diff --git a/config/sets/phpunit-code-quality.php b/config/sets/phpunit-code-quality.php
index b1c9f15b..7331c97c 100644
--- a/config/sets/phpunit-code-quality.php
+++ b/config/sets/phpunit-code-quality.php
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 use Rector\PHPUnit\CodeQuality\Rector\Foreach_\SimplifyForeachInstanceOfRector;
 use Rector\PHPUnit\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCompareOnCountableWithMethodToAssertCountRector;
 use Rector\PHPUnit\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertComparisonToSpecificMethodRector;
-use Rector\PHPUnit\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector;
 use Rector\PHPUnit\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertEmptyNullableObjectToAssertInstanceofRector;
 use Rector\PHPUnit\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertEqualsOrAssertSameFloatParameterToSpecificMethodsTypeRector;
 use Rector\PHPUnit\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertEqualsToSameRector;
@@ -74,7 +73,6 @@
         UseSpecificWillMethodRector::class,
         UseSpecificWithMethodRector::class,
         AssertEmptyNullableObjectToAssertInstanceofRector::class,
-        AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector::class,
 
         // avoid call on nullable object
         AddInstanceofAssertForNullableInstanceRector::class,
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRectorTest.php b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRectorTest.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 9d7bb53c..00000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRectorTest.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector;
-
-use Iterator;
-use PHPUnit\Framework\Attributes\DataProvider;
-use Rector\Testing\PHPUnit\AbstractRectorTestCase;
-
-final class AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRectorTest extends AbstractRectorTestCase
-{
-    #[DataProvider('provideData')]
-    public function test(string $filePath): void
-    {
-        $this->doTestFile($filePath);
-    }
-
-    public static function provideData(): Iterator
-    {
-        return self::yieldFilesFromDirectory(__DIR__ . '/Fixture');
-    }
-
-    public function provideConfigFilePath(): string
-    {
-        return __DIR__ . '/config/configured_rule.php';
-    }
-}
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/count_to_empty.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/count_to_empty.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index 1885955f..00000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/count_to_empty.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector\Fixture;
-
-use Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector\Source\Collection;
-
-final class CountToEmpty extends \PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase
-{
-    public function test()
-    {
-        $collection = new Collection();
-        $this->assertCount(0, $collection);
-        $this->assertCount(0, $collection, 'message here!');
-        $this->assertNotCount(0, $collection);
-        $this->assertNotCount(0, $collection, 'message here!');
-    }
-}
-
-?>
------
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector\Fixture;
-
-use Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector\Source\Collection;
-
-final class CountToEmpty extends \PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase
-{
-    public function test()
-    {
-        $collection = new Collection();
-        $this->assertEmpty($collection);
-        $this->assertEmpty($collection, 'message here!');
-        $this->assertNotEmpty($collection);
-        $this->assertNotEmpty($collection, 'message here!');
-    }
-}
-
-?>
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/skip_on_first_class_callable.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/skip_on_first_class_callable.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index ffc45b0e..00000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/skip_on_first_class_callable.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector\Fixture;
-
-use Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector\Source\Collection;
-
-final class SkipOnFirstClassCallable extends \PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase
-{
-    public function test()
-    {
-        $collection = new Collection();
-        $this->assertCount(...);
-    }
-}
-
-?>
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/skip_on_non_test_class.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/skip_on_non_test_class.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index 4181e428..00000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/skip_on_non_test_class.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector\Fixture;
-
-use Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector\Source\Collection;
-
-final class SkipOnNonTestClass
-{
-    public function test()
-    {
-        $collection = new Collection();
-        $this->assertCount(0, $collection);
-    }
-}
-
-?>
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/skip_on_non_zero_argument.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/skip_on_non_zero_argument.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index bb9e643e..00000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/skip_on_non_zero_argument.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector\Fixture;
-
-use Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector\Source\Collection;
-
-final class SkipOnNonZeroArgument extends \PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase
-{
-    public function test()
-    {
-        $collection = new Collection();
-        $this->assertCount(5, $collection);
-    }
-}
-
-?>
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/skip_union_type.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/skip_union_type.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index f174f98c..00000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Fixture/skip_union_type.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector\Fixture;
-
-final class SkipUnionType extends \PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase
-{
-    public function test($something)
-    {
-        foreach ([true, false] as $value) {
-            $count = (int) $value;
-            $this->assertCount($count, $something);
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Source/Collection.php b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Source/Collection.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 498aef34..00000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/Source/Collection.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector\Source;
-
-class Collection implements \Countable
-{
-    public function count(): int
-    {
-        return 0;
-    }
-}
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/config/configured_rule.php b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/config/configured_rule.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 9ae06271..00000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector/config/configured_rule.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-use Rector\Config\RectorConfig;
-use Rector\PHPUnit\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector;
-
-return static function (RectorConfig $rectorConfig): void {
-    $rectorConfig->rule(AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector::class);
-};
diff --git a/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector.php b/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector.php
index d45491b4..cc4c353f 100644
--- a/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector.php
+++ b/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector.php
@@ -7,23 +7,16 @@
 use PhpParser\Node;
 use PhpParser\Node\Expr\MethodCall;
 use PhpParser\Node\Expr\StaticCall;
-use PhpParser\Node\Name;
-use PHPStan\Type\UnionType;
-use Rector\PHPUnit\NodeAnalyzer\TestsNodeAnalyzer;
+use Rector\Configuration\Deprecation\Contract\DeprecatedInterface;
 use Rector\Rector\AbstractRector;
 use Symplify\RuleDocGenerator\ValueObject\CodeSample\CodeSample;
 use Symplify\RuleDocGenerator\ValueObject\RuleDefinition;
 
 /**
- * @see \Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRectorTest
+ * @deprecated This rule is deprecated and will be removed in future releases. The use of empty() is discouraged as it introduces ambiguity. PHPStan and Rector promote refactoring away from empty() to more explicit readable structures.
  */
-final class AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector extends AbstractRector
+final class AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector extends AbstractRector implements DeprecatedInterface
 {
-    public function __construct(
-        private readonly TestsNodeAnalyzer $testsNodeAnalyzer
-    ) {
-    }
-
     public function getRuleDefinition(): RuleDefinition
     {
         return new RuleDefinition(
@@ -57,43 +50,7 @@ public function getNodeTypes(): array
      */
     public function refactor(Node $node): MethodCall|StaticCall|null
     {
-        if (! $this->testsNodeAnalyzer->isPHPUnitMethodCallNames($node, ['assertCount', 'assertNotCount'])) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        if ($node->isFirstClassCallable()) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        if (count($node->getArgs()) < 2) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        $type = $this->getType($node->getArgs()[0]->value);
-
-        if ($type instanceof UnionType) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        $secondType = $this->getType($node->getArgs()[1]->value);
-        if ($secondType instanceof UnionType) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        $value = ($type->getConstantScalarValues()[0] ?? null);
-        if ($value === 0) {
-            $args = $node->getArgs();
-            if ($this->isName($node->name, 'assertNotCount')) {
-                $node->name = new Name('assertNotEmpty');
-            } else {
-                $node->name = new Name('assertEmpty');
-            }
-
-            array_shift($args);
-            $node->args = $args;
-            return $node;
-        }
-
+        // deprecated
         return null;
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Issues/EmptyUnion/EmptyUnionTest.php b/tests/Issues/EmptyUnion/EmptyUnionTest.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 172f2461..00000000
--- a/tests/Issues/EmptyUnion/EmptyUnionTest.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\Issues\EmptyUnion;
-
-use Iterator;
-use PHPUnit\Framework\Attributes\DataProvider;
-use Rector\Testing\PHPUnit\AbstractRectorTestCase;
-
-final class EmptyUnionTest extends AbstractRectorTestCase
-{
-    #[DataProvider('provideData')]
-    public function test(string $filePath): void
-    {
-        $this->doTestFile($filePath);
-    }
-
-    public static function provideData(): Iterator
-    {
-        return self::yieldFilesFromDirectory(__DIR__ . '/Fixture');
-    }
-
-    public function provideConfigFilePath(): string
-    {
-        return __DIR__ . '/config/configured_rule.php';
-    }
-}
diff --git a/tests/Issues/EmptyUnion/Fixture/some_test.php.inc b/tests/Issues/EmptyUnion/Fixture/some_test.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index 0ed8cb7c..00000000
--- a/tests/Issues/EmptyUnion/Fixture/some_test.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\Issues\EmptyUnion\Fixture;
-
-use ArrayIterator;
-use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;
-
-final class SomeTest extends TestCase
-{
-    public function testSomething()
-    {
-        $this->assertCount(0, $this->someCall());
-    }
-
-    public function someCall(): ?ArrayIterator
-    {
-        return new ArrayIterator([]);
-    }
-}
diff --git a/tests/Issues/EmptyUnion/config/configured_rule.php b/tests/Issues/EmptyUnion/config/configured_rule.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 50002ef0..00000000
--- a/tests/Issues/EmptyUnion/config/configured_rule.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-use Rector\Config\RectorConfig;
-use Rector\PHPUnit\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector;
-use Rector\PHPUnit\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\AssertEmptyNullableObjectToAssertInstanceofRector;
-
-return static function (RectorConfig $rectorConfig): void {
-    $rectorConfig->rules([
-        AssertCountWithZeroToAssertEmptyRector::class,
-        AssertEmptyNullableObjectToAssertInstanceofRector::class,
-    ]);
-};