Master Android: Netrunner – Ultimate Guide to Rules, Winning Strategies & Play

1. Introduction

Android: Netrunner is a thrilling, two-player card game set in a dystopian future where mega-corporations and hackers, known as ‘runners’, vie for control. The game, designed by Richard Garfield and published by Fantasy Flight Games, is a unique blend of strategic decision-making, risk management, and bluffing. One player assumes the role of a powerful corporation, aiming to advance their agendas and protect their assets. The other player, the runner, seeks to infiltrate the corporation’s servers to steal valuable data. The game continues until one player achieves their objective, leading to a tense and exciting contest.

2. Rules for playing Android: Netrunner

1. The game begins with each player drawing five cards from their deck.
2. The corporation player has three actions per turn, which can be used to draw cards, gain credits, install cards, or advance agendas.
3. The runner player has four actions per turn, which can be used to draw cards, gain credits, install cards, or make runs on the corporation’s servers.
4. Runs are the primary way for the runner to interact with the corporation. During a run, the runner encounters the corporation’s installed ice (defensive programs), which they must bypass or break to access the server.
5. If the runner successfully accesses a server, they may steal any agendas found there. If the corporation player has advanced an agenda enough times, they may score it on their turn.
6. The game ends when one player has scored seven agenda points, or when the runner cannot draw a card from their deck.

While these are the official rules, players often introduce ‘house rules’ to add variety or adjust the game’s difficulty.

3. How to Win at Android: Netrunner

Winning at Android: Netrunner requires a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics, as well as the ability to anticipate your opponent’s moves. Here are some strategies for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players:

1. Beginners: Focus on learning the basics. Understand how to make runs, install ice, and advance agendas. Try to balance your actions each turn, ensuring you have enough credits and cards to respond to your opponent’s moves.
2. Intermediate: Start to develop your deck-building skills. Experiment with different combinations of cards to find a strategy that suits your playstyle. Learn to bluff and misdirect your opponent, keeping them guessing about your true intentions.
3. Advanced: Master the art of timing. Know when to make a run, when to install ice, and when to advance an agenda. Understand the flow of the game and manipulate it to your advantage. Study your opponent’s deck and predict their moves, countering them before they can execute their plan.

4. Best Strategies for playing Android: Netrunner game

The best strategies in Android: Netrunner often involve a combination of careful planning, clever bluffing, and timely execution. Here are some strategic plays to aim for:

1. As the corporation, try to create multiple servers with different levels of defense. This will force the runner to spread their resources thin and make it harder for them to access your most valuable assets.
2. As the runner, try to keep the corporation guessing about your next move. Make runs on different servers, install unexpected programs, and use your resources unpredictably.
3. Both players should aim to maintain a strong economy. Having a steady flow of credits allows you to install more powerful cards and respond to your opponent’s moves more effectively.

5. Scenarios for Android: Netrunner

In Android: Netrunner, players often find themselves in challenging situations that test their strategic thinking and decision-making skills. Here are some common scenarios and how to turn them to your advantage:

1. Scenario: As the corporation, you have several agendas in your hand but not enough ice to protect them. Solution: Try to bluff the runner by installing an agenda as if it were a trap. If the runner accesses it, they will steal it, but if they avoid it, you can advance and score it on your next turn.
2. Scenario: As the runner, you have a powerful program in your hand but not enough credits to install it. Solution: Spend a few turns building up your economy before making any runs. This will give you the resources you need to install your program and put pressure on the corporation.
3. Scenario: Both players are close to scoring seven agenda points. Solution: As the corporation, try to advance an agenda in a heavily defended server. As the runner, make a desperate run on the corporation’s most vulnerable server, hoping to steal the winning agenda.

6. Frequently Asked Questions about playing Android: Netrunner game

1. Q: Can the runner make multiple runs on the same server in one turn? A: Yes, the runner can make as many runs as they have actions for.
2. Q: Can the corporation install ice during the runner’s turn? A: No, the corporation can only install ice during their own turn.
3. Q: What happens if the runner accesses a trap? A: The trap is triggered and its effect is resolved. This often involves the runner losing resources or taking damage.
4. Q: Can the corporation score an agenda on the same turn it is installed? A: No, the corporation must wait until their next turn to score an agenda.
5. Q: What happens if the runner’s deck runs out of cards? A: The runner loses the game.

External Links

For more information, visit the official Android: Netrunner website: LINK