• "Fallen Bloom" does not allow Cao Zhi to take club cards that are 'used' by other players. For example, if a player uses a club-suited Attack, Cao Zhi cannot pick up this card. Similarly, character abilities that allow a player to 'use' club cards as other cards do not trigger his ability. For instance, Yuan Shao's "Random Strike" does not allow Cao Zhi to claim the cards he uses.

• Cao Zhi does not take possession of exchanged Chains or cards used during the 'Compete' mechanic via "Fallen Bloom."

• Cao Zhi cannot pick up his own discarded club-suited cards.

• Replaced club-suited equipment can be acquired by Cao Zhi through "Fallen Bloom."

• Cao Zhi can claim club-suited cards discarded by Break.

• Situations that trigger "Fallen Bloom" include:
  Cards discarded to activate abilities
  Cards discarded during the discard phase
  Cards discarded when a player dies
  Judgment cards flipped into the discard pile

• Xiahou Dun – "Unyielding": When Xiahou Dun activates "Unyielding" and flips a club-suited judgment card, Cao Zhi can take possession of the judgment card. If a target discards a club-suited card to avoid damage, Cao Zhi can acquire those discarded cards.

• Xiahou Yuan – "Godspeed": If Xiahou Yuan discards a club-suited piece of equipment to trigger the second option of "Godspeed," Cao Zhi can take possession of the discarded equipment card.

• Dian Wei – "Assault": When Dian Wei discards a club-suited piece of equipment to deal damage using "Assault," Cao Zhi can take possession of the discarded card.

• Zhang He – "Clever Change": When Zhang He discards cards to skip phases with "Clever Change," Cao Zhi can acquire any discarded club-suited cards.

• SP Cao Ren – "Breakthrough": If SP Cao Ren uses "Breakthrough" and discards X cards at the beginning of his turn, Cao Zhi can take any club-suited cards discarded.

• Wang Yi – "Secret Plan": When Wang Yi flips a club-suited judgment card using "Secret Plan," Cao Zhi can take possession of the flipped judgment card.

• Xun You – "Wisdom and Foolishness": If a character damaging Xun You discards a club-suited card as part of "Wisdom and Foolishness," Cao Zhi can immediately take the discarded card.

• Ma Chao – "Iron Cavalry": If Ma Chao flips a club-suited judgment card with "Iron Cavalry," Cao Zhi can take possession of that card.

• Pang Tong – "Nirvana": When Pang Tong discards all of his cards upon reviving himself with "Nirvana," Cao Zhi can take any discarded club-suited cards.

• Fire Zhuge Liang – "Eight Arrays": When Zhuge Liang flips a club-suited judgment card with "Eight Arrays," similar to the Eight Trigrams, Cao Zhi can take possession of that judgment card.

• Ma Su – "Bottomless Tears": If Ma Su is killed and the killer discards all of their cards, Cao Zhi can take any discarded club-suited cards.

• OKF2011 Xu Shu – "Recommendation": Cao Zhi can acquire any club-suited cards discarded when Xu Shu activates "Recommendation."

• OKF2012 Xu Shu – "Recommendation": Cao Zhi can take possession of a club-suited non-basic card discarded by Revamped Xu Shu during "Recommendation."

• Liu Shan – "Decentralization": If Liu Shan skips his action phase and discards a club-suited card using "Decentralization," Cao Zhi can take the discarded card.

• Ma Dai – "Sneak Attack": When Ma Dai flips a club-suited judgment card with "Sneak Attack," Cao Zhi can take possession of the flipped card.

• Sun Quan – "Reconsider": If Sun Quan or Mountain Sima Yi discards a club-suited card to draw new ones, Cao Zhi can take the discarded club.

• Da Qiao – "Displace": If Da Qiao discards a club-suited card to redirect an Attack, Cao Zhi can take possession of the discarded card.

• Sun Shangxiang – "Marriage": If Sun Shangxiang discards two club-suited cards to heal herself and a male character, Cao Zhi can take possession of those discarded cards.

• Sun Jian – "Brave Spirit": When Sun Jian or Sun Ce forces a player to draw and discard cards, Cao Zhi can acquire any discarded club-suited cards.

• Lu Su – "Alliance": If Lu Su discards a club-suited card to switch hands with a player using "Alliance," Cao Zhi can take the discarded card.

• Hua Tuo – "Green Vesicle": When Hua Tuo discards a club-suited card during his turn to heal someone using "Green Vesicle," Cao Zhi can immediately take the discarded card.

• Diao Chan – "Sow Discord": If Diao Chan discards a club-suited card to force two men to duel using "Sow Discord," Cao Zhi can take the discarded card.

• Zhang Jiao – "Lightning Strike": If the judgment card flipped for "Lightning Strike" is a club, Cao Zhi can take possession of that judgment card.

• Cai Wenji – "Lament": When Cai Wenji flips a club-suited judgment card or discards a club-suited card using "Lament," Cao Zhi can acquire the judgment card or discarded card.

• SP Diao Chan – "Soul Surrender": If SP Diao Chan discards a club-suited card to steal a male character's hand cards with "Soul Surrender," Cao Zhi can take the discarded card.

• Wind Guan Yu – "Fighting Soul": If the judgment card determining the fate of Guan Yu's victim is a club-suited card, Cao Zhi can take possession of it.

• Fire Zhou Yu – "Searing Flame": When Zhou Yu discards one card of each suit, Cao Zhi can take the discarded club-suited card.

• Forest Lu Bu – "Divine Anger": When Lu Bu forces all characters to discard their hand cards and equipped cards using "Divine Anger," Cao Zhi can take possession of all discarded club-suited cards.

• "Fallen Bloom" opens up many opportunities for teamwork, especially with characters who frequently discard club-suited cards. The ability also capitalizes on opponents who may not be paying attention to the suit of their discarded cards.

• "Wine Poems" gives Cao Zhi the ability to deal additional damage when using Wine and enhances his defensive capabilities, making him much harder to kill. If Cao Zhi or a teammate has a Peach in hand, he can effectively take multiple hits before dying.

• Cao Zhi is the only official character who can flip face up when taking damage while flipped face down, giving him unique flexibility.

• It is easy to miss discarded club cards if Cao Zhi’s player isn’t vigilant, losing out on the advantage of "Fallen Bloom."

• Cao Zhi cannot obtain Escapes via "Fallen Bloom," making it easier for opponents to trap him in a cycle of flipping face down with "Wine Poems" without gaining enough cards to defend.

• While powerful, if Cao Zhi is too aggressive with "Wine Poems," he risks reaching a critical low health state quickly. He needs to use it cautiously or risk losing turns and becoming vulnerable.

• Judgment Manipulators:
  Characters who can manipulate judgment cards, such as Sima Yi and Zhang Jiao, synergize well with Cao Zhi. By changing judgment cards to club suits, they increase Cao Zhi’s ability to gain more cards from "Fallen Bloom."

• Discarding Characters:
  Zhen Ji, with her ability "River Goddess," can discard club-suited judgment cards at the end of her turn, even though Cao Zhi cannot take them directly. This allows Cao Zhi to pick them up afterward and benefit from the discarded resources.

• Continuous Resource Cyclers:
  Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong’s "Stubborn" ability lets them retrieve discarded cards, including those Cao Zhi gains through "Fallen Bloom." This creates a cyclical exchange of cards, greatly enhancing resource generation and teamwork.

• Dual-Role Teammates:
  Cao Pi is a versatile ally or enemy. As a loyalist, his "Exile" can help Cao Zhi by flipping him face up when needed. On the other hand, as an opponent, Cao Pi’s "Unnatural Death" can steal discarded cards, severely disrupting Cao Zhi’s strategy. Cao Pi also threatens Cao Zhi by flipping him over when he is vulnerable.

King

• • Cao Zhi is a solid king choice due to the defensive versatility of "Wine Poems." However, if overwhelmed by rebels, he may struggle to survive long enough to flip back face up.

Loyalist

• • Cao Zhi excels as a loyalist, especially if Cao Pi is the king. Their synergy allows for strong cooperative play, but even without Cao Pi, Cao Zhi can effectively support the king with his defensive and offensive capabilities.

Rebel

• • As a rebel, "Wine Poems" boosts Cao Zhi’s offensive potential, allowing him to deal extra damage while also providing a defensive edge when loyalists attempt to kill him.

Spy

• • Cao Zhi is an exceptional spy, with "Wine Poems" giving him longevity and the ability to shift the tide of battle. His potential to withstand attacks without dying quickly allows him to manipulate the game’s outcome more effectively.

Cao Zhi is a powerful and versatile character, with "Fallen Bloom" providing ample opportunities for synergy with allies and capitalizing on opponents’ discarded cards. "Wine Poems" grants him unique survivability, but his strength lies in carefully managing his health and discarded cards. The player must remain attentive to discarded club-suited cards and use "Wine Poems" effectively to maximize his potential.

Cao Zhi, the third son of the warlord Cao Cao, was celebrated for his poetic brilliance but often lived in the shadow of his elder brother, Cao Pi. After Cao Pi succeeded their father as ruler, he saw his younger brother as a threat, politically marginalizing Cao Zhi. The most famous account of their rivalry occurred when Cao Zhi, displaced and fearing for his life, was summoned by Cao Pi. In a dramatic test of wit, Cao Pi ordered him to compose a poem in seven steps or face execution. Cao Zhi masterfully crafted a verse on the spot, using beans and bean stalks as metaphors for the brothers—both from the same root yet at odds with each other. The moving poem, known as the Seven Steps Verse, stirred Cao Pi’s emotions, and he chose to spare Cao Zhi's life, though Cao Zhi remained politically sidelined.

This moment ties directly to Cao Zhi's in-game ability "Fallen Bloom," where his poetic genius is a literal life-saving skill. Much like the historical event, Cao Zhi uses his wit to overcome overwhelming odds, reflecting his capacity for quick thinking under pressure.

In addition to his literary talents, Cao Zhi was fond of drinking and frequently indulged in heavy drinking, often to his own detriment. His love for alcohol and poetry became intertwined, and his excessive drinking led him into trouble on several occasions. Cao Cao once reprimanded him for his lack of discipline, warning him that it would tarnish his reputation. This behavior is reflected in the unpredictability of Cao Zhi's other ability, "Wine Poems." Just as his fondness for drink could lead him into both moments of brilliance and trouble, the ability allows him to manipulate red-suited cards, representing the highs and lows of his life choices.

Cao Zhi’s character in Sanguosha encapsulates these dual aspects of his life—his poetic genius and his propensity for indulgence—through abilities that balance creativity and unpredictability.