Roles

There are four main roles in Sanguosha, each with its own objectives, creating competing strategies among players. At the beginning of the game, each player randomly selects a role card from a face-down set. The role you draw determines your goal, but you must keep your identity hidden from other players until specific conditions are met. Here are the basic objectives for each role:

King 主公
The King is always present in the game. The King also keeps his role card face up so everyone knows who he is. When the King dies, the game ends. The King's goal is to stay alive and defeat all Rebels and Spies. The King may also have special abilities if using a character with "King abilities."

Loyalist 忠臣
The Loyalist is aligned with the King and shares the same objective: to eliminate all players who are not Loyalists. If a Loyalist is killed, the player who killed them does not receive any bonuses. However, if the King accidentally kills a Loyalist, the King must discard all their hand and equipped cards.

Rebel 反贼
Rebels usually make up the largest faction. Their main goal is to kill the King. Whenever a Rebel is killed, the player who killed them draws three cards, regardless of their role.

Spy 内奸
The Spy is a lone wolf with a unique goal. The Spy must survive until only the King and the Spy are left, then defeat the King in a one-on-one battle to win. No one gains any benefit from killing the Spy.

Overlord 霸王
The Overlord is an unofficial role added to the game. Their goal is to eliminate all other players. However, if the Overlord kills the King, the remaining players turn into Rebels, and the Overlord becomes the new King.

Reckless Hero 草莽
This unofficial role is unique in that the Reckless Hero cannot win in their starting condition. The Reckless Hero must kill another player and take over a new role, then proceed with that role's victory conditions to win.