Honestly zhao yun hasnt really been nerfed that much over the years, he's just not as overpowered as he used to feel. Back in the early games, especially around 2 and 3, he was pretty much unstoppable with those crazy musou attacks of his, and that famous changban scene really showed what he could do.

The thing is, the newer games just got better at making all the characters feel unique and interesting. Like, you've got lu bu with those rage buffs now and zhou tai doing his quick sword stuff, but zhao yun can still hold his own pretty well. His spear moves are still great for clearing crowds, and i love how you can chain those air combos together.

What's cool is that he's actually still super important in the latest stuff - like in origins, they've given him these special bond scenes and training missions which is pretty neat. I think people just feel like he's been nerfed because everyone else got buffed up to his level, you know? He's still the poster boy for the series, and theres a good reason for that - he's just really solid and fun to play, especially if youre just getting started or want someone reliable.

Just remember that while the combat system has changed a bit over time, especially with those reactive attacks in the newer games, zhao yun is still definitely worth picking up. He might not completely dominate everything like he used to, but that's probably for the best honestly.