Virus

Virus
Power to multiply
Multiplies in attack
FFG
Wild As a main player, you may multiply the number of ships you have in the encounter by the number of ships allied with you instead of adding them.
Super You may multiply the total of all ships on your side by your attack card when using your power, not just your own.

Virus is an alien with a strong combat power: its combat total is calculated by multiplying the number of Virus ships in the battle by the value of the attack card it has played, instead of adding. This power is easily one of the most hated powers in the game. Note that it also applies when Virus has no ships, making its total 0; and when negative cards are played, making them more negative.

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Version: Fantasy Flight (Base game)

You have the power to Multiply. As a main player, after you reveal an attack card in an encounter, use this power to multiply the number of ships you have in the encounter times the value of your card instead of adding. Your allies' ships are still added to your total as usual.

"Able to multiply rapidly in the presence of other life forms, the Virus soon overwhelmed its own planets and now waits for opportunities to proliferate throughout the Universe."

Version: Avalon Hill

You have the power to multiply.
When you determine the outcome of an encounter, you multiply the number of ships on your side (yours plus your allies) times the value of the Attack Card you revealed, instead of adding the two.
You always multiply when you reveal an Attack Card.

"Able to multiply rapidly in the presence of other life forms, the Virus soon overwhelmed its own planets and now waits for opportunities to proliferate throughout the Universe."

Version: Mayfair

You have the power to multiply. When you play an Attack Card in a challenge, you multiply the number of tokens on your side (yours plus your allies') times the number on your card, instead of adding. If there are no tokens on your side of the challenge, multiply the Attack Card times zero.

"Able to multiply rapidly in the presence of other life forms, the Virus soon overwhelmed its own planets and now waits for opportunities to proliferate throughout the Universe."

Version: Eon

You have the power to multiply. When you play an Attack Card in a challenge, you multiply the number of tokens on your side (yours plus your allies') times the number on your card, instead of adding.

"Able to multiply rapidly in the presence of other life forms, the Virus soon overwhelmed its own planets and now waits for opportunities to proliferate throughout the Universe."

Version: Cosmic Encounter Online

You have the power to multiply. When you determine the outcome of an encounter, you multiply the number of your ships times the value of the attack pod you revealed and then add your allies. You always multiply when you reveal an attack pod.

"Able to multiply rapidly in the presence of other life forms, the Virus soon overwhelmed its own planets and now waits for opportunities to proliferate throughout the galaxy."

Strategy

As Virus

The power to multiply is at its strongest at the beginning of the game and immediately after the warp is emptied with Mobius Tubes. As time goes on and ships are lost, the Virus gets weaker. As more colonies are formed, ships are required to occupy them, leaving fewer Virus ships defending its home worlds. In addition, many other alien races have powers that increase over time, making time the enemy twice over.

Therefore, Virus should be aggressive, preferring offensive alliances - although the notoriety of Virus is such that it'll be hard-pressed to be invited at all. Grabbing colonies as quickly as possible and hoarding ships are both important; ships are a critical resource, and Virus likes to use its power and a group of average attack cards to take over the game quickly.

Against Virus

Any player who's faced Virus at least once knows that it is public enemy number one. One should avoid inviting Virus whenever possible so it doesn't earn free colonies or rewards, and it should always be the target of effects such as the Plague (unless there is a more urgent situation). Also, since Virus works with high numbers, aliens such as Anti-Matter or Loser can devastate it quickly. Tripler and Warrior have a chance to beat Virus straight-up, but the best tactic is to beat on it indirectly.