diff --git a/dev/shots/combat-main.png b/dev/shots/combat-main.png
index 02d0341..dfc50ba 100644
Binary files a/dev/shots/combat-main.png and b/dev/shots/combat-main.png differ
diff --git a/dev/shots/combat-range.png b/dev/shots/combat-range.png
index a1c2081..8df4d0e 100644
Binary files a/dev/shots/combat-range.png and b/dev/shots/combat-range.png differ
diff --git a/js/combat/CombatScene.js b/js/combat/CombatScene.js
index d83da17..851a426 100644
--- a/js/combat/CombatScene.js
+++ b/js/combat/CombatScene.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { Ship } from '../entities/Ship.js';
 import { EnemyShip } from './EnemyShip.js';
 import { enemySheetList } from './EnemyTypes.js';
 import { Bullet } from './Bullet.js';
-import { Fx, FX_COLORS } from './Fx.js';
+import { Fx, FX_COLORS, settleCraftTint } from './Fx.js';
 import { StarDrift } from './StarDrift.js';
 import { applyDamage, handleFeel, pickTarget } from './Combat.js';
 import { combatSfx, combatSfxEnemyHit, loadCombatSfx } from './CombatSfx.js';
@@ -414,6 +414,9 @@ export class CombatScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   killEnemy(e) {
     if (e._killFx) return; // idempotent — damage() sets e.dead first, so
     e._killFx = true;      // the dead flag can't be the "already counted" guard
+    // Settle any pending white hit-flash NOW — the craft dies in its
+    // normal colors, never mid-flash (the reuse seam's edge case).
+    this.fx.releaseCraft(e);
     this.kills += 1;
     this.fx.explode(e.x, e.y, 0xff5d6f);
     combatShake(this, 'kill'); // the world kick (the bar stays still)
@@ -681,6 +684,7 @@ export class CombatScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   killPlayer() {
     this.playerDead = true;
     this.hull = 0;
+    this.fx.releaseCraft(this.ship); // out in normal colors, never mid-flash
     this.fx.down(this.ship.x, this.ship.y); // the DOWN cue (burst + hold)
     combatSfx(this, 'down');
     this.ship.stop();
@@ -699,6 +703,7 @@ export class CombatScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.ship.y = this.h / 2;
     this.ship.rotation = 0;
     this.ship.stop();
+    settleCraftTint(this.ship); // never reappear holding a white hit-flash
     this.ship.setVisible(true);
     this.playerDead = false;
     this.clearBullets();
diff --git a/js/combat/CombatSystem.js b/js/combat/CombatSystem.js
index 268a972..3c2c42b 100644
--- a/js/combat/CombatSystem.js
+++ b/js/combat/CombatSystem.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { config } from '../config/Config.js';
 import { EnemyShip } from './EnemyShip.js';
 import { enemyTypeConfig } from './EnemyTypes.js';
 import { Bullet } from './Bullet.js';
-import { Fx, FX_COLORS } from './Fx.js';
+import { Fx, FX_COLORS, settleCraftTint } from './Fx.js';
 import { applyDamage, pickTarget } from './Combat.js';
 import { combatSfx, combatSfxEnemyHit } from './CombatSfx.js';
 import { combatShake } from './CamShake.js';
@@ -256,7 +256,10 @@ export class CombatSystem {
     }
     if (destroy) {
       for (const e of this.enemies) {
-        if (e.wave && !e.destroyed) e.destroy();
+        if (e.wave && !e.destroyed) {
+          this.fx.releaseCraft(e); // out in normal colors, never mid-flash
+          e.destroy();
+        }
       }
       this.enemies = this.enemies.filter((e) => !e.wave);
     }
@@ -699,6 +702,7 @@ export class CombatSystem {
     this.playerDown = true;
     this.hull = 0;
     if (this.ship) {
+      this.fx.releaseCraft(this.ship); // out in normal colors, never mid-flash
       this.fx.down(this.ship.x, this.ship.y); // the DOWN cue (burst + hold)
       this.ship.stop();
       this.ship.setVisible(false);
@@ -717,7 +721,10 @@ export class CombatSystem {
     this.shields = this.maxShields;
     this.lastHitAt = 0;
     this.respawnAt = 0;
-    if (this.ship) this.ship.setVisible(true);
+    if (this.ship) {
+      settleCraftTint(this.ship); // never reappear holding a white hit-flash
+      this.ship.setVisible(true);
+    }
     if (this.ship) this.fx.respawn(this.ship.x, this.ship.y); // the REFORMED cue
     combatSfx(this.scene, 'respawn');
     if (this.onPlayerUp) this.onPlayerUp();
@@ -733,6 +740,9 @@ export class CombatSystem {
   killEnemy(e, time) {
     if (e._killFx) return;
     e._killFx = true;
+    // Settle any pending white hit-flash NOW — the craft dies in its
+    // normal colors, never mid-flash (the reuse seam's edge case).
+    this.fx.releaseCraft(e);
     this.kills += 1;
     this.fx.explode(e.x, e.y, '#ff5d6f');
     combatShake(this.scene, 'kill'); // the world kick (the bar stays still)
@@ -802,7 +812,10 @@ export class CombatSystem {
   /** Tear the combat down (scene destroy). */
   destroy() {
     this.waveRun = null;
-    for (const e of this.enemies) e.destroy();
+    for (const e of this.enemies) {
+      this.fx.releaseCraft(e); // settle flashes before the craft goes
+      e.destroy();
+    }
     for (const b of this.bullets) if (!b.dead) b.destroy();
     this.enemies = [];
     this.bullets = [];
diff --git a/js/combat/EnemyShip.js b/js/combat/EnemyShip.js
index 2244e70..ac1bc64 100644
--- a/js/combat/EnemyShip.js
+++ b/js/combat/EnemyShip.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import Phaser from '../vendor/phaser.js';
 import { toColor } from '../utils/Color.js';
 import { assignWorld } from '../visuals/UiCameras.js';
 import { enemyTypeConfig } from './EnemyTypes.js';
+import { settleCraftTint } from './Fx.js';
 import { applyDamage, headingOf, orbitStep } from './Combat.js';
 
 const FALLBACK_W = 76; // the procedural wedge (it faces east)
@@ -239,6 +240,11 @@ export class EnemyShip extends Phaser.Physics.Arcade.Sprite {
     this.hull = this.maxHull;
     this.shields = this.maxShields;
     this.dead = false;
+    // THE REUSE SEAM: this is the SAME sprite that died (the range and
+    // the main game both revive in place). If a white hit-flash was
+    // still pending when it went down, settle the tint here too — a
+    // revived craft must never come back hot white.
+    settleCraftTint(this);
     if (this.body) {
       this.body.velocity.x = 0;
       this.body.velocity.y = 0;
diff --git a/js/combat/Fx.js b/js/combat/Fx.js
index d19d0af..066924c 100644
--- a/js/combat/Fx.js
+++ b/js/combat/Fx.js
@@ -432,9 +432,11 @@ export class Fx {
           t0: 0,
           life,
           kind: 'tintFlash',
+          // Each write is guarded on its own — a throw in one must not
+          // skip the other (a half-restored craft is a white craft).
           restore: () => {
-            ship.setTintMode(mode);
-            ship.setTint(tint);
+            try { ship.setTintMode(mode); } catch { /* gone */ }
+            try { ship.setTint(tint); } catch { /* gone */ }
           },
         });
         return ship;
@@ -446,6 +448,27 @@ export class Fx {
     return this.flash(ship.x, ship.y, 0xffffff, r * 2.6, life);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Settle a craft's pending white flash RIGHT NOW — the kill/destroy
+   * seam. A craft must never die, or be hidden and reused, while still
+   * holding the white-fill state: the hit is over (the kill burst or the
+   * reformed craft supersedes it), and the craft goes out in its normal
+   * colors (a sprite that dies mid-tint can leak the white state into
+   * its reuse — the "revived enemies are hot white and stay that way"
+   * edge case). Idempotent; safe on a destroyed craft.
+   */
+  releaseCraft(ship) {
+    if (!ship) return;
+    for (let i = this.items.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+      const it = this.items[i];
+      if (it.kind !== 'tintFlash' || it.img !== ship) continue;
+      if (it.restore) {
+        try { it.restore(); } catch { /* the craft may already be gone */ }
+      }
+      this.items.splice(i, 1);
+    }
+  }
+
   // ------------------------------------------------------ the player's shield
 
   /** The shield-sphere tuning (data/combat.json → combat.fx.shield). */
@@ -663,3 +686,18 @@ export class Fx {
     this.items.length = 0;
   }
 }
+
+/**
+ * Return a craft's tint to identity (white corners + multiply mode).
+ * The reuse seams (revive/respawn) call this so a craft can NEVER
+ * reappear while still holding the white hit-flash state — the last
+ * line of defense for the "revived enemies are hot white" edge case.
+ * Safe on stubs and destroyed sprites. (Neither craft class tints for
+ * coloring — their colors are baked into the art — so identity is the
+ * always-correct default.)
+ */
+export function settleCraftTint(ship) {
+  if (!ship) return;
+  try { if (typeof ship.setTintMode === 'function') ship.setTintMode(0); } catch { /* stub */ }
+  try { if (typeof ship.setTint === 'function') ship.setTint(0xffffff); } catch { /* stub */ }
+}