diff --git a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
index c882be96..bf48840c 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
@@ -1014,14 +1014,15 @@ func _next_building(city: Variant, player: Variant, city_count: int, has_founder
 	## 14 factors — priorities emerge from circumstances, not prescriptive order.
 	var tech_req: Dictionary = {
 		"library": "scholarship", "barracks": "military_doctrine",
-		"castle": "fortification",
+		"castle": "fortification", "spearmen": "war",
+		"cavalry": "animal_husbandry",
 	}
 	var candidates: Array[String] = [
 		"warrior", "forge", "walls", "marketplace", "temple",
 		"colosseum", "ale_hall", "bathhouse", "library", "barracks", "monument",
-		"castle", "founder", "worker",
+		"castle", "founder", "worker", "spearmen", "cavalry",
 	]
-	var units_set: Array[String] = ["warrior", "founder", "worker"]
+	var units_set: Array[String] = ["warrior", "founder", "worker", "spearmen", "cavalry"]
 	var scores: Dictionary = {}
 	for cid: String in candidates:
 		if not (cid in units_set) and city.has_building(cid):
@@ -1035,6 +1036,13 @@ func _next_building(city: Variant, player: Variant, city_count: int, has_founder
 				if not BuildableHelperScript.player_owns_resource(
 					player, req_res
 				):
+					_append_event({
+						"type": "resource_gate_rejected",
+						"player": player.index,
+						"city": city.city_name,
+						"unit": cid,
+						"resource": req_res,
+					})
 					continue
 		scores[cid] = 0.0
 
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-city/src/city.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-city/src/city.rs
index 2bd20d0a..db923c84 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-city/src/city.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-city/src/city.rs
@@ -107,10 +107,10 @@ impl TileYield {
 pub const FOOD_PER_POP: f64 = 1.2;
 
 /// Base city HP before population scaling. Tuned up from 200 to extend TTV:
-/// prior batches showed capitals falling at T99/T116 because a pop-3 capital
-/// (230 HP) could be melted in ~15 siege turns even with walls. At 260 base,
-/// pop-3 walled capital = 290+50 = 340 HP, pushing capture to T200+.
-pub const BASE_CITY_HP: u32 = 260;
+/// after a first pass to 260 seed1 still fell at T106, so bumped to 320.
+/// Pop-3 walled capital = 350+50 = 400 HP, forcing attackers to sustain
+/// siege for 30+ turns (target: median TTV ≥ 200).
+pub const BASE_CITY_HP: u32 = 320;
 
 /// HP gained per population point.
 pub const HP_PER_POP: u32 = 10;
@@ -514,13 +514,13 @@ impl City {
         self.hp = (self.hp + amount).min(self.max_hp);
     }
 
-    /// Heal the city by the standard per-turn amount (20 HP).
-    /// Raised from 10 to 20 to extend siege duration: at 10/turn regen a
-    /// 2-warrior assault could chain captures in ~15 turns, giving T99/T116
-    /// fast wins. 20/turn forces attackers to commit more force or siege.
+    /// Heal the city by the standard per-turn amount (30 HP).
+    /// Second pass (was 10, then 20, now 30): at 20/turn seed1 still fell at
+    /// T106. 30/turn forces attackers to deal >30 avg siege damage per turn
+    /// or walls outlast any 1-2-unit rush.
     /// Skips destroyed cities (HP == 0).
     pub fn heal_per_turn(&mut self) {
-        const HEAL_PER_TURN: u32 = 20;
+        const HEAL_PER_TURN: u32 = 30;
         if self.hp > 0 && self.hp < self.max_hp {
             self.heal(HEAL_PER_TURN);
         }
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-combat/src/siege.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-combat/src/siege.rs
index 7db55408..b998ecd9 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-combat/src/siege.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-combat/src/siege.rs
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@ const RANGED_CITY_HP_FRACTION: f32 = 0.75;
 
 /// Compute the penalty multiplier for melee attacks against a walled city.
 /// Returns a value < 1.0 that the attacker's effective strength is multiplied by.
-/// Scales by tier: 0=1.0, 1=0.70 (walls), 2=0.55 (castle).
-/// Tightened from 0.80/0.65 to slow sieges after fast-win regressions (T99/T116).
+/// Scales by tier: 0=1.0, 1=0.60 (walls), 2=0.45 (castle).
+/// Second pass from 0.70/0.55; first pass slowed but seed1 still fell T106.
 pub fn melee_wall_penalty(wall_tier: i32) -> f32 {
     match wall_tier {
         0 => 1.0,
-        1 => 0.70,
-        _ => 0.55,
+        1 => 0.60,
+        _ => 0.45,
     }
 }
 
@@ -91,9 +91,9 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn melee_penalty_scales_by_tier() {
         assert!((melee_wall_penalty(0) - 1.0).abs() < 0.001);
-        assert!((melee_wall_penalty(1) - 0.70).abs() < 0.001);
-        assert!((melee_wall_penalty(2) - 0.55).abs() < 0.001);
-        assert!((melee_wall_penalty(3) - 0.55).abs() < 0.001);
+        assert!((melee_wall_penalty(1) - 0.60).abs() < 0.001);
+        assert!((melee_wall_penalty(2) - 0.45).abs() < 0.001);
+        assert!((melee_wall_penalty(3) - 0.45).abs() < 0.001);
     }
 
     #[test]