• If Cao Cao acquires a card that targets all characters via "Evil Hero," it still affects the remaining of the players.  If Cao Cao is damaged halfway through Hail of Arrows, Cao Cao can pick it up, but all the rest of the players still need to use an Escape.  

• Cao Cao will pick up only the card that hurt him via "Evil Hero."  Here are some of the situations:

  • Duel
    Only the Duel card and none of the Attack cards

  • Blaze
    Only the Blaze card

  • Coerce
    Only the Attack card since that is what damaged him

  • Serpent Spear
    Both of the cards used to attack

  • Axe
    Only the Attack card, not the cards used to break through the Escape

  • Through Chains
    The card that caused the original damage

  • Through Xiao Qiao
    The card that would have damaged her before she passed the damage to Cao Cao

  • Abilities
    Nothing.  The damage was not caused by a card.  

• When king Cao Cao needs an Escape, another member of Wei can activate their Eight Trigrams to help him out via "Escort." This way, the loyalist and the king can benefit from the same armor.  

• Cao Cao is a formidable character in games where cards like Barbarians and Hail of Arrows are commonly used. These tool cards target all characters, allowing Cao Cao to strategically take damage and then add these cards to his hand through his "Evil Hero" ability. He can then unleash significant damage by reusing these cards on his turn.

• Cao Cao also excels with Duel. He can 'bully' weaker characters using this card. If Cao Cao takes damage during a duel, he can retrieve the Duel card and immediately use it again. With sufficient health, he can ensure he deals damage to his opponent by reclaiming the card each time he loses the duel.

• Cao Cao can be a strong team player as well. Picking up cards that get used allows for some characters to play off each other. For more details, refer to the 'Notable Combinations' section.

• "Escort," Cao Cao's king ability, is especially powerful. Wei characters like Zhen Ji or Yu Jin can frequently supply him with Escapes. Additionally, a Wei character equipped with Eight Trigrams can consistently provide Cao Cao with Escapes, enhancing his survivability.

• "Evil Hero" requires Cao Cao to take damage, which can be a double-edged sword. If he doesn't manage this ability carefully, he may end up with dangerously low health.

• Cao Cao is particularly vulnerable to Capture. If he accumulates damage from cards and then falls victim to Capture, he may be forced to discard most, if not all, of the cards he gained, leaving him with minimal health and few resources at the end of his turn.

• Additionally, certain characters possess abilities that inflict direct damage, bypassing "Evil Hero" entirely. These abilities negate Cao Cao's main advantage, making him more susceptible to being overwhelmed.

• Loyalist Synergy:
  Characters who are loyal to Cao Cao or support his survival make excellent combinations with him, especially Zhen Ji. As a loyalist to King Cao Cao, Zhen Ji’s "Overturned Country" lets her use black-suited cards as Escapes, making her a reliable shield for Cao Cao. This ability provides significant protection and strengthens his defense during attacks. Examples include Zhen Ji.

• Damage Transference:
  Characters who can transfer damage to Cao Cao help him generate resources while minimizing harm. Xiao Qiao’s "Fantasy" ability can shift damage to Cao Cao, who then draws cards based on the health difference, using his "Evil Hero" to gain powerful cards. This strategy allows Cao Cao to build a large hand and use his abilities repeatedly, especially when Xiao Qiao continues to transfer damage from her to him, while leaving enemies vulnerable. Examples include Xiao Qiao.

• Random Strike Amplification:
  Characters with card abilities can help Cao Cao gain powerful cards through controlled damage. Yuan Shao’s "Random Strike" can select cards that Cao Cao can turn into Hail of Arrows or other tools, taking voluntary damage to add these cards to his hand with "Evil Hero," amplifying his options. Examples include Yuan Shao.

• Barbarians Loop:
  Characters who cycle cards like Barbarians synergize well with Cao Cao. Zhu Rong’s "Giant Elephant" can recycle Barbarians when Cao Cao plays it after taking damage to put it into his hand via "Evil Hero." The loop between Cao Cao and Zhu Rong can continue as they recycle Barbarians to deal continuous damage until Cao Cao exhausts his health or eliminates opponents. Examples include Zhu Rong.

• Card Multiplication:
  Characters who can use many cards in one action can dramatically increase Cao Cao’s hand size. Xun You’s "Element of Surprise" allows him to use all his cards as a single tool card, like Barbarians or Hail of Arrows. When this happens, Cao Cao can use "Evil Hero" to collect all of Xun You’s cards, boosting his resources significantly. Examples include Xun You.

• Capture Weakness:
  Da Qiao’s "Country Scene" allows her to use Capture with ease, putting Cao Cao in a dangerous position. This is particularly threatening due to his reliance on tool cards. When facing Da Qiao, Cao Cao’s ability to retaliate is significantly reduced, as she can disable his moves. Examples include Da Qiao.

• Bypassing "Evil Hero":
  Zhang Chunhua’s "Unfeeling" ability is a direct counter to Cao Cao’s "Evil Hero." Since Zhang Chunhua is not considered the source of damage, her ability bypasses Cao Cao’s primary advantage of picking up cards from damage, nullifying his usual strategy. Examples include Zhang Chunhua.

• Direct Damage Dealers:
  Characters with direct damaging abilities that bypass the need for cards pose a significant challenge to Cao Cao. When they deal damage directly, Cao Cao cannot use "Evil Hero" to pick up cards, leaving him vulnerable. Examples include characters with abilities that deal direct damage.

King

• •  In the base set and Wind expansion, Cao Cao is a strong king option. He is one of the more advanced king characters, using "Evil Hero" to keep and reuse Barbarians and Hail of Arrows during his turn.

  • However, in more advanced expansions, Cao Cao becomes progressively weaker as new characters are introduced, making "Evil Hero" less effective.

Loyalist

• • Cao Cao is a capable, though not exceptional, loyalist. He can use "Evil Hero" to amplify the damage dealt to rebels by Barbarians and Hail of Arrows.

  • Keep in mind that these cards also target the king, so using this tactic requires careful consideration.

Rebel

• • Cao Cao performs well as a rebel. He can use "Evil Hero" to acquire Barbarians and Hail of Arrows, allowing him to deal substantial damage to the king.

  • Additionally, this strategy can help eliminate weaker rebel allies, preventing enemies from collecting the three-card bounty for killing them.

Spy

• • Cao Cao can be a competent spy, although there are better choices. Like in other roles, Cao Cao effectively boosts the damage of Barbarians and Hail of Arrows.

  • While this tactic allows him to deal significant damage to all characters quickly, it makes it difficult for him to assist the losing side, as he targets everyone indiscriminately.

Cao Cao is a strategic character who, unfortunately, has become less prominent as more advanced characters were introduced. Although his most effective strategy—using "Evil Hero" to capitalize on Hail of Arrows and Barbarians—remains consistent across expansions, it becomes less impactful over time. "Evil Hero" is powerful, but it requires careful management. It shines best when other players use area-of-effect cards like Hail of Arrows or Barbarians. However, when playing Cao Cao, it's crucial to be cautious of Capture, as this card can place him at a significant disadvantage.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao is known for his cunning and strategic mind, which is reflected in his "Evil Hero" ability that allows him to benefit from taking damage. His talent for turning enemies into allies parallels his card’s ability to collect and reuse powerful tools like Barbarians and Hail of Arrows. Historically, this is evident in how Cao Cao gained some of his best generals from defeated opponents, such as Xu Huang, Zhang Liao, and Zhang He. These generals also played key roles in protecting their liege, which is captured in his "Escort" ability. A prime example from the novel is when Cao Cao, fleeing from the relentless pursuit of Ma Chao, is saved by Xu Chu, who rescues him and ensures his safe escape.