Eavesdrop

Eavesdrop 1[credit]

Operation: Gray Ops - Condition
Influence: 2

Install Eavesdrop on a piece of ice as a hosted condition counter with the text "Whenever the Runner encounters host ice, Trace[3]. If successful, give the Runner 1 tag."

"No, the audio is fine. It just never seems to turn off."
Illustrated by Steve Hamilton
Decklists with this card

Reign and Reverie (rar)

#47 • English
Startup Card Pool
Standard Card Pool
Standard Ban List (show history)
Rulings
  • Updated 2023-09-08

    ANCUR UFAQ 24 [Michael Boggs]

    Can the Runner prevent the Eavesdrop trace with Hunting Grounds?

    No. Hunting Grounds prevents "when encountered" abilities on ice, and the trace ability from Eavesdrop is on a condition counter.

Reviews

For a very low cost, this card turns any ice you want in a poor man's Data Raven. Install it somewhere you expect the runner to run often, and it becomes a nuisance as the runner has to pay every time to win the trace (as it isn't a breakable sub), or just accept the tag.

Really good in any tag-punishment deck, especially SYNC and Making News. Argus also likes this card, although they already spend a ton of influence on NBN cards so I don't know whether they can free up any more. High link runners and Jesminder laugh at this though. Not sure on the wording, but I assume Hunting Grounds also counters this. Either way, kind of extra but a solid card regardless.

(Reign and Reverie era)
1909
Install in Thimblerig for maximum TraceFun(TM). —