When you draw the King role, you must immediately flip it face-up, revealing your identity to all players. After everyone else has drawn their role cards, the King is the first to choose their character. The King selects from both the pool of 'king characters' and regular characters. Once chosen, the King’s character is revealed before others choose their own.

Here is a list of many of the King Characters

• Cao Cao

• Liu Bei

• Sun Quan

• Zhang Jiao

• Yuan Shao

• Dong Zhuo

• Cao Pi

• Liu Shan

• Sun Ce

If there are five or more players, the King receives an additional point of maximum health, regardless of whether they choose a king-specific character. If there are four or fewer players, the King’s health remains as printed on their chosen character card.

• King’s Character Choices:
  While the King traditionally receives three 'king choices', combined with two other random generals, this number can vary based on the group’s preferences. A common method is to offer five king-specific characters and three regular characters for a total of eight choices.

• King Abilities:
  If the King chooses a character with a "king ability," that ability only activates while they are the King. These special abilities are exclusive to the King role.

• Loyalist Death Penalty:
  If the King kills a Loyalist, the King immediately loses all their cards—both equipped and in hand. This is usually disastrous, leaving the King vulnerable. Pending cards, such as "delayed tools," are not discarded and remain active.

• Shared Victory:
  The King and Loyalists win or lose together. As long as the King survives and all Rebels and Spies are eliminated, the Loyalists also share in the victory.

Since the King’s identity is revealed, they are often the main target of attacks, especially from Rebels. Here are a few key points to remember when playing the King role:

• Balancing Offense and Defense:
  The King should focus on defending themselves while working with Loyalists to identify and eliminate Rebels and Spies. Overly aggressive play can leave the King vulnerable, so balance is critical.

• Use of Loyalists:
  The Loyalists are crucial allies. The King should not hesitate to rely on their support, as they share the same win conditions. However, be careful not to accidentally harm them.

• Prioritize Survival:
  Above all, the King must prioritize survival. This means not taking unnecessary risks and carefully managing health and equipment. Rebels and Spies will actively seek to eliminate the King, so defensive strategies are vital.

In Sanguosha, the King role carries immense responsibility. With a clear objective and unique abilities, the King is both a powerful and vulnerable figure. Play cautiously, trust your Loyalists, and outlast your enemies to claim victory.