<p>For most icebreakers, the boosted strength lasts for the ice, and is reset at the end of that encounter, however there are some specific ice breakers that work differently, <a href="https://netrunnerdb.com/en/card/01043" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Gordian Blade</a> being the most notable example, the strength getting boosted for the run, though others like <a href="https://netrunnerdb.com/en/card/08028" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Study Guide</a> don't boost like most others, they power up permanently through counter gain.</p>

<p>There are also other effects that modify ice breakers strength for different periods, like <a href="https://netrunnerdb.com/en/card/09046" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Security Chip</a>, and <a href="https://netrunnerdb.com/en/card/08047" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Net-Ready Eyes</a>. These effects have their own time limit placed on them, and that time limit is independent of the ice's boost ability.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-20T15:59:19.407Z
2017-12-22T15:52:27.513Z
2017-12-22T15:52:27.513Z
Andrew
<p>Whole encounter.
From the rules (emphasis theirs):</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>This strength increase lasts <strong>only</strong> while the current piece of ice is
  being encountered, unless otherwise noted by card abilities. After an
  encounter with a piece of ice, the icebreaker’s strength returns to
  the value shown on its card</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-19T08:04:02.950Z
2017-02-19T08:04:02.950Z
Deo
<p>If I pay credits to upgrade the strength of my ice breaker do I have to pay to do that for every subroutine or does the upgraded strength last for the whole encounter?</p>

<android-netrunner>
Is upgraded icebreaker strength per subroutine
Gavin
# Is upgraded icebreaker strength per subroutine

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-19)

If I pay credits to upgrade the strength of my ice breaker do I have to pay to do that for every subroutine or does the upgraded strength last for the whole encounter?

**Tags:** android-netrunner


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-02-19. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

Whole encounter.
From the rules (emphasis theirs):

> This strength increase lasts **only** while the current piece of ice is
> being encountered, unless otherwise noted by card abilities. After an
> encounter with a piece of ice, the icebreaker’s strength returns to
> the value shown on its card


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### Answer by username_1 on 2017-12-20. Score: 1

For most icebreakers, the boosted strength lasts for the ice, and is reset at the end of that encounter, however there are some specific ice breakers that work differently, [Gordian Blade](https://netrunnerdb.com/en/card/01043) being the most notable example, the strength getting boosted for the run, though others like [Study Guide](https://netrunnerdb.com/en/card/08028) don't boost like most others, they power up permanently through counter gain.

There are also other effects that modify ice breakers strength for different periods, like [Security Chip](https://netrunnerdb.com/en/card/09046), and [Net-Ready Eyes](https://netrunnerdb.com/en/card/08047). These effects have their own time limit placed on them, and that time limit is independent of the ice's boost ability.


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