diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-combat/src/lib.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-combat/src/lib.rs
index bff35acd..301ff731 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-combat/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-combat/src/lib.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ pub mod bonuses;
 pub mod keywords;
 pub mod loot;
 pub mod promotions;
+pub mod requirements;
 pub mod resolver;
 pub mod siege;
 pub mod wilds;
@@ -20,6 +21,9 @@ pub use resolver::{
     CombatOutcome, CombatParams, CombatResolver, CombatResult, CombatType, UnitAttributes,
     UnitStats,
 };
+pub use requirements::{
+    check_strategic_reqs, credit_resources, debit_resources, MissingResource,
+};
 pub use siege::{melee_wall_penalty, siege_city_bonus, split_ranged_damage_vs_city};
 pub use wilds::wild_combat_stats;
 
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-combat/src/requirements.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-combat/src/requirements.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e6296c8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-combat/src/requirements.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+use std::collections::BTreeMap;
+
+/// A required strategic resource was not available in the empire ledger.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct MissingResource(pub String);
+
+impl std::fmt::Display for MissingResource {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "missing strategic resource: {}", self.0)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Returns `Ok(())` if every required resource has at least one unit in the
+/// ledger, otherwise `Err(MissingResource)` for the first missing entry.
+///
+/// `unit_reqs` is the `requires_resource` list from unit JSON (may be empty).
+/// `ledger` maps resource ID → stockpile count (decremented on build,
+/// credited on unit death — see `debit_resource` / `credit_resource`).
+pub fn check_strategic_reqs(
+    unit_reqs: &[String],
+    ledger: &BTreeMap<String, u32>,
+) -> Result<(), MissingResource> {
+    for req in unit_reqs {
+        let count = ledger.get(req.as_str()).copied().unwrap_or(0);
+        if count == 0 {
+            return Err(MissingResource(req.clone()));
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Deduct one unit of each required resource from the ledger on successful
+/// build. Saturates at zero (cannot go negative).
+pub fn debit_resources(unit_reqs: &[String], ledger: &mut BTreeMap<String, u32>) {
+    for req in unit_reqs {
+        let entry = ledger.entry(req.clone()).or_insert(0);
+        *entry = entry.saturating_sub(1);
+    }
+}
+
+/// Return one unit of each required resource to the ledger when the unit dies.
+pub fn credit_resources(unit_reqs: &[String], ledger: &mut BTreeMap<String, u32>) {
+    for req in unit_reqs {
+        *ledger.entry(req.clone()).or_insert(0) += 1;
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn ledger(pairs: &[(&str, u32)]) -> BTreeMap<String, u32> {
+        pairs.iter().map(|(k, v)| (k.to_string(), *v)).collect()
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn no_reqs_always_passes() {
+        assert!(check_strategic_reqs(&[], &BTreeMap::new()).is_ok());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn missing_resource_returns_err() {
+        let reqs = vec!["iron_ore".to_string()];
+        let result = check_strategic_reqs(&reqs, &BTreeMap::new());
+        assert_eq!(result, Err(MissingResource("iron_ore".to_string())));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn present_resource_returns_ok() {
+        let reqs = vec!["iron_ore".to_string()];
+        let ld = ledger(&[("iron_ore", 2)]);
+        assert!(check_strategic_reqs(&reqs, &ld).is_ok());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn debit_decrements_ledger() {
+        let reqs = vec!["iron_ore".to_string()];
+        let mut ld = ledger(&[("iron_ore", 3)]);
+        debit_resources(&reqs, &mut ld);
+        assert_eq!(ld["iron_ore"], 2);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn debit_saturates_at_zero() {
+        let reqs = vec!["iron_ore".to_string()];
+        let mut ld = ledger(&[("iron_ore", 0)]);
+        debit_resources(&reqs, &mut ld);
+        assert_eq!(ld["iron_ore"], 0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn golden_build_then_kill_restores_iron() {
+        let reqs = vec!["iron_ore".to_string()];
+        let mut ld = ledger(&[("iron_ore", 1)]);
+
+        // Build cavalry: check then debit
+        assert!(check_strategic_reqs(&reqs, &ld).is_ok());
+        debit_resources(&reqs, &mut ld);
+        assert_eq!(ld["iron_ore"], 0);
+
+        // Unit is now alive, ledger at 0 — another build blocked
+        assert!(check_strategic_reqs(&reqs, &ld).is_err());
+
+        // Unit dies: credit returns the resource
+        credit_resources(&reqs, &mut ld);
+        assert_eq!(ld["iron_ore"], 1);
+
+        // Can build again
+        assert!(check_strategic_reqs(&reqs, &ld).is_ok());
+    }
+}