The strength of Crypsis is certainly its flexibility, and I wouldn't underestimate that.

Before the Runner has a full set of icebreakers, the Corp player can easily block by counter-picking ice, particularly with Aggressive Negotiation and the like. The Corp can have a perfectly secure server before the Runner has all the types of icebreaking available, and that's incredibly powerful.

There is also the information advantage to consider. The Corp knows exactly what types of icebreakers the Runner has out, but the Runner doesn't know what ice the Corp has in place without risking a run or burning an Infiltration. Having Crypsis out largely negates that advantage; it doesn't matter what ice the Runner encounters in a run, he has a real chance of breaking it.

Overall, I think the main strength of Crypsis is in early runs - unlike Special Order, the Runner doesn't need to scout servers in advance, and can run against multiple servers with different types of ice using just Crypsis. The other strength of Crypsis is that it forces the Corp into defensive play - the Corp can't just say "lulz all he has is a Corroder, say hello to my little Rototurret friend", but actually has to consider putting in place strong ice and/or holding back on installing valuable cards, because the Runner can potentially get into any server and will be less afraid of blind runs. And as soon as the Corp gets Chimera, Crypsis will really come into its own.

All that said, it isn't a perfect fit for every deck. Decks built around Wyrm/Parasite may already have enough flexibility that they don't really need Crypsis; and other Runner factions may eventually get some sort of "Swiss Army Knife" icebreakers with different features so they won't have to rely on Crypsis.

Messenger said:

I actually did the calculations on Ice and Icebreaker efficiency (haven't finished updating for the new pack yet) and Ninja is actually the cheapest sentry killer on average if you ignore Mimic (which is fairly restricted).

Toloran said:

Ninja may be the most efficient overall, but Crypsis matches it against Ice with 0, 3, or 6 Strength and is actually more efficient than it against Ice with 1 or 2 strength. It's only weaker against Ice with 4-5 Strength (which is only a few Data Raven/Hunter types plus Ichi) or > 6 strength (Janus).

Sure, it has its drawbacks, but with the current card pool having no other Sentry Breaker with 1: +1 strength and 1: Break subroutine (and the only currently-revealed upcoming one, Creeper, having a 2:break subroutine), it's actually fairly effective in the sentry breaker spot.

Toloran said:

Meaning no offense, but that's just theory. The reality is quite different.

Criminals are meant to win quick and early. As such, the more likely encountered and graver threatening ICE are the cheap ones that can be rezzed fast enough to stop Criminal runners. Ninja- and other Criminal 'breakers- asks for a lot to just to break the weakest of ICE. It's only in the long run that it begins to save you credits but it will definitely balance out whatever economic advantage the faction innately has.

Heck, in the long run, you might be better off with Shaper icebreakers, for that matter.

That's why Crypsis is far more efficient in that regard. You don't have to pay excess for the small, easy-to-rez ICE. It costs almost the same to install and can break other types of ICE as well, all in one card. With the right support, it works faster and more effectively.

Additional reference: http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_foros_discusion.asp?efid=327&efcid=4&efidt=728528

I'm surprised no one has brought up the point that Crypsis let's you face check ice with relative impunity. Afraid of an Archer? Get 8 credits and run. It's either an Archer and you spend the 8 credits and end the run or it's not and you're no worse for wear. Afraid of a Rototurret? Even cheaper. Another of Crypsis's strengths is in the way it changes how the corp plays. They now have to think about every card they play as you could easily get into any of their servers with a trick or two. They also may rez cards thinking you'll break them and instead of wasting money on Crypsis, you just end the run and search for the real breaker.

Additionally, it's a boon against corporate troubleshooter. The corp is now in the position where you should be able to match them credit for credit. This means they either overspend and you let the ice sub-routines run or they underspend and you just Crypsis past whatever they troubleshoot. I used to not use it in any of my decks, now I realize that it has it's place in just about every deck because of it's unusual strengths and there simply not being a card with anywhere near as much versatility.

It's still a terribly inefficient ice-breaker, though. If you are using it as your primary means of ice breaking and the ice you're breaking are above zero strength, you're putting yourself in a position to fail. You spend 3 credits to break an Ice Wall, 5 to break a Wall of Static, and 4-5 to break Enigma. It's just not efficient. Heck, I think an argument can be made that there is always a more efficient way to break ice than using Crypsis.