Complete Kill 完杀
During Jia Xu's turn, only Jia Xu and players on the brink of death can use Peach.
Upheaval 乱武
Once per game, Jia Xu can force all other players to attack a player within their range.
If a player does not, they lose one health.
Curtain 帷幕
Jia Xu cannot be targeted by black tool cards.
Both "Complete Kill" and "Curtain" are enforced abilities, meaning Jia Xu cannot choose to deactivate them.
Due to "Curtain," Jia Xu cannot target himself with black tool cards, such as the spade Lightning. Instead, the black-suited tool cards pass over him during his turn and target the next player in the rotation.
"Curtain" does not extend to Negate.
"Complete Kill" prevents others from saving Jia Xu with a Peach if he dies during his turn, making him more vulnerable to the red Lightning.
When Jia Xu activates "Upheaval," each player is prompted to attack another in their range. The attack sequence follows the seating arrangement from Jia Xu's immediate right.
Jia Xu does not need to play an Attack himself when activating "Upheaval," but players can still attack him if he is in their range.
Jia Xu’s "Curtain" makes him immune to most black tool cards, giving him a strong defense against characters who rely on them, like Gan Ning, Xu Huang, and Zhen Ji.
"Complete Kill" is a highly strategic ability. Jia Xu can time it to ensure a character’s death, preventing even powerful support characters like Guo Jia, Xun Yu, or Hua Tuo from saving them with Peaches.
"Upheaval" can cause massive chaos on the board, often turning the game in Jia Xu’s favor, especially when used alongside "Complete Kill." It also forces opponents into difficult decisions.
Jia Xu excels at protecting himself from tool-based threats, providing him long-term survivability.
Jia Xu’s abilities are self-serving and don’t contribute much to supporting his allies, making him a lone wolf in many games.
While "Curtain" offers strong protection against tool cards, it does nothing against physical attacks, leaving Jia Xu vulnerable to repeated assaults from aggressive characters.
"Upheaval" can backfire if not timed carefully, as it allows other players to target Jia Xu.
Jia Xu has fewer offensive options, as his strengths lie in disruption rather than direct attacks.
Card Destruction Allies:
Characters like Gan Ning, Zhang Liao, Zhang He, Huang Xu, and Lu Su excel at card destruction, which can strip enemies of Peaches and Wine, making them more vulnerable to Jia Xu’s "Complete Kill." By depleting their hand, Jia Xu can ensure that no one saves a dying target.
Damage Amplifiers:
Zhang Jiao's "Lightning Strike" synergizes well with "Upheaval," as it can potentially inflict two units of damage in a single turn. If this kills an opponent, they won’t have a chance to recover, as "Complete Kill" restricts Peaches from being played.
Tool Card Bypassers:
Xiao Qiao's "Rouge Face" ability converts spade-suited tool cards into heart-suited ones, allowing her to bypass Jia Xu’s "Curtain" and still target him. This combination allows for better strategic use of tool cards against him.
Healing Outside of Peaches:
Wu Guotai’s "Amend" ability doesn’t count as using a Peach, allowing her to save characters on the brink of death during Jia Xu’s turn despite "Complete Kill." This can provide unexpected lifelines to allies without breaking Jia Xu’s restrictions.
Wine-Based Rescues:
Cheng Pu’s "Strong Wine" allows him to save characters by having them use Wine instead of Peaches. This clever workaround sidesteps Jia Xu’s "Complete Kill," offering a strategic method to save allies even under Jia Xu’s deadly conditions.
Jia Xu can be a solid king choice, but he may not be as well-rounded as some of the traditional king picks. His defensive capabilities through "Curtain" and offensive potential with "Upheaval" provide a good balance, but his self-serving abilities can be a drawback.
As a loyalist, Jia Xu’s utility is limited. He can help isolate and eliminate rebels with "Complete Kill," but his abilities mostly serve his own survival rather than aiding the king.
Jia Xu is an excellent rebel. If he times "Upheaval" and "Complete Kill" correctly, he can take down the king without giving loyalists or the spy a chance to intervene.
Jia Xu is an effective spy, especially in longer games where his "Curtain" ability allows him to survive. His disruptive power with "Upheaval" can cause chaos at the right moment, giving him the opportunity to take control of the game.
Jia Xu stands out as one of the most fascinating characters in the Forest Expansion. His "Curtain" provides substantial protection against black tool cards, allowing him to evade many typical threats. For example, Jia Xu is immune to five of the six Break cards, three of the five Steal cards, two of the three Capture cards, and all Barbarians, Coerce, Chains, and Starvation cards in the Base Set and Army Expansion. Only Blaze and Hail of Arrows remain viable threats to him. With the addition of the Black Shield, Jia Xu becomes even harder to take down. However, using Jia Xu requires strategic timing, particularly when activating "Upheaval." His abilities make him a powerful force, but his defensive stance requires careful play to maximize his potential.
Jia Xu was a cunning, behind-the-scenes tactician during the late Han dynasty. He initially served warlords Li Jue and Guo Si, who controlled the imperial court after Dong Zhuo’s assassination. Jia Xu gave them critical advice to maintain power, but when they stopped heeding his counsel, he wisely distanced himself from them. Soon after, their faction collapsed, showcasing Jia Xu’s foresight.
Next, Jia Xu joined warlord Zhang Xiu and played a key role in the defeat of Cao Cao at the Battle of Wancheng. His brilliant strategy led to the death of Cao Cao’s eldest son and forced Cao Cao to retreat. Jia Xu’s tactical expertise became renowned through this victory, demonstrating his skill in exploiting weaknesses and shaping outcomes.
Later, Jia Xu came into Cao Cao’s service, where his reputation only grew. He was known for never miscalculating, making him one of Cao Cao’s most trusted advisors. Jia Xu’s ability to navigate complex political and military situations without error made him a legend in his time.
Jia Xu's in-game abilities reflect his historical persona. "Upheaval" mirrors his capacity to incite chaos and force opponents into difficult choices, much like his manipulation of Li Jue and Guo Si. "Curtain" represents his ability to shield himself from danger, while "Complete Kill" emphasizes his ruthless efficiency in ensuring his enemies had no escape from their fate.