Nanuq (🐻❄️) is kinda like a “Current AI”.
Unlike other temporary icebreakers (Mayfly, Revolver, Propeller, etc) it's not recurrable/rechargeable, because it RFGs (not trashes) itself.
And unlike Runner currents (Rumor Mill) or single-turn icebreakers (Chameleon), it only helps you steal agendas during a single run.
So much synergies with so many cards in Weyland. This operation is just awesome.
It synergize with :
If the corp has a shell game plan, this is the cheap version of using Mitosis, nearly just as good (0 is hard to beat), but not as fast.
This makes advanceable ice outside of Weyland Consortium: Built to Last much easier to use, since this card save 2 and one click to advance two ices. This the efficiency equivalent of Red Level Clearance.
Best of all, this is only one influence, allowing any corp to import it easily. A lot of asset spam deck use some kind of advanceable threat, where Business As Usual would shine.
On top of that, it can be used as a much cheaper version of Mavirus. Yes, Reverse Infection still exist, but nobody plays it (it is an ok card though). Especially in Startup, where Mavirus is not present.
The art, the quote, the effect and the name go together completly. Wonderful!
Logjam stocks went up in the startup format with the ban of Pharos.
However, even if Pharos is present, Logjam is still good. Why is that?
First, it gets advancements for free. This synergize with Trick of Light and Hearts and Minds, which can use those advancements, without forcing the corp to first put them there.
Second, it has 3 end the run subroutines. Making it difficult for Botulus and impervious to Boomerang.
Third, on a face check, it gives back 2 to the corp, making this ice cost functionally 4.
Finally, it can have near infinite strength (helped by cards like Tree Line), contrary to Pharos, possibly making it impossible to break.
The big downside of this ice is that Hush put it at zero strength.
Art shows a log jam, in the literal sense of it. It is a bit hard to make out, because of the color saturation. It could have been a log (as in computer logs) jam also. Both work, making it a clever word play. This gives the idea of a big barrier. Ok.
I feel like this card is half of a combo that doesn't exist yet.
Obviously, it has applications in damage mitigation and safety (an overarching theme of the Borealis Cycle). You can offset the lasting downsides of Core Damage, making it harder for Thule to set up a kill with just a single End of the Line. And, with just a pinch of Charge support and a healthy dose of card draw you can keep yourself safe from even double End of the Line MAD combos.
However, this card has drawbacks, namely the self-damaging effect and reliance on Charge synergy to make the most of it. Unlike Stoneship Chart Room or No Free Lunch which have no drawbacks and can be cashed in at minimum for a little bit of credits or card draw.
Rather, this card needs something to synergize with it, something to offer you more value than just hand size for the sake of not flatlining. Compare how Anarch decks will play Steelskin Scarring regardless of whether they are expecting damage or not because of its inherent synergy with all of their trash cards.
Hippocampic Mechanocytes feels like it needs something akin to this, something like Game Day (which has rotated) or a runner version of Your Digital Life to give you some payoff for having a large hand-size or large number of cards in hand, to warrant playing this card outside of a hard-core (hehe, get it) damage tech.
Such a good ice with a cool ability. Obviouly, the expendable trait is taylor made for Nuvem SA: Law of the Land. But even other corp will profit from this ice.
First, it is a fairly cheap early gear check that end the run. But, it get better. Suddenly, you can get rid of trojan located on the ice by bringing it back to HQ. Just like Tatu-Bola (but barring Hush). At 2, it is fairly cheap to trash a trojan (like Slap Vandal).
Better yet, it allows the corp (and Nuvem in particular) to better manage their hand and archive to bring back agendas. Just like having Attitude Adjustment, but double with and ETR ice. If the corp play more than 8 agendas, having at least one Descent has fairly good value just for that.
Finally, at 2 influences, this can be played out of faction, especially if having hand management cards and ices is restricted by card slot (like a lot of Sportsmetal: Go Big or Go Home decks).
The art, name and quote goes well together. While I'm not entirely sure how it relate to the effect, it is a very good design.
