• Huang Gai can bring himself to the brink of death (or even kill himself outright) with "Battered Body," but he does not get to draw two cards until he is revived.

• If Huang Gai dies due to "Battered Body," his cards will remain in the deck until the revival, meaning he won't draw them until after he revives.

• Huang Gai is one of the best rebel picks because he can draw a large number of cards during his turn, potentially acquiring powerful combinations like the Crossbow and numerous Attacks.

• By activating "Battered Body," Huang Gai increases his chance of drawing Peaches and Wine, extending his survival while allowing him to continue gathering cards.

• Huang Gai can intentionally kill himself at the end of his turn to prevent enemy characters from gaining the three-card bounty for killing him.

• Huang Gai’s playstyle revolves around constant self-harm, making him a significant threat, but also leaving him vulnerable to sudden attacks from enemies.

• Due to his threat level, Huang Gai will likely be targeted early by the king or loyalists, especially in the early game when he starts accumulating cards through "Battered Body."

• Huang Gai is only effective as a rebel. In other roles, his constant health loss often makes him a liability rather than an asset.

• Healing Allies:
  Hua Tuo is a powerful ally for Huang Gai. He can revive Huang Gai from the brink of death, allowing him to use "Battered Body" even more aggressively. This can result in Huang Gai drawing more cards than any other character in the game, creating an overwhelming advantage.

• Unexpected Synergy:
  Guo Jia benefits unintentionally from Huang Gai’s self-harming nature. Whenever Huang Gai takes damage, Guo Jia can use his ability to draw cards, possibly including Peaches or Wine, which may help sustain both of them.

• Benefiting from Death:
  Cao Pi’s "Unnatural Death" is particularly useful if Huang Gai is on the same team. When Huang Gai dies, whether by his own ability or enemy attack, Cao Pi can keep all of his cards. This turns Huang Gai's self-destruction into a tactical advantage for Cao Pi’s team. On the flip side, if Cao Pi is an enemy, he poses a real threat by stealing Huang Gai’s accumulated cards.

• Dangerous Counterattack:
  Attacking Zhang Jiao while using "Battered Body" can be dangerous. Zhang Jiao's ability could potentially kill Huang Gai, especially if Huang Gai has brought himself to the brink of death already. This makes Zhang Jiao a perilous enemy to face for Huang Gai.

King

• • Huang Gai is a poor choice for king. His self-harming ability leaves him vulnerable, and his role demands long-term survival. The king needs someone who can withstand the pressure from rebels, and Huang Gai’s power works against this goal.

Loyalist

• • Huang Gai is a highly mediocre loyalist. To be effective, he would need to use "Battered Body" to draw as many cards as possible, potentially killing a rebel in the process. However, he likely won’t be able to handle multiple opponents, and the king might even mistake him for a rebel early on, especially with his aggressive playstyle.

Rebel

• • Huang Gai is easily one of the most powerful rebels in the game. His unparalleled drawing power through "Battered Body" makes him an incredible threat to the king. If he draws a Crossbow and is in range of the king, he can deal significant damage, potentially killing the king on his first turn. Even if he doesn’t finish the job, he will often leave the king low on health and cards.

Spy

• • Huang Gai is perhaps the worst possible spy. His power requires him to lose health constantly, leaving him in a vulnerable position. Additionally, as a spy, Huang Gai has no reliable way to influence the game's outcome beyond his own self-damage.

Huang Gai is a quintessential rebel. His ability to self-harm and draw large numbers of cards makes him a dangerous and unpredictable character in the right hands. He excels in aggressive strategies, where he can finish off the king or weaken him significantly for the rest of the rebel team to succeed. However, Huang Gai's weaknesses in other roles and his vulnerability due to constant health loss limit his flexibility. As a courtesy, many players opt to have Huang Gai kill himself at the end of his turn to prevent the opposing team from gaining a bounty by finishing him off. However, to make the most of his potential, Huang Gai needs to ensure he is in the proper attacking range and has the right tools, such as a Crossbow and a -1 Horse, to maximize his threat level.

Huang Gai was a trusted general under Sun Quan, and his most famous moment came during the Battle of Red Cliffs. In a bold and dangerous strategy, Huang Gai proposed a false surrender to Cao Cao in order to launch a surprise fire attack on his fleet. To make this plan convincing, Huang Gai needed to prove his loyalty to Cao Cao. He suggested that Sun Quan publicly beat him, making the surrender appear genuine.

During the staged beating, Huang Gai endured brutal punishment, suffering physical harm to sell the deception. Afterward, he sent a letter to Cao Cao, stating that he was disillusioned with Sun Quan and wished to defect. Cao Cao, believing the ruse, welcomed the opportunity to gain a skilled general like Huang Gai. This deception allowed Huang Gai to approach Cao Cao's fleet with ships filled with flammable materials. At the opportune moment, Huang Gai launched the fire attack, setting Cao Cao's ships ablaze and turning the tide of the battle.

In Sanguosha, Huang Gai's ability "Battered Body" reflects this willingness to harm himself for a greater cause. Just as he willingly endured beatings to ensure the success of his strategy at Red Cliffs, in the game, Huang Gai sacrifices his health to draw more cards, potentially leading to decisive victories in battle. His unique ability mirrors his historical self-sacrifice for his country, making him a dangerous and unpredictable force.