Cao Cao — Rise of Castles Combos

Heroes that pair well with Cao Cao

The heroes most often ranked alongside Cao Cao.

Bleeding Steed

3 shared combos

Ashoka

2 shared combos

Jade Rakshasa

2 shared combos

Soaring Hawk

2 shared combos

Peace Bringer

2 shared combos

Clovis I

1 shared combo

Cicero

1 shared combo

Desert Storm

1 shared combo

Best Footmen combos with Cao Cao

Cao Cao appears in 9 ranked Footmen combos.

1. 135 FMB Ashoka · Cao Cao · Clovis I
   Ashoka (X14), Cao Cao (S01) and Clovis I (X15) score 66.47 out of 100 together, and each of the three has a job.

   Ashoka is the win condition, bringing 61% of the lineup's expected damage: Bloodthirsty Ashoka puts 210% x5 into one enemy squad on a 60% roll, and takes the front, able to both absorb the opening rounds and heal through them. Cao Cao is the saboteur, stripping the enemy's stats before the blows land: strips 151% of enemy Might, Resistance and damage in total, and sits in the middle, where the support reaches both the front and the back. Clovis I is the lock: every squad silenced or suppressed is a turn the enemy plan does not happen — Territory Expansion applies Silence on a 60% roll, and stays in the back, out of the enemy's easy reach, and those range-4 skills lose nothing for it. The lineup works because Ashoka produces combat-skill casts, the exact trigger Clovis I’s Frankish Spear waits on; Cao Cao produces combat-skill casts, the exact trigger Ashoka’s Bloodthirsty Ashoka waits on; Clovis I’s Territory Expansion applies Silence and takes a squad out of the fight, so Ashoka swings into a line that cannot answer. What you give up: Cao Cao (S01) is the era weak point -- the enemy will aim at the oldest squad; the trigger chain is thin — the three lean on one link rather than several. Budget note: every hero in this lineup can be completed without spending. This is one of the lineups recommended in-game by the developers -- the score above is what that classic core is still worth against the current roster. How these scores work →

   Mid progression 66.47/100 out of 100 ⇗
2. 155 FMB Ashoka · Jade Rakshasa · Cao Cao
   Ashoka (X14), Jade Rakshasa (S02) and Cao Cao (S01) score 61.92 out of 100 together, and each of the three has a job.

   Ashoka is the win condition, bringing 65% of the lineup's expected damage: Bloodthirsty Ashoka puts 210% x5 into one enemy squad on a 60% roll, and takes the front, able to both absorb the opening rounds and heal through them. Jade Rakshasa brings a second damage line worth 17% of the expected output, so no single silence stops the plan: Jade Lotus puts 162% x6 into one enemy squad on a 40% roll, and sits in the middle, where the support reaches both the front and the back. Cao Cao is the saboteur, stripping the enemy's stats before the blows land: strips 151% of enemy Might, Resistance and damage in total, and stays in the back, out of the enemy's easy reach, and those range-5 skills lose nothing for it. The lineup works because Jade Rakshasa produces combat-skill casts, the exact trigger Ashoka’s Bloodthirsty Ashoka waits on; Cao Cao raises Ashoka’s output directly rather than adding a number of its own. What you give up: Cao Cao (S01) is the era weak point -- the enemy will aim at the oldest squad; the trigger chain is thin — the three lean on one link rather than several. Budget note: every hero in this lineup can be completed without spending. How these scores work →

   Mid progression 61.92/100 out of 100 ⇗
3. 176 FMB Cicero · Bleeding Steed · Cao Cao
   Cicero (X01), Bleeding Steed (S03) and Cao Cao (S01) score 56.43 out of 100 together, and each of the three has a job.

   Cicero is the saboteur, stripping the enemy's stats before the blows land: strips 126% of enemy Might, Resistance and damage in total, and takes the front as the one built to survive the opening exchange. Bleeding Steed is the multiplier, raising what the other two put out rather than adding a number of its own: carries 80% of damage amplification across its kit, and sits in the middle, where the support reaches both the front and the back. Cao Cao is the saboteur, stripping the enemy's stats before the blows land: strips 151% of enemy Might, Resistance and damage in total, and stays in the back, out of the enemy's easy reach, and those range-5 skills lose nothing for it. The lineup works because Bleeding Steed’s Stampeding Harras applies Confuse and takes a squad out of the fight for 2 rounds, so Cao Cao swings into a line that cannot answer; Bleeding Steed raises Cao Cao’s output directly rather than adding a number of its own. What you give up: no hero here feeds another one's trigger; Cao Cao (S01) is the era weak point -- the enemy will aim at the oldest squad. Budget note: every hero in this lineup can be completed without spending. How these scores work →

   Mid progression 56.43/100 out of 100 ⇗
4. 191 FMB Soaring Hawk · Bleeding Steed · Cao Cao
   Soaring Hawk (S04), Bleeding Steed (S03) and Cao Cao (S01) score 55.35 out of 100 together, and each of the three has a job.

   Soaring Hawk is the multiplier, raising what the other two put out rather than adding a number of its own: carries 20% of damage amplification across its kit, and takes the front on purpose: this kit feeds on being attacked, and the front is where the attacks are. Bleeding Steed is the second amplifier -- with two heroes raising the output, the carry hits far above its own numbers: carries 80% of damage amplification across its kit, and sits in the middle, where the support reaches both the front and the back. Cao Cao is the saboteur, stripping the enemy's stats before the blows land: strips 151% of enemy Might, Resistance and damage in total, and stays in the back, out of the enemy's easy reach, and those range-5 skills lose nothing for it. The lineup works because Bleeding Steed’s Stampeding Harras applies Confuse and takes a squad out of the fight for 2 rounds, so Cao Cao swings into a line that cannot answer; Bleeding Steed raises Cao Cao’s output directly rather than adding a number of its own. What you give up: no hero here feeds another one's trigger; Cao Cao (S01) is the era weak point -- the enemy will aim at the oldest squad. Budget note: every hero in this lineup can be completed without spending. How these scores work →

   Starter 55.35/100 out of 100 ⇗
5. 197 FMB Desert Storm · Bleeding Steed · Cao Cao
   Desert Storm (S04), Bleeding Steed (S03) and Cao Cao (S01) score 54.31 out of 100 together, and each of the three has a job.

   Desert Storm is the lock: every squad silenced or suppressed is a turn the enemy plan does not happen — strips 18% of enemy Might, Resistance and damage in total, and takes the front as the sturdiest of the three. Bleeding Steed is the multiplier, raising what the other two put out rather than adding a number of its own: carries 80% of damage amplification across its kit, and sits in the middle, where the support reaches both the front and the back. Cao Cao is the saboteur, stripping the enemy's stats before the blows land: strips 151% of enemy Might, Resistance and damage in total, and stays in the back, out of the enemy's easy reach, and those range-5 skills lose nothing for it. The lineup works because Bleeding Steed raises Cao Cao’s output directly rather than adding a number of its own. What you give up: no hero here feeds another one's trigger; Cao Cao (S01) is the era weak point -- the enemy will aim at the oldest squad. Budget note: every hero in this lineup can be completed without spending. This is one of the lineups recommended in-game by the developers -- the score above is what that classic core is still worth against the current roster. How these scores work →

   Starter 54.31/100 out of 100 ⇗
6. 202 FMB Soaring Hawk · Theodora · Cao Cao
   Soaring Hawk (S04), Theodora (S04 · paid) and Cao Cao (S01) score 51.92 out of 100 together, and each of the three has a job.

   Soaring Hawk is the multiplier, raising what the other two put out rather than adding a number of its own: carries 20% of damage amplification across its kit, and takes the front on purpose: this kit feeds on being attacked, and the front is where the attacks are. Theodora is the second amplifier -- with two heroes raising the output, the carry hits far above its own numbers: carries 50% of damage amplification across its kit, and sits in the middle, where the support reaches both the front and the back. Cao Cao is the saboteur, stripping the enemy's stats before the blows land: strips 151% of enemy Might, Resistance and damage in total, and stays in the back, out of the enemy's easy reach, and those range-5 skills lose nothing for it. The lineup works because Theodora’s Art of Eternity applies Suppress and takes a squad out of the fight for 2 rounds, so Cao Cao swings into a line that cannot answer; Theodora raises Cao Cao’s output directly rather than adding a number of its own. What you give up: no hero here feeds another one's trigger; Cao Cao (S01) is the era weak point -- the enemy will aim at the oldest squad. How these scores work →

   Starter 51.92/100 out of 100 ⇗
7. 207 FMB Genghis Khan · Jiguang Qi · Cao Cao
   Genghis Khan (S01), Jiguang Qi (S01) and Cao Cao (S01) score 50.92 out of 100 together, and each of the three has a job.

   Genghis Khan is the win condition, bringing 42% of the lineup's expected damage: Hunting Wolf puts 213% into all enemy squads on a 50% roll, and takes the front as the sturdiest of the three. Jiguang Qi is the multiplier, raising what the other two put out rather than adding a number of its own: carries 20% of damage amplification across its kit, and sits in the middle, where the support reaches both the front and the back. Cao Cao is the saboteur, stripping the enemy's stats before the blows land: strips 151% of enemy Might, Resistance and damage in total, and stays in the back, out of the enemy's easy reach, and those range-5 skills lose nothing for it. The lineup works because Jiguang Qi produces combat-skill casts, the exact trigger Genghis Khan’s Fortune's Favor waits on; Genghis Khan produces combat-skill casts, the exact trigger Jiguang Qi’s Unyelding waits on; Cao Cao raises Genghis Khan’s output directly rather than adding a number of its own. What you give up: Genghis Khan (S01) is the era weak point -- the enemy will aim at the oldest squad; raw damage reaches only about 15% of the hardest-hitting trio in the roster. Budget note: every hero in this lineup can be completed without spending. This is one of the lineups recommended in-game by the developers -- the score above is what that classic core is still worth against the current roster. How these scores work →

   Starter 50.92/100 out of 100 ⇗
8. 216 FMB Peace Bringer · Queen Anne · Cao Cao
   Peace Bringer (S02), Queen Anne (S00) and Cao Cao (S01) score 47.71 out of 100 together, and each of the three has a job.

   Peace Bringer is the shield: the damage reduction and staying power buy the rounds the plan needs — carries 74% of damage reduction across its kit, and takes the front on purpose: this kit feeds on being attacked, and the front is where the attacks are. Queen Anne is the lock: every squad silenced or suppressed is a turn the enemy plan does not happen — Slaughter applies Suppress on a 30% roll, and sits in the middle, where the support reaches both the front and the back. Cao Cao is the saboteur, stripping the enemy's stats before the blows land: strips 151% of enemy Might, Resistance and damage in total, and stays in the back, out of the enemy's easy reach, and those range-5 skills lose nothing for it. The lineup works because Queen Anne’s Slaughter applies Suppress and takes a squad out of the fight, so Cao Cao swings into a line that cannot answer. What you give up: no hero here feeds another one's trigger; Queen Anne (S00) is the era weak point -- the enemy will aim at the oldest squad. Budget note: every hero in this lineup can be completed without spending. How these scores work →

   Starter 47.71/100 out of 100 ⇗
9. 218 FMB Peace Bringer · Jade Rakshasa · Cao Cao
   Peace Bringer (S02), Jade Rakshasa (S02) and Cao Cao (S01) score 45.21 out of 100 together, and each of the three has a job.

   Peace Bringer is the shield: the damage reduction and staying power buy the rounds the plan needs — carries 74% of damage reduction across its kit, and takes the front on purpose: this kit feeds on being attacked, and the front is where the attacks are. Jade Rakshasa brings a second damage line worth 40% of the expected output, so no single silence stops the plan: Jade Lotus puts 162% x6 into one enemy squad on a 40% roll, and sits in the middle, where the support reaches both the front and the back. Cao Cao is the saboteur, stripping the enemy's stats before the blows land: strips 151% of enemy Might, Resistance and damage in total, and stays in the back, out of the enemy's easy reach, and those range-5 skills lose nothing for it. Be clear about what this is: the three cover each other rather than trigger each other, so it earns its place on coverage, not on a chain. What you give up: no hero here feeds another one's trigger; Cao Cao (S01) is the era weak point -- the enemy will aim at the oldest squad. Budget note: every hero in this lineup can be completed without spending. This is one of the lineups recommended in-game by the developers -- the score above is what that classic core is still worth against the current roster. How these scores work →

   Starter 45.21/100 out of 100 ⇗

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