Netrunner Format: Blackout

Blackout is a Netrunner format inspired by Star Wars Unlimited’s Trilogy format. In this best-of-three format, you bring 2 runner and 2 corp decks to the match, and you get an opportunity to remove one of your opponent’s decks.

This format is designed to be a fun, casual format that encourages deck diversity and creativity. It also allows players to showcase their deck-building skills and strategic thinking.

Benefits:

• Multiple decks, but only one play set of cards required.
• Micro-meta selection, to remove crushing matchups.

Deck Construction

Normal deck construction rules apply, with the following exceptions:

1. Each deck must have a different identity.
2. There may be no more than 3 copies of any single card across all four decks.
3. Additional restrictions may be placed on the card pool by group preference (e.g., Eternal, Standard, Startup, etc.).

Setup

1. Each player presents 2 Runner decks and 2 Corp decks, revealing only the identities.
2. Randomly determine the lead player (e.g., by a roll-off).
3. The lead player chooses whether they will begin the match as Runner or Corp.
4. The other player chooses and eliminates one of the lead player’s decks from the opposite side. For example, if the lead player chooses to start as Runner, the other player chooses and eliminates one of the lead player’s Corp decks.
5. The lead player then chooses and eliminates one of the other player’s decks from the same side. For example, if the lead player chose to start as Runner, they choose and eliminate one of the other player’s Runner decks. Each player now has 3 decks remaining. These will be used in the three rounds of the match.
6. Each player chooses their starting deck according to the side selected in Step 3.

Rounds

• Each deck may only be used once per match. Once a deck is used in a round, it cannot be used again.

• The players alternate sides between rounds:

  • Round 1: Each player uses their chosen starting-side deck.
  • Round 2: Each player uses one of their remaining decks on the opposite side.
  • Round 3: Each player uses their final remaining deck.

For example, if the lead player chooses to start as Runner, the three rounds will use:

Runner → Corp → Runner

If the lead player chooses to start as Corp, the three rounds will use:

Corp → Runner → Corp

Players always play opposite sides from one another.

Match End

Blackout is a best-of-three format.

The first player to win 2 rounds wins the match. If the match reaches a third round, each player must use their final remaining deck.