I generally avoid really expensive ice, but a strong multi-subroutine ice with a self discount merits consideration. I don't currently have a deck where this would fit, but I plan to make an attempt at a revised Great Wall of Weyland with the new cards, and will include two copies of this in the first draft. The open question, for me, is whether it will be feasible to install it and get at least three advancement tokens on it without suffering too much of a tempo hit, preferably "cheated" onto it with Shipments and other similar advancement token tech cards.

Titan seems like the obvious identity to try to build this deck around, but I think Argus might be better suited to it in the long run as advanceable ice decks are extra slow, and Argus has great potential to actively slow the runner down.

Anyway, refocusing on the card itself, Orion is basically the paragon of ice, as befits its status as a sentry code gate barrier. It can hurt the runner, does something weird, ends the run, and can be advanced. If they had just tossed a fourth trace to tag subroutine it would be an all-in-wonder. And strength 8 isn't too shabby. So as big ice goes, it has some chops. Compared to the other big ice it maybe isn't as good of a deal, but the built in cost reduction explains and mitigates that. The high base strength resists Parasite, the many subroutines resists Femme somewhat. And the ability to discount the price (down to nothing if sufficiently determined) resists both Reina style cost-to-rez shenanigans and de-rezzes.

But, it has some cons too. I don't like Unique ice very much (though with the Twins now an option, that becomes a possibility); they are at most a two of in my deck and all to often I end up with a forced play where I've drawn one early and need to put it into play somewhere other than where I actually want it to fend off the runner. And, like Rainbow, the runner will always use their most efficient breaker on it...though at 8 Strength and 3 subroutines they'll still feel the tax. Like all advanceable ice, once advanced it is impractical to bounce back to hand and replay, and painful to install over and thus losing those precious advancement tokens.

All in all a very tightly designed card, and maybe even playable.

My friend plays this in his Because We Built It deck and never seems to struggle to rez it. He uses plenty of advancement tech. The subroutines are nasty too for the runner to face check.

Finally, a piece of ice suited for Leviathan. More of these and it might see play.

Finally, a piece of ice suited for Leviathan. More of these and it might see play.

Or you can just put Grappling Hook instead, because, you know, reasons. Leviathan, Wyrm and any other similar monsters desperately need card that reduces the cost of breaking subroutines. Otherwise, Orion is amazing in the right deck and makes advancable ice quite better.

Now Weyland needs an Asset or something that goes "the first time you spend a recurring credit to advance ice this turn, gain a click" and BWBI might actually do some lifting.