• Cheng Pu does not suffer lose health when he damages another player with a normal Fire Attack. He only suffers this damage with "Fierce Fire" when he converts a normal Attack into a Fire Attack.

• Cheng Pu cannot use the weapon ability of the Serpent Spear to use two cards as an Attack then use "Fierce Fire" to convert it into a Fire Attack.

• Cheng Pu cannot use the weapon ability of the Fire Fan to convert a normal Attack into a Fire Attack, then use "Fierce Fire" to target two people with this Fire Attack and avoid health loss if the attack lands. The Fire Fan converts an Attack into a Fire Attack after a character has been targeted.

• Note that "Strong Wine" occurs after Cheng Pu's discard phase. In other words, Cheng Pu cannot convert Attacks discarded during his discard phase into Alcohol Tokens.

• Cheng Pu can only convert Attacks into Alcohol Tokens when he currently has no Alcohol Tokens. He cannot add more Alcohol Tokens to his collection if he has at least one at the end of his turn.

• Because the use of "Strong Wine" is not considered to be the use of a Peach, it bypasses Jia Xu's "Complete Kill."

• Cheng Pu is well-rounded for a character with four units of health. It is rare for a character with this much health to have both an offensive and defensive ability.

• "Fierce Fire" is particularly effective when targeting two Chained enemies or an enemy equipped with the Wooden Armor. This power is even more effective when Cheng Pu has a printed Fire Attack, as he does not risk losing health when using this ability.

• "Strong Wine" essentially allows Cheng Pu to convert Attack cards into units of health, giving him a healing edge.

• Although Cheng Pu has two abilities, they work antagonistically. Both powers require Attack cards. If Cheng Pu uses "Fierce Fire" and damages an opponent, he loses health and reduces his ability to hold Attack cards for "Strong Wine."

• "Fierce Fire" is only useful in select situations. If Cheng Pu Attacks two people but only damages one, he still loses one unit of health. Losing health to deal a single unit of damage can be a risky trade.

• When Cheng Pu is low on health, he can hold fewer Attack cards in his hand, which reduces his potential for converting them into Alcohol Tokens and healing through "Strong Wine."

• Chain Gang:
  Pang Tong's "Shackle" allows him to more easily Chain Cheng Pu's enemies. This greatly increases the effectiveness of "Fierce Fire," as Cheng Pu can deal more damage to multiple Chained characters at once.

King

• • Cheng Pu is a mediocre king choice. While "Strong Wine" is useful for helping keep himself and his loyalists alive, he does not have other powers that provide strong control or deterrence.

Loyalist

• • Cheng Pu is a competent loyalist. "Strong Wine" is helpful in keeping the king alive when facing aggressive rebels, and "Fierce Fire" can target two rebels at once.

Rebel

• • Cheng Pu is a capable rebel. He can use "Strong Wine" to help other rebels stay alive, and his offensive potential with "Fierce Fire" can be used strategically.

Spy

• • Cheng Pu is a serviceable but not outstanding spy. "Strong Wine" can be useful in keeping key players alive, but "Fierce Fire" can be risky, as it may harm Cheng Pu more than it helps him if not carefully managed.

Before this expansion was released, we thought it was impossible for a character to be both complex and boring at the same time. Cheng Pu proved us wrong. He is not particularly bad, but he is not especially fun to use either. Cheng Pu doesn’t seem capable of employing advanced strategies, and his two abilities conflict with each other.

If you choose Cheng Pu, only use "Fierce Fire" if you have a printed Fire Attack or if you are certain both targets will either escape the attack or be damaged. The unit of health loss is not worth dealing only one unit of damage. Additionally, if you can end your turn with four Attack cards in your hand, convert all of them into Alcohol Tokens immediately. You and your team won’t regret this decision later.

Cheng Pu was a distinguished general who served the Eastern Wu kingdom during the late Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. Notably, Cheng Pu was loyal through three dynasties, serving under Sun Jian, Sun Ce, and Sun Quan, which is reflected in his title "Loyal to Three Dynasties." His military career was marked by pivotal roles in battles like the Battle of Red Cliffs, where he contributed significantly to the success of Wu forces.

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cheng Pu is portrayed as a fierce warrior with a fiery personality, often taking on prominent responsibilities within the Wu military. His "Fierce Fire" ability in Sanguosha ties into this reputation, as he often attacked with unrelenting force, though his aggressive tactics sometimes led to personal injury—symbolized by the loss of health when he converts his attacks into Fire Attacks.

Cheng Pu's "Strong Wine" ability likely connects to the martial culture of Wu, where wine was often associated with celebration and recovery after battles. This ability allows him to heal and save others, mirroring his role as a stalwart and dependable officer, trusted to protect and maintain the health of his troops.