Bleh, C tier for you.

Scud - 2 out of 5
Um, this is a neat ability and all, but it is on a positional 1-cost Sentry. Most Runners will get their Killer out a.s.a.p. (or, you know, Crypsis). He needs another Biroid in front of him and even then, the Runner can break him easily. When he goes off, it'll be neat. It isn't going to happen often, though.

Hats and Suits 1 out of 5
Yes this could be fun, But only with a Biroid heavy deck. So this isn’t going to be leaving HB anytime soon. Could be good in the future when the other Corps have some ICE that can be clicked through, but right now it is like a jump scare in a bad hollywood movie. Most people are going to see it coming through expose or maybe a bad rez, then the effects pass by without much harm. May win you a game if you place it early with a Minelayer in front of it and stack Biroids for cheap. Then wait till just the right run to rez it, but by that time the runner will more than likely to break through it with any extra credits.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_awakening-center-creation-and-control.jpg'] Awakening Center 11 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
This is going to be supplying some serious stopping power. It is intimidating to see three cards in the root of a remote and will at the very least force the runner to delay his sprinting in order to ready himself for whatever monster you’ve hosted on this guy.

Hraklea - 2 out of 5
An upgrade ambush, that’s good. The runner can see it coming, that’s bad. This is another case where I’ll underrate a card for the sake of safety. I know that I’ll be hit by a Janus 1.0 sooner or later, but that’s more likely to happen because I’m reckless and stupid, not because this card is good.

Scud - 3 out of 5
This card's true power is going to be as a deterrent. Yes, it'll be neat-o keen to smack someone with an 8-cost Janus 1.0 (What Lies Ahead) (or any of the 2.0s) every once in a while, but really, this card is going to slow the Runner down a bit, and for a 2-cost Upgrade, that's not bad.

Hats & Suits 3 out of 5
Yup, more cards to play towards the HB recycle or trash ICE play style. Again not going to see this out of faction for a while, but a great option for any HB player who is looking to really surprise a runner with a massive attack of some sort. Since this is also an upgrade this gets weird play style if you feel like stacking two of these in a single server. Then again...this is a decent way to protect your much needed high advance agendas or Director Haas.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_tyrs-hand-creation-and-control.jpg'] Tyr’s Hand 7 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 2 out of 5
This might help to end a run or deal a brain damage here or there, but unless it is also ruled that the subroutine is indestructible for the remainder of the run, this card falls a tad short.

Hraklea - 2 out of 5
Now we have our official upgrade for our Whirlpool Haas-Bioroid deck! If you get hit by one of these after an attempt to break a bioroid 2.0 piece of ice, suck it up and get hit like a man. On the other hand, considering the amount of card that allows the runner to search for an icebreaker program... yeah, feel free to cry.

Scud - 2 out of 5
A cool effect that might help a Subroutine land here and there, but it's so timing dependent and needs so much else to be set up in order to have decent impact that I can't see it getting much love. It is an Upgrade and a low-cost one, to boot, so it does have that going for it.

Hats & Suits 1 out of 5
You know how Kraken is a bit too situational? This follows the same style. This is only good for one advantage, only able if the runner often times doesn’t have any extra credits to spend while on a run. Also again, we need more Biroid ICE outside of HB for this to get outside of that Corp. Review this card in a few sets and see if it holds up to some of the new options, or at least keep 3 of this on a single server and see if you can hit the runner with one annoying deck filler.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_gila-hands-arcology-creation-and-control.jpg'] Gila Hands Arcology 13 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
Not a bad way to round out your agenda count. If you have no use for False Leads’ ability but like the one-pointiness of it, this is your new best friend.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
We got a few ways to gain more clicks, here’s a way to use them. But I think that this card is better for Jinteki and NBN rather than Haas-Bioroid. False Lead has its uses, but overall, this card is way better.

Scud - 4 out of 5
So much better than False Lead (Humanity's Shadow). Jinteki will love this, of course, but I think any of the Corps could pack one or two of these and benefit.

Hats & Suits 3 out of 5
I would be happy to see this in my opening hand with some decent ICE. This gives a nice alternative for credit gain that once scored will always be with you in the later game. Good in any faction if you are hurting for some Economy. Suggest only 1 or 2 in at most in your deck depending on size.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_levy-university-creation-and-control.jpg'] Levy University 9 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
You get what you need when you need it, but the element of surprise is gone. Only you can decide if it’s a fair trade off. Also, this thing will need to be protected.

Hraklea - 2 out of 5
You need 4 credits and 2 clicks to find a piece a ice when the runner can find an icebreaker program for 1 click and 1 credit? This is ridiculously expensive. Easily one of the worst cards in the expansion.

Scud - 1 out 5
If you need to use Levy University, you're already in trouble. The best part is that IT NEEDS PROTECTION! You have no ICE, which is why you want this card! It's like those special cutting tools you can buy on TV that are made to open blister packs THAT COME IN A BLISTER PACK!

Hats & Suits 3 out of 5
Useful if you don’t mind spending a few turns padding your hand with ICE before using them. I suggest this in combination with anything that allows you install ICE for free or at least rearrange ICE to mix it up. Don’t worry about protecting it much too much but if you have a server with at least 2 ICE it may be worth seeing if the runner even bothers with it. Let the runner take it after you got your ICE then play some cat and mouse and see if they remember the cards in your hand at that point.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_server-diagnostics-creation-and-control.jpg'] Server Diagnostics 6 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 1 out of 5
...Why? Just... why? If you were purposely looking for an expensive, counter intuitive long term money solution that cripples your deck, look no further. We have to be missing something here...

Hraklea - 1 out of 5
If I ever write a dictionary, this will be picture for the word “crap”. It is more expensive than PAD Campaign, it can be trashed more easily than PAD Campaign, and it has a drawback?! Someone needs to show Melange Mining Corp to Fantasy Flight Games, because they seem to have no idea it exists.

Scud - 2 out of 5
This card is good for that mid-game slog where you've got some defenses up and you're waiting patiently for everything else to come together. If the Runner runs through some ICE just to trash it, you're probably up a couple credits on her. Not an amazing card, but an interesting one that fits a certain playstyle well.

Hats and Suits 2 out 5
Great late game when you have an empty protected server. But only if you never install any more ICE. Consider that most actions have you install ICE when activated, so this may not be good unless there is any way of placing ICE that isn’t Installing...which to my knowledge only happens with Hosted cards (See FAQ on Hosting vs. Installing). In other words this works with Awakening Center and not much else.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_bastion-creation-and-control.jpg'] Bastion 11 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
A beefier Static Wall. No frills.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
The small difference is enough to make this better than Wall of Static for me. Costing one more credit is worth to cost one more credit per run from the runner. But it is not like Wall of Static didn’t had its replacements yet.

Scud - 2 out of 5
I can hear Christopher Guest saying, "It's one louder," whenever I look at this card, so I guess that's okay. It is what it is and if you don't have the Influence to run the superior Ice Wall (Core) or Eli 1.0 (Future Proof) you can settle for this. I wouldn't replace Wall of Static (Core) with Bastion, either – that single additonal credit to rez can be a back breaker in the early game.

Hats & Suits 3 out of 5
Yup, another neutral ICE to use with NBN or Jinteki. Honestly I will be more excited with any neutral Biroids or more Mythic ICE. Not to say I am obsessed with them, it is just this is more of the same..just bigger. And that is nice when needing to use neutral ICE.
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[CRB='forums/uploads/an/med_datapike-creation-and-control.jpg'] Datapike 11 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
Pretty cool card. Tollbooth’s baby sibling. Best part is, it’s available to everyone. We expect it will see some milage. … Or kilometerage for our fellow Canadians... or people from that country that won’t shut up about that stupid baby. Women give birth all the freakin’ time, the kid is not special, nobody is special, drop it already!

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
This is better than Enigma, but it has the same flaw: its strength. While everybody is using Yog.0, strength 2 code gates won’t be good enough, no matter the subroutines on it. But, if the Yog.0 trend ever dies, Datapike will be there the day after.

Scud - 2 out of 5
It's mid-cost neutral ICE that does nothing to a Runner packing Yog.0 (Core). It doesn't really bother most Decoders, actually. It's okay against Crypsis (Core) and Darwin (Future Proof), which is something. And that's the only reason it gets a two.


Hats & Suits - 3 out of 5
Well this is cute. Most runners will break through this no sweat, but only really decent early game for that extra momentum towards heavier ICE. If dealing with Kit then install this on the Outermost piece of ICE for a bit of an insult should they need to run that server first.

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