• If Cao Cao acquires a card that targets all characters via "Evil Hero," it still affects the remaining of the players.  If Cao Cao is damaged halfway through Hail of Arrows, Cao Cao can pick it up, but all the rest of the players still need to use an Escape.  

• hen king Cao Cao needs an Escape, another member of Wei can activate their Eight Trigrams to help him out via "Escort." This way, the loyalist and the king can benefit from the same armor.  

• Cao Cao is a formidable character in games where cards like Barbarians and Hail of Arrows are commonly used. These tool cards target all characters, allowing Cao Cao to strategically take damage and then add these cards to his hand through his "Evil Hero" ability. He can then unleash significant damage by reusing these cards on his turn.

• Cao Cao Trigrams can consistently provide Cao Cao with Escapes, enhancing his survivability.

• "Evil Hero" characters possess abilities that inflict direct damage, bypassing "Evil Hero" entirely. These abilities negate Cao Cao's main advantage, making him more susceptible to being overwhelmed.

• Zhen Ji (with Cao Cao as king):
  Zhen Ji is an excellent loyalist for King Cao Cao. Her "Overturned Country" ability allows her to use black-suited cards as Escapes, making her highly effective at shielding Cao Cao from attacks.

• negating Cao Cao’s primary advantage.

• Characters with damaging abilities:
  These characters possess abilities that deal direct damage without using cards. When they use their abilities to harm Cao Cao, he cannot leverage "Evil Hero" to pick up cards.

King

• • However, in more advanced expansions, Cao Cao becomes progressively weaker as new characters are introduced, making "Evil Hero" less effective.

Loyalist

• • Cao Cao is a capable, though not exceptional, loyalist. He can use "Evil Hero" to amplify the damage dealt to rebels by Barbarians and Hail of Arrows.

Rebel

• • Cao Cao performs well as a rebel. He can use "Evil Hero" to acquire Barbarians and Hail of Arrows, allowing him to deal substantial damage to the king.

Spy

• • Cao Cao can be a competent spy, although there are better choices. Like in other roles, Cao Cao effectively boosts the damage of Barbarians and Hail of Arrows.

Cao Cao is a strategic character who, unfortunately, has become less prominent as more advanced characters were introduced. Although his most effective strategy—using "Evil Hero" to capitalize on Hail of Arrows and Barbarians—remains consistent across expansions, it becomes less impactful over time. "Evil Hero" is powerful, but it requires careful management. It shines best when other players use area-of-effect cards like Hail of Arrows or Barbarians. However, when playing Cao Cao, it's crucial to be cautious of Capture, as this card can place him at a significant disadvantage.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao is known for his cunning and strategic mind, which is reflected in his "Evil Hero" ability that allows him to benefit from taking damage. His talent for turning enemies into allies parallels his card’s ability to collect and reuse powerful tools like Barbarians and Hail of Arrows. Historically, this is evident in how Cao Cao gained some of his best generals from defeated opponents, such as Xu Huang, Zhang Liao, and Zhang He. These generals also played key roles in protecting their liege, which is captured in his "Escort" ability. A prime example from the novel is when Cao Cao, fleeing from the relentless pursuit of Ma Chao, is saved by Xu Chu, who rescues him and ensures his safe escape.