diff --git a/src/game/engine/src/generation/unit_renderer.gd b/src/game/engine/src/generation/unit_renderer.gd
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/src/game/engine/src/generation/unit_renderer.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,350 @@
+class_name UnitRenderer
+extends Node2D
+## Renders unit sprites on the hex map and handles selection/movement overlays.
+## Draws colored circles as scaffolding until the sprite pipeline generates real art.
+
+const HexUtilsScript = preload("res://engine/src/map/hex_utils.gd")
+const UnitScript = preload("res://engine/src/entities/unit.gd")
+const PlayerScript = preload("res://engine/src/entities/player.gd")
+
+## Unit circle radius (visual size on hex)
+const UNIT_RADIUS: float = 28.0
+## Selection ring radius and width
+const SELECTION_RADIUS: float = 36.0
+const SELECTION_WIDTH: float = 3.0
+const SELECTION_COLOR: Color = Color(1.0, 1.0, 0.0, 0.9)
+
+## Movement range overlay color
+const MOVE_RANGE_COLOR: Color = Color(0.2, 0.4, 0.9, 0.25)
+const MOVE_RANGE_BORDER_COLOR: Color = Color(0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 0.5)
+
+## HP bar dimensions and position (below unit sprite)
+const HP_BAR_WIDTH: float = 36.0
+const HP_BAR_HEIGHT: float = 4.0
+const HP_BAR_OFFSET_Y: float = 20.0
+const HP_BAR_BG_COLOR: Color = Color(0.15, 0.15, 0.15, 0.8)
+
+## Combat type to marker label mapping for placeholder rendering.
+const COMBAT_TYPE_LABELS: Dictionary = {
+	"founder": "F",
+	"worker": "W",
+	"ranged": "R",
+	"siege": "S",
+	"flying": "^",
+	"melee": "M",
+	"cavalry": "C",
+	"naval": "N",
+	"civilian": "V",
+}
+
+## Unit display data: unit_id -> { "position": Vector2i, "color": Color, "label": String }
+var _units: Dictionary = {}
+
+## Currently selected unit ID ("" = none)
+var _selected_id: String = ""
+
+## Movement range positions: Vector2i -> cost (empty = no overlay shown)
+var _movement_range: Dictionary = {}
+
+## Animation pixel overrides: unit_id -> Vector2 (mid-tween position)
+var _anim_pixels: Dictionary = {}
+
+## Unit sprite cache: type_id -> Texture2D (null if not available)
+var _unit_sprite_cache: Dictionary = {}
+
+## Pre-computed hex polygon for movement range overlay
+var _hex_poly: PackedVector2Array = HexUtilsScript.hex_polygon
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	EventBus.unit_moved.connect(_on_unit_moved)
+	EventBus.unit_created.connect(_on_unit_created)
+	EventBus.unit_destroyed.connect(_on_unit_destroyed)
+	EventBus.unit_healed.connect(_on_unit_hp_changed)
+	EventBus.combat_resolved.connect(_on_combat_resolved)
+
+
+func sync_units(units: Array) -> void:
+	## Rebuild the full unit display from an array of Unit objects.
+	_units.clear()
+	_anim_pixels.clear()
+	for raw_unit: RefCounted in units:
+		var unit: UnitScript = raw_unit as UnitScript
+		if unit == null:
+			continue
+		var uid: String = _resolve_unit_id(unit)
+		if uid == "":
+			continue
+		var tid: String = _resolve_type_id(unit)
+		_units[uid] = {
+			"position": unit.position,
+			"color": _get_unit_color(unit),
+			"label": _get_unit_label(unit),
+			"type_id": tid,
+			"hp": unit.hp,
+			"max_hp": unit.max_hp,
+		}
+		_cache_unit_sprite(tid)
+	queue_redraw()
+
+
+func animate_move(unit_id: String, from: Vector2i, to: Vector2i) -> void:
+	## Animate a unit moving between hexes. Updates position after tween completes.
+	if not _units.has(unit_id):
+		return
+	_units[unit_id]["position"] = to
+
+	var from_pixel: Vector2 = HexUtilsScript.axial_to_pixel(from) + HexUtilsScript.hex_center
+	var to_pixel: Vector2 = HexUtilsScript.axial_to_pixel(to) + HexUtilsScript.hex_center
+
+	_anim_pixels[unit_id] = from_pixel
+	var tween: Tween = create_tween()
+	var uid_capture: String = unit_id
+	tween.tween_method(
+		func(p: Vector2) -> void:
+			_anim_pixels[uid_capture] = p
+			queue_redraw(),
+		from_pixel,
+		to_pixel,
+		0.3,
+	)
+	tween.tween_callback(
+		func() -> void:
+			_anim_pixels.erase(uid_capture)
+			queue_redraw()
+	)
+
+
+func set_selected(unit_id: String, selected: bool) -> void:
+	## Show or hide selection ring on a unit.
+	if selected:
+		_selected_id = unit_id
+	elif _selected_id == unit_id:
+		_selected_id = ""
+	queue_redraw()
+
+
+func show_movement_range(reachable: Dictionary) -> void:
+	## Show movement range overlay. reachable: Vector2i -> cost.
+	_movement_range = reachable
+	queue_redraw()
+
+
+func clear_movement_range() -> void:
+	_movement_range.clear()
+	queue_redraw()
+
+
+func _draw() -> void:
+	# Draw movement range overlay (behind units)
+	_draw_movement_range()
+
+	# Draw units
+	for uid: String in _units:
+		var data: Dictionary = _units[uid]
+		var pixel: Vector2 = Vector2.ZERO
+
+		# Use animation pixel if mid-tween, otherwise compute from position
+		if _anim_pixels.has(uid):
+			pixel = _anim_pixels[uid]
+		else:
+			var pos: Vector2i = data["position"]
+			pixel = HexUtilsScript.axial_to_pixel(pos) + HexUtilsScript.hex_center
+
+		# Try sprite first, fall back to colored circle
+		var type_id: String = data.get("type_id", "")
+		var sprite: Texture2D = _get_unit_sprite(type_id)
+		if sprite != null:
+			var tex_size: Vector2 = sprite.get_size()
+			draw_texture(sprite, pixel - tex_size * 0.5)
+		else:
+			var color: Color = data.get("color", Color.WHITE)
+			draw_circle(pixel, UNIT_RADIUS, color)
+
+			var label_text: String = data.get("label", "?")
+			var font: Font = ThemeDB.fallback_font
+			var font_size: int = 18
+			var text_size: Vector2 = font.get_string_size(
+				label_text, HORIZONTAL_ALIGNMENT_CENTER, -1, font_size
+			)
+			var text_pos: Vector2 = (
+				pixel - text_size * 0.5 + Vector2(0, text_size.y * 0.35)
+			)
+			draw_string(
+				font, text_pos, label_text,
+				HORIZONTAL_ALIGNMENT_LEFT, -1, font_size, Color.WHITE,
+			)
+
+		# Draw HP bar if damaged
+		_draw_hp_bar(pixel, data)
+
+		# Draw selection ring
+		if uid == _selected_id:
+			draw_arc(pixel, SELECTION_RADIUS, 0.0, TAU, 32, SELECTION_COLOR, SELECTION_WIDTH)
+
+
+func _draw_hp_bar(pixel: Vector2, data: Dictionary) -> void:
+	## Draw an HP bar below the unit when damaged. Green/yellow/red by fraction.
+	var max_hp: int = int(data.get("max_hp", 0))
+	var hp: int = int(data.get("hp", 0))
+	if max_hp <= 0 or hp >= max_hp:
+		return
+	var origin: Vector2 = Vector2(pixel.x - HP_BAR_WIDTH * 0.5, pixel.y + HP_BAR_OFFSET_Y)
+	draw_rect(Rect2(origin, Vector2(HP_BAR_WIDTH, HP_BAR_HEIGHT)), HP_BAR_BG_COLOR)
+	var frac: float = clampf(float(hp) / float(max_hp), 0.0, 1.0)
+	var bar_color: Color = Color.GREEN
+	if frac < 0.3:
+		bar_color = Color.RED
+	elif frac < 0.6:
+		bar_color = Color.YELLOW
+	draw_rect(Rect2(origin, Vector2(HP_BAR_WIDTH * frac, HP_BAR_HEIGHT)), bar_color)
+
+
+func _draw_movement_range() -> void:
+	if _movement_range.is_empty():
+		return
+	for pos_key: Vector2i in _movement_range:
+		var pixel: Vector2 = HexUtilsScript.axial_to_pixel(pos_key)
+		# Draw filled hex overlay
+		var points: PackedVector2Array = PackedVector2Array()
+		points.resize(_hex_poly.size())
+		for i: int in _hex_poly.size():
+			points[i] = _hex_poly[i] + pixel
+		draw_colored_polygon(points, MOVE_RANGE_COLOR)
+		# Draw border
+		var border: PackedVector2Array = PackedVector2Array()
+		border.resize(_hex_poly.size() + 1)
+		for i: int in _hex_poly.size():
+			border[i] = _hex_poly[i] + pixel
+		border[_hex_poly.size()] = _hex_poly[0] + pixel
+		draw_polyline(border, MOVE_RANGE_BORDER_COLOR, 2.0)
+
+
+## -- Unit data accessors --
+
+func _get_unit_color(unit: UnitScript) -> Color:
+	## Get the player color for this unit.
+	if unit.owner < 0:
+		return Color(0.6, 0.6, 0.6)
+	var player: RefCounted = GameState.get_player(unit.owner)
+	if player != null:
+		var p: PlayerScript = player as PlayerScript
+		if p != null:
+			return p.color
+	return Color(0.6, 0.6, 0.6)
+
+
+func _get_unit_label(unit: UnitScript) -> String:
+	## Get a marker label based on the unit's combat type.
+	## Falls back to first character of unit_id if combat type is unknown.
+	var data: Dictionary = DataLoader.get_unit(unit.unit_id)
+	var combat_type: String = data.get("combat_type", "")
+	if COMBAT_TYPE_LABELS.has(combat_type):
+		return COMBAT_TYPE_LABELS[combat_type]
+	if unit.unit_id.length() > 0:
+		return unit.unit_id[0].to_upper()
+	return "?"
+
+
+func _resolve_unit_id(unit: UnitScript) -> String:
+	## Return the instance identifier for a unit.
+	## Checks 'id' first (if set by world_map), falls back to 'unit_id'.
+	if "id" in unit and unit.get("id") != "":
+		return str(unit.get("id"))
+	return unit.unit_id
+
+
+func _resolve_type_id(unit: UnitScript) -> String:
+	## Return the type identifier for sprite/label lookup.
+	## Checks 'type_id' first, falls back to 'unit_id'.
+	if "type_id" in unit and unit.get("type_id") != "":
+		return str(unit.get("type_id"))
+	return unit.unit_id
+
+
+func _cache_unit_sprite(type_id: String) -> void:
+	## Pre-cache a unit sprite via ThemeAssets. Caches null on miss.
+	if type_id == "" or _unit_sprite_cache.has(type_id):
+		return
+	var texture: Texture2D = ThemeAssets.load_sprite(
+		"sprites/units/%s.png" % type_id
+	)
+	_unit_sprite_cache[type_id] = texture
+
+
+func _get_unit_sprite(type_id: String) -> Texture2D:
+	## Return cached unit sprite or null if unavailable.
+	if type_id == "":
+		return null
+	if _unit_sprite_cache.has(type_id):
+		return _unit_sprite_cache[type_id]
+	_cache_unit_sprite(type_id)
+	return _unit_sprite_cache.get(type_id)
+
+
+## -- Signal handlers --
+
+func _on_unit_moved(
+	unit: RefCounted, from: Vector2i, to: Vector2i
+) -> void:
+	var u: UnitScript = unit as UnitScript
+	if u == null:
+		return
+	var uid: String = _resolve_unit_id(u)
+	if uid == "" or not _units.has(uid):
+		return
+	animate_move(uid, from, to)
+
+
+func _on_unit_created(unit: RefCounted, _player_index: int) -> void:
+	var u: UnitScript = unit as UnitScript
+	if u == null:
+		return
+	var uid: String = _resolve_unit_id(u)
+	if uid == "":
+		return
+	var tid: String = _resolve_type_id(u)
+	_units[uid] = {
+		"position": u.position,
+		"color": _get_unit_color(u),
+		"label": _get_unit_label(u),
+		"type_id": tid,
+	}
+	_cache_unit_sprite(tid)
+	queue_redraw()
+
+
+func _on_unit_hp_changed(unit: Variant, _amount: int) -> void:
+	_refresh_unit_hp(unit)
+
+
+func _on_combat_resolved(attacker: Variant, defender: Variant, _result: Dictionary) -> void:
+	_refresh_unit_hp(attacker)
+	_refresh_unit_hp(defender)
+
+
+func _refresh_unit_hp(unit: Variant) -> void:
+	var u: UnitScript = unit as UnitScript
+	if u == null:
+		return
+	var uid: String = _resolve_unit_id(u)
+	if uid == "" or not _units.has(uid):
+		return
+	_units[uid]["hp"] = u.hp
+	_units[uid]["max_hp"] = u.max_hp
+	queue_redraw()
+
+
+func _on_unit_destroyed(unit: RefCounted, _killer: RefCounted) -> void:
+	var u: UnitScript = unit as UnitScript
+	if u == null:
+		return
+	var uid: String = _resolve_unit_id(u)
+	if uid == "" or not _units.has(uid):
+		return
+	_units.erase(uid)
+	_anim_pixels.erase(uid)
+	if _selected_id == uid:
+		_selected_id = ""
+		_movement_range.clear()
+	queue_redraw()