diff --git a/mcp_wave_b_c_d_home.png b/mcp_wave_b_c_d_home.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..19f3fcb4
Binary files /dev/null and b/mcp_wave_b_c_d_home.png differ
diff --git a/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/src/App.tsx b/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/src/App.tsx
index beff1b1f..6b8a6e39 100644
--- a/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/src/App.tsx
+++ b/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/src/App.tsx
@@ -45,6 +45,18 @@ const DEV_GUIDE_ALL_EPISODES = 999
 const ACTIVE_EPISODE: number =
   import.meta.env.VITE_DEV_GUIDE === '1' ? DEV_GUIDE_ALL_EPISODES : 1
 
+// Races playable in the current episode. Every race JSON carries an
+// `episode: number` field = the episode where that race first becomes a
+// valid leader choice (cumulative). Game 1 = Dwarves only; Game 3 =
+// Dwarves + Kzzkyt + four Elf races; etc. Dev bundle
+// (`VITE_DEV_GUIDE=1` → episode=999) unlocks every race whose episode
+// field is set. Races without an `episode` field (stubs, wrapper JSONs
+// like strategic_axes) are excluded.
+const playableRaces = allRaces.filter(
+  (r): r is typeof r & { episode: number } =>
+    typeof r.episode === 'number' && r.episode <= ACTIVE_EPISODE,
+)
+
 export default function App(): ReactElement {
   const { preferences, isFirstVisit, save } = usePlayerPreferences()
   const [searchParams] = useSearchParams()
@@ -183,7 +195,7 @@ export default function App(): ReactElement {
     return (
       <EpisodeProvider episode={ACTIVE_EPISODE}>
         <GuideDataProvider data={guideData}>
-          <PreferencesProvider preferences={activePrefs} races={allRaces}>
+          <PreferencesProvider preferences={activePrefs} races={playableRaces}>
             <RaceThemeProvider
               colorMode={activePrefs.colorMode}
               dyslexicFont={activePrefs.dyslexicFont}
@@ -201,7 +213,7 @@ export default function App(): ReactElement {
   return (
     <EpisodeProvider episode={ACTIVE_EPISODE}>
       <GuideDataProvider data={guideData}>
-        <PreferencesProvider preferences={activePrefs} races={allRaces}>
+        <PreferencesProvider preferences={activePrefs} races={playableRaces}>
           <AppShell save={save} showWelcome={showWelcome} setShowWelcome={setShowWelcome} preferences={activePrefs}>
             {routes}
           </AppShell>
diff --git a/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/src/components/welcome/WelcomeModal.tsx b/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/src/components/welcome/WelcomeModal.tsx
index e75c261f..44bfd9c5 100644
--- a/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/src/components/welcome/WelcomeModal.tsx
+++ b/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/src/components/welcome/WelcomeModal.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import { useState, useEffect, useRef, type ReactElement } from 'react'
+import { useState, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, type ReactElement } from 'react'
+import { useEpisode } from '@magic-civ/guide-engine'
 import type { PlayerPreferences, ColorMode, FontSize } from '@/hooks/usePlayerPreferences'
 import { allRaces } from '@/data'
 import { resolveRace, resolveGender, type ConcreteRace, type ConcreteGender } from '@/contexts/PreferencesContext'
@@ -23,13 +24,21 @@ const RULER_NAMES: Record<string, string[]> = {}
 interface RaceOption {
   id: ConcreteRace
   label: string
+  episode: number
 }
 
-const RACE_OPTIONS: RaceOption[] = allRaces
-  .filter((r) => r.id in RACE_ICONS)
+/** Every race whose JSON carries an `episode: number` field + a sidebar icon
+ *  in `RACE_ICONS`. The active-episode filter (inside the component) trims
+ *  the list down to races playable in the current game — Game 1 = Dwarves
+ *  only, Game 2 adds Kzzkyt, Game 3 unlocks the four Elf races, etc. */
+const ALL_ELIGIBLE_RACES: RaceOption[] = allRaces
+  .filter((r): r is typeof r & { episode: number } =>
+    typeof r.episode === 'number' && r.id in RACE_ICONS,
+  )
   .map((r): RaceOption => ({
     id: r.id as ConcreteRace,
     label: r.name,
+    episode: r.episode,
   }))
 
 const GENDER_OPTIONS: ReadonlyArray<{ id: ConcreteGender; label: string }> = [
@@ -64,6 +73,16 @@ export function WelcomeModal({ onConfirm, onClose, onPreview, initialPreferences
   const initRaceRandom = !initialPreferences || initialPreferences.race === 'random'
   const initGenderRandom = !initialPreferences || initialPreferences.gender === 'random'
 
+  // Race grid filtered by the active episode — every race's `episode` field
+  // declares the game where it first becomes a valid leader choice
+  // (cumulative). Game 1 = Dwarves only; Game 3 would offer Dwarves +
+  // Kzzkyt + four Elf races; `VITE_DEV_GUIDE=1` unlocks the full roster.
+  const activeEpisode = useEpisode()
+  const raceOptions = useMemo<RaceOption[]>(
+    () => ALL_ELIGIBLE_RACES.filter((r) => r.episode <= activeEpisode),
+    [activeEpisode],
+  )
+
   const [raceIsRandom, setRaceIsRandom] = useState(initRaceRandom)
   const [genderIsRandom, setGenderIsRandom] = useState(initGenderRandom)
 
@@ -146,8 +165,8 @@ export function WelcomeModal({ onConfirm, onClose, onPreview, initialPreferences
               Shuffle
             </ShuffleButton>
           </SectionRow>
-          <OptionGrid $cols={RACE_OPTIONS.length}>
-            {RACE_OPTIONS.map((opt) => {
+          <OptionGrid $cols={raceOptions.length}>
+            {raceOptions.map((opt) => {
               const RaceIcon = RACE_ICONS[opt.id][visibleGender]
               return (
                 <OptionButton