• Zhuge Liang’s ability "Empty City" will not protect him if he uses his last hand card in a Duel and loses, as he had at least one hand card when targeted. Additionally, if Zhuge Liang uses his last card to Negate a Duel and another character Negates his Negate, "Empty City" will not protect him. He will still suffer damage from the Duel because he had a hand card at the time of being targeted.

• "Empty City" will not protect Zhuge Liang if he uses his last Escape card against an attack from the Axe, and the attacker uses two cards to overcome the Escape. The same applies if he faces a similar situation with the Green Dragon Blade.

• If Diao Chan uses "Sow Discord" on Zhuge Liang when he has no hand cards, she must force the other male character to use the first Attack.

• Zhuge Liang can be either a blessing or a nightmare for the player directly to his right. He influences their judgment cards and the cards they draw into their hand, giving him significant control over the game.

• Zhuge Liang’s abilities work exceptionally well together. He can ensure he draws useful cards and ends his turn with no hand cards, maximizing the effectiveness of his powers.

• Zhuge Liang’s "Empty City" provides robust protection against the two most direct methods of damaging a character, making him a resilient presence on the field.

• Zhuge Liang's "Astrology" becomes less effective as the game progresses and fewer characters remain in play, reducing his influence over the game.

• "Empty City" does not protect Zhuge Liang from Barbarians and Hail of Arrows, leaving him vulnerable to these threats.

• "Harvest" can undermine Zhuge Liang’s "Empty City," particularly if enemy characters select Escapes that leave Zhuge Liang the Attacks he cannot get rid of outside of his turn.

• General Note:
  Zhuge Liang can be highly effective on many teams, as he can protect his ally to the right from time-delay tool cards and ensure they draw useful cards. This versatility means there are many possible combinations, similar to Liu Bei.

• Card Givers:
  When Liu Bei or Guo Jia are opponents, they can give Zhuge Liang cards that counteract his "Empty City," leaving him vulnerable to attacks.

• Judgment Tinkerers:
  Sima Yi and Zhang Jiao can disrupt Zhuge Liang's strategy by manipulating judgement cards. Zhang Jiao, in particular, can bypass the "Empty City" defense by targeting Zhuge Liang with his ability.

• Direct Damagers:
  Xun Yu and Dian Wei can inflict direct damage on Zhuge Liang without needing an Attack or Duel, bypassing his defenses and potentially weakening him significantly.

• Sow Revolt:
  Zhou Yu’s "Sow Revolt" can deal damage to Zhuge Liang when he has no hand cards, effectively undermining "Empty City" and creating a difficult situation for him.  The effect is increased since Zhuge Liang is given a card which also removes the protection of "Empty City."

King

• • Zhuge Liang is a competent, though not ideal, king. His "Empty City" provides excellent defense against rebels, but there's a risk that a rebel might counter this strategy. A potential workaround is to eliminate one of your loyalists to activate "Empty City" fully.

Loyalist

• • Zhuge Liang excels as a loyalist, controlling the cards the next player draws. He can ensure rebels draw unusable cards or help the king with useful ones. Particularly beneficial for Zhang Jiao, as he can influence the judgement card flipped during Zhang Jiao's use of an Escape.

Rebel

• • Zhuge Liang also performs well as a rebel, leveraging his ability to manipulate card draws to his advantage, similar to his effectiveness as a loyalist.

Spy

• • As a spy, Zhuge Liang's "Astrology" helps maintain balance among teams subtly, while "Empty City" protects him from direct attacks, allowing him to survive longer.

Zhuge Liang is one of the strongest characters in the game, thanks to his exceptional defensive capabilities. His ability to protect himself with "Empty City" and control the game with "Astrology" can be a significant challenge for opponents who cannot deal damage to him during his turn. However, it is crucial for Zhuge Liang to remain vigilant against the characters mentioned in the Notable Combinations section. These characters have the potential to undermine his defenses and disrupt his strategies. Prioritizing the elimination of these threats can help ensure that Zhuge Liang’s "Empty City" remains effective and his control over the game remains unchallenged.

Zhuge Liang is famous for his clever military strategies, one of which is immortalized in his Sanguosha card: the "Empty City" strategy. During the first Northern Expedition, after a setback at the Battle of Jieting, Zhuge Liang found himself with only a small force at Xicheng, facing an imminent attack by Sima Yi’s Wei army.

To fend off the attack, Zhuge Liang devised a bold plan. He ordered the city gates to be opened, had his troops disguise themselves as civilians, and took a relaxed position on the city walls while playing his guqin. When Sima Yi arrived and saw the seemingly abandoned city and Zhuge Liang’s calm demeanor, he suspected an ambush and retreated, thus sparing Zhuge Liang and his forces from confrontation.

This clever ruse reflects the essence of Zhuge Liang's "Empty City" card in Sanguosha. It shows how he uses psychological tactics and misdirection to protect himself and manipulate his enemies, much like how he orchestrated a retreat through sheer psychological influence during this historic episode.