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 d29915dd..c5015b43 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/src/modules/ai/simple_heuristic_ai.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/modules/ai/simple_heuristic_ai.gd
@@ -291,7 +291,12 @@ static func _rush_buy_defenders(player: RefCounted, threat: Dictionary) -> void:
 		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
+	# Cap: 3 per city baseline, but never below enemy count + 1 so rush-buy
+	# can still close a parity gap when we're out-produced (p0 was reaching
+	# mil=8 vs our cap=3 and seizing undefended capitals mid-T80s).
+	var cap: int = maxi(
+		player.cities.size() * 3, int(threat.get("total_count", 0)) + 1
+	)
 	while player.gold >= 50 and mil < target and mil < cap:
 		var nu: RefCounted = UnitScript.new(
 			"warrior", player.index, spawn_city.position