• "Culprit" is an enforced ability: Meng Huo cannot opt out of being the source of Barbarians. If Barbarians deals damage to a character with retaliatory abilities, they enact their ability against Meng Huo instead of the player who played the card. For example, if Sima Yi is hurt by Barbarians, his “Feedback” ability activates against Meng Huo, even if someone else played the card. Similarly, if a rebel dies from Barbarians, Meng Huo gains the three-card bounty as if he killed them.

• The cards flipped for "Resurgence" are not considered judgment cards and cannot be influenced by characters like Sima Yi or Zhang Jiao.

• "Culprit" protects Meng Huo from Barbarians, a frequently used tool card. This removes the need to store Attack cards at the end of his turn to defend himself from Barbarians.

• "Resurgence" is especially powerful when Meng Huo is low on health. Even if no hearts are flipped, Meng Huo draws extra cards, sometimes more than the usual draw of two. This can lead to him drawing three or more cards, making up for a skipped draw phase.

• "Culprit" can cause problems for Meng Huo when facing opponents with retaliatory abilities. He will take the brunt of any effects from characters like Sima Yi or Xiahou Dun if Barbarians hurt them.

• "Resurgence" can replenish health or cards, but it comes with drawbacks. Hearts drawn are discarded, reducing the number of cards Meng Huo adds to his hand. Additionally, because the flipped cards are revealed before being added to his hand, opponents can plan around the cards Meng Huo will draw, reducing their surprise value. This leaves Meng Huo vulnerable to future damage.

• Retaliatory Characters:
  Meng Huo’s "Culprit" ability makes him the source of damage for Barbarians, even when another player plays the card. This becomes problematic when facing characters with retaliatory abilities like Sima Yi, Fa Zheng, and Xiahou Dun. If they are harmed by Barbarians, their retaliation effects target Meng Huo instead of the actual card player.

• Astrology Interference:
  Zhuge Liang’s "Astrology" skill can greatly influence the outcome of Meng Huo’s "Resurgence." Positioned to Meng Huo's left, Zhuge Liang can manipulate the cards flipped during "Resurgence," either assisting Meng Huo in regaining health or ensuring unfavorable draws by influencing the suits revealed. His presence can turn the tide for or against Meng Huo, depending on the alliance.

• Card-Supplying Allies:
  Characters like Liu Bei, Guo Jia, Xun Yu, and Lu Su can help Meng Huo overcome the drawback of losing heart cards during "Resurgence." By providing Meng Huo with extra cards through their abilities, they mitigate the decrease in cards caused by discarded hearts, ensuring Meng Huo has enough resources to defend or recover.

King

• • Meng Huo is an interesting but risky king choice. His additional unit of health in 5+ player games increases the number of cards flipped for "Resurgence." However, rebels tend to focus on loyalists and spies first, leaving Meng Huo vulnerable once isolated. While "Culprit" entitles him to the bounty when rebels die from Barbarians, it also forces him to lose all his cards if a loyalist is killed.

Loyalist

• • Meng Huo’s abilities do not significantly benefit the king, and his defensive nature means he is not an offensive powerhouse. As a loyalist, he is solid but lacks the firepower to decisively turn the tide against rebels.

Rebel

• • Meng Huo is a durable rebel who can defend himself while the other rebels focus on attacking the king. His defensive prowess helps him survive, but he is not particularly aggressive in directly pursuing the king.

Spy

• • Meng Huo is a strong choice as a spy. If he avoids detection, he can stay alive for long periods using "Resurgence." In a final duel with the king, Meng Huo’s ability to recover health gives him a significant edge. However, his slower pace might leave him less impactful in speeding up the game’s balance shifts.

Meng Huo’s defensive abilities and healing through "Resurgence" make him a durable but not overly offensive character. Players using Meng Huo should take advantage of his ability to heal by taking damage right before their turn, ensuring they can trigger "Resurgence" and potentially restore health while drawing more cards. While not the most powerful character, Meng Huo’s long-term survival can frustrate opponents, especially if they cannot finish him off quickly.

Meng Huo is best remembered for the famous story of his capture and release by Zhuge Liang during the Shu Kingdom’s southern campaign. Zhuge Liang captured Meng Huo seven different times but released him after each capture. The idea was to win the hearts and minds of the southern people rather than merely conquering them through force. Each time Meng Huo was released, he returned with renewed determination, only to be captured again. After the seventh capture, Meng Huo finally surrendered, acknowledging Zhuge Liang’s superior wisdom and strategy. This act of repeated mercy solidified Zhuge Liang’s reputation as a wise and benevolent leader. In Sanguosha, Meng Huo’s ability to recover health with "Resurgence" represents this repeated resurgence after every defeat. His enforced role as the source of "Culprit" damage reflects the consequences he faced for the rebellions, placing him at the heart of each event, much like his leadership during the southern conflict.