diff --git a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
index ccf56754..8585b009 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
@@ -495,13 +495,26 @@ func _find_attack_target(player: RefCounted) -> Vector2i:
 	var best_pos: Vector2i = Vector2i(-1, -1)
 	var best_dist: int = 999
 
-	# Target nearest enemy city (skip pathfinding — just use hex distance)
+	# Target nearest enemy city — try pathfinding first, fall back to hex distance
 	for p: Variant in GameState.players:
 		if p.index == player.index:
 			continue
 		for c: Variant in p.cities:
 			var dist: int = HexUtilsScript.hex_distance(my_pos, c.position)
 			if dist < best_dist:
+				# Verify reachable by land (short budget to avoid wraparound issues)
+				if game_map != null:
+					var reachable: Dictionary = PathfinderScript.movement_range(
+						game_map, my_pos, dist + 5, "land"
+					)
+					# Check if any reachable hex is within 2 of the target
+					var can_reach: bool = false
+					for rpos: Vector2i in reachable:
+						if HexUtilsScript.hex_distance(rpos, c.position) <= 2:
+							can_reach = true
+							break
+					if not can_reach:
+						continue
 				best_dist = dist
 				best_pos = c.position