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 c9839a66..9b5913f7 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/src/modules/ai/simple_heuristic_ai.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/modules/ai/simple_heuristic_ai.gd
@@ -371,8 +371,27 @@ static func _decide_military_action(
 	var hp_frac: float = float(unit.hp) / maxf(1.0, float(unit.max_hp))
 	var nearest_enemy: Variant = _nearest_enemy_unit(unit.position, enemy_units)
 
-	# Retreat if wounded and a threat is within reach.
-	if hp_frac <= RETREAT_HP_FRACTION and nearest_enemy != null:
+	# Adjacent-to-enemy-city attack ALWAYS fires (captures undefended cities and
+	# grinds garrisons). Commit flag below also blocks retreat so we don't bleed
+	# turns healing next to the target while p0 rebuilds walls.
+	var city_adj_col: int = -1
+	var city_adj_row: int = -1
+	for cp: Vector2i in enemy_city_positions:
+		if HexUtilsScript.hex_distance(unit.position, cp) == 1:
+			city_adj_col = cp.x
+			city_adj_row = cp.y
+			break
+	if city_adj_col >= 0:
+		return {"type": "attack", "unit_index": idx,
+			"target_col": city_adj_col, "target_row": city_adj_row}
+
+	# Retreat if wounded — but not while committed to a capture push (enemy
+	# city within 4). Letting p1 retreat from a stalled siege is why 0 captures
+	# across 3 seeds despite 10x kill ratio in the field.
+	var city_dist: int = INF_DISTANCE
+	if not enemy_city_positions.is_empty():
+		city_dist = _min_distance(unit.position, enemy_city_positions)
+	if hp_frac <= RETREAT_HP_FRACTION and nearest_enemy != null and city_dist > 4:
 		return _move_action(
 			idx,
 			unit.position,
@@ -408,8 +427,27 @@ static func _decide_military_action(
 			}
 
 		var aggression: int = int(personality.get("aggression", 0))
+		# Dominance redirect: when we outnumber the enemy field 2x and have a
+		# city target closer than the nearest stray enemy, march on the city
+		# instead of chasing. Prevents p1's 6-7 military from bleeding turns
+		# on a lone wandering p0 unit while the capital sits undefended.
+		var enemy_mil_count: int = 0
+		for eu: Variant in enemy_units:
+			if int(eu.get("attack")) > 0 or int(eu.get("ranged_attack")) > 0:
+				enemy_mil_count += 1
+		var own_mil_count: int = 0
+		for ou: Variant in player.units:
+			if ou == null or not ou.is_alive() or ou.get("can_found_city") == true:
+				continue
+			if int(ou.get("attack")) > 0 or int(ou.get("ranged_attack")) > 0:
+				own_mil_count += 1
+		var dominant: bool = (
+			own_mil_count >= 2 * maxi(1, enemy_mil_count)
+			and not enemy_city_positions.is_empty()
+			and city_dist <= enemy_dist
+		)
 		var should_chase: bool = (
-			aggression > 0 or enemy_dist <= DEFENSIVE_CHASE_RANGE
+			not dominant and (aggression > 0 or enemy_dist <= DEFENSIVE_CHASE_RANGE)
 		)
 		if should_chase:
 			return _move_action(