• "Vanishing Act" is not enforced. Li Ru is not forced to damage a character that has no hand cards at the end of his turn.

• When Li Ru uses "Extermination", he shows the card to everyone then puts the tool card face down on the deck.  This allows him to influence judgments or another player's draw.  

• When a player is targeted with "Extermination", they can discard one or two cards.  The can discard a single tool card, or two cards of any other type.

• When Li Ru uses "Burn the City", the first player in the order must either discard one card or take two fire damage.  If they discard, the next player must then discard two cards or take two fire damage.  If they discard, the next player must then discard three cards or take two fire damage.  The pattern continues in this pattern. 
  If someone takes the fire damage, the count starts over and the next player must discard only one or take two fire damage.  

• A player can discard extra cards in "Burn the City".  This will make it more difficult for the next player to avoid damage.  

• When Li Ru uses "Burn the City", other players can discard hand cards and equipped cards.  If they do not have enough cards to discard, they must take the damage.  

• "Burn the City" can wreak havoc across the board, forcing players to make difficult choices and potentially leaving them vulnerable.

• "Vanishing Act" enables Li Ru to take advantage of opponents who lack hand cards, pressuring them to maintain their defenses.

• By placing a black tool card on top of the deck with "Extermination," Li Ru can influence the flow of the game, especially in affecting judgments or another player's draw.

• "Extermination" allows Li Ru to punish players holding valuable cards, potentially disrupting their strategy.

• "Extermination" requires a black tool card to activate, limiting its use if the right cards are not available.

• Li Ru's abilities are more impactful mid-to-late game. He may struggle if targeted early before he has accumulated the resources to leverage his powers.

• Judgment Controllers:
  Working with characters like Sima Yi or Zhang Jiao, Li Ru’s ability to place black tool cards on the deck enhances their judgment-based abilities, creating synergy that manipulates key outcomes.

• Fire Damage Chainers:
  Characters like Pang Tong can amplify the fire damage inflicted by "Burn the City," maximizing the pressure on opponents.

• Discard Enforcers:
  Pairing with characters like Gan Ning or Zhang Liao can increase the impact of "Extermination," as these allies excel at forcing opponents to empty their hands.

King

• • Li Ru’s ability to punish defenseless players and disrupt hand strategies makes him a formidable King. "Burn the City" adds strong crowd control to keep Rebels at bay.

Loyalist

• • As a Loyalist, Li Ru thrives in supporting his King by targeting key Rebels, denying their resources with "Extermination," and weakening their defenses with "Burn the City."

Rebel

• • As a Rebel, Li Ru's abilities allow him to target key Loyalists or even the King, forcing them to discard critical cards or face continuous damage.

Spy

• • His disruptive abilities and situational flexibility make him a strong Spy. Li Ru can take pot shots among all players, weakening their positions and ensuring a chaotic battlefield.

Li Ru is a disruptive and strategic character who thrives on creating chaos and exploiting weakness. His ability to punish opponents with limited defenses and manipulate the card flow makes him a powerful force on the battlefield. However, his reliance on tool cards and late-game-oriented abilities means he requires careful planning to unleash his full potential. Players must balance aggression and patience to maximize Li Ru’s impact.

Li Ru served as a key official under Dong Zhuo during the late Han dynasty. Li Ru acted as Prefect of the Palace during Dong Zhuo's control of the Han central government and the puppet Emperor Xian. He is infamous for his role in poisoning Liu Bian (the deposed Emperor Shao) on Dong Zhuo's orders. After Dong Zhuo’s assassination, Li Ru attempted to continue his career under Li Jue but was denied by Emperor Xian, who held him accountable for his role in Liu Bian’s death. He was ultimately executed for his association with Dong Zhuo's crimes.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Li Ru plays a more prominent role, depicted as Dong Zhuo's trusted advisor and son-in-law. He is portrayed as a shrewd and calculating figure who orchestrates many of Dong Zhuo's major decisions, including Lu Bu's defection, the deposition of Emperor Shao, and the relocation of the capital to Chang An. His attempts to warn Dong Zhuo about Diao Chan's plot go unheeded, and after Dong Zhuo's death, Li Ru is executed for his complicity.

The game abilities of Li Ru in Sanguosha draw heavily from his historical and literary reputation as a schemer and enforcer of Dong Zhuo’s will. "Burn the City" mirrors the devastation and ruthlessness associated with Dong Zhuo’s reign, symbolizing the destructive consequences of Li Ru’s strategy for moving the capital. "Vanishing Act" and "Extermination" reflect his calculated manipulation and willingness to eliminate threats through cunning tactics. These abilities encapsulate Li Ru's historical role as a dangerous and influential figure in Dong Zhuo’s regime, cementing his legacy as a master of manipulation and control.