Card Types

When playing Sanguosha, there are four types of cards: character cards, role cards, health cards, and playing cards.
The base game includes all the cards needed, but expansions can add more character and playing cards for added complexity.

Character Cards

Character cards represent the generals and figures of the game, providing important information such as:

Name
Alignment: The faction or group they belong to.
Health: The number of health units they start with.
Gender: Male or Female.
King Status: Whether they are eligible to be chosen as a King.

Name

Alignment
Health
Gender
King Status

Cao Cao

Wei
4 Health
Male
King

Zhuge Liang

Shu
3 Health
Male
Not King

Lu Meng

Wu
4 Health
Male
Not King

Diao Chan

Hero
3 Health
Female
Not King

Guan Yu

God
5 Health
Male
Not King

Alignment:
Shown in the top-right corner by a symbol and border color. Wei is blue, Shu is red, Wu is green, and Heroes are gray.

Health:
Displayed at the top of the card.

King Status:
Characters eligible to be King have a gold border and gold health/alignment symbols. If selected as King, they also gain "King Abilities."

God Characters:
Characters with the 'God' Alignment are yellow and select one of the four allegiances at the beginning of the game. Despite their gold borders, they are not King choices. God characters have powerful abilities but also weaknesses, making them balanced despite their strength.

Role Cards

While the character card of a player determines their character's abilities, the role card of the player determines their objective. Note that while a player can choose the character they use, they do not choose their role.

Check the Role page to see the details for each one of the possible roles.

Role

King

Loyalist

Rebel

Spy

Health Cards

Health cards track each player's health during the game. Players reduce their health by moving their character card to cover a health unit when they take damage. Health cards usually come in variants of 3, 4, or 5 units.

Playing Cards

Playing cards are used throughout the game to attack, defend, or activate special abilities. Unlike many games, Sanguosha uses a single deck for all players. Playing cards are divided into three main types:

Basic Cards:
Used for simple actions like attacking or healing.
Tool Cards:
Activate more complex effects that can change the flow of the game.
Equipment Cards:
Provide ongoing bonuses or abilities for the player who equips them.

More details about the various playing cards can be found in other sections of the website.

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