diff --git a/src/games/coloradodefense/ColoradoDefenseLogic.js b/src/games/coloradodefense/ColoradoDefenseLogic.js
index 30dc0b9..aa268ed 100644
--- a/src/games/coloradodefense/ColoradoDefenseLogic.js
+++ b/src/games/coloradodefense/ColoradoDefenseLogic.js
@@ -55,9 +55,15 @@ export const TUNE = {
   SPAWN_MS_BASE: 1800, SPAWN_MS_DECAY: 0.92, SPAWN_MS_MIN: 350,
   FALL_SPEED_BASE: 90, FALL_SPEED_GROWTH: 1.06, FALL_SPEED_MAX: 340,
   WAVE_QUOTA_BASE: 8, WAVE_QUOTA_GROWTH: 1.15, WAVE_QUOTA_MAX: 40,
-  MIRV_WAVE: 6,
-  MIRV_CHANCE_BASE: 0.15, MIRV_CHANCE_GROWTH: 0.02, MIRV_CHANCE_MAX: 0.5,
+  MIRV_WAVE: 3,
+  MIRV_CHANCE_BASE: 0.05, MIRV_CHANCE_GROWTH: 0.025, MIRV_CHANCE_MAX: 0.4,
   MIRV_CHILDREN: [2, 3],
+  // Screen-space bands (fraction of GAME_HEIGHT) a MIRV missile splits
+  // within. Through wave 7 it splits once, in the top third; from wave 8 on
+  // the same missile splits again lower down, around the halfway mark.
+  MIRV_RESPLIT_WAVE: 8,
+  SPLIT_ZONE_1: [0.20, 0.333],
+  SPLIT_ZONE_2: [0.45, 0.55],
   BASE_AMMO: 10,
   BLAST_R_BASE: 90, BLAST_GROW_MS: 350, BLAST_HOLD_MS: 120, BLAST_FADE_MS: 200,
   INTERCEPTOR_SPEED: 900,
@@ -100,6 +106,12 @@ export function paletteIndexForWave(wave) {
 
 function lerp(a, b, t) { return a + (b - a) * t; }
 
+// A random screen-space Y within a [loFrac, hiFrac] band of GAME_HEIGHT.
+function pickSplitY(rng, zone) {
+  const [lo, hi] = zone;
+  return HEIGHT * (lo + rng() * (hi - lo));
+}
+
 // Current x/y for any in-flight entity with fromX/fromY/toX/toY/t fields.
 export function lerpPos(entity) {
   const t = Math.min(1, entity.t);
@@ -168,11 +180,16 @@ export class Sim {
     const dist = Math.hypot(target.x - fromX, target.y - fromY);
     const speed = fallSpeed(this.wave);
     const dur = Math.max(200, (dist / speed) * 1000);
-    const kind = fromOverride ? 'single' : (this.rng() < mirvChance(this.wave) ? 'mirv' : 'single');
+    // Only a freshly-spawned missile (not a MIRV child) can itself be a MIRV
+    // "bus" — it keeps flying toward its own target after each split.
+    const isMirv = !fromOverride && this.rng() < mirvChance(this.wave);
+    const kind = isMirv ? 'mirv' : 'single';
+    const splitsLeft = isMirv ? (this.wave >= TUNE.MIRV_RESPLIT_WAVE ? 2 : 1) : 0;
     const missile = {
       id: this.nextId++, fromX, fromY, toX: target.x, toY: target.y,
       targetSlot: target.slot, targetKind: target.kind,
-      t: 0, dur, kind, splitAt: 0.4 + this.rng() * 0.25, splitDone: false,
+      t: 0, dur, kind, splitsLeft,
+      splitY: splitsLeft > 0 ? pickSplitY(this.rng, TUNE.SPLIT_ZONE_1) : null,
     };
     this.enemyMissiles.push(missile);
     return missile;
@@ -258,12 +275,18 @@ export class Sim {
     }
 
     // Advance enemy missiles; collect MIRV splits without mutating mid-loop.
+    // A MIRV keeps flying toward its own target after each split; once
+    // MIRV_RESPLIT_WAVE is reached it gets a second split lower down.
     const newChildren = [];
     for (const m of this.enemyMissiles) {
       m.t += dtMs / m.dur;
-      if (m.kind === 'mirv' && !m.splitDone && m.t >= m.splitAt && m.t < 1) {
-        m.splitDone = true;
-        newChildren.push(...this.makeMirvChildren(m));
+      if (m.kind === 'mirv' && m.splitsLeft > 0 && m.t < 1) {
+        const pos = lerpPos(m);
+        if (pos.y >= m.splitY) {
+          m.splitsLeft -= 1;
+          newChildren.push(...this.makeMirvChildren(m));
+          m.splitY = m.splitsLeft > 0 ? pickSplitY(this.rng, TUNE.SPLIT_ZONE_2) : null;
+        }
       }
     }
     if (newChildren.length) this.enemyMissiles.push(...newChildren);
diff --git a/tools/verifyColoradoDefense.js b/tools/verifyColoradoDefense.js
index 4d95d30..6378e18 100644
--- a/tools/verifyColoradoDefense.js
+++ b/tools/verifyColoradoDefense.js
@@ -6,13 +6,14 @@
 // 2. City-pool draw correctness + malformed-pool fallback.
 // 3. Difficulty escalation monotonicity across waves 1-40 (bounded).
 // 4. MIRV step-unlock threshold.
+// 4b. MIRV split-zone geometry (top-third once, top-third + halfway from wave 8).
 // 5. Scripted explosion/collision fixture.
 // 6. Palette-progression monotonicity.
 // 7. Wave-complete bonus breakdown (recap data) matches the score delta.
 // 8. Monte-carlo "always fire at nearest incoming missile" bot run.
 
 import {
-  BASE_SLOTS, CITY_SLOTS, GROUND_SLOTS, slotX, mulberry32, pickCities,
+  BASE_SLOTS, CITY_SLOTS, GROUND_SLOTS, HEIGHT, slotX, mulberry32, pickCities,
   DEFAULT_CITIES, TUNE, spawnInterval, fallSpeed, waveQuota, mirvChance,
   PALETTES, paletteIndexForWave, createGame, step, pickFiringBase,
   fireInterceptor, lerpPos, explosionRadius,
@@ -98,6 +99,88 @@ console.log('MIRV step-unlock');
   check('mirvChance bounded at max', mirvChance(999) <= TUNE.MIRV_CHANCE_MAX);
 }
 
+// ── 4b. MIRV split-zone geometry ────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+console.log('MIRV split-zone geometry');
+{
+  // spawnEnemyMissile() itself: force isMirv=true (rng()=0 < any nonzero
+  // mirvChance) and check the resulting splitsLeft/splitY at both tiers.
+  const spawnLow = createGame(DEFAULT_CITIES, 3);
+  spawnLow.wave = TUNE.MIRV_RESPLIT_WAVE - 1;
+  spawnLow.rng = () => 0;
+  const missileLow = spawnLow.spawnEnemyMissile();
+  check('low-wave spawn becomes a MIRV with splitsLeft=1',
+    missileLow.kind === 'mirv' && missileLow.splitsLeft === 1);
+  check('low-wave MIRV splitY lands in SPLIT_ZONE_1',
+    missileLow.splitY >= HEIGHT * TUNE.SPLIT_ZONE_1[0] && missileLow.splitY <= HEIGHT * TUNE.SPLIT_ZONE_1[1],
+    `splitY=${missileLow.splitY}`);
+
+  const spawnHigh = createGame(DEFAULT_CITIES, 3);
+  spawnHigh.wave = TUNE.MIRV_RESPLIT_WAVE;
+  spawnHigh.rng = () => 0;
+  const missileHigh = spawnHigh.spawnEnemyMissile();
+  check('wave>=MIRV_RESPLIT_WAVE spawn becomes a MIRV with splitsLeft=2',
+    missileHigh.kind === 'mirv' && missileHigh.splitsLeft === 2);
+  check('its first splitY still lands in SPLIT_ZONE_1',
+    missileHigh.splitY >= HEIGHT * TUNE.SPLIT_ZONE_1[0] && missileHigh.splitY <= HEIGHT * TUNE.SPLIT_ZONE_1[1],
+    `splitY=${missileHigh.splitY}`);
+
+  // Full flight, low wave: exactly one split, and the children never re-split.
+  // (waveSpawned pinned to waveQuota so the sim's own spawn timer can't add
+  // unrelated missiles that would pollute the length-based split count.)
+  const simLow = createGame(DEFAULT_CITIES, 5);
+  simLow.wave = TUNE.MIRV_RESPLIT_WAVE - 1;
+  simLow.waveSpawned = simLow.waveQuota;
+  const t1 = simLow.cities[0];
+  simLow.enemyMissiles.push({
+    id: simLow.nextId++, fromX: t1.x, fromY: 0, toX: t1.x, toY: t1.y,
+    targetSlot: t1.slot, targetKind: 'city', t: 0, dur: 5000, kind: 'mirv',
+    splitsLeft: 1, splitY: HEIGHT * 0.25,
+  });
+  let splitCountLow = 0;
+  let childKinds = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < 250; i += 1) {
+    const before = simLow.enemyMissiles.length;
+    step(simLow, 16);
+    if (simLow.enemyMissiles.length > before) {
+      splitCountLow += 1;
+      childKinds = simLow.enemyMissiles.filter((m) => m.kind !== 'mirv').map((m) => m.kind);
+    }
+  }
+  check('low-wave MIRV splits exactly once over its full flight', splitCountLow === 1, `splitCount=${splitCountLow}`);
+  check('its children never re-split', childKinds.length > 0 && childKinds.every((k) => k === 'single'));
+
+  // Full flight, wave >= MIRV_RESPLIT_WAVE: splits twice, second time in zone 2.
+  const simHigh = createGame(DEFAULT_CITIES, 6);
+  simHigh.wave = TUNE.MIRV_RESPLIT_WAVE;
+  simHigh.waveSpawned = simHigh.waveQuota;
+  const t2 = simHigh.cities[0];
+  simHigh.enemyMissiles.push({
+    id: simHigh.nextId++, fromX: t2.x, fromY: 0, toX: t2.x, toY: t2.y,
+    targetSlot: t2.slot, targetKind: 'city', t: 0, dur: 5000, kind: 'mirv',
+    splitsLeft: 2, splitY: HEIGHT * 0.25,
+  });
+  let splitEvents = 0;
+  let sawZone2SplitY = false;
+  // Stops well before the trunk's own ~5000ms impact — once it lands and
+  // completeWave() fires, waveSpawned resets and the spawn timer could add
+  // unrelated missiles again, polluting the length-based split count.
+  for (let i = 0; i < 280; i += 1) {
+    const before = simHigh.enemyMissiles.length;
+    step(simHigh, 16);
+    if (simHigh.enemyMissiles.length > before) {
+      splitEvents += 1;
+      const trunk = simHigh.enemyMissiles.find((m) => m.kind === 'mirv');
+      if (trunk && trunk.splitY !== null) {
+        const frac = trunk.splitY / HEIGHT;
+        if (frac >= TUNE.SPLIT_ZONE_2[0] && frac <= TUNE.SPLIT_ZONE_2[1]) sawZone2SplitY = true;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  check('wave>=MIRV_RESPLIT_WAVE MIRV splits exactly twice', splitEvents === 2, `splitEvents=${splitEvents}`);
+  check('its second split is scheduled in SPLIT_ZONE_2', sawZone2SplitY);
+}
+
 // ── 5. Explosion/collision fixture ────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 console.log('Explosion/collision fixture');
@@ -108,7 +191,7 @@ console.log('Explosion/collision fixture');
   // interceptor's flight time, so a shot at its current position still lands.
   sim.enemyMissiles.push({
     id: sim.nextId++, fromX: target.x, fromY: 0, toX: target.x, toY: target.y,
-    targetSlot: target.slot, targetKind: 'city', t: 0.5, dur: 60000, kind: 'single', splitAt: 2, splitDone: true,
+    targetSlot: target.slot, targetKind: 'city', t: 0.5, dur: 60000, kind: 'single', splitsLeft: 0,
   });
   const missilePos = lerpPos(sim.enemyMissiles[0]);
   const base = pickFiringBase(sim, missilePos.x, missilePos.y);
@@ -127,7 +210,7 @@ console.log('Explosion/collision fixture');
   const target2 = sim2.cities[0];
   sim2.enemyMissiles.push({
     id: sim2.nextId++, fromX: target2.x, fromY: 0, toX: target2.x, toY: target2.y,
-    targetSlot: target2.slot, targetKind: 'city', t: 0.5, dur: 4000, kind: 'single', splitAt: 2, splitDone: true,
+    targetSlot: target2.slot, targetKind: 'city', t: 0.5, dur: 4000, kind: 'single', splitsLeft: 0,
   });
   const far = lerpPos(sim2.enemyMissiles[0]);
   fireInterceptor(sim2, sim2.bases[1], far.x + 5000, far.y);
@@ -159,7 +242,7 @@ console.log('Chain-reaction fixture');
   const target = sim.cities[0];
   sim.enemyMissiles.push({
     id: sim.nextId++, fromX: target.x, fromY: 0, toX: target.x, toY: target.y,
-    targetSlot: target.slot, targetKind: 'city', t: 0.5, dur: 60000, kind: 'single', splitAt: 2, splitDone: true,
+    targetSlot: target.slot, targetKind: 'city', t: 0.5, dur: 60000, kind: 'single', splitsLeft: 0,
   });
   const primaryPos = lerpPos(sim.enemyMissiles[0]);
   const base = pickFiringBase(sim, primaryPos.x, primaryPos.y);
@@ -192,7 +275,7 @@ console.log('Chain-reaction fixture');
     if (!secondaryInjected && primaryKillElapsed !== null && elapsed >= primaryKillElapsed + 1000) {
       sim.enemyMissiles.push({
         id: sim.nextId++, fromX: primaryPos.x - 50, fromY: primaryPos.y, toX: primaryPos.x - 50, toY: primaryPos.y,
-        targetSlot: sim.cities[1].slot, targetKind: 'city', t: 0.5, dur: 60000, kind: 'single', splitAt: 2, splitDone: true,
+        targetSlot: sim.cities[1].slot, targetKind: 'city', t: 0.5, dur: 60000, kind: 'single', splitsLeft: 0,
       });
       secondaryInjected = true;
     }