diff --git a/src/game/engine/src/modules/management/item_system.gd b/src/game/engine/src/modules/management/item_system.gd
index 7b2bbaaf..319214ff 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/src/modules/management/item_system.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/modules/management/item_system.gd
@@ -17,9 +17,15 @@ static var _test_items_json: String = ""
 
 
 static func _get_data_loader() -> Node:
-	if Engine.has_singleton("DataLoader"):
-		return Engine.get_singleton("DataLoader")
-	return null
+	# DataLoader is a script autoload (not an engine singleton), so it's
+	# registered as a node at /root/DataLoader and NOT via Engine.get_singleton.
+	var tree: SceneTree = Engine.get_main_loop() as SceneTree
+	if tree == null:
+		return null
+	var root: Node = tree.root
+	if root == null:
+		return null
+	return root.get_node_or_null("DataLoader")
 
 
 static func _gd_items() -> RefCounted:
@@ -135,20 +141,25 @@ static func roll_fauna_drops(
 	if killer_player == null:
 		return
 	var fauna: Dictionary = _lookup_fauna(victim_species_id)
+	print("  [ItemSystem] roll_fauna_drops species=%s fauna_empty=%s" % [victim_species_id, fauna.is_empty()])
 	if fauna.is_empty():
 		return
 	var loot_table: Array = fauna.get("loot_table", [])
 	var seed: int = _mix(turn_seed, killer_id, victim_id)
 	var all_drops: Array = []
+	print("  [ItemSystem] loot_table size=%d seed=%d" % [loot_table.size(), seed])
 	if loot_table.size() > 0:
 		var roller: RefCounted = ClassDB.instantiate("GdLootRoller") as RefCounted
 		if roller != null:
 			var table_json: String = JSON.stringify(loot_table)
+			print("  [ItemSystem] table_json=%s" % table_json)
 			var drops: Array = roller.call("roll_loot_table", table_json, seed)
+			print("  [ItemSystem] rolled drops count=%d" % drops.size())
 			for drop: Dictionary in drops:
 				_apply_stockpile_drop(killer_player, drop)
 				all_drops.append(drop)
 		else:
+			print("  [ItemSystem] GdLootRoller unavailable, using fallback")
 			all_drops.append_array(_fallback_roll(loot_table, seed))
 			for drop: Dictionary in all_drops:
 				_apply_stockpile_drop(killer_player, drop)
@@ -161,6 +172,7 @@ static func roll_fauna_drops(
 			for item_id: String in relics:
 				_apply_apex_relic(killer_player, item_id)
 				all_drops.append({"item": item_id, "amount": 1})
+	print("  [ItemSystem] total all_drops=%d" % all_drops.size())
 	if all_drops.size() > 0:
 		EventBus.loot_dropped.emit(killer_player, victim_species_id, all_drops)