diff --git a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
index ac0a2b15..755af1af 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
@@ -408,7 +408,10 @@ func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
 			# Wait a few frames for map to fully initialize, then fix start positions
 			if _frame == 5:
 				_fix_start_positions_if_needed()
-				_teleport_scout_near_lair()
+				# Test-only scaffold — forces scout near a low-tier lair to exercise
+				# loot-drop path in a 100-turn smoke. Biases normal batches; keep gated.
+				if EnvConfig.get_bool("AUTO_PLAY_TEST_LOOT_SCAFFOLD"):
+					_teleport_scout_near_lair()
 				_state = "player_turn"
 				_frame = 0
 
@@ -1487,10 +1490,6 @@ func _try_attack_adjacent_lair(unit: Variant, game_map: RefCounted) -> void:
 			EventBus.lair_cleared.emit(norm, reward)
 			if player != null:
 				var turn_seed: int = GameState.game_rng.seed ^ GameState.turn_number
-				var fauna_check: Dictionary = DataLoader.get_fauna_species(lair_type_id)
-				print("  LAIR LOOT: species=%s has_table=%s" % [
-					lair_type_id, not fauna_check.is_empty()
-				])
 				ItemSystemScript.roll_fauna_drops(
 					lair_type_id,
 					player,