diff --git a/src/game/engine/src/modules/ai/simple_heuristic_ai.gd b/src/game/engine/src/modules/ai/simple_heuristic_ai.gd
index c0f268e0..db07ab29 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/src/modules/ai/simple_heuristic_ai.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/modules/ai/simple_heuristic_ai.gd
@@ -47,7 +47,17 @@ static func process_player(player: RefCounted) -> Array:
 	)
 
 	var threat: Dictionary = _enemy_military_threat(player)
-	if bool(threat.get("threatens_city", false)):
+	var mil_now: int = 0
+	for u: Variant in player.units:
+		if u == null or not u.is_alive() or u.get("can_found_city") == true:
+			continue
+		if int(u.get("attack")) > 0 or int(u.get("ranged_attack")) > 0:
+			mil_now += 1
+	# Fire rush-buy on imminent threat OR when enemy's total army exceeds
+	# ours (amassing at range is still a threat — converts idle gold to
+	# units on turns when production can't keep pace).
+	if bool(threat.get("threatens_city", false)) \
+			or int(threat.get("total_count", 0)) > mil_now:
 		_rush_buy_defenders(player, threat)
 
 	# Units: founders first (expansion), then military.
@@ -220,18 +230,24 @@ static func _enemy_military_threat(player: RefCounted) -> Dictionary:
 
 
 static func _rush_buy_defenders(player: RefCounted, threat: Dictionary) -> void:
-	## Spawn warriors at threat.spawn_city while gold >= 50 and under
-	## max(2, threat+1) defenders (hard cap 3x cities). Direct-spawn pattern
-	## from auto_play.gd so the bridge needs no new action type.
+	## Spawn warriors at threat.spawn_city while gold >= 50 and under cap
+	## (hard cap 3x cities). Cap: imminent = max(2, threat.count+1);
+	## range-only trigger = max(2, total_count) so we keep pace with army.
+	if player.cities.is_empty(): return
 	var spawn_city: RefCounted = threat.get("spawn_city")
-	if spawn_city == null: return
+	if spawn_city == null:
+		spawn_city = player.cities[0]
 	var mil: int = 0
 	for u: Variant in player.units:
 		if u == null or not u.is_alive() or u.get("can_found_city") == true:
 			continue
 		if int(u.get("attack")) > 0 or int(u.get("ranged_attack")) > 0:
 			mil += 1
-	var target: int = maxi(2, int(threat.get("count", 0)) + 1)
+	var imminent: bool = bool(threat.get("threatens_city", false))
+	var target: int = (
+		maxi(2, int(threat.get("count", 0)) + 1) if imminent
+		else maxi(2, int(threat.get("total_count", 0)))
+	)
 	var cap: int = player.cities.size() * 3
 	while player.gold >= 50 and mil < target and mil < cap:
 		var nu: RefCounted = UnitScript.new(