• The attacker decides whether to deal damage or force the target to discard cards after the target does not use an Escape.

• If Wine is used with the Ice Sword, the effect is all or nothing: either the attack deals two damage, or the target discards two cards.

• Cards are discarded one by one. If the target has only one card, they lose it; if they have more than one, they must discard two cards. If the target has no cards, they are forced to take the damage.

• Both equipment and hand cards can be discarded. Pending cards (delayed tools in progress) cannot be discarded.

• Guaranteed Hit Characters:
  Characters like Ma Chao and Huang Zhong who have abilities that guarantee a hit can maximize the Ice Sword’s utility by forcing opponents to discard cards, even if the target has an Escape. This is especially useful for removing troublesome equipment.

• Hua Tuo:
  Hua Tuo needs to be cautious with the Ice Sword. Normally, he only loses a single card when healing back damage. However, with the Ice Sword, he could lose two cards instead of just one, making it much harder for him to recover after being worn down.

• Xiao Qiao:
  Xiao Qiao is particularly vulnerable to the Ice Sword. If she doesn’t use an Escape and the attacker opts to discard her cards instead of dealing damage, she cannot activate her ability, leaving her defenseless and out of two cards.

The Ice Sword is a tactical weapon, best used for a few key turns to weaken an opponent. It excels at stripping away a target’s equipment piece by piece, especially armor and defenses. Once their defenses are down, the attacker can deal direct damage. However, the Ice Sword's usefulness fades in prolonged engagements—while you can continuously discard your opponent's cards, they'll eventually draw more, and you're not dealing any lasting damage. That said, it still has value, as you always retain the option to simply inflict damage when needed.

The Ice Sword is a fictional creation for this game and has no basis in historical events or the novel.