Cao Cao, The Calculated Conqueror: Commanding Minions to Strip Buffs

Overview

Cao Cao, the "Warlord of Wei," arrived in Empires & Puzzles in July 2022 as part of the War of Three Kingdoms event. As a Slow mana Ice hero, he was designed to be a heavy hitter who shifts the tide of battle not just with damage, but with overwhelming utility. His primary gimmick revolves around summoning minions that act as constant dispellers, a mechanic that remains relatively unique. While he lacks the flashy speed of modern heroes, his tactical value in specific niches cannot be ignored.

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Hero Art & Visuals

Cao Cao's design reflects his status as a formidable general and statesman. Clad in ornate, heavy armor with blue and gold accents, he exudes authority. The artwork captures a stern, commanding presence, fitting for a leader of the Wei Kingdom. The glowing blue energy on his sword hints at the magical nature of his "Order to Overwhelm." It is a classic, high-fantasy depiction of a legendary warrior, solid and imposing, though perhaps lacking the chaotic flair of some newer, more monstrous releases.

General Info

Hero Stats

Stat Analysis: Released in 2022, Cao Cao's base stats (Power 837, Attack 799, Defense 813, Health 1468) show their age. In the current landscape where new heroes frequently surpass 1000 Power and 1300 Attack without limit breaks, Cao Cao falls into the "legacy" category. His defense and health are respectable enough to keep him alive in mid-tier play, but against modern "monster" heroes, he is statistically fragile. He relies heavily on emblems and limit breaks to survive long enough to fire his Slow skill.

Special Skill: Order to Overwhelm

Skill Analysis: "Order to Overwhelm" is a loaded skill that justifies its Slow speed—or at least it did upon release.

1. Damage: 330% damage to all enemies is a significant hit. Even with his older attack stat, this can devastate a softened team.
2. Minions: The Wei Soldier Minions are the star of the show. Inheriting 20% HP and 25% Attack is standard, but their ability—dispelling buffs from the target on each hit—is excellent. This provides a continuous dispel effect that can strip taunts, defense buffs, and counterattacks turn after turn.
3. Defense Buff: A +30% defense buff for all allies adds a layer of survivability, helping the team endure while the minions do their work.

The synergy here is clear: hit hard, protect the team, and disrupt the enemy's defensive setup. However, the randomness of minion targeting means you cannot always guarantee a specific buff will be removed when you need it.

By the Numbers

• Mana Speed: Slow. Requires 12 tiles to charge.
  • With Kingdom Family Bonus (1/2/3 heroes): +2% / +4% / +6% Mana generation upon minion summon.
  • With Level 29 Mana Troop (+15%): Needs significantly more help to drop tile count effectively.
• Damage Potential: 330% x 799 Attack = ~2636 raw damage value per enemy (before defense reduction). This is decent for an AoE, but modern Slow heroes often push 400%+ or have much higher base attack.
• Minion Stats:
  • Health: ~293 HP (20% of 1468).
  • Attack: ~200 (25% of 799).
  • Impact: Five minions hitting randomly deal approx 1000 accumulated damage per turn and act as five separate dispel attempts.

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

Family Bonus

The Kingdom family bonus is unique because it triggers on minion summons. Since Cao Cao summons minions for everyone, he instantly triggers this bonus for himself and any other family members present. Gaining small amounts of Mana and Healing every time a minion appears adds up, especially in minion-heavy teams (e.g., paired with Liu Bei or Diaochan).

Passives

The base version of Cao Cao does not possess the "Unstoppable Minions" passive found on his costume or newer Three Kingdoms heroes. This is a significant disadvantage, as his minions are vulnerable to standard minion removal and counters like Grimble or Ogima.

Aether Power

Regen: At Level 90, he gains health regeneration for the first 6 turns. For a Slow hero, this is actually quite useful. It helps mitigate chip damage while he struggles to gather the 12 tiles needed to fire. It increases the likelihood he survives to cast his skill at least once.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

• Historical Context: Upon release, Cao Cao was seen as a solid, if not game-breaking, addition. He was often compared to a "5-star Xiahou Dun." Players appreciated the continuous dispel but lamented the Slow speed in a meta that was already speeding up.
• Power Creep Analysis: Power creep has been unkind to base Cao Cao. His direct damage is now easily shrugged off by overhealed teams, and his minions, while useful, are flimsy compared to the "Mega Minions" or the 40%+ stats of modern summoners.
• Modern Viability Verdict: Niche / Bench. In standard raids and wars, he is too slow and statistically weak to be a primary choice. However, he remains viable in Rush Attack tournaments and wars, where his speed penalty is negated, and his powerful skill can fire repeatedly.

Costume & Costume Bonus

Note: This review focuses on the base hero. The arrival of his costume significantly changes the conversation.

• Stats: The costume provides a massive stat boost (Power 1108 vs 837), bringing him in line with 2024 standards.
• Minions: The costume minions are monstrous (42% HP/Atk) compared to the base (20% HP/25% Atk).
• Passive: The costume adds the critical "Unstoppable Minions" passive, making them immune to removal.
• Recommendation: If you have the costume, use the costume. The base version is strictly inferior in almost every metric except for the specific mechanics of the dispel (which both have) and perhaps the class (Rogue vs Ranger). The costume bonus alone makes the base version tankier if you are forced to use it (e.g., for class quests), but the costume is the modern way to play this hero.

Emblem Path Analysis

Class: Rogue. This is one of the best classes for a Slow hero. The chance to Evade damage is crucial for keeping him alive until he charges.

The Survivor (Recommended)

• Path: Defense > Health > Attack
• Pros: Maximizes his survivability. His primary goal is to fire his skill; damage is secondary. Higher health also means slightly beefier minions (since minion HP is % based).
• Cons: Lowers his AoE damage ceiling.

The Warlord

• Path: Attack > Defense > Health
• Pros: Increases the 330% slam damage and the attack value of the minions.
• Cons: Risky. If he dies before firing, he does nothing.

Final Recommendation

For most players, the Survivor (Defense/Health) path is recommended. A dead Slow hero summons no minions.

Strengths

• Continuous Dispel: Minions stripping buffs turn after turn is a nightmare for teams relying on Taunt, Riposte, or Defense Up.
• Team Utility: Provides both offensive pressure (minions) and defensive support (+30% Defense).
• Rogue Talent: Dodge chance can clutch games by avoiding a sniper shot.

Weaknesses

• Slow Speed: The biggest hurdle. Without Rush rules or heavy mana support, he often dies before casting.
• Outdated Stats: Low base defense and health make him a prime target for modern fast snipers.
• Minion Counters: Base minions are easily eaten by Grimble, Topaz, Eloise, or Ogima.

Best Game Modes

• Rush Attack Wars/Tournaments: His undisputed home. Firing at Very Fast speed makes him a top-tier threat.
• Map/Quest Farming: His minions provide a meat shield that keeps your team healthy through long waves.
• Buff Booster Tournaments: The dispelling minions are incredibly valuable here to strip enemy buffs.

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

Sample Team Ideas

• The Minion Horde: Cao Cao + Freya/Bera + Pengi.
  • Why: Freya/Bera buff the minions or speed up summoning. Pengi uses the high number of minions to unleash devastating chain attacks.
• The Kingdom Family: Cao Cao + Liu Bei + Sun Quan.
  • Why: Maximize the family bonus. Every minion summon feeds mana to the whole family, potentially speeding Cao Cao up to "Average" effectiveness.

Counters & Anti-Synergies

• Minion Destroyers: Grimble, Ogima, Eloise, and Captain of Diamonds love seeing Cao Cao. They will wipe his minions instantly and often gain mana or deal extra damage.
• Silence/Mana Control: Proteus, Hel, or Miki can stop him from ever firing, rendering him a tile dump.

Advice for New Players

If Cao Cao is one of your first 5-star heroes, he is worth leveling. His minions provide a "safety net" of extra HP that can help you clear difficult map stages and quests that you otherwise couldn't survive. Focus on keeping him alive with healers.

Advice for Veterans

Unless you lack a deep roster for Rush Wars, base Cao Cao is likely a benchwarmer. His stats are a liability. If you pull him without the costume, he is a niche tool for specific counter-play (dispelling) rather than a staple defender. Do not prioritize Limit Breaking him unless you have the costume.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

• Release Reaction: "I’m surprised people aren’t really voting he’s worth summoning for? Is this because he’s slow?" - Forum User
• On Synergy: "Cao has great synergy with Frosth. With Frosth’s minions protecting his minions and the elemental link..." - Strategy Discussion
• The "Cape" Controversy: Upon release, his in-game sprite was missing his cape, causing a minor uproar. "He looks much more royal with the cape. I agree. He is the king of the Wei Kingdom." - Fan Feedback

Final Thoughts

Cao Cao is a hero who suffers from the passage of time. His kit—an AoE hit with dispelling minions—is mechanically sound and tactically rich. However, shackled by Slow mana and 2022 stats, the base version struggles to keep up with the blistering pace of the modern meta. He is a general who needs a specific battlefield (Rush Attack) to truly shine.

Verdict: A specialized tool for Rush Wars, but otherwise retired to the barracks.