• Cao Ren uses "Entrench" after his discard phase, which means that he keeps the cards he draws and enters the next round with these cards.

• Once flipped, Cao Ren removes himself from play temporarily, but he gains a three-card advantage over the typical two-card draw during his next drawing phase.

• Cao Ren can generate significant card advantage with "Entrench," drawing a total of three cards and keeping them all.

• When Cao Ren is flipped, he is usually less likely to be targeted by attacks, which allows him to prepare a stronger defense.

• His ability provides potential survivability by granting extra cards, making it easier to hold onto defensive tools like Escape cards.

• By flipping, Cao Ren effectively removes himself from the game temporarily, making it difficult for him to actively help his team.

• There is no guarantee that the three cards drawn will provide Cao Ren with the means to defend himself during the two rounds he’s out of play.

• Characters with abilities that force attacks or card losses can quickly undo the advantage Cao Ren gains from "Entrench."

• Character Re-flipping:
  Cao Ren pairs well with characters who can unflip him after using "Entrench." For example, Cao Pi can use his "Exile" ability to re-flip Cao Ren when he takes damage, allowing him to return to the battlefield sooner. This is an especially good pairing, as it minimizes the downtime that normally weakens Cao Ren's contribution to his team. Xu Sheng has a similar ability, but it’s less favorable because Cao Ren needs to be damaged by one of Xu Sheng's Attacks for the re-flip to occur.

• High-Cost Attack Avoidance:
  Characters like Pang De and Lu Bu can be challenging for Cao Ren to face, as they require two Escape cards to dodge their attacks. Since Cao Ren's strategy relies on building card advantage through "Entrench," being forced to discard multiple cards to avoid their attacks quickly diminishes his hand advantage.

• Forced Damage Dealers:
  Ma Chao and Huang Zhong are dangerous opponents for Cao Ren, as they can bypass his defensive Escape cards and force their attacks to land. These characters nullify much of Cao Ren's card advantage, making him vulnerable despite his best efforts.

• Card Stealers:
  Characters like Lu Su and Bu Lian Shi can be problematic for Cao Ren, as their abilities allow them to take cards directly from his hand. This reduces the effectiveness of the cards he draws through "Entrench" and puts him at a disadvantage.

King

• • Cao Ren is a poor choice as king. His ability to temporarily remove himself from the game puts too much pressure on his loyalists to handle the rebels.

Loyalist

• • Cao Ren’s role as a loyalist is similarly weak because flipping himself makes it difficult to assist the king. If Cao Pi is the king, Cao Ren becomes a better loyalist due to Cao Pi’s ability to re-flip him.

Rebel

• • As a rebel, Cao Ren faces the same issue of not being able to contribute effectively to his team while flipped. His absence from battle makes it harder to apply pressure on the king and loyalists.

Spy

• • Spy is likely the most fitting role for Cao Ren. His ability to remove himself from combat can help him avoid suspicion while the other factions battle each other. However, his weakness remains his temporary inactivity, which may prevent him from influencing the game at crucial moments.

Cao Ren is a character designed to outlast opponents through defensive play and card accumulation, but his ability often makes him less impactful during critical moments. Unless paired with characters like Cao Pi who can minimize his downtime, Cao Ren struggles to seriously affect the game. If you play as Cao Ren, consider obtaining the Wood Armor and protect against fire damage, as having more cards in hand will make it difficult for enemies to burn through his defenses.

Cao Ren's ability, "Entrench," reflects his famous defensive tactics during the Battle of Jingzhou. In 208, Cao Ren faced the formidable commander Zhou Yu, who led a much larger force to besiege the city. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Cao Ren made the strategic decision to hunker down within the city's defenses. He meticulously fortified his position, waiting for an opportune moment to strike back. When Zhou Yu attempted an all-out assault, Cao Ren laid a trap, leading Zhou Yu to suffer a severe injury, halting the attack and allowing Cao Ren to hold the city.

This historical event is mirrored in Cao Ren's Sanguosha ability. Much like his defensive entrenchment at Jingzhou, Cao Ren temporarily removes himself from the front lines, drawing additional resources to prepare for a counterattack. His strategy was one of patience and fortification, a hallmark of his historical role as a great general under Cao Cao. Although his decision to wait out the siege came with risks, it ultimately allowed him to weather the storm and maintain his hold on the strategically important city.