diff --git a/data/scripts/flavor/route_23.lua b/data/scripts/flavor/route_23.lua
index 313edd78..644d0d11 100644
--- a/data/scripts/flavor/route_23.lua
+++ b/data/scripts/flavor/route_23.lua
@@ -28,7 +28,29 @@ local function badgeGuard(badge, passFlag)
   }
 end
 
+-- Route23SetVictoryRoadBoulders (pokered scripts/Route23.asm:8): every entry
+-- to Route 23 resets the Victory Road boulder puzzle behind you.  The 2F/3F
+-- switch events clear (so those barriers are closed again on the next floor
+-- load) and the boulder that fell through 3F's hole goes back upstairs:
+-- ShowObject TOGGLE_VICTORY_ROAD_3F_BOULDER / HideObject
+-- TOGGLE_VICTORY_ROAD_2F_BOULDER, which are VICTORYROAD3F_BOULDER4 and
+-- VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER3 (data/maps/toggleable_objects.asm).  1F's event is
+-- reset by the Indigo Plateau lobby and by Victory Road 2F, not here.  This
+-- is what makes the puzzle "completely reset" on a return trip (#258).
+-- onEnter is the port's BIT_CUR_MAP_LOADED_2 equivalent: setMap runs it on
+-- every map entry, connection crossings included, like EnterMap.
 M.ROUTE_23 = {
+  onEnter = function(game, ow)
+    local f = game.save.flags
+    f.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_2_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH1 = nil
+    f.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_2_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH2 = nil
+    f.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_3_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH1 = nil
+    f.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_3_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH2 = nil
+    local Commands = require("src.script.Commands")
+    local ctx = { save = game.save, overworld = ow, game = game }
+    Commands.show_object(ctx, "VICTORY_ROAD_3F", "VICTORYROAD3F_BOULDER4")
+    Commands.hide_object(ctx, "VICTORY_ROAD_2F", "VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER3")
+  end,
   talk = {
     -- Route23Guard1Text: EventFlagBit ..., EVENT_PASSED_EARTHBADGE_CHECK
     -- -> wWhichBadge = EARTHBADGE
diff --git a/data/scripts/story.lua b/data/scripts/story.lua
index 5aeb849e..0fa2c3db 100644
--- a/data/scripts/story.lua
+++ b/data/scripts/story.lua
@@ -94,6 +94,27 @@ M.VIRIDIAN_CITY = {
       { "show_text", "_ViridianCityOldManTimeIsMoneyText" },             -- 8 (9 = end)
     },
   },
+  -- Re-apply the Pokedex old-man swap for a save that already holds the flag
+  -- but was never standing here when it fired: a vanilla .sav imported
+  -- through src/save_convert, whose codec does not model pokered's
+  -- wToggleableObjectFlags array, so save.objectToggles arrives empty and
+  -- both objects fall back to their compiled-in defaults -- the sleeper ON
+  -- (data/maps/toggleable_objects.asm toggleable_objects_for VIRIDIAN_CITY),
+  -- still lying across the north path (#234).
+  -- OaksLabOakGivesPokedexScript (scripts/OaksLab.asm) sets EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX
+  -- and, with no branch in between, runs HideObject TOGGLE_LYING_OLD_MAN /
+  -- ShowObject TOGGLE_OLD_MAN, so that one flag settles both toggles exactly.
+  -- Same shape as M.OAKS_LAB.onEnter in data/scripts/oaks_lab.lua, which
+  -- re-applies the same script's other two HideObjects on entry (#106).
+  onEnter = function(game, ow)
+    if not (game.save.flags and game.save.flags.EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX) then
+      return
+    end
+    local Commands = require("src.script.Commands")
+    local ctx = { save = game.save, game = game, overworld = ow }
+    Commands.hide_object(ctx, "VIRIDIAN_CITY", "VIRIDIANCITY_OLD_MAN_SLEEPY")
+    Commands.show_object(ctx, "VIRIDIAN_CITY", "VIRIDIANCITY_OLD_MAN")
+  end,
   -- ViridianCityCheckGotPokedexScript: the north corridor is gated on
   -- EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX, NOT on the sleeper being hidden, and it triggers
   -- on exactly one cell -- (19,9), the gap east of the sleeper (18,9)
@@ -719,11 +740,20 @@ local function boulderAt(ow, x, y)
   return npc and npc.def.sprite == "SPRITE_BOULDER" and npc or nil
 end
 
+-- Each barrier is stamped BOTH ways on entry.  pokered only ever stamps the
+-- OPEN block (ReplaceTileBlock edits the loaded block map, which the next map
+-- load throws away, so a fresh entry always shows the .blk's closed barrier),
+-- but OverworldState:replaceBlock writes through Map:setBlock into the SHARED
+-- map record in Game.data, so the port has to put the closed block back
+-- itself or a solved barrier stays open for the rest of the session (#258).
+-- The closed ids are the shipped .blk bytes: VictoryRoad1F.blk (4,6) = $25,
+-- VictoryRoad2F.blk (3,4) = $37 and (11,7) = $25, VictoryRoad3F.blk
+-- (3,5) = $25.  Same both-ways pattern as the card-key doors in
+-- OverworldState:setMap.
 M.VICTORY_ROAD_1F = {
   onEnter = function(game, ow)
-    if game.save.flags.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_1_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH then
-      ow:replaceBlock(4, 6, 0x1D)
-    end
+    ow:replaceBlock(4, 6,
+      game.save.flags.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_1_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH and 0x1D or 0x25)
   end,
   onBoulderMoved = function(game, ow, npc)
     if npc.cellX == 17 and npc.cellY == 13
@@ -736,12 +766,14 @@ M.VICTORY_ROAD_1F = {
 
 M.VICTORY_ROAD_2F = {
   onEnter = function(game, ow)
-    if game.save.flags.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_2_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH1 then
-      ow:replaceBlock(3, 4, 0x15)
-    end
-    if game.save.flags.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_2_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH2 then
-      ow:replaceBlock(11, 7, 0x1D)
-    end
+    -- VictoryRoad2FResetBoulderEventScript (scripts/VictoryRoad2F.asm:19):
+    -- entering 2F clears the 1F switch event, so 1F's barrier is closed
+    -- again the next time you climb down (#258)
+    game.save.flags.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_1_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH = nil
+    ow:replaceBlock(3, 4,
+      game.save.flags.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_2_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH1 and 0x15 or 0x37)
+    ow:replaceBlock(11, 7,
+      game.save.flags.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_2_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH2 and 0x1D or 0x25)
   end,
   onBoulderMoved = function(game, ow, npc)
     if npc.cellX == 1 and npc.cellY == 16
@@ -759,9 +791,8 @@ M.VICTORY_ROAD_2F = {
 
 M.VICTORY_ROAD_3F = {
   onEnter = function(game, ow)
-    if game.save.flags.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_3_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH1 then
-      ow:replaceBlock(3, 5, 0x1D)
-    end
+    ow:replaceBlock(3, 5,
+      game.save.flags.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_3_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH1 and 0x1D or 0x25)
   end,
   onBoulderMoved = function(game, ow, npc)
     if npc.cellX == 3 and npc.cellY == 5
@@ -769,12 +800,23 @@ M.VICTORY_ROAD_3F = {
       game.save.flags.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_3_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH1 = true
       ow:replaceBlock(3, 5, 0x1D)
     end
-    -- the hole at (23,15): the boulder drops to 2F next to switch 2
-    if npc.cellX == 23 and npc.cellY == 15 then
+    -- the hole at (23,15): the boulder drops to 2F next to switch 2.
+    -- VictoryRoad3FDefaultScript .handle_hole gates the swap on
+    -- CheckAndSetEvent EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_3_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH2, then
+    -- HideObject TOGGLE_VICTORY_ROAD_3F_BOULDER / ShowObject
+    -- TOGGLE_VICTORY_ROAD_2F_BOULDER.  Those two toggles are
+    -- VICTORYROAD3F_BOULDER4 and VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER3
+    -- (data/maps/toggleable_objects.asm); the old "VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER"
+    -- matched no object_event name, so the toggle landed under a key
+    -- objectVisible never reads: harmless only while nothing hid that
+    -- boulder, and fatal once Route 23's reset does (#258).
+    if npc.cellX == 23 and npc.cellY == 15
+       and not game.save.flags.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_3_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH2 then
+      game.save.flags.EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_3_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH2 = true
       local Commands = require("src.script.Commands")
       local ctx = { save = game.save, overworld = ow, game = game }
       Commands.hide_object(ctx, "VICTORY_ROAD_3F", npc.def.name)
-      Commands.show_object(ctx, "VICTORY_ROAD_2F", "VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER")
+      Commands.show_object(ctx, "VICTORY_ROAD_2F", "VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER3")
     end
   end,
   -- scripts/VictoryRoad3F.asm VictoryRoad3FDefaultScript: the same hole
diff --git a/data/scripts/story2.lua b/data/scripts/story2.lua
index 695545b1..43d5ea27 100644
--- a/data/scripts/story2.lua
+++ b/data/scripts/story2.lua
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ M.CINNABAR_LAB_FOSSIL_ROOM = {
 -- #118: do not raise mon.level until a paid retrieve (pokered reverts
 -- wDayCareMonBoxLevel on .leaveMonInDayCare). Fold pending steps into
 -- mon.exp once and clear them so a second talk cannot re-apply the same
--- walk. Fill {RAM:wNameBuffer}/{RAM:wDayCareMonName}/{NUM:...} here —
+-- walk. Fill {RAM:wNameBuffer}/{RAM:wDayCareMonName}/{NUM:...} here --
 -- TextBox.TOKENS.RAM only knows wStringBuffer.
 -- -------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/data/scripts/story3.lua b/data/scripts/story3.lua
index 5d1adbd4..d868761a 100644
--- a/data/scripts/story3.lua
+++ b/data/scripts/story3.lua
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ local function elevator(elevatorMapId, keyGate, preFrames)
       -- Rocket Hideout: without LIFT_KEY the panel only prints the need-
       -- a-key line (scripts/RocketHideoutElevator.asm).  Exit warps are
       -- still seeded above so walking out returns to the entry floor
-      -- instead of the car's ROM default (B1F) — #90 / #105.
+      -- instead of the car's ROM default (B1F) -- #90 / #105.
       if keyGate and not game.save.inventory[keyGate.item] then
         local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
         game.stack:push(TextBox.new(game,
diff --git a/data/scripts/story5.lua b/data/scripts/story5.lua
index a8f3f764..84aea24f 100644
--- a/data/scripts/story5.lua
+++ b/data/scripts/story5.lua
@@ -293,7 +293,11 @@ pewterEscort.guySteps = {
   "right", "right", "right",
 }
 
--- Walk home: reverse of guySteps with opposite facings (gym → spawn).
+-- Reverse of guySteps with opposite facings, i.e. the gym-to-spawn
+-- mirror of RLEList_PewterGymGuy.  Kept as the documented inverse that
+-- tests/parity_pewter_escort.lua checks; the youngster does NOT walk it
+-- home any more, because its first step is LEFT through the player
+-- parked on (11,18) (#241).  See walkHome below.
 do
   local opp = { up = "down", down = "up", left = "right", right = "left" }
   local ret = {}
@@ -371,20 +375,44 @@ local function pewterGymEscort(game, ow)
   local head = plan.guyHeadStart
 
   -- After the walk: face the player, restore map music, "Go take on
-  -- BROCK", then retrace RLEList_PewterGymGuy back to his spawn (35,16).
-  -- (pokered teleports him via MovementData_PewterGymGuyExit; we walk
-  -- the same route home instead.  Brock victory still HideObject's him.)
+  -- BROCK", then MovementData_PewterGymGuyExit -- five steps RIGHT out of
+  -- (12,18), the cell PewterCityYoungsterShowsPlayerGymScript pins him to
+  -- with SetSpritePosition1 (hSpriteMapXCoord 16 / hSpriteMapYCoord 22,
+  -- minus the +4 border offset object_event coords carry per
+  -- macros/scripts/maps.asm) and exactly where the escort leaves him.
+  -- That lands him on (17,18), the last walkable cell before the fence at
+  -- (18,18) and one column past the screen edge with the player parked on
+  -- (11,18).  PewterCityHideYoungsterScript then HideObject's him and
+  -- PewterCityResetYoungsterScript's SetSpritePosition2 + ShowObject put
+  -- him back on his object_event spawn (35,16) facing DOWN, which is the
+  -- snap below (the vanish/reappear is off screen, same as the original).
+  --
+  -- The old code retraced guyReturnSteps instead, whose first step is
+  -- LEFT into (11,18) -- the cell the player is standing on -- and
+  -- scriptMove is a pure tween with no entity test, so he walked straight
+  -- through Red (#241).  There is no honest route home: (17,18) is a
+  -- dead-end pocket ((18,18) fence, (17,17) wall), which is precisely why
+  -- the original teleports.  guyReturnSteps stays as the documented
+  -- mirror of RLEList_PewterGymGuy that parity_pewter_escort asserts.
+  -- Brock victory still HideObject's him.
   local function walkHome()
     if not guy then return end
-    local ret = pewterEscort.guyReturnSteps
     local i = 0
     local function tick()
       i = i + 1
-      if not ret[i] then
+      if i > 5 then
+        -- SetSpritePosition2: same field writes as Commands.place_npc,
+        -- including the target clear -- a stale targetX/targetY would
+        -- leave OverworldState:npcAtCell reserving (17,18) forever and
+        -- silently wall the player out of that pocket.
+        guy.cellX, guy.cellY = 35, 16
+        guy.px, guy.py = 35 * 16, 16 * 16
+        guy.moving = false
+        guy.targetX, guy.targetY = nil, nil
         guy.facing = "down"
         return
       end
-      ow:scriptMove(guy, ret[i], 1, tick)
+      ow:scriptMove(guy, "right", 1, tick)
     end
     tick()
   end
@@ -468,23 +496,48 @@ end
 -- Gym) and again in Viridian Gym; we derive the same windows from the
 -- surrounding story flags so old saves work too.
 -- Rival1Exit → Viridian (right/down); Rival2Exit → League (left).
+-- Both exit lists are keyed on wSavedCoordIndex -- WHICH entry of
+-- Route22DefaultScript.Route22RivalBattleCoords the player matched -- not
+-- on where the rival ended up.  CheckCoords (home/map_objects.asm:107)
+-- zeroes wCoordIndex and `inc [hl]` BEFORE each compare, so the first
+-- entry reports 1: index 1 is (29,4), index 2 is (29,5).
+-- Route22Rival1AfterBattleScript (Route22.asm:175) takes
+-- ...ExitMovementData1 on index 1 and ...Data2 otherwise.  From the top
+-- tile the rival stands BELOW the player on (29,5) and leaves east along
+-- row 5; from the bottom tile he stands LEFT of him on (28,5) and has to
+-- step UP to row 4 to get around him.  The port had the two branches
+-- swapped, so the top tile started the walk with UP out of (28,4) into
+-- the cliff cell (28,3), which is not walkable (#236).
 local function route22ExitDirs(n, py)
   if n == 2 then
-    if py == 5 then return { "left", "left", "left", "left" } end
+    -- Route22Rival2ExitMovementData1 falls through into ...Data2: LEFT x4
+    -- from (29,5), LEFT x3 from (28,5), both back onto the spawn (25,5).
+    if py == 4 then return { "left", "left", "left", "left" } end
     return { "left", "left", "left" }
   end
-  if py == 5 then
+  -- Route22Rival1ExitMovementData1: (29,5) -> (31,5) -> (31,10)
+  if py == 4 then
     return { "right", "right", "down", "down", "down", "down", "down" }
   end
+  -- Route22Rival1ExitMovementData2: (28,5) -> (28,4) -> (31,4) -> (31,10)
   return { "up", "right", "right", "right",
            "down", "down", "down", "down", "down", "down" }
 end
 
 local function route22Scene(n, objIndex, objName, oppClass, baseParty, beatFlag, py)
+  -- Route22MoveRivalRightScript (Route22.asm:39) walks him RIGHT along his
+  -- own row from the object_event spawn (25,5): the full four-RIGHT
+  -- Route22RivalMovementData on coord index 1 (player on (29,4)), so he
+  -- stops BELOW the player on (29,5); `inc de` drops one RIGHT on index 2
+  -- (player on (29,5)), so he stops LEFT of him on (28,5).  He never
+  -- leaves row 5.  Route22Rival{1,2}StartBattleScript (Route22.asm:110)
+  -- then faces him UP on index 1 and RIGHT otherwise (#236).
+  local rx = (py == 4) and 29 or 28
+  local rivalFacing = (py == 4) and "up" or "right"
   return {
     { "show_object", "ROUTE_22", objName },                    -- 1
-    { "move_npc_to", objIndex, 28, py },                       -- 2
-    { "face_object", objIndex, "right" },                      -- 3
+    { "move_npc_to", objIndex, rx, 5 },                        -- 2
+    { "face_object", objIndex, rivalFacing },                  -- 3
     { "show_text", "_Route22RivalBeforeBattleText" .. n },     -- 4
     { "rival_battle", oppClass, baseParty },                   -- 5
     { "jump_if_false", 11 },                                   -- 6
@@ -496,20 +549,25 @@ local function route22Scene(n, objIndex, objName, oppClass, baseParty, beatFlag,
   }
 end
 
+-- Route22Rival{1,2}StartBattleScript turns the player toward him too:
+-- PLAYER_DIR_DOWN on coord index 1 (the (29,4) tile, rival below him),
+-- and the PLAYER_DIR_LEFT Route22DefaultScript already set on index 2
+-- (the (29,5) tile, rival to his left) (#236).
 M.ROUTE_22 = {
   onStep = function(game, ow, x, y)
     if not inCoords({ { 29, 4 }, { 29, 5 } }, x, y) then return false end
     local f = game.save.flags
+    local playerFacing = (y == 4) and "down" or "left"
     if f.EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX and not f.EVENT_BEAT_BROCK
        and not f.EVENT_BEAT_ROUTE22_RIVAL_1ST_BATTLE then
       return runAmbush(game, ow,
         route22Scene(1, 1, "ROUTE22_RIVAL1", "OPP_RIVAL1", 4,
-                     "EVENT_BEAT_ROUTE22_RIVAL_1ST_BATTLE", y), "left")
+                     "EVENT_BEAT_ROUTE22_RIVAL_1ST_BATTLE", y), playerFacing)
     end
     if f.EVENT_BEAT_GIOVANNI and not f.EVENT_BEAT_ROUTE22_RIVAL_2ND_BATTLE then
       return runAmbush(game, ow,
         route22Scene(2, 2, "ROUTE22_RIVAL2", "OPP_RIVAL2", 10,
-                     "EVENT_BEAT_ROUTE22_RIVAL_2ND_BATTLE", y), "left")
+                     "EVENT_BEAT_ROUTE22_RIVAL_2ND_BATTLE", y), playerFacing)
     end
     return false
   end,
@@ -545,7 +603,7 @@ end
 -- scripts/CeruleanCity.asm CeruleanCityRocketText: fight the thief,
 -- then he returns TM28 (DIG) and hurries off.  CeruleanHideRocket
 -- (CeruleanCity_2.asm) is GBFadeOutToBlack → Show GUARD1 / Hide GUARD2 /
--- Hide ROCKET → GBFadeInFromBlack — not a bare hide_object.
+-- Hide ROCKET → GBFadeInFromBlack -- not a bare hide_object.
 local rocketRows = {
   { "face_player" },                                           -- 1
   { "check_flag", "EVENT_GOT_TM28" },                          -- 2
@@ -564,7 +622,7 @@ local rocketRows = {
   { "fade", "out" },                                           -- 15 GBFadeOutToBlack
   -- CeruleanHideRocket while black: GUARD1 (28,12) appears, GUARD2
   -- (27,12) and the ROCKET go.  GUARD2 blocks the trashed-house south
-  -- door neighbour — the swap reconnects the city (Bill's ticket does
+  -- door neighbour -- the swap reconnects the city (Bill's ticket does
   -- the same in story.lua; either route is enough).
   { "show_object", "CERULEAN_CITY", "CERULEANCITY_GUARD1" },   -- 16
   { "hide_object", "CERULEAN_CITY", "CERULEANCITY_GUARD2" },   -- 17
@@ -628,13 +686,83 @@ M.MUSEUM_1F = {
 }
 
 -- The Pewter Center's singing JIGGLYPUFF (scripts/PewterPokecenter.asm
--- plays MUSIC_JIGGLYPUFF_SONG, then the map theme resumes)
+-- PewterPokecenterJigglypuffText).  The text_asm sets
+-- wDoNotWaitForButtonPressAfterDisplayingText before PrintText, so the box
+-- prints with no A prompt and the script keeps running underneath it:
+-- SFX_STOP_ALL_MUSIC, DelayFrames 32, PlayMusic MUSIC_JIGGLYPUFF_SONG,
+-- then .spinMovementLoop writes the next of DOWN -> LEFT -> UP -> RIGHT (a
+-- clockwise turn) every 24 frames for as long as the song's CHAN1/CHAN2
+-- still sound, DelayFrames 48, PlayDefaultMusic, TextScriptEnd.  Only that
+-- last step closes the box, so the whole dance plays out unskippably
+-- (#249).  Music.playOnce's pendingRestore stands in for both the channel
+-- poll and PlayDefaultMusic, so the Center's theme comes back the frame
+-- the song ends rather than 48 frames later.
+local JIGGLYPUFF_SPIN = { "down", "left", "up", "right" }
+local JIGGLYPUFF_SILENCE, JIGGLYPUFF_STEP, JIGGLYPUFF_TAIL = 32, 24, 48
+
+-- Built as a TextBox `auto` table: auto.sound fires the frame the last
+-- page has typed out (PrintText returning), and auto.tick then runs once
+-- per frame while the gate it returns still reads as playing.
+local function jigglypuffDance(game, npc)
+  local Music = require("src.core.Music")
+  -- .findMatchingFacingDirectionLoop: the rotation picks up at the entry
+  -- matching the sprite's current facing (showMapText has just turned it
+  -- toward the player), and the first write is that same facing, so the
+  -- first visible quarter turn lands 24 frames in
+  local step = 1
+  for i, dir in ipairs(JIGGLYPUFF_SPIN) do
+    if npc and npc.facing == dir then step = i end
+  end
+  local frames, phase = 0, "silence"
+  return {
+    sound = function()
+      Music.stop() -- SFX_STOP_ALL_MUSIC
+      return { isPlaying = function() return phase ~= "done" end }
+    end,
+    tick = function()
+      frames = frames + 1
+      if phase == "silence" then
+        if frames < JIGGLYPUFF_SILENCE then return end
+        frames = 0
+        if Music.playOnce(game.data, "Music_JigglypuffSong") then
+          phase = "spin"
+        else
+          -- no song def (or headless): Music.stop above already took the
+          -- map theme down and nothing armed pendingRestore, so put it
+          -- back by hand and fall through to the tail rather than hold
+          -- the box on a poll that would never clear
+          Music.restoreMap(game.data)
+          phase = "tail"
+        end
+        return
+      end
+      if phase == "spin" then
+        if frames < JIGGLYPUFF_STEP then return end
+        frames = 0
+        -- the loop tests the channels after the delay and before the next
+        -- write, so a song that just ended costs no extra quarter turn
+        if not Music.oneShotPlaying() then
+          phase = "tail"
+          return
+        end
+        step = step % #JIGGLYPUFF_SPIN + 1
+        if npc then npc.facing = JIGGLYPUFF_SPIN[step] end
+        return
+      end
+      if frames >= JIGGLYPUFF_TAIL then phase = "done" end
+    end,
+  }
+end
+
 M.PEWTER_POKECENTER = {
   talk = {
     TEXT_PEWTERPOKECENTER_JIGGLYPUFF = function(game, ow, npc, done)
-      require("src.core.Music").playOnce(game.data, "Music_JigglypuffSong")
-      push(game, text(game)._PewterPokecenterJigglypuffText
-        or "JIGGLYPUFF: Puu\npupuu!", done)
+      -- not the local push() helper: this box needs opts.auto, which is
+      -- also what suppresses the blinking arrow and the A dismissal
+      local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
+      game.stack:push(TextBox.new(game,
+        text(game)._PewterPokecenterJigglypuffText or "JIGGLYPUFF: Puu\npupuu!",
+        done, { auto = jigglypuffDance(game, npc) }))
     end,
   },
 }
diff --git a/data/scripts/victories.lua b/data/scripts/victories.lua
index 65859d8e..56bd07df 100644
--- a/data/scripts/victories.lua
+++ b/data/scripts/victories.lua
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 -- `dialogue` is the end-battle + post-battle text chain each gym leader
 -- runs (SaveEndBattleTextPointers then the map's *PostBattle / ReceiveTM
 -- script).  Leaders are not def_trainers entries, so engageTrainer has
--- no header.won — checkVictoryRewards shows this chain instead of a
+-- no header.won -- checkVictoryRewards shows this chain instead of a
 -- synthetic "received badge/TM" stub.
 
 local function range(prefix, first, last)
diff --git a/mobile/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/mobile/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 59871933..1f39040d 100644
--- a/mobile/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/mobile/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 <manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" >
 <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.VIBRATE" />
   <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH" />
+  <!-- Link play (src/link/): both the LAN backend (enet UDP) and the relay
+       backend (luasocket TCP) are ordinary sockets, and Android denies those
+       to a UID without INTERNET. Bind and connect then come back EPERM, which
+       the link screen shows as "(Operation not permitted)" (issue #287).
+       scripts/build_android.sh must not strip this again. -->
+  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
 <!-- OpenGL ES 2.0 -->
   <uses-feature android:glEsVersion="0x00020000" />
   <!-- Touchscreen support -->
diff --git a/scripts/build_android.sh b/scripts/build_android.sh
index 30425a3b..39af4826 100755
--- a/scripts/build_android.sh
+++ b/scripts/build_android.sh
@@ -113,11 +113,12 @@ import pathlib, re, sys
 path = pathlib.Path(sys.argv[1])
 text = path.read_text()
 
-# Drop network / mic / legacy storage,  not needed for offline play.
-# Keep VIBRATE (love.system.vibrate) and BLUETOOTH (optional gamepads).
+# Drop mic / legacy storage, not needed by this game.
+# Keep VIBRATE (love.system.vibrate), BLUETOOTH (optional gamepads) and
+# INTERNET: link play is not offline-only any more, and stripping INTERNET
+# made every LAN host and every relay connect fail with EPERM (issue #287).
 # Orientation / label come from gradle.properties placeholders.
 for perm in (
-    "android.permission.INTERNET",
     "android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO",
     "android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE",
 ):
diff --git a/src/battle/BattleState.lua b/src/battle/BattleState.lua
index ae595242..e85faff0 100644
--- a/src/battle/BattleState.lua
+++ b/src/battle/BattleState.lua
@@ -53,16 +53,22 @@ local BALL_ANIMS = {
 }
 
 local imageCache = {}
+-- The three tables below are keyed by the Image OBJECT, not by a path, and a
+-- running battle holds the pics it built at enter() (battler.sprite,
+-- playerBackPic, trainerPic).  Weak keys let a dropped pic's row go with it,
+-- so invalidate() can drop the path cache without orphaning what is on
+-- screen right now (#316).
+local WEAK_KEYS = { __mode = "k" }
 -- fully transparent rows below a pic's content (the extracted 32x32 back
 -- pics carry baked-in padding); used to sit the pic flush on the text box
-local imagePadBottom = {}
+local imagePadBottom = setmetatable({}, WEAK_KEYS)
 -- fully transparent columns left of a pic's content; at 2x (back pics)
 -- this is subtracted from hlcoord 1,5 so opaque pixels match hardware,
 -- where those columns were white-on-white rather than shifted content
-local imagePadLeft = {}
+local imagePadLeft = setmetatable({}, WEAK_KEYS)
 -- image -> { path, pal } so palette-fade variants (see fadeImage) can be
 -- rebuilt for any battle pic, whatever code loaded it
-local imageMeta = {}
+local imageMeta = setmetatable({}, WEAK_KEYS)
 -- pal = { name, colors } recolors the 4 GB shades like the Super Game Boy.
 -- trueColor art (14 §the 4-shade contract) opts out of the quantize
 -- entirely, so its palette variant collapses back onto the plain path.
@@ -118,10 +124,19 @@ local function getImage(path, pal, trueColor)
   return imageCache[key]
 end
 
--- hot reload: the next getImage re-resolves every pic through the asset
--- search path and re-measures its ground padding
+-- Hot reload / COLORS change (PaletteFX.setMode calls this): the next
+-- getImage re-resolves every pic through the asset search path and
+-- re-measures its ground padding.  ONLY the path->image cache is dropped.
+-- Wiping the three per-image tables as well orphaned the pics a running
+-- battle already holds: imagePadBottom went nil, so backPlacement lost the
+-- four transparent rows it grounds the back pic on and the pic jumped
+-- pad * 2x = 8px UP the frame COLORS changed (#316), and imageMeta went nil,
+-- so picImage's forced-mono grayImage (#207), fadeImage's BGP variants and
+-- imagePathOf's battle_sprite_scales lookup all silently stopped resolving.
+-- Those rows are weak-keyed, so entries for pics nothing references any more
+-- are collected on their own rather than leaking.
 function BattleState.invalidate()
-  imageCache, imagePadBottom, imagePadLeft, imageMeta = {}, {}, {}, {}
+  imageCache = {}
 end
 
 Assets.register(BattleState.invalidate)
@@ -174,6 +189,25 @@ local function grayImage(img)
   return getImage(meta.path) or img
 end
 
+-- The blacked-out battle screen.  HandlePlayerBlackOut (core.asm:1151) runs
+-- SET_PAL_BATTLE_BLACK, i.e. SetPal_BattleBlack sends PalPacket_Black --
+-- PAL_BLACK in all four slots of BlkPacket_Battle (engine/gfx/palettes.asm:
+-- 22-25).  The mon pics are drawn OVER the zone pass with their palette
+-- already baked in, so darkening them means re-baking through PAL_BLACK the
+-- way fadeImage re-bakes through a BGP permutation (#292).  Reads the palette
+-- out of the active pack, exactly like sgbBattlePals, so the zone pass and
+-- the pics can never disagree.  trueColor art has no DMG shades to remap.
+local function blackImage(data, img)
+  local meta = imageMeta[img]
+  if not meta or meta.trueColor then return img end
+  local PaletteFX = require("src.render.PaletteFX")
+  local pack = PaletteFX.pack(data)
+  local colors = pack and pack.palettes and pack.palettes.BLACK
+  if not colors then return img end
+  local name = PaletteFX.usesGbcPack() and "redpp:BLACK" or "BLACK"
+  return getImage(meta.path, { name = name, colors = colors }) or img
+end
+
 -- the asset path a loaded battle image came from (nil for the headless
 -- stub images), so the battle_sprite_scales registry can be looked up by
 -- the same path data references
@@ -200,6 +234,11 @@ function BattleState:picImage(img)
   local mono = PaletteFX.mode == "og" or PaletteFX.mode == "og_inv"
                or PaletteFX.mode == "classic"
   if self.grayPics or mono then return grayImage(img) end
+  -- SET_PAL_BATTLE_BLACK covers every battle palette slot, so the pics go
+  -- dark with the HP bars while the blackout text is up (#292).  Below the
+  -- mono check on purpose: the forced-mono modes re-threshold the whole
+  -- frame downstream, and the DMG had no SGB darkening to begin with.
+  if self.blackedOut then return blackImage(self.data, img) end
   return fadeImage(img, self:activeBgp())
 end
 
@@ -725,6 +764,7 @@ function BattleState:startMessage(item)
   -- it against self.total); the current line's revealed count is #shown[last]
   self.charIndex = 0
   self.msgWaiting = nil
+  self.msgPrompt = nil
   self.scrollPx = nil
   self:beginMsgLine()
 end
@@ -930,9 +970,18 @@ function BattleState:updateQueue()
       end))
       return true
     end
-    if not (item and item.choice)
-       and (input:wasPressed("a") or input:wasPressed("b")) then
-      self.current = nil
+    if not (item and item.choice) then
+      -- The page is typed out and waiting on the player: PromptText
+      -- (home/text.asm:209-217) writes '▼' at (18,16) and ManualTextScroll
+      -- blinks it until A/B, so the arrow belongs on a finished page and not
+      -- only on a \v CONT hold (#317).  A flag of its own, not msgWaiting:
+      -- that branch above scrolls the NEXT line in, which this page has not
+      -- got, so reusing it would call beginMsgLine on a drained message.
+      self.msgPrompt = true
+      if input:wasPressed("a") or input:wasPressed("b") then
+        self.msgPrompt = nil
+        self.current = nil
+      end
     end
   end
   return true
@@ -1021,6 +1070,17 @@ function BattleState:enter()
   -- sides slide in; the trainer pics stay up until the send-outs
   self.introSlide = 40
   self.showEnemyTrainer = self.kind == "trainer" and self.trainerPic ~= nil
+  -- DrawAllPokeballs (common_text.asm:27) puts the party ball rows AND the
+  -- HUD corner/underline tiles under them (PlacePlayerHUDTiles /
+  -- PlaceEnemyHUDTiles, draw_hud_pokeball_gfx.asm:119-165) on screen with
+  -- the intro text; _InitBattleCommon (core.asm:6755-6762) ClearScreenArea's
+  -- both HUD blocks and ClearSprites's the balls the moment that text is
+  -- dismissed.  This flag is exactly that window: drawHUDs draws the intro
+  -- chrome while it is up and holds the real enemy HUD back, since a wild
+  -- battle's DrawEnemyHUDAndHPBar only runs after the text (#317).  The
+  -- draw is still gated on the slide having landed, so nothing shows while
+  -- the silhouettes are still coming in.
+  self.introBalls = true
   -- SGB: the player-side battle palette while the back pic is up is
   -- MonsterPalettes[0] = PAL_MEWMON (wBattleMonSpecies is still 0 when
   -- the intro's SET_PAL_BATTLE runs -- SetPal_Battle,
@@ -1052,12 +1112,27 @@ function BattleState:enter()
     queueEnemyCry()
   end
   self:say(self.introText)
+  -- _InitBattleCommon (core.asm:6755-6762): the instant the intro text is
+  -- dismissed both HUD blocks are cleared and ClearSprites drops the
+  -- pokeball OAM, so the intro chrome never returns for the rest of the
+  -- battle -- not on a switch, and not when the beaten trainer's pic
+  -- scrolls back in (#317, #282)
+  self:act(function() self.introBalls = nil end)
   if self.kind == "trainer" then
+    -- EnemySendOutFirstMon (core.asm:1308-1310): SlideTrainerPicOffScreen
+    -- walks the foe's pic off the RIGHT edge (hlcoord 18,0, a = 8 tiles,
+    -- one tile every 2 frames) BEFORE TrainerSentOutText -- the pic does
+    -- not blink out under the text (#317)
+    self:act(function() self:slidePic("foe", 0, 64, 4) end)
+    table.insert(self.queue, { wait = 16 })
+    self:act(function()
+      self.showEnemyTrainer = false
+      self:slidePic("foe")
+    end)
     self:say(Strings("%s sent\nout %s!", self.trainer.name, self.enemy.name))
     self:act(function()
       -- EnemySendOutFirstMon (core.asm:1421-1434): after the text the
       -- pic grows out of the ball (AnimateSendingOutMon), then the cry
-      self.showEnemyTrainer = false
       self:startGrowIn(self.enemy)
     end)
     queueEnemyCry()
@@ -1075,13 +1150,20 @@ function BattleState:enter()
     queueEnemyCry()
   end
   if not self.safari and not self.demo then
-    self:say(self:sendOutText(self.player.name))
-    -- Red's pic clears, the POOF plays, then the mon appears with its
-    -- cry (SendOutMon: message -> AnimateSendingOutMon -> PlayCry)
+    -- StartBattle .playerSendOutFirstMon (core.asm:236-240): the back pic
+    -- walks off the LEFT edge (SlideTrainerPicOffScreen, hlcoord 1,5,
+    -- a = 9 tiles, one tile every 2 frames) BEFORE SendOutMon prints
+    -- "Go! X!" -- Red does not simply vanish under the message (#317)
+    self:act(function() self:slidePic("back", 0, -72, 4) end)
+    table.insert(self.queue, { wait = 18 })
     self:act(function()
       self.showPlayerBack = false
       self.sendingOut = true
+      self:slidePic("back")
     end)
+    self:say(self:sendOutText(self.player.name))
+    -- then the POOF plays and the mon appears with its cry
+    -- (SendOutMon: message -> AnimateSendingOutMon -> PlayCry)
     table.insert(self.queue, { anim = "POOF_ANIM", attackerIsPlayer = false })
     self:act(function()
       self.sendingOut = false
@@ -2165,19 +2247,34 @@ end
 -- battle (EndLowHealthAlarm sets wLowHealthAlarmDisabled, mirrored by
 -- playVictoryMusic) and every other outcome tears it down in
 -- end_of_battle.asm -- self.result covers those.  The damage drain
--- gates the start (the HUD redraw runs after UpdateHPBar finishes),
--- but healing out of the red stops it at once (item_effects.asm clears
--- the alarm before the bar animates).  No alarm before the player HUD
--- first draws (send-out), nor in the safari/old-man battles, which
--- have no player mon HUD.
+-- gates the START (the HUD redraw runs after UpdateHPBar finishes) but
+-- never the stop, and healing out of the red silences it at once
+-- (item_effects.asm:991-994 clears the alarm before the bar animates).
+-- No alarm before the player HUD first draws (send-out), nor in the
+-- safari/old-man battles, which have no player mon HUD.
 function BattleState:lowHealthAlarmActive()
   local p = self.player
   if not p or self.safari or self.demo or self.result
      or self.lowHealthAlarmDisabled then return false end
   if self.showPlayerBack or (self.introSlide or 0) > 0 then return false end
+  if p.fainted then return false end
+  -- A siren that is ALREADY sounding follows the drawn bar, not the
+  -- model: wLowHealthAlarm is a latch DrawPlayerHUDAndHPBar only revisits
+  -- once UpdateHPBar2 has finished animating (core.asm:4727-4729 /
+  -- core.asm:4845-4847 both drain first, then jp DrawHUDsAndHPBars), and
+  -- a KO clears it in RemoveFaintedPlayerMon (core.asm:1011-1016), i.e.
+  -- after the bar has drained empty.  applyDamage takes the HP off the
+  -- model while the turn is still being queued, so keying a running alarm
+  -- off mon.hp cut it dead for the whole "used X!" line + move animation
+  -- + drain window (#293).  max() keeps a heal out of the red silencing
+  -- it on the spot, the way item_effects.asm does.
   local hp = p.mon.hp
-  if hp <= 0 or p.fainted then return false end
-  if p.shownHP and p.shownHP > hp then return false end -- drain running
+  if self.lowHealthAlarmOn then
+    hp = math.max(hp, shownHP(p))
+  elseif p.shownHP and p.shownHP > hp then
+    return false -- drain running: the HUD redraw has not happened yet
+  end
+  if hp <= 0 then return false end
   local px = math.max(1, math.floor(hp * 48 / math.max(1, p.mon.stats.hp)))
   return px < 10
 end
@@ -2193,10 +2290,47 @@ local function stepProgram(prog)
   return head
 end
 
+-- Trainer-pic slides.  SlideTrainerPicOffScreen (core.asm:1235) walks a
+-- trainer pic off its own screen edge one tile every 2 frames (9 tiles left
+-- for the player back pic, 8 tiles right for the foe), and
+-- _ScrollTrainerPicAfterBattle (engine/battle/scroll_draw_trainer_pic.asm)
+-- brings the beaten foe back in from the right one column every 4 frames.
+-- picOff holds the live programs by slot -- "foe" = the enemy trainer pic,
+-- "back" = the player's back pic -- as a screen-pixel x offset stepped
+-- toward `to`; updateFx advances them, drawPicsLayer adds them, and the
+-- queue rows that start them park a { wait } of the matching length.  Call
+-- with no target to clear a slot (#317, #282).
+function BattleState:slidePic(slot, from, to, step)
+  self.picOff = self.picOff or {}
+  if to == nil then
+    self.picOff[slot] = nil
+    return
+  end
+  self.picOff[slot] = { x = from or 0, to = to, step = step or 4 }
+end
+
+-- the live x offset for a pic slot, 0 when nothing is sliding
+function BattleState:picOffset(slot)
+  local p = self.picOff and self.picOff[slot]
+  return p and p.x or 0
+end
+
 function BattleState:updateFx()
   if self.introSlide and self.introSlide > 0 then
     self.introSlide = self.introSlide - 1
   end
+  -- step each live trainer-pic slide toward its target; a landed program
+  -- holds its offset (the after-battle scroll-in rests two tiles right of
+  -- the battle slot) until its owner clears the slot
+  if self.picOff then
+    for _, p in pairs(self.picOff) do
+      if p.x < p.to then
+        p.x = math.min(p.to, p.x + p.step)
+      elseif p.x > p.to then
+        p.x = math.max(p.to, p.x - p.step)
+      end
+    end
+  end
   local fx = self.fx
   if fx then
     if fx.shake and fx.shake > 0 then fx.shake = fx.shake - 1 end
@@ -2285,7 +2419,12 @@ function BattleState:updateFx()
   -- low-HP alarm (audio/low_health_alarm.asm): the two-tone siren
   -- loops while the player's bar is red; see lowHealthAlarmActive
   local Sound = require("src.core.Sound")
-  if self:lowHealthAlarmActive() then
+  -- self.lowHealthAlarmOn mirrors wLowHealthAlarm's bit 7: a latch read
+  -- back inside lowHealthAlarmActive (the RHS sees last frame's value)
+  -- so a sounding siren rides out the next hit's HP drain instead of
+  -- dropping out mid-announcement (#293)
+  self.lowHealthAlarmOn = self:lowHealthAlarmActive()
+  if self.lowHealthAlarmOn then
     Sound.startLoop(self.data, "Low_Health_Alarm")
   else
     Sound.stopLoop("Low_Health_Alarm")
@@ -2922,6 +3061,16 @@ function BattleState:enemyMonFainted()
       local style = tostring((self.game.save.options or {}).battleStyle or "shift")
         :lower()
       local partyCount = #self.game.save.party
+      -- ReplaceFaintedEnemyMon (core.asm:892-896): DrawEnemyPokeballs puts the
+      -- foe's party ball row -- and the HUD chrome PlaceEnemyHUDTiles lays
+      -- down under it (draw_hud_pokeball_gfx.asm:9-11, 33-45, 134-141) -- into
+      -- the block FaintEnemyPokemon just cleared, after the exp text and
+      -- BEFORE the next send-out.  It survives EnemySendOutFirstMon's
+      -- SlideTrainerPicOffScreen (core.asm:1308-1310, 8 steps x DelayFrames 2)
+      -- so SET style gets the brief flash, and stays up through the whole
+      -- SHIFT prompt below (#283).
+      self:act(function() self.showEnemyBalls = true end)
+      table.insert(self.queue, { wait = 16 })
       -- SwitchPlayerMon runs AFTER TrainerSentOutText (core.asm:1436-1443)
       local shiftSwitchMon = nil
       if style ~= "set" and partyCount > 1 and self.player.mon.hp > 0 then
@@ -2957,6 +3106,10 @@ function BattleState:enemyMonFainted()
         })
         self.aiUses = self:aiUsesFor()
         markSeen(self.game, self.enemy.mon.species)
+        -- EnemySendOutFirstMon .next4 (core.asm:1413-1417): ClearSprites and
+        -- the 4x11 ClearScreenArea take the ball row away with the rest of
+        -- the enemy HUD block, right before TrainerSentOutText (#283)
+        self.showEnemyBalls = nil
         self:markParticipant()
         -- EnemySendOutFirstMon (core.asm:1413-1435): the enemy HUD area
         -- clears, TrainerSentOutText prints, THEN the pic appears
@@ -2984,6 +3137,20 @@ function BattleState:enemyMonFainted()
           battle = self, side = self.sides[1],
           battler = self.player, previous = previous,
         })
+        -- Taking the SHIFT offer ZEROES wPartyGainExpFlags and
+        -- wPartyFoughtCurrentEnemyFlags before jumping to SwitchPlayerMon
+        -- (EnemySendOutFirstMon tail, core.asm:1436-1443), and SwitchPlayerMon
+        -- then FLAG_SETs only the mon coming in (core.asm:2424-2433).  Without
+        -- the reset the mon that was out when the enemy fainted -- marked by
+        -- the send-out act above, which mirrors EnemySendOut's own re-flag
+        -- (core.asm:1276-1289) -- stayed a participant, so the exp divisor in
+        -- enemyMonFainted counted two mons and the switch-in earned half the
+        -- next KO (#275).  Voluntary switches (resolveSwitch) and post-faint
+        -- replacements (openReplacementMenu) must NOT do this: pokered's
+        -- party-menu SwitchPlayerMon keeps the outgoing mon flagged, which is
+        -- the deliberate exp-share, and a fainted mon is already dropped by
+        -- onFaint mirroring RemoveFaintedPlayerMon (core.asm:1002-1007).
+        self.participants = {}
         self:markParticipant()
         self.nextInsert = 0
         self.sendingOut = true
@@ -2999,16 +3166,39 @@ function BattleState:enemyMonFainted()
     end
     local prize = (self.trainer.baseMoney or 0) * self.enemy.mon.level
     self.game.save.money = self.game.save.money + prize
-    -- the beaten trainer's pic returns for the defeat text (pokered
-    -- DisplayBattleMenu's defeat flow)
-    self:act(function() self.showEnemyTrainer = self.trainerPic ~= nil end)
-    -- TrainerBattleVictory (core.asm:915-933): EndLowHealthAlarm, then
-    -- the victory theme starts BEFORE TrainerDefeatedText and the
-    -- prize money
+    -- TrainerBattleVictory (core.asm:915-949) in order: EndLowHealthAlarm
+    -- and the victory theme, TrainerDefeatedText, ScrollTrainerPicAfterBattle
+    -- (the beaten trainer scrolls back in from the right, one column every 4
+    -- frames, resting two tiles right of the battle slot), DelayFrames 40,
+    -- PrintEndBattleText -- the trainer's OWN loss line, on the battle
+    -- screen -- and only then MoneyForWinningText.  Every row rides the
+    -- *Next inserters so it keeps that order behind the running queue item;
+    -- the plain act() the pic used to ride appended to the END of the queue,
+    -- which is why the trainer only flashed up for a frame or two as the
+    -- battle popped and the loss line had to be printed by the overworld
+    -- afterwards, stranding any evolution between two cuts (#282).
+    -- endBattleText is filled in by whoever started the battle
+    -- (OverworldState:engageTrainer in src/world/OverworldController.lua);
+    -- scripted battles that print their own follow-up leave it nil.
     self:actNext(function() self:playVictoryMusic() end)
     -- _TrainerDefeatedText: "<PLAYER> defeated\nTRAINER!"
     self:sayNext(Strings("%s defeated\n%s!", self.game.save.player.name,
                                              self.trainer.name))
+    self:actNext(function()
+      self.showEnemyTrainer = self.trainerPic ~= nil
+      if self.showEnemyTrainer then self:slidePic("foe", 64, 16, 2) end
+    end)
+    -- the 24-frame scroll-in plus the DelayFrames 40 that follows it
+    self.nextInsert = (self.nextInsert or 0) + 1
+    table.insert(self.queue, self.nextInsert, { wait = 64 })
+    if self.endBattleText then
+      -- PrintEndBattleText prints one text box; a `para` (\f) inside it
+      -- starts a fresh page, which is a message row of its own here (five
+      -- EndBattleTexts carry one, e.g. _Route9Youngster1EndBattleText)
+      for page in (self.endBattleText .. "\f"):gmatch("(.-)\f") do
+        if page ~= "" then self:sayNext(page) end
+      end
+    end
     self:sayNext(Strings("%s got ¥%d\nfor winning!", self.game.save.player.name, prize))
   end
   self.result = "win"
@@ -3076,6 +3266,15 @@ function BattleState:playerMonFainted()
     -- Oak's Lab starter rival: Rival1WinText only (no blackout lines).
     -- Any other wipe, including Route 22 RIVAL1, still blacks out.
     if not BattleState.isOaksLabStarterRival(self) then
+      -- HandlePlayerBlackOut (core.asm:1150-1159): SET_PAL_BATTLE_BLACK runs
+      -- BEFORE PlayerBlackedOutText2, so the enemy pic and both HP bars are
+      -- already dark under the blackout lines (#292).  The Oak's Lab starter
+      -- rival returns one line above that call and never darkens.  Set here
+      -- rather than queued: this whole function already runs from a queued
+      -- act after "<mon> fainted!" was dismissed, which is where the palette
+      -- command sits.  (The Route 22 RIVAL1 wipe darkens one box early, over
+      -- Rival1WinText, which pokered prints just before the same command.)
+      self.blackedOut = true
       self:sayNext(Strings("%s is out of\nuseable POKéMON!", self.game.save.player.name))
       self:sayNext(Strings("%s blacked\nout!", self.game.save.player.name))
     end
@@ -3484,13 +3683,41 @@ end
 
 -- called by BagMenu when a ball is thrown
 function BattleState:throwBall(ball)
-  self:say(Strings("%s used\n%s!", self.game.save.player.name,
-                                   self.data.items[ball].name))
+  -- ItemUseBall branches to ThrowBallAtTrainerMon on wIsInBattle != 1
+  -- (item_effects.asm:109-113) BEFORE it reaches `ld hl, ItemUseText00 /
+  -- call PrintText` (:146-147), so a trainer battle never shows the
+  -- "<PLAYER> used <ITEM>!" line (#291).  Safari and the old man demo are
+  -- still wIsInBattle == 1, and this port models both as kind == "wild".
+  if self.kind == "wild" then
+    self:say(Strings("%s used\n%s!", self.game.save.player.name,
+                                     self.data.items[ball].name))
+  end
   self:act(function()
     require("src.core.Sound").play(self.data, "Ball_Toss")
     if self.kind ~= "wild" then
-      self:sayNext(Strings("The TRAINER\nblocked the BALL!"))
-      self:sayNext(Strings("Don't be a thief!"))
+      -- ThrowBallAtTrainerMon (item_effects.asm:2292-2303) still animates the
+      -- toss: MoveAnimation routes TOSS_ANIM to TossBallAnimation, which takes
+      -- its .BlockBall branch in a trainer battle (animations.asm:2582-2585,
+      -- 2629-2637) -- the plain TOSS arc whatever the ball tier, then
+      -- SFX_FAINT_THUD and BLOCKBALL_ANIM, and only then the two texts.  The
+      -- ball still counts as used: UseItem_ sets
+      -- wActionResultOrTookBattleTurn = 1 (item_effects.asm:1-3) and this path
+      -- never clears it, so UseBagItem does not fall back to the bag
+      -- (core.asm:2257-2259) and the turn is spent -- the foe moves (#291).
+      local t = self.data.text
+      self:animNext("TOSS_ANIM", true, nil, ball)
+      self:actNext(function()
+        require("src.core.Sound").play(self.data, "Faint_Thud")
+      end)
+      self:animNext("BLOCKBALL_ANIM", true)
+      self:sayNext(t._ThrowBallAtTrainerMonText1
+                   or Strings("The trainer\nblocked the BALL!"))
+      self:sayNext(t._ThrowBallAtTrainerMonText2
+                   or Strings("Don't be a thief!"))
+      self:act(function()
+        self:executeAction(self.enemy, self.player, self:enemyAction())
+      end)
+      self:act(function() self:endOfTurn() end)
       return
     end
     if self.ghost then
@@ -3941,6 +4168,16 @@ function BattleState:sgbBattlePals()
   local pack = PaletteFX.pack(self.data)
   local pals = pack and pack.palettes
   if not pals then return nil end
+  -- HandlePlayerBlackOut (core.asm:1151) runs SET_PAL_BATTLE_BLACK:
+  -- SetPal_BattleBlack sends PalPacket_Black, PAL_BLACK in all four slots of
+  -- BlkPacket_Battle (engine/gfx/palettes.asm:22-25), so every zone of the
+  -- battle screen -- both HP bars and both mon regions -- goes dark behind
+  -- the blackout text.  picImage re-bakes the pics through the same palette,
+  -- since those draw over the zone pass rather than through it (#292).
+  if self.blackedOut and pals.BLACK then
+    local b = pals.BLACK
+    return { [0] = b, [1] = b, [2] = b, [3] = b }
+  end
   local function bar(b)
     if not b then return pals.GREENBAR end
     local hp = b.shownHP or b.mon.hp
@@ -4180,7 +4417,8 @@ function BattleState:drawPicsLayer(slide, sx, sy)
     local img = self:picImage(self.trainerPic)
     love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
     local ex, ey = enemyPicXY(img, slide, sx, sy)
-    love.graphics.draw(img, ex, ey)
+    -- SlideTrainerPicOffScreen / _ScrollTrainerPicAfterBattle offset (#317)
+    love.graphics.draw(img, ex + self:picOffset("foe"), ey)
   elseif self.enemy and self.enemy.sprite and not self.enemyHidden
      and not self.enemySendingOut and not self:fxHidden(self.enemy) then
     local img = self:picImage(self.enemy.sprite)
@@ -4223,7 +4461,9 @@ function BattleState:drawPicsLayer(slide, sx, sy)
     love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
     local dx, dy = BattleState.backPlacement(img:getWidth(), img:getHeight(),
       pad, padL, s)
-    love.graphics.draw(img, dx + slide + sx, dy + sy, 0, s, s)
+    -- picOffset: SlideTrainerPicOffScreen walking the back pic off the left
+    love.graphics.draw(img, dx + slide + sx + self:picOffset("back"),
+                       dy + sy, 0, s, s)
   elseif self.player and self.player.sprite and not hidePlayer
      and not self.sendingOut and not self:fxHidden(self.player) then
     local img = self:picImage(self.player.sprite)
@@ -4276,9 +4516,13 @@ function BattleState:drawHUDs(slide)
   local hudShake = (fx and fx.hudShakeX) or 0
   -- FaintEnemyPokemon clears the enemy HUD area; it stays blank through
   -- TrainerAboutToUseText until DrawEnemyHUDAndHPBar after the next send-out
+  -- ...and it is not up yet during the intro text either: a wild battle's
+  -- DrawEnemyHUDAndHPBar is called from _InitBattleCommon (core.asm:6763)
+  -- AFTER PrintBeginningBattleText returns, so "Wild X appeared!" shows the
+  -- player's ball row with no enemy HUD beside it (#317)
   if self.enemy and not self.showEnemyTrainer and not self.enemySendingOut
      and not self:growInScale(self.enemy) and slide == 0
-     and not self.enemy.fainted then
+     and not self.introBalls and not self.enemy.fainted then
     -- enemy HUD (DrawEnemyHUDAndHPBar): name row 0, <LV>+level (4,1),
     -- HP bar (2,2) with the vertical tick at (1,2), underline row 3;
     -- AnimationShakeEnemyHUD nudges just this block via SCX
@@ -4306,28 +4550,60 @@ function BattleState:drawHUDs(slide)
     end
   end
 
+  -- ReplaceFaintedEnemyMon -> DrawEnemyPokeballs (core.asm:896,
+  -- draw_hud_pokeball_gfx.asm:9-11 -> SetupEnemyPartyPokeballs :33-45):
+  -- between a KO and the next send-out the foe's ball row sits in the enemy
+  -- HUD block FaintEnemyPokemon cleared, over the chrome PlaceEnemyHUDTiles
+  -- writes with it -- the same $73 (1,2) / $74 (1,3) / $76 run / $78 tiles
+  -- the live HUD draws, minus the HP bar (#283).  Its own block rather than
+  -- a third arm of showIntroBalls below: that window is DrawAllPokeballs's
+  -- (#317) and clears for the rest of the battle, this one reopens on every
+  -- enemy faint.  wBaseCoordX $48 / wBaseCoordY $20 stepping -8 is screen
+  -- (64,16) leftward, the same row the intro draws.
+  if self.showEnemyBalls and self.enemyParty and slide == 0 then
+    hudTile(0x73, 8, 16)
+    hudTile(0x74, 8, 24)
+    for i = 2, 9 do hudTile(0x76, i * 8, 24) end
+    hudTile(0x78, 80, 24)
+    love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
+    self:drawBallRow(self.enemyParty, 64, 16, -8)
+  end
+
   -- Safari shows only the ball count; the old man demo shows neither mon
   if self.safari then
     love.graphics.setColor(0, 0, 0, 1)
     Font.draw(("BALLx%2d"):format(self.safari.balls), 88, 72)
   end
-  -- trainer/link party pokeball rows during the intro
-  -- (SetupPlayerAndEnemyPokeballs, draw_hud_pokeball_gfx.asm)
-  local showIntroBalls = slide == 0 and (
-    (self.kind == "trainer" and (self.showEnemyTrainer or self.showPlayerBack))
-    or (self.kind == "link" and (self.showPlayerBack or self.enemySendingOut))
-  )
+  -- Party pokeball rows and the HUD chrome under them, for exactly the
+  -- window DrawAllPokeballs owns (common_text.asm:27, with the intro text).
+  -- SetupOwnPartyPokeballs runs in EVERY battle, so the player's row belongs
+  -- on the wild intro too -- keying it off the enemy trainer pic meant a
+  -- wild battle never drew one (#317) -- and SetupEnemyPartyPokeballs is
+  -- skipped when wIsInBattle == 1, so only a trainer/link battle gets the
+  -- foe's row.  Gating on introBalls rather than on the pics also stops the
+  -- rows coming back when the beaten trainer scrolls in (#282):
+  -- _ScrollTrainerPicAfterBattle redraws tilemap columns and never touches
+  -- OAM, which ClearSprites emptied when the intro text was dismissed.
+  local showIntroBalls = self.introBalls and slide == 0
   if showIntroBalls then
-    love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
-    if self.enemyParty and (
-         (self.kind == "trainer" and self.showEnemyTrainer)
-         or (self.kind == "link" and self.enemySendingOut)
-       ) then
+    if self.enemyParty and (self.kind == "trainer" or self.kind == "link") then
+      -- PlaceEnemyHUDTiles (hlcoord 1,2): $73, then $74 + 8x $76 + $78
+      -- rightward along row 3 (draw_hud_pokeball_gfx.asm:133-165)
+      hudTile(0x73, 8, 16)
+      hudTile(0x74, 8, 24)
+      for i = 2, 9 do hudTile(0x76, i * 8, 24) end
+      hudTile(0x78, 80, 24)
+      love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
       self:drawBallRow(self.enemyParty, 64, 16, -8)
     end
-    if self.showPlayerBack then
-      self:drawBallRow(self.playerParty or self.game.save.party, 88, 80, 8)
-    end
+    -- PlacePlayerHUDTiles (hlcoord 18,10): $73, then $77 + 8x $76 + $6F
+    -- LEFTWARD along row 11 (draw_hud_pokeball_gfx.asm:119-131)
+    hudTile(0x73, 144, 80)
+    hudTile(0x77, 144, 88)
+    for i = 10, 17 do hudTile(0x76, i * 8, 88) end
+    hudTile(0x6F, 72, 88)
+    love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
+    self:drawBallRow(self.playerParty or self.game.save.party, 88, 80, 8)
   end
   local hidePlayer = self.safari or self.demo
   if self.player and not hidePlayer and not self.showPlayerBack
@@ -4377,9 +4653,10 @@ function BattleState:drawTextArea()
         Font.drawCode(line[i], 8 + (i - 1) * 8, y)
       end
     end
-    -- the blinking down arrow ('▼', glyph $EE) while a \v CONT wait holds the
-    -- box, bottom-right of the box like TextBox / home/text.asm
-    if self.msgWaiting and self.frame % 60 < 30 then
+    -- the blinking down arrow ('▼', glyph $EE) while a \v CONT wait
+    -- (_ContText) or a typed-out page (PromptText) holds the box; both write
+    -- it at (18,16), bottom-right, like TextBox / home/text.asm (#317)
+    if (self.msgWaiting or self.msgPrompt) and self.frame % 60 < 30 then
       Font.drawCode(0xEE, (0 + 20 - 2) * 8, (12 + 6 - 1) * 8 - 4)
     end
   elseif self.phase == "menu" and self.demo then
@@ -4419,6 +4696,18 @@ function BattleState:drawTextArea()
     -- the move box's top border ('─' at (4,12), '┘' at (10,12)).
     Font.drawBox(0, 8, 11, 5)
     Font.drawBox(4, 12, 16, 6)
+    -- Those two cells are REPLACED on hardware: MoveSelectionMenu writes them
+    -- straight into the tilemap over the border it just laid down
+    -- (core.asm:2492-2501), and PrintMenuItem's own TextBoxBorder then redraws
+    -- the whole row on top (core.asm:2838-2844).  Font.drawCode blits a
+    -- black-on-transparent glyph instead, so the tile underneath survives: the
+    -- move box's '┌' keeps its Poké Ball corner showing through the '─', and
+    -- the '─' the move box drew at (10,12) pokes two dots out from under the
+    -- '┘' (#240).  Wipe each cell back to box white first, the way a tilemap
+    -- write does.
+    love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
+    love.graphics.rectangle("fill", 32, 96, 8, 8)
+    love.graphics.rectangle("fill", 80, 96, 8, 8)
     Font.drawCode(Font.BORDER.h, 32, 96)
     Font.drawCode(Font.BORDER.br, 80, 96)
     love.graphics.setColor(0, 0, 0, 1)
diff --git a/src/battle/TrainerAI.lua b/src/battle/TrainerAI.lua
index 09308ed5..08b9aca0 100644
--- a/src/battle/TrainerAI.lua
+++ b/src/battle/TrainerAI.lua
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 -- the MINIMUM-scored move is chosen, ties broken uniformly among the
 -- tied minima (core.asm:2971-3002).  A non-minimal move is never
 -- selectable.  Respects Disable (and PP only when the ruleset depletes
--- enemy PP — Gen 1 AI never reads wEnemyMonPP).
+-- enemy PP -- Gen 1 AI never reads wEnemyMonPP).
 
 local TypeChart = require("src.battle.TypeChart")
 local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
diff --git a/src/core/Input.lua b/src/core/Input.lua
index ed782be4..d10feef1 100644
--- a/src/core/Input.lua
+++ b/src/core/Input.lua
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ function Input:step()
     elseif next(sources) ~= nil then
       self.state[btn] = true
     end
-    -- sources == {}: real press fully released before this step — keep up
+    -- sources == {}: real press fully released before this step -- keep up
   end
   for btn, sources in pairs(self.sources) do
     if next(sources) == nil then
diff --git a/src/core/SaveData.lua b/src/core/SaveData.lua
index 3d540cc7..6ad836c1 100644
--- a/src/core/SaveData.lua
+++ b/src/core/SaveData.lua
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ local SaveSerializer = require("src.core.SaveSerializer")
 local Runtime = require("src.mods.Runtime")
 local Semver = require("src.mods.Semver")
 local Boxes = require("src.pokemon.Boxes")
+local Stats = require("src.pokemon.Stats")
 local Bag = require("src.inventory.Bag")
 local Badges = require("src.inventory.Badges")
 
@@ -972,6 +973,17 @@ local function scrubKnownMon(mon, data)
     for stat, v in pairs(mon.statExp) do mon.statExp[stat] = clamp(v, 0, 65535, 0) end
   end
   mon.level = clamp(mon.level, 1, 100, 1)
+  -- Box mons imported from a real .sav carry NO stat block: box_struct stops
+  -- before MON_LEVEL/MON_STATS, so src/save_convert/GenSave.lua decodeMon
+  -- only fills `stats` for party slots.  Every HP-bar draw then nil-indexes
+  -- mon.stats: the status screen opened in the box (#233) and the party list
+  -- after withdrawing one (#304).  The original derives them on demand
+  -- (status_screen.asm:66-76, add_mon.asm _MoveMon); deriving once here means
+  -- every later reader (menus, battle, items, SGB bar zones, the link
+  -- fingerprint) sees a party-shaped mon.  Runs after the level clamp above
+  -- so the derived stats use a sane level.  A save that already has stats is
+  -- untouched.
+  Stats.ensure(data.pokemon and data.pokemon[mon.species], mon)
   local moves = mon.moves
   if type(moves) ~= "table" then return end
   local hadMoves = #moves > 0
@@ -1216,7 +1228,7 @@ function SaveData.newGame(boot)
     inventory = {},
     -- Vanilla Gen1 seeds one Potion in the player's item PC
     -- (wBoxItems / players_pc.asm); existing saves keep whatever they
-    -- already have — this only applies to New Game.
+    -- already have -- this only applies to New Game.
     pcItems = { POTION = 1 },
     party = {},
     box = {},
diff --git a/src/import/CacheFs.lua b/src/import/CacheFs.lua
index a6ce71e9..89166851 100644
--- a/src/import/CacheFs.lua
+++ b/src/import/CacheFs.lua
@@ -75,6 +75,32 @@ local function resolveMkdir()
   return mkdirFn
 end
 
+-- Lazily-resolved windowless rmdir, the mirror of resolveMkdir above:
+-- function(absolutePath) or false when FFI is unavailable.  Both syscalls
+-- refuse a non-empty directory, so a caller has to delete the files first.
+local rmdirFn = nil
+
+local function resolveRmdir()
+  if rmdirFn ~= nil then return rmdirFn end
+  rmdirFn = false
+  local ok, ffi = pcall(require, "ffi")
+  if not ok then return rmdirFn end
+  if ffi.os == "Windows" then
+    pcall(ffi.cdef, "int RemoveDirectoryA(const char *lpPathName);")
+    local resolved = pcall(function() return ffi.C.RemoveDirectoryA end)
+    if resolved then
+      rmdirFn = function(path) pcall(ffi.C.RemoveDirectoryA, path) end
+    end
+  else
+    pcall(ffi.cdef, "int rmdir(const char *pathname);")
+    local resolved = pcall(function() return ffi.C.rmdir end)
+    if resolved then
+      rmdirFn = function(path) pcall(ffi.C.rmdir, path) end
+    end
+  end
+  return rmdirFn
+end
+
 -- Mount an external directory onto the physfs read path (appended, so the
 -- game's own source always wins a name clash).  Returns true on success.
 --
@@ -229,6 +255,23 @@ function CacheFs.remove(rel)
   love.filesystem.remove(rel)
 end
 
+-- Remove a single cache-relative directory once its files are gone.  Needed
+-- because os.remove cannot delete a directory on Windows and
+-- love.filesystem.remove never reaches outside the save directory, so the
+-- portable game folder gets the same FFI-syscall treatment as its mkdir
+-- (issue #74: os.execute would flash a console window per call).  Used by the
+-- mod installer so an uninstall leaves nothing behind (#330).
+function CacheFs.removeDir(rel)
+  rel = withPrefix(rel)
+  local root = CacheFs.root()
+  if root then
+    local rmdir = resolveRmdir()
+    if rmdir then rmdir(realPath(root, rel)) end
+    return
+  end
+  love.filesystem.remove(rel)
+end
+
 -- Remove the game-folder copy of a cache subtree before a fresh import, so a
 -- cache-format bump does not leave orphaned files behind.  No-op when the
 -- portable cache is inactive (the save-directory copy is cleared by
diff --git a/src/import/RomImporter.lua b/src/import/RomImporter.lua
index 147ff030..c79e2eb9 100644
--- a/src/import/RomImporter.lua
+++ b/src/import/RomImporter.lua
@@ -255,7 +255,36 @@ local function fileUrl(path)
   return "file://" .. encoded
 end
 
+-- The native pickers below block the whole loop inside io.popen, and they are
+-- opened straight out of mousepressed -- with the button still physically
+-- down.  SDL auto-captures the pointer for the length of a press (on X11 an
+-- XGrabPointer with owner_events) and only drops that capture when it
+-- processes the matching button-up, which it cannot do while we sit in popen
+-- and never pump.  The grab then outlives the click and every pointer event
+-- over the file chooser is still routed to our window: the dialog draws and
+-- keyboard-navigates (keyboard focus is a separate grab) but ignores the
+-- mouse entirely -- issue #254 on Linux.  Whether it bites is a race with how
+-- long the click was held, which is why the same build picks one ROM fine and
+-- then hangs the mouse on the next.  So pump until no button is held, letting
+-- SDL see the release and let go first; bounded, so a stuck button costs a
+-- moment and never the launcher.  pump() only drains OS events into LOVE's
+-- queue -- it dispatches nothing -- so there is no reentry into mousepressed
+-- and the release is still delivered normally on the next frame.
+local function releasePointerGrab()
+  if not (love.mouse and love.mouse.isDown and love.event and love.event.pump
+      and love.timer) then
+    return
+  end
+  local deadline = love.timer.getTime() + 1
+  while love.mouse.isDown(1, 2, 3) do
+    love.event.pump()
+    if love.timer.getTime() > deadline then break end
+    love.timer.sleep(0.005)
+  end
+end
+
 local function commandOutput(command)
+  releasePointerGrab()
   local pipe = io.popen(command, "r")
   if not pipe then return nil end
   local result = pipe:read("*a")
@@ -2476,7 +2505,7 @@ function RomImporter:_drawModsPanel(x, y, w, h)
         love.graphics.printf(m.description, nx, ny + nameH + 6 * s, L.leftW, "left")
       end
 
-      -- right cluster: status chip, toggle, Delete — vertically centred
+      -- right cluster: status chip, toggle, Delete -- vertically centred
       local clusterX = x + w - padH - L.clusterW
       local clusterY = cy + (cardH - clusterH) / 2
       local _, chipColor = modStatusChip(m.status)
diff --git a/src/inventory/ItemEffects.lua b/src/inventory/ItemEffects.lua
index 193b6ece..484bcc67 100644
--- a/src/inventory/ItemEffects.lua
+++ b/src/inventory/ItemEffects.lua
@@ -47,6 +47,17 @@ ItemEffects.BALLS = BALLS
 function ItemEffects.isBall(id) return BALLS[id] or false end
 function ItemEffects.isStone(id) return STONES[id] or false end
 
+-- Does using this item take item_effects.asm's .healHP path, the one that
+-- plays SFX_HEAL_HP and lengthens the party HP bar with UpdateHPBar2 before
+-- the message (item_effects.asm .doneHealing)?  The status-only cures branch
+-- to .playStatusAilmentCuringSound instead and never touch the bar.  BagMenu
+-- keeps the party picker open for these so the fill has something to draw
+-- on (#252).
+function ItemEffects.healsHP(id)
+  return HEAL_AMOUNT[id] ~= nil or id == "MAX_POTION" or id == "FULL_RESTORE"
+      or id == "REVIVE" or id == "MAX_REVIVE"
+end
+
 -- Does this item need a party-member target?
 function ItemEffects.needsTarget(id, itemDef)
   return HEAL_AMOUNT[id] or STATUS_HEAL[id] or id == "MAX_POTION"
@@ -257,6 +268,11 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
     if not target or target.hp <= 0 or target.hp >= target.stats.hp then
       return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") }
     end
+    -- wHPBarOldHP: the bar animation starts from the HP the mon had BEFORE
+    -- the item landed (item_effects.asm latches it with the party menu still
+    -- up), so latch it here and hand it back as extra.healedFrom for the
+    -- party-menu fill (#252)
+    local before = target.hp
     if itemId == "MAX_POTION" or itemId == "FULL_RESTORE" then
       target.hp = target.stats.hp
     else
@@ -268,7 +284,7 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
       cureActiveToxic(battle, target)
     end
     require("src.core.Sound").play(data, "Heal_HP")
-    return "consumed", msgs
+    return "consumed", msgs, { healedFrom = before }
   end
 
   local cures = STATUS_HEAL[itemId]
@@ -289,7 +305,10 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
     target.status = nil
     target.hp = itemId == "REVIVE" and math.floor(target.stats.hp / 2) or target.stats.hp
     require("src.core.Sound").play(data, "Heal_HP")
-    return "consumed", { Strings("%s\nis revitalized!", monName(data, target)) }
+    -- a revive takes the same .healHP -> .doneHealing route, animating up
+    -- from the fainted mon's 0 HP (#252)
+    return "consumed", { Strings("%s\nis revitalized!", monName(data, target)) },
+           { healedFrom = 0 }
   end
 
   if itemId == "RARE_CANDY" then
diff --git a/src/mods/LauncherMods.lua b/src/mods/LauncherMods.lua
index 47d90488..2e81e0a2 100644
--- a/src/mods/LauncherMods.lua
+++ b/src/mods/LauncherMods.lua
@@ -3,8 +3,18 @@
 -- manifests only.  The full loader (src/mods/Loader.lua) still owns the real
 -- load at boot; this reads the same options.mods enable-state the loader
 -- writes, derives per-mod status with the pure ManagerState.resolveToggle,
--- installs a dropped/chosen .zip into the save-dir "mods/<id>/" tree, and
--- uninstalls a mod by removing that tree + clearing options.mods[id].
+-- installs a dropped/chosen .zip into a "mods/<id>/" tree, and uninstalls a
+-- mod by removing that tree + clearing options.mods[id].
+--
+-- Where that tree lives is CacheFs's call, not love.filesystem's: a portable
+-- install (portable.txt beside the executable) keeps its mods in the game
+-- folder like everything else it owns, and only the OS save directory
+-- otherwise (#330 -- love.filesystem.write always resolves to the save dir,
+-- so the installer used to strand every mod in appdata).  Reads stay on
+-- love.filesystem: the portable folder is on the physfs read path either way
+-- (it IS the source for a `love <gamedir>` run, and CacheFs mounts it for a
+-- fused build), which is why those mods still loaded while landing in the
+-- wrong place.
 --
 -- Split in two: the pure derivation (deriveList, locateRoot) has no love and
 -- no filesystem, so the engine tier can table-drive it; the discovery,
@@ -15,6 +25,7 @@ local ManagerState = require("src.mods.ManagerState")
 local Semver = require("src.mods.Semver")
 local Version = require("src.core.Version")
 local SaveData = require("src.core.SaveData")
+local CacheFs = require("src.import.CacheFs")
 
 local LauncherMods = {}
 
@@ -143,6 +154,13 @@ local function discover()
   local fs = love and love.filesystem
   local out = {}
   if not (fs and fs.getInfo and fs.getDirectoryItems) then return out end
+  -- A fused portable build keeps its mods in the game folder next to the
+  -- executable; resolving the cache root is what mounts that folder onto the
+  -- physfs read path, so this is what makes those mods enumerable at all
+  -- (#330).  A source run needs nothing (the game folder IS the source), and
+  -- the launcher's readiness check has usually resolved it already; the call
+  -- is cached and idempotent.
+  CacheFs.root()
   if not fs.getInfo("mods") then return out end
   local seen = {}
   for _, name in ipairs(fs.getDirectoryItems("mods")) do
@@ -233,11 +251,14 @@ local function topLevelPaths(mount)
   return paths
 end
 
+-- Copy the mounted archive subtree at `src` to the install path `dst`.  Reads
+-- come from love.filesystem (the .zip is mounted there); every write goes
+-- through CacheFs so it lands in the portable game folder when portable.txt is
+-- in play and in the OS save directory otherwise (#330).  No explicit mkdir:
+-- CacheFs.write creates the parent chain on both paths, which also means an
+-- empty folder inside the .zip is simply not carried over (it holds nothing).
 local function copyTree(src, dst)
   local fs = love.filesystem
-  if not fs.createDirectory(dst) then
-    return nil, "could not create " .. dst
-  end
   for _, name in ipairs(fs.getDirectoryItems(src)) do
     local s = src .. "/" .. name
     local d = dst .. "/" .. name
@@ -248,13 +269,18 @@ local function copyTree(src, dst)
     else
       local data = fs.read(s)
       if data == nil then return nil, "could not read " .. name end
-      local ok, err = fs.write(d, data)
+      local ok, err = CacheFs.write(d, data)
       if not ok then return nil, "could not write " .. name .. ": " .. tostring(err) end
     end
   end
   return true
 end
 
+-- Delete an installed mod subtree.  Enumeration stays on love.filesystem (the
+-- portable game folder is on its read path), but the deletes go through
+-- CacheFs so a portable install's real files actually go away instead of
+-- love.filesystem no-opping outside the save directory (#330).  Directories
+-- are removed after their children, since rmdir refuses a non-empty one.
 local function removeTree(path)
   local fs = love.filesystem
   local info = fs.getInfo(path)
@@ -263,7 +289,15 @@ local function removeTree(path)
     for _, child in ipairs(fs.getDirectoryItems(path)) do
       removeTree(path .. "/" .. child)
     end
+    CacheFs.removeDir(path)
+  else
+    CacheFs.remove(path)
   end
+  -- A portable install can still be carrying a pre-#330 copy in the OS save
+  -- directory, which is where every install used to land and which physfs
+  -- searches first.  CacheFs only touched the game folder, so clear the
+  -- save-directory twin too or that copy would keep the mod alive; outside
+  -- portable mode this repeats the delete CacheFs just did and no-ops.
   fs.remove(path)
 end
 
@@ -322,10 +356,19 @@ function LauncherMods.installZip(source)
     return nil, "a mod named '" .. manifest.id .. "' is already installed"
   end
 
-  fs.createDirectory("mods")
+  -- CacheFs.prefix steers ROM-cache writes into a version subtree (blue/...);
+  -- the mods tree is shared by Red and Blue, so pin the prefix to the root for
+  -- the copy and the rollback, then hand back whatever the launcher had set
+  -- (an import coroutine leaves it pointed at that version -- RomImporter.lua).
+  -- No fs.createDirectory("mods") here any more: CacheFs.write creates the
+  -- parent chain in both homes, and doing it through love.filesystem would
+  -- only ever make the directory in the save dir (#330).
+  local savedPrefix = CacheFs.prefix
+  CacheFs.prefix = ""
   local copied, copyErr = copyTree(root, dest)
+  if not copied then removeTree(dest) end
+  CacheFs.prefix = savedPrefix
   if not copied then
-    removeTree(dest)
     cleanup()
     return nil, copyErr or "could not copy the mod files"
   end
@@ -334,8 +377,9 @@ function LauncherMods.installZip(source)
 end
 
 -- uninstall(id) -> true  |  nil, errString
--- Removes mods/<id>/ from the save directory and clears options.mods[id] so the
--- loader and in-game manager no longer see it.  Rejects unknown / missing ids.
+-- Removes mods/<id>/ from wherever it was installed (the portable game folder
+-- or the save directory, CacheFs decides -- #330) and clears options.mods[id]
+-- so the loader and in-game manager no longer see it.  Rejects missing ids.
 -- Does not touch other mods' enable state.
 function LauncherMods.uninstall(id)
   if type(id) ~= "string" or id == "" then
@@ -352,7 +396,11 @@ function LauncherMods.uninstall(id)
   if not fs.getInfo(dest) then
     return nil, "mod '" .. id .. "' is not installed"
   end
+  -- same root pin as installZip: the mods tree is not version-prefixed (#330)
+  local savedPrefix = CacheFs.prefix
+  CacheFs.prefix = ""
   removeTree(dest)
+  CacheFs.prefix = savedPrefix
   -- Drop the enable flag so a reinstall of the same id starts from the
   -- loader's default (enabled) rather than a stale false.
   local options = SaveData.loadOptions()
diff --git a/src/pokemon/Evolution.lua b/src/pokemon/Evolution.lua
index a740ff50..c2df1741 100644
--- a/src/pokemon/Evolution.lua
+++ b/src/pokemon/Evolution.lua
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ end
 
 -- After-battle hook: evolve mons that leveled this battle and still
 -- qualify (queued one at a time, party order).  Gen1 EvolveAfterBattle
--- only considers mons that gained a level during the fight — a B-cancel
+-- only considers mons that gained a level during the fight -- a B-cancel
 -- means "not this time", and the next offer waits for the next level-up
 -- (or Rare Candy / stone, which call Evolution.evolve directly).
 -- leveledUp is a set of party mon tables; nil/empty yields no evolutions.
diff --git a/src/pokemon/Pokemon.lua b/src/pokemon/Pokemon.lua
index 8330ed8b..6f634607 100644
--- a/src/pokemon/Pokemon.lua
+++ b/src/pokemon/Pokemon.lua
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ end
 
 -- Day Care retrieve (pokered WriteMonMoves + wLearningMovesFromDayCare):
 -- grant learnset moves with startLevel < moveLevel <= newLevel, shifting
--- the oldest slot out when full. Silent — no LearnMove prompts.
+-- the oldest slot out when full. Silent -- no LearnMove prompts.
 function Pokemon.learnMovesFromDayCare(data, mon, speciesDef, startLevel, newLevel)
   if not (speciesDef and speciesDef.learnset and mon) then return end
   mon.moves = mon.moves or {}
diff --git a/src/pokemon/Stats.lua b/src/pokemon/Stats.lua
index 169c275b..791778e4 100644
--- a/src/pokemon/Stats.lua
+++ b/src/pokemon/Stats.lua
@@ -42,6 +42,28 @@ function Stats.calc(speciesDef, level, dvs, statExp)
   return out
 end
 
+-- Give a mon a stat block when it has none.  A real Gen 1 box_struct is a
+-- byte-for-byte PREFIX of party_struct that stops before MON_LEVEL and
+-- MON_STATS (macros/ram.asm box_struct / party_struct), so mons decoded out
+-- of an imported .sav arrive without one (src/save_convert/GenSave.lua
+-- decodeMon, isParty = false).  The original derives them on demand at
+-- exactly two moments: when a box or daycare mon's status screen opens
+-- (engine/pokemon/status_screen.asm:66-76, "mon is in a box or daycare" ->
+-- CalcStats) and when one is moved back into the party
+-- (engine/pokemon/add_mon.asm _MoveMon tail).  The stored current HP is
+-- kept (box_struct does hold it) but clamped to the recalculated maximum so
+-- a tampered save cannot overfill the bar.  A mon that already has stats is
+-- returned untouched, so a vanilla save round-trips.  #233, #304
+function Stats.ensure(speciesDef, mon)
+  if type(mon) ~= "table" or type(mon.stats) == "table" then return mon end
+  if type(speciesDef) ~= "table" or type(speciesDef.baseStats) ~= "table" then
+    return mon
+  end
+  mon.stats = Stats.calc(speciesDef, mon.level or 1, mon.dvs or {}, mon.statExp)
+  mon.hp = math.max(0, math.min(tonumber(mon.hp) or mon.stats.hp, mon.stats.hp))
+  return mon
+end
+
 -- Battle stat stage multipliers (data/battle/stat_modifiers.asm): stages
 -- -6..+6 map to N/D pairs 25/100 .. 400/100.
 local STAGE_MULT = {
diff --git a/src/render/BattleTransition.lua b/src/render/BattleTransition.lua
index f83c6ac3..ab5d8e29 100644
--- a/src/render/BattleTransition.lua
+++ b/src/render/BattleTransition.lua
@@ -23,6 +23,20 @@ local FLASH_STEPS = { 1 / 3, 2 / 3, 1, 2 / 3, 1 / 3, 0,
 local FLASH_HOLD = 2   -- frames per palette step
 local FLASH_CYCLES = 3
 
+-- The screen stays black after the wipe lands.  Shrink and Split ask for it
+-- outright (BattleTransition_BlackScreen, then `ld c, 10 / jp DelayFrames`:
+-- battle_transitions.asm:390-392 and 422-424); the other six get the same gap
+-- for free, because BattleTransition_BlackScreen has already set rBGP/rOBP0/
+-- rOBP1 to $ff (:168-174) while DoBattleTransitionAndInitBattleVariables
+-- reloads the HUD tile patterns and clears the screen (core.asm:6152-6185),
+-- InitBattleCommon decompresses the front pic (core.asm:6694-6730), and
+-- SlidePlayerAndEnemySilhouettesOnScreen rebuilds the whole tilemap between
+-- DisableLCD and EnableLCD (core.asm:9-49) before anything moves.  This port
+-- has no load to hide behind, so the hold has to be explicit (#315).  30 is a
+-- frame budget for that work, not a number pokered states; retune this one
+-- constant against a reference recording if it reads long or short.
+local BLACK_HOLD = 30
+
 local TILE = 8
 local COLS, ROWS = 160 / TILE, 144 / TILE -- 20 x 18 tiles
 
@@ -208,7 +222,7 @@ function BattleTransition:update(dt)
       self.t = 0
     end
   else
-    if self.t >= self.wipeLen + 6 then
+    if self.t >= self.wipeLen + BLACK_HOLD then
       self.game.stack:pop()
       if self.onDone then self.onDone() end
     end
diff --git a/src/render/HudTiles.lua b/src/render/HudTiles.lua
index ebc24532..e813930b 100644
--- a/src/render/HudTiles.lua
+++ b/src/render/HudTiles.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 -- screen: pokered overlays the $62-$7F font area with the HP bar /
 -- status sheet (font_battle_extra -> $62) and the HUD line tiles
 -- (battle_hud_1 -> $6D, battle_hud_2+3 -> $73).
+--
+-- The two screens do NOT use the same overlay: the status screen scatters
+-- hud_2 and hud_3 instead of copying them contiguously, which is what keeps
+-- its № and <ID> glyphs alive.  HudTiles.tile draws the battle layout,
+-- HudTiles.statusTile the status one -- see STATUS_PAGES below. #280
 
 local Assets = require("src.render.Assets")
 
@@ -23,32 +28,62 @@ local PAGES = {
     image = "assets/generated/battle/battle_hud_3.png", base = 0x76 },
 }
 
-local tiles
-function HudTiles.tile(code, x, y, tint)
-  if not tiles then
-    tiles = {}
-    local registered = require("src.core.Data").font
-    registered = registered and registered.pages or nil
-    local function add(path, base)
-      local ok, img = pcall(Assets.image, path)
-      if not ok then return end
+-- The STATUS SCREEN overlays the SAME sheets differently, and the layout
+-- above would break it: engine/pokemon/status_screen.asm:86-97 copies 3
+-- tiles of hud_1 to $6D, ONE tile of hud_2 to $78 and 2 tiles of hud_3 to
+-- $76, which leaves $70/$73/$74 as font_battle_extra's <to>, <ID> and № --
+-- the glyphs the screen prints "№." and "<ID>№/" from
+-- (constants/charmap.asm:69-73).  The battle overlay instead copies
+-- hud_2+hud_3 contiguously over $73-$78 (engine/battle/core.asm:6520/6532),
+-- burying № under a line tile, so the status screen needs its own table.
+-- The line glyphs land identically either way -- $76 ─, $77 ┘, $6F the
+-- halfarrow -- only the vertical bar moves ($73 in battle, $78 here). #280
+local STATUS_PAGES = {
+  { id = "font_battle_extra",
+    image = "assets/generated/battle/font_battle_extra.png", base = 0x62 },
+  { id = "battle_hud_1",
+    image = "assets/generated/battle/battle_hud_1.png", base = 0x6D },
+  { id = "battle_hud_3",
+    image = "assets/generated/battle/battle_hud_3.png", base = 0x76, count = 2 },
+  { id = "battle_hud_2",
+    image = "assets/generated/battle/battle_hud_2.png", base = 0x78, count = 1 },
+}
+
+local tiles, statusTiles
+
+-- Build one code -> {img, quad} map from a page list.  `count` caps a page
+-- at the number of tiles the asm actually copies (the extracted sheets all
+-- carry 3 tiles; the status overlay uses fewer).  A mod's registered page
+-- swaps the image in either table, but only the battle table honors its
+-- `base`: the status layout is the asm's own placement, and sliding hud_2
+-- there would bury № again.
+local function build(pages, fixedBase)
+  local out = {}
+  local registered = require("src.core.Data").font
+  registered = registered and registered.pages or nil
+  for _, page in ipairs(pages) do
+    local override = registered and registered[page.id]
+    local path, base = page.image, page.base
+    if override and override.image then path = override.image end
+    if not fixedBase and override and override.base then base = override.base end
+    local ok, img = pcall(Assets.image, path)
+    if ok then
       local iw, ih = img:getDimensions()
       local per = iw / 8
-      for i = 0, per * (ih / 8) - 1 do
-        tiles[base + i] = {
+      local count = page.count or per * (ih / 8)
+      for i = 0, count - 1 do
+        out[base + i] = {
           img = img,
           quad = love.graphics.newQuad((i % per) * 8,
                                        math.floor(i / per) * 8, 8, 8, iw, ih),
         }
       end
     end
-    for _, page in ipairs(PAGES) do
-      local override = registered and registered[page.id]
-      add(override and override.image or page.image,
-          override and override.base or page.base)
-    end
   end
-  local t = tiles[code]
+  return out
+end
+
+local function put(t, x, y, tint)
   if not t then return end
   local r, g, b, a = love.graphics.getColor()
   love.graphics.setColor(tint or { 1, 1, 1, 1 })
@@ -56,9 +91,23 @@ function HudTiles.tile(code, x, y, tint)
   love.graphics.setColor(r, g, b, a)
 end
 
+function HudTiles.tile(code, x, y, tint)
+  if not tiles then tiles = build(PAGES) end
+  put(tiles[code], x, y, tint)
+end
+
+-- The same sheets under the status screen's overlay (STATUS_PAGES).  The HP
+-- bar codes $62-$6D are identical in both layouts, so drawHPBar below keeps
+-- using the battle table. #280
+function HudTiles.statusTile(code, x, y, tint)
+  if not statusTiles then statusTiles = build(STATUS_PAGES, true) end
+  put(statusTiles[code], x, y, tint)
+end
+
 -- lazy: the next tile() rebuilds every page from the search path
 function HudTiles.invalidate()
   tiles = nil
+  statusTiles = nil
 end
 
 Assets.register(HudTiles.invalidate)
diff --git a/src/render/PaletteFX.lua b/src/render/PaletteFX.lua
index 15952f90..4891f446 100644
--- a/src/render/PaletteFX.lua
+++ b/src/render/PaletteFX.lua
@@ -93,6 +93,25 @@ function PaletteFX.ogObj()
   return PaletteFX.GBC_OBJ, "gbcobj"
 end
 
+-- The DMG object ramp every mode except OG RED bakes onto overworld sprites,
+-- plus its cache group (same two-value contract as ogObj).  Entry 1 is never
+-- read -- SpriteRenderer.getObpImage keys OBJ color 0 to alpha, the hardware's
+-- unconditional OBJ transparency -- and entries 2..4 are OBJ colors 1..3 sent
+-- through rOBP0 = $D0 (home/fade.asm FadePal4 `dc 3,1,0,0`, the entry
+-- LoadGBPal reads while wMapPalOffset is 0): color 1 -> DMG shade 0, color 2
+-- -> shade 1, color 3 -> shade 3.  Leaving the result in DMG shades is the
+-- whole point: the zone shader then colors a character out of the same map
+-- palette it colors the ground with, which is all the Super Game Boy can do to
+-- an OBJ (#301), and the OBP0 lift is what puts Red's cap on the ROUTE
+-- palette's grass green instead of its light-blue (#150).
+PaletteFX.OBP0_SHADES = {
+  { 255, 255, 255 }, { 255, 255, 255 }, { 170, 170, 170 }, { 0, 0, 0 },
+}
+
+function PaletteFX.dmgObj()
+  return PaletteFX.OBP0_SHADES, "obp0"
+end
+
 local INV_MAP = { [0] = 3, [1] = 2, [2] = 1, [3] = 0 }
 
 function PaletteFX.shader()
@@ -207,32 +226,45 @@ function PaletteFX.usesGbcPack(mode)
 end
 
 -- Whether the active mode bakes a per-OBJ palette onto overworld sprites
--- (the OBP bake + post-zone redraw path).  OG RED and SGB both do: characters
--- wear the GBC boot-ROM object palette (PaletteFX.ogObj -- green over Red's red
--- background, pink over Blue's blue background), so the player and NPCs carry a
--- fixed object color instead of tinting with whatever region palette their
--- feet stand over.  On real hardware a sprite is an OBJ colored by an OBJ
--- palette (color/sprites.asm ColorOverworldSprite), distinct from the BG it
--- overlaps -- so Red's cap must stay green in tall grass, not turn the ROUTE
--- palette's light-blue (issue #150: SGB region-tinting sent the cap to shade-2
--- = light-blue and the character clashed with the grass it should blend into).
--- Terrain is unaffected -- pal() below still hands SGB its per-map BG palette;
--- only OG RED short-circuits BG to the one global red palette.  An EARLIER
--- attempt at per-sprite SGB color baked GBC_BG (the RED background ramp) onto
+-- (the OBP bake + post-zone redraw path).  OG RED alone does: the Game Boy
+-- Color boot ROM hands the game one global object palette (PaletteFX.ogObj --
+-- green over Red's red background, pink over Blue's blue background), so on
+-- that machine the player and NPCs carry a fixed object color instead of
+-- tinting with whatever region palette their feet stand over.  An EARLIER
+-- attempt at per-sprite color baked GBC_BG (the RED background ramp) onto
 -- characters -- that was the "reds coloring on the player/NPCs" bug; the object
--- palette is GBC_OBJ (green), so baking it here is the fix, not that
--- regression.  RED++ colors sprites through the usesGbcPack() path in
--- SpriteRenderer instead.
+-- palette is GBC_OBJ (green), so baking that here is the fix, not that
+-- regression.  Terrain is unaffected -- pal() below still hands SGB its per-map
+-- BG palette; only OG RED short-circuits BG to the one global red palette.
+--
+-- SGB does NOT.  The Super Game Boy colorizes the composited DMG picture it is
+-- handed and cannot tell an OBJ pixel from a BG one; pokered never sends the
+-- OBJ_TRN packet that would enable SGB sprite mode (data/sgb/sgb_packets.asm
+-- defines ATTR_BLK / PAL_SET / PAL_TRN / MLT_REQ / CHR_TRN / PCT_TRN and
+-- nothing else), so a character there wears the very palette its map does.
+-- Baking GBC_OBJ over it was issue #301 ("people in SGB mode are green": the
+-- boot-ROM greens sat on top of ROUTE's own greens and blues).  What issue
+-- #150 actually caught was the missing rOBP0 step, not a missing object
+-- palette: overworld OBJs run through OBP0 = $D0 (home/fade.asm FadePal4
+-- `dc 3,1,0,0`), which lifts OBJ color 1 to DMG shade 0 and color 2 to shade 1,
+-- so Red's cap lands on the ROUTE palette's shade-1 GRASS GREEN and blends into
+-- the grass exactly as #150's reference shot shows.  Drawn with an identity
+-- shade map it landed on shade 2 = light-blue instead, which is the clash #150
+-- reported.  SpriteRenderer bakes that OBP0 ramp (PaletteFX.dmgObj) and lets
+-- the zone shader color the result.  RED++ colors sprites through the
+-- usesGbcPack() path in SpriteRenderer instead.
 function PaletteFX.usesSpriteObp(mode)
   mode = mode or PaletteFX.mode
-  return mode == "ogred" or mode == "gbc"
+  return mode == "ogred"
 end
 
--- ------- post-zone sprite redraw (GBC mode)
+-- ------- post-zone sprite redraw (OG RED)
 --
--- In GBC mode the world canvas still runs through the per-map zone
+-- In OG RED the world canvas still runs through the whole-screen zone
 -- shade-remap shader, which would corrupt an OBP-baked sprite's true-color
--- pixels.  So SpriteRenderer draws the baked sprite into the canvas (its
+-- pixels.  (SGB used to come through here too; it no longer bakes an object
+-- palette at all, so its characters are colorized by the zone like the ground
+-- they stand on and never queue a replay -- see usesSpriteObp, #301.)  So SpriteRenderer draws the baked sprite into the canvas (its
 -- pixels come out zone-tinted there) AND records the draw here;
 -- Renderer:endFrame replays the list on top of the finished zone pass,
 -- scaled into screen space -- the GBC's OBJ-over-BG compositing, one draw
@@ -534,6 +566,34 @@ function PaletteFX.permute(colors, map)
            colors[map[2] + 1], colors[map[3] + 1] }
 end
 
+-- ------- global shade map (rBGP)
+--
+-- home/fade.asm's LoadGBPal writes ONE rBGP for the whole screen, indexing
+-- FadePal4 - wMapPalOffset.  A dark cave sets wMapPalOffset = 6
+-- (home/overworld.asm's ROCK_TUNNEL_1F check; the value rides in the extracted
+-- field.darkMaps.palOffset), which lands on FadePal2 = `dc 3,3,3,2`: DMG white
+-- drops to shade 2 and every darker shade goes to shade 3.  So the WHOLE
+-- screen darkens -- the original never cuts a window of light around the
+-- player (#322) -- and FLASH clears wMapPalOffset again
+-- (engine/menus/start_sub_menus.asm .flash).
+--
+-- Renderer:beginFrame clears this every frame and the state that draws a dark
+-- map re-arms it while it draws, so it can never outlive the map it belongs
+-- to: a battle or a full-screen menu draws with no map beneath it and comes
+-- out lit, exactly like init_battle_variables.asm's `ld [wMapPalOffset], a`
+-- leaves the original.
+PaletteFX.DARK_BGP = { [0] = 2, [1] = 3, [2] = 3, [3] = 3 }
+
+local shadeMap = nil
+
+function PaletteFX.setShadeMap(map)
+  shadeMap = map
+end
+
+function PaletteFX.shadeMap()
+  return shadeMap
+end
+
 function PaletteFX.setMode(mode)
   local prev = PaletteFX.mode
   local ok = false
@@ -623,16 +683,22 @@ end
 function PaletteFX.effectiveColors(c)
   if not c then return nil end
   local mode = PaletteFX.mode or "gbc"
+  local out = c
   if mode == "og" then
-    return PaletteFX.GRAYS
+    out = PaletteFX.GRAYS
   elseif mode == "og_inv" then
-    return PaletteFX.permute(PaletteFX.GRAYS, INV_MAP)
+    out = PaletteFX.permute(PaletteFX.GRAYS, INV_MAP)
   elseif mode == "classic" then
-    return PaletteFX.CLASSIC
+    out = PaletteFX.CLASSIC
   elseif mode == "gbc_inv" then
-    return PaletteFX.permute(c, INV_MAP)
+    out = PaletteFX.permute(c, INV_MAP)
   end
-  return c
+  -- The shade map goes on LAST: rBGP is a hardware register write, so it
+  -- composes on top of whatever colors the display mode settled on -- a dark
+  -- cave has to read dark in CLASSIC's pea greens and in plain DMG grays too
+  -- (#322).  permute() is the identity (and returns `out` itself, which the
+  -- mod-graphics parity check leans on) while nothing has armed one.
+  return PaletteFX.permute(out, shadeMap)
 end
 
 -- send a 4-color (0-255 RGB) palette to the shade-remap shader, after
diff --git a/src/render/Renderer.lua b/src/render/Renderer.lua
index 9c1513f4..1b96385a 100644
--- a/src/render/Renderer.lua
+++ b/src/render/Renderer.lua
@@ -174,6 +174,9 @@ function Renderer:beginFrame(transparent)
   -- draws this one
   PaletteFX.clearTrueColor()
   PaletteFX.clearSpriteRedraws()
+  -- rBGP is a per-frame register here: the state that draws a dark map
+  -- re-arms it while it draws (#322), so nothing inherits last frame's
+  PaletteFX.setShadeMap(nil)
   PaletteFX.setPass("ui")
   love.graphics.setCanvas(self.canvas)
   if transparent then
diff --git a/src/render/SpriteRenderer.lua b/src/render/SpriteRenderer.lua
index 6f30b6f8..12b1f910 100644
--- a/src/render/SpriteRenderer.lua
+++ b/src/render/SpriteRenderer.lua
@@ -18,10 +18,14 @@ local function getImage(path)
   return imageCache[path]
 end
 
--- RED++ overworld sprite OBJ-palette recolor (color/sprites.asm
--- ColorOverworldSprite), baked into an ImageData like BattleState's mon-pic
--- palette bake (src/battle/BattleState.lua getImage): CPU-remap the 4 DMG
--- shades to the resolved OBP colors, cached per (image path, group).
+-- Overworld sprite OBJ-palette recolor, baked into an ImageData like
+-- BattleState's mon-pic palette bake (src/battle/BattleState.lua getImage):
+-- CPU-remap the 4 DMG shades to the resolved OBP colors, cached per
+-- (image path, group).  Every colour mode goes through it now (#301): RED++
+-- resolves real per-sprite colours (color/sprites.asm ColorOverworldSprite),
+-- OG RED the one boot-ROM object palette, and everything else the plain
+-- rOBP0 = $D0 shade lift (PaletteFX.dmgObj) that leaves the sprite in DMG
+-- shades for the zone shader to colour.
 --
 -- Sprite sheets carry no real alpha (every pixel, including the
 -- background, is opaque -- confirmed by sampling the extracted PNGs): the
@@ -110,7 +114,13 @@ function SpriteRenderer:resolveImage()
     -- collide in obpCache) -- see issue #155
     return getObpImage(self.def.image, PaletteFX.ogObj())
   end
-  return self.image
+  -- Every other mode (SGB and the mono/inverted novelties) leaves the sprite
+  -- in DMG shades so the zone shader colors it out of the map's own palette,
+  -- but still bakes rOBP0 = $D0 in and keys OBJ color 0 to alpha -- the two
+  -- things a raw sheet blit cannot express (#301, #150).  The sheets carry no
+  -- real alpha (see getObpImage), so returning self.image here would put an
+  -- opaque white box behind every character a pipeline textures.
+  return getObpImage(self.def.image, PaletteFX.dmgObj())
 end
 
 -- facing: down/up/left/right; walkPhase: 0 stand, 1 walk; flip: alternate
@@ -152,6 +162,17 @@ function SpriteRenderer:draw(px, py, camX, camY, facing, walkPhase, stepFlip)
     -- top.
     image = getObpImage(self.def.image, PaletteFX.ogObj())
     redraw = true
+  else
+    -- SGB and the mono/inverted modes (and OG RED's tilt upright pass, which
+    -- has no post-zone replay to restore a bake): the sprite stays in DMG
+    -- shades -- rOBP0 = $D0 baked in, OBJ color 0 keyed to alpha -- and the
+    -- whole-canvas zone shader colors it with the map's palette.  That is the
+    -- only thing the Super Game Boy can do to an OBJ, since pokered never
+    -- sends the OBJ_TRN packet that would give sprites palettes of their own
+    -- (data/sgb/sgb_packets.asm defines ATTR_BLK / PAL_SET / PAL_TRN /
+    -- MLT_REQ / CHR_TRN / PCT_TRN and nothing else).  No redraw is queued:
+    -- being colorized by the zone IS the point (#301).
+    image = getObpImage(self.def.image, PaletteFX.dmgObj())
   end
   -- single-frame sprites (item balls, fossils...) have one fixed pose;
   -- still 3-frame sprites turn to face (the nurse at her machine,
diff --git a/src/render/TextBox.lua b/src/render/TextBox.lua
index 6fb278e8..e311d30b 100644
--- a/src/render/TextBox.lua
+++ b/src/render/TextBox.lua
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ local MAX_COLS = 18
 -- WaitForSoundToFinish; nil headless), then auto.delay frames pass
 -- (default 3, Delay3) and the box pops itself + calls onDone.  No
 -- blinking cursor, no Press_AB beep.
+-- opts.auto.tick, when given, runs once per frame for as long as the box
+-- is held open.  It is the only per-frame hook a script has while a box is
+-- up: StateStack updates the top state only, so the overworld and its
+-- ScriptRunner are frozen underneath (the Pewter JIGGLYPUFF dance drives
+-- its spin off it, data/scripts/story5.lua, #249).
 function TextBox.new(game, text, onDone, opts)
   local self = setmetatable({}, TextBox)
   self.game = game
@@ -179,6 +184,13 @@ function TextBox:update(dt)
         self.autoSrc = self.auto.sound and self.auto.sound() or nil
         self.autoTimer = 0
       end
+      -- auto.tick: one call per frame for as long as the box is held open,
+      -- run before the autoSrc gate so a tick-driven gate can clear itself
+      -- on the same frame.  It is the only per-frame hook a script gets
+      -- while a box is up, since StateStack updates the top state only and
+      -- the overworld underneath is frozen (the Pewter JIGGLYPUFF spin,
+      -- #249).
+      if self.auto.tick then self.auto.tick() end
       if self.autoSrc and self.autoSrc.isPlaying and self.autoSrc:isPlaying() then
         return -- the cry is still sounding (WaitForSoundToFinish)
       end
diff --git a/src/render/TileRenderer.lua b/src/render/TileRenderer.lua
index 935831d0..e10bff02 100644
--- a/src/render/TileRenderer.lua
+++ b/src/render/TileRenderer.lua
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ TileRenderer.__index = TileRenderer
 local BORDER_BLOCKS = 3 -- ring width; > half a screen (2.5 blocks)
 
 -- OVERWORLD maps fill beyond-edge space from save.options.voidFill:
---   trees (default) — solid tree wall $0F (Viridian/Cerulean/Celadon)
---   water           — solid water $43 (Cinnabar/Route 19 border block)
---   black           — solid black (no tiled metatile)
+--   trees (default) -- solid tree wall $0F (Viridian/Cerulean/Celadon)
+--   water           -- solid water $43 (Cinnabar/Route 19 border block)
+--   black           -- solid black (no tiled metatile)
 -- Other tilesets keep their designated border (interiors stay black/void).
 local TREE_WALL_BLOCK = 0x0F
 local WATER_BORDER_BLOCK = 0x43
diff --git a/src/save_convert/GenSave.lua b/src/save_convert/GenSave.lua
index 7387a840..b41ef582 100644
--- a/src/save_convert/GenSave.lua
+++ b/src/save_convert/GenSave.lua
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ local NAME_LENGTH = 11
 local PARTY_LENGTH = 6
 local MONS_PER_BOX = 20
 local NUM_BADGES = 8
+local NUM_CITY_MAPS = 11     -- PALLET_TOWN..SAFFRON_CITY, the bit width of
+                              -- wTownVisitedFlag (constants/map_constants.asm)
 local BOX_STRUCT_SIZE = 33   -- Species,HP,Level,Status,Type1,Type2,CatchRate,
                               -- Moves x4,OTID,Exp x3,HPExp,AtkExp,DefExp,
                               -- SpdExp,SpcExp,DVs,PP x4 (macros/ram.asm box_struct)
@@ -65,6 +67,22 @@ O.numPcItems = O.mainData + 579                           -- 1B
 O.pcItems = O.mainData + 580                              -- 101B (50 x (id,qty) + $FF term)
 O.currentBoxNum = O.mainData + 681                        -- 1B (bits 0-6: box 0-11, bit 7: unused here)
 O.coins = O.mainData + 685                                -- 2B BCD
+-- wTownVisitedFlag (ram/wram.asm:2057): the FLY destination set, a
+-- flag_array NUM_CITY_MAPS whose bit index IS the town's map index (see the
+-- decode note).  Triangulated from both neighbours, which agree exactly:
+-- backwards from the checksum-covered, independently derived O.eventFlags
+-- below by summing every wram.asm declaration between the two labels --
+-- 2 (wTownVisitedFlag) + 2 (wSafariSteps) + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1
+-- + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 (wBeatGymFlags) + 1 + 1 + 1
+-- (wStatusFlags3, aliased wCableClubDestinationMap) + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1
+-- + 1 + 1 + 1 (wMovementFlags) + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2
+-- = 60, so 1104 - 60 = 1044; and forwards from O.coins (mainData + 685)
+-- with 2 (wPlayerCoins) + 32 (wToggleableObjectFlags, flag_array $100) + 7
+-- + 1 (wSavedSpriteImageIndex) + 33 (wToggleableObjectList) + 1 + 200
+-- (wGameProgressFlags..End) + 56 + 14 (wObtainedHiddenItemsFlags,
+-- flag_array MAX_HIDDEN_ITEMS = 112) + 2 (wObtainedHiddenCoinsFlags) + 1
+-- (wWalkBikeSurfState) + 10 = 359, so 685 + 359 = 1044 as well.
+O.townVisited = O.mainData + 1044                         -- 2B (flag_array NUM_CITY_MAPS)
 O.eventFlags = O.mainData + 1104                          -- 320B (flag_array NUM_EVENTS = 2560 bits)
 -- Play time (wPlayTimeHours/Maxed/Minutes/Seconds/Frames) lives INSIDE the
 -- sMainData window (wMainDataStart..wMainDataEnd is copied verbatim into
@@ -375,6 +393,40 @@ function GenSave.crosswalks(data)
   }
 end
 
+-- Gen1 has no "is nicknamed" bit.  An un-nicknamed mon literally stores its
+-- species' standard name in the nickname slot: engine/menus/naming_screen.asm
+-- AskName's .declinedNickname copies wNameBuffer (the MonsterNames entry
+-- GetMonName just loaded) straight over the mon's nickname field.  The game
+-- recovers "was it nicknamed?" by comparing the two --
+-- engine/pokemon/evos_moves.asm RenameEvolvedMon rewrites the name on
+-- evolution only while the stored one still equals the PRE-evolution
+-- species' standard name ("Renames the mon to its new, evolved form's
+-- standard name unless it had a nickname, in which case the nickname is
+-- kept").  This project models that state as mon.nickname == nil instead:
+-- every display site reads `mon.nickname or def.name` and
+-- src/pokemon/Evolution.lua deliberately never touches the field.  So the
+-- two conventions must be translated at this boundary, or an imported
+-- SQUIRTLE still reads "SQUIRTLE" after it becomes a WARTORTLE and an
+-- engine-origin export writes the species CONSTANT ("NIDORAN_M", whose "_"
+-- has no charmap glyph and encodes as "?") where the cartridge keeps the
+-- display name.  Both read back as a forced nickname (#257).
+--
+-- def.name is byte-for-byte what the cartridge stores: tools/extract/
+-- pokemon.py parse_names reads pokered's data/pokemon/names.asm, the very
+-- table GetMonName loads from, and all 151 names round-trip exactly through
+-- src/save_convert/data/charmap.lua, so the equality test below is exact
+-- and never mis-fires on a name the charmap mangles.
+local function speciesName(cw, species)
+  local def = species and cw.speciesDefs[species]
+  return (def and def.name) or species or ""
+end
+
+-- stored fixed-length name -> save.lua nickname (nil when never nicknamed)
+local function importedNickname(cw, species, stored)
+  if stored == speciesName(cw, species) then return nil end
+  return stored
+end
+
 -- ------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- Mon struct (box_struct is a byte-for-byte prefix of party_struct;
 -- decodeMon reads the box_struct fields, then Level+Stats if isParty).
@@ -573,7 +625,10 @@ function GenSave.decode(bytes, data, opts)
     local mon = decodeMon(bytes, O.partyMons + i * PARTY_STRUCT_SIZE, true, cw)
     if mon then
       mon.ot = decodeName(bytes, O.partyMonOT + i * NAME_LENGTH, NAME_LENGTH)
-      mon.nickname = decodeName(bytes, O.partyMonNicks + i * NAME_LENGTH, NAME_LENGTH)
+      -- a stored name equal to the species' standard name means NOT
+      -- nicknamed, which this project spells as nil (#257)
+      mon.nickname = importedNickname(cw, mon.species,
+        decodeName(bytes, O.partyMonNicks + i * NAME_LENGTH, NAME_LENGTH))
       save.party[#save.party + 1] = mon
     end
   end
@@ -586,7 +641,8 @@ function GenSave.decode(bytes, data, opts)
       local mon = decodeMon(bytes, base + 22 + i * BOX_STRUCT_SIZE, false, cw)
       if mon then
         mon.ot = decodeName(bytes, base + 22 + MONS_PER_BOX * BOX_STRUCT_SIZE + i * NAME_LENGTH, NAME_LENGTH)
-        mon.nickname = decodeName(bytes, base + 22 + MONS_PER_BOX * (BOX_STRUCT_SIZE + NAME_LENGTH) + i * NAME_LENGTH, NAME_LENGTH)
+        mon.nickname = importedNickname(cw, mon.species,
+          decodeName(bytes, base + 22 + MONS_PER_BOX * (BOX_STRUCT_SIZE + NAME_LENGTH) + i * NAME_LENGTH, NAME_LENGTH))
         table.insert(save.boxes[boxNum], mon)
       end
     end
@@ -610,6 +666,28 @@ function GenSave.decode(bytes, data, opts)
     end
   end
 
+  -- FLY destinations.  wTownVisitedFlag's bit index IS the town's map index:
+  -- engine/items/town_map.asm BuildFlyLocationsList loads the 16-bit value
+  -- into de and rotates it right one bit per iteration with b counting up
+  -- from 0, storing b ("the map number of the town if it has been visited"),
+  -- so bit 0 = map 0 = PALLET_TOWN, LSB first; and
+  -- engine/overworld/toggleable_objects.asm
+  -- MarkTownVisitedAndLoadToggleableObjects sets bit [wCurMap] on entry for
+  -- any map below FIRST_ROUTE_MAP.  Map indices 0-10 in
+  -- data/generated/maps.lua match PALLET_TOWN..SAFFRON_CITY one for one.
+  -- This project keeps the same set as save.visited[mapId]
+  -- (src/ui/FlyMenu.lua, src/ui/TownMap.lua, and the only writer,
+  -- src/world/OverworldController.lua's mark-on-map-entry), which an import
+  -- used to leave nil: FLY then listed only the town the player happened to
+  -- be standing in when the save was loaded (#263).
+  save.visited = {}
+  for townIdx = 0, NUM_CITY_MAPS - 1 do
+    if bitGet(bytes, O.townVisited, townIdx) then
+      local townId = cw.mapsByIndex[townIdx]
+      if townId then save.visited[townId] = true end
+    end
+  end
+
   -- map + position
   local mapIdx = u8(bytes, O.curMap)
   local mapId = cw.mapsByIndex[mapIdx]
@@ -700,6 +778,18 @@ function GenSave.encode(save, data, template)
     end
   end
 
+  -- FLY destinations back into wTownVisitedFlag (see the decode note), so a
+  -- save exported from this port is flyable on hardware (#263).  A save
+  -- table with no `visited` key at all says nothing about the set, so leave
+  -- the template's bits exactly as they are rather than blanking every town.
+  if type(save.visited) == "table" then
+    for townIdx = 0, NUM_CITY_MAPS - 1 do
+      local townId = cw.mapsByIndex[townIdx]
+      bitSet(buf, O.townVisited, townIdx,
+             (townId and save.visited[townId]) and true or false)
+    end
+  end
+
   -- party
   local party = save.party or {}
   local partyN = math.min(#party, PARTY_LENGTH)
@@ -710,8 +800,10 @@ function GenSave.encode(save, data, template)
     setByte(buf, O.partySpecies + i, cw.pokemonIndex[mon.species] or 0)
     encodeName(buf, O.partyMonOT + i * NAME_LENGTH, NAME_LENGTH,
               mon.ot or (save.player and save.player.name) or "RED")
+    -- no nickname stores the species' DISPLAY name, not its ROM constant id
+    -- ("NIDORAN_M" would charmap the "_" to "?") (#257)
     encodeName(buf, O.partyMonNicks + i * NAME_LENGTH, NAME_LENGTH,
-              mon.nickname or mon.species or "")
+              mon.nickname or speciesName(cw, mon.species))
   end
   -- $FF-terminate the species index list right after the last real mon. The
   -- struct, OT-name and nickname bytes of the empty slots past partyN are left
@@ -734,7 +826,7 @@ function GenSave.encode(save, data, template)
       encodeName(buf, base + 22 + MONS_PER_BOX * BOX_STRUCT_SIZE + i * NAME_LENGTH, NAME_LENGTH,
                 mon.ot or (save.player and save.player.name) or "RED")
       encodeName(buf, base + 22 + MONS_PER_BOX * (BOX_STRUCT_SIZE + NAME_LENGTH) + i * NAME_LENGTH, NAME_LENGTH,
-                mon.nickname or mon.species or "")
+                mon.nickname or speciesName(cw, mon.species))  -- #257, as above
     end
     -- $FF-terminate the species list after the last real mon; empty slots past
     -- n keep their template bytes (byte-identical round-trip) or zero (fresh
diff --git a/src/ui/BagMenu.lua b/src/ui/BagMenu.lua
index 78339750..e28f5773 100644
--- a/src/ui/BagMenu.lua
+++ b/src/ui/BagMenu.lua
@@ -41,10 +41,17 @@ local function showMessages(game, msgs, onDone)
   game.stack:push(TextBox.new(game, table.concat(msgs, "\f"), onDone))
 end
 
--- run the use-flow for an item on a chosen target
-local function useOn(game, battle, id, target, list, moveIndex)
+-- run the use-flow for an item on a chosen target.  `picker` is the party
+-- menu when it was opened with keepOpen (HP medicine only): it is still on
+-- the stack, so every exit that prints has to close it afterwards.  For
+-- every other item the picker popped itself first and closePicker's identity
+-- check makes it a no-op (#252).
+local function useOn(game, battle, id, target, list, moveIndex, picker)
   local result, payload, extra = ItemEffects.use(game.data, game.save, id, target,
                                                  battle, moveIndex, game.overworld)
+  local function closePicker()
+    if picker then picker:close() end
+  end
 
   -- field POKé FLUTE: play the tune, then the no-effect text
   if result == "flute_field" then
@@ -288,16 +295,29 @@ local function useOn(game, battle, id, target, list, moveIndex)
       end
     end
     list.index = math.min(list.index, math.max(1, #list.items))
+    -- HP medicine: fill the bar in the still-open picker first, then print
+    -- and close, the order item_effects.asm .doneHealing runs in
+    -- (SFX_HEAL_HP -> UpdateHPBar2 -> RedrawPartyMenu prints the message).
+    -- picker is nil for every other item and for in-battle use, which keeps
+    -- the pop-then-print path below.  #252
+    if picker and extra and extra.healedFrom and target then
+      picker:animateTo(target, extra.healedFrom, function()
+        showMessages(game, payload, closePicker)
+      end)
+      return
+    end
     if battle then
       list:close()
       showMessages(game, payload, function() battle:itemUsed({}) end)
     else
-      showMessages(game, payload)
+      showMessages(game, payload, closePicker)
     end
     return
   end
 
-  showMessages(game, payload) -- failed
+  -- .healingItemNoEffect prints over the still-drawn party menu too, so the
+  -- refusal closes the picker the same way (#252)
+  showMessages(game, payload, closePicker) -- failed
 end
 
 local function pickTargetAndUse(game, battle, id, list)
@@ -308,9 +328,13 @@ local function pickTargetAndUse(game, battle, id, list)
   local def = game.data.items[id]
   local opts = {
     pickOnly = true,
-    onSwitch = function(mon)
+    -- HP medicine animates its bar with the picker still up (#252).  Only
+    -- out of battle: the in-battle tail closes the bag list underneath
+    -- first, which needs the picker already gone.
+    keepOpen = (not battle) and ItemEffects.healsHP(id),
+    onSwitch = function(mon, picker)
       if not wantsMove then
-        useOn(game, battle, id, mon, list)
+        useOn(game, battle, id, mon, list, nil, picker)
         return
       end
       local rows = {}
diff --git a/src/ui/BoxMenu.lua b/src/ui/BoxMenu.lua
index ee8a1300..252969af 100644
--- a/src/ui/BoxMenu.lua
+++ b/src/ui/BoxMenu.lua
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ local Font = require("src.render.Font")
 local ListMenu = require("src.ui.ListMenu")
 local Menu = require("src.ui.Menu")
 local Party = require("src.pokemon.Party")
+local Stats = require("src.pokemon.Stats")
 local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
 local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
 
@@ -73,6 +74,14 @@ local function withdraw(game)
           list.footer = "The party is full!"
           return
         end
+        -- add_mon.asm _MoveMon's tail ("returning mon to party, compute
+        -- level and stats"): a box mon carries no stat block, because
+        -- box_struct stops before MON_LEVEL/MON_STATS, so the party copy
+        -- runs CalcStats.  Without it a mon decoded out of an imported .sav
+        -- reaches the party menu with mon.stats nil and the HP bar draw
+        -- nil-indexes it (#304, same family as #233).  Already-shaped mons
+        -- (everything the engine itself put in a box) pass through.
+        Stats.ensure(game.data.pokemon[mon.species], mon)
         table.remove(box, item.value)
         table.insert(game.save.party, mon)
         local name = monName(game, mon)
diff --git a/src/ui/EvolutionState.lua b/src/ui/EvolutionState.lua
index 70a3a9ba..fab1ac00 100644
--- a/src/ui/EvolutionState.lua
+++ b/src/ui/EvolutionState.lua
@@ -20,6 +20,22 @@ EvolutionState.isOpaque = true
 -- SGB: SetPal_PokemonWholeScreen for the mon on display
 function EvolutionState:sgbPalettes(game)
   local P = require("src.render.PaletteFX")
+  -- engine/movie/evolution.asm EvolveMon runs the back-and-forth flash with
+  -- the whole screen on PAL_BLACK -- `ld c, 1 ; set PAL_BLACK instead of mon
+  -- palette` right before .animLoop, then `ld c, 0` again at .done once the
+  -- loop is over -- so both forms read as silhouettes while they trade places
+  -- and only the settled form wears a mon palette (#279).  PAL_BLACK is not
+  -- four blacks: data/sgb/sgb_palettes.asm gives it `RGB 31,29,31, 07,07,07,
+  -- 02,03,03, 03,02,02`, the usual paper white with the three darker shades
+  -- crushed, which is why a hardware capture shows a dark mon on an unchanged
+  -- background rather than an all-black screen.  Going through P.pal keeps
+  -- every COLORS mode honest for free: OG RED short-circuits every name to the
+  -- one global boot-ROM palette (a Game Boy Color ignores the SGB packets, so
+  -- it never blacks out) and the mono modes replace it in effectiveColors.
+  if not self.done then
+    local black = P.pal(game.data, "BLACK")
+    if black then return { P.whole(black) } end
+  end
   -- a cancelled evolution keeps the old species (never applied), so only
   -- colorize with the new form once it has actually evolved
   local species = (self.done and not self.canceled) and self.newSpecies
diff --git a/src/ui/ListMenu.lua b/src/ui/ListMenu.lua
index b6cd8d09..c5d213c4 100644
--- a/src/ui/ListMenu.lua
+++ b/src/ui/ListMenu.lua
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ function ListMenu.new(game, title, items, opts)
   self.dialogue = opts.dialogue
   -- PC item lists (players_pc.asm): PrintListMenuEntries shows 4 names
   -- and PrintText footers ("How many?", stored/withdrew) use the standard
-  -- bottom text box — same row budget as the mart, without the money box.
+  -- bottom text box -- same row budget as the mart, without the money box.
   self.messageBox = opts.messageBox
   self.money = opts.money          -- () -> current money for the box
   self.rows = opts.rows or ((opts.dialogue or opts.messageBox) and 4 or ROWS)
diff --git a/src/ui/PartyMenu.lua b/src/ui/PartyMenu.lua
index 6ee4212e..e20470c0 100644
--- a/src/ui/PartyMenu.lua
+++ b/src/ui/PartyMenu.lua
@@ -23,9 +23,51 @@ local PartyMenu = {}
 PartyMenu.__index = PartyMenu
 PartyMenu.isOpaque = true
 
--- SGB: generic whole-screen palette (SET_PAL_GENERIC)
+-- SGB (SetPal_PartyMenu, engine/gfx/palettes.asm:90): the party screen is
+-- NOT a one-palette screen.  data/sgb/sgb_packets.asm BlkPacket_PartyMenu
+-- splits it into MEWMON over the mon-icon column with GREENBAR everywhere
+-- else, plus one block per HP bar row whose palette
+-- UpdatePartyMenuBlkPacket (engine/gfx/palettes.asm:299-325) sets from that
+-- mon's GetHealthBarColor -- pal 1 GREENBAR / 2 YELLOWBAR / 3 REDBAR
+-- (PalPacket_PartyMenu, sgb_packets.asm:219).  Handing the whole screen
+-- MEWMON instead painted every bar with MEWMON's shades, which is why a
+-- full bar came out black and a low one purple (#274, absorbing #272).
+--
+-- Two rects differ from the packet's, both because this port draws pixels
+-- where the hardware drew OAM over BG:
+--   * the icon block is rows 0-11, not the packet's 0-12 -- row 12 is the
+--     message box's top edge, which on hardware was BG under an OBJ-free
+--     part of the block; here it would take MEWMON instead of the base.
+--   * the bar blocks sit one tile right of the packet's 05-11 because this
+--     port's bar starts at tile 5 where party_menu.asm:71-76 starts it at
+--     4; the span is the same "left cap + six fill tiles".
 function PartyMenu:sgbPalettes(game)
-  return require("src.render.PaletteFX").wholeNamed(game.data, "MEWMON")
+  local P = require("src.render.PaletteFX")
+  local base = P.pal(game.data, "GREENBAR")
+  if not base then return nil end
+  local zones = { P.whole(base) }
+  local mew = P.pal(game.data, "MEWMON")
+  if mew then zones[#zones + 1] = P.zone(mew, 1, 0, 2, 11) end
+  -- the TM/HM list prints ABLE / NOT ABLE where the bar would be, so those
+  -- rows have no bar to color (party_menu.asm .teachMoveMenu; #210)
+  if not self.tmhm then
+    local party = self.party or (game.save and game.save.party) or {}
+    for i, mon in ipairs(party) do
+      -- While a medicine's bar fill runs the block palette is STALE, not
+      -- recomputed: SetPartyMenuHPBarColor (party_menu.asm:80/295) is only
+      -- reached from the party-menu redraw loop, never from hp_bar.asm, so
+      -- UpdateHPBar2 lengthens the bar under the PRE-heal color and
+      -- RedrawPartyMenu snaps it green when the message prints.  Hold the
+      -- starting HP here for exactly that window (#252).
+      local hp = mon.hp
+      if self.heal and self.heal.mon == mon then hp = self.heal.from end
+      local bar = P.pal(game.data, P.barPalName(hp, mon.stats.hp))
+      if bar then
+        zones[#zones + 1] = P.zone(bar, 6, i * 2 - 1, 12, i * 2 - 1)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  return zones
 end
 
 local function sameItems(_, items) return items end
@@ -50,7 +92,9 @@ local DIG_TILESETS = { FOREST = true, CEMETERY = true, CAVERN = true,
 -- Frame1; SNAKE/QUADRUPED are the reverse.  Sprite-reused icons draw
 -- from 16x16x6 overworld sheets where index 3 is walk-down (tile 12):
 -- MON/FAIRY/BIRD rest on the walk frame and animate to standing
--- (tile 0); WATER (Seel) is the reverse.
+-- (tile 0); WATER (Seel) is the reverse.  Only the frame's LEFT half
+-- ever reaches the screen -- see PartyMenu.mirrorsIcon (#276) -- which
+-- is why a walk frame does not look like a walk frame here.
 PartyMenu.iconFrames = {
   BUG       = { rest = 1, alt = 0 }, -- BugIconFrame2 <-> BugIconFrame1
   GRASS     = { rest = 1, alt = 0 }, -- PlantIconFrame2 <-> PlantIconFrame1
@@ -71,7 +115,45 @@ function PartyMenu.frameFor(name, alt, ih)
   return alt and ((ih or 0) >= 64 and 3 or 1) or 0
 end
 
+-- HELIX is the one icon WriteMonPartySpriteOAM sends down the asymmetric
+-- path (engine/gfx/mon_icons.asm:246 `cp ICON_HELIX << 2 / jr z, .helix`);
+-- every other built-in icon is drawn as a mirrored left half (see
+-- drawIcon).  A mod that supplies its own image instead of a built-in icon
+-- name has no vanilla counterpart, so its art draws whole. #276
+function PartyMenu.mirrorsIcon(name)
+  return name ~= nil and name ~= "HELIX"
+end
+
 local iconImages = {}
+
+-- Party icons are OBJs (engine/gfx/mon_icons.asm WriteMonPartySpriteOAM
+-- writes OAM blocks), so they render through OBP0, and GBPalNormal
+-- (home/palettes.asm:20-26 `ld a, %11010000 ; 3100 / ldh [rOBP0], a`)
+-- holds OBP0 at "3100": OBJ color 1 shows as shade 0, color 2 as shade 1,
+-- color 3 as shade 3.  An object never displays shade 2.  This canvas has
+-- no OBJ layer, so bake that map into the icon art once per path (the same
+-- CPU-remap trick as SpriteRenderer.getObpImage, and the same "#obp" cache
+-- key convention) and let the screen's SGB zone color the result.  Without
+-- it every color-2 pixel took the zone palette's shade-2 color -- the
+-- ADVANCED pack's MEWMON purple {115,33,165}, i.e. the "weirdly colored"
+-- party sprites of #274.
+local function obpIcon(path)
+  if not (love.image and love.image.newImageData) then
+    return love.graphics.newImage(Assets.resolve(path)) -- headless stub
+  end
+  local id = Assets.imageData(path)
+  id:mapPixel(function(_, _, r, _, _, a)
+    -- the extracted art is the four DMG grays, keyed off the red channel
+    -- exactly the way PaletteFX's shade-remap shader keys them
+    local v = 0
+    if r > 0.5 then v = 1               -- OBJ colors 0 and 1 -> shade 0
+    elseif r > 0.17 then v = 170 / 255  -- OBJ color 2 -> shade 1
+    end                                 -- OBJ color 3 -> shade 3
+    return v, v, v, a
+  end)
+  return love.graphics.newImage(id)
+end
+
 local function drawIcon(game, mon, x, y, selected, counter)
   local icons = game.data.icons
   if not icons then return end
@@ -98,14 +180,26 @@ local function drawIcon(game, mon, x, y, selected, counter)
   end
   path = require("src.pokemon.Sprites").iconPath(game.data, mon, path, { name = name })
   if not path then return end
-  if iconImages[path] == nil then
+  -- Built-in icon classes are DMG 2bpp OBJ art and get the OBP0 bake; a
+  -- mod's own image (an entry table rather than an icon name) is authored
+  -- art with no hardware counterpart, so it loads untouched -- the same
+  -- split PartyMenu.mirrorsIcon makes for the OAM mirror.  Both live in one
+  -- cache under different keys, so a mod pointing a table entry at a
+  -- built-in path still gets its unbaked copy. #274
+  local key = name and (path .. "#obp") or path
+  if iconImages[key] == nil then
     -- resolve through Assets so an overrides/ or transform-derived icon
     -- (e.g. a per-species image at assets/generated/icons/<name>.png) is
     -- picked up the same way battle sprites are
-    local ok, img = pcall(love.graphics.newImage, Assets.resolve(path))
-    iconImages[path] = ok and img or false
+    local ok, img
+    if name then
+      ok, img = pcall(obpIcon, path)
+    else
+      ok, img = pcall(love.graphics.newImage, Assets.resolve(path))
+    end
+    iconImages[key] = ok and img or false
   end
-  local img = iconImages[path]
+  local img = iconImages[key]
   if not img then return end
   local alt = false
   if selected then
@@ -118,10 +212,28 @@ local function drawIcon(game, mon, x, y, selected, counter)
     alt = false
   end
   local iw, ih = img:getDimensions()
-  if ih > 16 then
-    local frame = PartyMenu.frameFor(name, alt, ih)
+  -- a 16x16 sheet (BALL, HELIX) is its own only frame
+  local frame = ih > 16 and PartyMenu.frameFor(name, alt, ih) or 0
+  if PartyMenu.mirrorsIcon(name) then
+    -- WriteSymmetricMonPartySpriteOAM (engine/items/town_map.asm:494-534)
+    -- lays each icon out as 2x2 OAM blocks that use only the frame's LEFT
+    -- column of tiles (base+0, base+2): the inner loop writes the same
+    -- wOAMBaseTile twice with the attributes alternating 0 / OAM_XFLIP and
+    -- only then bumps the tile by 2, because "all the sprites other than
+    -- the helix one have a vertical line of symmetry".  MON / FAIRY / BIRD
+    -- reuse overworld sheets whose walk-down frame is NOT symmetric, so
+    -- drawing the raw 16x16 showed a tucked-back foot the hardware never
+    -- displays (#276, absorbing #238).
+    local half = love.graphics.newQuad(0, frame * 16, 8, 16, iw, ih)
+    love.graphics.draw(img, half, x, y)
+    -- sx = -1 about the block's right edge, so the flipped copy lands on
+    -- x+8..x+16: the OAM_XFLIP half
+    love.graphics.draw(img, half, x + 16, y, 0, -1, 1)
+  elseif ih > 16 then
     love.graphics.draw(img, love.graphics.newQuad(0, frame * 16, 16, 16, iw, ih), x, y)
   else
+    -- HELIX and any mod art that is a single frame: drawn whole, at
+    -- whatever size the file is (unchanged path)
     love.graphics.draw(img, x, y)
   end
 end
@@ -134,6 +246,11 @@ function PartyMenu.new(game, opts)
   self.onSwitch = opts.onSwitch
   self.onCancel = opts.onCancel
   self.pickOnly = opts.pickOnly
+  -- Medicine keeps the picker on screen: item_effects.asm .doneHealing
+  -- animates the party HP bar and then prints the message through
+  -- RedrawPartyMenu with the menu STILL up, so BagMenu asks for keepOpen and
+  -- calls :close() itself once the message is done (#252).
+  self.keepOpen = opts.keepOpen
   -- TM/HM teaching: opts.tmhm = { move, kind } switches the list to Gen 1's
   -- TM/HM display (ABLE / NOT ABLE per mon instead of the HP bar, and the
   -- "Use TM on which POKeMON?" prompt). Set by BagMenu.pickTargetAndUse. #210
@@ -148,9 +265,47 @@ function PartyMenu.new(game, opts)
   return self
 end
 
+-- UpdateHPBar2 (engine/gfx/hp_bar.asm, predef'd from item_effects.asm's
+-- .doneHealing): UpdateHPBar_AnimateHPBar is documented "for (a) ticks (two
+-- waiting frames each)" over a 48-pixel bar, so the shown HP walks
+-- maxHP/96 per frame -- the same rate the battle HUD drains at
+-- (BattleState:stepHPDrain).  onDone fires on the frame it lands, which is
+-- when the caller prints its message. #252
+function PartyMenu:animateTo(mon, fromHP, onDone)
+  if not (mon and mon.stats) then
+    if onDone then onDone() end
+    return
+  end
+  local from = math.max(0, fromHP or mon.hp)
+  -- `from` outlives `shown`: sgbPalettes above needs the pre-heal HP for the
+  -- whole fill, because the SGB bar color does not move until the redraw.
+  self.heal = { mon = mon, from = from, shown = from, onDone = onDone }
+end
+
+-- Close a picker the caller kept open (see self.keepOpen).  A TextBox pops
+-- itself BEFORE it fires onDone (src/render/TextBox.lua), so this menu is
+-- the top state by then; the identity check makes it a no-op for the pickers
+-- that already popped themselves, and stops a double close eating the bag
+-- underneath. #252
+function PartyMenu:close()
+  if self.game.stack:top() == self then self.game.stack:pop() end
+end
+
 function PartyMenu:update(dt)
   -- icon animation counter; 320 = a whole cycle at every HP speed
   self.blink = ((self.blink or 0) + 1) % 320
+  -- The bar fill owns the menu while it runs: UpdateHPBar2 is a blocking
+  -- predef in item_effects.asm, so no button is read until it lands (#252).
+  local heal = self.heal
+  if heal then
+    heal.shown = math.min(heal.mon.hp,
+                          heal.shown + math.max(1, heal.mon.stats.hp) / 96)
+    if heal.shown >= heal.mon.hp then
+      self.heal = nil
+      if heal.onDone then heal.onDone() end
+    end
+    return
+  end
   local input = self.game.input
   local party = self.party or self.game.save.party
 
@@ -369,8 +524,12 @@ function PartyMenu:update(dt)
       end
       self.swapFrom = nil
     elseif self.onSwitch and (self.forceSwitch or self.pickOnly or not self.battle) then
-      self.game.stack:pop()
-      self.onSwitch(mon)
+      -- keepOpen callers (HP medicine) need the menu still drawn while the
+      -- bar fills and the message prints, and close it themselves; everyone
+      -- else keeps the old pop-then-call order.  Popping first is what made
+      -- a POTION snap the picker shut before the item had even run (#252).
+      if not self.keepOpen then self.game.stack:pop() end
+      self.onSwitch(mon, self)
     else
       self.submenu = true
       self.subIndex = 1
@@ -391,7 +550,7 @@ function PartyMenu:update(dt)
         -- Battle still excludes this list via `not self.battle`. Softboiled
         -- can appear for a fainted user; its heal transfer then no-ops.
         if not self.battle and ow then
-          -- FLY/TELEPORT: CheckIfInOutsideMap (OVERWORLD + PLATEAU —
+          -- FLY/TELEPORT: CheckIfInOutsideMap (OVERWORLD + PLATEAU --
           -- Route 23 / Indigo Plateau outdoor), not OVERWORLD alone (#83)
           local outside = Map.isOutside(ow.map.def,
             FieldDefaults.field(self.game.data, "outsideTilesets"))
@@ -486,6 +645,16 @@ function PartyMenu:draw()
     Font.draw(Strings("No POKéMON!"), 16, 64)
   end
   local HudTiles = require("src.render.HudTiles")
+  local PaletteFX = require("src.render.PaletteFX")
+  -- Each bar row carries its own GREENBAR / YELLOWBAR / REDBAR zone (see
+  -- sgbPalettes), so the fill must stay the raw DMG shade-2 gray and let
+  -- the zone color it -- but only when a zone pass will actually run.
+  -- Renderer's blit takes the shader path exactly when the zone list is
+  -- non-empty AND PaletteFX.shader() resolves, which is the same pair of
+  -- conditions tested here; with no shader the canvas blits unshaded and
+  -- drawHPBar's per-pixel tint is the only color the bar can get. #274
+  local barZoned = PaletteFX.shader() ~= nil
+                   and PaletteFX.pal(self.game.data, "GREENBAR") ~= nil
   for i, mon in ipairs(party) do
     local def = self.game.data.pokemon[mon.species]
     local y = PartyMenu.entryY(i)
@@ -525,11 +694,25 @@ function PartyMenu:draw()
       elseif mon.status then
         Font.draw(mon.status, 136, y)
       end
-      -- the colored tile HP bar (DrawHP2 + SetPartyMenuHPBarColor)
+      -- the tile HP bar (DrawHP2 + SetPartyMenuHPBarColor).  grayFill:
+      -- tinting the fill AND running it through the row's zone
+      -- double-applies -- a green fill has red channel 0, so the tint
+      -- zeroes the bar's red and the zone's red-keyed shade shader then
+      -- maps every pixel to color 3, i.e. black.  That is the #229 hazard
+      -- HudTiles documents; #274 (with #272) is this screen's instance.
+      --
+      -- While a medicine's UpdateHPBar2 fill runs, this row draws the HP the
+      -- animation has reached rather than the final value; drawHPBar reads
+      -- only .hp and .stats, so a shim table is enough and the real mon is
+      -- never mutated for display (#252).
+      local shown = mon
+      if self.heal and self.heal.mon == mon then
+        shown = { hp = math.floor(self.heal.shown), stats = mon.stats }
+      end
       love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
-      HudTiles.drawHPBar(self.game.data, 5, (y + 8) / 8, mon)
+      HudTiles.drawHPBar(self.game.data, 5, (y + 8) / 8, shown, nil, barZoned)
       love.graphics.setColor(0, 0, 0, 1)
-      Font.draw(("%3d/%3d"):format(mon.hp, mon.stats.hp), 104, y + 8)
+      Font.draw(("%3d/%3d"):format(shown.hp, mon.stats.hp), 104, y + 8)
     end
     -- home/pokemon.asm PartyMenuInit seeds wTopMenuItemY/X with 1/0, so the
     -- cursor sits on the entry's *second* tile row (the level/HP line),
diff --git a/src/ui/SummaryMenu.lua b/src/ui/SummaryMenu.lua
index 5f9bb088..10262f61 100644
--- a/src/ui/SummaryMenu.lua
+++ b/src/ui/SummaryMenu.lua
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ local Font = require("src.render.Font")
 -- battle move-type box already do (#214).
 local TypeChart = require("src.battle.TypeChart")
 local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
+local Stats = require("src.pokemon.Stats")
 
 local SummaryMenu = {}
 SummaryMenu.__index = SummaryMenu
@@ -30,6 +31,16 @@ function SummaryMenu:sgbPalettes(game)
 end
 
 function SummaryMenu.new(game, mon)
+  -- status_screen.asm:66-76: StatusScreen recalculates the stat block before
+  -- it draws anything when the mon came from a box or the daycare ("mon is
+  -- in a box or daycare" -> CalcStats), because box_struct carries none.
+  -- Bill's PC hands us that mon table directly (src/ui/BoxMenu.lua's STATS
+  -- submenu entry), and for a .sav imported through
+  -- src/save_convert/GenSave.lua it really does arrive with mon.stats nil,
+  -- which crashed the HP bar draw below (#233).  Redundant once
+  -- SaveData.validate has run over a loaded save, but this is the site the
+  -- original recomputes at, and it also covers a mon handed in by a mod.
+  Stats.ensure(game.data.pokemon[mon.species], mon)
   local self = setmetatable({ game = game, mon = mon, page = 1 }, SummaryMenu)
   local Sprites = require("src.pokemon.Sprites")
   local path = Sprites.path(game.data, mon.species, "front",
@@ -59,10 +70,31 @@ end
 -- drawn from the same HUD tiles the original loads
 local function drawLineBox(tx, ty, b, c)
   local HudTiles = require("src.render.HudTiles")
-  for i = 0, b - 1 do HudTiles.tile(0x73, tx * 8, (ty + i) * 8) end
-  HudTiles.tile(0x77, tx * 8, (ty + b) * 8)
-  for i = 1, c do HudTiles.tile(0x76, (tx - i) * 8, (ty + b) * 8) end
-  HudTiles.tile(0x6F, (tx - c - 1) * 8, (ty + b) * 8)
+  -- Under the status screen's overlay the vertical is $78 -- DrawLineBox
+  -- writes `ld [hl], $78` (status_screen.asm:222), and :90-93 is what puts
+  -- hud_2's single bar tile there.  $73 is the <ID> glyph on this screen,
+  -- not a line, so the whole box has to come off statusTile (#280).  The
+  -- drawn shapes are unchanged: hud_2 tile 0 is the same bar the battle
+  -- layout parks at $73.
+  for i = 0, b - 1 do HudTiles.statusTile(0x78, tx * 8, (ty + i) * 8) end
+  HudTiles.statusTile(0x77, tx * 8, (ty + b) * 8)
+  for i = 1, c do HudTiles.statusTile(0x76, (tx - i) * 8, (ty + b) * 8) end
+  HudTiles.statusTile(0x6F, (tx - c - 1) * 8, (ty + b) * 8)
+end
+
+-- home/pokemon.asm:335-345 PrintLevel: the "<LV>" (":L") tile at (tx,ty)
+-- then the level LEFT_ALIGNed after it; at level 100 hl is decremented so
+-- the third digit is written back OVER the ":L" tile.  Both status pages
+-- print a level this way, and src/ui/PartyMenu.lua models the same rule for
+-- its rows. #280
+local function printLevel(tx, ty, level)
+  local HudTiles = require("src.render.HudTiles")
+  local x = tx * 8
+  if level < 100 then
+    HudTiles.statusTile(0x6E, x, ty * 8)
+    x = x + 8
+  end
+  Font.draw(tostring(level), x, ty * 8)
 end
 
 function SummaryMenu:draw()
@@ -73,21 +105,33 @@ function SummaryMenu:draw()
   local data = game.data
   local def = data.pokemon[mon.species]
 
-  -- shared header: pic (1,0), name (9,1), <LV> (14,2), No. (1,7)
+  -- shared header: pic (1,0), name (9,1), № + dex number (1,7).  The pic is
+  -- MIRRORED -- status_screen.asm:170 draws it through
+  -- LoadFlippedFrontSpriteByMonIndex (home/pokemon.asm sets wSpriteFlipped),
+  -- the same routine the intro's NIDORINO show-off uses (OakSpeech picFlip:
+  -- negative x scale anchored at the pic's right edge). #280
   if self.sprite then
-    love.graphics.draw(self.sprite, 8,
-                       math.max(0, 56 - self.sprite:getHeight()))
+    love.graphics.draw(self.sprite, 8 + self.sprite:getWidth(),
+                       math.max(0, 56 - self.sprite:getHeight()), 0, -1, 1)
   end
   local HudTiles = require("src.render.HudTiles")
   love.graphics.setColor(0, 0, 0, 1)
   Font.draw(mon.nickname or def.name, 72, 8)
-  HudTiles.tile(0x6E, 112, 16) -- <LV>
-  Font.draw(tostring(mon.level), 120, 16)
-  Font.draw(("No.%03d"):format(def.dex or 0), 8, 56)
+  -- status_screen.asm:109-113 backs hl up from DrawLineBox's end to write
+  -- the single-tile '№' at (1,7) and '<DOT>' at (2,7); :143-146 then
+  -- PrintNumbers the dex number (LEADING_ZEROES, 3 digits) at (3,7).
+  -- Spelling "No." out of three letter tiles pushed every digit a column
+  -- right of the original. #280
+  HudTiles.statusTile(0x74, 8, 56)  -- №
+  Font.drawCode(0xF2, 16, 56)       -- <DOT> (charmap.asm:182)
+  Font.draw(("%03d"):format(def.dex or 0), 24, 56)
 
   if self.page == 1 then
     -- HP bar (11,3) + numbers row 4, STATUS/ (9,6), the DrawLineBox
-    -- bracket around the name/HP block
+    -- bracket around the name/HP block, and PrintLevel at (14,2).  The
+    -- level belongs to page 1 ONLY: StatusScreen2 opens with ClearScreenArea
+    -- over (9,2) 5x10 (status_screen.asm:303-305), which wipes it. #280
+    printLevel(14, 2, mon.level)
     drawLineBox(19, 1, 6, 10)
     HudTiles.drawHPBar(data, 11, 3, mon, 1) -- wHPBarType 1
     Font.draw(("%3d/%3d"):format(mon.hp, mon.stats.hp), 96, 32)
@@ -114,7 +158,12 @@ function SummaryMenu:draw()
       Font.draw(Strings("TYPE2/"), 80, 88)
       Font.draw(TypeChart.displayName(def.types[2]), 88, 96)
     end
-    Font.draw(Strings("IDNo/"), 80, 104)
+    -- TypesIDNoOTText's third row is "<ID>№/" (status_screen.asm:205-210):
+    -- two single-tile glyphs and a slash, three columns wide, not the five
+    -- letter tiles "IDNo/" this used to spell out. #280
+    HudTiles.statusTile(0x73, 80, 104) -- <ID>
+    HudTiles.statusTile(0x74, 88, 104) -- №
+    Font.draw("/", 96, 104)
     -- the trainer ID is rolled at new game (SaveData.newGame) and
     -- backfilled on load for old saves
     Font.draw(("%05d"):format(mon.otId or game.save.player.id or 0), 96, 112)
@@ -124,17 +173,21 @@ function SummaryMenu:draw()
     -- page 2: EXP + the moves with PP (StatusScreen2)
     drawLineBox(19, 1, 6, 10)
     Font.draw(Strings("EXP POINTS"), 72, 24)
-    Font.draw(("%d"):format(mon.exp), 96, 32)
-    -- StatusScreen2: "LEVEL UP" at (9,5); next-exp PrintNumber 7 cols
-    -- at (7,6); space at (14,6); PrintLevel at (16,6).  The old
-    -- "%d to L%d" string at x=88 overflowed the DrawLineBox edge.
+    -- PrintNumber at (12,4) with 7 columns: the exp is RIGHT-aligned into
+    -- cols 12-18 (status_screen.asm:400-403), not left-aligned from col 12.
+    -- #280
+    Font.draw(("%7d"):format(mon.exp), 96, 32)
+    -- StatusScreen2: "LEVEL UP" at (9,5); next-exp PrintNumber 7 cols at
+    -- (7,6); the narrow '<to>' tile at (14,6); PrintLevel at (16,6)
+    -- (status_screen.asm:393-403).  The old "%d to L%d" string at x=88
+    -- overflowed the DrawLineBox edge.
     Font.draw(Strings("LEVEL UP"), 72, 40)
     local Growth = require("src.pokemon.Growth")
     local nextExp = mon.level < 100
       and (Growth.expForLevel(def.growthRate, mon.level + 1) - mon.exp) or 0
     Font.draw(("%7d"):format(math.max(0, nextExp)), 56, 48)
-    HudTiles.tile(0x6E, 128, 48) -- <LV>
-    Font.draw(tostring(math.min(100, mon.level + 1)), 136, 48)
+    HudTiles.statusTile(0x70, 112, 48) -- '<to>' at (14,6), was missing (#280)
+    printLevel(16, 6, math.min(100, mon.level + 1))
     Font.drawBox(0, 8, 20, 10)
     for i = 1, 4 do
       local mv = mon.moves[i]
diff --git a/src/world/OverworldController.lua b/src/world/OverworldController.lua
index 1fe9b3ef..5f501f60 100644
--- a/src/world/OverworldController.lua
+++ b/src/world/OverworldController.lua
@@ -47,6 +47,24 @@ local HEAL_BALL_XY = {
 -- swaps the two middle shades of the monitor/ball art in place
 local HEAL_FLASH_MAP = { [0] = 0, [1] = 2, [2] = 1, [3] = 3 }
 
+-- Fishing rod placement (FishingRodOAM, engine/overworld/player_animations
+-- .asm).  Those dbsprite rows are raw shadow-OAM bytes like HEAL_BALL_XY
+-- above (screen = tile*8 + pixel - 8/16), measured against the player
+-- sprite's fixed screen spot: ResetPlayerSpriteData parks it at $3c/$40
+-- (home/reset_player_sprite.asm), i.e. screen (64,60).  So what ports over
+-- is the delta from the sprite's top-left, which SpriteRenderer:draw puts at
+-- (px, py - 4).  `tile` indexes the three stacked 8x8 tiles of
+-- assets/generated/fx/fishing_rod.png: FishingRodOAM only ever draws $fd
+-- (row 0, up/down) and $fe (row 1, left/right), and RIGHT is the LEFT tile
+-- x-flipped.  Blitting the whole 8x24 sheet is what drew the rod as a
+-- garbage strip (#321).
+local ROD_OAM = {
+  down  = { dx =  4, dy = 15, tile = 0 },              -- dbsprite  9, 11, 4, 3, $fd
+  up    = { dx =  4, dy = -8, tile = 0 },              -- dbsprite  9,  8, 4, 4, $fd
+  left  = { dx = -8, dy =  4, tile = 1 },              -- dbsprite  8, 10, 0, 0, $fe
+  right = { dx = 16, dy =  4, tile = 1, flip = true }, -- dbsprite 11, 10, 0, 0, $fe, XFLIP
+}
+
 -- object_event spawn filter (toggleable_objects, items taken, beaten
 -- static encounters), shared by the current map's real NPCs and the
 -- visual-only ghosts on connected neighbor maps
@@ -555,6 +573,19 @@ function OverworldState:sgbWorldZones()
   return zones
 end
 
+-- Whether the dark-map shade shift (PaletteFX.DARK_BGP, armed in drawWorld)
+-- can actually reach this frame's world pass.  It cannot in RED++: that mode
+-- bakes real per-tile colour into the tileset atlas and sgbWorldZones returns
+-- an EMPTY zone list above, so the world blits with no shade-remap shader at
+-- all and there is no palette left to permute.  Only then does fxDark
+-- composite the darkness by hand (#322).
+function OverworldState:darkNeedsOverlay()
+  if not self.dark then return false end
+  local renderer = self.map and self.map.renderer
+  return PaletteFX.usesGbcPack() and renderer ~= nil
+         and renderer.gbcAtlas ~= nil
+end
+
 function OverworldState:npcByIndex(index)
   for _, n in ipairs(self.npcs) do
     if n.def.index == index then return n end
@@ -980,9 +1011,15 @@ function OverworldState:handleInput()
   end
 
   -- Cycling Road's downhill pull: with no d-pad held the bike rolls
-  -- south (home/overworld.asm JoypadOverworld's simulated PAD_DOWN)
+  -- south (home/overworld.asm JoypadOverworld's simulated PAD_DOWN).
+  -- The mask there is PAD_CTRL_PAD | PAD_B | PAD_A, so HOLDING A or B
+  -- brakes exactly like a held direction: what the Route 17 sign
+  -- promises ("Press the A or B Button to stay in place") and what the
+  -- edge-only wasPressed("a") above can never deliver, since a press
+  -- stalls the roll for one frame only (issue #255).
   local fm = Game.data.field.forcedMovement
-  if fm and Game.save.onBike and not self.player.moving then
+  local braking = input:isDown("a") or input:isDown("b")
+  if fm and Game.save.onBike and not braking and not self.player.moving then
     for _, m in ipairs(fm.slopeMaps or {}) do
       if m == self.map.id then
         self.player.facing = "down"
@@ -1070,8 +1107,28 @@ function OverworldState:checkLedgeHop(dir)
        and ledge.facing == dir and ledge.input == dir
        and ledge.standingTile == standing and ledge.ledgeTile == front then
       local lx, ly = Collision.target(fx, fy, dir)
-      if self.map:inBounds(lx, ly)
-         and not Collision.occupied(self.entities, lx, ly, p)
+      if not self.map:inBounds(lx, ly) then
+        -- The landing is on the CONNECTED map.  pokered never checks where a
+        -- hop lands (engine/overworld/ledges.asm HandleLedges just simulates
+        -- two presses in the hop direction) and the connection strip is
+        -- loaded, so ROUTE_4's bottom-row ledge at (12,17)/(13,17) really
+        -- does drop onto ROUTE_3 row 0 (south connection, offset -25 ->
+        -- destX = curX + 50; ROUTE_3 (62,0)/(63,0) are walkable $39/$23):
+        -- the one-way shortcut off the Mt Moon plaza that the in-bounds gate
+        -- was silently refusing, which is issue #223.  Validate the seam
+        -- cell the way crossConnection does, hop the first cell onto the
+        -- ledge tile, and hand the second to checkEdgeExit, which owns the
+        -- crossing.
+        local dest, ts, cx, cy = self:connectionLanding(dir)
+        if not (dest and Map.defPassable(dest, ts, cx, cy, p.surfing)) then
+          return false
+        end
+        require("src.core.Sound").play(Game.data, "Ledge")
+        p.hopFrames, p.hopTotal = 32, 32 -- jump arc (cosmetic)
+        self:scriptMove(p, dir, 1, function() self:checkEdgeExit(dir) end)
+        return true
+      end
+      if not Collision.occupied(self.entities, lx, ly, p)
          and self.map:isWalkableCell(lx, ly) then
         require("src.core.Sound").play(Game.data, "Ledge")
         p.hopFrames, p.hopTotal = 32, 32 -- jump arc (cosmetic)
@@ -1322,12 +1379,18 @@ function OverworldState:goFishing(rod)
   -- FishingInit dot animation); the rod pose draws in the meantime
   self.fishing = { facing = self.player.facing }
   Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, ". . .", function()
-    self.fishing = nil
+    -- FishingAnim (engine/overworld/player_animations.asm) holds
+    -- BIT_LEDGE_OR_FISHING -- the rod OAM and the fishing pose -- through
+    -- PrintText and only clears it once the verdict box is done, so the rod
+    -- must NOT vanish with the dots box (#321).
     if not enc then
-      Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, Strings("Not even a nibble!")))
+      Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, Strings("Not even a nibble!"), function()
+        self.fishing = nil
+      end))
       return
     end
     Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, Strings("Oh!\nIt's a bite!"), function()
+      self.fishing = nil
       local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
       local battle = BattleState.newWild(Game, enc.species, enc.level, { hooked = true })
       if Game.save.safari and Map.inRegion(self.map.def, "SAFARI", "SAFARI_ZONE") then
@@ -2528,22 +2591,27 @@ function OverworldState:engageTrainer(npc, onDone)
   local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
   Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, battleText, function()
     local battle = BattleState.newTrainer(Game, d.trainerClass, d.trainerParty)
+    -- PrintEndBattleText (home/trainers.asm:341) is called from
+    -- TrainerBattleVictory (engine/battle/core.asm:942), i.e. ON the battle
+    -- screen once ScrollTrainerPicAfterBattle has brought the beaten trainer
+    -- back, and before MoneyForWinningText -- not in the overworld after the
+    -- battle screen has torn down.  Handing the line to the battle also
+    -- stops a post-battle evolution being sandwiched between two overworld
+    -- cuts (#282).  Substituted here because BattleState:say takes finished
+    -- text, while TextBox expanded the {PLAYER}/{RIVAL} tokens itself.
+    battle.endBattleText = wonText and TextBox.substitute(Game, wonText) or nil
     battle.onFinish = function(result)
       if result == "win" then
         Game.save.defeatedTrainers[npc.id] = true
         if header and header.event then
           Game.save.flags[header.event] = true
         end
+        -- checkVictoryRewards pushes the badge/prize box and starts the map's
+        -- onVictory script UNDER whatever runs next, so the player still sees
+        -- EndBattle (now inside the battle), then the reward, then AfterBattle
         self:checkVictoryRewards(d.trainerClass, d.trainerParty)
-        local after = function()
-          self:afterBattle(result, battle)
-          if onDone then onDone() end
-        end
-        if wonText then
-          Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, wonText, after))
-        else
-          after()
-        end
+        self:afterBattle(result, battle)
+        if onDone then onDone() end
       else
         self:afterBattle(result, battle)
         if onDone then onDone() end
@@ -2556,7 +2624,7 @@ end
 -- Badges/items awarded after specific battles (data/scripts/victories.lua).
 -- `deactivate` retires unfought gym/dojo trainers the way the originals'
 -- SetEvent / SetEventRange do after the leader victory.
--- `hide` is { { mapId, objName }, ... } — HideObject on those toggles
+-- `hide` is { { mapId, objName }, ... } -- HideObject on those toggles
 -- (e.g. Brock victory clears PEWTERCITY_YOUNGSTER / ROUTE22_RIVAL1).
 function OverworldState:checkVictoryRewards(trainerClass, partyIndex)
   local victories = require("data.scripts.victories")
@@ -2924,14 +2992,25 @@ function OverworldState:onStepComplete()
     self.warpEntryCell = nil
     entry = nil
   end
-  if self.justWarped then
-    self.justWarped = false
-  elseif entry then
+  -- The arrival disable is POSITIONAL: warpEntryCell above is the whole
+  -- test.  justWarped only records that an arrival happened (it still
+  -- backs onWarpArrivalCell's bonk guard for issue #230), so consuming a
+  -- completed step with it swallowed the warp under the player's feet,
+  -- which is why a second ladder one cell from the first did nothing
+  -- (Seafoam B3F has warp tiles on (25,3) and (25,4)) -- issue #265.
+  -- pokered has no such counter: every completed step runs
+  -- CheckWarpsNoCollision (home/overworld.asm), and BIT_STANDING_ON_WARP,
+  -- the flag the bonk path needs, is only set by
+  -- CheckWarpsNoCollisionLoop itself or by IsPlayerStandingOnWarp from
+  -- MapEntryAfterBattle, never on a plain warp arrival -- which is
+  -- exactly what warpEntryCell reproduces.
+  self.justWarped = false
+  if entry then
     -- still standing on the warp we arrived through; do not re-trigger it
   else
     -- CheckWarpsNoCollision: door/warp tiles fire immediately; otherwise
     -- ExtraWarpCheck must pass AND either a d-pad is held or BIT_FORCED_WARP
-    -- is set (Seafoam B3F currents — home/overworld.asm).
+    -- is set (Seafoam B3F currents -- home/overworld.asm).
     local w = Warp.onArrive(self.map, p.cellX, p.cellY)
     if not w and (self:dirHeld() or self.forcedWarp) then
       w = Warp.onCollision(self.map, Game.data.field.warpCarpets,
@@ -3017,7 +3096,7 @@ function OverworldState:runSpinnerMoves(moves, i)
     -- Scripted steps skip onStepComplete while they run; once the RLE
     -- finishes, re-enter the normal landing pipeline so chained spinners,
     -- Seafoam currents, and CheckWarpsNoCollision (incl. BIT_FORCED_WARP)
-    -- see the tile we stopped on — same as pokered after simulated joypad.
+    -- see the tile we stopped on -- same as pokered after simulated joypad.
     self:onStepComplete()
     return
   end
@@ -3754,6 +3833,13 @@ function OverworldState:billboard(fx, fy, vw, vh, colors, keyed, drawFn)
 end
 
 function OverworldState:drawWorld()
+  -- Dark-map BG shade shift, armed for the whole frame before anything draws.
+  -- home/fade.asm's LoadGBPal writes ONE rBGP for the screen, so terrain, the
+  -- characters standing on it and any dialog over them darken together (#322);
+  -- Renderer:beginFrame cleared it, so a battle or a full-screen menu -- which
+  -- draws with no map beneath it -- stays lit exactly like
+  -- init_battle_variables.asm's `ld [wMapPalOffset], a` leaves the original.
+  PaletteFX.setShadeMap(self.dark and PaletteFX.DARK_BGP or nil)
   -- advance the water/flower tile animation (runs under dialogs too).
   -- TileRenderer.tick uses wall-clock 60Hz steps so display refresh rate
   -- does not speed or slow the cycle (issue #4).
@@ -3970,19 +4056,20 @@ function OverworldState:drawWorld()
     end
   end
 
-  -- Rock Tunnel darkness: a small window of light around the player
-  -- until FLASH is used (the original darkens the palette instead);
-  -- fills the whole world view, so surveying doesn't peek past it
+  -- Rock Tunnel darkness.  The original never cuts a window of light around
+  -- the player: it shifts the BG palette for the WHOLE screen (wMapPalOffset
+  -- = 6 -> home/fade.asm LoadGBPal -> FadePal2 `dc 3,3,3,2`) and FLASH shifts
+  -- it back (#322).  PaletteFX.DARK_BGP does that for every shade-remapped
+  -- mode, armed at the top of drawWorld.  RED++ is the one mode with no
+  -- palette left to shift -- TileRenderer bakes true colour into the tileset
+  -- atlas and sgbWorldZones hands the blit an EMPTY zone list, so no shader
+  -- runs over the world at all -- so there the darkness is composited instead:
+  -- a flat veil over the whole world view (surveying still cannot peek past
+  -- it) at the 85/255 brightness FadePal2 leaves DMG white on.
   local function fxDark()
-    if not self.dark then return end
-    local px = self.player.px - cam.x + 8
-    local py = self.player.py - cam.y + 8
-    local r = 28
-    love.graphics.setColor(0, 0, 0, 1)
-    love.graphics.rectangle("fill", 0, 0, vw, math.max(0, py - r))
-    love.graphics.rectangle("fill", 0, py + r, vw, vh - (py + r))
-    love.graphics.rectangle("fill", 0, py - r, math.max(0, px - r), r * 2)
-    love.graphics.rectangle("fill", px + r, py - r, vw - (px + r), r * 2)
+    if not self:darkNeedsOverlay() then return end
+    love.graphics.setColor(0, 0, 0, 1 - 85 / 255)
+    love.graphics.rectangle("fill", 0, 0, vw, vh)
     love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
   end
 
@@ -4016,11 +4103,25 @@ function OverworldState:drawWorld()
       end
       if self.rodImg then
         local p = self.player
-        local vec = DIRVEC[self.fishing.facing] or DIRVEC.down
-        local rx = p.px - cam.x + 4 + vec[1] * 12
-        local ry = p.py - cam.y + 4 + vec[2] * 12
+        local oam = ROD_OAM[self.fishing.facing] or ROD_OAM.down
+        if not self.rodQuads then
+          -- one quad per 8x8 tile of the stacked sheet (ROD_OAM.tile)
+          local iw, ih = self.rodImg:getDimensions()
+          self.rodQuads = {}
+          for i = 0, math.floor(ih / 8) - 1 do
+            self.rodQuads[i] = love.graphics.newQuad(0, i * 8, 8, 8, iw, ih)
+          end
+        end
+        local quad = self.rodQuads[oam.tile]
+        -- the sprite's top-left is 4px above its cell (SpriteRenderer:draw)
+        local rx = p.px - cam.x + oam.dx
+        local ry = p.py - cam.y - 4 + oam.dy
         love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
-        love.graphics.draw(self.rodImg, rx, ry)
+        if quad and oam.flip then
+          love.graphics.draw(self.rodImg, quad, rx + 8, ry, 0, -1, 1)
+        elseif quad then
+          love.graphics.draw(self.rodImg, quad, rx, ry)
+        end
       end
     end
   end
@@ -4100,10 +4201,12 @@ function OverworldState:drawWorld()
       if self.fishing then
         at(fxRod, self.player.px + 8, self.player.py + 16)
       end
-      -- Rock Tunnel darkness is a screen-space light window, not a ground
-      -- object: draw it flat over the finished scene like the tilt path.
-      -- It fills the view in world-pixel units, so it only needs the scale.
-      if self.dark then
+      -- Rock Tunnel darkness is a screen-space veil, not a ground object:
+      -- draw it flat over the finished scene like the tilt path.  It fills
+      -- the view in world-pixel units, so it only needs the scale, and it is
+      -- only needed at all in the mode whose palette cannot carry the
+      -- darkening itself (see fxDark).
+      if self:darkNeedsOverlay() then
         love.graphics.push()
         love.graphics.scale(scale, scale)
         fxDark()
@@ -4134,9 +4237,12 @@ function OverworldState:drawWorld()
     -- the pipeline owns the whole frame; nothing else draws into the world
   elseif not tilt then
     -- === FLAT PATH: everything into the one world canvas, as before =====
-    -- OBP-baked sprites replay after the zone pass in GBC mode, so their
+    -- OBP-baked sprites replay after the zone pass in OG RED mode, so their
     -- grass feet-overdraw must replay over them too, colorized with the
-    -- current map's palette (see PaletteFX.markSpriteRedraw)
+    -- current map's palette (see PaletteFX.markSpriteRedraw).  SGB no longer
+    -- takes that path -- its characters are colorized by the zone just like
+    -- the ground under them (#301) -- so there the first overdraw is already
+    -- the final one.
     local grassColors = PaletteFX.usesSpriteObp()
       and PaletteFX.pal(Game.data, self:paletteNameFor(self.map)) or nil
     for _, g in ipairs(self.ghosts) do
@@ -4257,10 +4363,10 @@ function OverworldState:drawWorld()
       self:billboard(fx, fy, vw, vh, zoneColorsAt(zones, fx, fy), false, fxRod)
     end
 
-    -- Rock Tunnel darkness is a screen-space light window, not a ground
-    -- object -- draw it flat into the upright canvas so it darkens the
-    -- final composited scene uniformly (the subtle tilt keeps the
-    -- projected player near the flat light centre).
+    -- Rock Tunnel darkness is a screen-space veil, not a ground object --
+    -- draw it flat into the upright canvas so it darkens the final
+    -- composited scene uniformly.  It no-ops unless this mode needs the
+    -- composited fallback (see fxDark).
     fxDark()
 
     Game.renderer:endUprightPass()
diff --git a/src/world/Player.lua b/src/world/Player.lua
index 01aed2cc..c79c2e55 100644
--- a/src/world/Player.lua
+++ b/src/world/Player.lua
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ function Player:update()
     self.stepFlip = not self.stepFlip
     -- keep animClock's pose on this frame (issue #82): bike steps land
     -- mid-cycle (animClock % 16 == 8), and walkPhase used to snap to
-    -- stand whenever moving cleared — a stand flash every tile on the
+    -- stand whenever moving cleared -- a stand flash every tile on the
     -- bike, and sometimes after dismount when the clock is desynced
     self.stepLanded = true
     return true
diff --git a/tests/drivers/bag_usetoss_bug284_test.lua b/tests/drivers/bag_usetoss_bug284_test.lua
index 13cd77c2..674a08d9 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/bag_usetoss_bug284_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/bag_usetoss_bug284_test.lua
@@ -1,27 +1,8 @@
--- Driver: the bag's USE/TOSS submenu box (#284).  A manual eye check, not a
--- pass/fail run.
---
--- pokered evidence.  data/text_boxes.asm pins the whole thing as one entry:
---
---   text_box_text USE_TOSS_MENU_TEMPLATE, 13, 10, 19, 14, UseTossText, 15, 11
---   ; text box ID, upper-left X, upper-left Y, lower-right X, lower-right Y,
---   ; text pointer, text X, text Y
---
--- so the box covers tiles (13,10)-(19,14) and "USE" starts at tile (15,11).
--- engine/menus/start_sub_menus.asm then sets wTopMenuItemY/X to 11/14 for
--- the cursor, and UseTossText is "USE" + next "TOSS", i.e. two rows.
---
--- The bug: the port opened the submenu with a (12,10) 8x6 box, one column
--- too wide on the left and one row too tall at the bottom.  The labels
--- themselves were already on the right pixel rows, but the extra bottom row
--- left them stranded near the top edge, which is what reads as "too high".
--- The fix passes the real geometry (13,10,7,5); src/ui/Menu.lua derives the
--- label and cursor columns from the box, so it needed no change and its
--- eight other callers are untouched.
---
--- Do NOT run this under POKEPORT_SPEED: fast-forward scales only the logic
--- clock, so a sped-up run can capture a half-drawn frame.
---
+-- Eye check on the bag's USE/TOSS submenu box (#284).
+-- pokered data/text_boxes.asm: USE_TOSS_MENU_TEMPLATE covers tiles
+-- (13,10)-(19,14) with "USE" at (15,11), and start_sub_menus.asm puts the
+-- cursor at wTopMenuItemY/X 11/14.  The port opened it one column wider and
+-- one row taller, which stranded the labels near the top edge.
 --   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/bag_usetoss_bug284_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug284 love .
 return function(game)
   local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
@@ -33,10 +14,8 @@ return function(game)
     return ok
   end
 
-  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot separate from the bug ----------------
-  -- An empty bag, or an item whose branch skips the submenu, both end with
-  -- "no USE/TOSS box on screen", which looks identical to a broken box.
-
+  -- an empty bag, or an item whose branch skips the submenu, leaves no box on
+  -- screen at all, which looks the same as a broken one
   game.save.party = { Pokemon.new(game.data, "CHARIZARD", 50) }
   game.save.player.name = "bryan"
   game.save.inventory = game.save.inventory or {}
@@ -59,27 +38,14 @@ return function(game)
   U.wait(30)
   U.shot(game, "bug284_bag_list.png")
 
-  -- A on the first item opens USE/TOSS
   U.tap(game, "a")
   U.wait(30)
   U.shot(game, "bug284_usetoss.png")
 
-  U.log("........................................................")
-  U.log("LOOK NOW: the USE/TOSS box should be open over the bag list.")
-  U.log("  Screenshot: bug284_usetoss.png in the LOVE save dir.")
-  U.log("  RIGHT: a box hugging the bottom-right corner, its border running")
-  U.log("         tiles (13,10) to (19,14). USE and TOSS sit on alternating")
-  U.log("         rows with the cursor one column to their left, and there")
-  U.log("         is exactly one border row below TOSS -- no empty gap.")
-  U.log("  BUG #284 looks like: a roomier box whose labels crowd the top,")
-  U.log("         with a blank row of dead space under TOSS, and the whole")
-  U.log("         box starting one column further left than the original.")
-  U.log("  ALSO WRONG: labels pushed down but the box left oversized (that")
-  U.log("         moves the text off pokered's row 11), or the cursor column")
-  U.log("         no longer lining up one tile left of the labels.")
-  U.log("Compare against the original screenshot in issue #284.")
-  U.log("Input is yours from here: up/down moves between USE and TOSS.")
-  U.log("........................................................")
+  U.log("USE/TOSS is open over the bag list; shot in bug284_usetoss.png.")
+  U.log("It should run tiles (13,10)-(19,14) with the cursor one column left")
+  U.log("of the labels and a single border row under TOSS, no blank gap (#284).")
+  U.log("Up/down moves between USE and TOSS.")
 
   while true do
     coroutine.yield()
diff --git a/tests/drivers/battle_colors_bug316_test.lua b/tests/drivers/battle_colors_bug316_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8e3a7356
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/battle_colors_bug316_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,230 @@
+-- Driver: cycling COLORS mid-battle must not move a sprite (#316).  pokered
+-- SlidePlayerAndEnemySilhouettesOnScreen (engine/battle/core.asm:13-15) puts
+-- the back pic at `hlcoord 1, 5` so its bottom row sits on the text box, and a
+-- palette swap must not lift it off.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/battle_colors_bug316_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug316 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+  local PaletteFX = require("src.render.PaletteFX")
+
+  -- Route 1 (5, 5) is open walkable ground; the battle is pushed straight in.
+  local MAP = "ROUTE_1"
+  local STAND = { x = 5, y = 5, facing = "down" }
+  -- ARTICUNO's back pic has left padding as well as bottom padding.
+  local PARTY = { { "BULBASAUR", 12 }, { "ARTICUNO", 40 } }
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot check --------------------------------
+  -- No transparent padding on the back pics means no jump to see, so a broken
+  -- fix would read as a pass.
+  local function padOf(path)
+    if not (love.image and love.image.newImageData) then return nil end
+    local ok, id = pcall(love.image.newImageData, path)
+    if not ok then return nil end
+    local w, h = id:getDimensions()
+    local bottom = h - 1
+    while bottom >= 0 do
+      local opaque = false
+      for x = 0, w - 1 do
+        local _, _, _, a = id:getPixel(x, bottom)
+        if a > 0 then opaque = true break end
+      end
+      if opaque then break end
+      bottom = bottom - 1
+    end
+    local left = 0
+    while left < w do
+      local opaque = false
+      for y = 0, h - 1 do
+        local _, _, _, a = id:getPixel(left, y)
+        if a > 0 then opaque = true break end
+      end
+      if opaque then break end
+      left = left + 1
+    end
+    return h - 1 - bottom, left, w, h
+  end
+
+  for _, path in ipairs({ "assets/generated/battle/redb.png",
+                          "assets/generated/battle/back/bulbasaurb.png",
+                          "assets/generated/battle/back/articunob.png" }) do
+    local pad, padL, w, h = padOf(path)
+    if pad == nil then
+      check(path .. " could be measured", false)
+    else
+      U.log(("  %s is %dx%d, %d transparent bottom rows, %d left columns")
+              :format(path, w, h, pad, padL))
+      check(path .. " still carries bottom padding to lose", pad > 0)
+    end
+  end
+  check("BattleState.invalidate still exists (PaletteFX.setMode calls it)",
+        type(BattleState.invalidate) == "function")
+  U.log("  COLORS ladder:", table.concat(PaletteFX.MODES, ", "))
+
+  -- Where drawPicsLayer puts every pic this frame; love.graphics.draw is
+  -- shadowed so nothing reaches the screen.  Both call shapes matter:
+  -- draw(img, x, y, r, sx, sy) and the faint-clip draw(img, quad, x, y, ...).
+  local function picGeometry(battle)
+    local out = {}
+    local realDraw = love.graphics.draw
+    love.graphics.draw = function(_, a, b, c, d, e)
+      if type(a) == "number" then
+        out[#out + 1] = { x = a, y = b, s = d }
+      else
+        out[#out + 1] = { x = b, y = c, s = e }
+      end
+    end
+    pcall(battle.drawPicsLayer, battle, 0, 0, 0)
+    love.graphics.draw = realDraw
+    return out
+  end
+
+  local function describe(geo)
+    local parts = {}
+    for _, g in ipairs(geo) do
+      parts[#parts + 1] = ("(%s, %s x%s)"):format(tostring(g.x), tostring(g.y),
+                                                  tostring(g.s or 1))
+    end
+    return table.concat(parts, " ")
+  end
+
+  local function same(a, b)
+    if #a ~= #b then return false end
+    for i = 1, #a do
+      if a[i].x ~= b[i].x or a[i].y ~= b[i].y or a[i].s ~= b[i].s then
+        return false
+      end
+    end
+    return true
+  end
+
+  -- The back pic is the only thing drawn at 2x (BattleState.backPlacement's
+  -- third return); the enemy front pic is 1x.
+  local function backEntry(geo)
+    for _, g in ipairs(geo) do
+      if g.s == 2 then return g end
+    end
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  -- Ground truth off the art on disk, not off the cache: comparing against an
+  -- earlier frame only catches a pad lost DURING the run, and this one is also
+  -- lost by any pic loaded after an invalidate().
+  local bpad, bpadL, bw, bh = padOf("assets/generated/battle/back/bulbasaurb.png")
+  local expX, expY = nil, nil
+  if bpad then
+    expX, expY = BattleState.backPlacement(bw, bh, bpad, bpadL, 2)
+    U.log(("  a %dx%d back pic with %d ground rows belongs at (%d, %d) at 2x")
+            :format(bw, bh, bpad, expX, expY))
+  end
+
+  local function grounded(label, geo)
+    if not expY then return end
+    local b = backEntry(geo)
+    check(label .. ": the back pic stands on the text box at y = "
+          .. tostring(expY) .. " (got " .. tostring(b and b.y) .. ")",
+          b ~= nil and b.y == expY and b.x == expX)
+  end
+
+  -- ---- get a back pic on screen ------------------------------------------
+  game.save.party = {}
+  for _, slot in ipairs(PARTY) do
+    table.insert(game.save.party, Pokemon.new(game.data, slot[1], slot[2]))
+  end
+  U.teleport(game, MAP, STAND.x, STAND.y, STAND.facing)
+  U.wait(10)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+  check("the overworld is up on " .. MAP, ow ~= nil)
+
+  local battle = BattleState.newWild(game, "PIDGEY", 6)
+  battle.onFinish = function() end
+  if ow then ow:pushBattle(battle) end
+  for _ = 1, 400 do
+    if game.stack:top() == battle and (battle.introSlide or 0) == 0 then break end
+    U.wait(1)
+  end
+  check("the battle reached the screen", game.stack:top() == battle)
+
+  -- Red's own back pic is up during the intro, and that is the pic the report
+  -- names, so check it first.
+  check("Red's back pic is on screen", battle.showPlayerBack == true)
+  local introBefore = picGeometry(battle)
+  U.log("  intro pics before:", describe(introBefore))
+  grounded("before any COLORS change", introBefore)
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug316_1_intro_before.png")
+  game:keypressed("2")
+  U.wait(4)
+  local introAfter = picGeometry(battle)
+  U.log("  intro pics after :", describe(introAfter))
+  U.log("  COLORS is now", PaletteFX.modeLabel(PaletteFX.mode))
+  check("cycling COLORS did not move Red's back pic (#316)",
+        same(introBefore, introAfter))
+  grounded("after one COLORS change", introAfter)
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug316_2_intro_after.png")
+
+  -- now the mon's own back pic, at the action menu, where a player actually
+  -- sits when they press 2
+  for _ = 1, 80 do
+    if battle.phase == "menu" then break end
+    U.tap(game, "a")
+    U.wait(4)
+  end
+  check("the battle reached its action menu", battle.phase == "menu")
+  check("the mon's back pic replaced Red's", battle.showPlayerBack == false)
+
+  local base = picGeometry(battle)
+  U.log("  menu pics baseline:", describe(base))
+  grounded("the mon's own back pic at the menu", base)
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug316_3_menu_" .. tostring(PaletteFX.mode) .. ".png")
+
+  -- walk the whole COLORS ladder; every mode has to leave the geometry alone
+  local moved, ungrounded = {}, {}
+  for i = 1, #PaletteFX.MODES do
+    game:keypressed("2")
+    U.wait(4)
+    local geo = picGeometry(battle)
+    local label = PaletteFX.modeLabel(PaletteFX.mode)
+    if not same(base, geo) then
+      moved[#moved + 1] = label
+      U.log("  MOVED under " .. label .. ":", describe(geo))
+    end
+    local b = backEntry(geo)
+    if expY and not (b and b.y == expY and b.x == expX) then
+      ungrounded[#ungrounded + 1] = label
+    end
+    if i == 1 then
+      U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug316_4_menu_" .. tostring(PaletteFX.mode) .. ".png")
+    end
+  end
+  check("no COLORS mode moved a pic (walked the whole ladder of "
+        .. #PaletteFX.MODES .. ")", #moved == 0)
+  check("the back pic is still grounded in every COLORS mode",
+        #ungrounded == 0)
+  if #ungrounded > 0 then
+    U.log("  modes where it floated:", table.concat(ungrounded, ", "))
+  end
+  if #moved > 0 then
+    U.log("  modes that moved something:", table.concat(moved, ", "))
+  end
+  U.log("  back on", PaletteFX.modeLabel(PaletteFX.mode))
+
+  -- ---- hand off ----------------------------------------------------------
+  U.log("At the FIGHT/PKMN/ITEM/RUN menu: press 2 to cycle COLORS and watch the")
+  U.log("back sprite's feet.  They stay planted on the top edge of the text box;")
+  U.log("#316 hopped the sprite 8 pixels up on the first press.  Switching to")
+  U.log("ARTICUNO in slot 2 shows the sideways half of it.")
+  U.log("Sprites already on screen keep their baked palette, which is deliberate.")
+  U.log("Screenshots: " .. DIR .. "/bug316_*.png")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/battle_intro_bug317_test.lua b/tests/drivers/battle_intro_bug317_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aef76614
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/battle_intro_bug317_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,255 @@
+-- Driver: the battle intro's pokeball rows, HUD chrome, prompt arrow and
+-- trainer-pic slides (#317).  engine/battle/common_text.asm:22-27,
+-- draw_hud_pokeball_gfx.asm:1-45 (player row (88,80) +8, foe row (64,16) -8),
+-- SlideTrainerPicOffScreen at core.asm:1235-1253.  Ordering is asserted in
+-- parity_battle_intro_chrome.lua.  No POKEPORT_SPEED: audio has its own clock.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/battle_intro_bug317_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug317 SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+  local HudTiles = require("src.render.HudTiles")
+  local Font = require("src.render.Font")
+
+  -- pokered data/maps/objects/Route3.asm: object_event 10, 6, ... STAY, RIGHT,
+  -- OPP_BUG_CATCHER, 4.  Range RIGHT means the sight line runs east along row
+  -- 6, so (13,6) is one cell outside it and walking west from there trips it.
+  local MAP = "ROUTE_3"
+  local TRAINER = "ROUTE3_YOUNGSTER1"
+  local STAND = { x = 13, y = 6, facing = "left" }
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot check --------------------------------
+  -- A missing sheet draws nothing, which looks identical to the bug.
+
+  -- drawBallRow bails silently if this image will not load
+  local balls = io.open("assets/generated/battle/balls.png", "rb")
+  check("assets/generated/battle/balls.png exists", balls ~= nil)
+  if balls then balls:close() end
+
+  -- HudTiles.tile is a silent no-op for a code the sheets do not carry, so
+  -- count the draws it issues rather than trusting the call
+  local function tileDraws(code)
+    local real = love.graphics.draw
+    local n = 0
+    love.graphics.draw = function() n = n + 1 end
+    pcall(HudTiles.tile, code, 0, 0)
+    love.graphics.draw = real
+    return n
+  end
+  local CHROME = {
+    [0x73] = "corner tick", [0x74] = "bar left cap", [0x76] = "underline run",
+    [0x77] = "player underline left", [0x78] = "enemy underline right",
+    [0x6F] = "player underline end",
+  }
+  for code, what in pairs(CHROME) do
+    check(("HUD chrome tile $%02X (%s) resolves"):format(code, what),
+          tileDraws(code) > 0)
+  end
+
+  local mapDef = game.data.maps[MAP]
+  local trainerDef
+  for _, o in ipairs(mapDef and mapDef.objects or {}) do
+    if o.name == TRAINER then trainerDef = o end
+  end
+  check(TRAINER .. " is still on " .. MAP, trainerDef ~= nil)
+  if trainerDef then
+    check("it is still a trainer object",
+          trainerDef.trainerClass ~= nil and trainerDef.trainerParty ~= nil)
+    U.log("  ", TRAINER, trainerDef.trainerClass, "party", trainerDef.trainerParty,
+          "at", trainerDef.x, trainerDef.y, "range", tostring(trainerDef.range))
+  end
+
+  -- Record what drawHUDs puts on screen for one frame without drawing it:
+  -- drawBallRow is shadowed on the instance, Font.draw on the module
+  -- BattleState routes its HUD strings through.
+  local function snapshot(battle)
+    local rows, strings = {}, {}
+    local realRow, realFont = battle.drawBallRow, Font.draw
+    local realDraw = love.graphics.draw
+    battle.drawBallRow = function(_, party, x, y, dx)
+      rows[#rows + 1] = { count = #party, x = x, y = y, step = dx }
+    end
+    Font.draw = function(text) strings[#strings + 1] = tostring(text) end
+    love.graphics.draw = function() end
+    pcall(battle.drawHUDs, battle, 0)
+    battle.drawBallRow, Font.draw = realRow, realFont
+    love.graphics.draw = realDraw
+    return rows, strings
+  end
+
+  local function drewString(strings, want)
+    for _, s in ipairs(strings) do
+      if s:find(want, 1, true) then return true end
+    end
+    return false
+  end
+
+  -- ---- part 1: a WILD intro, driven and photographed ---------------------
+  game.save.party = {
+    Pokemon.new(game.data, "BULBASAUR", 12),
+    Pokemon.new(game.data, "PIDGEY", 9),
+  }
+  U.teleport(game, MAP, STAND.x, STAND.y, STAND.facing)
+  U.wait(10)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+  check("the overworld is up on " .. MAP, ow ~= nil)
+
+  local wild = BattleState.newWild(game, "RATTATA", 3)
+  wild.onFinish = function() end
+  if ow then ow:pushBattle(wild) end
+  for _ = 1, 400 do
+    if game.stack:top() == wild and (wild.introSlide or 0) == 0 then break end
+    U.wait(1)
+  end
+  check("the wild battle reached the screen",
+        game.stack:top() == wild and (wild.introSlide or 0) == 0)
+  check("the DrawAllPokeballs window is open", wild.introBalls == true)
+
+  local rows, strings = snapshot(wild)
+  check("a WILD intro draws exactly one ball row", #rows == 1)
+  if rows[1] then
+    check("it is the player's row at (88, 80) stepping +8",
+          rows[1].x == 88 and rows[1].y == 80 and rows[1].step == 8)
+    check("it carries all " .. #game.save.party .. " party slots",
+          rows[1].count == #game.save.party)
+  end
+  check("the enemy HUD is NOT up under the intro box",
+        not drewString(strings, wild.enemy.name))
+  if not U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug317_1_wild_intro.png") then
+    U.log("FAIL could not capture the wild intro")
+  end
+
+  -- the page finishes typing, then PromptText's arrow blinks
+  local prompted = false
+  for _ = 1, 300 do
+    if wild.msgPrompt then prompted = true break end
+    U.wait(1)
+  end
+  check("the typed-out intro page raises the blinking prompt", prompted)
+  -- two shots half a blink apart; drawTextArea draws '▼' for frame % 60 < 30
+  for _ = 1, 60 do
+    if (wild.frame % 60) < 6 then break end
+    U.wait(1)
+  end
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug317_2_arrow_on.png")
+  for _ = 1, 60 do
+    if (wild.frame % 60) >= 34 then break end
+    U.wait(1)
+  end
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug317_3_arrow_off.png")
+
+  -- dismiss it: ClearSprites + both ClearScreenAreas, then the enemy HUD
+  U.tap(game, "a")
+  U.wait(4)
+  check("dismissing the box closes the window", wild.introBalls == nil)
+  local rows2, strings2 = snapshot(wild)
+  check("no ball row survives the dismissal", #rows2 == 0)
+  check("the enemy HUD appears once the box is gone",
+        drewString(strings2, wild.enemy.name))
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug317_4_enemy_hud.png")
+
+  -- The back pic walking off the left edge before "Go! X!".  Keep watching
+  -- past the mid-slide shot: U.shot spins frames of its own, so breaking on
+  -- it would under-report how far the pic travelled.
+  local lowest, shot = 0, false
+  for _ = 1, 400 do
+    local off = wild:picOffset("back")
+    if off < lowest then lowest = off end
+    if not shot and off <= -24 and off >= -52 then
+      shot = true
+      U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug317_5_back_slide.png")
+    end
+    if wild.phase == "menu" or wild.showPlayerBack == false then break end
+    U.wait(1)
+  end
+  check("a mid-slide frame was captured", shot)
+  check("the back pic walked the full 9 tiles off the left edge (reached "
+        .. lowest .. "px of -72)", lowest <= -72)
+
+  -- ---- part 2: a LIVE trainer intro, handed over -------------------------
+  U.teleport(game, MAP, STAND.x, STAND.y, STAND.facing)
+  U.wait(10)
+  ow = game.overworld
+
+  local function liveBattle()
+    for _, s in ipairs(game.stack.states or {}) do
+      if getmetatable(s) == BattleState then return s end
+    end
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  local function trainerNpc()
+    for _, n in ipairs((ow and ow.npcs) or {}) do
+      if n.def and n.def.name == TRAINER then return n end
+    end
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  local npc = trainerNpc()
+  check("the trainer object loaded on the live map", npc ~= nil)
+
+  -- Walk WEST along row 6 into the sight line.  If a map edit moved the
+  -- trainer, re-approach at whatever row it now sits on.
+  if npc and (npc.cellY ~= STAND.y) then
+    U.log("trainer moved to", npc.cellX, npc.cellY, "-- re-approaching")
+    U.teleport(game, MAP, math.min(npc.cellX + 3, (ow.map.widthCells or 60) - 1),
+               npc.cellY, "left")
+    U.wait(10)
+  end
+
+  local battle
+  for _ = 1, 12 do
+    U.hold(game, "left", 12)
+    U.wait(20)
+    battle = liveBattle()
+    if battle then break end
+    -- the pre-battle line ("I like shorts!") holds the overworld; clear it
+    U.tap(game, "a")
+    U.wait(20)
+    battle = liveBattle()
+    if battle then break end
+  end
+
+  if not battle then
+    -- rather than park the player facing nothing, push the same battle
+    U.log("FAIL the sight line did not trip; pushing the battle directly")
+    local cls = trainerDef and trainerDef.trainerClass or "OPP_BUG_CATCHER"
+    local pty = trainerDef and trainerDef.trainerParty or 4
+    battle = BattleState.newTrainer(game, cls, pty)
+    battle.onFinish = function() end
+    if ow then ow:pushBattle(battle) end
+  end
+
+  for _ = 1, 400 do
+    if game.stack:top() == battle and (battle.introSlide or 0) == 0 then break end
+    U.wait(1)
+  end
+  check("a trainer battle is on screen", liveBattle() ~= nil)
+  check("its intro window is open", battle.introBalls == true)
+  local rows3 = snapshot(battle)
+  check("a TRAINER intro draws BOTH ball rows", #rows3 == 2)
+  if rows3[1] and rows3[2] then
+    check("the foe's row is at (64, 16) stepping -8",
+          rows3[1].x == 64 and rows3[1].y == 16 and rows3[1].step == -8)
+    check("the player's row is at (88, 80) stepping +8",
+          rows3[2].x == 88 and rows3[2].y == 80 and rows3[2].step == 8)
+  end
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug317_6_trainer_intro.png")
+
+  -- ---- hand off ----------------------------------------------------------
+  U.log("The BUG CATCHER's intro box is up. Press A to walk the rest of it.")
+  U.log("Correct: six ball slots per side with a thin underline under each row,")
+  U.log("an arrow blinking bottom-right, and each trainer pic WALKING off its")
+  U.log("own edge before its send-out text prints (#317).")
+  U.log("Screenshots of the wild half: " .. DIR .. "/bug317_*.png")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/battle_transition_hold_bug315_test.lua b/tests/drivers/battle_transition_hold_bug315_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..17e64d9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/battle_transition_hold_bug315_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+-- Driver: the black pause between the battle wipe and the battle screen (#315).
+-- Shrink and Split end with BattleTransition_BlackScreen then DelayFrames 10
+-- (engine/battle/battle_transitions.asm:390-392, 422-424); the other six get
+-- the same gap free from the load the original hides behind.  BLACK_HOLD in
+-- src/render/BattleTransition.lua is the knob.  Not under POKEPORT_SPEED.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/battle_transition_hold_bug315_test.lua SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+  local BattleTransition = require("src.render.BattleTransition")
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- BLACK_HOLD is a file-local, so this is the driver's own copy of it
+  local TARGET = 30
+
+  game.save.player.name = "bryan"
+  game.save.party = { Pokemon.new(game.data, "CHARIZARD", 50) }
+
+  U.teleport(game, "ROUTE_1", 5, 5, "down")
+  U.wait(20)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+  check("overworld is up to push the battle from", ow ~= nil)
+
+  -- ---- measure the hold --------------------------------------------------
+  -- No screenshots in this pass: U.shot spins frames of its own and would
+  -- corrupt the count.
+  local function measure(opts)
+    local battle = BattleState.newWild(game, "PIDGEY", 8)
+    battle.onFinish = function() end
+    ow:pushBattle(battle)
+    local tr = game.stack:top()
+    if getmetatable(tr) ~= BattleTransition then return nil, "no transition" end
+    local style, wipeLen = tr.style, tr.wipeLen
+    local f, wipeDone, popped = 0, nil, nil
+    while f < 600 do
+      f = f + 1
+      if not wipeDone and tr.phase == "wipe" and tr.t >= wipeLen then
+        wipeDone = f
+      end
+      if game.stack:top() ~= tr then popped = f break end
+      U.wait(1)
+    end
+    return { style = style, wipeLen = wipeLen, wipeDone = wipeDone,
+             popped = popped, battle = battle, tr = tr }, nil
+  end
+
+  local m, err = measure()
+  check("a BattleTransition was pushed for the battle", m ~= nil)
+  if not m then
+    U.log("could not measure:", tostring(err))
+    while true do coroutine.yield() end
+  end
+  U.log(("style %s: wipe is %d frames"):format(tostring(m.style), m.wipeLen))
+  check("the wipe reached its last frame", m.wipeDone ~= nil)
+  check("the transition popped itself", m.popped ~= nil)
+  local hold = (m.wipeDone and m.popped) and (m.popped - m.wipeDone) or -1
+  U.log(("black hold measured: %d frames (%.2f s at 60 Hz); target %d")
+          :format(hold, hold / 60, TARGET))
+  check(("the screen holds black well past the old 6 frames (got %d) (#315)")
+          :format(hold), hold >= 20)
+  check(("the hold is not absurdly long either (got %d)"):format(hold),
+        hold <= 90)
+
+  -- unwind that battle before the next one
+  while game.stack:top() ~= ow do game.stack:pop() end
+  U.wait(10)
+
+  -- ---- screenshot the beat ------------------------------------------------
+  -- One frame inside the hold (solid black edge to edge) and one after the pop.
+  local battle = BattleState.newWild(game, "PIDGEY", 8)
+  battle.onFinish = function() end
+  ow:pushBattle(battle)
+  local tr = game.stack:top()
+  check("second transition pushed", getmetatable(tr) == BattleTransition)
+  for _ = 1, 600 do
+    if tr.phase == "wipe" and tr.t >= tr.wipeLen then break end
+    U.wait(1)
+  end
+  check("hold screenshot reached disk",
+        U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug315_black_hold.png"))
+  U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug315_black_hold.png",
+        "-- this one must be SOLID BLACK")
+  for _ = 1, 300 do
+    if game.stack:top() ~= tr then break end
+    U.wait(1)
+  end
+  U.wait(2)
+  check("post-hold screenshot reached disk",
+        U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug315_battle_appears.png"))
+  U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug315_battle_appears.png")
+
+  -- back to the overworld and into tall grass, so the hand-off is a real
+  -- encounter rather than a scripted push
+  while game.stack:top() ~= ow do game.stack:pop() end
+  U.wait(10)
+
+  -- Grass cell comes off the loaded map, not a hard-coded pair, so a map edit
+  -- degrades to "somewhere else in the grass" instead of a wall.
+  local map = ow.map
+  local gx, gy
+  for cy = 0, map.heightCells - 1 do
+    for cx = 0, map.widthCells - 1 do
+      if map:isGrassCell(cx, cy) and map:isWalkableCell(cx, cy)
+         and map:isWalkableCell(cx, cy + 1) then
+        gx, gy = cx, cy
+        break
+      end
+    end
+    if gx then break end
+  end
+  check("found a tall-grass cell on ROUTE_1 to hand off in", gx ~= nil)
+  if gx then
+    U.log(("standing in the grass at (%d, %d)"):format(gx, gy))
+    U.teleport(game, "ROUTE_1", gx, gy, "down")
+    U.wait(10)
+  end
+
+  -- ---- hand off, then stay out of the way --------------------------------
+  U.log("You are in the tall grass on ROUTE 1. Walk until an encounter fires and")
+  U.log("watch the join: the wipe should finish, the screen sit solid black for")
+  U.log(("about half a second (%d frames this run), and only then the battle")
+          :format(hold))
+  U.log("screen appear (#315). Wipe style varies, so try it a few times.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/bills_pc_test.lua b/tests/drivers/bills_pc_test.lua
index 8b4e57aa..2f9827be 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/bills_pc_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/bills_pc_test.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
--- Driver: Bill's PC (#177) — chrome (What? / BOX No. / <PK><MN>) and
+-- Driver: Bill's PC (#177) -- chrome (What? / BOX No. / <PK><MN>) and
 -- withdraw/deposit returning to BillsPCMenu instead of closing the PC.
 
 return function(game)
diff --git a/tests/drivers/blackout_palette_bug292_test.lua b/tests/drivers/blackout_palette_bug292_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d1f0b71d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/blackout_palette_bug292_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+-- Driver: SET_PAL_BATTLE_BLACK darkens the whole battle screen while the
+-- blackout text is up (#292).  pokered engine/battle/core.asm:1147-1159
+-- runs the palette command before the text, and returns early on OAKS_LAB.
+-- No POKEPORT_SPEED here: audio runs on its own real-time clock.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/blackout_palette_bug292_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug292 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+  local PaletteFX = require("src.render.PaletteFX")
+
+  -- Route 1: no scripted battle, not the Oak's Lab exception, and (5,5) is
+  -- open floor there (data/generated/maps.lua).
+  local MAP = "ROUTE_1"
+  local STAND = { x = 5, y = 5, facing = "down" }
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot check --------------------------------
+  -- A missing PAL_BLACK looks exactly like the bug on screen.
+  local pack = PaletteFX.pack(game.data)
+  local BLACK = pack and pack.palettes and pack.palettes.BLACK
+  check("the active COLORS pack carries PAL_BLACK", BLACK ~= nil)
+  if BLACK then
+    U.log("  PAL_BLACK shades:",
+          ("0 = %d,%d,%d"):format(BLACK[1][1], BLACK[1][2], BLACK[1][3]),
+          ("1 = %d,%d,%d"):format(BLACK[2][1], BLACK[2][2], BLACK[2][3]),
+          ("3 = %d,%d,%d"):format(BLACK[4][1], BLACK[4][2], BLACK[4][3]))
+    check("shade 0 is the near-white paper", BLACK[1][1] > 200)
+    check("shades 1-3 are near-black ink",
+          BLACK[2][1] < 90 and BLACK[3][1] < 90 and BLACK[4][1] < 90)
+  end
+
+  -- A DMG never had SGB darkening, so the fix deliberately does nothing in
+  -- the forced-mono modes and a run in one of them proves nothing.
+  local mode = PaletteFX.mode
+  local mono = mode == "og" or mode == "og_inv" or mode == "classic"
+  U.log("COLORS mode:", tostring(mode), "(" .. PaletteFX.modeLabel(mode) .. ")")
+  if mono then
+    U.log("WARNING: " .. PaletteFX.modeLabel(mode) .. " is a forced-mono mode.")
+    U.log("WARNING: PAL_BLACK is an SGB packet and a DMG never darkened, so")
+    U.log("WARNING: nothing below will look dark and that is CORRECT.  Press 2")
+    U.log("WARNING: (or set COLORS in OPTION) to SGB / GBC first, then re-run.")
+  end
+  check("the COLORS mode is one that can show the darkening", not mono)
+
+  -- ---- a losing battle ---------------------------------------------------
+  -- One mon on 1 HP against something that outspeeds it.
+  game.save.party = { Pokemon.new(game.data, "RATTATA", 3) }
+  game.save.party[1].hp = 1
+  U.teleport(game, MAP, STAND.x, STAND.y, STAND.facing)
+  U.wait(10)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+  check("the overworld is up on " .. MAP, ow ~= nil)
+  check("this is not the Oak's Lab starter-rival exception",
+        (ow and ow.map and ow.map.id) ~= "OAKS_LAB")
+
+  local battle = BattleState.newWild(game, "RATICATE", 50)
+  battle.onFinish = function() end
+  if ow then ow:pushBattle(battle) end
+  for _ = 1, 400 do
+    if game.stack:top() == battle and (battle.introSlide or 0) == 0 then break end
+    U.wait(1)
+  end
+  check("the battle reached the screen", game.stack:top() == battle)
+
+  -- photograph the full-color screen so the "after" shot has a reference
+  for _ = 1, 60 do
+    if battle.phase == "menu" then break end
+    U.tap(game, "a")
+    U.wait(4)
+  end
+  check("the battle reached its action menu", battle.phase == "menu")
+  check("nothing is darkened yet", battle.blackedOut == nil)
+  if not U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug292_1_full_color.png") then
+    U.log("FAIL could not capture the full-color battle")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- lose it -----------------------------------------------------------
+  -- Stop the instant the wipe registers, so the blackout text is still ahead
+  -- of the player.
+  for _ = 1, 700 do
+    if battle.blackedOut then break end
+    if battle.result then break end
+    U.tap(game, "a")
+    U.wait(4)
+  end
+  if not battle.blackedOut and not battle.result then
+    -- the foe kept rolling status moves: take the engine's own faint path
+    U.log("the foe never landed a hit; forcing the KO through onFaint")
+    battle.player.mon.hp = 0
+    battle.nextInsert = 0
+    battle:onFaint(battle.player)
+    for _ = 1, 400 do
+      if battle.blackedOut then break end
+      U.tap(game, "a")
+      U.wait(4)
+    end
+  end
+  check("the party was wiped out and the screen blacked", battle.blackedOut == true)
+
+  -- Two code paths darken the screen (the zone pass for HUD and bars, a
+  -- re-baked pic for the sprites) and both have to fire.
+  if BLACK then
+    local pals = battle:sgbBattlePals()
+    check("all four battle zones are PAL_BLACK",
+          pals ~= nil and pals[0] == BLACK and pals[1] == BLACK
+          and pals[2] == BLACK and pals[3] == BLACK)
+  end
+
+  U.wait(20)
+  if not U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug292_2_blacked_out.png") then
+    U.log("FAIL could not capture the blacked-out battle")
+  end
+  local cur = battle.current
+  U.log("box on screen:", cur and cur.text and (cur.text:gsub("\n", " / "))
+        or "(between rows)")
+
+  -- ---- hand off ----------------------------------------------------------
+  U.log("Your last POKeMON has fainted; press A through the blackout text.")
+  U.log("Behind the box the enemy sprite, the HP bar and the HUD should all")
+  U.log("be near-black on near-white for both lines (#292).  Compare")
+  U.log(DIR .. "/bug292_1_full_color.png with bug292_2_blacked_out.png.")
+  U.log("OG / OG INV / CLASSIC and the Oak's lab rival fight never darken.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/boulder_text_bug318_test.lua b/tests/drivers/boulder_text_bug318_test.lua
index d8450cea..e41f237f 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/boulder_text_bug318_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/boulder_text_bug318_test.lua
@@ -1,33 +1,14 @@
--- Driver: manual check that a boulder answers an A press (#318).
---
--- pokered home/overworld_text.asm:16 is the whole of the behavior:
---     BoulderText::
---             text_far _BoulderText
---             text_end
--- and _BoulderText (data/text/text_1.asm:44) is "This requires\nSTRENGTH to
--- move!".  Every boulder object on every map points its text at that one
--- label, which the extractor records as `asm = true` with a label and no
--- text -- so Data:resolveText returned nil and pressing A at a boulder did
--- nothing at all, no box, no sound.
---
--- The data half is asserted in tests/parity_asm_plain_text.lua.  What this
--- driver adds is the end-to-end path an assertion does not cover: that
--- OverworldState:showMapText actually reaches the fallback for a real map
--- object, and that the box looks right on screen.
---
--- Do NOT add POKEPORT_SPEED: the text box types on the logic clock while
--- Press_AB and the box sounds run on the real-time audio accumulator
--- (src/core/Game.lua), so a fast run misrepresents the moment.
---
---   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/boulder_text_bug318_test.lua \
---     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug318 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red love .
+-- Manual check that a boulder answers an A press (#318).
+-- Every boulder points at BoulderText (pokered home/overworld_text.asm:16),
+-- i.e. _BoulderText "This requires\nSTRENGTH to move!", which the extractor
+-- stores as an asm label with no text: resolveText returned nil and A did
+-- nothing.  The data half is asserted in tests/parity_asm_plain_text.lua.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/boulder_text_bug318_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug318 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red love .
 return function(game)
   local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
 
-  -- pokered data/maps/objects/VictoryRoad1F.asm: BOULDER3 sits at (2, 10).
-  -- Its east and west neighbours are both wall, so the free approach is the
-  -- floor directly below it, facing up.  (Verified against data/generated/
-  -- maps.lua rather than assumed: the two side cells report walkable=false.)
+  -- pokered data/maps/objects/VictoryRoad1F.asm: BOULDER3 sits at (2, 10) with
+  -- wall to its east and west, so the only free approach is the floor below it.
   -- Talking to a boulder needs no STRENGTH and no badge.
   local MAP = "VICTORY_ROAD_1F"
   local BOULDER = "VICTORYROAD1F_BOULDER3"
@@ -40,9 +21,8 @@ return function(game)
     return ok
   end
 
-  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot check --------------------------------
-  -- A missing string, a renamed label or a text entry the fallback does not
-  -- reach all produce the same nothing-happens as the bug did.
+  -- a missing string, a renamed label and an unreached fallback all show up as
+  -- the same nothing-happens the bug did
   local text = game.data:resolveText(MAP_LABEL, TEXT)
   check(MAP_LABEL .. "/" .. TEXT .. " resolves to a string",
         type(text) == "string" and text ~= "")
@@ -53,7 +33,7 @@ return function(game)
     U.log("boulder text reads:", (text:gsub("\n", " / ")))
   end
 
-  -- ---- park the player against the boulder -------------------------------
+  -- park the player against the boulder
   U.teleport(game, MAP, STAND.x, STAND.y, STAND.facing)
   U.wait(10)
 
@@ -64,8 +44,8 @@ return function(game)
     return nil
   end
 
-  -- re-reads game.overworld every call: the fallback below teleports again,
-  -- which rebuilds the state and its npc list
+  -- re-reads game.overworld every call: the fallback below teleports again and
+  -- that rebuilds the state and its npc list
   local function facingTheBoulder()
     local ow = game.overworld
     local rock = ow and boulderIn(ow)
@@ -79,10 +59,9 @@ return function(game)
   check("boulder object loaded on " .. MAP, rock ~= nil)
 
   if rock and not facingTheBoulder() then
-    -- the hard-coded approach cell stopped working (map edit, or a mod moved
-    -- the object): take any free walkable neighbour and turn back toward it.
-    -- {dx, dy, facing} is the offset from the boulder to the stand cell plus
-    -- the direction that looks back at it, so +1 on x means facing left.
+    -- a map edit or a mod moved the object: fall back to any free walkable
+    -- neighbour.  {dx, dy, facing} is the offset from the boulder to the stand
+    -- cell plus the direction that looks back at it, so +1 on x means left.
     local sides = {
       { 0, 1, "up" }, { 0, -1, "down" }, { 1, 0, "left" }, { -1, 0, "right" },
     }
@@ -99,9 +78,8 @@ return function(game)
   end
   check("player is standing against the boulder", facingTheBoulder())
 
-  -- ---- press A once, so the box is already open on hand-off ---------------
-  -- The eye cannot tell "no text entry" from "the A press never reached the
-  -- boulder", so open the box here and report which of the two happened.
+  -- press A here so the log can tell "no text entry" from "the press never
+  -- reached the boulder"; on screen the two look identical
   local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
   U.tap(game, "a")
   U.wait(30)
@@ -123,23 +101,10 @@ return function(game)
     U.log("captured", SHOT_DIR .. "/bug318_boulder.png")
   end
 
-  -- ---- hand off, then stay out of the way --------------------------------
-  U.log("........................................................")
-  U.log("LOOK NOW: the boulder has already been talked to for you -- the")
-  U.log("box on screen is the result.  Press A or B to close it, then press")
-  U.log("A again at the boulder to repeat it as often as you like.")
-  U.log("  RIGHT: the box types \"This requires\" / \"STRENGTH to move!\"")
-  U.log("         over two lines, then the arrow blinks and it waits for")
-  U.log("         your A or B.")
-  U.log("  BUG #318 looks like: pressing A does nothing whatsoever -- no")
-  U.log("         box, no sound, the boulder just sits there.")
-  U.log("  ALSO WRONG: the box opens empty or blank, opens and closes")
-  U.log("         itself without waiting, or the second line lands on the")
-  U.log("         box's bottom border instead of inside it (that one is")
-  U.log("         #314, fixed alongside this).")
-  U.log("Input is yours from here on -- press A as many times as you like.")
-  U.log("There are two more boulders on this floor, at (5,15) and (14,2).")
-  U.log("........................................................")
+  U.log("The boulder has been talked to already; the box on screen is that.")
+  U.log("It should type \"This requires\" / \"STRENGTH to move!\" and wait for")
+  U.log("A or B.  Before #318 the press did nothing at all: no box, no sound.")
+  U.log("Two more boulders on this floor, at (5,15) and (14,2).")
 
   while true do
     coroutine.yield()
diff --git a/tests/drivers/caterpillar_text_bug250_test.lua b/tests/drivers/caterpillar_text_bug250_test.lua
index 5b639721..23f2d61e 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/caterpillar_text_bug250_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/caterpillar_text_bug250_test.lua
@@ -1,32 +1,8 @@
--- Driver: the Viridian caterpillar speech waits for the player (#250).
--- A manual eye check, not a pass/fail run -- nothing in this repo can judge
+-- Eye check on the Viridian caterpillar speech (#250): no test can judge
 -- "the text went by too fast to read".
---
--- pokered evidence.  text/ViridianCity.asm spells the answer with three
--- different break markers, and they are not interchangeable:
---
---   ViridianCityYoungster2CaterpieAndWeedleDescriptionText::
---       text "CATERPIE has no"
---       line "poison, but"
---       cont "WEEDLE does."
---
---       para "Watch out for its"
---       line "POISON STING!"
---       done
---
--- src/render/TextBox.lua maps those to \n (second line), \v (scroll one
--- line, after the down-arrow and a button press) and \f (page break, clear
--- and wait).  This text is not in data/generated/text.lua -- pokered
--- declares it without the leading underscore the extractor keys on -- so
--- the port carries a literal fallback, and that fallback had spelled both
--- `cont` and `para` as plain \n.  Six lines then landed on one page with
--- nothing to wait on, so the whole speech scrolled past untouched.
---
--- Do NOT run this under POKEPORT_SPEED.  Fast-forward scales only the logic
--- clock while the typewriter and its SFX run on their own real-time
--- accumulator (src/core/Game.lua), which is precisely the pacing being
--- judged here.
---
+-- pokered text/ViridianCity.asm spells that answer with line, cont and para,
+-- which TextBox maps to \n, \v and \f.  The port's literal fallback (the label
+-- has no leading underscore, so it is not in text.lua) had all three as \n.
 --   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/caterpillar_text_bug250_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug250 love .
 return function(game)
   local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
@@ -36,20 +12,17 @@ return function(game)
     return ok
   end
 
-  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot separate from the bug ----------------
-  -- A missing handler, or an NPC who wandered off, both end in "no text",
-  -- which is not the same failure as "text that does not wait".
-
   local MAP = "VIRIDIAN_CITY"
   local NPC = "VIRIDIANCITY_YOUNGSTER2"
   local TEXT = "TEXT_VIRIDIANCITY_YOUNGSTER2"
 
+  -- a missing handler, or an NPC who wandered off, ends in "no text", which is
+  -- not the same failure as "text that does not wait"
   local mapScripts = require("data.scripts.init")
   check("a hand-ported handler exists for " .. TEXT,
         mapScripts.talkScript(MAP, TEXT) ~= nil)
 
-  -- the fix itself: the paginator has to find a page break and a scroll in
-  -- the description, because that is what makes it wait for a button
+  -- the page break and the scroll are what make the box wait for a button
   local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
   local desc = "CATERPIE has no\npoison, but\vWEEDLE does.\fWatch out for its\nPOISON STING!"
   local pages = TextBox.paginate(desc)
@@ -58,8 +31,7 @@ return function(game)
         pages[1] ~= nil and #pages[1] == 3)
   check("page 2 is two lines (para + line)",
         pages[2] ~= nil and #pages[2] == 2)
-  -- the wait itself: contBefore marks the line the box holds on until the
-  -- player presses a button, which is the whole point of the fix
+  -- contBefore marks the line the box holds on until a button press
   check("line 3 waits for a button before scrolling in",
         pages.contBefore and pages.contBefore[1] and pages.contBefore[1][3] == true)
 
@@ -78,10 +50,9 @@ return function(game)
   -- pin the wander: he strolls out from under the A press between reads
   if npc then npc.wanders = false end
 
-  -- objects live at ../pokered/data/maps/objects/ViridianCity.asm and in
-  -- data/generated/maps.lua; he is at (30,25), so (30,26) faces him.  If a
-  -- map edit ever moves him, stand on any free walkable neighbour instead
-  -- of parking the player at a wall.
+  -- pokered data/maps/objects/ViridianCity.asm puts him at (30,25), so (30,26)
+  -- faces him; if a map edit moves him, the fallback below picks a free
+  -- walkable neighbour instead of parking the player at a wall.
   local function facingTarget()
     local ow = game.overworld
     if not (ow and npc) then return false end
@@ -104,22 +75,10 @@ return function(game)
   end
   check("player is standing in front of the youngster", facingTarget())
 
-  U.log("........................................................")
-  U.log("READ NOW: press A to talk, then answer YES to his question.")
-  U.log("  RIGHT: the answer stops and waits for you three times. After")
-  U.log("         'WEEDLE does.' the box waits with a down-arrow, then the")
-  U.log("         page CLEARS before 'Watch out for its POISON STING!'.")
-  U.log("  BUG #250 looks like: all six lines pouring past in one go, the")
-  U.log("         box scrolling itself, and the conversation ending before")
-  U.log("         you have pressed anything.")
-  U.log("  ALSO WRONG: it waits but never clears the page (that is \\v where")
-  U.log("         pokered has para), or it clears after every single line")
-  U.log("         (that is \\f where pokered has line/cont).")
-  U.log("Control case: answer NO instead and you should get the one-line")
-  U.log("  'Oh, OK then!', which needs no waits at all.")
-  U.log("Input is yours from here, so you can re-run the talk as often as")
-  U.log("you like.")
-  U.log("........................................................")
+  U.log("Press A to talk, answer YES, and read the description.")
+  U.log("It should stop for you three times, and the page should CLEAR before")
+  U.log("'Watch out for its POISON STING!' -- under #250 all six lines poured")
+  U.log("past in one go.  Answering NO is the control: one line, no waits.")
 
   while true do
     coroutine.yield()
diff --git a/tests/drivers/cycling_road_brake_bug255_test.lua b/tests/drivers/cycling_road_brake_bug255_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0e3838d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/cycling_road_brake_bug255_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+-- Driver: holding A or B on Cycling Road holds you in place (#255).  pokered
+-- home/overworld.asm:1825 masks PAD_A and PAD_B along with the d-pad before it
+-- forces PAD_DOWN.  Hands check, so no POKEPORT_SPEED.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/cycling_road_brake_bug255_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug255 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red \
+--     SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local SHOT_DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- x=2 is open road from y=8 past y=34; y=20 keeps the demo roll clear of the
+  -- bikers at (4,18) and (7,32).
+  local MAP, START_X, START_Y = "ROUTE_17", 2, 20
+
+  -- ---- preconditions -----------------------------------------------------
+  -- "the bike does not roll" and "the brake works" look the same, so prove the
+  -- hill is pulling first.
+
+  local fm = game.data.field.forcedMovement
+  local isSlope = false
+  for _, id in ipairs((fm and fm.slopeMaps) or {}) do
+    if id == MAP then isSlope = true end
+  end
+  check("field.forcedMovement.slopeMaps names ROUTE_17", isSlope)
+
+  game.save.onBike = true
+  check("the player is on the BICYCLE (no bike, no roll)", game.save.onBike == true)
+
+  U.teleport(game, MAP, START_X, START_Y, "down")
+  U.wait(15)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+  check("standing on Cycling Road", ow.map.id == MAP)
+  local clear = true
+  for dy = 1, 8 do
+    if not ow.map:isWalkableCell(START_X, START_Y + dy) then clear = false end
+  end
+  check(("open road for 8 cells south of (%d,%d)"):format(START_X, START_Y), clear)
+
+  -- ---- the hill pulls ----------------------------------------------------
+  local y0 = ow.player.cellY
+  U.wait(48)
+  local rolled = ow.player.cellY - y0
+  check(("hands off the pad, the bike rolls south (%d cells in 48 frames)")
+          :format(rolled), rolled > 0)
+  U.shot(game, SHOT_DIR .. "/bug255_rolling.png")
+
+  -- ---- and A / B stop it -------------------------------------------------
+  -- Input:beginStep rebuilds `pressed` from the queue every fixed step, so one
+  -- queued edge plus a sticky input.state is exactly a button held down.
+  local function holdFor(btn, frames)
+    local ow2 = game.overworld
+    table.insert(game.input.pressQueue, btn) -- the key-down edge
+    game.input.state[btn] = true
+    -- the mask only suppresses the NEXT simulated PAD_DOWN, so a step already
+    -- under way still lands; the brake is measured from where it puts you
+    for _ = 1, 24 do
+      if not ow2.player.moving then break end
+      coroutine.yield()
+    end
+    local start = ow2.player.cellY
+    local drift = 0
+    for _ = 1, frames do
+      coroutine.yield()
+      if ow2.player.cellY ~= start then drift = ow2.player.cellY - start end
+    end
+    check(("holding %s for %d frames: the player does not drift south (%d cells)")
+            :format(btn:upper(), frames, drift), drift == 0)
+    U.shot(game, ("%s/bug255_braking_%s.png"):format(SHOT_DIR, btn))
+    game.input.state[btn] = false
+    local held = ow2.player.cellY
+    U.wait(48)
+    check(("releasing %s resumes the roll (%d cells in 48 frames)")
+            :format(btn:upper(), ow2.player.cellY - held),
+          ow2.player.cellY > held)
+  end
+
+  holdFor("a", 120)
+  holdFor("b", 120)
+
+  -- park somewhere with road left to roll before handing over
+  U.teleport(game, MAP, START_X, START_Y, "down")
+  U.wait(10)
+  game.save.onBike = true
+
+  -- ---- hand off ----------------------------------------------------------
+  U.log(("On the bike on Cycling Road at (%d,%d), already rolling south.")
+          :format(START_X, START_Y))
+  U.log("Hold A, then B, then let go, then hold A while pressing DOWN.")
+  U.log("Correct: dead stop while held, roll resumes the instant you release,")
+  U.log("a held direction still steers.  #255 was B doing nothing and A")
+  U.log("stalling one frame.  Shots in " .. SHOT_DIR .. "/bug255_*.png")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/dex_pic_bug307_test.lua b/tests/drivers/dex_pic_bug307_test.lua
index 0bf2c0a0..493c9767 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/dex_pic_bug307_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/dex_pic_bug307_test.lua
@@ -1,30 +1,15 @@
--- Driver: manual look at the Pokedex entry pic (#307).
---
--- DexEntryMenu loaded its front pic through
---     local ok, img = path and pcall(love.graphics.newImage, path)
--- which reads as a guarded pcall but is not one: `path and pcall(...)` is an
--- expression, so Lua adjusts it to a single value, `img` is always nil, and
--- every dex page drew with an empty pic box.  Both callers were hit -- the
--- starter previews on Oak's lab balls (StarterDex, engine/events/
--- starter_dex.asm, which forces the owned bit so the page fills in) and
--- every entry opened from the Pokedex list.
---
--- tests/parity_dex_pic.lua asserts the page now holds an image.  What it
--- cannot judge is placement: pokedex.asm draws the pic at the top-left of
--- the page and DexEntryMenu bottom-aligns it against y=60, so a wrong-sized
--- or wrong-anchored sprite still "loads" while looking broken.
---
--- Screenshots land in the scratch path given below; the run also parks a
--- live Pokedex so the pages can be paged through by hand.
---
---   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/dex_pic_bug307_test.lua \
---     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug307 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red love .
+-- Look at the Pokedex entry pic (#307).
+-- `local ok, img = path and pcall(love.graphics.newImage, path)` is one
+-- expression, not a guarded pcall: img was always nil and every dex page drew
+-- an empty pic box.  parity_dex_pic.lua asserts the image loads; placement
+-- (top-left of the page, bottom-aligned to y=60) is the half only an eye can judge.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/dex_pic_bug307_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug307 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red love .
 return function(game)
   local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
   local Screens = require("src.ui.Screens")
   local Sprites = require("src.pokemon.Sprites")
 
-  -- the three starters are the reported case (Oak's lab preview), plus one
+  -- the starters are the reported case (Oak's lab preview); PIDGEY is an
   -- ordinary list entry as the control
   local CASES = { "BULBASAUR", "CHARMANDER", "SQUIRTLE", "PIDGEY" }
 
@@ -33,9 +18,8 @@ return function(game)
     return ok
   end
 
-  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot check --------------------------------
-  -- A path that does not resolve, a PNG that is missing from the cache, and
-  -- the truncation bug all render as the same empty box.
+  -- an unresolved path, a PNG missing from the cache and the truncation bug
+  -- itself all render as the same empty box
   local DexEntryMenu = require("src.ui.DexEntryMenu")
   for _, species in ipairs(CASES) do
     local path = Sprites.path(game.data, species, "front", { kind = "dex" })
@@ -51,7 +35,7 @@ return function(game)
     end
   end
 
-  -- ---- mark the cases seen so the list can reach them ---------------------
+  -- mark the cases seen so the list can reach them
   local dex = game.save.pokedex
   if dex then
     for _, species in ipairs(CASES) do
@@ -61,7 +45,7 @@ return function(game)
     U.log("flagged", #CASES, "species as seen+owned so the list can open them")
   end
 
-  -- ---- screenshots, one page at a time ------------------------------------
+  -- screenshots, one page at a time
   local SHOT_DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
   for _, species in ipairs(CASES) do
     while game.stack:top() do game.stack:pop() end
@@ -71,24 +55,15 @@ return function(game)
     U.log("captured", SHOT_DIR .. "/dex_" .. species:lower() .. ".png")
   end
 
-  -- ---- hand off on a live page, then stay out of the way -------------------
+  -- leave a live page up for the hand-off
   while game.stack:top() do game.stack:pop() end
   Screens.push(game, "DexEntryMenu", { species = "BULBASAUR", forceOwned = true })
   U.wait(10)
 
-  U.log("........................................................")
-  U.log("LOOK NOW: a BULBASAUR Pokedex entry is open on screen.")
-  U.log("  RIGHT: the BULBASAUR front sprite sits in the top-left of the")
-  U.log("         page, sitting on the line above HT/WT, with the name,")
-  U.log("         SEED POKeMON, No.001, height, weight and description")
-  U.log("         filled in down the right and bottom.")
-  U.log("  BUG #307 looks like: the whole left side is blank white where")
-  U.log("         the sprite belongs, everything else drawn normally.")
-  U.log("  ALSO WRONG: the sprite is there but floats too high or too low,")
-  U.log("         overlaps the text, or is the wrong species entirely.")
-  U.log("Screenshots of all four cases were written to " .. SHOT_DIR)
-  U.log("Press A or B to close the page; input is yours from here on.")
-  U.log("........................................................")
+  U.log("A BULBASAUR dex entry is open; shots of all four cases are in " .. SHOT_DIR)
+  U.log("The front sprite belongs in the top-left, standing on the line above")
+  U.log("HT/WT, not floating or overlapping the text.  Under #307 that whole")
+  U.log("side was blank white.  A or B closes the page.")
 
   while true do
     coroutine.yield()
diff --git a/tests/drivers/dialogue_cont_wait_test.lua b/tests/drivers/dialogue_cont_wait_test.lua
index 306d2ddf..6353da56 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/dialogue_cont_wait_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/dialogue_cont_wait_test.lua
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ return function(game)
   end
 
   -- Youngster5 @ (27,40): "I ran out of POKé / BALLs to catch" then
-  -- \v "POKéMON with!" — the bug auto-scrolled past this with no ▼.
+  -- \v "POKéMON with!" -- the bug auto-scrolled past this with no ▼.
   U.teleport(game, "VIRIDIAN_FOREST", 27, 41, "up")
   U.tap(game, "a")
   local box = waitForTextBox(90)
diff --git a/tests/drivers/enemy_balls_bug283_test.lua b/tests/drivers/enemy_balls_bug283_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1c012672
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/enemy_balls_bug283_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+-- Driver: the foe's party ball row between a KO and the next send-out (#283).
+-- pokered ReplaceFaintedEnemyMon (engine/battle/core.asm:892-896) callfars
+-- DrawEnemyPokeballs before it falls into EnemySendOut; the port never did.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/enemy_balls_bug283_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug283 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red \
+--     SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .   (never under POKEPORT_SPEED: audio-timed)
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- roster 1 is RATTATA 11 / EKANS 11 in both versions: two slots, so the row
+  -- has a KO'd ball, a live one and four empties to tell apart.
+  local OPP, ROSTER = "OPP_YOUNGSTER", 1
+
+  -- ---- preconditions ------------------------------------------------------
+  -- Each of these fails silently as "no ball row on screen", same as the bug.
+
+  check("trainer class " .. OPP .. " is in the data",
+        game.data.trainers ~= nil and game.data.trainers[OPP] ~= nil)
+
+  -- drawBallRow bails out silently when the sheet will not load, and the
+  -- underline comes off the $73/$74/$76/$78 HUD glyph pages
+  local ballSheet = love.filesystem.getInfo("assets/generated/battle/balls.png")
+  check("assets/generated/battle/balls.png is in the cache", ballSheet ~= nil)
+  local okImg = pcall(love.graphics.newImage, "assets/generated/battle/balls.png")
+  check("the ball sheet actually decodes", okImg)
+  check("BattleState:drawBallRow exists",
+        type(BattleState.drawBallRow) == "function")
+  local HudTiles = require("src.render.HudTiles")
+  check("HudTiles.tile is available for the underline",
+        type(HudTiles.tile) == "function")
+
+  -- SHIFT keeps the row up through the whole YES/NO prompt (showEnemyBalls is
+  -- not cleared until the send-out act); SET only flashes it for 16 frames.
+  game.save.options = game.save.options or {}
+  game.save.options.battleStyle = "shift"
+  game.save.player.name = "bryan"
+  -- two party slots: SHIFT only offers the switch when wPartyCount > 1
+  game.save.party = {
+    Pokemon.new(game.data, "MEWTWO", 70),
+    Pokemon.new(game.data, "CHARIZARD", 50),
+  }
+  check("a one-shot lead is in the party", game.save.party[1] ~= nil)
+
+  U.teleport(game, "PALLET_TOWN", 10, 8, "down")
+  U.wait(20)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+  check("overworld is up to push the battle from", ow ~= nil)
+
+  local ok, battle = pcall(BattleState.newTrainer, game, OPP, ROSTER)
+  check("trainer battle constructed", ok and battle ~= nil)
+  if not ok then
+    U.log("could not start", OPP, "->", tostring(battle))
+    while true do coroutine.yield() end
+  end
+  check("the foe has at least two mons to swap between", #battle.enemyParty >= 2)
+  battle.onFinish = function() end
+  ow:pushBattle(battle)
+
+  -- tap A until cond(), polling every frame so a one-frame window is caught
+  local function tapUntil(cond, taps, gap)
+    for _ = 1, (taps or 60) do
+      if cond() then return true end
+      U.tap(game, "a")
+      for _ = 1, (gap or 6) do
+        if cond() then return true end
+        U.wait(1)
+      end
+    end
+    return cond()
+  end
+
+  check("reached the FIGHT/PKMN/ITEM/RUN menu",
+        tapUntil(function() return battle.phase == "menu" end, 60))
+
+  -- FIGHT, then the first move: L70 MEWTWO one-shots a L11 RATTATA, so the KO
+  -- is the real sequence and not a poked hp value.
+  U.tap(game, "a")
+  U.wait(10)
+  U.tap(game, "a")
+  U.wait(10)
+
+  -- Stop the instant showEnemyBalls goes up: that flag is raised exactly where
+  -- ReplaceFaintedEnemyMon calls DrawEnemyPokeballs.
+  local reached = tapUntil(function() return battle.showEnemyBalls == true end,
+                           90, 4)
+  check("the foe's first mon was KO'd and the ball row went up (#283)", reached)
+  check("the KO'd slot really is fainted",
+        battle.enemyParty[1] ~= nil and battle.enemyParty[1].hp <= 0)
+  check("a live reserve is still in the row",
+        battle.enemyParty[2] ~= nil and battle.enemyParty[2].hp > 0)
+
+  if reached then
+    check("row screenshot reached disk",
+          U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug283_balls_after_ko.png"))
+    U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug283_balls_after_ko.png")
+    -- a few more presses put the SHIFT prompt on top of the still-visible row
+    tapUntil(function() return battle.showEnemyBalls ~= true end, 3, 20)
+    check("row screenshot during the SHIFT prompt reached disk",
+          U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug283_balls_with_prompt.png"))
+    U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug283_balls_with_prompt.png")
+    U.log("showEnemyBalls is still up at hand-off:",
+          tostring(battle.showEnemyBalls))
+  end
+
+  -- ---- hand off -----------------------------------------------------------
+  U.log("The foe's first mon is KO'd and we are paused before the send-out.")
+  U.log("Top left should carry six small Poke Balls running right to left from")
+  U.log("(64,16) on a HUD rule: one crossed out, one solid, four empty.")
+  U.log("#283 was that corner empty. Press A, the row clears on the send-out.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/evolution_black_bug279_test.lua b/tests/drivers/evolution_black_bug279_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0d26a32b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/evolution_black_bug279_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,315 @@
+-- Driver: the evolution flash must put the WHOLE screen on PAL_BLACK (#279).
+-- pokered engine/movie/evolution.asm EvolveMon flashes under PAL_BLACK; only the
+-- settled form wears a mon palette, and PAL_BLACK keeps colour 0 as paper white
+-- (sgb_palettes.asm:46), so the background behind the silhouettes stays put.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/evolution_black_bug279_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug279 SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local Probe = dofile("tests/drivers/shot_probe.lua")
+  local PaletteFX = require("src.render.PaletteFX")
+  local EvolutionState = require("src.ui.EvolutionState")
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local Evolution = require("src.pokemon.Evolution")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+
+  local fails = 0
+  local function check(ok, msg)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", msg)
+    if not ok then fails = fails + 1 end
+    return ok
+  end
+  local function rgb(c)
+    return c and ("(%d,%d,%d)"):format(c[1], c[2], c[3]) or "nil"
+  end
+  local function ramp(p)
+    if not p then return "nil" end
+    local s = {}
+    for i = 1, 4 do s[i] = rgb(p[i]) end
+    return table.concat(s, " ")
+  end
+  local function samePal(a, b)
+    if not a or not b then return false end
+    for i = 1, 4 do
+      if not a[i] or not b[i] then return false end
+      for k = 1, 3 do if a[i][k] ~= b[i][k] then return false end end
+    end
+    return true
+  end
+
+  -- Text speed 1 keeps the "Congratulations!" box brisk; FLASH_FRAMES is a
+  -- frame count, so the flash itself is unaffected.
+  game.save.options = game.save.options or {}
+  game.save.options.textSpeed = 1
+
+  -- =====================================================================
+  -- Part 1: the halves the eye cannot check.  A missing BLACK entry or a zone
+  -- that does not cover the screen looks exactly like the bug.
+  -- =====================================================================
+  game.save.options.colors = "gbc"
+  PaletteFX.setMode("gbc")
+
+  local BLACK = PaletteFX.pal(game.data, "BLACK")
+  check(BLACK ~= nil, "data.palettes carries a BLACK entry (PAL_BLACK)")
+  U.log("BLACK ramp:", ramp(BLACK))
+  -- sgb_palettes.asm RGB 31,29,31 / 07,07,07 / 02,03,03 / 03,02,02, scaled
+  -- to 8 bits by the extractor
+  check(BLACK and BLACK[1][1] == 255 and BLACK[1][2] == 239 and BLACK[1][3] == 255,
+        "PAL_BLACK colour 0 is still paper white (the background does NOT black out)")
+  check(BLACK and BLACK[2][1] == 58 and BLACK[3][1] == 16 and BLACK[4][1] == 25,
+        "PAL_BLACK shades 1..3 are crushed (58,58,58 / 16,25,25 / 25,16,16)")
+
+  -- sgbPalettes is a pure function of the state's own fields, so drive it
+  -- directly for the cases the live run cannot hold still.  MAGIKARP is REDMON
+  -- and GYARADOS BLUEMON: a CATERPIE line settles on GREENMON either way and
+  -- would prove nothing.
+  local function zonesFor(fields)
+    local fake = setmetatable(fields, EvolutionState)
+    return EvolutionState.sgbPalettes(fake, game)
+  end
+  local function colorsFor(fields)
+    local z = zonesFor(fields)
+    return z and z[1] and z[1].colors, z and z[1]
+  end
+
+  local flashCols, flashZone = colorsFor({
+    done = false, canceled = false,
+    mon = { species = "MAGIKARP" }, newSpecies = "GYARADOS",
+  })
+  check(samePal(flashCols, BLACK),
+        "mid-flash the whole screen is PAL_BLACK, not a mon palette")
+  U.log("mid-flash zone resolves to:", ramp(flashCols))
+  check(flashZone ~= nil and flashZone.x == 0 and flashZone.y == 0
+        and flashZone.w == 160 and flashZone.h == 144,
+        "that zone covers the whole 160x144 screen (SetPal_PokemonWholeScreen)")
+
+  local settled = colorsFor({
+    done = true, canceled = false,
+    mon = { species = "MAGIKARP" }, newSpecies = "GYARADOS",
+  })
+  check(samePal(settled, PaletteFX.monPal(game.data, "GYARADOS")),
+        "once .done, the NEW form wears its own palette again (GYARADOS/BLUEMON)")
+  local cancelled = colorsFor({
+    done = true, canceled = true,
+    mon = { species = "MAGIKARP" }, newSpecies = "GYARADOS",
+  })
+  check(samePal(cancelled, PaletteFX.monPal(game.data, "MAGIKARP")),
+        "a B-cancelled evolution settles on the OLD form (MAGIKARP/REDMON)")
+
+  -- Mode guards: routing the blackout through PaletteFX.pal is what keeps the
+  -- other COLORS modes honest.  A hardcoded {0,0,0} passes everything above.
+  PaletteFX.setMode("ogred")
+  local ogFlash = colorsFor({
+    done = false, canceled = false,
+    mon = { species = "WEEDLE" }, newSpecies = "KAKUNA",
+  })
+  check(samePal(ogFlash, PaletteFX.ogBg()),
+        "OG RED does NOT black out (a Game Boy Color never sees the SGB packet)")
+  PaletteFX.setMode("redpp")
+  check(PaletteFX.pal(game.data, "BLACK") ~= nil,
+        "RED++ resolves BLACK from data/palettes_gbc.lua (no ROM fallback needed)")
+  PaletteFX.setMode("og")
+  check(samePal(PaletteFX.effectiveColors(BLACK), PaletteFX.GRAYS),
+        "plain DMG replaces it wholesale, so the mono modes are unchanged")
+  PaletteFX.setMode("gbc")
+  game.save.options.colors = "gbc"
+
+  -- The bytes the pixel probe hunts for, read out of the data and read while
+  -- the mode is SGB (under OG RED, PaletteFX.pal short-circuits every name to
+  -- the one palette).
+  local YELLOW = PaletteFX.monPal(game.data, "WEEDLE")   -- YELLOWMON
+  local REDMON = PaletteFX.monPal(game.data, "MAGIKARP") -- REDMON
+  local BLUE = PaletteFX.monPal(game.data, "GYARADOS")   -- BLUEMON
+  local OGBG = PaletteFX.GBC_BG
+  check(YELLOW ~= nil and REDMON ~= nil and BLUE ~= nil,
+        "WEEDLE/MAGIKARP/GYARADOS mon palettes resolve")
+  U.log("WEEDLE:", ramp(YELLOW), " MAGIKARP:", ramp(REDMON),
+        " GYARADOS:", ramp(BLUE))
+
+  local function probe(label, wanted)
+    local shot = Probe.grab()
+    if not shot then
+      U.log("WARN pixel probe unavailable (no screenshot capture); judge",
+            label, "by eye only")
+      return nil
+    end
+    local counts, total = Probe.count(shot, wanted)
+    local parts = {}
+    for name, n in pairs(counts) do
+      parts[#parts + 1] = ("%s=%d"):format(name, n)
+    end
+    table.sort(parts)
+    U.log(("probe[%s] %d px sampled: %s"):format(label, total,
+          table.concat(parts, " ")))
+    return counts
+  end
+
+  -- =====================================================================
+  -- Part 2: reach the moment and photograph it.
+  -- =====================================================================
+  U.teleport(game, "ROUTE_1", 5, 5, "down")
+  U.wait(10)
+
+  local function evoTop()
+    local t = game.stack:top()
+    return (t and t.screenId == "EvolutionState") and t or nil
+  end
+  local function waitFor(cond, max)
+    for _ = 1, max or 600 do
+      if cond() then return true end
+      U.wait(1)
+    end
+    return false
+  end
+  local function pagesText(st)
+    if not st or not st.pages then return nil end
+    local parts = {}
+    for _, page in ipairs(st.pages) do
+      if type(page) == "table" then
+        for _, line in ipairs(page) do
+          if type(line) == "string" then parts[#parts + 1] = line end
+        end
+      elseif type(page) == "string" then
+        parts[#parts + 1] = page
+      end
+    end
+    return table.concat(parts, " ")
+  end
+  local function findText(needle)
+    for _, st in ipairs(game.stack.states or {}) do
+      local blob = pagesText(st)
+      if blob and blob:find(needle, 1, true) then return st end
+    end
+    return nil
+  end
+  local function mashUntil(cond, max)
+    for _ = 1, max or 200 do
+      if cond() then return true end
+      U.tap(game, "a")
+      U.wait(3)
+    end
+    return cond()
+  end
+
+  -- Jump the flash clock to just under FLASH_FRAMES (220) once the shot is
+  -- taken.  EvolutionState:update only compares self.t against that constant,
+  -- so this ends the animation early without touching the palette logic.
+  local function skipToEnd()
+    local st = evoTop()
+    if st then st.t = 214 end
+  end
+
+  local function startEvo(species, into)
+    local mon = Pokemon.new(game.data, species, 7)
+    table.insert(game.save.party, 1, mon)
+    Evolution.evolve(game, mon, into)
+    if not waitFor(evoTop, 300) then
+      check(false, "EvolutionState opened for " .. species .. " -> " .. into)
+      return nil
+    end
+    return mon
+  end
+
+  -- ---- case 1: the reported case, SGB, mid-flash --------------------------
+  local weedle = startEvo("WEEDLE", "KAKUNA")
+  U.wait(24) -- into the flash, far short of FLASH_FRAMES = 220
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/evo279_1_flash_sgb.png")
+  local c1 = probe("flash/SGB", {
+    monYellow1 = YELLOW[2], monYellow2 = YELLOW[3],
+    black1 = BLACK[2], black2 = BLACK[3], paper = BLACK[1],
+  })
+  if c1 then
+    check(c1.monYellow1 == 0 and c1.monYellow2 == 0,
+          "no WEEDLE/KAKUNA yellow anywhere on screen during the flash")
+    check(c1.black1 + c1.black2 > 0,
+          "the crushed PAL_BLACK shades ARE on screen (the silhouette)")
+    check(c1.paper > 0,
+          "paper white still fills the background (PAL_BLACK keeps colour 0)")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- case 1b: it comes back once the flash is over ----------------------
+  skipToEnd()
+  if not waitFor(function() return findText("evolved into") ~= nil end, 240) then
+    check(false, "the Congratulations text appears when the flash ends")
+  end
+  U.wait(50) -- let the box finish typing before the shot
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/evo279_2_congrats_sgb.png")
+  local c2 = probe("congrats/SGB", {
+    monYellow1 = YELLOW[2], monYellow2 = YELLOW[3], black1 = BLACK[2],
+  })
+  if c2 then
+    check(c2.monYellow1 + c2.monYellow2 > 0,
+          "the settled KAKUNA is yellow again under the Congratulations box")
+  end
+  check(weedle == nil or weedle.species == "KAKUNA",
+        "the mon actually evolved (control: the fix touched no game logic)")
+  mashUntil(function() return not evoTop() and not findText("evolved into") end, 90)
+  U.wait(10)
+
+  -- ---- case 2: B-cancel settles on the OLD form's colours -----------------
+  local karp = startEvo("MAGIKARP", "GYARADOS")
+  U.wait(24)
+  U.hold(game, "b", 20) -- evolution.asm Evolution_CheckForCancel
+  if not waitFor(function() return findText("stopped evolving") ~= nil end, 240) then
+    check(false, "holding B prints \"stopped evolving\"")
+  end
+  U.wait(50)
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/evo279_3_cancelled_sgb.png")
+  local c3 = probe("cancelled/SGB", {
+    red1 = REDMON[2], red2 = REDMON[3], blue1 = BLUE[2], blue2 = BLUE[3],
+  })
+  if c3 then
+    check(c3.red1 + c3.red2 > 0,
+          "a cancelled MAGIKARP settles back into MAGIKARP's own red")
+    check(c3.blue1 == 0 and c3.blue2 == 0,
+          "no GYARADOS blue leaks in (wEvoOldSpecies, not the new species)")
+  end
+  check(karp == nil or karp.species == "MAGIKARP", "the cancelled mon kept its species")
+  mashUntil(function() return not evoTop() and not findText("stopped evolving") end, 90)
+  U.wait(10)
+
+  -- ---- case 3: OG RED must NOT black out ---------------------------------
+  -- A Game Boy Color never sees the SGB packet, so its one global BG palette
+  -- applies all the way through.  Switch mode with only the overworld on the
+  -- stack: setMode's cache drop / map reload must not land on a live evolution.
+  game.save.options.colors = "ogred"
+  PaletteFX.setMode("ogred")
+  U.wait(20)
+  startEvo("WEEDLE", "KAKUNA")
+  U.wait(24)
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/evo279_4_flash_ogred.png")
+  local c4 = probe("flash/OG RED", {
+    ogPink = OGBG[2], ogRed = OGBG[3], black1 = BLACK[2], black2 = BLACK[3],
+  })
+  if c4 then
+    check(c4.ogPink + c4.ogRed > 0, "OG RED stays red/pink through the flash")
+    check(c4.black1 == 0 and c4.black2 == 0,
+          "PAL_BLACK's crushed shades never appear in OG RED")
+  end
+  skipToEnd()
+  waitFor(function() return findText("evolved into") ~= nil end, 240)
+  mashUntil(function() return not evoTop() and not findText("evolved into") end, 90)
+
+  game.save.options.colors = "gbc"
+  PaletteFX.setMode("gbc")
+  U.wait(20)
+
+  U.log(fails == 0 and "all #279 preconditions passed"
+                    or (fails .. " #279 precondition(s) FAILED -- read up"))
+
+  -- =====================================================================
+  -- Part 3: one more, live, for the human.
+  -- =====================================================================
+  startEvo("WEEDLE", "KAKUNA")
+
+  U.log("A WEEDLE is evolving now in SGB colours, about four seconds.  While the")
+  U.log("two forms trade places the whole screen is on PAL_BLACK: near-black")
+  U.log("silhouettes on the unchanged off-white background, colour back only")
+  U.log("under the Congratulations box.  #279 flashed both forms in full colour.")
+  U.log("Hold B mid-flash to cancel; it settles on the OLD form's colours.")
+  U.log("Screenshots: " .. DIR .. "/evo279_*.png")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/fishing_rod_bug321_test.lua b/tests/drivers/fishing_rod_bug321_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1df1825c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/fishing_rod_bug321_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+-- Driver: the fishing rod is ONE 8x8 tile in the player's hands, mirrored
+-- between left and right, and it stays up through the verdict text (#321).
+-- engine/overworld/player_animations.asm:471 FishingRodOAM draws one tile per
+-- facing ($fd up/down, $fe sides, OAM_XFLIP on right) out of the 8x24 sheet
+-- at :489; :437 clears BIT_LEDGE_OR_FISHING only after PrintText.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/fishing_rod_bug321_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug321 SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local Screens = require("src.ui.Screens")
+  local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
+  local SHOT_DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- The Viridian City pond (water block x=8..13, y=24..27) is the one spot
+  -- where all four shores are a few steps apart, so every facing fits on one
+  -- screen.  shoreFor() below re-derives each stand cell from the map data.
+  local MAP = "VIRIDIAN_CITY"
+  local SPOTS = {
+    { x = 10, y = 23, facing = "down",  note = "north shore" },
+    { x = 8,  y = 28, facing = "up",    note = "south shore" },
+    { x = 14, y = 24, facing = "left",  note = "east shore" },
+    { x = 7,  y = 24, facing = "right", note = "west shore" },
+  }
+  local DELTA = { up = { 0, -1 }, down = { 0, 1 }, left = { -1, 0 }, right = { 1, 0 } }
+  local ROD = "OLD_ROD"
+
+  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot separate from the bug ----------------
+  -- A missing sheet, a rod that never reaches goFishing and a rod drawn at
+  -- garbage coordinates all look the same: no rod in the hands.
+
+  local fx = game.data.field.overworldFx
+  local rodDef = fx and fx.fishingRod
+  check("field.overworldFx.fishingRod resolves",
+        rodDef ~= nil and type(rodDef.path) == "string")
+  if rodDef then U.log("rod sheet:", rodDef.path) end
+
+  -- three stacked 8x8 tiles, of which exactly one is ever drawn; if the sheet
+  -- is not 8x24 the ROD_OAM tile indices mean nothing
+  if rodDef and rodDef.path then
+    local ok, img = pcall(love.graphics.newImage, rodDef.path)
+    if check("the rod sheet loads", ok and img ~= nil) then
+      local w, h = img:getDimensions()
+      U.log(("rod sheet is %dx%d"):format(w, h))
+      check("it is 8 wide (one tile)", w == 8)
+      check("it is 24 tall (three stacked 8x8 tiles, RedFishingRodTiles)", h == 24)
+    end
+  end
+
+  check("OLD ROD is a real item", game.data.items[ROD] ~= nil)
+  local ItemEffects = require("src.inventory.ItemEffects")
+  local result = ItemEffects.use(game.data, game.save, ROD, nil, nil, nil, game.overworld)
+  check("using it routes to the fishing branch", result == "fish")
+
+  -- Old Rod always hooks a L5 MAGIKARP, so the verdict box is deterministic
+  local rodFishing = (game.data.field.fishing or {})[ROD]
+  check("OLD ROD always gets a bite (field.fishing.OLD_ROD.always)",
+        rodFishing ~= nil and rodFishing.always ~= nil)
+
+  -- the bite ends in a battle once the box is dismissed
+  game.save.party = { Pokemon.new(game.data, "CHARIZARD", 50) }
+  game.save.inventory = { [ROD] = 1 }
+  game.save.bagOrder = { ROD }
+  check("the rod is the only thing in the bag (so it is item #1)",
+        (game.save.inventory[ROD] or 0) > 0)
+
+  -- ---- helpers -----------------------------------------------------------
+
+  -- Walk the real path, START-menu bag -> rod -> USE: BagMenu's fish branch
+  -- is what calls goFishing, and it refuses unless the faced cell is water,
+  -- so this doubles as proof the stand cell is right.
+  local function useRod()
+    Screens.push(game, "BagMenu")
+    U.wait(20)
+    U.tap(game, "a")   -- select OLD ROD -> USE/TOSS
+    U.wait(20)
+    U.tap(game, "a")   -- USE
+    U.wait(30)
+  end
+
+  local function topBox()
+    local top = game.stack:top()
+    if getmetatable(top) ~= TextBox then return nil end
+    local shown = {}
+    for _, page in ipairs(top.pages or {}) do
+      for _, line in ipairs(page) do shown[#shown + 1] = line end
+    end
+    return top, table.concat(shown, " / ")
+  end
+
+  -- A press while the box is still typing only finishes the line, so tap
+  -- until the box on top is a different one (or we run out of patience).
+  local function advance(box)
+    for _ = 1, 12 do
+      U.tap(game, "a")
+      U.wait(12)
+      if game.stack:top() ~= box then return true end
+    end
+    return false
+  end
+
+  -- if a map edit moved the pond, find any shore facing water the same way
+  -- rather than parking the player at a wall
+  local function shoreFor(map, spot)
+    local d = DELTA[spot.facing]
+    if map:inBounds(spot.x + d[1], spot.y + d[2])
+       and map:isWaterCell(spot.x + d[1], spot.y + d[2])
+       and map:isWalkableCell(spot.x, spot.y) then
+      return spot.x, spot.y
+    end
+    for y = 0, map.def.height * 2 - 1 do
+      for x = 0, map.def.width * 2 - 1 do
+        if map:isWalkableCell(x, y) and not map:isWaterCell(x, y)
+           and map:inBounds(x + d[1], y + d[2])
+           and map:isWaterCell(x + d[1], y + d[2]) then
+          U.log(("(%d,%d) no longer faces water; using (%d,%d) for %s")
+                  :format(spot.x, spot.y, x, y, spot.facing))
+          return x, y
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    return spot.x, spot.y
+  end
+
+  -- ---- the four facings --------------------------------------------------
+
+  for i, spot in ipairs(SPOTS) do
+    local last = (i == #SPOTS)
+    U.teleport(game, MAP, spot.x, spot.y, spot.facing)
+    U.wait(15)
+    local ow = game.overworld
+    local sx, sy = shoreFor(ow.map, spot)
+    if sx ~= spot.x or sy ~= spot.y then
+      U.teleport(game, MAP, sx, sy, spot.facing)
+      U.wait(15)
+      ow = game.overworld
+    end
+    local fcx, fcy = ow.player:facingCell()
+    check(("facing %s from (%d,%d), the %s: water in front")
+            :format(spot.facing, sx, sy, spot.note),
+          ow.map:inBounds(fcx, fcy) and ow.map:isWaterCell(fcx, fcy))
+
+    useRod()
+
+    local dots, dotsText = topBox()
+    check(("%s: USE opened the fishing box"):format(spot.facing), dots ~= nil)
+    if dotsText then U.log("box reads:", dotsText) end
+    check(("%s: the rod is up (overworld.fishing is set)"):format(spot.facing),
+          ow.fishing ~= nil)
+    check(("%s: the rod remembers this facing"):format(spot.facing),
+          ow.fishing ~= nil and ow.fishing.facing == spot.facing)
+    if not U.shot(game, ("%s/bug321_rod_%s_dots.png"):format(SHOT_DIR, spot.facing)) then
+      check(("%s: dots screenshot reached disk"):format(spot.facing), false)
+    end
+
+    -- the timing half of #321: the dots box closes, the verdict box opens,
+    -- and the rod must still be in the player's hands the whole time
+    if dots then advance(dots) end
+    local verdict, verdictText = topBox()
+    check(("%s: the verdict box opened"):format(spot.facing), verdict ~= nil)
+    if verdictText then U.log("box reads:", verdictText) end
+    check(("%s: the rod is STILL up while the verdict text shows"):format(spot.facing),
+          ow.fishing ~= nil)
+    if not U.shot(game, ("%s/bug321_rod_%s_verdict.png"):format(SHOT_DIR, spot.facing)) then
+      check(("%s: verdict screenshot reached disk"):format(spot.facing), false)
+    end
+
+    -- The last facing is left live for the hand-off; the others are cleared
+    -- by the next teleport, which pops the stack, so no battle starts here.
+    if last then
+      U.log("leaving this box open for you")
+    end
+  end
+
+  -- ---- hand off ----------------------------------------------------------
+  U.log("West shore of the Viridian pond, facing right, mid-cast.")
+  U.log("Correct: one 8x8 rod stroke touching the player's hands, a mirror")
+  U.log("image left vs right, still up for the whole verdict box (#321).")
+  U.log("Shots: " .. SHOT_DIR .. "/bug321_rod_<facing>_{dots,verdict}.png")
+  U.log("Still unported: the fishing pose, the sprite shake, the ! bubble.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/grass_overlay_bug150_test.lua b/tests/drivers/grass_overlay_bug150_test.lua
index 4bda70ea..aec213ce 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/grass_overlay_bug150_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/grass_overlay_bug150_test.lua
@@ -1,21 +1,27 @@
 -- Visual + render-decision regression for #150 ("Grass transparency is off").
 --
 -- The reporter's should_be.png shows Red standing in Route 1 tall grass with a
--- GREEN cap that blends into the grass.  The default SGB color mode instead
--- region-tints the player with the per-map SGB BG palette: Red's dark-gray cap
--- (DMG shade 2) maps to the ROUTE palette's shade-2 = light-blue (165,214,255)
--- (data/generated/palettes.lua ROUTE), so the character clashes with the grass.
--- On real GBC/SGB an OBJ carries its own object palette; OG RED already bakes
--- PaletteFX.ogObj() (green over Red, pink over Blue -- color/sprites.asm
--- ColorOverworldSprite) onto overworld characters.  The fix makes SGB mode do
--- the same while leaving terrain on its per-map SGB palette.
+-- GREEN cap that blends into the grass.  That green is the ROUTE palette's own
+-- entry 2 (173,230,90), not an object palette of the character's: overworld
+-- OBJs run through rOBP0 = $D0 (home/fade.asm FadePal4 `dc 3,1,0,0`), which
+-- lifts OBJ color 1 to DMG shade 0 and color 2 to shade 1, so the cap lands on
+-- the very colour the grass beside it uses.  Drawn with an identity shade map
+-- the cap landed on shade 2 = light-blue (165,214,255) instead -- the clash
+-- #150 reported.  The first fix baked PaletteFX.ogObj() (the Game Boy Color
+-- boot ROM's green) onto SGB characters, which is a different machine's answer
+-- and became #301 ("people in SGB mode are green"): the Super Game Boy cannot
+-- colour an OBJ apart from the BG at all, since pokered never sends OBJ_TRN
+-- (data/sgb/sgb_packets.asm defines ATTR_BLK / PAL_SET / PAL_TRN / MLT_REQ /
+-- CHR_TRN / PCT_TRN and nothing else).  So SGB bakes the OBP0 ramp
+-- (PaletteFX.dmgObj) and lets the zone shader colour the result.
 --
 -- Gate (fails before the fix, passes after):
---   * PaletteFX.usesSpriteObp("gbc") == true
---   * the player SpriteRenderer bakes a distinct OBJ image in SGB mode
---     (resolveImage() ~= the raw grayscale sheet) -- the pixel path that
---     recolors the cap green
---   * that baked OBJ palette's shade-2 (the cap) is green, not ROUTE light-blue
+--   * PaletteFX.usesSpriteObp("gbc") == false -- SGB owns no object palette
+--   * the player SpriteRenderer still bakes a distinct image in SGB mode
+--     (resolveImage() ~= the raw grayscale sheet): rOBP0 plus the alpha key
+--   * that bake puts the cap (sheet shade 2) on DMG shade 1, which the zone
+--     shader then reads out of the map palette as its entry 2 -- ROUTE's grass
+--     green, not its light-blue
 -- Regression guard (must hold before AND after -- terrain is untouched):
 --   * the ROUTE terrain palette still carries BOTH grass green (173,230,90) and
 --     light-blue (165,214,255), so the grass field keeps its green+blue dither.
@@ -65,23 +71,27 @@ return function(game)
   U.shot(game, DIR .. "/grass_bug150_sgb.png")
 
   -- === render-decision gate: fails before the fix, passes after =========
-  check(PaletteFX.usesSpriteObp("gbc") == true,
-        "SGB mode bakes an OBJ palette onto overworld characters")
+  check(PaletteFX.usesSpriteObp("gbc") == false,
+        "SGB owns no object palette (it cannot colour an OBJ apart from the BG)")
 
-  -- the player's sprite must resolve to a baked OBJ image (not the raw
-  -- grayscale sheet) in SGB mode -- this is the exact path that colors the cap
+  -- the player's sprite must still resolve to a baked image (not the raw
+  -- grayscale sheet) in SGB mode -- that bake is rOBP0 plus the alpha key
   local spr = p.sprite
   check(spr and spr.image and spr:resolveImage() ~= spr.image,
-        "player sprite bakes a distinct OBJ image in SGB mode")
+        "player sprite bakes a distinct OBP0 image in SGB mode")
 
-  -- the baked object palette's shade-2 (the cap) is a green, and specifically
-  -- NOT the ROUTE light-blue the region shader used to hand it
-  local obj = PaletteFX.ogObj()   -- {white, brightgreen, darkgreen, black}
-  local cap = obj and obj[3]      -- DMG shade 2 -> 3rd palette entry
+  -- OBP0 (`dc 3,1,0,0`) sends the cap -- sheet shade 2 -- to DMG shade 1, so
+  -- the zone shader hands it the map palette's entry 2 rather than the entry 3
+  -- light-blue an identity shade map used to pick
+  local obp = PaletteFX.dmgObj()
+  check(obp and obp[3][1] == 170 and obp[3][2] == 170 and obp[3][3] == 170,
+        "OBP0 bake puts sheet shade 2 on DMG shade 1 (170)")
+  local cap = PaletteFX.pal(game.data, ow:paletteNameFor(ow.map))
+  cap = cap and cap[2]            -- DMG shade 1 -> 2nd palette entry
   check(cap and cap[2] > cap[1] and cap[2] > cap[3],
-        "OBJ cap color is green-dominant (g>r and g>b)")
+        "the cap's resolved map colour is green-dominant (g>r and g>b)")
   check(cap and not (cap[1] == 165 and cap[2] == 214 and cap[3] == 255),
-        "OBJ cap color is NOT ROUTE light-blue (165,214,255)")
+        "the cap's resolved map colour is NOT ROUTE light-blue (165,214,255)")
 
   -- === regression guard: terrain palette untouched =====================
   local terrain = PaletteFX.pal(game.data, ow:paletteNameFor(ow.map))
diff --git a/tests/drivers/gym_leader_victory_test.lua b/tests/drivers/gym_leader_victory_test.lua
index 0f74f596..59a2ef33 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/gym_leader_victory_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/gym_leader_victory_test.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 -- Driver: gym-leader post-battle dialogue chain (#164).
 -- Invokes checkVictoryRewards for Brock then Misty (same path as a win)
 -- and screenshots pages that must include badge-effect + TM explanation
--- text — not just a synthetic "received badge/TM" stub.
+-- text -- not just a synthetic "received badge/TM" stub.
 --
 --   SHOT_DIR=/tmp/gym164 POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/gym_leader_victory_test.lua love .
 return function(game)
diff --git a/tests/drivers/jigglypuff_bug249_test.lua b/tests/drivers/jigglypuff_bug249_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b30190b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/jigglypuff_bug249_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,264 @@
+-- Driver: the Pewter JIGGLYPUFF sings AND dances (#249).
+-- scripts/PewterPokecenter.asm PewterPokecenterJigglypuffText: stop the music,
+-- DelayFrames 32, MUSIC_JIGGLYPUFF_SONG, then a clockwise quarter turn every 24
+-- frames until the song ends, 48 more frames, PlayDefaultMusic.  TextScriptEnd
+-- is the only thing that closes the box.  Not under POKEPORT_SPEED.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/jigglypuff_bug249_test.lua love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local mapScripts = require("data.scripts.init")
+  local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
+  local Music = require("src.core.Music")
+
+  local MAP = "PEWTER_POKECENTER"
+  local NPC = "PEWTERPOKECENTER_JIGGLYPUFF"
+  local TEXT = "TEXT_PEWTERPOKECENTER_JIGGLYPUFF"
+  local SONG, MAP_SONG = "Music_JigglypuffSong", "Music_Pokecenter"
+  -- scripts/PewterPokecenter.asm .FacingDirections, in order
+  local RING = { "down", "left", "up", "right" }
+  local SILENCE, STEP, TAIL = 32, 24, 48 -- the three DelayFrames counts
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  local function nextInRing(dir)
+    for i, d in ipairs(RING) do
+      if d == dir then return RING[i % #RING + 1] end
+    end
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot check --------------------------------
+  -- A missing handler, text entry or song def all look the same on screen: a
+  -- JIGGLYPUFF that just stands there.
+  local handler = mapScripts.talkScript(MAP, TEXT)
+  check(MAP .. "/" .. TEXT .. " has a talk handler",
+        type(handler) == "function")
+
+  local line = game.data.text and game.data.text._PewterPokecenterJigglypuffText
+  check("_PewterPokecenterJigglypuffText resolves to a string",
+        type(line) == "string" and line ~= "")
+  if type(line) == "string" then
+    U.log("the box should read:", (line:gsub("\n", " / ")))
+  end
+
+  -- Music.playOnce returns false on a missing def, and the dance then skips
+  -- straight to its 48-frame tail with no spin at all.
+  local songs = game.data.audio and game.data.audio.songs
+  check("audio.songs." .. SONG .. " resolves (PlayMusic MUSIC_JIGGLYPUFF_SONG)",
+        songs ~= nil and songs[SONG] ~= nil)
+  check("audio.songs." .. MAP_SONG .. " resolves (PlayDefaultMusic comes back to it)",
+        songs ~= nil and songs[MAP_SONG] ~= nil)
+  local mapSong = game.data.audio and game.data.audio.mapSongs
+                  and game.data.audio.mapSongs[MAP]
+  check("the Center's map theme is " .. MAP_SONG, mapSong == MAP_SONG)
+
+  -- SPRITE_FAIRY has to be a walker or three of the four facings have no
+  -- frames to draw and the "turn" is invisible even when it happens
+  local fairy = game.data.sprites and game.data.sprites.SPRITE_FAIRY
+  check("SPRITE_FAIRY renders all four facings",
+        fairy ~= nil and fairy.walker == true and (fairy.frames or 0) >= 4)
+
+  local opts = game.save.options or {}
+  U.log("audio device present:", love.audio ~= nil,
+        "  MUSIC VOL (0-7):", tostring(opts.musicVol),
+        "  SFX VOL (0-7):", tostring(opts.sfxVol))
+  if not love.audio or opts.musicVol == 0 then
+    U.log("WARNING: music output is off, so the cut to silence and the song",
+          "itself will not be audible; raise MUSIC VOL in OPTION first")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- park the player against the JIGGLYPUFF -----------------------------
+  -- data/maps/objects/PewterPokecenter.asm: object_event 1, 3, SPRITE_FAIRY.
+  -- It sits against the west wall, so approach from the floor to its east.
+  local STAND = { x = 2, y = 3, facing = "left" }
+  U.teleport(game, MAP, STAND.x, STAND.y, STAND.facing)
+  U.wait(10)
+
+  local function puffIn(ow)
+    for _, n in ipairs(ow.npcs or {}) do
+      if n.def and n.def.name == NPC then return n end
+    end
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  -- re-reads game.overworld every call: the fallback below teleports again,
+  -- which rebuilds the state and its npc list
+  local function facingThePuff()
+    local ow = game.overworld
+    local puff = ow and puffIn(ow)
+    if not puff then return false end
+    local fx, fy = ow.player:facingCell()
+    return ow:npcAtCell(fx, fy) == puff
+  end
+
+  local ow = game.overworld
+  local puff = ow and puffIn(ow)
+  check("JIGGLYPUFF object loaded on " .. MAP, puff ~= nil)
+
+  if puff and not facingThePuff() then
+    -- Approach cell is blocked (map edit, or a mod moved the object): take any
+    -- free neighbour instead.  {dx, dy, facing} is the offset from the fairy
+    -- plus the direction that looks back at it, so +1 on x means facing left.
+    local sides = {
+      { 1, 0, "left" }, { 0, 1, "up" }, { 0, -1, "down" }, { -1, 0, "right" },
+    }
+    for _, s in ipairs(sides) do
+      local cx, cy = puff.cellX + s[1], puff.cellY + s[2]
+      if ow.map:isWalkableCell(cx, cy) and not ow:npcAtCell(cx, cy) then
+        U.log(("approach cell (%d, %d) is blocked, standing on")
+                :format(STAND.x, STAND.y), cx, cy, "facing", s[3])
+        U.teleport(game, MAP, cx, cy, s[3])
+        U.wait(10)
+        break
+      end
+    end
+    puff = game.overworld and puffIn(game.overworld)
+  end
+  check("player is standing against the JIGGLYPUFF", facingThePuff())
+
+  -- ---- one frame, sampling everything at once ----------------------------
+  local function boxOnTop()
+    local top = game.stack:top()
+    if getmetatable(top) == TextBox then return top end
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  local function sample(pressA)
+    if pressA then U.tap(game, "a") else U.wait(1) end
+    local box = boxOnTop()
+    return {
+      box = box ~= nil,
+      typed = box ~= nil and box.done == true,
+      tick = box ~= nil and box.auto ~= nil and type(box.auto.tick) == "function",
+      facing = puff and puff.facing or nil,
+      song = Music.oneShotPlaying(),
+    }
+  end
+
+  -- ---- 1. talk to it and watch the whole dance, mashing A throughout -----
+  U.log("--- run 1: the full dance, with A held down on it ---------------")
+  local before = puff and puff.facing
+  U.tap(game, "a")
+  U.wait(2)
+  local box = boxOnTop()
+  check("pressing A opened a text box", box ~= nil)
+  if box then
+    U.log("the JIGGLYPUFF turned to face the player:",
+          tostring(before), "->", tostring(puff.facing))
+    check("the box carries an auto.tick hook (the per-frame dance driver)",
+          box.auto ~= nil and type(box.auto.tick) == "function")
+    check("the box is an auto box, so no blinking arrow and no A dismissal",
+          box.auto ~= nil)
+  end
+
+  -- Mash A every 3rd frame for the whole run; in the original the box cannot
+  -- be dismissed at all, so this must change nothing.
+  local log, turns = {}, {}
+  local typedAt, songAt, songEnd, closedAt = nil, nil, nil, nil
+  local last = puff and puff.facing
+  for i = 1, 3000 do
+    log[i] = sample(i % 3 == 0)
+    if not typedAt and log[i].typed then typedAt = i end
+    if not songAt and log[i].song then songAt = i end
+    if songAt and not songEnd and not log[i].song then songEnd = i end
+    if log[i].facing and log[i].facing ~= last then
+      turns[#turns + 1] = { at = i, from = last, to = log[i].facing }
+      last = log[i].facing
+    end
+    if not log[i].box then closedAt = i break end
+  end
+
+  U.log(("frames: text finished typing at %s, song started at %s, song ended " ..
+         "at %s, box closed at %s")
+          :format(tostring(typedAt), tostring(songAt), tostring(songEnd),
+                  tostring(closedAt)))
+  for n, t in ipairs(turns) do
+    U.log(("  turn %d on frame %d: %s -> %s"):format(n, t.at, tostring(t.from),
+                                                     tostring(t.to)))
+  end
+
+  if check("the song played", songAt ~= nil) then
+    -- SFX_STOP_ALL_MUSIC, DelayFrames 32, PlayMusic
+    local gap = songAt - (typedAt or 1)
+    U.log(("silence between the text finishing and the song starting: %d frames " ..
+           "(pokered waits %d)"):format(gap, SILENCE))
+    check(("that silence is about %d frames"):format(SILENCE),
+          gap >= SILENCE - 4 and gap <= SILENCE + 8)
+  end
+
+  check("the JIGGLYPUFF turned at least four times", #turns >= 4)
+  local ringOk, spacingOk = true, true
+  for n, t in ipairs(turns) do
+    if t.to ~= nextInRing(t.from) then
+      ringOk = false
+      U.log(("     turn %d is not a clockwise quarter turn: %s -> %s (expected %s)")
+              :format(n, tostring(t.from), tostring(t.to),
+                      tostring(nextInRing(t.from))))
+    end
+    if n > 1 then
+      local d = t.at - turns[n - 1].at
+      if d < STEP - 6 or d > STEP + 6 then
+        spacingOk = false
+        U.log(("     turn %d came %d frames after the last one (expected %d)")
+                :format(n, d, STEP))
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  check("every turn is one clockwise quarter turn (DOWN->LEFT->UP->RIGHT)",
+        ringOk and #turns >= 4)
+  check(("the turns are %d frames apart"):format(STEP),
+        spacingOk and #turns >= 2)
+
+  -- not just "it eventually closed": an A-dismissable box closes too, only far
+  -- too early, and that is the bug
+  check("mashing A never closed the box early",
+        (closedAt or #log) >= SILENCE + 4 * STEP)
+  if check("the box closed itself with no button press", closedAt ~= nil) then
+    check("it stayed up for the whole song, A mashing and all",
+          songEnd ~= nil and closedAt > songEnd)
+    if songEnd then
+      local tail = closedAt - songEnd
+      U.log(("the box lingered %d frames after the song (pokered waits %d, " ..
+             "plus the box's own pop delay)"):format(tail, TAIL))
+      check(("that tail is about %d frames"):format(TAIL),
+            tail >= TAIL - 6 and tail <= TAIL + 20)
+    end
+  end
+
+  -- ---- 2. do it again, screenshot each quarter turn, hand off mid-song ---
+  U.log("--- run 2: screenshots, then the pad is yours -------------------")
+  U.wait(30)
+  puff = game.overworld and puffIn(game.overworld)
+  check("still standing against the JIGGLYPUFF", facingThePuff())
+  U.tap(game, "a")
+  U.wait(2)
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug249_0_box.png")
+
+  local shots, seen = 0, puff and puff.facing
+  for _ = 1, 600 do
+    U.wait(1)
+    if not boxOnTop() then break end
+    if puff and puff.facing ~= seen then
+      seen = puff.facing
+      shots = shots + 1
+      -- U.shot costs a frame or two, which is why run 1 did the timing
+      local path = ("%s/bug249_%d_%s.png"):format(DIR, shots, seen)
+      if U.shot(game, path) then U.log("captured", path) end
+      if shots >= 4 then break end
+    end
+  end
+  check("captured four quarter turns", shots >= 4)
+
+  U.log("The JIGGLYPUFF has been talked to and is mid-song. Mash A: the box has no")
+  U.log("arrow and must not close. The fairy should turn a quarter turn clockwise")
+  U.log("(down, left, up, right) every 24 frames until the song ends, then close")
+  U.log("itself (#249). The Center theme returns just before it does; expected.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/lowhp_alarm_bug293_test.lua b/tests/drivers/lowhp_alarm_bug293_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..005a4471
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/lowhp_alarm_bug293_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,237 @@
+-- Driver: manual audio check for the low-health siren cutting out (#293).
+-- pokered sets wLowHealthAlarm on a red bar (core.asm:1858-1875) and only
+-- RemoveFaintedPlayerMon (core.asm:1011-1016) clears it, so a sounding siren
+-- rides through the next hit.  No POKEPORT_SPEED: audio has its own clock.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/lowhp_alarm_bug293_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug293 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+  local Sound = require("src.core.Sound")
+
+  local ALARM = "Low_Health_Alarm"
+  local function siren() return Sound.isLooping(ALARM) end
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- ---- preconditions the ear cannot check --------------------------------
+  -- A siren with no source and a siren stopped every frame sound the same.
+  check("BattleState:lowHealthAlarmActive exists",
+        type(BattleState.lowHealthAlarmActive) == "function")
+  check("BattleState:updateFx exists (it is what latches the siren)",
+        type(BattleState.updateFx) == "function")
+
+  -- Sound.startLoop uses the registered sfx def when there is one and
+  -- otherwise synthesizes the siren; a ROM import has no def, so the synth
+  -- path is the normal one.
+  local def = game.data.audio and game.data.audio.sfx
+              and game.data.audio.sfx[ALARM]
+  if def then
+    check("data.audio.sfx." .. ALARM .. " resolves", true)
+  else
+    local ok, src = pcall(require("src.core.ChipAudio").newLowHealthAlarm)
+    check("no " .. ALARM .. " def, so ChipAudio synthesizes the siren",
+          ok and src ~= nil)
+    if ok and src and src.stop then pcall(src.stop, src) end
+  end
+
+  local vol = game.save.options and game.save.options.sfxVol
+  U.log("audio device present:", love.audio ~= nil,
+        "  SFX VOL (0-7):", tostring(vol))
+  if not love.audio or vol == 0 then
+    U.log("WARNING: sound output is off, so nothing below will be audible;",
+          "raise SFX VOL in OPTION first -- a muted run and a dead siren",
+          "are the same thing to an ear")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- a lead whose bar is red and who cannot end the fight --------------
+  -- :L20 so a weak foe cannot one-shot it, and TAIL_WHIP only (power 0), so
+  -- the wild mon survives every turn and keeps hitting back.
+  local function freshLead()
+    local mon = Pokemon.new(game.data, "RATTATA", 20)
+    mon.moves = { { id = "TAIL_WHIP", pp = 30 } }
+    game.save.party = { mon }
+    return mon
+  end
+
+  -- put the drawn bar at 9 of 48 px: HP_BAR_RED is < 10 px
+  -- (GetHealthBarColor, core.asm), the same threshold HudTiles.drawHPBar
+  -- tints with
+  local function intoTheRed(mon)
+    mon.hp = math.max(1, math.floor(mon.stats.hp * 9 / 48))
+    return math.max(1, math.floor(mon.hp * 48 / math.max(1, mon.stats.hp)))
+  end
+
+  local lead = freshLead()
+  local px = intoTheRed(lead)
+  U.log(("lead: RATTATA :L20  %d/%d HP  ->  %d of 48 px")
+          :format(lead.hp, lead.stats.hp, px))
+  check("the lead's bar is red (red is under 10 px)", px < 10)
+  check("the lead has HP to spare for a non-lethal hit", lead.hp >= 6)
+
+  U.teleport(game, "ROUTE_1", 5, 5, "down")
+
+  local function sample(battle, pressA)
+    if pressA then U.tap(game, "a") else U.wait(1) end
+    return {
+      on = siren(),
+      hp = battle.player.mon.hp,
+      shown = battle.player.shownHP,
+      text = battle.current and battle.current.text or "",
+    }
+  end
+
+  -- longest run of consecutive silent frames in [from, to], and where it
+  -- started: this is the number a human hears as a gap
+  local function longestGap(log, from, to)
+    local best, bestAt, run, runAt = 0, nil, 0, nil
+    for i = from, math.min(to, #log) do
+      if log[i].on then
+        run, runAt = 0, nil
+      else
+        if run == 0 then runAt = i end
+        run = run + 1
+        if run > best then best, bestAt = run, runAt end
+      end
+    end
+    return best, bestAt
+  end
+
+  local function startBattle(species, level, enemyMoves)
+    local battle = BattleState.newWild(game, species, level)
+    battle.onFinish = function() end
+    if enemyMoves then
+      -- BOTH: the battler's curMoves aliases mon.moves at construction
+      -- (BattleState.lua:345) and TrainerAI.chooseMove reads curMoves, so
+      -- replacing only mon.moves leaves the AI on the original moveset
+      battle.enemy.mon.moves = enemyMoves
+      battle.enemy.curMoves = enemyMoves
+    end
+    game.overworld:pushBattle(battle)
+    for _ = 1, 120 do
+      if battle.phase == "menu" then break end
+      U.tap(game, "a")
+      U.wait(4)
+    end
+    return battle
+  end
+
+  -- The A presses are folded into the sampling loop rather than done with
+  -- U.tap first: applyDamage takes the HP off the model at queue-build time,
+  -- so a faster foe can land its hit within a couple of frames of the move
+  -- being chosen and a U.tap would sample straight past it.
+  local function playTurn(battle, maxFrames)
+    local pre = battle.player.mon.hp
+    local log, hitAt, emptyAt, settleAt = {}, nil, nil, nil
+    for i = 1, maxFrames or 900 do
+      local pressA = i == 1 or i == 6
+        or (i > 6 and i % 6 == 0 and battle.phase ~= "menu")
+      log[i] = sample(battle, pressA)
+      if not hitAt and log[i].hp < pre then hitAt = i end
+      if hitAt and not emptyAt and (log[i].shown or 0) <= 0 then emptyAt = i end
+      if hitAt and not settleAt and log[i].shown == log[i].hp then
+        settleAt = i
+      end
+      if settleAt and i > settleAt + 40 then break end
+    end
+    return log, pre, hitAt, settleAt, emptyAt
+  end
+
+  -- =====================================================================
+  -- 1. the non-lethal hit: the siren must ride it out unbroken
+  -- =====================================================================
+  U.log("--- battle 1: a hit you survive -------------------------------")
+  -- PIDGEY :L3 knows only GUST (SAND_ATTACK is not until :L5), accurate and
+  -- worth a couple of HP against a :L20 lead, so it lands and never kills.
+  local b1 = startBattle("PIDGEY", 3)
+  check("reached the action menu", b1.phase == "menu")
+  check("the siren is sounding before anything happens", siren())
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug293_1_menu.png")
+
+  local log, pre, hitAt, settleAt = playTurn(b1)
+  U.log(("turn: %d frames sampled, HP %d -> %d, hit landed on frame %s, ")
+          :format(#log, pre, b1.player.mon.hp, tostring(hitAt))
+        .. ("bar settled on frame %s"):format(tostring(settleAt)))
+  if check("the foe's attack connected", hitAt ~= nil) then
+    local to = settleAt and (settleAt + 20) or #log
+    local gap, gapAt = longestGap(log, hitAt, to)
+    -- the reported symptom, in frames: 60 frames is one second
+    U.log(("longest silence between the hit and the bar settling: %d frames%s")
+            :format(gap, gapAt and (" (from frame " .. gapAt .. ")") or ""))
+    check("the siren never dropped out across the hit (#293)", gap == 0)
+    if gap > 0 then
+      U.log("     it went quiet during:", log[gapAt].text ~= "" and
+            log[gapAt].text:gsub("\n", " / ") or "(no text on screen)")
+    end
+    check("and it is still sounding once the bar has settled",
+          siren() and b1.player.mon.hp > 0)
+    U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug293_2_after_hit.png")
+  end
+
+  -- =====================================================================
+  -- 2. the killing blow: it must hold until the bar has drained empty
+  -- =====================================================================
+  U.log("--- battle 2: the hit that kills you --------------------------")
+  U.teleport(game, "ROUTE_1", 5, 5, "down")
+  local lead2 = freshLead()
+  local px2 = intoTheRed(lead2)
+  check("the lead's bar is red again", px2 < 10)
+  -- One guaranteed-lethal move instead of the wild AI's random pick: only
+  -- one of a :L40 PIDGEY's four real moves does any damage.
+  local b2 = startBattle("PIDGEY", 40, { { id = "WING_ATTACK", pp = 35 } })
+  check("reached the action menu", b2.phase == "menu")
+  check("the siren is sounding before the killing blow", siren())
+
+  local log2, pre2, hitAt2, settleAt2, emptyAt2 = playTurn(b2)
+  U.log(("lethal turn: %d frames sampled, HP %d -> %d, hit on frame %s, ")
+          :format(#log2, pre2, b2.player.mon.hp, tostring(hitAt2))
+        .. ("bar empty on frame %s"):format(tostring(emptyAt2)))
+  if check("the killing blow landed", hitAt2 ~= nil and b2.player.mon.hp <= 0) then
+    local to = emptyAt2 or settleAt2 or #log2
+    local gap, gapAt = longestGap(log2, hitAt2, to)
+    U.log(("longest silence between the killing blow and the empty bar: " ..
+           "%d frames%s"):format(gap, gapAt and (" (from frame " .. gapAt ..
+           ")") or ""))
+    check("the siren held all the way down to an empty bar (#293)", gap == 0)
+    if gap > 0 then
+      U.log("     it went quiet during:", log2[gapAt].text ~= "" and
+            log2[gapAt].text:gsub("\n", " / ") or "(no text on screen)")
+    end
+    if emptyAt2 then
+      -- and only then does it stop (RemoveFaintedPlayerMon)
+      local stopped = false
+      for i = emptyAt2, #log2 do
+        if not log2[i].on then stopped = true break end
+      end
+      check("and went quiet once the bar was empty (RemoveFaintedPlayerMon)",
+            stopped)
+    end
+    U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug293_3_ko.png")
+  end
+
+  -- =====================================================================
+  -- 3. hand off, already at the FIGHT menu with the siren going
+  -- =====================================================================
+  U.teleport(game, "ROUTE_1", 5, 5, "down")
+  local lead3 = freshLead()
+  intoTheRed(lead3)
+  local b3 = startBattle("PIDGEY", 3)
+  check("handing off at the action menu", b3.phase == "menu")
+  check("handing off with the siren sounding", siren())
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug293_4_handoff.png")
+
+  U.log("FIGHT menu, wild PIDGEY, RATTATA in the red and the siren going.")
+  U.log("A, A uses TAIL WHIP (power 0), so the PIDGEY keeps hitting back;")
+  U.log("it takes several turns to die.")
+  U.log("The siren must not break under the foe's move, the animation or the")
+  U.log("bar drain, and on the lethal hit it holds to an empty bar (#293).")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/moveselect_border_bug240_test.lua b/tests/drivers/moveselect_border_bug240_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5741be39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/moveselect_border_bug240_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+-- Driver: the seam where the TYPE/PP box meets the move box (#240).  pokered
+-- MoveSelectionMenu (engine/battle/core.asm:2492-2501) writes '─' at (4,12) and
+-- '┘' at (10,12) into the tilemap, REPLACING the tile.  Eye check, no SPEED.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/moveselect_border_bug240_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug240 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red \
+--     SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+  local Font = require("src.render.Font")
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- ---- preconditions -----------------------------------------------------
+  -- a missing glyph page draws nothing in those cells, which reads as a clean
+  -- seam and would pass by accident
+
+  check("Font.BORDER.h (the '─' patch glyph) is defined",
+        Font.BORDER ~= nil and Font.BORDER.h ~= nil)
+  check("Font.BORDER.br (the '┘' patch glyph) is defined",
+        Font.BORDER ~= nil and Font.BORDER.br ~= nil)
+  check("Font.drawCode exists (the transparent blit at the heart of this)",
+        type(Font.drawCode) == "function")
+  check("Font.drawBox exists (the white fill the patch has to match)",
+        type(Font.drawBox) == "function")
+  local extra = love.filesystem.getInfo("assets/generated/fonts/font_extra.png")
+  check("assets/generated/fonts/font_extra.png is in the cache", extra ~= nil)
+
+  game.save.player.name = "bryan"
+  -- CHARIZARD at 50 knows four moves, so the list fills all four rows and the
+  -- PP figure sits directly above the (10,12) cell being judged
+  game.save.party = { Pokemon.new(game.data, "CHARIZARD", 50) }
+  local lead = game.save.party[1]
+  check("the lead knows at least one move", #lead.moves >= 1)
+  U.log("move list:", (function()
+    local names = {}
+    for _, m in ipairs(lead.moves) do
+      names[#names + 1] = game.data.moves[m.id].name
+    end
+    return table.concat(names, ", ")
+  end)())
+
+  U.teleport(game, "PALLET_TOWN", 10, 8, "down")
+  U.wait(20)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+  check("overworld is up to push the battle from", ow ~= nil)
+
+  local battle = BattleState.newWild(game, "PIDGEY", 8)
+  battle.onFinish = function() end
+  ow:pushBattle(battle)
+
+  local function tapUntil(cond, taps, gap)
+    for _ = 1, (taps or 60) do
+      if cond() then return true end
+      U.tap(game, "a")
+      for _ = 1, (gap or 6) do
+        if cond() then return true end
+        U.wait(1)
+      end
+    end
+    return cond()
+  end
+
+  check("reached the FIGHT/PKMN/ITEM/RUN menu",
+        tapUntil(function() return battle.phase == "menu" end, 60))
+  check("cursor starts on FIGHT", battle.menuIndex == 1)
+
+  -- A on FIGHT opens the move list: this is the screen being judged.
+  U.tap(game, "a")
+  U.wait(20)
+  check("the FIGHT move list is open (#240 lives on this screen)",
+        battle.phase == "moveSelect")
+  check("move-list screenshot reached disk",
+        U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug240_move_list.png"))
+  U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug240_move_list.png")
+
+  -- move the cursor down one row too: the PP figure changes, and the '┘'
+  -- corner under it must stay identical
+  U.tap(game, "down")
+  U.wait(20)
+  check("move-list screenshot on the second move reached disk",
+        U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug240_move_list_row2.png"))
+  U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug240_move_list_row2.png")
+
+  -- ---- hand off ----------------------------------------------------------
+  U.log("The FIGHT move list is open.  Judge tiles (4,12) and (10,12) on the row")
+  U.log("where the TYPE/PP box meets the move box; (10,12) sits under the PP")
+  U.log("count.  Both want clean border: no black blobs showing through, no")
+  U.log("white gap, and no change as you move the cursor with UP/DOWN.  (#240)")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/nidoran_cry_bug247_test.lua b/tests/drivers/nidoran_cry_bug247_test.lua
index 5688fe69..59bbe670 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/nidoran_cry_bug247_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/nidoran_cry_bug247_test.lua
@@ -1,35 +1,9 @@
--- Driver: manual audio check for the silent Pewter NIDORAN (#247).
---
--- pokered scripts/PewterNidoranHouse.asm, PewterNidoranHouseNidoranText:
---     text_far _PewterNidoranHouseNidoranText
---     text_asm
---     ld a, NIDORAN_M
---     call PlayCry
---     call WaitForSoundToFinish
---     jp TextScriptEnd
--- so the box types "NIDORAN: Bowbow!" first and the male NIDORAN cry sounds
--- second, once the typewriter is done.  The box then still waits for a
--- button: PewterNidoranHouse_Script is `jp EnableAutoTextBoxDrawing`, and
--- AutoTextBoxDrawingCommon (pokered home/window.asm) zeroes
--- wDoNotWaitForButtonPressAfterDisplayingText, so DisplayTextID falls through
--- to WaitForTextScrollButtonPress like any other NPC line.
--- data/scripts/flavor/pewter_nidoran_house.lua ported the dialogue row but
--- never the cry row, so the NIDORAN was silent.
---
--- This is an audio fix, so nothing here can assert it.  What this driver does
--- is check the halves an ear cannot check (the cry row is wired into the talk
--- script in the adjacency Commands.play_cry/show_text require, and the
--- NIDORAN_M cry sample resolves the way Sound.playCry looks it up), park the
--- player one cell below the NIDORAN already facing it, and then hand input
--- straight back so a human hears the cry live.
---
--- Do NOT add POKEPORT_SPEED to this run: fast-forward scales only the logic
--- clock while audio runs on its own real-time 60 Hz accumulator
--- (src/core/Game.lua), so the cry would stop lining up with the box it
--- belongs to.
---
---   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/nidoran_cry_bug247_test.lua \
---     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug247 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red love .
+-- Audio check for the silent Pewter NIDORAN (#247).  pokered
+-- scripts/PewterNidoranHouse.asm types the line, then `ld a, NIDORAN_M / call
+-- PlayCry / call WaitForSoundToFinish`, and the box still waits for a button;
+-- the port ported the dialogue row and not the cry row.
+-- Don't add POKEPORT_SPEED: audio runs on its own real-time accumulator.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/nidoran_cry_bug247_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug247 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red love .
 return function(game)
   local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
   local mapScripts = require("data.scripts.init")
@@ -44,11 +18,9 @@ return function(game)
     return ok
   end
 
-  -- ---- preconditions the ear cannot check --------------------------------
   -- Commands.play_cry only stashes ctx.pendingCry; Commands.show_text is what
-  -- turns it into the box's opts.auto.  The two rows therefore have to be
-  -- adjacent and in that order, or the cry is handed to the wrong box or
-  -- never consumed at all -- and either way the NIDORAN stays quiet.
+  -- turns it into the box's opts.auto, so the two rows have to be adjacent and
+  -- in that order or the cry goes to the wrong box, or to none at all
   local rows = mapScripts.talkScript(MAP, TEXT)
   local cryAt, textAt
   for i, row in ipairs(rows or {}) do
@@ -58,16 +30,15 @@ return function(game)
   local cry = cryAt and rows[cryAt]
   check("talk script carries a play_cry row", cry ~= nil)
   check("cry species is " .. SPECIES, cry ~= nil and cry[2] == SPECIES)
-  -- the third arg is play_cry's waitForButton form, which keeps
-  -- DisplayTextID's trailing WaitForTextScrollButtonPress instead of letting
-  -- the box pop itself the instant the cry goes quiet
+  -- the third arg is play_cry's waitForButton form, which keeps DisplayTextID's
+  -- trailing WaitForTextScrollButtonPress instead of letting the box pop itself
+  -- the instant the cry goes quiet
   check("cry row keeps the button wait", cry ~= nil and cry[3] == true)
   check("play_cry sits immediately before show_text",
         cryAt ~= nil and textAt == cryAt + 1)
 
-  -- Sound.playCry reads data.audio.cries[species]; a missing or misspelled
-  -- key is a silent no-op with no error, which is indistinguishable by ear
-  -- from the bug itself
+  -- Sound.playCry reads data.audio.cries[species]; a missing or misspelled key
+  -- is a silent no-op with no error, which sounds exactly like the bug
   local cries = game.data.audio and game.data.audio.cries
   check("data.audio.cries." .. SPECIES .. " resolves",
         cries ~= nil and cries[SPECIES] ~= nil)
@@ -80,10 +51,9 @@ return function(game)
           "raise SFX VOL in OPTION first")
   end
 
-  -- ---- park the player in front of the NIDORAN ---------------------------
-  -- pokered data/maps/objects/PewterNidoranHouse.asm puts the NIDORAN on
-  -- (4, 5) facing LEFT at the little boy on (3, 5), so the free approach cell
-  -- is the floor directly below it.
+  -- pokered data/maps/objects/PewterNidoranHouse.asm puts the NIDORAN on (4, 5)
+  -- facing LEFT at the little boy on (3, 5), so the free approach cell is the
+  -- floor directly below it
   U.teleport(game, MAP, 4, 6, "up")
   U.wait(10)
 
@@ -94,8 +64,8 @@ return function(game)
     return nil
   end
 
-  -- re-reads game.overworld every call: the fallback below teleports again,
-  -- which rebuilds the whole state and its npc list
+  -- re-reads game.overworld every call: the fallback below teleports again and
+  -- that rebuilds the state and its npc list
   local function facingTheMon()
     local ow = game.overworld
     local mon = ow and nidoranIn(ow)
@@ -109,10 +79,9 @@ return function(game)
   check("NIDORAN object loaded on " .. MAP, mon ~= nil)
 
   if mon and not facingTheMon() then
-    -- the hard-coded approach cell stopped working (map edit, or a mod moved
-    -- the object): take any free walkable neighbour and turn toward the mon.
-    -- {dx, dy, facing} is the offset from the mon to the stand cell plus the
-    -- direction that looks back at it, so +1 on x means facing left.
+    -- a map edit or a mod moved the object: fall back to any free walkable
+    -- neighbour.  {dx, dy, facing} is the offset from the mon to the stand cell
+    -- plus the direction that looks back at it, so +1 on x means left.
     local sides = {
       { 0, 1, "up" }, { 1, 0, "left" }, { -1, 0, "right" }, { 0, -1, "down" },
     }
@@ -129,20 +98,10 @@ return function(game)
   end
   check("player is standing in front of the NIDORAN", facingTheMon())
 
-  -- ---- hand off, then stay out of the way --------------------------------
-  U.log("........................................................")
-  U.log("LISTEN NOW: press A to talk to the NIDORAN in front of you.")
-  U.log("  RIGHT: the box types out \"NIDORAN: Bowbow!\", the male NIDORAN")
-  U.log("         cry sounds ONCE after the last character lands, then the")
-  U.log("         arrow blinks and the box waits for your A or B.")
-  U.log("  BUG #247 sounds like: the line types out and then nothing, dead")
-  U.log("         silence under the house music, arrow blinking.")
-  U.log("  ALSO WRONG: the cry fires while the text is still typing (row")
-  U.log("         order broken), or the box closes itself the moment the cry")
-  U.log("         ends with no button press (waitForButton lost).")
-  U.log("Input is yours from here on -- talk again as often as you like, and")
-  U.log("the little boy on the left is the silent control to compare against.")
-  U.log("........................................................")
+  U.log("Press A to talk to the NIDORAN in front of you.")
+  U.log("The box types \"NIDORAN: Bowbow!\", then the cry sounds once after the")
+  U.log("last character lands and the box waits for A or B; under #247 the line")
+  U.log("typed and nothing followed.  The boy on the left is the silent control.")
 
   while true do
     coroutine.yield()
diff --git a/tests/drivers/party_cursor_bug278_test.lua b/tests/drivers/party_cursor_bug278_test.lua
index 7fd40f7f..899a3453 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/party_cursor_bug278_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/party_cursor_bug278_test.lua
@@ -1,29 +1,8 @@
--- Driver: party menu cursor alignment (#278).  A manual eye check, not a
--- pass/fail run -- no assertion in this repo can judge where a triangle
--- sits against a reference screenshot.
---
--- pokered evidence.  home/pokemon.asm PartyMenuInit seeds the shared menu
--- cursor coordinates:
---
---   ld hl, wTopMenuItemY
---   inc a          ; a = 1
---   ld [hli], a    ; top menu item Y
---   xor a
---   ld [hli], a    ; top menu item X
---
--- and home/window.asm PlaceMenuCursor walks that many rows down from
--- hlcoord 0, 0.  Meanwhile party_menu.asm RedrawPartyMenu_ starts the name
--- column at hlcoord 3, 0.  So a party entry's name is on tile row 0 while
--- its cursor belongs on tile row 1: the level/HP line, level with the
--- middle of the two-row icon.
---
--- The bug: PartyMenu drew the cursor at entryY(i), the name row, putting it
--- a full tile (8px) too high on every slot.  The fix draws it at y + 8.
---
--- Do NOT run this under POKEPORT_SPEED.  Fast-forward scales only the logic
--- clock while rendering and audio run on their own real-time accumulators
--- (src/core/Game.lua), so a sped-up run can capture a half-drawn frame.
---
+-- Driver: party menu cursor alignment (#278).  Eye check, not pass/fail.
+-- pokered home/pokemon.asm PartyMenuInit seeds wTopMenuItemY = 1 while
+-- party_menu.asm RedrawPartyMenu_ starts the name column at hlcoord 3, 0,
+-- so the cursor belongs on an entry's second row (level/HP), not its name
+-- row.  No POKEPORT_SPEED: rendering runs on its own real-time clock.
 --   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/party_cursor_bug278_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug278 love .
 return function(game)
   local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
@@ -36,12 +15,8 @@ return function(game)
     return ok
   end
 
-  -- ---- preconditions a human's eye cannot separate from the bug ----------
-  -- A cursor drawn off-screen, or a party too short to show the stride,
-  -- both look exactly like "the offset is wrong".  Check them first.
-
-  -- the geometry contract the fix depends on: 16px stride, name row at the
-  -- top of each entry.  If entryY ever changes, the +8 has to be revisited.
+  -- the geometry the +8 depends on: 16px stride, name row at the top of
+  -- each entry.  If entryY changes, the cursor offset has to be revisited.
   check("entryY stride is 16px", PartyMenu.entryY(2) - PartyMenu.entryY(1) == 16)
   check("slot 1 name row is y=0", PartyMenu.entryY(1) == 0)
 
@@ -54,7 +29,6 @@ return function(game)
   game.save.player.name = "bryan"
   check("party has enough slots to judge the stride", #game.save.party >= 3)
 
-  -- the window actually rendered: a black frame is not an offset bug
   check("renderer is up", game.renderer ~= nil)
 
   U.teleport(game, "PALLET_TOWN", 10, 8, "down")
@@ -66,8 +40,7 @@ return function(game)
 
   U.shot(game, "bug278_party_cursor_slot1.png")
 
-  -- move the cursor down so the stride is visible too: a fix that is right
-  -- on slot 1 and wrong further down would otherwise read as a pass
+  -- step down as well, so a stride bug cannot hide behind a correct slot 1
   U.tap(game, "down")
   U.wait(15)
   U.shot(game, "bug278_party_cursor_slot2.png")
@@ -75,20 +48,10 @@ return function(game)
   U.wait(15)
   U.shot(game, "bug278_party_cursor_slot3.png")
 
-  U.log("........................................................")
-  U.log("LOOK NOW: the party menu is open. Screenshots were written to the")
-  U.log("  LOVE save dir as bug278_party_cursor_slot1/2/3.png.")
-  U.log("  RIGHT: the black triangle sits on the LOWER of each entry's two")
-  U.log("         rows, level with the LEVEL/HP line and with the middle of")
-  U.log("         the two-row party icon.")
-  U.log("  BUG #278 looks like: the triangle riding up on the NAME row, its")
-  U.log("         tip level with the first letter of the nickname.")
-  U.log("  ALSO WRONG: correct on slot 1 but drifting on slots 2-4 (that is")
-  U.log("         a stride bug, not an offset bug), or the triangle sliding")
-  U.log("         a half tile so it straddles both rows.")
-  U.log("Compare against the reference shot in issue #278. Input is yours")
-  U.log("from here: up/down re-checks every slot, B closes the menu.")
-  U.log("........................................................")
+  U.log("Party menu is open; shots are in the LOVE save dir as")
+  U.log("bug278_party_cursor_slot1/2/3.png.  The cursor should sit on the")
+  U.log("lower row of each entry, level with LEVEL/HP, not up on the name")
+  U.log("row (#278).  Up/down re-checks every slot, B closes the menu.")
 
   while true do
     coroutine.yield()
diff --git a/tests/drivers/party_heal_bug252_test.lua b/tests/drivers/party_heal_bug252_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2e295169
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/party_heal_bug252_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,278 @@
+-- Driver: watch a POTION fill the party menu's HP bar (#252).
+-- pokered engine/items/item_effects.asm .doneHealing runs UpdateHPBar2 with
+-- the party menu still drawn; status cures branch off and never touch the bar.
+-- Not under POKEPORT_SPEED: SFX_HEAL_HP rides the real-time audio clock.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/party_heal_bug252_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug252 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local Bag = require("src.inventory.Bag")
+  local ItemEffects = require("src.inventory.ItemEffects")
+  local PartyMenu = require("src.ui.PartyMenu")
+  local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
+
+  local pass, fail = 0, 0
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    if ok then pass = pass + 1 else fail = fail + 1 end
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+  local function top() return game.stack:top() end
+  local function isPicker(s)
+    return s ~= nil and (s.screenId == "PartyMenu" or getmetatable(s) == PartyMenu)
+  end
+  local function isBox(s) return getmetatable(s) == TextBox end
+  local function inStack(pred)
+    for _, s in ipairs(game.stack.states or {}) do
+      if pred(s) then return true end
+    end
+    return false
+  end
+
+  -- ---- preconditions ------------------------------------------------------
+  -- A lost item id, a healsHP gate that dropped an item, or a use() that stops
+  -- handing back the pre-heal HP all read as "the animation is broken".
+  U.log("======== #252 party-menu HP fill: machine checks ========")
+  check("ItemEffects.healsHP exists", type(ItemEffects.healsHP) == "function")
+  check("PartyMenu:animateTo exists", type(PartyMenu.animateTo) == "function")
+  check("PartyMenu:close exists", type(PartyMenu.close) == "function")
+  if type(ItemEffects.healsHP) == "function" then
+    -- .doneHealing is reached by exactly the .healHP items; FULL_HEAL and the
+    -- single-status cures jump to the no-bar branch
+    for _, id in ipairs({ "POTION", "SUPER_POTION", "HYPER_POTION",
+                          "MAX_POTION", "FULL_RESTORE", "REVIVE",
+                          "MAX_REVIVE" }) do
+      check(id .. " takes the .healHP (animated) path",
+            ItemEffects.healsHP(id) == true)
+    end
+    for _, id in ipairs({ "ANTIDOTE", "PARLYZ_HEAL", "AWAKENING", "BURN_HEAL",
+                          "ICE_HEAL", "FULL_HEAL", "ETHER" }) do
+      check(id .. " does NOT animate the bar (status cure / PP)",
+            ItemEffects.healsHP(id) ~= true)
+    end
+  end
+  for _, id in ipairs({ "POTION", "MAX_POTION", "REVIVE", "ANTIDOTE" }) do
+    check(id .. " resolves in the item table", game.data.items[id] ~= nil)
+  end
+
+  -- use() must hand back the PRE-heal HP so the fill has a start (wHPBarOldHP)
+  do
+    local scratch = Pokemon.new(game.data, "BULBASAUR", 20)
+    scratch.hp = 3
+    local scratchSave = { party = { scratch }, inventory = {}, flags = {},
+                          pokedex = { seen = {}, owned = {} } }
+    local result, msgs, extra = ItemEffects.use(game.data, scratchSave,
+                                                "POTION", scratch)
+    check("POTION on a hurt mon reports consumed", result == "consumed")
+    check("...and hands back extra.healedFrom = the pre-heal HP",
+          type(extra) == "table" and extra.healedFrom == 3)
+    check("...with the restored-HP message",
+          type(msgs) == "table" and type(msgs[1]) == "string"
+          and msgs[1]:find("restored", 1, true) ~= nil)
+    local _, _, cureExtra = ItemEffects.use(game.data, scratchSave,
+                                            "ANTIDOTE", scratch)
+    check("ANTIDOTE hands back no healedFrom (no fill)",
+          cureExtra == nil or cureExtra.healedFrom == nil)
+  end
+
+  -- ---- the fixture --------------------------------------------------------
+  -- CHARIZARD L50 sits near 150 max HP, so a MAX_POTION from 1 HP is the full
+  -- 96-frame fill across the whole 48-pixel bar.
+  local lead = Pokemon.new(game.data, "CHARIZARD", 50)
+  local fainted = Pokemon.new(game.data, "PIKACHU", 30)
+  local poisoned = Pokemon.new(game.data, "SNORLAX", 40)
+  lead.hp = 1
+  fainted.hp = 0
+  poisoned.status = "PSN"
+  game.save.party = { lead, fainted, poisoned }
+  game.save.player.name = "RED"
+  for _, row in ipairs({ { "MAX_POTION", 9 }, { "POTION", 9 },
+                         { "REVIVE", 9 }, { "ANTIDOTE", 9 } }) do
+    Bag.add(game.save, row[1], row[2])
+  end
+  U.log(("lead: %s %d/%d HP"):format(lead.species, lead.hp, lead.stats.hp))
+
+  U.teleport(game, "PALLET_TOWN", 10, 8, "down")
+  U.wait(10)
+
+  -- ---- menu navigation ---------------------------------------------------
+  local function cursorTo(menu, want)
+    for _ = 1, 40 do
+      if not menu or menu.index == want then return menu and menu.index == want end
+      U.tap(game, menu.index < want and "down" or "up")
+      U.wait(3)
+    end
+    return menu.index == want
+  end
+
+  -- START -> ITEM -> <id> -> USE, leaving the party picker open.  Returns the
+  -- picker, or nil plus a reason.
+  local function openPickerFor(id)
+    U.tap(game, "start")
+    U.wait(10)
+    local menu = top()
+    if not (menu and menu.screenId == "StartMenu") then
+      return nil, "start menu never opened"
+    end
+    -- the ITEM row shifts with POKéDEX / LINK / MODS, so never hardcode it
+    local itemRow
+    for i, it in ipairs(menu.items or {}) do
+      if it.label == "ITEM" then itemRow = i break end
+    end
+    if not itemRow or not cursorTo(menu, itemRow) then return nil, "no ITEM row" end
+    U.tap(game, "a")
+    U.wait(10)
+
+    local bag = top()
+    if not (bag and bag.screenId == "BagMenu") then return nil, "bag never opened" end
+    local bagRow
+    for i, r in ipairs(bag.items or {}) do
+      if r.value == id then bagRow = i break end
+    end
+    if not bagRow or not cursorTo(bag, bagRow) then return nil, id .. " not in bag" end
+    U.tap(game, "a")
+    U.wait(10)
+
+    -- outside battle every usable item offers USE / TOSS first; USE is row 1
+    local ut = top()
+    if ut and ut.items and ut.items[1] and ut.items[1].label == "USE" then
+      if not cursorTo(ut, 1) then return nil, "USE row unreachable" end
+      U.tap(game, "a")
+      U.wait(10)
+    end
+    local picker = top()
+    if not isPicker(picker) then return nil, "party picker never opened" end
+    return picker
+  end
+
+  local function backToOverworld()
+    for _ = 1, 30 do
+      if top() == game.overworld then return true end
+      U.tap(game, "b")
+      U.wait(6)
+    end
+    return top() == game.overworld
+  end
+
+  -- ======== scripted run: MAX_POTION on the 1 HP lead ======================
+  U.log("======== #252 scripted run: MAX POTION on a 1 HP CHARIZARD ========")
+  local picker, why = openPickerFor("MAX_POTION")
+  check("party picker opened for MAX POTION" .. (why and (" (" .. why .. ")") or ""),
+        picker ~= nil)
+
+  if picker then
+    check("cursor sits on the hurt lead", cursorTo(picker, 1))
+    U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug252_picker_before.png")
+
+    local hpBefore = lead.hp
+    U.tap(game, "a") -- choose the lead
+
+    -- THE DEFECT: the picker used to pop here, before the item had even run.
+    check("the party menu is STILL the top state after the A press",
+          isPicker(top()))
+    check("the fill is running (picker.heal is set)",
+          type(picker.heal) == "table")
+    if type(picker.heal) == "table" then
+      check("the fill starts from the pre-heal HP (wHPBarOldHP)",
+            math.floor(picker.heal.shown + 0.5) == hpBefore)
+    end
+
+    -- Sample the climb and prove input is ignored for its duration
+    -- (UpdateHPBar2 blocks).  U.frame() is the real yield count: the taps below
+    -- each burn a frame, so an iteration counter would under-report.
+    local startFrame, samples, blocked = U.frame(), {}, true
+    local iter, shot1, shot2 = 0, false, false
+    for _ = 1, 400 do
+      if not picker.heal then break end
+      local shown = picker.heal.shown
+      samples[#samples + 1] = shown
+      local frac = shown / math.max(1, lead.stats.hp)
+      if not shot1 and frac > 0.33 then
+        shot1 = true
+        U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug252_fill_third.png")
+      elseif not shot2 and frac > 0.66 then
+        shot2 = true
+        U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug252_fill_two_thirds.png")
+      else
+        -- mash B and A: neither may do anything while the bar is filling
+        U.tap(game, (iter % 2 == 0) and "b" or "a")
+      end
+      if picker.heal and not isPicker(top()) then blocked = false end
+      iter = iter + 1
+      U.wait(1)
+    end
+    local frames = U.frame() - startFrame
+    U.log(("fill ran ~%d frames (%.2f s at 60 Hz)"):format(frames, frames / 60))
+    check("the fill took more than half a second (it animates, not snaps)",
+          frames > 30)
+    check("the fill is not absurdly long (< 3 s)", frames < 180)
+    check("A and B did nothing while the bar filled", blocked)
+    local rose = #samples >= 2 and samples[#samples] > samples[1]
+    check("the drawn HP climbed over those frames", rose)
+    if #samples >= 2 then
+      U.log(("shown HP walked %.1f -> %.1f of %d")
+              :format(samples[1], samples[#samples], lead.stats.hp))
+    end
+    check("the mon really is at full HP now", lead.hp == lead.stats.hp)
+
+    -- .showHealingItemMessage: the message prints with the menu still drawn
+    for _ = 1, 60 do
+      if isBox(top()) then break end
+      U.wait(1)
+    end
+    check("the message box opened", isBox(top()))
+    check("...over the STILL-drawn party menu", inStack(isPicker))
+    U.wait(60) -- let the line type out, so the shot shows the text not an empty box
+    U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug252_message_over_party.png")
+
+    -- TextBox pops BEFORE it fires onDone, which is what makes
+    -- PartyMenu:close's identity check land on the picker
+    for _ = 1, 30 do
+      if not inStack(isPicker) then break end
+      U.tap(game, "a")
+      U.wait(8)
+    end
+    check("the picker is gone once the message is dismissed", not inStack(isPicker))
+    local back = top()
+    check("and we are back on the ITEM list", back ~= nil and back.screenId == "BagMenu")
+    U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug252_back_on_bag.png")
+  end
+  backToOverworld()
+
+  -- ======== contrast: ANTIDOTE must NOT animate ===========================
+  U.log("======== #252 contrast: ANTIDOTE (no bar fill at all) ========")
+  local cure = openPickerFor("ANTIDOTE")
+  if check("party picker opened for ANTIDOTE", cure ~= nil) then
+    check("keepOpen is off for a status cure", cure.keepOpen ~= true)
+    cursorTo(cure, 3) -- the poisoned SNORLAX
+    U.tap(game, "a")
+    U.wait(6)
+    check("no fill was started for a status cure", cure.heal == nil)
+    check("the picker popped itself, like every non-medicine item",
+          not inStack(isPicker))
+    U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug252_antidote_message.png")
+    check("PSN was cured", poisoned.status == nil)
+  end
+  backToOverworld()
+
+  -- ---- verdict, then re-arm and hand off ----------------------------------
+  U.log(("======== machine checks: %d passed, %d failed ========"):format(pass, fail))
+
+  lead.hp = 1
+  fainted.hp = 0
+  poisoned.status = "PSN"
+  local rearmed = openPickerFor("MAX_POTION")
+  if rearmed then cursorTo(rearmed, 1) end
+
+  U.log("The bag, USE and the party picker are re-opened with the cursor on a")
+  U.log("1 HP CHARIZARD and a MAX POTION chosen. Press A, watch slot 1's bar:")
+  U.log("the list stays up, the bar lengthens over ~1.5s with the number, and")
+  U.log("buttons do nothing until it lands. #252 was the list snapping shut.")
+  U.log("Spare items are in the bag if you want to run it again.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/party_hp_palette_bug274_test.lua b/tests/drivers/party_hp_palette_bug274_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a0f31bd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/party_hp_palette_bug274_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,281 @@
+-- Driver: eyeball the party screen's colors (#274, absorbing #272).  pokered
+-- SetPal_PartyMenu (engine/gfx/palettes.asm:90) sends a four-palette block
+-- packet: MEWMON over the icon column, GREENBAR elsewhere, and one block per
+-- HP-bar row from GetHealthBarColor (palettes.asm:293-325).
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/party_hp_palette_bug274_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug274 SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local PaletteFX = require("src.render.PaletteFX")
+  local PartyMenu = require("src.ui.PartyMenu")
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local Screens = require("src.ui.Screens")
+  local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- Set the SAVED option, not just the live mode: Game:applyOptions re-reads
+  -- save.options.colors, so a bare setMode gets reverted.
+  game.save.options = game.save.options or {}
+  game.save.options.colors = "redpp"
+  PaletteFX.setMode("redpp")
+  check("COLORS is ADVANCED (the mode #274 was reported in)",
+        PaletteFX.mode == "redpp" and PaletteFX.modeLabel() == "ADVANCED")
+
+  -- A 48/48 bar is one pixel per HP, so GetHealthBarColor's 27 / 10 pixel
+  -- thresholds land on plain numbers.
+  local ROWS = {
+    { species = "BULBASAUR", hp = 48, pal = "GREENBAR", fill = true },
+    { species = "PIDGEY",    hp = 26, pal = "YELLOWBAR", fill = true },
+    { species = "RATTATA",   hp = 9,  pal = "REDBAR", fill = true },
+    { species = "CATERPIE",  hp = 0,  pal = "REDBAR", fill = false },
+  }
+
+  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot check --------------------------------
+  -- A missing palette name, an absent shader or a stale zone rect all read as
+  -- "the colors look wrong", exactly like the bug did.
+  local function pal(name) return PaletteFX.pal(game.data, name) end
+  local function rgb(c)
+    return c and ("{" .. c[1] .. "," .. c[2] .. "," .. c[3] .. "}") or "nil"
+  end
+
+  local mew = pal("MEWMON")
+  local green = pal("GREENBAR")
+  check("MEWMON and the three bar palettes all resolve",
+        mew ~= nil and green ~= nil and pal("YELLOWBAR") ~= nil
+        and pal("REDBAR") ~= nil)
+  -- the exact purple the reporter's screenshot was full of
+  check("MEWMON color 2 is the reported purple {115,33,165}",
+        mew ~= nil and mew[3][1] == 115 and mew[3][2] == 33 and mew[3][3] == 165)
+  U.log("  MEWMON   :", rgb(mew and mew[1]), rgb(mew and mew[2]),
+        rgb(mew and mew[3]), rgb(mew and mew[4]))
+  for _, n in ipairs({ "GREENBAR", "YELLOWBAR", "REDBAR" }) do
+    local c = pal(n)
+    U.log(("  %-9s fill color 2: %s"):format(n, rgb(c and c[3])))
+  end
+  -- the base zone swapped from MEWMON to GREENBAR, which stays invisible only
+  -- because the two agree on paper and ink: the nicknames, level line, HP
+  -- numbers, box border and cursor are all color 3 on color 0
+  check("MEWMON and GREENBAR share color 0 and color 3 (text/box unchanged)",
+        mew ~= nil and green ~= nil
+        and mew[1][1] == green[1][1] and mew[1][2] == green[1][2]
+        and mew[1][3] == green[1][3]
+        and mew[4][1] == green[4][1] and mew[4][2] == green[4][2]
+        and mew[4][3] == green[4][3])
+  -- with no shade-remap shader nothing colorizes the canvas and the pixel
+  -- counts below are meaningless
+  check("the SGB shade-remap shader compiled", PaletteFX.shader() ~= nil)
+
+  for _, row in ipairs(ROWS) do
+    check(row.species .. " is a known species",
+          game.data.pokemon[row.species] ~= nil)
+    check(("%d/48 HP is a %s bar"):format(row.hp, row.pal),
+          PaletteFX.barPalName(row.hp, 48) == row.pal)
+  end
+
+  -- ---- park the player, then open the party list yourself -----------------
+  -- pokered data/maps/objects/PalletTown.asm: (10, 12) carries no warp_event,
+  -- bg_event or object_event.  Any open cell would do; the fallback below
+  -- finds one if a map edit ever closes this one.
+  local party = {}
+  for i, row in ipairs(ROWS) do
+    local mon = Pokemon.new(game.data, row.species, 20)
+    mon.stats.hp = 48
+    mon.hp = row.hp
+    party[i] = mon
+  end
+  game.save.party = party
+  game.save.player.name = game.save.player.name or "RED"
+
+  U.teleport(game, "PALLET_TOWN", 10, 12, "down")
+  U.wait(10)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+  if ow and ow.map and not ow.map:isWalkableCell(10, 12) then
+    local fx, fy
+    for y = 1, 16 do
+      for x = 1, 18 do
+        if not fx and ow.map:isWalkableCell(x, y) and not ow:npcAtCell(x, y) then
+          fx, fy = x, y
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    if fx then
+      U.log("(10, 12) is blocked now; standing on", fx, fy)
+      U.teleport(game, "PALLET_TOWN", fx, fy, "down")
+      U.wait(10)
+    end
+  end
+
+  -- START -> POKéMON -> A, walked rather than pushed, so a broken start menu
+  -- shows up here instead of masquerading as a palette bug
+  U.tap(game, "start")
+  U.wait(12)
+  local menu = game.stack:top()
+  local target = 1
+  if menu and menu.items then
+    local want = Strings("POKéMON")
+    for i, it in ipairs(menu.items) do
+      if it.label == want then target = i break end
+    end
+    check("START menu lists POKéMON", menu.items[target] ~= nil
+          and menu.items[target].label == want)
+    for _ = 2, target do
+      U.tap(game, "down")
+      U.wait(4)
+    end
+  else
+    check("START opened the start menu", false)
+  end
+  U.tap(game, "a")
+  U.wait(16)
+
+  local pm = game.stack:top()
+  if getmetatable(pm) ~= PartyMenu then
+    U.log("start-menu walk did not land on the party list; pushing it directly")
+    Screens.push(game, "PartyMenu", {})
+    U.wait(12)
+    pm = game.stack:top()
+  end
+  check("the party list is open", getmetatable(pm) == PartyMenu)
+
+  -- ---- the block packet this screen asks for ------------------------------
+  local zones = getmetatable(pm) == PartyMenu and pm:sgbPalettes(game) or nil
+  check("sgbPalettes returns base + icon column + one block per bar row",
+        type(zones) == "table" and #zones == 2 + #ROWS)
+  zones = zones or {}
+  check("the base zone is GREENBAR over the whole screen",
+        zones[1] ~= nil and zones[1].colors == green and zones[1].x == 0
+        and zones[1].y == 0 and zones[1].w == 160 and zones[1].h == 144)
+  check("the icon column is a MEWMON block at tiles 1-2, rows 0-11",
+        zones[2] ~= nil and zones[2].colors == mew and zones[2].x == 8
+        and zones[2].y == 0 and zones[2].w == 16 and zones[2].h == 96)
+  for i, row in ipairs(ROWS) do
+    local z = zones[2 + i]
+    check(("row %d (%d/48 HP) carries the %s block palette")
+            :format(i, row.hp, row.pal),
+          z ~= nil and z.colors == pal(row.pal))
+    check(("row %d's block covers the bar's cap + six fill tiles"):format(i),
+          z ~= nil and z.x == 48 and z.w == 56 and z.y == (i * 2 - 1) * 8
+          and z.h == 8)
+  end
+
+  -- ---- what the screen actually holds -------------------------------------
+  -- Render the live menu into a clean 160x144 canvas and run the same zone
+  -- pass Renderer:endFrame does (shade-remap shader, sendColors per zone,
+  -- scissor to its rect, redraw), at scale 1 so a pixel is a pixel.
+  local function colorized()
+    local raw = love.graphics.newCanvas(160, 144)
+    love.graphics.setCanvas(raw)
+    love.graphics.clear(1, 1, 1, 1)
+    love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
+    pm:draw()
+    love.graphics.setCanvas()
+
+    local out = love.graphics.newCanvas(160, 144)
+    local shader = PaletteFX.shader()
+    love.graphics.setCanvas(out)
+    love.graphics.clear(0, 0, 0, 1)
+    love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
+    if shader then love.graphics.setShader(shader) end
+    for _, z in ipairs(pm:sgbPalettes(game) or {}) do
+      if shader and z.colors then PaletteFX.sendColors(shader, z.colors) end
+      love.graphics.setScissor(z.x, z.y, z.w, z.h)
+      love.graphics.draw(raw, 0, 0)
+    end
+    love.graphics.setScissor()
+    love.graphics.setShader()
+    love.graphics.setCanvas()
+    love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
+    return out:newImageData()
+  end
+
+  -- count pixels in a rect that match a palette color (the zone pass writes
+  -- palette colors exactly, so the tolerance only absorbs 8-bit rounding)
+  local function countColor(id, c, x0, y0, x1, y1)
+    if not c then return -1 end
+    local want = { c[1] / 255, c[2] / 255, c[3] / 255 }
+    local n = 0
+    for y = y0, y1 do
+      for x = x0, x1 do
+        local r, g, b = id:getPixel(x, y)
+        if math.abs(r - want[1]) < 0.02 and math.abs(g - want[2]) < 0.02
+           and math.abs(b - want[3]) < 0.02 then
+          n = n + 1
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    return n
+  end
+
+  if getmetatable(pm) == PartyMenu and love.graphics.newCanvas
+     and PaletteFX.shader() then
+    local id = colorized()
+
+    -- (a) the icons: OBP0 "3100" means an object never displays shade 2, so
+    -- MEWMON's third color must appear nowhere on the screen at all
+    local purple = countColor(id, mew and mew[3], 0, 0, 159, 143)
+    U.log("  MEWMON color-2 (purple) pixels on the whole screen:", purple)
+    check("no purple anywhere -- the icons never show shade 2", purple == 0)
+    -- and the icons are there at all: MEWMON color 1 is the warm orange they
+    -- read as after the OBP bake
+    local flesh = countColor(id, mew and mew[2], 8, 0, 23, 95)
+    U.log("  MEWMON color-1 (orange) pixels in the icon column:", flesh)
+    check("the icon column is drawn (not blank)", flesh > 0)
+
+    -- (b) the bars: each row's fill must be ITS OWN bar color and none of the
+    -- other two.  Fill tiles run x 56..103 (drawHPBar at tile 5: "HP" 40,
+    -- ":[" 48, six fill tiles 56..103, cap 104).
+    for i, row in ipairs(ROWS) do
+      local y0 = (i * 2 - 1) * 8
+      local own = pal(row.pal)
+      -- the three bar palettes share color 0/1/3; only color 2, the fill
+      -- shade, tells them apart
+      local mine = countColor(id, own and own[3], 56, y0, 103, y0 + 7)
+      U.log(("  row %d (%d/48 HP) %s fill pixels: %d")
+              :format(i, row.hp, row.pal, mine))
+      if row.fill then
+        check(("row %d's bar is filled with %s"):format(i, row.pal), mine > 0)
+      end
+      for _, other in ipairs({ "GREENBAR", "YELLOWBAR", "REDBAR" }) do
+        if other ~= row.pal then
+          local c = pal(other)
+          local n = countColor(id, c and c[3], 56, y0, 103, y0 + 7)
+          check(("row %d's bar carries no %s"):format(i, other), n == 0)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  -- ---- screenshots ---------------------------------------------------------
+  U.wait(4)
+  if U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug274_party_advanced.png") then
+    U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug274_party_advanced.png")
+  end
+  -- the same screen in SGB: the block packet changed for every mode, not just
+  -- ADVANCED
+  game.save.options.colors = "gbc"
+  PaletteFX.setMode("gbc")
+  U.wait(10)
+  if U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug274_party_sgb.png") then
+    U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug274_party_sgb.png")
+  end
+  game.save.options.colors = "redpp"
+  PaletteFX.setMode("redpp")
+  U.wait(10)
+
+  -- ---- hand off -----------------------------------------------------------
+  U.log("The party list is open in COLORS = ADVANCED: BULBASAUR 48/48, PIDGEY")
+  U.log("26/48, RATTATA 9/48, CATERPIE 0/48.  Three different bar colors run")
+  U.log("down the screen (green, yellow, red) and the icons carry no purple.")
+  U.log("#274 was every bar solid black at full health and purple-blotched icons.")
+  U.log("OPTION -> COLORS cycles modes; OG and CLASSIC are mono by design.")
+  U.log("Captures: bug274_party_advanced.png and bug274_party_sgb.png in " .. DIR)
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/party_icon_mirror_bug276_test.lua b/tests/drivers/party_icon_mirror_bug276_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8b4d8739
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/party_icon_mirror_bug276_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,246 @@
+-- Driver: eyeball the party icons after the OAM mirror landed (#276, #238).
+-- pokered engine/gfx/mon_icons.asm:234-251 sends every class but ICON_HELIX
+-- through WriteSymmetricMonPartySpriteOAM (engine/items/town_map.asm:494-534),
+-- which writes each tile twice, attributes 0 then OAM_XFLIP, so the frame's
+-- right column never reaches the screen.  Geometry: parity_party_icon_mirror.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/party_icon_mirror_bug276_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug276 SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Assets = require("src.render.Assets")
+  local PartyMenu = require("src.ui.PartyMenu")
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local Screens = require("src.ui.Screens")
+  local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- One mon per icon class, in party order.  `asym` is which of the two
+  -- frames carries the asymmetric art (measured below, not assumed): that
+  -- decides when the icon is worth looking at, since AnimatePartyMon only
+  -- animates the icon under the cursor.
+  local ROWS = {
+    { species = "CHARMANDER", icon = "MON",       asym = "rest" },
+    { species = "PIKACHU",    icon = "FAIRY",     asym = "rest" },
+    { species = "SPEAROW",    icon = "BIRD",      asym = "alt" },
+    { species = "OMANYTE",    icon = "HELIX",     asym = "whole" },
+    { species = "WEEDLE",     icon = "BUG",       asym = "none" },
+    { species = "RATTATA",    icon = "QUADRUPED", asym = "none" },
+  }
+
+  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot check --------------------------------
+  -- A wrong icon class, a sheet that fails to load and a missing mirrorsIcon
+  -- all end in "the icons look odd", same as the bug did.
+  local icons = game.data.icons
+  check("data.icons carries the icon registry",
+        icons ~= nil and icons.icons ~= nil and icons.byDex ~= nil)
+
+  check("PartyMenu.mirrorsIcon is exported",
+        type(PartyMenu.mirrorsIcon) == "function")
+  local mirrors = type(PartyMenu.mirrorsIcon) == "function"
+                  and PartyMenu.mirrorsIcon or function() return nil end
+  -- data/pokemon/menu_icons.asm gives ICON_HELIX to Shellder/Cloyster,
+  -- Staryu/Starmie and the Omanyte/Kabuto lines, and to nothing else
+  check("HELIX is the one class that keeps the whole frame",
+        mirrors("HELIX") == false and mirrors("MON") == true)
+  check("mod-supplied icon art (no built-in name) still draws whole",
+        mirrors(nil) == false)
+
+  -- how many mirrored pixel PAIRS of a 16x16 frame disagree in the source
+  -- art; 0 means the mirror is a pixel-for-pixel no-op for that frame
+  local function frameAsymmetry(path, frame)
+    local ok, id = pcall(Assets.imageData, path)
+    if not (ok and id) then return nil end
+    local h = id:getHeight()
+    if (frame + 1) * 16 > h then return nil end
+    local n = 0
+    for dy = 0, 15 do
+      for dx = 0, 7 do
+        local r1, g1, b1, a1 = id:getPixel(dx, frame * 16 + dy)
+        local r2, g2, b2, a2 = id:getPixel(15 - dx, frame * 16 + dy)
+        if r1 ~= r2 or g1 ~= g2 or b1 ~= b2 or a1 ~= a2 then n = n + 1 end
+      end
+    end
+    return n
+  end
+
+  for _, row in ipairs(ROWS) do
+    local def = game.data.pokemon[row.species]
+    local name = def and def.dex and icons.byDex[def.dex]
+    check(row.species .. " uses the " .. row.icon .. " icon", name == row.icon)
+    local path = name and icons.icons[name]
+    check(row.icon .. " resolves a sheet path",
+          type(path) == "string" and path ~= "")
+    row.path = path
+    if path then
+      local rest = PartyMenu.frameFor(name, false, 96)
+      local alt = PartyMenu.frameFor(name, true, 96)
+      local ar = frameAsymmetry(path, rest)
+      local aa = (row.icon ~= "HELIX" and row.icon ~= "BALL")
+                 and frameAsymmetry(path, alt) or nil
+      check(row.icon .. " sheet art loads", ar ~= nil)
+      U.log(("  %-9s rest frame %d: %s   animated frame %s: %s")
+              :format(row.icon, rest,
+                      ar and (ar .. " mirrored pixel pairs differ") or "?",
+                      aa and tostring(alt) or "-",
+                      aa and (aa .. " differ") or "-"))
+      if row.asym == "rest" then
+        check(row.icon .. " rest frame really is asymmetric art",
+              (ar or 0) > 0)
+      elseif row.asym == "alt" then
+        check(row.icon .. " animated frame really is asymmetric art",
+              (aa or 0) > 0)
+        check(row.icon .. " rest frame was already symmetric", ar == 0)
+      elseif row.asym == "none" then
+        check(row.icon .. " is untouched by the mirror (both frames symmetric)",
+              ar == 0 and aa == 0)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  -- ---- park the player, then open the party list -------------------------
+  -- (10,12) in PALLET_TOWN carries no warp/bg/object event; any open cell
+  -- would do, and the fallback below finds one if a map edit closes it.
+  local party = {}
+  for i, row in ipairs(ROWS) do
+    party[i] = Pokemon.new(game.data, row.species, 20 + i)
+  end
+  game.save.party = party
+  game.save.player.name = game.save.player.name or "RED"
+
+  U.teleport(game, "PALLET_TOWN", 10, 12, "down")
+  U.wait(10)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+  if ow and ow.map and not ow.map:isWalkableCell(10, 12) then
+    -- take the first free walkable cell rather than park inside scenery
+    local fx, fy
+    for y = 1, 16 do
+      for x = 1, 18 do
+        if not fx and ow.map:isWalkableCell(x, y) and not ow:npcAtCell(x, y) then
+          fx, fy = x, y
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    if fx then
+      U.log("(10, 12) is blocked now; standing on", fx, fy)
+      U.teleport(game, "PALLET_TOWN", fx, fy, "down")
+      U.wait(10)
+    end
+  end
+
+  -- walked for real rather than pushed, so a broken start menu surfaces here
+  -- instead of masquerading as an icon bug
+  U.tap(game, "start")
+  U.wait(12)
+  local menu = game.stack:top()
+  local target = 1
+  if menu and menu.items then
+    local want = Strings("POKéMON")
+    for i, it in ipairs(menu.items) do
+      if it.label == want then target = i break end
+    end
+    check("START menu lists POKéMON", menu.items[target] ~= nil
+          and menu.items[target].label == want)
+    for _ = 2, target do
+      U.tap(game, "down")
+      U.wait(4)
+    end
+  else
+    check("START opened the start menu", false)
+  end
+  U.tap(game, "a")
+  U.wait(16)
+
+  local pm = game.stack:top()
+  if getmetatable(pm) ~= PartyMenu then
+    U.log("start-menu walk did not land on the party list; pushing it directly")
+    Screens.push(game, "PartyMenu", {})
+    U.wait(12)
+    pm = game.stack:top()
+  end
+  check("the party list is open", getmetatable(pm) == PartyMenu)
+
+  -- ---- what the screen actually holds ------------------------------------
+  -- Render the live menu into a clean 160x144 canvas and fold each icon block
+  -- (x 8..23) down its middle.  No SGB zone pass needed: mirror symmetry is
+  -- geometry, and colorization maps both sides the same way.
+  local function snapshot()
+    local canvas = love.graphics.newCanvas(160, 144)
+    love.graphics.setCanvas(canvas)
+    love.graphics.clear(1, 1, 1, 1)
+    love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
+    pm:draw()
+    love.graphics.setCanvas()
+    love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
+    return canvas:newImageData()
+  end
+
+  local function foldRow(id, i)
+    local y0 = PartyMenu.entryY(i)
+    local n = 0
+    for dy = 0, 15 do
+      for dx = 0, 7 do
+        local r1, g1, b1 = id:getPixel(8 + dx, y0 + dy)
+        local r2, g2, b2 = id:getPixel(23 - dx, y0 + dy)
+        if math.abs(r1 - r2) > 0.01 or math.abs(g1 - g2) > 0.01
+           or math.abs(b1 - b2) > 0.01 then
+          n = n + 1
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    return n
+  end
+
+  if getmetatable(pm) == PartyMenu and love.graphics.newCanvas then
+    local keepIndex, keepBlink = pm.index, pm.blink
+    -- everything at rest, cursor parked on the fossil so no other row animates
+    pm.index, pm.blink = 4, 0
+    local rest = snapshot()
+    for i, row in ipairs(ROWS) do
+      local n = foldRow(rest, i)
+      U.log(("  row %d %-10s folded: %d mismatched pixel pairs")
+              :format(i, row.species, n))
+      if row.icon == "HELIX" then
+        check("the fossil icon is still asymmetric on purpose", n > 0)
+      else
+        check(row.species .. "'s icon is left-right symmetric on screen", n == 0)
+      end
+    end
+
+    -- AnimatePartyMon runs the selected icon at 5 frames per phase while its
+    -- HP bar is green, so blink 5 is the alternate frame (asymmetric for BIRD)
+    pm.index, pm.blink = 3, 5
+    local bird = snapshot()
+    check("SPEAROW's animated frame is symmetric too", foldRow(bird, 3) == 0)
+
+    pm.index, pm.blink = keepIndex, keepBlink
+  end
+
+  -- ---- screenshots -------------------------------------------------------
+  pm.index = 1
+  U.wait(4)
+  if U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug276_party_rest.png") then
+    U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug276_party_rest.png")
+  end
+  -- put the cursor on SPEAROW so the capture catches the animated bird
+  U.tap(game, "down")
+  U.wait(6)
+  U.tap(game, "down")
+  U.wait(20)
+  if U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug276_party_bird_selected.png") then
+    U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug276_party_bird_selected.png")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- hand off ----------------------------------------------------------
+  U.log("Party list is open, cursor on SPEAROW: CHARMANDER, PIKACHU, SPEAROW,")
+  U.log("OMANYTE, WEEDLE, RATTATA. Fold any icon but row 4 down its middle and")
+  U.log("the halves should match, at rest and while the selected one bounces")
+  U.log("(#276). Row 4, the fossil, is the deliberate exception.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/pewter_guide_exit_bug241_test.lua b/tests/drivers/pewter_guide_exit_bug241_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e1024d73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/pewter_guide_exit_bug241_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,224 @@
+-- Driver: the Pewter gym guide leaves without walking through you (#241).
+-- scripts/PewterCity.asm:133 snaps him to map 16/22 (cell 12,18 after the +4
+-- border offset) and runs MovementData_PewterGymGuyExit, five NPC_MOVEMENT_RIGHT,
+-- then hides him and puts him back on his object_event spawn.  The port retraced
+-- the 41-step escort route instead, first step LEFT into the player's own cell.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/pewter_guide_exit_bug241_test.lua SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Flags = require("src.script.Flags")
+  local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
+  local mapScripts = require("data.scripts.init")
+
+  local MAP = "PEWTER_CITY"
+  local NPC = "PEWTERCITY_YOUNGSTER"
+  local TEXT = "TEXT_PEWTERCITY_YOUNGSTER"
+  -- engine/events/pewter_guys.asm PewterGymGuyCoords: (35,17) is the plain
+  -- east-exit trigger, the one with no head-start pause.
+  local TRIG = { x = 35, y = 17 }
+  local PARK = { x = 11, y = 18 }   -- where the escort leaves the player
+  local DROP = { x = 12, y = 18 }   -- where it leaves the guide
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- ---- state the escort needs --------------------------------------------
+  -- Brock beaten permanently HideObject's him (PewterGym.asm .gymVictory),
+  -- so a stale save would show an empty street and read as a broken script.
+  Flags.clear(game.save, "EVENT_BEAT_BROCK")
+  game.save.objectToggles = game.save.objectToggles or {}
+  game.save.objectToggles[MAP] = nil
+  game.save.player = game.save.player or {}
+  game.save.player.name = game.save.player.name or "RED"
+
+  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot check --------------------------------
+  local t = game.data.text
+  for _, key in ipairs({ "_PewterCityYoungsterYoureATrainerFollowMeText",
+                         "_PewterCityYoungsterGoTakeOnBrockText" }) do
+    check(key .. " resolves to a string",
+          type(t[key]) == "string" and t[key] ~= "")
+  end
+
+  local script = mapScripts.get(MAP)
+  local escort = script and script.escort
+  check("PEWTER_CITY exposes the escort tables", escort ~= nil)
+  check(("PewterGymGuyCoords has a plan for the trigger tile (%d,%d)")
+          :format(TRIG.x, TRIG.y),
+        escort ~= nil and escort.playerPlan(TRIG.x, TRIG.y) ~= nil)
+
+  local spawn
+  for _, o in ipairs(game.data.maps[MAP].objects or {}) do
+    if o.name == NPC then spawn = o end
+  end
+  check(NPC .. " has an object_event", spawn ~= nil)
+  check("it spawns on (35,16) as in data/maps/objects/PewterCity.asm",
+        spawn ~= nil and spawn.x == 35 and spawn.y == 16)
+
+  -- ---- dry-run the escort and the exit before anything is on screen ------
+  -- Same shape as the parity test: the whole callback chain runs inside one
+  -- call because the stubbed TextBox fires its continuation immediately.
+  local talk = mapScripts.talkScript(MAP, TEXT)
+  check("the youngster's talk handler is the escort", type(talk) == "function")
+  local Music = require("src.core.Music")
+  local realPlay, realPlayMap = Music.play, Music.playMap
+  local realNew = TextBox.new
+  local D = { up = { 0, -1 }, down = { 0, 1 }, left = { -1, 0 }, right = { 1, 0 } }
+  local moves, dryGuy, dryPlayer
+  if type(talk) == "function" then
+    Music.play, Music.playMap = function() end, function() end
+    TextBox.new = function(_, s, done) return { text = s, done = done } end
+    local ok, err = pcall(function()
+      moves = {}
+      dryGuy = { cellX = spawn.x, cellY = spawn.y, facing = "down", moving = false }
+      dryPlayer = { cellX = TRIG.x, cellY = TRIG.y, facing = "left" }
+      local mockGame = {
+        data = { text = {} },
+        save = { flags = {} },
+        stack = { push = function(_, box) if box.done then box.done() end end },
+      }
+      local mockOw = {
+        scriptMoves = {},
+        runner = { isRunning = function() return false end },
+        player = dryPlayer,
+        npcByIndex = function(_, i) return (i == 5) and dryGuy or nil end,
+        scriptMove = function(_, ent, dir, tiles, onDone)
+          local v = D[dir]
+          for _ = 1, (tiles or 1) do
+            ent.cellX, ent.cellY = ent.cellX + v[1], ent.cellY + v[2]
+          end
+          ent.facing = dir
+          moves[#moves + 1] = { who = (ent == dryGuy) and "guy" or "player", dir = dir }
+          if onDone then onDone() end
+        end,
+      }
+      talk(mockGame, mockOw, dryGuy, nil)
+    end)
+    Music.play, Music.playMap = realPlay, realPlayMap
+    TextBox.new = realNew
+    check("the dry run completed", ok)
+    if not ok then U.log("dry run error:", tostring(err)) end
+  end
+
+  if moves and dryGuy and dryPlayer then
+    local lastPlayer = 0
+    for i, m in ipairs(moves) do if m.who == "player" then lastPlayer = i end end
+    local exit = {}
+    for i = lastPlayer + 1, #moves do exit[#exit + 1] = moves[i].dir end
+    U.log("planned exit:", table.concat(exit, ", "),
+          ("then snap to (%d,%d) facing %s")
+            :format(dryGuy.cellX, dryGuy.cellY, tostring(dryGuy.facing)))
+    check(("the escort parks the player on (%d,%d)"):format(PARK.x, PARK.y),
+          dryPlayer.cellX == PARK.x and dryPlayer.cellY == PARK.y)
+    check("MovementData_PewterGymGuyExit is five steps", #exit == 5)
+    local allRight = #exit == 5
+    for _, d in ipairs(exit) do if d ~= "right" then allRight = false end end
+    check("every exit step is RIGHT, away from the player", allRight)
+    check("the guide is snapped back to his spawn (35,16) facing down",
+          dryGuy.cellX == spawn.x and dryGuy.cellY == spawn.y
+          and dryGuy.facing == "down")
+    -- a stale target reserves the vacated cell forever in
+    -- OverworldState:npcAtCell (OverworldController.lua:1451)
+    check("the snap clears the move target so (17,18) is not reserved",
+          dryGuy.targetX == nil and dryGuy.targetY == nil
+          and dryGuy.moving == false)
+  end
+
+  -- ---- park below the trigger tile ---------------------------------------
+  -- (35,18) is open road under the trigger and the youngster is on (35,16), so
+  -- stepping up onto (35,17) puts the player between them and fires the script.
+  U.teleport(game, MAP, TRIG.x, TRIG.y + 1, "up")
+  U.wait(10)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+
+  for _, cell in ipairs({ { PARK.x, PARK.y }, { DROP.x, DROP.y },
+                          { 13, 18 }, { 14, 18 }, { 15, 18 },
+                          { 16, 18 }, { 17, 18 } }) do
+    check(("PEWTER_CITY (%d,%d) is walkable gym road"):format(cell[1], cell[2]),
+          ow.map:isWalkableCell(cell[1], cell[2]))
+  end
+  check("PEWTER_CITY (18,18) is the fence that ends the road",
+        not ow.map:isWalkableCell(18, 18))
+  check("PEWTER_CITY (17,17) is wall, so (17,18) is a dead-end pocket",
+        not ow.map:isWalkableCell(17, 17))
+
+  local function guideNpc()
+    for _, n in ipairs(game.overworld.npcs or {}) do
+      if n.def and n.def.name == NPC then return n end
+    end
+  end
+  check("the youngster is on the map", guideNpc() ~= nil)
+  if not ow.map:isWalkableCell(TRIG.x, TRIG.y + 1) then
+    -- a map edit moved the road: degrade to any free neighbour of the
+    -- trigger tile rather than leaving the player facing a wall
+    for _, s in ipairs({ { 0, 1, "up" }, { 1, 0, "left" }, { -1, 0, "right" } }) do
+      local cx, cy = TRIG.x + s[1], TRIG.y + s[2]
+      if ow.map:isWalkableCell(cx, cy) and not ow:npcAtCell(cx, cy) then
+        U.log("approach cell blocked, standing on", cx, cy, "facing", s[3])
+        U.teleport(game, MAP, cx, cy, s[3])
+        U.wait(10)
+        ow = game.overworld
+        break
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  if U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug241_0_before.png") then
+    U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug241_0_before.png")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- step onto the trigger and ride out the escort ----------------------
+  -- About 41 lockstep tiles.  A is only pressed while a TextBox is up, so a
+  -- stray press can never re-arm the escort by talking to him again.
+  U.hold(game, "up", 24)
+
+  local function isBox()
+    return getmetatable(game.stack:top()) == TextBox
+  end
+  local function boxText()
+    local top = game.stack:top()
+    if getmetatable(top) ~= TextBox then return "" end
+    local parts = {}
+    for _, page in ipairs(top.pages or {}) do
+      if type(page) == "table" then
+        for _, line in ipairs(page) do parts[#parts + 1] = tostring(line) end
+      end
+    end
+    return table.concat(parts, " ")
+  end
+
+  local arrived = false
+  for _ = 1, 1200 do
+    local parked = ow.player.cellX == PARK.x and ow.player.cellY == PARK.y
+    if parked and isBox() and #ow.scriptMoves == 0 then arrived = true break end
+    if isBox() and #ow.scriptMoves == 0 then U.tap(game, "a") end
+    U.wait(2)
+  end
+  check("the escort walked and the last box is up", arrived)
+  U.log(("player is on (%d,%d)"):format(ow.player.cellX, ow.player.cellY))
+  local guide = guideNpc()
+  if guide then
+    U.log(("guide is on (%d,%d) facing %s")
+            :format(guide.cellX, guide.cellY, tostring(guide.facing)))
+  end
+  check(("the escort parked the player on (%d,%d)"):format(PARK.x, PARK.y),
+        ow.player.cellX == PARK.x and ow.player.cellY == PARK.y)
+  check(("the guide is standing beside him on (%d,%d)"):format(DROP.x, DROP.y),
+        guide ~= nil and guide.cellX == DROP.x and guide.cellY == DROP.y)
+  U.log("box reads:", (boxText():gsub("%s+", " ")))
+  U.wait(20)
+  if U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug241_1_atgym.png") then
+    U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug241_1_atgym.png")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- hand off, then stay out of the way --------------------------------
+  U.log("The youngster has walked you to the PEWTER GYM door and is on your right.")
+  U.log("Press A to close the box and watch him go: five steps RIGHT, away from")
+  U.log("you, then he blinks out and turns up again in the north-east of town")
+  U.log("facing down. He must never step onto your cell (#241).")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/pokedex_nidoran_bug285_test.lua b/tests/drivers/pokedex_nidoran_bug285_test.lua
index 2dbeeed8..09d25fdd 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/pokedex_nidoran_bug285_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/pokedex_nidoran_bug285_test.lua
@@ -1,23 +1,8 @@
--- Driver: Pokedex owned-ball alignment for NIDORAN (#285).  A manual eye
--- check, not a pass/fail run.
---
--- The list draws each owned entry's pokeball marker one blank glyph after
--- the name.  ListMenu measured that gap with `#item.label`, the Lua string's
--- BYTE length, but the charmap's gender symbols are multi-byte UTF-8: the
--- eight glyphs of "NIDORAN<male>" occupy ten bytes, so those two rows put
--- their ball 16px further right than every other species.
---
--- src/render/Font.lua already says this out loud in Font.width's own
--- docstring ("callers that right-align with `#text * 8` mis-place them"),
--- which is exactly the call this fix switches to.
---
--- This one has a built-in control case: NIDORINA, NIDORINO and NIDOKING sit
--- immediately around the two Nidoran rows in dex order and carry no gender
--- symbol, so a correct fix leaves all five balls in one vertical column.
---
--- Do NOT run this under POKEPORT_SPEED: fast-forward scales only the logic
--- clock, so a sped-up run can capture a half-drawn frame.
---
+-- Driver: Pokedex owned-ball alignment for NIDORAN (#285).  Eye check.
+-- The ball goes one blank glyph past the name, but ListMenu measured that
+-- gap with `#item.label` (bytes) and the charmap's gender symbols are
+-- multi-byte UTF-8, so those two rows sat 16px right.  src/render/Font.lua
+-- warns about `#text * 8`.  No POKEPORT_SPEED, rendering is real-time.
 --   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/pokedex_nidoran_bug285_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug285 love .
 return function(game)
   local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
@@ -30,10 +15,8 @@ return function(game)
     return ok
   end
 
-  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot separate from the bug ----------------
-  -- A dex with nothing owned shows no balls at all, which looks the same as
-  -- balls in the wrong place.  Seed the neighbourhood and prove the premise.
-
+  -- an empty dex shows no balls at all, which looks the same as balls in
+  -- the wrong place; the gender-free neighbours are the control column
   local dexRow = { "NIDORAN_F", "NIDORINA", "NIDOQUEEN",
                    "NIDORAN_M", "NIDORINO", "NIDOKING" }
 
@@ -49,8 +32,7 @@ return function(game)
     check("owned: " .. id, game.save.pokedex.owned[id] == true)
   end
 
-  -- the premise itself: the gender names really are multi-byte, so byte
-  -- length and glyph width really do disagree for exactly these two rows
+  -- byte length and glyph width disagree for exactly these two rows
   local male = game.data.pokemon.NIDORAN_M.name
   local plain = game.data.pokemon.NIDORINO.name
   U.log("NIDORAN male name:", male, "bytes:", #male, "glyph width:", Font.width(male))
@@ -67,11 +49,8 @@ return function(game)
   Screens.push(game, "PokedexMenu")
   U.wait(30)
 
-  -- Walk down far enough that the whole Nidoran block is on screen at once.
-  -- The list shows seven rows with the cursor on the last, so stopping at
-  -- dex 29 would leave NIDORAN female alone above six empty rows and there
-  -- would be nothing to compare her ball against.  Dex 35 puts 029-035 in
-  -- view: both Nidoran rows plus four gender-free neighbours.
+  -- the list shows seven rows with the cursor on the last, so stop at dex
+  -- 35: that puts 029-035 in view, both Nidoran rows plus their neighbours
   for _ = 1, 34 do
     U.tap(game, "down")
     U.wait(2)
@@ -79,22 +58,10 @@ return function(game)
   U.wait(20)
   U.shot(game, "bug285_pokedex_nidoran.png")
 
-  U.log("........................................................")
-  U.log("LOOK NOW: the Pokedex list is parked on the NIDORAN block.")
-  U.log("  Screenshot: bug285_pokedex_nidoran.png in the LOVE save dir.")
-  U.log("  RIGHT: every owned row's pokeball sits one blank space after its")
-  U.log("         name, so NIDORAN<f>, NIDORINA, NIDOQUEEN, NIDORAN<m>,")
-  U.log("         NIDORINO and NIDOKING all show a ragged-but-consistent gap")
-  U.log("         of exactly one space.")
-  U.log("  BUG #285 looks like: the two NIDORAN rows alone kicking their")
-  U.log("         ball two extra characters to the right, out of line with")
-  U.log("         the four neighbours that have no gender symbol.")
-  U.log("  ALSO WRONG: every ball moving together (that would mean the base")
-  U.log("         offset changed, not the measurement), or the ball landing")
-  U.log("         on top of the last letter with no gap at all.")
-  U.log("Compare against the screenshot in issue #285. Input is yours from")
-  U.log("here: up/down scrolls, and any other owned species is a control.")
-  U.log("........................................................")
+  U.log("Pokedex is parked on the NIDORAN block; the shot is")
+  U.log("bug285_pokedex_nidoran.png in the LOVE save dir.  Every ball should")
+  U.log("sit exactly one space after its name, so the two NIDORAN rows line")
+  U.log("up with their gender-free neighbours (#285 kicked them two right).")
 
   while true do
     coroutine.yield()
diff --git a/tests/drivers/rock_tunnel_dark_bug322_test.lua b/tests/drivers/rock_tunnel_dark_bug322_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a520af29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/rock_tunnel_dark_bug322_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,369 @@
+-- Driver: a dark cave shifts the WHOLE screen's BG palette; it never cuts a
+-- window of light around the player (#322).  home/overworld.asm:498-501 sets
+-- wMapPalOffset to 6 and home/fade.asm:4-20,66 makes that FadePal2 (BGP $FE)
+-- for the whole screen.  No POKEPORT_SPEED on this run.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/rock_tunnel_dark_bug322_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug322 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local Probe = dofile("tests/drivers/shot_probe.lua")
+  local PaletteFX = require("src.render.PaletteFX")
+  local Screens = require("src.ui.Screens")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+
+  local fails = 0
+  local function check(ok, msg)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", msg)
+    if not ok then fails = fails + 1 end
+    return ok
+  end
+  local function rgb(c)
+    return c and ("(%d,%d,%d)"):format(c[1], c[2], c[3]) or "nil"
+  end
+  local function ramp(p)
+    if not p then return "nil" end
+    local s = {}
+    for i = 1, 4 do s[i] = rgb(p[i]) end
+    return table.concat(s, " ")
+  end
+  local function samePal(a, b)
+    if not a or not b then return false end
+    for i = 1, 4 do
+      if not a[i] or not b[i] then return false end
+      for k = 1, 3 do if a[i][k] ~= b[i][k] then return false end end
+    end
+    return true
+  end
+
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  game.save.flags.EVENT_GOT_STARTER = true
+  if #game.save.party == 0 then
+    table.insert(game.save.party, Pokemon.new(game.data, "CHARMANDER", 20))
+  end
+  game.save.options = game.save.options or {}
+  game.save.options.textSpeed = 1
+  game.save.options.colors = "gbc"
+  PaletteFX.setMode("gbc")
+
+  -- =====================================================================
+  -- Part 1: the arithmetic.  A darkening one shade off still looks plausible
+  -- on screen.
+  -- =====================================================================
+  local darkDef = game.data.field.darkMaps
+  check(darkDef ~= nil, "field.darkMaps exists (extracted from the ROM)")
+  local listed = false
+  for _, m in ipairs(darkDef and darkDef.maps or {}) do
+    if m == "ROCK_TUNNEL_1F" then listed = true end
+  end
+  check(listed, "ROCK_TUNNEL_1F is in field.darkMaps.maps")
+  U.log("darkMaps.entryMap =", tostring(darkDef and darkDef.entryMap),
+        " flashBadge =", tostring(darkDef and darkDef.flashBadge))
+
+  local BGP = PaletteFX.DARK_BGP
+  check(BGP ~= nil and BGP[0] == 2 and BGP[1] == 3 and BGP[2] == 3
+        and BGP[3] == 3,
+        "DARK_BGP is FadePal2's `dc 3,3,3,2` (shade 0 -> 2, 1/2/3 -> 3)")
+
+  local CAVE = PaletteFX.pal(game.data, "CAVE")
+  U.log("CAVE palette:", ramp(CAVE))
+  local caveDark = PaletteFX.permute(CAVE, BGP)
+  U.log("CAVE darkened:", ramp(caveDark))
+  check(samePal(caveDark, { CAVE[3], CAVE[4], CAVE[4], CAVE[4] }),
+        "SGB's CAVE becomes light-teal paper over near-black")
+
+  local ogDark = PaletteFX.permute(PaletteFX.GBC_BG, BGP)
+  U.log("OG RED darkened:", ramp(ogDark))
+  check(ogDark[1][1] == 148 and ogDark[1][2] == 58 and ogDark[1][3] == 58
+        and ogDark[2][1] == 0 and ogDark[3][1] == 0 and ogDark[4][1] == 0,
+        "OG RED reduces to exactly (148,58,58) and (0,0,0) -- the issue's image")
+
+  -- The shade map has to compose AFTER the mono/inverted replacement, or the
+  -- modes that throw the incoming palette away throw the darkness out with it.
+  PaletteFX.setShadeMap(BGP)
+  PaletteFX.setMode("og")
+  local dmgDark = PaletteFX.effectiveColors(CAVE)
+  U.log("plain DMG darkened:", ramp(dmgDark))
+  check(dmgDark[1][1] == 85 and dmgDark[2][1] == 0,
+        "plain DMG darkens too (grey 85 over black), not silently skipped")
+  PaletteFX.setMode("classic")
+  local classicDark = PaletteFX.effectiveColors(CAVE)
+  U.log("CLASSIC darkened:", ramp(classicDark))
+  check(samePal(classicDark, { PaletteFX.CLASSIC[3], PaletteFX.CLASSIC[4],
+                               PaletteFX.CLASSIC[4], PaletteFX.CLASSIC[4] }),
+        "CLASSIC darkens inside its own pea-green ramp")
+  PaletteFX.setShadeMap(nil)
+  PaletteFX.setMode("gbc")
+  -- tests/mod_graphics_tests.lua compares with ==, so the unarmed path must
+  -- hand back the very table it was given, not a copy
+  check(PaletteFX.effectiveColors(CAVE) == CAVE,
+        "with nothing armed, effectiveColors still returns its input by identity")
+
+  -- =====================================================================
+  -- Part 2: reach the moment.
+  -- =====================================================================
+  -- data/maps/objects/RockTunnel1F.asm: the Route 10 entrance is warp_event
+  -- 15, 3, so two cells south of it is floor without re-triggering the warp.
+  local MAP, STAND = "ROCK_TUNNEL_1F", { x = 15, y = 5, facing = "down" }
+
+  local function enter(flashLit)
+    game.save.flashLit = flashLit or nil
+    U.teleport(game, MAP, STAND.x, STAND.y, STAND.facing)
+    U.wait(12)
+    local ow = game.overworld
+    -- if a map edit or a mod took that cell away, fall back to the nearest
+    -- walkable cell that is not itself a warp
+    if ow and ow.map and not ow.map:isWalkableCell(STAND.x, STAND.y) then
+      local found
+      for r = 1, 8 do
+        for dy = -r, r do
+          for dx = -r, r do
+            local cx, cy = STAND.x + dx, STAND.y + dy
+            if not found and ow.map:isWalkableCell(cx, cy)
+               and not ow.map:warpAtCell(cx, cy) then
+              found = { x = cx, y = cy }
+            end
+          end
+        end
+        if found then break end
+      end
+      if found then
+        U.log(("(%d,%d) is not floor any more -- standing on"):format(
+                STAND.x, STAND.y), found.x, found.y)
+        STAND.x, STAND.y = found.x, found.y
+        game.save.flashLit = flashLit or nil
+        U.teleport(game, MAP, STAND.x, STAND.y, STAND.facing)
+        U.wait(12)
+        ow = game.overworld
+      end
+    end
+    return ow
+  end
+
+  local ow = enter(nil)
+  check(ow ~= nil and ow.map and ow.map.id == MAP, "player is inside " .. MAP)
+  check(ow ~= nil and ow.dark == true,
+        "the map reports itself dark with no FLASH used")
+  check(ow ~= nil and ow:paletteNameFor(ow.map) == "CAVE",
+        "and resolves the CAVE palette (tileset CAVERN)")
+  check(ow ~= nil and ow:darkNeedsOverlay() == false,
+        "SGB needs NO composited veil -- its palette carries the darkening")
+
+  local function probe(label, wanted, rect)
+    local shot = Probe.grab()
+    if not shot then
+      U.log("WARN pixel probe unavailable; judge", label, "by eye only")
+      return nil, nil
+    end
+    local counts, total = Probe.count(shot, wanted, 3, rect)
+    local parts = {}
+    for name, n in pairs(counts) do
+      parts[#parts + 1] = ("%s=%.1f%%"):format(name, total > 0 and n * 100 / total or 0)
+    end
+    table.sort(parts)
+    U.log(("probe[%s] %d px: %s"):format(label, total, table.concat(parts, "  ")))
+    return counts, total, shot
+  end
+
+  -- A palette shift darkens the corner and leaves it legible; a light window
+  -- around the player leaves it black.  This rect is well outside any window
+  -- centred on a centred player.
+  local FAR_CORNER = { 0.02, 0.02, 0.28, 0.28 }
+
+  -- ---- SGB, dark ---------------------------------------------------------
+  U.wait(30)
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug322_1_dark_sgb.png")
+  local c = probe("SGB dark / far corner", {
+    darkPaper = caveDark[1], darkInk = caveDark[2],
+    litPaper = CAVE[1], litMid = CAVE[2],
+  }, FAR_CORNER)
+  if c then
+    check(c.darkPaper > 0,
+          "the FAR CORNER of the screen is drawn, not blacked out (no light window)")
+    check(c.litPaper == 0 and c.litMid == 0,
+          "and it is darkened -- none of CAVE's undimmed colours survive there")
+  end
+  local full = probe("SGB dark / whole frame", {
+    darkPaper = caveDark[1], darkInk = caveDark[2], litPaper = CAVE[1],
+  })
+  if full then
+    check(full.litPaper == 0,
+          "nowhere on the screen keeps CAVE's paper white -- the shift is global")
+  end
+
+  -- Renderer:beginFrame clears the shade map and OverworldState:drawWorld
+  -- re-arms it, so what is armed right now is what the LAST drawn frame used.
+  check(PaletteFX.shadeMap() == PaletteFX.DARK_BGP,
+        "the last drawn frame really did run with DARK_BGP armed")
+
+  -- ---- OG RED, dark: the reporter's reference image ----------------------
+  game.save.options.colors = "ogred"
+  PaletteFX.setMode("ogred")
+  enter(nil)
+  U.wait(30)
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug322_2_dark_ogred.png")
+  local shot = Probe.grab()
+  if shot then
+    local top, total = Probe.top(shot, 6)
+    U.log(("probe[OG RED dark] %d px, top colours: %s")
+            :format(total, Probe.fmt(top)))
+    local extra = {}
+    for _, col in ipairs(top) do
+      local isDark = (col[1] == 148 and col[2] == 58 and col[3] == 58)
+                     or (col[1] == 0 and col[2] == 0 and col[3] == 0)
+      if not isDark and col.share > 0.002 then
+        extra[#extra + 1] = ("(%d,%d,%d) %.1f%%")
+          :format(col[1], col[2], col[3], col.share * 100)
+      end
+    end
+    check(#extra == 0,
+          "OG RED's dark tunnel is EXACTLY (148,58,58) + (0,0,0), like the "
+          .. "issue's expected screenshot"
+          .. (#extra > 0 and (" -- extra: " .. table.concat(extra, ", ")) or ""))
+    local corner = Probe.count(shot, { red = { 148, 58, 58 } }, 3, FAR_CORNER)
+    check(corner.red > 0, "and the far corner still carries that red, not a void")
+
+    -- Not a FAIL: OG RED replays its OBP-baked sprites on top of the finished
+    -- zone pass (PaletteFX.markSpriteRedraw) and that replay is unshaded, so
+    -- the player keeps his green where FadePal2's OBP0 would darken him too.
+    local obj = PaletteFX.ogObj()
+    local sprite, spriteTotal = Probe.count(shot,
+      { green = obj[2], darkGreen = obj[3] })
+    local share = (sprite.green + sprite.darkGreen) * 100
+                  / math.max(1, spriteTotal)
+    U.log(("known gap: OG RED's player keeps his green in the dark "
+           .. "(%.2f%% of the frame); hardware darkens OBP0 too"):format(share))
+  end
+
+  -- ---- the modes that darken in their own ramps --------------------------
+  for _, m in ipairs({ { "og", "plain DMG" }, { "classic", "CLASSIC" },
+                       { "redpp", "ADVANCED / RED++" } }) do
+    game.save.options.colors = m[1]
+    PaletteFX.setMode(m[1])
+    enter(nil)
+    U.wait(30)
+    U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug322_3_dark_" .. m[1] .. ".png")
+    local s = Probe.grab()
+    if s then
+      local top, total = Probe.top(s, 5)
+      U.log(("probe[%s dark] %d px, top colours: %s")
+              :format(m[2], total, Probe.fmt(top)))
+      -- "Not blacked out" cannot be asked as "not the colour black": the old
+      -- overlay drew black INTO the world canvas and the zone shader then
+      -- coloured it (in CLASSIC the void came out pea green).  Ask for
+      -- structure instead: a shifted palette leaves two tones in the corner,
+      -- a window of light leaves one flat fill.
+      local corner = Probe.top(s, 3, 3, FAR_CORNER)
+      U.log("   far corner:", Probe.fmt(corner))
+      local second = corner[2] and corner[2].share or 0
+      check(second > 0.02,
+            m[2] .. ": the far corner still has two tones (no light window)")
+    end
+    if m[1] == "redpp" then
+      -- RED++ has no palette left to shift: TileRenderer bakes true colour
+      -- into the atlas, so the darkness has to be composited by hand.
+      local o = game.overworld
+      U.log("RED++ gbcAtlas present:",
+            tostring(o and o.map and o.map.renderer and o.map.renderer.gbcAtlas ~= nil))
+      check(o ~= nil and o:darkNeedsOverlay() == true,
+            "RED++ is the ONE mode that still composites a flat veil")
+    end
+  end
+
+  game.save.options.colors = "gbc"
+  PaletteFX.setMode("gbc")
+
+  -- ---- FLASH lifts it ----------------------------------------------------
+  -- PartyMenu sets save.flashLit when the move is used; entering with it set
+  -- is the same state (OverworldState.enterMap:305).
+  ow = enter(true)
+  check(ow ~= nil and ow.dark == false, "after FLASH the map is no longer dark")
+  U.wait(30)
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug322_4_flash_lit_sgb.png")
+  -- Once the shift is armed every entry comes from CAVE[3] or CAVE[4], so
+  -- CAVE[1] or CAVE[2] appearing proves the map is lit.  caveDark[1] is
+  -- CAVE[3] and occurs in the lit palette too, so it is not evidence alone.
+  c = probe("SGB after FLASH",
+            { litPaper = CAVE[1], litMid = CAVE[2], darkPaper = caveDark[1] })
+  if c then
+    check(c.litPaper > 0 and c.litMid > 0,
+          "FLASH restores CAVE's full brightness (paper white and brown are back)")
+  end
+  check(PaletteFX.shadeMap() == nil, "and nothing is armed any more")
+
+  -- ---- a dialog over a dark map darkens with it --------------------------
+  -- rBGP is one register for the whole screen, so a START menu over a dark
+  -- map darkens with it.  Easy to mistake for a bug.
+  ow = enter(nil)
+  U.wait(15)
+  U.tap(game, "start")
+  U.wait(30)
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug322_5_startmenu_dark.png")
+  c = probe("START menu over the dark map",
+            { litPaper = CAVE[1], darkPaper = caveDark[1] })
+  if c then
+    check(c.darkPaper > 0 and c.litPaper == 0,
+          "the START menu over a dark map darkens WITH it (one rBGP, as on hardware)")
+  end
+  U.tap(game, "b")
+  U.wait(20)
+
+  -- ---- a full-screen menu, and a battle, come out LIT --------------------
+  -- Neither draws a map, so drawWorld never runs and beginFrame's clear
+  -- stands: the same result as init_battle_variables.asm's wMapPalOffset
+  -- reset on hardware.
+  Screens.push(game, "PartyMenu")
+  U.wait(30)
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug322_6_partymenu_lit.png")
+  c = probe("PARTY menu over the dark map",
+            { litPaper = CAVE[1], darkPaper = caveDark[1] })
+  if c then
+    check(c.litPaper > 0,
+          "an opaque full-screen menu comes out LIT (nothing inherited the shift)")
+  end
+  check(PaletteFX.shadeMap() == nil, "no shade map armed while it is up")
+  U.tap(game, "b")
+  U.wait(20)
+
+  local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+  local ok = pcall(function()
+    local battle = BattleState.newWild(game, "ZUBAT", 15)
+    battle.onFinish = function() end
+    game.overworld:pushBattle(battle)
+  end)
+  if ok then
+    U.wait(90) -- through the transition wipe and the intro slide-in
+    U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug322_7_battle_lit.png")
+    c = probe("wild battle inside the dark tunnel",
+              { litPaper = CAVE[1], darkPaper = caveDark[1] })
+    if c then
+      check(c.litPaper > 0,
+            "a battle in a dark cave is LIT (init_battle_variables.asm)")
+    end
+  else
+    U.log("WARN could not force a wild battle; the battle-is-lit case is",
+          "unphotographed")
+  end
+
+  U.log(fails == 0 and "all #322 preconditions passed"
+                    or (fails .. " #322 precondition(s) FAILED -- read up"))
+
+  -- =====================================================================
+  -- Part 3: hand off, standing in the dark tunnel.
+  -- =====================================================================
+  for _ = 1, 60 do
+    if game.stack:top() == game.overworld then break end
+    U.tap(game, "b")
+    U.wait(4)
+  end
+  enter(nil)
+
+  U.log("You are in ROCK TUNNEL 1F, no FLASH used, default SGB colours.")
+  U.log("Walk in every direction: the whole screen's palette should be")
+  U.log("shifted down and still legible out to the corners, with no window")
+  U.log("of light following you around (#322).  Shots are in " .. DIR .. ".")
+  U.log("The START menu darkens with the map (one rBGP), which is correct.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/route22_rival_exit_bug236_test.lua b/tests/drivers/route22_rival_exit_bug236_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6cc86d4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/route22_rival_exit_bug236_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,275 @@
+-- Driver: watch the Route 22 rival leave without clipping the cliff (#236).
+-- scripts/Route22.asm keys the ambush on which coord you stepped on: (29,4)
+-- parks him at (29,5) with ExitMovementData1, (29,5) at (28,5) with ...Data2.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/route22_rival_exit_bug236_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug236 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red \
+--     SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .   (BUG236_TILE=5 runs the other tile)
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local Flags = require("src.script.Flags")
+  local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
+  local mapScripts = require("data.scripts.init")
+
+  local MAP = "ROUTE_22"
+  local TILE_Y = tonumber(os.getenv("BUG236_TILE") or "4")
+  if TILE_Y ~= 4 and TILE_Y ~= 5 then TILE_Y = 4 end
+  local TRIG_X = 29
+  -- what pokered does on this tile
+  local WANT = (TILE_Y == 4)
+    and { rx = 29, ry = 5, rivalFacing = "up", playerFacing = "down",
+          -- Route22Rival1ExitMovementData1
+          dirs = { "right", "right", "down", "down", "down", "down", "down" },
+          endX = 31, endY = 10 }
+     or { rx = 28, ry = 5, rivalFacing = "right", playerFacing = "left",
+          -- Route22Rival1ExitMovementData2
+          dirs = { "up", "right", "right", "right",
+                   "down", "down", "down", "down", "down", "down" },
+          endX = 31, endY = 10 }
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- ---- a party that ends OPP_RIVAL1 in one turn --------------------------
+  -- the walk-off only exists after a win, and the fight is not under test
+  local tank = Pokemon.new(game.data, "MEWTWO", 100)
+  tank.moves = {
+    { id = "PSYCHIC_M", pp = 99 },
+    { id = "THUNDERBOLT", pp = 99 },
+    { id = "ICE_BEAM", pp = 99 },
+    { id = "RECOVER", pp = 99 },
+  }
+  game.save.party = { tank }
+  game.save.player = game.save.player or {}
+  game.save.player.name = game.save.player.name or "RED"
+  game.save.player.rival = game.save.player.rival or "BLUE"
+  game.save.defeatedTrainers = {}
+  game.save.objectToggles = game.save.objectToggles or {}
+  game.save.objectToggles[MAP] = nil
+  -- the window Route22DefaultScript arms: Pokedex in hand, Brock not yet
+  -- beaten, this rival not yet fought
+  Flags.set(game.save, "EVENT_CHOSE_SQUIRTLE")
+  Flags.set(game.save, "EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX")
+  Flags.clear(game.save, "EVENT_BEAT_BROCK")
+  Flags.clear(game.save, "EVENT_BEAT_ROUTE22_RIVAL_1ST_BATTLE")
+  Flags.clear(game.save, "EVENT_BEAT_GIOVANNI")
+  Flags.clear(game.save, "EVENT_BEAT_ROUTE22_RIVAL_2ND_BATTLE")
+
+  -- ---- park one cell west of the trigger ---------------------------------
+  -- rows 4 and 5 are open path from x=24 to x=33; row 3 above them is the
+  -- cliff the buggy exit walked into
+  U.teleport(game, MAP, TRIG_X - 1, TILE_Y, "right")
+  U.wait(10)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+
+  -- ---- preconditions -----------------------------------------------------
+  -- a missing text entry, a moved object and an onStep that never fires all
+  -- look like a movement bug on screen: nothing happens
+  local t = game.data.text
+  for _, key in ipairs({ "_Route22RivalBeforeBattleText1",
+                         "_Route22Rival1DefeatedText",
+                         "_Route22RivalAfterBattleText1" }) do
+    check(key .. " resolves to a string",
+          type(t[key]) == "string" and t[key] ~= "")
+  end
+
+  local spawn
+  for _, o in ipairs(game.data.maps[MAP].objects or {}) do
+    if o.name == "ROUTE22_RIVAL1" then spawn = o end
+  end
+  check("ROUTE22_RIVAL1 has an object_event", spawn ~= nil)
+  check("it spawns on (25,5) as in data/maps/objects/Route22.asm",
+        spawn ~= nil and spawn.x == 25 and spawn.y == 5)
+  check("ROUTE_22 (28,3) is solid cliff (the cell #236 walked into)",
+        not ow.map:isWalkableCell(28, 3))
+
+  -- Dry-run the scene on a throwaway overworld so the exit list can be walked
+  -- against real collision before anything happens on screen.  Music.play is
+  -- silenced or the rival sting fires the scene early.
+  local Music = require("src.core.Music")
+  local realPlay = Music.play
+  Music.play = function() end
+  local rows, probeFacing
+  do
+    local probe = {
+      runner = { isRunning = function() return false end,
+                 run = function(_, r) rows = r end },
+      player = { facing = "down" },
+      npcByIndex = function() return { def = { name = "X" } } end,
+    }
+    local script = mapScripts.get(MAP)
+    check("ROUTE_22 has an onStep hook", script ~= nil and script.onStep ~= nil)
+    if script and script.onStep then
+      check(("onStep fires on the ambush tile (%d,%d)"):format(TRIG_X, TILE_Y),
+            script.onStep(game, probe, TRIG_X, TILE_Y) == true)
+    end
+    probeFacing = probe.player.facing
+  end
+  Music.play = realPlay
+
+  local moveTo, face, walk
+  for _, r in ipairs(rows or {}) do
+    if r[1] == "move_npc_to" then moveTo = r end
+    if r[1] == "face_object" then face = r end
+    if r[1] == "walk_npc" then walk = r end
+  end
+  check("the scene carries move/face/walk rows",
+        moveTo ~= nil and face ~= nil and walk ~= nil)
+  if moveTo and face and walk then
+    U.log(("plan: rival to (%d,%d) facing %s, player turned %s, exit %s")
+            :format(moveTo[3], moveTo[4], tostring(face[3]),
+                    tostring(probeFacing), table.concat(walk[3], ", ")))
+    check(("rival parks on (%d,%d), where Route22MoveRivalRightScript leaves him")
+            :format(WANT.rx, WANT.ry),
+          moveTo[3] == WANT.rx and moveTo[4] == WANT.ry)
+    check("rival faces " .. WANT.rivalFacing .. " at the player",
+          face[3] == WANT.rivalFacing)
+    check("player is turned " .. WANT.playerFacing .. " at the rival",
+          probeFacing == WANT.playerFacing)
+    local same = #walk[3] == #WANT.dirs
+    for i = 1, #WANT.dirs do
+      if walk[3][i] ~= WANT.dirs[i] then same = false end
+    end
+    check("exit list is " .. table.concat(WANT.dirs, ", "), same)
+    -- replay it cell by cell against the real map: this is the assertion the
+    -- cliff clip failed
+    local D = { up = { 0, -1 }, down = { 0, 1 },
+                left = { -1, 0 }, right = { 1, 0 } }
+    local x, y, clean = moveTo[3], moveTo[4], true
+    for i, d in ipairs(walk[3]) do
+      x, y = x + D[d][1], y + D[d][2]
+      if not ow.map:isWalkableCell(x, y) then
+        clean = false
+        U.log(("  exit step %d (%s) walks into solid ground at (%d,%d)")
+                :format(i, d, x, y))
+      end
+      if x == TRIG_X and y == TILE_Y then
+        clean = false
+        U.log(("  exit step %d (%s) walks through the player on (%d,%d)")
+                :format(i, d, x, y))
+      end
+    end
+    check("every exit cell is walkable and none is the player's", clean)
+    check(("the exit ends on (%d,%d), off the bottom of the screen")
+            :format(WANT.endX, WANT.endY),
+          x == WANT.endX and y == WANT.endY)
+  end
+
+  if U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug236_0_before.png") then
+    U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug236_0_before.png")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- step onto the ambush tile -----------------------------------------
+  U.hold(game, "right", 24)
+
+  local function boxText()
+    local top = game.stack:top()
+    if getmetatable(top) ~= TextBox then return "" end
+    local parts = {}
+    for _, page in ipairs(top.pages or {}) do
+      if type(page) == "table" then
+        for _, line in ipairs(page) do parts[#parts + 1] = tostring(line) end
+      end
+    end
+    return table.concat(parts, " ")
+  end
+
+  local function rivalNpc()
+    for _, n in ipairs(game.overworld.npcs or {}) do
+      if n.def and n.def.name and n.def.name:find("RIVAL") then return n end
+    end
+  end
+
+  -- wait for the approach walk to finish: he is on his mark when the script
+  -- moves drain and the pre-battle box is up
+  local parked
+  for _ = 1, 400 do
+    local r = rivalNpc()
+    if r and #ow.scriptMoves == 0 and not r.moving and boxText() ~= "" then
+      parked = r
+      break
+    end
+    U.wait(2)
+  end
+  check("the rival showed up and stopped walking", parked ~= nil)
+  if parked then
+    U.log(("rival parked on (%d,%d) facing %s; player on (%d,%d) facing %s")
+            :format(parked.cellX, parked.cellY, tostring(parked.facing),
+                    ow.player.cellX, ow.player.cellY, tostring(ow.player.facing)))
+    check(("he is on (%d,%d) live, not just on paper"):format(WANT.rx, WANT.ry),
+          parked.cellX == WANT.rx and parked.cellY == WANT.ry)
+    check("he is not standing on top of the player",
+          not (parked.cellX == ow.player.cellX and parked.cellY == ow.player.cellY))
+  end
+  if U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug236_1_ambush.png") then
+    U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug236_1_ambush.png")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- fight it for the human --------------------------------------------
+  -- FIGHT + first move every prompt; PSYCHIC one-shots the level 5-9 party.
+  local sawBattle = false
+  for f = 1, 4000 do
+    local top = game.stack:top()
+    if top and top.phase then
+      sawBattle = true
+      if top.phase == "menu" then top.menuIndex = 1
+      elseif top.phase == "moveSelect" then top.moveIndex = 1 end
+      U.tap(game, "a")
+      if f > 2400 and top.onFinish then
+        -- safety valve: never leave the run wedged in a stalled battle
+        U.log("force-finishing a stalled battle")
+        top.onFinish("win")
+        if game.stack:top() == top then game.stack:pop() end
+      end
+    elseif sawBattle then
+      break
+    elseif top ~= ow then
+      U.tap(game, "a") -- pre-battle dialogue
+    end
+    U.wait(2)
+  end
+  check("the battle ran and ended", sawBattle)
+  check("EVENT_BEAT_ROUTE22_RIVAL_1ST_BATTLE is set",
+        game.save.flags.EVENT_BEAT_ROUTE22_RIVAL_1ST_BATTLE == true)
+
+  -- ---- stop on the LAST post-battle box ----------------------------------
+  -- Rows 8 and 9 are DefeatedText then AfterBattleText; the walk (row 10)
+  -- starts when row 9's box closes, so hand over with row 9 on screen.
+  local after = t._Route22RivalAfterBattleText1 or ""
+  local needle = after:match("dawdling") and "dawdling" or "LEAGUE"
+  local onLastBox = false
+  for _ = 1, 600 do
+    if boxText():find(needle, 1, true) then onLastBox = true break end
+    if game.stack:top() ~= ow then U.tap(game, "a") end
+    U.wait(3)
+  end
+  check("the last post-battle box is on screen", onLastBox)
+  U.wait(20)
+  if U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug236_2_lastbox.png") then
+    U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug236_2_lastbox.png")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- hand off ----------------------------------------------------------
+  local r = rivalNpc()
+  U.log(("BLUE is beaten on the (%d,%d) ambush tile and the box on screen is")
+          :format(TRIG_X, TILE_Y))
+  U.log("his last line.  Press A and watch him leave: that walk is #236.  He")
+  U.log("must not clip the cliff at the top, step on your cell, or vanish")
+  U.log("before he is off the bottom of the screen.")
+  if r then
+    U.log(("He is standing on (%d,%d); you are on (%d,%d)."):format(
+            r.cellX, r.cellY, ow.player.cellX, ow.player.cellY))
+  end
+  if TILE_Y == 4 then
+    U.log("Expect two steps right, then five straight down.")
+  else
+    U.log("Expect one step up around you, three right, then six down.")
+  end
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/route4_downsweep_bug223.lua b/tests/drivers/route4_downsweep_bug223.lua
index 738cbed1..0dac284f 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/route4_downsweep_bug223.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/route4_downsweep_bug223.lua
@@ -10,13 +10,18 @@
 -- directly below, teleport the player onto it facing DOWN, hold DOWN, and
 -- assert the Gen1 hop fires (p.hopFrames>0) and lands two cells south.
 --
--- Finding: all 139 reachable/functional south ledges hop.  The only two that
--- do not -- (12,16) and (13,16) -- sit on the SOUTH boundary of the Mt Moon
--- Poke Center plaza, where the cell two south is off the map onto the border
--- mountain (tile 17); there is no landing, so the hop is correctly refused
--- (checkLedgeHop's landing-walkable gate).  These are NOT the reporter's spot
--- (an open EAST plateau, cells ~62-80) and refusing a hop into the map border
--- is correct, so they are treated as EXPECTED refusals here.
+-- Finding: all 139 reachable/functional south ledges hop with one exception:
+-- (12,16) and (13,16), the SOUTH edge of the Mt Moon Poke Center plaza.  The
+-- earlier read of those two as "correctly refused, the landing is border
+-- mountain" was WRONG.  ROUTE_4 has a south connection to ROUTE_3 (offset -25,
+-- destX = curX + 50), so the cell two south is ROUTE_3 (62,0)/(63,0), the
+-- walkable $39/$23 top of the ramp; pokered hops straight onto it, because
+-- HandleLedges never checks the landing at all.  THAT is the reporter's
+-- "bottom-most cliff on the right side" (the two round Route 3 boulders in
+-- the screenshot sit just below-left of it), and it is issue #223.
+-- Post-fix the hop crosses the seam, so the player ends on ROUTE_3 rather
+-- than at (cx, cy+2); this sweep's same-map landing assertion cannot express
+-- that, so the two cells stay listed below and are reported, not failed.
 --
 -- Run:
 --   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/route4_downsweep_bug223.lua \
@@ -64,9 +69,11 @@ return function(game)
     return p.cellX, p.cellY, hop
   end
 
-  -- (12,16)/(13,16): south ledges on the plaza's map-border edge; the cell two
-  -- south is off-map (border mountain), so the refusal is correct, not a bug.
-  local expectedRefusal = { ["12,16"] = true, ["13,16"] = true }
+  -- (12,16)/(13,16): the #223 seam ledges.  Their landing is on ROUTE_3, so
+  -- the same-map "(cx, cy+2)" assertion below cannot judge them either way;
+  -- they are reported separately rather than failed.  Verify them with a
+  -- driver that watches for a map change to ROUTE_3.
+  local seamLedge = { ["12,16"] = true, ["13,16"] = true }
 
   local standers = {}
   for cy = 0, H - 2 do
@@ -87,9 +94,9 @@ return function(game)
     local ex, ey, hop = holdDown(cx, cy, 44)
     local ok = hop and ex == cx and ey == cy + 2
     if not ok then
-      if expectedRefusal[cx .. "," .. cy] then
+      if seamLedge[cx .. "," .. cy] then
         refusals = refusals + 1
-        U.log(("  refused (expected, map-border edge) (%d,%d) -> (%d,%d) hop=%s")
+        U.log(("  seam ledge onto ROUTE_3 (%d,%d) -> (%d,%d) hop=%s")
           :format(cx, cy, ex, ey, tostring(hop)))
       else
         fails = fails + 1
@@ -97,7 +104,7 @@ return function(game)
       end
     end
   end
-  U.log(("#223 sweep DONE: %d hopped, %d expected border-refusals, %d unexpected FAILS")
+  U.log(("#223 sweep DONE: %d hopped, %d seam ledges (ROUTE_3 landing), %d unexpected FAILS")
     :format(#standers - fails - refusals, refusals, fails))
   if fails > 0 then error(fails .. " unexpected south-ledge DOWN-hop failure(s)") end
 end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/sgb_people_palette_bug301_test.lua b/tests/drivers/sgb_people_palette_bug301_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..44ec53d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/sgb_people_palette_bug301_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,317 @@
+-- Driver: in SGB mode a character wears the palette of the map it stands on,
+-- not the GBC boot ROM's object palette (#301).  pokered never sends OBJ_TRN
+-- (data/sgb/sgb_packets.asm), and home/fade.asm:68 FadePal4 leaves rOBP0 = $D0,
+-- so OBJ colours lift to DMG shades 0/1/3 and the zone shader owns the colour.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/sgb_people_palette_bug301_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug301 POKEPORT_VERSION=red SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local Probe = dofile("tests/drivers/shot_probe.lua")
+  local PaletteFX = require("src.render.PaletteFX")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+
+  local fails = 0
+  local function check(ok, msg)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", msg)
+    if not ok then fails = fails + 1 end
+    return ok
+  end
+  local function rgb(c)
+    return c and ("(%d,%d,%d)"):format(c[1], c[2], c[3]) or "nil"
+  end
+  local function ramp(p)
+    if not p then return "nil" end
+    local s = {}
+    for i = 1, 4 do s[i] = rgb(p[i]) end
+    return table.concat(s, " ")
+  end
+
+  -- a party + starter flag so the overworld behaves like a real save
+  game.save.flags.EVENT_GOT_STARTER = true
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  if #game.save.party == 0 then
+    table.insert(game.save.party, Pokemon.new(game.data, "CHARMANDER", 5))
+  end
+  -- Game:applyOptions re-reads save.options.colors every frame's worth of
+  -- option handling, so a bare setMode() would be reverted under us.
+  game.save.options = game.save.options or {}
+  game.save.options.colors = "gbc"
+  PaletteFX.setMode("gbc")
+
+  -- ---- Part 1: the render decisions no screenshot can spell out -----------
+  check(PaletteFX.usesSpriteObp("gbc") == false,
+        "SGB bakes NO object palette (it cannot colour an OBJ apart from the BG)")
+  check(PaletteFX.usesSpriteObp("ogred") == true,
+        "OG RED still does (the GBC boot ROM really does hand out one OBJ palette)")
+  check(PaletteFX.usesSpriteObp("og") == false
+        and PaletteFX.usesSpriteObp("og_inv") == false
+        and PaletteFX.usesSpriteObp("gbc_inv") == false
+        and PaletteFX.usesSpriteObp("classic") == false
+        and PaletteFX.usesSpriteObp("redpp") == false,
+        "no other mode bakes one either")
+
+  local obp = PaletteFX.dmgObj()
+  U.log("rOBP0 bake ramp:", ramp(obp))
+  -- FadePal4's second entry, `dc 3,1,0,0` = $D0.  Index 1 is never read (OBJ
+  -- colour 0 is keyed to alpha); 2..4 are OBJ colours 1..3 as shades 0/1/3.
+  check(obp ~= nil and obp[2][1] == 255, "OBJ colour 1 -> DMG shade 0 (255)")
+  check(obp ~= nil and obp[3][1] == 170, "OBJ colour 2 -> DMG shade 1 (170)")
+  check(obp ~= nil and obp[4][1] == 0, "OBJ colour 3 -> DMG shade 3 (0)")
+  local grey = true
+  for i = 1, 4 do
+    if obp[i][1] ~= obp[i][2] or obp[i][2] ~= obp[i][3] then grey = false end
+  end
+  check(grey, "the bake stays in DMG GREYS, so the zone shader still owns the colour")
+
+  local OGOBJ = PaletteFX.ogObj()
+  local clash = false
+  for i = 1, 4 do
+    for j = 1, 4 do
+      if obp[i][1] == OGOBJ[j][1] and obp[i][2] == OGOBJ[j][2]
+         and obp[i][3] == OGOBJ[j][3] and OGOBJ[j][1] ~= OGOBJ[j][2] then
+        clash = true
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  check(not clash, "no boot-ROM object colour is baked into an SGB sprite")
+
+  -- ---- Part 2: stand next to a person, on two maps with unlike palettes ---
+  local function npcNamed(ow, name)
+    for _, n in ipairs(ow.npcs or {}) do
+      if n.def and n.def.name == name then return n end
+    end
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  -- Teleport to `stand`; if a map edit or a mod moved the NPC out of reach,
+  -- take any free walkable neighbour of where it actually is and face back.
+  local function standNextTo(mapId, npcName, stand)
+    U.teleport(game, mapId, stand.x, stand.y, stand.facing)
+    U.wait(12)
+    local ow = game.overworld
+    local npc = ow and npcNamed(ow, npcName)
+    if not npc then
+      check(false, npcName .. " object loaded on " .. mapId)
+      return ow, nil
+    end
+    local fx, fy = ow.player:facingCell()
+    if ow:npcAtCell(fx, fy) ~= npc then
+      local sides = {
+        { 0, 1, "up" }, { 0, -1, "down" }, { 1, 0, "left" }, { -1, 0, "right" },
+      }
+      for _, s in ipairs(sides) do
+        local cx, cy = npc.cellX + s[1], npc.cellY + s[2]
+        if ow.map:isWalkableCell(cx, cy) and not ow:npcAtCell(cx, cy) then
+          U.log(("stand cell (%d,%d) is no longer beside %s -- using")
+                  :format(stand.x, stand.y, npcName), cx, cy, "facing", s[3])
+          U.teleport(game, mapId, cx, cy, s[3])
+          U.wait(12)
+          ow = game.overworld
+          npc = npcNamed(ow, npcName)
+          break
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    local ax, ay = ow.player:facingCell()
+    check(npc ~= nil and ow:npcAtCell(ax, ay) == npc,
+          "player is standing face to face with " .. npcName .. " on " .. mapId)
+    return ow, npc
+  end
+
+  -- Every colour a correct SGB frame may contain: the map's own four plus the
+  -- letterbox black.  Before the fix the boot-ROM greens were on screen and
+  -- belonged to no palette the map ever asked for.
+  local function paletteAudit(label, palette)
+    local shot = Probe.grab()
+    if not shot then
+      U.log("WARN pixel probe unavailable; judge", label, "by eye only")
+      return
+    end
+    local top, total = Probe.top(shot, 8)
+    U.log(("probe[%s] %d px sampled, top colours: %s")
+            :format(label, total, Probe.fmt(top)))
+    local allowed = { { 0, 0, 0 } }
+    for i = 1, 4 do allowed[#allowed + 1] = palette[i] end
+    local strays = {}
+    for _, c in ipairs(top) do
+      local ok = false
+      for _, a in ipairs(allowed) do
+        if c[1] == a[1] and c[2] == a[2] and c[3] == a[3] then ok = true end
+      end
+      -- ignore the thin filtered edges: only a colour with real area on
+      -- screen is evidence of a wrong palette
+      if not ok and c.share > 0.002 then
+        strays[#strays + 1] = ("(%d,%d,%d) %.1f%%")
+          :format(c[1], c[2], c[3], c.share * 100)
+      end
+    end
+    check(#strays == 0, label
+          .. ": every colour with real area comes from the map's own palette"
+          .. (#strays > 0 and (" -- strays: " .. table.concat(strays, ", ")) or ""))
+    return shot
+  end
+
+  local function countIn(shot, wanted)
+    if not shot then return nil end
+    local counts = Probe.count(shot, wanted)
+    local parts = {}
+    for name, n in pairs(counts) do parts[#parts + 1] = ("%s=%d"):format(name, n) end
+    table.sort(parts)
+    U.log("   ", table.concat(parts, "  "))
+    return counts
+  end
+
+  -- OBJ colour 0 is transparent on the hardware and the bake keys it to alpha.
+  -- A love Image exposes no pixels, so the only way to read that back is to
+  -- draw it into a cleared canvas.  A guard, not a gate: the extracted sheets
+  -- already ship a tRNS key, so this only fires if a later change hands a
+  -- pipeline or the tilt pass an unkeyed image and the sprite grows a backdrop.
+  local function transparentShare(spr)
+    if not (spr and spr.resolveImage and love.graphics.newCanvas) then return nil end
+    local ok, share = pcall(function()
+      local img = spr:resolveImage()
+      local w, h = img:getWidth(), img:getHeight()
+      local cv = love.graphics.newCanvas(w, h)
+      love.graphics.setCanvas(cv)
+      love.graphics.clear(0, 0, 0, 0)
+      love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
+      love.graphics.draw(img, 0, 0)
+      love.graphics.setCanvas()
+      local id = cv:newImageData()
+      local clear = 0
+      for y = 0, h - 1 do
+        for x = 0, w - 1 do
+          local _, _, _, a = id:getPixel(x, y)
+          if a < 0.02 then clear = clear + 1 end
+        end
+      end
+      return clear / (w * h)
+    end)
+    love.graphics.setCanvas()
+    return ok and share or nil
+  end
+
+  local GBC_OBJ = PaletteFX.ogObj()
+  local BOOT = { bootGreen = GBC_OBJ[2], bootDarkGreen = GBC_OBJ[3] }
+
+  -- ---- ROUTE_1, beside a YOUNGSTER, in grass -----------------------------
+  -- ../pokered/data/maps/objects/Route1.asm: ROUTE1_YOUNGSTER2 walks
+  -- left/right on (15, 13), so (14, 13) facing right is beside it.
+  local ROUTE = PaletteFX.pal(game.data, "ROUTE")
+  U.log("ROUTE palette:", ramp(ROUTE))
+  local ow = standNextTo("ROUTE_1", "ROUTE1_YOUNGSTER2",
+                         { x = 14, y = 13, facing = "right" })
+  U.wait(40) -- let the grass / flower tile animation cycle
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug301_1_route1_sgb.png")
+  local shot = paletteAudit("ROUTE_1 / SGB", ROUTE)
+  local c = countIn(shot, {
+    bootGreen = BOOT.bootGreen, bootDarkGreen = BOOT.bootDarkGreen,
+    routeGrassGreen = ROUTE[2], routeLightBlue = ROUTE[3],
+  })
+  if c then
+    check(c.bootGreen == 0 and c.bootDarkGreen == 0,
+          "no Game Boy Color boot-ROM green anywhere on the SGB screen (#301)")
+    check(c.routeGrassGreen > 0,
+          "ROUTE's own grass green IS on screen (the cap and the grass share it, #150)")
+  end
+
+  local spr = ow and ow.player and ow.player.sprite
+  check(spr ~= nil and spr.image ~= nil and spr:resolveImage() ~= spr.image,
+        "the player's sprite resolves to a BAKED image in SGB, not the raw sheet")
+  local share = transparentShare(spr)
+  if share == nil then
+    U.log("WARN could not read the baked sprite back; judge transparency by eye")
+  else
+    U.log(("baked player sheet is %.1f%% fully transparent"):format(share * 100))
+    check(share > 0.1,
+          "OBJ colour 0 stays keyed to alpha, so a character has no backdrop")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- LAVENDER_TOWN, beside a COOLTRAINER, on a PINK palette ------------
+  -- ../pokered/data/maps/objects/LavenderTown.asm: LAVENDERTOWN_COOLTRAINER_M
+  -- stands on (9, 10), so (9, 9) facing down is beside it.  No green anywhere
+  -- in this palette, so a green person here is unmistakable.
+  local LAVENDER = PaletteFX.pal(game.data, "LAVENDER")
+  U.log("LAVENDER palette:", ramp(LAVENDER))
+  standNextTo("LAVENDER_TOWN", "LAVENDERTOWN_COOLTRAINER_M",
+              { x = 9, y = 9, facing = "down" })
+  U.wait(24)
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug301_2_lavender_sgb.png")
+  shot = paletteAudit("LAVENDER_TOWN / SGB", LAVENDER)
+  c = countIn(shot, {
+    bootGreen = BOOT.bootGreen, bootDarkGreen = BOOT.bootDarkGreen,
+    lavenderPink = LAVENDER[2], routeGrassGreen = ROUTE[2],
+  })
+  if c then
+    check(c.bootGreen == 0 and c.bootDarkGreen == 0,
+          "no boot-ROM green in LAVENDER TOWN either")
+    check(c.lavenderPink > 0,
+          "the characters here wear LAVENDER's pink -- they changed with the map")
+    check(c.routeGrassGreen == 0,
+          "and no ROUTE green followed them over (nothing is palette-pinned)")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- OG RED, the mode that IS supposed to have an object palette -------
+  -- A GBC boots the cartridge with one BG and one OBJ palette, so there the
+  -- people really are green.  Losing that green means the fix went too far.
+  game.save.options.colors = "ogred"
+  PaletteFX.setMode("ogred")
+  standNextTo("ROUTE_1", "ROUTE1_YOUNGSTER2",
+              { x = 14, y = 13, facing = "right" })
+  U.wait(30)
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug301_3_route1_ogred.png")
+  local ogShot = Probe.grab()
+  c = countIn(ogShot, {
+    bootGreen = BOOT.bootGreen, bootDarkGreen = BOOT.bootDarkGreen,
+    ogBgRed = PaletteFX.GBC_BG[3], ogBgPink = PaletteFX.GBC_BG[2],
+  })
+  if c then
+    check(c.bootGreen + c.bootDarkGreen > 0,
+          "OG RED keeps its boot-ROM green characters (regression guard)")
+    check(c.ogBgRed + c.ogBgPink > 0, "over OG RED's red terrain")
+  end
+  game.save.options.colors = "gbc"
+  PaletteFX.setMode("gbc")
+  U.wait(20)
+
+  -- ---- tilt mode, as a guard rather than a gate --------------------------
+  -- Tilt colorizes each billboard on its own, outside the whole-canvas zone
+  -- pass, so it is the path most likely to disagree with the flat one.  Pure
+  -- white and raw DMG grey belong to no SGB palette (they all open on paper,
+  -- 255,239,255), so either one here means an uncolorized sheet got through.
+  standNextTo("ROUTE_1", "ROUTE1_YOUNGSTER2",
+              { x = 14, y = 13, facing = "right" })
+  game.save.options.tilt = 2
+  require("src.render.Tilt").setLevel(2)
+  U.wait(70) -- the tilt tween is presentational and runs on real time
+  U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug301_4_route1_tilt_sgb.png")
+  local tiltShot = Probe.grab()
+  c = countIn(tiltShot, {
+    pureWhite = { 255, 255, 255 }, rawGrey170 = { 170, 170, 170 },
+    bootGreen = BOOT.bootGreen, paper = ROUTE[1],
+  })
+  if c then
+    check(c.pureWhite == 0 and c.rawGrey170 == 0,
+          "tilt billboards carry no uncolorized sheet pixels")
+    check(c.bootGreen == 0, "and no boot-ROM green in tilt mode either")
+  end
+  game.save.options.tilt = 0
+  require("src.render.Tilt").setLevel(0)
+  U.wait(50)
+
+  U.log(fails == 0 and "all #301 preconditions passed"
+                    or (fails .. " #301 precondition(s) FAILED -- read up"))
+
+  -- ---- Part 3: hand off, standing next to somebody, in the default mode ---
+  standNextTo("ROUTE_1", "ROUTE1_YOUNGSTER2",
+              { x = 14, y = 13, facing = "right" })
+
+  U.log("You are on ROUTE 1 in SGB colour, face to face with a YOUNGSTER. Both")
+  U.log("of you should take colour from the ground's own palette (Red's cap on")
+  U.log("ROUTE's grass green) and change with every map you walk onto. #301")
+  U.log("was everyone painted boot-ROM lime green everywhere. Shots in " .. DIR)
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/shot_probe.lua b/tests/drivers/shot_probe.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..29394149
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/shot_probe.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+-- Exact-colour probe over the presented frame, for the palette drivers
+-- (#279, #301, #322).  The colours those fixes argue about are exact byte
+-- triples out of data/generated/palettes.lua and the shade-remap shader writes
+-- them verbatim, so counting exact matches puts a number in the log.  grab()
+-- is a coroutine helper (captureScreenshot only lands at the next present) and
+-- returns nil where capture is unavailable, so callers WARN instead of failing.
+
+local Probe = {}
+
+-- Grab the presented frame as ImageData, or nil if capture is unavailable.
+function Probe.grab(maxFrames)
+  if not (love.graphics and love.graphics.captureScreenshot) then return nil end
+  local shot = nil
+  local ok = pcall(love.graphics.captureScreenshot, function(id) shot = id end)
+  if not ok then return nil end
+  for _ = 1, maxFrames or 180 do
+    if shot then break end
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+  return shot
+end
+
+local function byteAt(shot, x, y)
+  local r, g, b = shot:getPixel(x, y)
+  return math.floor(r * 255 + 0.5), math.floor(g * 255 + 0.5),
+         math.floor(b * 255 + 0.5)
+end
+
+-- Count exact matches for a { name = {r, g, b} } table.  `step` subsamples both
+-- axes (default 3), `rect` limits the scan to { x0, y0, x1, y1 } in 0..1
+-- fractions of the frame.  Returns the counts and the pixels sampled.
+-- The window blit can be filtered, so glyph and sprite EDGES blend into inexact
+-- triples: ask about flat interiors, never a whole-frame exact match.
+function Probe.count(shot, wanted, step, rect)
+  local out = {}
+  for name in pairs(wanted) do out[name] = 0 end
+  if not shot then return out, 0 end
+  step = step or 3
+  local w, h = shot:getDimensions()
+  local x0, y0, x1, y1 = 0, 0, w - 1, h - 1
+  if rect then
+    x0 = math.floor(rect[1] * (w - 1))
+    y0 = math.floor(rect[2] * (h - 1))
+    x1 = math.floor(rect[3] * (w - 1))
+    y1 = math.floor(rect[4] * (h - 1))
+  end
+  local total = 0
+  for y = y0, y1, step do
+    for x = x0, x1, step do
+      local r, g, b = byteAt(shot, x, y)
+      total = total + 1
+      for name, c in pairs(wanted) do
+        if r == c[1] and g == c[2] and b == c[3] then out[name] = out[name] + 1 end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  return out, total
+end
+
+-- The n most common exact colours, biggest first, as
+-- { { r, g, b, count = n, share = 0..1 }, ... }.  For claims about the SIZE of
+-- the palette on screen rather than one named colour being present.
+function Probe.top(shot, n, step, rect)
+  if not shot then return {} end
+  step = step or 3
+  local w, h = shot:getDimensions()
+  local x0, y0, x1, y1 = 0, 0, w - 1, h - 1
+  if rect then
+    x0 = math.floor(rect[1] * (w - 1))
+    y0 = math.floor(rect[2] * (h - 1))
+    x1 = math.floor(rect[3] * (w - 1))
+    y1 = math.floor(rect[4] * (h - 1))
+  end
+  local seen, order, total = {}, {}, 0
+  for y = y0, y1, step do
+    for x = x0, x1, step do
+      local r, g, b = byteAt(shot, x, y)
+      local key = r * 65536 + g * 256 + b
+      local e = seen[key]
+      if not e then
+        e = { r, g, b, count = 0 }
+        seen[key] = e
+        order[#order + 1] = e
+      end
+      e.count = e.count + 1
+      total = total + 1
+    end
+  end
+  table.sort(order, function(a, b) return a.count > b.count end)
+  local out = {}
+  for i = 1, math.min(n or 6, #order) do
+    order[i].share = total > 0 and order[i].count / total or 0
+    out[i] = order[i]
+  end
+  return out, total
+end
+
+function Probe.fmt(list)
+  local parts = {}
+  for _, c in ipairs(list) do
+    parts[#parts + 1] = ("(%d,%d,%d)=%.1f%%")
+      :format(c[1], c[2], c[3], (c.share or 0) * 100)
+  end
+  return table.concat(parts, "  ")
+end
+
+return Probe
diff --git a/tests/drivers/status_poison_test.lua b/tests/drivers/status_poison_test.lua
index f2a57680..34280d56 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/status_poison_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/status_poison_test.lua
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ return function(game)
   U.tap(game, "a"); U.wait(8) -- FIGHT
   U.tap(game, "a"); U.wait(2) -- POISONPOWDER
 
-  -- announce: "BULBASAUR used POISONPOWDER!" — no PSN on HUD yet
+  -- announce: "BULBASAUR used POISONPOWDER!" -- no PSN on HUD yet
   waitFor(function()
     return battle.current and battle.current.text
       and battle.current.text:find("POISONPOWDER", 1, true)
diff --git a/tests/drivers/status_screen_bug280_test.lua b/tests/drivers/status_screen_bug280_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6c42b961
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/status_screen_bug280_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,325 @@
+-- Driver: the status screen against engine/pokemon/status_screen.asm (#280).
+-- The screen loads its OWN VRAM overlay (:86-97), which is the only reason
+-- $73/$74 can be the <ID> and № glyphs here and cannot be in battle.  Also
+-- covered: the dex column :109-113/:143-146, the mirrored pic :170, "<ID>№/"
+-- :205-210, DrawLineBox :219-234, no level on page 2 :303-305, '<to>' :393-403.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/status_screen_bug280_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug280 SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local Assets = require("src.render.Assets")
+  local Font = require("src.render.Font")
+  local HudTiles = require("src.render.HudTiles")
+  local SummaryMenu = require("src.ui.SummaryMenu")
+
+  local pass, fail = 0, 0
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    if ok then pass = pass + 1 else fail = fail + 1 end
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+  local function top() return game.stack:top() end
+
+  -- ---- preconditions no eye can check ------------------------------------
+  -- A code that falls off the end of its sheet draws NOTHING (HudTiles' put
+  -- returns early on a nil tile), which looks exactly like the old bug.
+  U.log("======== #280 status screen: machine checks ========")
+  check("HudTiles.statusTile exists", type(HudTiles.statusTile) == "function")
+  check("HudTiles.tile still exists (battle layout untouched)",
+        type(HudTiles.tile) == "function")
+  local function tileCount(path)
+    local ok, img = pcall(Assets.image, path)
+    if not ok or not img then return 0 end
+    local w, h = img:getDimensions()
+    return math.floor(w / 8) * math.floor(h / 8)
+  end
+  local extra = tileCount("assets/generated/battle/font_battle_extra.png")
+  U.log("font_battle_extra holds " .. extra .. " tiles at base $62")
+  check("font_battle_extra reaches $70 <to> (needs 15 tiles)", extra >= 0x70 - 0x62 + 1)
+  check("font_battle_extra reaches $73 <ID> (needs 18)", extra >= 0x73 - 0x62 + 1)
+  check("font_battle_extra reaches $74 № (needs 19)", extra >= 0x74 - 0x62 + 1)
+  check("battle_hud_2 has the 1 tile the status overlay copies to $78",
+        tileCount("assets/generated/battle/battle_hud_2.png") >= 1)
+  check("battle_hud_3 has the 2 tiles the status overlay copies to $76",
+        tileCount("assets/generated/battle/battle_hud_3.png") >= 2)
+
+  -- ---- the fixture -------------------------------------------------------
+  -- NIDORINO: the intro shows the same sprite flipped (src/ui/OakSpeech.lua)
+  -- so the mirror has a reference, and dex 33 makes the leading zero visible.
+  local mon = Pokemon.new(game.data, "NIDORINO", 42)
+  local maxed = Pokemon.new(game.data, "MEW", 100)
+  mon.hp = math.max(1, math.floor(mon.stats.hp * 0.4))
+  game.save.party = { mon, maxed }
+  game.save.player.name = "RED"
+  local dex = game.data.pokemon.NIDORINO.dex
+  check("NIDORINO's dex number resolves", type(dex) == "number")
+  U.log(("fixture: NIDORINO :L%d, dex %03d, %d/%d HP; MEW :L100 in slot 2")
+          :format(mon.level, dex or 0, mon.hp, mon.stats.hp))
+
+  U.teleport(game, "PALLET_TOWN", 10, 8, "down")
+  U.wait(10)
+
+  -- ---- open the status screen through the real UI ------------------------
+  local function cursorTo(menu, field, want)
+    for _ = 1, 40 do
+      if not menu or menu[field] == want then return menu and menu[field] == want end
+      U.tap(game, menu[field] < want and "down" or "up")
+      U.wait(3)
+    end
+    return menu[field] == want
+  end
+
+  local function openStatsFor(slot)
+    U.tap(game, "start")
+    U.wait(10)
+    local menu = top()
+    if not (menu and menu.screenId == "StartMenu") then return nil, "no start menu" end
+    local row
+    for i, it in ipairs(menu.items or {}) do
+      if it.label == "POKéMON" then row = i break end
+    end
+    if not row or not cursorTo(menu, "index", row) then return nil, "no POKéMON row" end
+    U.tap(game, "a")
+    U.wait(10)
+
+    local party = top()
+    if not (party and party.screenId == "PartyMenu") then return nil, "no party menu" end
+    if not cursorTo(party, "index", slot) then return nil, "cursor never reached the slot" end
+    U.tap(game, "a") -- opens the STATS/SWITCH/... submenu
+    U.wait(8)
+    if not party.submenu then return nil, "submenu never opened" end
+    local subRow
+    for i, it in ipairs(party.subItems or {}) do
+      if it.action == "stats" then subRow = i break end
+    end
+    if not subRow or not cursorTo(party, "subIndex", subRow) then
+      return nil, "no STATS row"
+    end
+    U.tap(game, "a")
+    U.wait(20)
+    local screen = top()
+    if getmetatable(screen) ~= SummaryMenu and screen.screenId ~= "SummaryMenu" then
+      return nil, "status screen never opened"
+    end
+    return screen
+  end
+
+  -- ---- record one real rendered frame ------------------------------------
+  -- SummaryMenu.isOpaque is true, so StateStack:draw starts at it: everything
+  -- recorded below belongs to this screen and nothing under it.
+  local rec
+  local realStatusTile, realTile = HudTiles.statusTile, HudTiles.tile
+  local realDraw, realCode = Font.draw, Font.drawCode
+  local realGDraw = love.graphics.draw
+
+  local function instrument()
+    rec = { status = {}, battle = {}, text = {}, code = {}, quads = {}, imgs = {} }
+    HudTiles.statusTile = function(code, x, y, tint)
+      rec.status[#rec.status + 1] = { code = code, x = x, y = y }
+      return realStatusTile(code, x, y, tint)
+    end
+    HudTiles.tile = function(code, x, y, tint)
+      rec.battle[#rec.battle + 1] = { code = code, x = x, y = y }
+      return realTile(code, x, y, tint)
+    end
+    Font.draw = function(text, x, y)
+      rec.text[#rec.text + 1] = { s = tostring(text), x = x, y = y }
+      return realDraw(text, x, y)
+    end
+    Font.drawCode = function(code, x, y)
+      rec.code[#rec.code + 1] = { code = code, x = x, y = y }
+      return realCode(code, x, y)
+    end
+    love.graphics.draw = function(...)
+      local a = { ... }
+      -- draw(image, quad, x, y) vs draw(image, x, y, r, sx, sy).  Key off
+      -- "argument 2 is not a number" rather than its type: the real Quad is
+      -- userdata but the tests/love_stub one is a table.
+      if a[2] ~= nil and type(a[2]) ~= "number" and type(a[3]) == "number" then
+        -- a tile that actually reached the screen, so a recorded statusTile
+        -- call with no draw behind it means a MISSING glyph
+        rec.quads[#rec.quads + 1] = { x = a[3], y = a[4] }
+      else
+        rec.imgs[#rec.imgs + 1] = { img = a[1], x = a[2], y = a[3],
+                                    r = a[4], sx = a[5], sy = a[6] }
+      end
+      return realGDraw(...)
+    end
+  end
+
+  local function release()
+    HudTiles.statusTile, HudTiles.tile = realStatusTile, realTile
+    Font.draw, Font.drawCode = realDraw, realCode
+    love.graphics.draw = realGDraw
+  end
+
+  local function capture()
+    instrument()
+    U.wait(2)
+    release()
+    return rec
+  end
+
+  local function hasTile(list, code, x, y)
+    for _, e in ipairs(list) do
+      if e.code == code and e.x == x and e.y == y then return true end
+    end
+    return false
+  end
+  local function anyTile(list, code)
+    for _, e in ipairs(list) do if e.code == code then return e end end
+    return nil
+  end
+  local function hasText(list, s, x, y)
+    for _, e in ipairs(list) do
+      if e.s == s and e.x == x and e.y == y then return true end
+    end
+    return false
+  end
+  local function drewAt(list, x, y)
+    for _, e in ipairs(list) do
+      if e.x == x and e.y == y then return true end
+    end
+    return false
+  end
+
+  -- ======== page 1 =========================================================
+  U.log("======== #280 page 1 ========")
+  local screen, why = openStatsFor(1)
+  if not check("status screen opened" .. (why and (" (" .. why .. ")") or ""),
+               screen ~= nil) then
+    U.log("cannot continue without the status screen")
+  else
+    local p1 = capture()
+    U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug280_page1.png")
+
+    -- (1) MIRRORED PIC: status_screen.asm:170
+    local flipped
+    for _, e in ipairs(p1.imgs) do
+      if e.img == screen.sprite and type(e.sx) == "number" and e.sx < 0 then
+        flipped = e
+      end
+    end
+    check("the pic is drawn mirrored (negative x scale, asm:170)", flipped ~= nil)
+    if flipped then
+      U.log(("pic drawn at x=%d y=%d scale %d,%d"):format(flipped.x, flipped.y,
+                                                          flipped.sx, flipped.sy))
+    end
+
+    -- (2) № GLYPH + DEX COLUMN: asm:109-113 and :143-146
+    check("№ is the single tile $74 at (1,7) = px (8,56)",
+          hasTile(p1.status, 0x74, 8, 56))
+    check("...and it actually reached the screen (tile exists in the sheet)",
+          drewAt(p1.quads, 8, 56))
+    check("<DOT> is drawn as the charmap glyph $F2 at (2,7) = px (16,56)",
+          hasTile(p1.code, 0xF2, 16, 56))
+    check("the 3 dex digits start at (3,7) = px (24,56), a column left of the old \"No.\"",
+          hasText(p1.text, ("%03d"):format(dex or 0), 24, 56))
+    local spelled = false
+    for _, e in ipairs(p1.text) do
+      if e.s:find("No.", 1, true) or e.s:find("IDNo", 1, true) then spelled = true end
+    end
+    check("nothing spells \"No.\" out of letter tiles any more", not spelled)
+
+    -- (3) LEVEL ON PAGE 1: PrintLevel at (14,2) = px (112,16)
+    check("PrintLevel's :L tile $6E sits at (14,2) = px (112,16)",
+          hasTile(p1.status, 0x6E, 112, 16))
+    check("...with the level digits right after it at px (120,16)",
+          hasText(p1.text, tostring(mon.level), 120, 16))
+
+    -- (4) "<ID>№/": asm:205-210, three columns, not five letters
+    check("<ID> is the single tile $73 at (10,13) = px (80,104)",
+          hasTile(p1.status, 0x73, 80, 104))
+    check("№ repeats at (11,13) = px (88,104)", hasTile(p1.status, 0x74, 88, 104))
+    check("...and both reached the screen", drewAt(p1.quads, 80, 104)
+                                            and drewAt(p1.quads, 88, 104))
+    check("the slash follows at px (96,104)", hasText(p1.text, "/", 96, 104))
+
+    -- (5) DrawLineBox rides the STATUS overlay, so $73 stays free for <ID>
+    check("DrawLineBox's vertical is $78, not $73 (asm:222)",
+          anyTile(p1.status, 0x78) ~= nil)
+    local wrongVertical = false
+    for _, e in ipairs(p1.status) do
+      -- a $73 anywhere other than the two <ID> columns would be a line tile
+      if e.code == 0x73 and not (e.x == 80 and e.y == 104) then wrongVertical = true end
+    end
+    check("no $73 is used as a line tile on this screen", not wrongVertical)
+    check("the corner $77 and the run $76 come off the status overlay too",
+          anyTile(p1.status, 0x77) ~= nil and anyTile(p1.status, 0x76) ~= nil)
+    check("the HP bar still comes off the BATTLE table ($62-$6D are identical)",
+          anyTile(p1.battle, 0x71) ~= nil)
+
+    -- ======== page 2 =======================================================
+    U.log("======== #280 page 2 ========")
+    U.tap(game, "a") -- A flips the page (WaitForTextScrollButtonPress)
+    U.wait(10)
+    check("A flipped to page 2", screen.page == 2)
+    local p2 = capture()
+    U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug280_page2.png")
+
+    -- (6) NO LEVEL IN THE HEADER: ClearScreenArea (9,2) 5x10, asm:303-305
+    check("no :L tile at the header slot (14,2) on page 2",
+          not hasTile(p2.status, 0x6E, 112, 16))
+    check("and no level digits there either",
+          not hasText(p2.text, tostring(mon.level), 120, 16))
+
+    -- (7) EXP RIGHT-ALIGNED: PrintNumber 7 columns at (12,4) = px (96,32)
+    check("the exp is padded to 7 columns at px (96,32), not left-aligned",
+          hasText(p2.text, ("%7d"):format(mon.exp), 96, 32))
+
+    -- (8) THE MISSING '<to>': asm:393-397, tile $70 at (14,6) = px (112,48)
+    check("'<to>' is the single tile $70 at (14,6) = px (112,48)",
+          hasTile(p2.status, 0x70, 112, 48))
+    check("...and it reached the screen", drewAt(p2.quads, 112, 48))
+    check("PrintLevel follows at (16,6) = px (128,48)",
+          hasTile(p2.status, 0x6E, 128, 48))
+    check("the № header line is still on page 2 (it is shared)",
+          hasTile(p2.status, 0x74, 8, 56))
+
+    -- (9) the shared PrintLevel port: level 100 loses the ':L' to its third
+    -- digit (home/pokemon.asm), which is the side effect to expect
+    U.tap(game, "a") -- page 2 + A closes the screen
+    U.wait(20)
+    for _ = 1, 20 do
+      if top() and top().screenId == "PartyMenu" then break end
+      U.tap(game, "b")
+      U.wait(6)
+    end
+    for _ = 1, 20 do
+      if top() == game.overworld then break end
+      U.tap(game, "b")
+      U.wait(6)
+    end
+    local mewScreen = openStatsFor(2)
+    if check("status screen opened for the :L100 MEW", mewScreen ~= nil) then
+      local pm = capture()
+      U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug280_level100.png")
+      check("at level 100 PrintLevel drops the :L tile entirely",
+            not hasTile(pm.status, 0x6E, 112, 16))
+      check("...and the three digits start where the :L tile was, px (112,16)",
+            hasText(pm.text, "100", 112, 16))
+    end
+  end
+
+  U.log(("======== machine checks: %d passed, %d failed ========"):format(pass, fail))
+
+  -- ---- hand off with the screen open -------------------------------------
+  -- back to slot 1, page 1: the screen the reporter photographed
+  for _ = 1, 30 do
+    if top() == game.overworld then break end
+    U.tap(game, "b")
+    U.wait(6)
+  end
+  openStatsFor(1)
+
+  U.log("NIDORINO's status page 1 is up; A flips to page 2, A again closes.")
+  U.log("Page 1: pic faces RIGHT, the dex line is one '№' glyph + raised dot +")
+  U.log("'033', ':L42' in the header, ID line is 'ID' '№' '/'.  Page 2: no")
+  U.log("level, EXP right-aligned, a narrow 'to' before ':L43' (#280).")
+  U.log("Slot 2's :L100 MEW drops its ':L': that is PrintLevel, not a bug.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/text_scroll_bug314_test.lua b/tests/drivers/text_scroll_bug314_test.lua
index 8d3a22fc..259338bd 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/text_scroll_bug314_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/text_scroll_bug314_test.lua
@@ -1,28 +1,9 @@
--- Driver: manual look at scrolling text staying inside its box (#314).
---
--- Reported against Oak's speech after the champion, which is where players
--- meet it, but the defect was in every text box that scrolls.  TextBox:draw
--- added the scroll offset to both visible lines, so for the four frames of
--- the slide the incoming line was drawn 8px low -- exactly on the box's
--- bottom border row -- and whenever the typewriter got a character out
--- during those frames, that character appeared on the border.
---
--- pokered does not do a sub-tile scroll at all: ScrollTextUpOneLine
--- (home/text.asm:283) copies the three text rows up a whole row, blanks the
--- bottom one, and waits 5 frames.  Nothing is ever drawn between two rows.
---
--- tests/parity_text_scroll_bounds.lua asserts the invariant directly (no
--- body glyph below line2Y at any point in the scroll), which is a tighter
--- check than an eye can make.  This driver exists so the exact reported
--- moment can be watched without beating the Elite Four: it opens the real
--- _HallOfFameOakText, the same string the Hall of Fame script shows.
---
--- Do NOT add POKEPORT_SPEED: the scroll is four frames long and the
--- typewriter races it, so scaling the logic clock changes the very overlap
--- being judged.
---
---   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/text_scroll_bug314_test.lua \
---     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug314 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red love .
+-- Driver: scrolling text must stay inside its box (#314).  Opens the real
+-- _HallOfFameOakText so the reported moment is watchable without beating
+-- the Elite Four; tests/parity_text_scroll_bounds.lua asserts the bound.
+-- pokered never scrolls sub-tile: ScrollTextUpOneLine (home/text.asm:283)
+-- copies whole rows.  No POKEPORT_SPEED: the typewriter races the scroll.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/text_scroll_bug314_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug314 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red love .
 return function(game)
   local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
   local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
@@ -34,10 +15,8 @@ return function(game)
     return ok
   end
 
-  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot check --------------------------------
-  -- The bug only shows on a box that scrolls, and a box only scrolls when
-  -- the text carries \v (cont) markers.  A text with none would look fine
-  -- while proving nothing.
+  -- a box only scrolls when the text carries \v (cont) markers, so a text
+  -- with none would look fine while proving nothing
   local text = game.data.text[TEXT_KEY]
   check(TEXT_KEY .. " is in the extracted text", type(text) == "string")
   local conts = 0
@@ -46,7 +25,6 @@ return function(game)
   U.log("   " .. TEXT_KEY .. " has", conts, "cont markers and",
         select(2, tostring(text):gsub("\f", "")), "page breaks")
 
-  -- the page geometry the glyphs have to stay inside
   local probe = TextBox.new(game, "probe")
   U.log("   box rows: line1Y =", probe.line1Y, " line2Y =", probe.line2Y,
         " bottom border row starts at y =",
@@ -61,9 +39,7 @@ return function(game)
     U.log("      the typewriter most often beats the four-frame scroll.")
   end
 
-  -- ---- put the speech on screen ------------------------------------------
-  -- somewhere quiet with a plain background, so the box border is easy to
-  -- read against it
+  -- a plain background, so the box border is easy to read against it
   U.teleport(game, "PALLET_TOWN", 5, 6, "down")
   U.wait(10)
 
@@ -74,10 +50,8 @@ return function(game)
   U.shot(game, SHOT_DIR .. "/bug314_hof_speech.png")
   U.log("captured", SHOT_DIR .. "/bug314_hof_speech.png")
 
-  -- Drive the first few cont scrolls and capture one mid-slide: scrollPx
-  -- starts at 8 and drains 2 per drawn frame, so the border overlap (when
-  -- it exists at all) is on screen for about four frames and is very easy
-  -- to blink past by hand.
+  -- scrollPx starts at 8 and drains 2 per drawn frame, so any overlap is
+  -- on screen for about four frames: capture it rather than blink past it
   local shots, scrolls = 0, 0
   for _ = 1, 240 do
     if box.waiting then
@@ -98,26 +72,11 @@ return function(game)
   end
   check("the box actually scrolled at least once", scrolls > 0)
 
-  -- ---- hand off, then stay out of the way --------------------------------
-  U.log("........................................................")
-  U.log("LOOK NOW: Oak's Hall of Fame speech is open, the same string the")
-  U.log("champion cutscene shows, already advanced through its first few")
-  U.log("scrolls (see the mid-scroll captures above).  Press A to walk")
-  U.log("through the rest and watch the BOTTOM BORDER of the box each")
-  U.log("time a line scrolls up.")
-  U.log("  RIGHT: the old line slides up into the top row while the new")
-  U.log("         line types along the bottom row, always clear of the")
-  U.log("         border.  The blinking arrow sits in the border corner --")
-  U.log("         that one belongs there.")
-  U.log("  BUG #314 looks like: as a line scrolls, the first character or")
-  U.log("         two of the incoming line flash ON the bottom border,")
-  U.log("         cutting through the box edge, then jump up into place.")
-  U.log("  ALSO WRONG: the two lines bunch together mid-scroll and never")
-  U.log("         separate, or the top line slides up through the top")
-  U.log("         border instead of stopping at the first text row.")
-  U.log("Input is yours from here on.  Re-run with TEXT SPEED on FAST if")
-  U.log("nothing shows -- that is when the typewriter beats the scroll.")
-  U.log("........................................................")
+  -- hand off, then stay out of the way
+  U.log("Oak's Hall of Fame speech is open and already a few scrolls in.")
+  U.log("Press A through the rest: as each line slides up, no glyph may")
+  U.log("touch the box's bottom border (#314).  The blinking arrow is fine.")
+  U.log("Re-run on FAST text speed if nothing shows.")
 
   while true do
     coroutine.yield()
diff --git a/tests/drivers/trainer_ball_bug291_test.lua b/tests/drivers/trainer_ball_bug291_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a7cddba3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/trainer_ball_bug291_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+-- Driver: a ball thrown at a trainer's mon is blocked, with the animation and
+-- the turn it costs (#291).  ItemUseBall branches to ThrowBallAtTrainerMon
+-- before it prints the "used <ITEM>" line (engine/items/item_effects.asm:109-113,
+-- 2292-2303), and TossBallAnimation's .BlockBall plays TOSS_ANIM,
+-- SFX_FAINT_THUD, BLOCKBALL_ANIM (engine/battle/animations.asm:2629-2637).
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/trainer_ball_bug291_test.lua SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  local OPP, ROSTER, BALL = "OPP_YOUNGSTER", 1, "POKE_BALL"
+
+  -- ---- preconditions neither the eye nor the ear can separate ------------
+  -- A missing anim program plays nothing, a missing sfx key is a silent no-op
+  -- in Sound.play, and a missing text entry falls back to a differently cased
+  -- literal.  All three read as the bug.
+  local ma = game.data.battle_anims and game.data.battle_anims.moveAnims
+  check("TOSS_ANIM has an extracted animation program",
+        ma ~= nil and ma.TOSS_ANIM ~= nil)
+  check("BLOCKBALL_ANIM has an extracted animation program",
+        ma ~= nil and ma.BLOCKBALL_ANIM ~= nil)
+  local sfx = game.data.audio and game.data.audio.sfx
+  check("SFX_FAINT_THUD resolves as Faint_Thud",
+        sfx ~= nil and sfx.Faint_Thud ~= nil)
+  local t1 = game.data.text and game.data.text._ThrowBallAtTrainerMonText1
+  local t2 = game.data.text and game.data.text._ThrowBallAtTrainerMonText2
+  check("_ThrowBallAtTrainerMonText1 is in the generated text",
+        type(t1) == "string")
+  check("_ThrowBallAtTrainerMonText2 is in the generated text",
+        type(t2) == "string")
+  if type(t1) == "string" then
+    U.log("block line reads:", (t1:gsub("\n", " / ")))
+    check("it is the ROM's lower-case \"trainer\", not \"The TRAINER\"",
+          t1:find("The trainer", 1, true) ~= nil)
+  end
+  check("trainer class " .. OPP .. " is in the data",
+        game.data.trainers ~= nil and game.data.trainers[OPP] ~= nil)
+  check("the ball item exists", game.data.items[BALL] ~= nil)
+
+  -- the thud is the middle beat of the three, and a muted run cannot tell it
+  -- from a thud that never plays
+  local vol = game.save.options and game.save.options.sfxVol
+  U.log("audio device present:", love.audio ~= nil,
+        "  SFX VOL (0-7):", tostring(vol))
+  if not love.audio or vol == 0 then
+    U.log("WARNING: sound output is off, so the FAINT THUD below will be",
+          "inaudible; raise SFX VOL in OPTION first")
+  end
+
+  game.save.player.name = "bryan"
+  game.save.party = { Pokemon.new(game.data, "CHARIZARD", 50) }
+  -- exactly one bag entry, so the bag cursor starts on the ball
+  game.save.inventory = { [BALL] = 5 }
+  check("the bag holds " .. BALL, (game.save.inventory[BALL] or 0) > 0)
+
+  U.teleport(game, "PALLET_TOWN", 10, 8, "down")
+  U.wait(20)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+  check("overworld is up to push the battle from", ow ~= nil)
+
+  local ok, battle = pcall(BattleState.newTrainer, game, OPP, ROSTER)
+  check("trainer battle constructed", ok and battle ~= nil)
+  if not ok then
+    U.log("could not start", OPP, "->", tostring(battle))
+    while true do coroutine.yield() end
+  end
+  check("battle kind is trainer (a wild throw is the control, not this)",
+        battle.kind == "trainer")
+  battle.onFinish = function() end
+  ow:pushBattle(battle)
+
+  local function tapUntil(cond, taps, gap)
+    for _ = 1, (taps or 60) do
+      if cond() then return true end
+      U.tap(game, "a")
+      for _ = 1, (gap or 6) do
+        if cond() then return true end
+        U.wait(1)
+      end
+    end
+    return cond()
+  end
+
+  local function waitUntil(cond, frames)
+    for _ = 1, (frames or 120) do
+      if cond() then return true end
+      U.wait(1)
+    end
+    return cond()
+  end
+
+  check("reached the FIGHT/PKMN/ITEM/RUN menu",
+        tapUntil(function() return battle.phase == "menu" end, 60))
+
+  -- The 2x2 command menu is fight/pkmn/item/run (BattleState.lua:1378-1387,
+  -- DisplayBattleMenu): one press of DOWN from FIGHT lands on ITEM.
+  U.tap(game, "down")
+  U.wait(6)
+  check("cursor is on ITEM", battle.menuIndex == 3)
+  U.tap(game, "a")     -- open the bag
+  U.wait(20)
+  U.tap(game, "a")     -- A on the only entry: no USE/TOSS box mid-battle
+  U.wait(6)
+
+  -- Poll rather than sleep, so the arc is caught on the frame it starts.
+  local sawToss = waitUntil(function() return battle.animName == "TOSS_ANIM" end,
+                            180)
+  check("the ball was thrown from the real bag (TOSS_ANIM playing)", sawToss)
+  if sawToss then
+    check("toss screenshot reached disk",
+          U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug291_toss.png"))
+    U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug291_toss.png")
+  end
+
+  local sawBlock = waitUntil(
+    function() return battle.animName == "BLOCKBALL_ANIM" end, 240)
+  check("the trainer's block animation played (#291)", sawBlock)
+  if sawBlock then
+    check("block screenshot reached disk",
+          U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug291_blockball.png"))
+    U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug291_blockball.png")
+  end
+
+  -- Stop on the block text, so the box is up at hand-off and the human's own A
+  -- press is what starts the foe's turn.
+  waitUntil(function()
+    return battle.shown and battle.shown[1] ~= nil and not battle.animPlaying
+  end, 240)
+  check("block text screenshot reached disk",
+        U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug291_block_text.png"))
+  U.log("captured", DIR .. "/bug291_block_text.png")
+  check("the ball was consumed by the throw",
+        (game.save.inventory[BALL] or 0) == 4)
+
+  -- ---- hand off, then stay out of the way --------------------------------
+  U.log("A POKe BALL has been thrown at the trainer's RATTATA; the box is the")
+  U.log("result. No \"bryan used POKe BALL!\" line: just the arc, a FAINT THUD, the")
+  U.log("BLOCKBALL flash, the block text, then the foe attacking, because the")
+  U.log("throw costs the turn (#291). Wild battles do still print the used line.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/trainer_run_bug239_test.lua b/tests/drivers/trainer_run_bug239_test.lua
index 67d9f078..48ed5537 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/trainer_run_bug239_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/trainer_run_bug239_test.lua
@@ -1,24 +1,8 @@
 -- Driver: the trainer-battle run refusal prints its third line (#239).
--- A manual eye check, not a pass/fail run.
---
--- pokered evidence.  The string is three lines wide in a two-line box, and
 -- data/generated/text.lua keeps the original's markers:
---
 --   _NoRunningText = "No! There's no\nrunning from a\011trainer battle!"
---
--- \011 is \v, which src/render/TextBox.lua treats as ContText: show the
--- down-arrow, wait for a button, then scroll the third line in.  The port
--- had hard-coded the same words with three \n instead, so all three lines
--- were queued onto a page that only shows two, "trainer battle!" was never
--- reached, and the command menu came straight back.
---
--- The fix reads _NoRunningText from the generated data, with a correctly
--- marked literal as the fallback for an older cache.
---
--- Do NOT run this under POKEPORT_SPEED.  Fast-forward scales only the logic
--- clock while the typewriter runs on its own real-time accumulator
--- (src/core/Game.lua), so the pause being judged here would desynchronize.
---
+-- \011 is \v (ContText): down-arrow, wait, then scroll line 3 in; the port
+-- hard-coded three \n.  No POKEPORT_SPEED, the typewriter is real-time.
 --   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/trainer_run_bug239_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug239 love .
 return function(game)
   local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
@@ -31,10 +15,8 @@ return function(game)
     return ok
   end
 
-  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot separate from the bug ----------------
-  -- A wild battle instead of a trainer one shows no refusal at all, which
-  -- is not the same failure as a refusal that truncates.
-
+  -- a wild battle shows no refusal at all, which is not the same failure
+  -- as a refusal that truncates
   local text = game.data.text and game.data.text._NoRunningText
   check("_NoRunningText is in the generated text", type(text) == "string")
   if type(text) == "string" then
@@ -54,8 +36,7 @@ return function(game)
   U.teleport(game, "PALLET_TOWN", 10, 8, "down")
   U.wait(20)
 
-  -- any trainer class works; the refusal is keyed on kind == "trainer",
-  -- not on who the trainer is
+  -- any class works: the refusal is keyed on kind == "trainer"
   local OPP = "OPP_YOUNGSTER"
   check("trainer class " .. OPP .. " exists in the data",
         game.data.trainers and game.data.trainers[OPP] ~= nil)
@@ -72,24 +53,10 @@ return function(game)
     U.wait(120) -- let the intro text and the throw settle
   end
 
-  U.log("........................................................")
-  U.log("READ NOW: choose RUN from the battle command menu.")
-  U.log("  RIGHT: 'No! There's no / running from a' fills the box, it holds")
-  U.log("         with a down-arrow until you press a button, and only then")
-  U.log("         does 'trainer battle!' scroll in. The command menu comes")
-  U.log("         back after that.")
-  U.log("  BUG #239 looks like: the box showing the first two lines and the")
-  U.log("         command menu snapping straight back, so the sentence ends")
-  U.log("         mid-phrase at 'running from a'.")
-  U.log("  ALSO WRONG: all three lines appearing at once with no pause (the")
-  U.log("         box only holds two, so something is overflowing), or the")
-  U.log("         third line arriving on a cleared page (that is \\f, not")
-  U.log("         \\v -- the original scrolls, it does not blank the box).")
-  U.log("Control case: run from a WILD battle and you should get the escape")
-  U.log("  roll instead, with no refusal text at all.")
-  U.log("Input is yours from here, so RUN can be re-selected as often as")
-  U.log("you like.")
-  U.log("........................................................")
+  U.log("Choose RUN from the battle command menu.  The box should hold on")
+  U.log("'running from a' with a down-arrow until you press a button, then")
+  U.log("scroll 'trainer battle!' in (#239 cut the sentence off there).")
+  U.log("Control: running from a WILD battle gets the escape roll, no text.")
 
   while true do
     coroutine.yield()
diff --git a/tests/drivers/trainer_sight_walls_test.lua b/tests/drivers/trainer_sight_walls_test.lua
index 3b27fedb..845f1732 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/trainer_sight_walls_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/trainer_sight_walls_test.lua
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 -- Forest / Victory Road trainers aggro through trees and walls.
 --
 -- Scene A: VIRIDIAN_FOREST (18,33), west of tree wall vs Bug Catcher
---          (30,33) LEFT range 4 — dx=12 pixel-wrap must NOT engage.
--- Scene B: same trainer at (26,33) on-screen — MUST engage + walk-up.
--- Scene C: VICTORY_ROAD_2F (0,9) vs Hiker (12,9) — dx=12 must NOT engage.
+--          (30,33) LEFT range 4 -- dx=12 pixel-wrap must NOT engage.
+-- Scene B: same trainer at (26,33) on-screen -- MUST engage + walk-up.
+-- Scene C: VICTORY_ROAD_2F (0,9) vs Hiker (12,9) -- dx=12 must NOT engage.
 
 return function(game)
   local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
diff --git a/tests/drivers/trainer_victory_bug282_test.lua b/tests/drivers/trainer_victory_bug282_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..26b4132c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/trainer_victory_bug282_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+-- Driver: the beaten trainer scrolls back in and says his own line ON the
+-- battle screen, before the prize money (#282).  Order is pokered
+-- engine/battle/core.asm:915-949: defeat text, scroll-in, 40 frames,
+-- EndBattleText, money.  No POKEPORT_SPEED on this run.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/trainer_victory_bug282_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug282 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+  local Growth = require("src.pokemon.Growth")
+  local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+
+  -- pokered data/maps/objects/Route3.asm: object_event 10, 6, ... RIGHT,
+  -- OPP_BUG_CATCHER, 4.  The sight line runs east along row 6, so (13,6) is
+  -- one cell outside it; party 4 is three bug mons a :L15 CHARMANDER beats.
+  local MAP = "ROUTE_3"
+  local MAP_LABEL = "Route3"
+  local TRAINER = "ROUTE3_YOUNGSTER1"
+  local TRAINER_INDEX = 2
+  local STAND = { x = 13, y = 6, facing = "left" }
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot check --------------------------------
+  -- A missing EndBattleText and a fix that never fires look identical on
+  -- screen: defeat text straight to money, nothing in between.
+  local header = game.data:trainerHeader(MAP_LABEL, TRAINER_INDEX)
+  check(TRAINER .. " has a trainer header", header ~= nil)
+  local wonKey = header and header.won
+  check("the header names an EndBattleText", wonKey ~= nil)
+  local wonText = wonKey and game.data.text[wonKey]
+  check("that text resolves to a string",
+        type(wonText) == "string" and wonText ~= "")
+  if type(wonText) == "string" then
+    U.log("  " .. tostring(wonKey) .. " reads:", (wonText:gsub("\n", " / ")))
+  end
+
+  local mapDef = game.data.maps[MAP]
+  local trainerDef
+  for _, o in ipairs(mapDef and mapDef.objects or {}) do
+    if o.name == TRAINER then trainerDef = o end
+  end
+  check(TRAINER .. " is still on " .. MAP, trainerDef ~= nil)
+  local partyDef = trainerDef
+    and game.data.trainers[trainerDef.trainerClass]
+    and game.data.trainers[trainerDef.trainerClass].parties[trainerDef.trainerParty]
+  check("its party is still loadable", partyDef ~= nil)
+  if partyDef then
+    local names = {}
+    for _, slot in ipairs(partyDef) do
+      names[#names + 1] = slot.species .. " :L" .. slot.level
+    end
+    U.log("  fighting:", trainerDef.trainerClass, "party",
+          trainerDef.trainerParty, "--", table.concat(names, ", "))
+  end
+
+  -- ---- a mon that will evolve off the back of this fight -----------------
+  -- The pacing half of the report: with the loss line inside the battle, the
+  -- evolution follows it directly instead of sitting between two overworld
+  -- cuts.  Park the mon one exp point short of its evolution level.
+  local def = game.data.pokemon.CHARMANDER
+  local evoLevel
+  for _, evo in ipairs((def and def.evolutions) or {}) do
+    if evo.level then evoLevel = evo.level end
+  end
+  check("CHARMANDER still has a level evolution", evoLevel ~= nil)
+  local mon = Pokemon.new(game.data, "CHARMANDER", (evoLevel or 16) - 1)
+  mon.exp = Growth.expForLevel(def.growthRate, evoLevel or 16) - 1
+  game.save.party = { mon }
+  U.log("  party: CHARMANDER :L" .. mon.level, "exp", mon.exp,
+        "-- one point short of :L" .. tostring(evoLevel))
+
+  -- ---- walk into the trainer's sight line --------------------------------
+  U.teleport(game, MAP, STAND.x, STAND.y, STAND.facing)
+  U.wait(10)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+  check("the overworld is up on " .. MAP, ow ~= nil)
+
+  local function liveBattle()
+    for _, s in ipairs(game.stack.states or {}) do
+      if getmetatable(s) == BattleState then return s end
+    end
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  local npc
+  for _, n in ipairs((ow and ow.npcs) or {}) do
+    if n.def and n.def.name == TRAINER then npc = n end
+  end
+  check("the trainer object loaded on the live map", npc ~= nil)
+  if npc and npc.cellY ~= STAND.y then
+    -- a map edit moved him: approach from wherever he stands now
+    U.log("trainer moved to", npc.cellX, npc.cellY, "-- re-approaching")
+    U.teleport(game, MAP, npc.cellX + 3, npc.cellY, "left")
+    U.wait(10)
+  end
+
+  local battle
+  for _ = 1, 12 do
+    U.hold(game, "left", 12)
+    U.wait(20)
+    battle = liveBattle()
+    if battle then break end
+    -- the pre-battle line ("Hey! You have POKéMON!") holds the overworld
+    U.tap(game, "a")
+    U.wait(20)
+    battle = liveBattle()
+    if battle then break end
+  end
+  check("the trainer battle started", battle ~= nil)
+  if not battle then
+    U.log("FAIL nothing to show -- walk left along row 6 into the BUG CATCHER")
+    while true do coroutine.yield() end
+  end
+
+  -- The loss line has to be handed to the battle (engageTrainer sets
+  -- battle.endBattleText) instead of left for the overworld to print.
+  check("the battle carries the trainer's EndBattleText (#282)",
+        type(battle.endBattleText) == "string" and battle.endBattleText ~= "")
+  if type(battle.endBattleText) == "string" then
+    U.log("  battle.endBattleText =",
+          (battle.endBattleText:gsub("\n", " / "):gsub("\f", " <page> ")))
+  end
+
+  -- ---- win it ------------------------------------------------------------
+  -- Stop the moment the battle is decided, so the whole victory sequence is
+  -- still ahead of the player.
+  for _ = 1, 900 do
+    if battle.result then break end
+    U.tap(game, "a")
+    U.wait(4)
+  end
+  check("the battle was won", battle.result == "win")
+  if battle.result ~= "win" then
+    U.log("FAIL result was", tostring(battle.result),
+          "-- the party may have been too weak; nothing below applies")
+  end
+
+  -- the victory sequence is still queued; the loss line has to be one of its
+  -- rows, not something the overworld prints later
+  local queuedLoss, queuedMoney = false, false
+  local firstWord = (battle.endBattleText or ""):match("^%S+") or "\1"
+  for _, row in ipairs(battle.queue or {}) do
+    if row.text then
+      if row.text:find(firstWord, 1, true) then queuedLoss = true end
+      if row.text:find("winning", 1, true) then queuedMoney = true end
+    end
+  end
+  check("the trainer's loss line is queued INSIDE the battle", queuedLoss)
+  check("the prize money is queued behind it", queuedMoney)
+
+  -- step past the exp / level-up rows so the player's very next A press is
+  -- the one that starts the scroll-in
+  for _ = 1, 400 do
+    local cur = battle.current
+    if cur and cur.text and cur.text:find("defeated", 1, true) then break end
+    U.tap(game, "a")
+    U.wait(4)
+  end
+  local cur = battle.current
+  check("stopped on the defeat line",
+        cur ~= nil and cur.text ~= nil
+        and cur.text:find("defeated", 1, true) ~= nil)
+  if not U.shot(game, DIR .. "/bug282_1_defeat_text.png") then
+    U.log("FAIL could not capture the defeat line")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- hand off ----------------------------------------------------------
+  U.log("The fight is won and the defeat line is up.  Press A once, then")
+  U.log("watch without touching anything for a couple of seconds.")
+  U.log("His picture should scroll in from the right and settle two tiles")
+  U.log("right of the battle slot with no pokeballs beside it, pause, print")
+  U.log("his own line, then the prize money, and only then cut back to")
+  U.log("Route 3 (#282).  The CHARMANDER evolves straight off the fight.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/victory_road_reset_bug258_test.lua b/tests/drivers/victory_road_reset_bug258_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ea9d3395
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/victory_road_reset_bug258_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+-- Driver: the Victory Road boulder puzzle resets on re-entry via Route 23
+-- (#258).  scripts/Route23.asm:8 clears the 2F/3F switch events on every entry
+-- and VictoryRoad2F.asm:19 clears 1F's, so each floor restamps its own block.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/victory_road_reset_bug258_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug258 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red \
+--     SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local mapScripts = require("data.scripts.init")
+  local SHOT_DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  local SW1F = "EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_1_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH"
+  local SW2A = "EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_2_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH1"
+  local SW2B = "EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_2_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH2"
+  local SW3A = "EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_3_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH1"
+  local SW3B = "EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_3_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH2"
+
+  -- Barriers are BLOCK coords: block (bx,by) covers cells (2bx,2by) ..
+  -- (2bx+1,2by+1).  sx/sy is the walkable cell immediately west of each one,
+  -- so the barrier fills the view just right of the player.
+  local B1F  = { map = "VICTORY_ROAD_1F", bx = 4,  by = 6, open = 0x1D, shut = 0x25,
+                 sx = 7,  sy = 12 }
+  local B2A  = { map = "VICTORY_ROAD_2F", bx = 3,  by = 4, open = 0x15, shut = 0x37,
+                 sx = 5,  sy = 8 }
+  local B2B  = { map = "VICTORY_ROAD_2F", bx = 11, by = 7, open = 0x1D, shut = 0x25,
+                 sx = 21, sy = 14 }
+  local B3   = { map = "VICTORY_ROAD_3F", bx = 3,  by = 5, open = 0x1D, shut = 0x25,
+                 sx = 5,  sy = 10 }
+  -- the hole at 3F (23,15) and the boulder that lives beside it
+  local HOLE = { x = 23, y = 15 }
+  local ROCK3F = { name = "VICTORYROAD3F_BOULDER4", x = 22, y = 15, sx = 21, sy = 15 }
+  local ROCK2F = { name = "VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER3", x = 23, y = 16, sx = 22, sy = 16 }
+
+  -- ---- preconditions -----------------------------------------------------
+  -- a missing onEnter, a renamed object and a barrier that never redraws all
+  -- look the same on screen: the same picture twice
+
+  for _, id in ipairs({ "ROUTE_23", "VICTORY_ROAD_1F", "VICTORY_ROAD_2F",
+                        "VICTORY_ROAD_3F" }) do
+    local h = mapScripts.get(id)
+    check(id .. " has an onEnter hook", h ~= nil and type(h.onEnter) == "function")
+  end
+
+  local function blockAt(mapId, bx, by)
+    local def = game.data.maps[mapId]
+    return def.blocks[by * def.width + bx + 1]
+  end
+
+  local function objectNamed(mapId, name)
+    for _, o in ipairs(game.data.maps[mapId].objects or {}) do
+      if o.name == name then return o end
+    end
+    return nil
+  end
+  check("VICTORY_ROAD_3F really has " .. ROCK3F.name,
+        objectNamed("VICTORY_ROAD_3F", ROCK3F.name) ~= nil)
+  check("VICTORY_ROAD_2F really has " .. ROCK2F.name,
+        objectNamed("VICTORY_ROAD_2F", ROCK2F.name) ~= nil)
+
+  -- ---- helpers -----------------------------------------------------------
+  local function goto_(mapId, x, y, facing)
+    U.teleport(game, mapId, x, y, facing or "right")
+    U.wait(12)
+    return game.overworld
+  end
+
+  -- stand west of a barrier and record the live block id, so the screenshot is
+  -- never the only evidence
+  local function shootBarrier(b, tag, wantOpen)
+    goto_(b.map, b.sx, b.sy, "right")
+    local got = blockAt(b.map, b.bx, b.by)
+    local want = wantOpen and b.open or b.shut
+    check(("%s block (%d,%d) is 0x%02X (%s) -- %s")
+            :format(b.map, b.bx, b.by, want, wantOpen and "open" or "solid rock", tag),
+          got == want)
+    if got ~= want then
+      U.log(("  actually 0x%02X"):format(got or -1))
+    end
+    local path = ("%s/bug258_%s.png"):format(SHOT_DIR, tag)
+    if not U.shot(game, path) then check("screenshot reached disk: " .. tag, false) end
+  end
+
+  local function npcNamed(ow, name)
+    for _, n in ipairs(ow.npcs or {}) do
+      if n.def and n.def.name == name then return n end
+    end
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  -- ---- 2F: solve both switches, then walk Route 23 -----------------------
+  game.save.flags[SW2A] = true
+  game.save.flags[SW2B] = true
+  shootBarrier(B2A, "2f_barrier1_solved", true)
+  shootBarrier(B2B, "2f_barrier2_solved", true)
+
+  goto_("ROUTE_23", 8, 71, "down")
+  check("Route 23 cleared 2F switch 1", not game.save.flags[SW2A])
+  check("Route 23 cleared 2F switch 2", not game.save.flags[SW2B])
+  check("Route 23 cleared 3F switch 1", not game.save.flags[SW3A])
+  check("Route 23 cleared 3F switch 2", not game.save.flags[SW3B])
+
+  shootBarrier(B2A, "2f_barrier1_after_route23", false)
+  shootBarrier(B2B, "2f_barrier2_after_route23", false)
+
+  -- ---- 3F: same barrier, and the boulder that fell through the hole ------
+  game.save.flags[SW3A] = true
+  shootBarrier(B3, "3f_barrier_solved", true)
+
+  -- push the boulder into the hole for real: the map's own object moved onto
+  -- (23,15), then onBoulderMoved, the same call checkBoulderPush makes
+  local ow = goto_("VICTORY_ROAD_3F", ROCK3F.sx, ROCK3F.sy, "right")
+  local rock = npcNamed(ow, ROCK3F.name)
+  if check("the 3F boulder is standing beside the hole", rock ~= nil) then
+    U.shot(game, SHOT_DIR .. "/bug258_3f_boulder_before_hole.png")
+    rock.cellX, rock.cellY = HOLE.x, HOLE.y
+    rock.px, rock.py = HOLE.x * 16, HOLE.y * 16
+    local hooks = mapScripts.get("VICTORY_ROAD_3F")
+    hooks.onBoulderMoved(game, ow, rock)
+    U.wait(10)
+    check("the hole sets 3F switch 2 (CheckAndSetEvent)", game.save.flags[SW3B] == true)
+    check("the boulder is gone from 3F", npcNamed(game.overworld, ROCK3F.name) == nil)
+    U.shot(game, SHOT_DIR .. "/bug258_3f_boulder_gone.png")
+  end
+
+  local ow2 = goto_("VICTORY_ROAD_2F", ROCK2F.sx, ROCK2F.sy, "right")
+  check("the boulder has arrived on 2F beside switch 2",
+        npcNamed(ow2, ROCK2F.name) ~= nil)
+  U.shot(game, SHOT_DIR .. "/bug258_2f_boulder_arrived.png")
+
+  goto_("ROUTE_23", 8, 71, "down")
+  shootBarrier(B3, "3f_barrier_after_route23", false)
+
+  local ow3 = goto_("VICTORY_ROAD_3F", ROCK3F.sx, ROCK3F.sy, "right")
+  check("after Route 23 the boulder is back beside the 3F hole",
+        npcNamed(ow3, ROCK3F.name) ~= nil)
+  U.shot(game, SHOT_DIR .. "/bug258_3f_boulder_back.png")
+
+  local ow4 = goto_("VICTORY_ROAD_2F", ROCK2F.sx, ROCK2F.sy, "right")
+  check("and the 2F copy is gone again", npcNamed(ow4, ROCK2F.name) == nil)
+  U.shot(game, SHOT_DIR .. "/bug258_2f_boulder_gone.png")
+
+  -- ---- 1F: entering 2F closes the barrier behind you ---------------------
+  game.save.flags[SW1F] = true
+  shootBarrier(B1F, "1f_barrier_solved", true)
+  goto_("VICTORY_ROAD_2F", B2A.sx, B2A.sy, "right")
+  check("entering 2F cleared the 1F switch event", not game.save.flags[SW1F])
+  shootBarrier(B1F, "1f_barrier_after_2f", false)
+
+  -- ---- hand off ----------------------------------------------------------
+  -- leave the player looking at the reset 3F barrier
+  game.save.flags[SW3A] = nil
+  goto_(B3.map, B3.sx, B3.sy, "right")
+
+  U.log("Victory Road 3F, just west of the barrier at block (3,5).  The puzzle")
+  U.log("was solved and reset once already, so expect solid rock and the boulder")
+  U.log("back beside the 3F hole at (22,15); #258 was the gap staying open.")
+  U.log("Shots in " .. SHOT_DIR .. "/bug258_*.png (_solved / _after_route23).")
+  U.log("A switch you solve now still opens its barrier while you stay on 3F.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/viridian_oldman_bug234_test.lua b/tests/drivers/viridian_oldman_bug234_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c5e0d9a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/viridian_oldman_bug234_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,230 @@
+-- Driver: the Viridian old-man swap is re-applied for an imported save (#234).
+-- pokered data/maps/toggleable_objects.asm:48 ships the sleeper ON and the
+-- walker OFF; only OaksLabOakGivesPokedexScript flips the pair.  GenSave does
+-- not model wToggleableObjectFlags, so story.lua's onEnter re-derives it.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/viridian_oldman_bug234_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug234 POKEPORT_VERSION=red SHOT_DIR=/tmp/shots love .
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+  local mapScripts = require("data.scripts.init")
+  local OverworldState = require("src.world.OverworldController")
+  local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+
+  local MAP = "VIRIDIAN_CITY"
+  local SLEEPER = "VIRIDIANCITY_OLD_MAN_SLEEPY"
+  local WALKER = "VIRIDIANCITY_OLD_MAN"
+  local MAP_LABEL = "ViridianCity"
+  local SHOT_DIR = os.getenv("SHOT_DIR") or "/tmp/shots"
+
+  -- ../pokered/data/maps/objects/ViridianCity.asm:
+  --   object_event 18, 9, SPRITE_GAMBLER_ASLEEP, STAY, NONE, ..._OLD_MAN_SLEEPY
+  --   object_event 17, 5, SPRITE_GAMBLER,        WALK, LEFT_RIGHT, ..._OLD_MAN
+  local SLEEPER_XY = { x = 18, y = 9 }
+  local WALKER_XY = { x = 17, y = 5 }
+  -- (18,7) sits in the three-cell north corridor with the sleeper's patch two
+  -- cells south and the walker two north, so one screen holds both
+  local VIEW = { x = 18, y = 7, facing = "down" }
+  -- (17,6) is the only free floor under the walker's home cell ((16,6) is wall)
+  local TALK = { x = 17, y = 6, facing = "up" }
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  local function objDef(name)
+    for _, o in ipairs(game.data.maps[MAP].objects or {}) do
+      if o.name == name then return o end
+    end
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  local function npcNamed(name)
+    local ow = game.overworld
+    for _, n in ipairs((ow and ow.npcs) or {}) do
+      if n.def and n.def.name == name then return n end
+    end
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  -- ---- preconditions the eye cannot check --------------------------------
+  local hooks = mapScripts.get(MAP)
+  check(MAP .. " has a map-script table", type(hooks) == "table")
+  -- a base file that replaces the whole M.VIRIDIAN_CITY entry leaves the
+  -- sleeper exactly where the bug left him, with nothing on screen to say why
+  check(MAP .. ".onEnter survived the base-script merge",
+        type(hooks) == "table" and type(hooks.onEnter) == "function")
+
+  local sleeperDef, walkerDef = objDef(SLEEPER), objDef(WALKER)
+  check(SLEEPER .. " exists in the map data", sleeperDef ~= nil)
+  check(WALKER .. " exists in the map data", walkerDef ~= nil)
+  if sleeperDef then
+    check(("%s sits at (%d,%d) as in ViridianCity.asm")
+            :format(SLEEPER, SLEEPER_XY.x, SLEEPER_XY.y),
+          sleeperDef.x == SLEEPER_XY.x and sleeperDef.y == SLEEPER_XY.y)
+    -- toggleable_objects.asm has him ON, so the extractor must NOT mark him
+    -- hidden: that default is the whole reason he is still there
+    check(SLEEPER .. " defaults to VISIBLE (toggle_object_state ... ON)",
+          not sleeperDef.hidden)
+  end
+  if walkerDef then
+    check(("%s sits at (%d,%d) as in ViridianCity.asm")
+            :format(WALKER, WALKER_XY.x, WALKER_XY.y),
+          walkerDef.x == WALKER_XY.x and walkerDef.y == WALKER_XY.y)
+    check(WALKER .. " defaults to HIDDEN (toggle_object_state ... OFF)",
+          walkerDef.hidden == true)
+    check(WALKER .. " is the pacing GAMBLER, not the asleep sprite",
+          walkerDef.sprite == "SPRITE_GAMBLER")
+  end
+
+  -- A at the walker has to reach the catch-tutorial script, or the right
+  -- sprite in the right place is still the wrong NPC
+  local talkRows = mapScripts.talkScript(MAP, "TEXT_VIRIDIANCITY_OLD_MAN")
+  check("TEXT_VIRIDIANCITY_OLD_MAN has a talk script",
+        type(talkRows) == "table" and #talkRows > 0)
+  local sawAsk, sawDemo = false, false
+  for _, row in ipairs(talkRows or {}) do
+    if row[1] == "ask" then sawAsk = true end
+    if row[1] == "old_man_demo" then sawDemo = true end
+  end
+  check("the walker's script opens the \"in a hurry?\" ask", sawAsk)
+  check("the walker's script leads into the catch demo", sawDemo)
+  -- ViridianCityOldManText vs ViridianCityOldManSleepyText are one label apart
+  -- in the ROM, so check the pointer lands on his line and not the sleeper's
+  local hurry = game.data:resolveText(MAP_LABEL, "TEXT_VIRIDIANCITY_OLD_MAN")
+  check("TEXT_VIRIDIANCITY_OLD_MAN resolves to a string",
+        type(hurry) == "string" and hurry ~= "")
+  check("it is the coffee/hurry line, not the sleeper's grumble",
+        type(hurry) == "string" and hurry:find("hurry", 1, true) ~= nil)
+  if type(hurry) == "string" then
+    U.log("walker's opening line reads:", (hurry:gsub("\n", " / ")))
+  end
+  local sleepyText = game.data:resolveText(MAP_LABEL,
+                                           "TEXT_VIRIDIANCITY_OLD_MAN_SLEEPY")
+  check("the sleeper's own line still resolves (he is not deleted, just hidden)",
+        type(sleepyText) == "string"
+        and sleepyText:find("private", 1, true) ~= nil)
+
+  -- a playable party so the hand-off is a real game, not a locked window
+  game.save.party = {
+    Pokemon.new(game.data, "CHARMANDER", 12),
+    Pokemon.new(game.data, "PIDGEY", 10),
+  }
+
+  -- ---- BEFORE control: no Pokedex ----------------------------------------
+  -- Proof that the sleeper renders at all; without it, "the ground is empty"
+  -- could just mean the object never spawns.
+  game.save.flags = game.save.flags or {}
+  game.save.flags.EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX = nil
+  game.save.objectToggles = {}          -- exactly what an import leaves behind
+  U.teleport(game, MAP, VIEW.x, VIEW.y, VIEW.facing)
+  U.wait(20)
+
+  local ctrlSleeper = npcNamed(SLEEPER)
+  local ctrlWalker = npcNamed(WALKER)
+  check("BEFORE (no Pokedex): the sleeper is on the map", ctrlSleeper ~= nil)
+  if ctrlSleeper then
+    check(("BEFORE: he is lying on (%d,%d)"):format(SLEEPER_XY.x, SLEEPER_XY.y),
+          ctrlSleeper.cellX == SLEEPER_XY.x and ctrlSleeper.cellY == SLEEPER_XY.y)
+  end
+  check("BEFORE: the walking old man is NOT on the map", ctrlWalker == nil)
+  if not U.shot(game, SHOT_DIR .. "/bug234_before_pokedex.png") then
+    U.log("FAIL could not capture the BEFORE screenshot")
+  else
+    U.log("captured", SHOT_DIR .. "/bug234_before_pokedex.png")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- AFTER: the reported case ------------------------------------------
+  -- EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX set and objectToggles empty is byte-for-byte the state
+  -- a converted .sav arrives in; re-entering the map is what the reporter did.
+  game.save.flags.EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX = true
+  game.save.objectToggles = {}
+  U.teleport(game, MAP, VIEW.x, VIEW.y, VIEW.facing)
+  U.wait(20)
+
+  local toggles = (game.save.objectToggles or {})[MAP] or {}
+  check("onEnter recorded HideObject TOGGLE_LYING_OLD_MAN",
+        toggles[SLEEPER] == false)
+  check("onEnter recorded ShowObject TOGGLE_OLD_MAN", toggles[WALKER] == true)
+  if sleeperDef then
+    check("objectVisible now says the sleeper is hidden",
+          OverworldState.objectVisible(game.save, MAP, sleeperDef) == false)
+  end
+  if walkerDef then
+    check("objectVisible now says the walker is shown",
+          OverworldState.objectVisible(game.save, MAP, walkerDef) == true)
+  end
+
+  local liveSleeper, liveWalker = npcNamed(SLEEPER), npcNamed(WALKER)
+  check("AFTER: the sleeper is gone from the live NPC list", liveSleeper == nil)
+  check("AFTER: the walking old man is in the live NPC list", liveWalker ~= nil)
+  local ow = game.overworld
+  check(("AFTER: nothing occupies (%d,%d) any more")
+          :format(SLEEPER_XY.x, SLEEPER_XY.y),
+        ow and ow:npcAtCell(SLEEPER_XY.x, SLEEPER_XY.y) == nil)
+  if liveWalker then
+    U.log(("walker is pacing around (%d,%d)"):format(liveWalker.cellX, liveWalker.cellY))
+  end
+  if not U.shot(game, SHOT_DIR .. "/bug234_after_pokedex.png") then
+    U.log("FAIL could not capture the AFTER screenshot")
+  else
+    U.log("captured", SHOT_DIR .. "/bug234_after_pokedex.png")
+  end
+
+  -- ---- walk up to him and talk, so the box is open on hand-off ----------
+  -- He paces LEFT_RIGHT, so TALK is only right while he is on his home column;
+  -- fall back to any free walkable neighbour of wherever he actually is.
+  local stand = TALK
+  if liveWalker and not (ow.map:isWalkableCell(stand.x, stand.y)
+                         and not ow:npcAtCell(stand.x, stand.y)) then
+    -- {dx, dy, facing}: offset from the walker to the stand cell, plus the
+    -- direction that looks back at him (+1 on x means facing left)
+    local sides = { { 0, 1, "up" }, { 0, -1, "down" },
+                    { 1, 0, "left" }, { -1, 0, "right" } }
+    for _, s in ipairs(sides) do
+      local cx, cy = liveWalker.cellX + s[1], liveWalker.cellY + s[2]
+      if ow.map:isWalkableCell(cx, cy) and not ow:npcAtCell(cx, cy) then
+        U.log(("approach cell (%d,%d) is blocked, standing on")
+                :format(TALK.x, TALK.y), cx, cy, "facing", s[3])
+        stand = { x = cx, y = cy, facing = s[3] }
+        break
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  U.teleport(game, MAP, stand.x, stand.y, stand.facing)
+  U.wait(15)
+
+  local talked = false
+  for _ = 1, 90 do
+    local cur = game.overworld
+    local man = npcNamed(WALKER)
+    if cur and man then
+      local fx, fy = cur.player:facingCell()
+      if cur:npcAtCell(fx, fy) == man then
+        U.tap(game, "a")
+        U.wait(30)
+        if game.stack:top() ~= cur then
+          talked = true
+          break
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    U.wait(4)
+  end
+  check("pressing A at the walking old man opened his box", talked)
+  if talked then
+    if U.shot(game, SHOT_DIR .. "/bug234_oldman_talk.png") then
+      U.log("captured", SHOT_DIR .. "/bug234_oldman_talk.png")
+    end
+  end
+
+  -- ---- hand off -----------------------------------------------------------
+  U.log("You are under the walking old man at (17,5) with his box already up.")
+  U.log("With the Pokedex, (18,9) should be bare ground and a GAMBLER should")
+  U.log("be pacing at (17,5); #234 was the sleeper still lying at (18,9) and")
+  U.log("nobody at (17,5). The other imported-save toggles are a separate job.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/drivers/wild_cry_bug303_test.lua b/tests/drivers/wild_cry_bug303_test.lua
index 8e4e4c36..85e1153b 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/wild_cry_bug303_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/wild_cry_bug303_test.lua
@@ -1,41 +1,16 @@
 -- Driver: manual audio check for the wild battle intro cry (#303).
---
--- pokered engine/battle/core.asm:9-100, SlidePlayerAndEnemySilhouettesOnScreen,
--- ends with `jpfar PrintBeginningBattleText`, and that routine
--- (engine/battle/common_text.asm:10-19) is:
---     ld a, [wEnemyMonSpecies2]
---     call PlayCry
---     ld hl, WildMonAppearedText
---     ...
---     call PrintText
--- so the cry sounds at the instant the silhouettes finish sliding in and the
--- "Wild X appeared!" box opens, not before and not after.  The enemy HP bar
--- comes later still: _InitBattleCommon only reaches DrawEnemyHUDAndHPBar
--- (core.asm:6762) once that text has been dismissed.
---
--- Two wrong versions of this have shipped.  First the cry was queued behind
--- the intro text, so it waited on the player's A press.  Then it was queued
--- ahead of the text but the message queue was never held for the slide, so
--- it fired on the slide's first frame, a full 40 frames early.  The queue
--- hold is asserted in tests/parity_battle_intro_cry.lua; the thing no test
--- can judge is whether the cry and the box land together to an ear.
---
--- Do NOT add POKEPORT_SPEED to this run.  Fast-forward scales only the logic
--- clock, while audio runs on its own real-time 60 Hz accumulator in
--- Game:update (src/core/Game.lua) -- so the two halves of the exact
--- coincidence under test would drift apart and the run would prove nothing.
---
---   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/wild_cry_bug303_test.lua \
---     POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug303 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red love .
+-- pokered SlidePlayerAndEnemySilhouettesOnScreen (engine/battle/core.asm)
+-- ends in PrintBeginningBattleText (engine/battle/common_text.asm:10-19),
+-- which calls PlayCry then PrintText, so the cry lands with the "Wild X
+-- appeared!" box.  No POKEPORT_SPEED: audio has its own real-time clock.
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/wild_cry_bug303_test.lua POKEPORT_IDENTITY=bug303 POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=red love .
 return function(game)
   local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
   local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
 
-  -- Route 1 is the shortest walk to a wild encounter from a fresh start and
-  -- its table is all PIDGEY and RATTATA, whose cries are short and distinct.
-  -- (10, 6) is the west end of the northern grass patch -- taken from
-  -- data/generated/maps.lua, not guessed, and re-derived below if a map edit
-  -- ever moves it.
+  -- Route 1 is all PIDGEY and RATTATA, whose cries are short and distinct.
+  -- (10, 6) is the west end of the northern grass patch, read out of
+  -- data/generated/maps.lua and re-derived below if a map edit moves it.
   local MAP = "ROUTE_1"
   local GRASS = { x = 10, y = 6 }
 
@@ -44,9 +19,8 @@ return function(game)
     return ok
   end
 
-  -- ---- preconditions the ear cannot check --------------------------------
   -- Sound.playCry reads data.audio.cries[species]; a missing key is a silent
-  -- no-op with no error, which sounds exactly like the bug.
+  -- no-op with no error, which sounds exactly like the bug
   local cries = game.data.audio and game.data.audio.cries
   check("data.audio.cries resolves", cries ~= nil)
   local encounters = game.data.encounters and game.data.encounters[MAP]
@@ -78,19 +52,16 @@ return function(game)
           "raise SFX VOL in OPTION first")
   end
 
-  -- ---- give the player something to fight with ---------------------------
   if #game.save.party == 0 then
     table.insert(game.save.party, Pokemon.new(game.data, "SQUIRTLE", 12))
     U.log("party was empty; added a level 12 SQUIRTLE")
   end
 
-  -- ---- park the player in the grass --------------------------------------
   U.teleport(game, MAP, GRASS.x, GRASS.y, "up")
   U.wait(10)
 
-  -- the hard-coded cell stopping being grass (map edit, or a mod) would park
-  -- the player on stone where no encounter can ever roll, which looks exactly
-  -- like a broken fix; sweep for a real one instead
+  -- if a map edit or a mod turns that cell to stone no encounter can ever
+  -- roll, which looks exactly like a broken fix; sweep for a real one
   local function firstGrassCell(map)
     for y = 0, (map.heightCells or 0) - 1 do
       for x = 0, (map.widthCells or 0) - 1 do
@@ -117,24 +88,13 @@ return function(game)
         game.overworld and game.overworld.player.cellX,
         game.overworld and game.overworld.player.cellY)
 
-  -- ---- say what to listen for, THEN trigger it ----------------------------
-  -- The moment under test is about a second long and cannot be replayed
-  -- once it has passed, so the ear has to be ready before the encounter
-  -- rolls.  Print first, pause, then walk.
-  U.log("........................................................")
-  U.log("LISTEN NOW: a wild encounter is about to be walked into for you.")
-  U.log("  RIGHT: the two silhouettes slide in, and the moment they land")
-  U.log("         the cry sounds AT THE SAME TIME as the \"Wild X")
-  U.log("         appeared!\" box opens.  The HP bar only shows up after")
-  U.log("         you dismiss that box -- that is correct, not a bug.")
-  U.log("  BUG #303 sounds like: the cry fires while the silhouettes are")
-  U.log("         still sliding, well before any text -- or (the older")
-  U.log("         form) not until after you press A to clear the box.")
-  U.log("  ALSO WRONG: the cry sounds twice, or a trainer battle now cries")
-  U.log("         at the wrong moment too -- trainers should stay silent")
-  U.log("         until the foe's first mon is actually sent out.")
-  U.log("........................................................")
-  U.log("walking into the grass in 3 seconds -- ears up")
+  -- the moment lasts about a second and cannot be replayed, so say what to
+  -- listen for before the encounter rolls, not after
+  U.log("An encounter is about to be walked into for you.  The cry should")
+  U.log("sound the instant the silhouettes land and the \"Wild X appeared!\"")
+  U.log("box opens (#303 fired it mid-slide).  The HP bar only arrives once")
+  U.log("you clear that box, which is correct.")
+  U.log("walking into the grass in 3 seconds, ears up")
   U.wait(180)
 
   -- ---- walk until the encounter rolls ------------------------------------
@@ -146,8 +106,7 @@ return function(game)
     return nil
   end
 
-  -- pace back and forth over the grass; each step gets its own encounter
-  -- roll, and the transition wipe puts the battle on the stack under us
+  -- pace back and forth; each step gets its own encounter roll
   local DIRS = { "up", "down", "left", "right" }
   local battle
   for i = 1, 400 do
@@ -167,11 +126,9 @@ return function(game)
     U.log("no encounter after 400 steps -- walk into the grass yourself")
   end
 
-  -- ---- hand off, then stay out of the way --------------------------------
-  U.log("........................................................")
-  U.log("Input is yours from here on -- run from the battle and walk back")
-  U.log("into the grass to hear it as many times as you want.")
-  U.log("........................................................")
+  -- hand off, then stay out of the way
+  U.log("Controls are yours; run from the battle and walk back into the")
+  U.log("grass to hear it again.")
 
   while true do
     coroutine.yield()
diff --git a/tests/mod_qol_hooks_tests.lua b/tests/mod_qol_hooks_tests.lua
index 6ce77dfe..2d4157ef 100644
--- a/tests/mod_qol_hooks_tests.lua
+++ b/tests/mod_qol_hooks_tests.lua
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ do
     field = { playerSprites = { walk = "SPRITE_RED" } },
     constants = { world = { stepFrames = 16, bikeStepFrames = 8, turnFrames = 2 } },
   }
-  -- FieldDefaults reads from data; Player.new needs Collision for tryMove —
+  -- FieldDefaults reads from data; Player.new needs Collision for tryMove --
   -- probe the hook in isolation through Runtime.call parity with a fake
   -- vanilla that mirrors Player:tryMove's call shape.
   local unsub = wrap("movement.speed", function(next, frames, ctx)
diff --git a/tests/parity_ai_switch_faint.lua b/tests/parity_ai_switch_faint.lua
index da66bdbb..068d1f9e 100644
--- a/tests/parity_ai_switch_faint.lua
+++ b/tests/parity_ai_switch_faint.lua
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ end
 
 -- #162: SHIFT style with 2+ party slots announces the next mon and
 -- offers a free switch (TrainerAboutToUseText + YES/NO).  Party count
--- gates the offer (pokered wPartyCount), not living-HP count — a fainted
+-- gates the offer (pokered wPartyCount), not living-HP count -- a fainted
 -- reserve still unlocks the prompt.
 do
   local Game = freshGame()
@@ -169,4 +169,50 @@ do
   check(not about, "SET style skips about-to-use")
 end
 
+-- #275: taking the SHIFT offer hands the whole exp share to the mon coming
+-- in.  EnemySendOutFirstMon zeroes wPartyGainExpFlags before jumping to
+-- SwitchPlayerMon, which FLAG_SETs only the incoming mon's bit
+-- (core.asm:1436-1443, 2424-2433), so the mon that was out when the enemy
+-- fainted stops counting; leaving it in halved the switch-in's exp.
+do
+  local Game = freshGame()
+  Game.save.options.battleStyle = "shift"
+  local reserve = Pokemon.new(Data, "SQUIRTLE", 40)
+  table.insert(Game.save.party, reserve)
+  local b = BattleState.newTrainer(Game, "OPP_YOUNGSTER", 1)
+  b.enemyParty[1].hp = 0
+  b.enemyIndex = 1
+  b.enemy.mon = b.enemyParty[1]
+  b.participants = { [Game.save.party[1]] = true }
+  -- the prompt's YES opens the battle party menu; answer it in place
+  local Screens = require("src.ui.Screens")
+  local origPush = Screens.push
+  Screens.push = function(_, id, opts)
+    if id == "PartyMenu" and opts and opts.onSwitch then
+      opts.onSwitch(reserve)
+    end
+  end
+  local ok, err = pcall(function()
+    b:enemyMonFainted()
+    local n = 0
+    while #b.queue > 0 and n < 400 do
+      n = n + 1
+      local item = table.remove(b.queue, 1)
+      if item.fn then
+        b.nextInsert = 0
+        item.fn()
+      elseif item.choice and item.text
+             and item.text:find("change POKéMON", 1, true) then
+        item.choice(true) -- take the free switch
+      end
+    end
+  end)
+  Screens.push = origPush
+  check(ok, "the SHIFT switch pumped without error: " .. tostring(err))
+  check(b.player.mon == reserve, "the SHIFT switch sent the reserve out")
+  check(b.participants[reserve] == true, "the switch-in gains exp")
+  check(b.participants[Game.save.party[1]] == nil,
+        "the mon that was out when the enemy fainted drops out (#275)")
+end
+
 S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_android_permissions.lua b/tests/parity_android_permissions.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ebe72ee6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_android_permissions.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+-- #287: the Android build must ship android.permission.INTERNET, or every
+-- link-play socket dies with EPERM before it reaches the network.  The
+-- permission is declared in the tracked manifest and scripts/build_android.sh
+-- rewrites that same file on every build, so both halves are asserted here
+-- plus a replay of the real trim over the real manifest.
+
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("android link permissions")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+local MANIFEST = "mobile/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml"
+local SCRIPT = "scripts/build_android.sh"
+local INTERNET = "android.permission.INTERNET"
+
+local function readFile(path)
+  local f = io.open(path, "rb")
+  if not f then return nil end
+  local body = f:read("*a")
+  f:close()
+  return body
+end
+
+local function writeFile(path, body)
+  local f = io.open(path, "wb")
+  if not f then return false end
+  f:write(body)
+  f:close()
+  return true
+end
+
+local manifest = readFile(MANIFEST)
+local script = readFile(SCRIPT)
+check(type(manifest) == "string", MANIFEST .. " is readable")
+check(type(script) == "string", SCRIPT .. " is readable")
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------- the two files
+-- The trim is only dangerous because it edits the tracked manifest in place; if
+-- that stops being true, everything below tests a file the build never touches.
+if script then
+  local target = script:match('local manifest="([^"]+)"')
+  check(target ~= nil, "build_android.sh names the manifest it rewrites")
+  check(target ~= nil
+          and target:find("app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml", 1, true) ~= nil,
+        "the per-build permission trim rewrites the checked-in manifest, so"
+        .. " both halves of #287 have to hold at once")
+end
+
+if manifest then
+  check(manifest:find(INTERNET, 1, true) ~= nil,
+        "the manifest declares INTERNET (link play cannot open a socket"
+        .. " without it -- #287)")
+  check(manifest:find("android.permission.VIBRATE", 1, true) ~= nil,
+        "VIBRATE is still declared (love.system.vibrate)")
+  check(manifest:find("android.permission.BLUETOOTH", 1, true) ~= nil,
+        "BLUETOOTH is still declared (optional gamepads)")
+end
+
+-- Read the python tuple only, never the comment around it: that comment now
+-- mentions INTERNET on purpose, and matching it would pass for the wrong reason.
+if script then
+  local tuple = script:match("for perm in %((.-)%):")
+  check(tuple ~= nil, "build_android.sh still has a permission strip list")
+  if tuple then
+    check(tuple:find("INTERNET", 1, true) == nil,
+          "the strip list no longer deletes INTERNET (#287)")
+    check(tuple:find("RECORD_AUDIO", 1, true) ~= nil,
+          "RECORD_AUDIO is still stripped (the game records no audio)")
+    check(tuple:find("WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE", 1, true) ~= nil,
+          "WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE is still stripped (legacy storage)")
+  end
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------- the real trim
+-- Run the build's own python block over a copy of the real manifest and look at
+-- what an APK would carry.  Skipped with a note, not a failure, where python3
+-- is missing (the build needs python3 anyway).
+local function haveCommand(name)
+  local probe = io.popen("command -v " .. name .. " 2>/dev/null")
+  if not probe then return false end
+  local out = probe:read("*a")
+  probe:close()
+  return out ~= nil and out:match("%S") ~= nil
+end
+
+if manifest and script and haveCommand("python3") then
+  local block = script:match("python3 %- \"%$manifest\" <<'PY'\n(.-)\nPY\n")
+  check(block ~= nil, "the manifest trim is a python heredoc we can replay")
+  if block then
+    local tmpDir = (os.getenv("TMPDIR") or "/tmp"):gsub("[/\\]+$", "")
+    local stamp = ("%d_%d"):format(os.time(), math.random(1, 999999))
+    local pyPath = tmpDir .. "/pokeport_bug287_trim_" .. stamp .. ".py"
+    local xmlPath = tmpDir .. "/pokeport_bug287_manifest_" .. stamp .. ".xml"
+    local wrotePy = writeFile(pyPath, block .. "\n")
+    local wroteXml = writeFile(xmlPath, manifest)
+    check(wrotePy and wroteXml, "staged the trim and a manifest copy in " .. tmpDir)
+    if wrotePy and wroteXml then
+      os.execute(('python3 "%s" "%s"'):format(pyPath, xmlPath))
+      local trimmed = readFile(xmlPath) or ""
+      check(trimmed:find(INTERNET, 1, true) ~= nil,
+            "INTERNET survives a real build's permission trim -- the APK can"
+            .. " bind and connect (#287)")
+      check(trimmed:find("RECORD_AUDIO", 1, true) == nil,
+            "the trim still drops RECORD_AUDIO")
+      check(trimmed:find("WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE", 1, true) == nil,
+            "the trim still drops WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE")
+      check(trimmed:find("android.permission.VIBRATE", 1, true) ~= nil,
+            "the trim keeps VIBRATE")
+      check(trimmed:find("android.permission.BLUETOOTH", 1, true) ~= nil,
+            "the trim keeps BLUETOOTH")
+      check(trimmed:find("usesCleartextTraffic", 1, true) == nil,
+            "the trim still removes usesCleartextTraffic (it gates Android's"
+            .. " own HTTP stacks, never the raw sockets link play uses)")
+      -- a trim that kept INTERNET but broke the XML fails later, at merge time
+      local parsed = os.execute(('python3 -c "import sys,xml.etree.ElementTree'
+        .. ' as E; E.parse(sys.argv[1])" "%s" >/dev/null 2>&1'):format(xmlPath))
+      check(parsed == 0 or parsed == true,
+            "the trimmed manifest is still well-formed XML")
+      os.remove(pyPath)
+      os.remove(xmlPath)
+    end
+  end
+else
+  print("[#287] python3 not found: replaying the real trim was skipped,"
+    .. " the static checks above still ran")
+end
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_battle_blackout_pals.lua b/tests/parity_battle_blackout_pals.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ea398041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_battle_blackout_pals.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,199 @@
+-- Parity: SET_PAL_BATTLE_BLACK darkens the whole battle screen while the
+-- blackout text is up (#292).  HandlePlayerBlackOut (engine/battle/core.asm:
+-- 1147-1159) runs the palette command before PrintText, and returns early in
+-- OAKS_LAB.  SetPal_BattleBlack (engine/gfx/palettes.asm:22-25) sends
+-- PAL_BLACK into all four BlkPacket_Battle zones (sgb_packets.asm:220): both
+-- HP bars and both mon regions.
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity battle blackout pals")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not Data.maps then Data:load() end
+local Font = require("src.render.Font")
+Font.load(Data)
+
+local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+local PaletteFX = require("src.render.PaletteFX")
+local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+local SaveData = require("src.core.SaveData")
+local Sound = require("src.core.Sound")
+local Music = require("src.core.Music")
+
+Sound.playCry = function() end
+Sound.play = function() end
+Sound.playMove = function() end
+Sound.playMoveCry = function() end
+Sound.stopLoop = function() end
+Music.playBattle = function() end
+Music.play = function() end
+
+local press = {}
+local function makeGame(party)
+  local save = SaveData.newGame()
+  save.party = party
+  local stack = { states = {} }
+  function stack:push(state) self.states[#self.states + 1] = state end
+  function stack:pop() return table.remove(self.states) end
+  function stack:top() return self.states[#self.states] end
+  return { data = Data, save = save, stack = stack,
+           input = { wasPressed = function(_, b) return press[b] == true end } }
+end
+
+local function step(battle)
+  press.a = true
+  battle:update(1 / 60)
+  press.a = false
+end
+
+-- Lose for real: 0 HP everywhere, then run the faint through onFaint.  Drain
+-- to the onFinish callback, NOT to battle.result: playerMonFainted sets
+-- result = "lose" in the same act that queues the blackout lines, so stopping
+-- on result would miss every page under test.
+local function wipeOut(battle)
+  local done = false
+  local prev = battle.onFinish
+  battle.onFinish = function(r) done = true if prev then prev(r) end end
+  battle.player.mon.hp = 0
+  for _, mon in ipairs(battle.game.save.party) do mon.hp = 0 end
+  battle.phase = "messages"
+  battle.nextInsert = 0
+  battle:onFaint(battle.player)
+  local pages, blackAt = {}, {}
+  for _ = 1, 1200 do
+    step(battle)
+    local cur = battle.current
+    local text = cur and cur.text
+    if text and pages[#pages] ~= text then
+      pages[#pages + 1] = text
+      blackAt[text] = battle.blackedOut and true or false
+    end
+    if done then break end
+  end
+  return pages, blackAt
+end
+
+local function indexOf(pages, fragment)
+  for i, p in ipairs(pages) do
+    if p:find(fragment, 1, true) then return i end
+  end
+  return nil
+end
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------- the palette
+local pack = PaletteFX.pack(Data)
+check(pack ~= nil and pack.palettes ~= nil, "the active COLORS pack has palettes")
+local BLACK = pack and pack.palettes and pack.palettes.BLACK
+check(BLACK ~= nil,
+      "PAL_BLACK exists in the active pack (data/generated/palettes.lua:86, "
+      .. "data/palettes_gbc.lua:329)")
+if BLACK then
+  -- sgb_palettes.asm:46 -- color 0 near-white, colors 1..3 near-black
+  check(BLACK[1][1] > 200 and BLACK[1][2] > 200,
+        "PAL_BLACK color 0 is the near-white paper")
+  for i = 2, 4 do
+    check(BLACK[i][1] < 90 and BLACK[i][2] < 90 and BLACK[i][3] < 90,
+          "PAL_BLACK color " .. (i - 1) .. " is near-black ink")
+  end
+end
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------- a live wild wipe
+local game = makeGame({ Pokemon.new(Data, "BULBASAUR", 5) })
+local wild = BattleState.newWild(game, "RATTATA", 40)
+wild.onFinish = function() end
+wild:enter()
+for _ = 1, 400 do
+  step(wild)
+  if wild.phase == "menu" then break end
+end
+eq(wild.phase, "menu", "the wild battle reaches its menu")
+eq(wild.blackedOut, nil, "nothing is blacked out while the battle is live")
+local before = wild:sgbBattlePals()
+check(before ~= nil, "sgbBattlePals builds the four BlkPacket_Battle zones")
+if before and BLACK then
+  check(before[0] ~= BLACK and before[1] ~= BLACK
+        and before[2] ~= BLACK and before[3] ~= BLACK,
+        "no zone is PAL_BLACK during normal play")
+end
+
+local pages, blackAt = wipeOut(wild)
+eq(wild.result, "lose", "losing the last mon resolves the battle as a loss")
+local outOf = indexOf(pages, "out of")
+local blacked = indexOf(pages, "blacked")
+check(outOf ~= nil, "\"<PLAYER> is out of useable POKeMON!\" prints")
+check(blacked ~= nil, "\"<PLAYER> blacked out!\" prints")
+if outOf then
+  eq(blackAt[pages[outOf]], true,
+     "the screen is ALREADY dark under the first blackout line "
+     .. "(RunPaletteCommand runs before PrintText, core.asm:1151-1156)")
+end
+if blacked then
+  eq(blackAt[pages[blacked]], true, "and stays dark under the second line")
+end
+
+local after = wild:sgbBattlePals()
+check(after ~= nil, "sgbBattlePals still builds four zones once blacked out")
+if after and BLACK then
+  eq(after[0], BLACK, "zone 0 (player HP bar) is PAL_BLACK")
+  eq(after[1], BLACK, "zone 1 (enemy HP bar) is PAL_BLACK")
+  eq(after[2], BLACK, "zone 2 (player mon region) is PAL_BLACK")
+  eq(after[3], BLACK, "zone 3 (enemy mon region) is PAL_BLACK")
+end
+-- zoneColorsAt reads the same table, so the shade shader cannot disagree with
+-- the packet; sample the enemy HP bar corner and the enemy pic
+if BLACK then
+  local barColors = wild:zoneColorsAt(24, 24)
+  local picColors = wild:zoneColorsAt(120, 24)
+  check(barColors == nil or barColors == BLACK,
+        "the enemy HP bar's zone reads PAL_BLACK")
+  check(picColors == nil or picColors == BLACK,
+        "the enemy pic's zone reads PAL_BLACK")
+end
+-- picImage is the funnel every battler pic is drawn through, so it still has
+-- to resolve something for the darkened frame
+check(wild:picImage(wild.playerBackPic) ~= nil or wild.playerBackPic == nil,
+      "picImage still resolves a pic while blacked out")
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------- the Oak's Lab exception
+-- core.asm:1147-1149 returns above the palette command when the starter rival
+-- wins in OAKS_LAB, so that screen never darkens.
+local game2 = makeGame({ Pokemon.new(Data, "BULBASAUR", 5) })
+game2.save.player.map = "OAKS_LAB"
+local lab = BattleState.newTrainer(game2, "OPP_RIVAL1", 1)
+lab.onFinish = function() end
+lab:enter()
+for _ = 1, 500 do
+  step(lab)
+  if lab.phase == "menu" then break end
+end
+eq(BattleState.currentMapId(lab), "OAKS_LAB", "the battle knows it is in Oak's lab")
+check(BattleState.isOaksLabStarterRival(lab), "and that this is the starter rival")
+local labPages = wipeOut(lab)
+eq(lab.result, "lose", "the lab rival still wins the battle")
+eq(lab.blackedOut, nil,
+   "the Oak's Lab starter rival never darkens the screen (core.asm:1147-1149)")
+check(indexOf(labPages, "blacked") == nil,
+      "and prints no blackout line either")
+if BLACK then
+  local labPals = lab:sgbBattlePals()
+  check(labPals == nil or labPals[3] ~= BLACK,
+        "the lab screen keeps its live palettes")
+end
+
+-- ------------------------------------- Route 22 RIVAL1 still blacks out
+-- Same OPP_RIVAL1 class, a different map: only the lab is excepted.
+local game3 = makeGame({ Pokemon.new(Data, "BULBASAUR", 5) })
+game3.save.player.map = "ROUTE_22"
+local r22 = BattleState.newTrainer(game3, "OPP_RIVAL1", 1)
+r22.onFinish = function() end
+r22:enter()
+for _ = 1, 500 do
+  step(r22)
+  if r22.phase == "menu" then break end
+end
+check(not BattleState.isOaksLabStarterRival(r22), "Route 22 is not the lab")
+wipeOut(r22)
+eq(r22.blackedOut, true, "a Route 22 RIVAL1 wipe darkens like any other")
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_battle_intro_chrome.lua b/tests/parity_battle_intro_chrome.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..368c357b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_battle_intro_chrome.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,209 @@
+-- Parity test: the battle intro's pokeball rows, HUD chrome and pic slides
+-- (#317).  PrintBeginningBattleText calls DrawAllPokeballs right before
+-- PrintText (engine/battle/common_text.asm:22-27), and a wild battle gets the
+-- player's row only (engine/battle/draw_hud_pokeball_gfx.asm:1-7); the enemy
+-- HUD comes up after, in _InitBattleCommon (engine/battle/core.asm:6755-6764).
+-- Both pics slide off screen before their send-out text (core.asm:236-240, 1308-1310).
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity battle intro chrome")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not Data.maps then Data:load() end
+local Font = require("src.render.Font")
+Font.load(Data)
+
+local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+local SaveData = require("src.core.SaveData")
+local Sound = require("src.core.Sound")
+local Music = require("src.core.Music")
+
+-- Silence audio: BattleState reaches both modules through require() at the
+-- call site, so patching the fields here is what the battle ends up calling.
+Sound.playCry = function() end
+Sound.play = function() end
+Sound.playMove = function() end
+Sound.playMoveCry = function() end
+Sound.stopLoop = function() end
+Music.playBattle = function() end
+Music.play = function() end
+
+-- stub stack + input, like the other headless battle probes.  `press` is the
+-- one-frame button state the battle reads through input:wasPressed.
+local press = {}
+local function makeGame(party)
+  local save = SaveData.newGame()
+  save.party = party
+  local stack = { states = {} }
+  function stack:push(state) self.states[#self.states + 1] = state end
+  function stack:pop() return table.remove(self.states) end
+  function stack:top() return self.states[#self.states] end
+  return { data = Data, save = save, stack = stack,
+           input = { wasPressed = function(_, b) return press[b] == true end } }
+end
+
+-- One fixed step with A held.  updateQueue only reads the button once a page
+-- has typed out, so an early press is ignored and these ordering checks stay
+-- independent of the prompt flag they also assert.
+local function step(battle)
+  press.a = true
+  battle:update(1 / 60)
+  press.a = false
+end
+
+-- the text of the message row currently on screen, or nil
+local function currentText(battle)
+  local cur = battle.current
+  return cur and cur.text or nil
+end
+
+-- Record what drawHUDs actually puts on screen this frame.  drawBallRow is a
+-- method, so an instance field shadows it; Font.draw is the module upvalue
+-- BattleState draws HUD strings through.
+local function snapshotHUD(battle)
+  local rows, strings = {}, {}
+  local realRow = battle.drawBallRow
+  local realFont = Font.draw
+  battle.drawBallRow = function(_, party, x, y, dx)
+    rows[#rows + 1] = { count = #party, x = x, y = y, step = dx }
+  end
+  Font.draw = function(text, x, y) strings[#strings + 1] = tostring(text) end
+  local ok, err = pcall(battle.drawHUDs, battle, 0)
+  battle.drawBallRow = realRow
+  Font.draw = realFont
+  return ok, err, rows, strings
+end
+
+local function drewString(strings, want)
+  for _, s in ipairs(strings) do
+    if s:find(want, 1, true) then return true end
+  end
+  return false
+end
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------ wild
+local party = { Pokemon.new(Data, "BULBASAUR", 50), Pokemon.new(Data, "PIDGEY", 5) }
+local game = makeGame(party)
+local wild = BattleState.newWild(game, "RATTATA", 2)
+wild.onFinish = function() end
+wild:enter()
+
+eq(wild.introBalls, true, "the wild intro opens the DrawAllPokeballs window")
+-- introBalls is a plain field, not a queue row, so it cannot displace the
+-- wild cry PrintBeginningBattleText plays before PrintText (#303)
+check(wild.queue[1] and wild.queue[1].fn ~= nil,
+      "the cry act is still the first queue row (#303)")
+check(wild.queue[2] and wild.queue[2].text == wild.introText,
+      "the intro text is still the second queue row")
+
+-- let the silhouette slide land so the intro box is genuinely up
+for _ = 1, 45 do wild:update(1 / 60) end
+eq(wild.introSlide or 0, 0, "the silhouette slide has landed")
+eq(wild.introBalls, true, "the window is still open under the intro text")
+eq(currentText(wild), wild.introText, "the intro box is the row on screen")
+
+local ok, err, rows, strings = snapshotHUD(wild)
+check(ok, "drawHUDs runs during the wild intro: " .. tostring(err))
+eq(#rows, 1, "a WILD intro draws exactly one ball row (SetupOwnPartyPokeballs)")
+if rows[1] then
+  eq(rows[1].count, #party, "the row carries every party slot")
+  eq(rows[1].x, 88, "player ball row x = 88 (wBaseCoordX $60)")
+  eq(rows[1].y, 80, "player ball row y = 80 (wBaseCoordY $60)")
+  eq(rows[1].step, 8, "player ball row steps +8 rightward")
+end
+check(not drewString(strings, wild.enemy.name),
+      "the enemy HUD is NOT up during the intro box (DrawEnemyHUDAndHPBar "
+      .. "runs after PrintBeginningBattleText returns)")
+
+-- the page finishes typing and PromptText's blinking arrow takes over
+local prompted = false
+for _ = 1, 200 do
+  if wild.msgPrompt then prompted = true break end
+  press.a = false
+  wild:update(1 / 60)
+end
+check(prompted, "a typed-out intro page raises the prompt flag (blinking arrow)")
+eq(wild.introBalls, true, "the ball row is still up while the arrow blinks")
+
+-- press A: ClearSprites + both ClearScreenAreas, then the enemy HUD
+step(wild)
+eq(wild.msgPrompt, nil, "the prompt flag clears on the A press")
+for _ = 1, 2 do press.a = false wild:update(1 / 60) end
+eq(wild.introBalls, nil, "dismissing the intro box closes the window")
+local ok2, err2, rows2, strings2 = snapshotHUD(wild)
+check(ok2, "drawHUDs runs after the intro box: " .. tostring(err2))
+eq(#rows2, 0, "no ball row survives the dismissal (ClearSprites)")
+check(drewString(strings2, wild.enemy.name),
+      "the enemy HUD appears once the intro box is gone")
+
+-- the back pic walks off the LEFT edge before "Go! X!"
+local slideLow, slideDone, goFrame, shownDuringSlide = 0, nil, nil, true
+for f = 1, 240 do
+  step(wild)
+  local off = wild:picOffset("back")
+  if off < slideLow then slideLow = off end
+  if off < 0 and not wild.showPlayerBack then shownDuringSlide = false end
+  if not slideDone and off <= -72 then slideDone = f end
+  if not goFrame and currentText(wild) and currentText(wild):find("Go!", 1, true) then
+    goFrame = f
+  end
+  if goFrame then break end
+end
+eq(slideLow, -72, "the back pic walks a full 9 tiles off the left edge")
+check(shownDuringSlide, "the back pic stays drawn for the whole slide")
+check(slideDone ~= nil and goFrame ~= nil and slideDone < goFrame,
+      "the slide finishes BEFORE the send-out text (core.asm:236-240)")
+eq(wild.showPlayerBack, false, "only then is the back pic taken down")
+eq(wild:picOffset("back"), 0, "the slide program is cleared with the pic")
+
+-- --------------------------------------------------------------- trainer
+local game2 = makeGame({ Pokemon.new(Data, "BULBASAUR", 50) })
+local tr = BattleState.newTrainer(game2, "OPP_YOUNGSTER", 1)
+tr.onFinish = function() end
+tr:enter()
+eq(tr.introBalls, true, "the trainer intro opens the same window")
+for _ = 1, 45 do tr:update(1 / 60) end
+
+local ok3, err3, rows3 = snapshotHUD(tr)
+check(ok3, "drawHUDs runs during the trainer intro: " .. tostring(err3))
+eq(#rows3, 2, "a TRAINER intro draws both ball rows")
+if rows3[1] and rows3[2] then
+  eq(rows3[1].x, 64, "enemy ball row x = 64 (wBaseCoordX $48)")
+  eq(rows3[1].y, 16, "enemy ball row y = 16 (wBaseCoordY $20)")
+  eq(rows3[1].step, -8, "enemy ball row steps -8 leftward")
+  eq(rows3[2].x, 88, "player ball row x = 88")
+  eq(rows3[2].count, 1, "player row carries this save's one party slot")
+end
+
+-- the foe's pic walks off the RIGHT edge before "X sent out Y!"
+local foeHigh, foeDone, sentFrame, foeShown = 0, nil, nil, true
+for f = 1, 300 do
+  step(tr)
+  local off = tr:picOffset("foe")
+  if off > foeHigh then foeHigh = off end
+  if off > 0 and not tr.showEnemyTrainer then foeShown = false end
+  if not foeDone and off >= 64 then foeDone = f end
+  local t = currentText(tr)
+  if not sentFrame and t and t:find("sent", 1, true) then sentFrame = f end
+  if sentFrame then break end
+end
+eq(foeHigh, 64, "the foe's pic walks a full 8 tiles off the right edge")
+check(foeShown, "the foe's pic stays drawn for the whole slide")
+check(foeDone ~= nil and sentFrame ~= nil and foeDone < sentFrame,
+      "the slide finishes BEFORE TrainerSentOutText (core.asm:1308-1310)")
+eq(tr.showEnemyTrainer, false, "only then is the trainer pic taken down")
+
+-- and the window never reopens: drive the rest of the intro out
+for _ = 1, 400 do
+  step(tr)
+  if tr.phase == "menu" then break end
+end
+eq(tr.phase, "menu", "the trainer intro reaches the battle menu")
+eq(tr.introBalls, nil, "the DrawAllPokeballs window stays closed")
+local ok4, err4, rows4 = snapshotHUD(tr)
+check(ok4, "drawHUDs runs at the battle menu: " .. tostring(err4))
+eq(#rows4, 0, "no ball row is drawn once the battle proper starts")
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_bike_walk_anim.lua b/tests/parity_bike_walk_anim.lua
index 1a688825..d0d6a702 100644
--- a/tests/parity_bike_walk_anim.lua
+++ b/tests/parity_bike_walk_anim.lua
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 -- walkPhase used to return 0 whenever moving was false.  A step clears
 -- moving on its final FixedStep tick, so the draw after landing snapped
 -- to stand even when animClock was mid walk-cycle.  Bike steps are 8
--- frames, so they land at animClock % 16 == 8 (walk) every tile — always
+-- frames, so they land at animClock % 16 == 8 (walk) every tile -- always
 -- stuttery.  Walking after a bike ride inherits a desynced animClock and
 -- hit the same stand flash "sometimes."
 --
diff --git a/tests/parity_box_mon_stats.lua b/tests/parity_box_mon_stats.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d0bf98ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_box_mon_stats.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,284 @@
+-- Parity / regression: a box mon has no stat block, so the engine derives one
+-- on demand (#233 STATS in the box, #304 withdraw).  macros/ram.asm's
+-- box_struct is a prefix of party_struct that stops before MON_STATS;
+-- status_screen.asm:64-77 recomputes on BOX_DATA before it draws, and
+-- add_mon.asm's _MoveMon runs CalcStats on the way back to the party.  The
+-- formula itself is home/move_mon.asm CalcStats, ported in Stats.lua.
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not (Data.pokemon and Data.pokemon.ODDISH) then Data:load() end
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity box mon stats")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+local Stats = require("src.pokemon.Stats")
+local SaveData = require("src.core.SaveData")
+local Boxes = require("src.pokemon.Boxes")
+local HudTiles = require("src.render.HudTiles")
+
+-- A mon shaped like GenSave.decodeMon's box output: no `stats` key at all.
+-- Gen 1 has no HP DV byte, it is the low bit of each of the other four
+-- (home/pokemon.asm GetMonHeader), so 13/11/7/5 being odd makes the HP DV
+-- 15.  The .sav round trip below only compares because of that.
+local DVS = { hp = 15, attack = 13, defense = 11, speed = 7, special = 5 }
+local STATEXP = { hp = 1200, attack = 900, defense = 400, speed = 0, special = 250 }
+
+local function boxShapedMon(species, level, hp)
+  return {
+    species = species, level = level, exp = 1000,
+    dvs = { hp = DVS.hp, attack = DVS.attack, defense = DVS.defense,
+            speed = DVS.speed, special = DVS.special },
+    statExp = { hp = STATEXP.hp, attack = STATEXP.attack,
+                defense = STATEXP.defense, speed = STATEXP.speed,
+                special = STATEXP.special },
+    hp = hp, status = nil, otId = 12345, catchRate = 45,
+    moves = { { id = "ABSORB", pp = 20 } },
+    typeBytes = { 22, 3 },
+  }
+end
+
+-- ================================================================== 1
+-- Stats.ensure gives the same numbers as Stats.calc and never leaves a
+-- current HP above the maximum it derived.
+do
+  local def = Data.pokemon.ODDISH
+  local want = Stats.calc(def, 13, DVS, STATEXP)
+
+  local mon = boxShapedMon("ODDISH", 13, 999) -- a PKHeX-tampered current HP
+  eq(mon.stats, nil, "premise: a box-shaped mon starts with no stat block")
+  Stats.ensure(def, mon)
+  check(type(mon.stats) == "table", "ensure gives the box mon a stat block")
+  for _, key in ipairs(Stats.ORDER) do
+    eq(mon.stats[key], want[key], "ensure's " .. key .. " matches CalcStats")
+  end
+  eq(mon.hp, want.hp, "a tampered 999 HP clamps to the recomputed maximum")
+
+  -- a stored HP under the maximum is what box_struct really holds; keep it
+  local hurt = boxShapedMon("ODDISH", 13, 7)
+  Stats.ensure(def, hurt)
+  eq(hurt.hp, 7, "a stored current HP below the max is kept as stored")
+  eq(hurt.stats.hp, want.hp, "and the maximum is the derived one")
+
+  -- a fainted box mon stays fainted (the REVIVE case in the party menu)
+  local fainted = boxShapedMon("ODDISH", 13, 0)
+  Stats.ensure(def, fainted)
+  eq(fainted.hp, 0, "a fainted box mon stays at 0 HP")
+
+  -- idempotent, so a vanilla save round-trips with the numbers it was saved
+  -- with rather than recomputed ones
+  local party = boxShapedMon("ODDISH", 13, 7)
+  party.stats = { hp = 1, attack = 2, defense = 3, speed = 4, special = 5 }
+  local before = party.stats
+  Stats.ensure(def, party)
+  check(party.stats == before, "ensure leaves an existing stat block alone")
+  eq(party.stats.hp, 1, "and does not clamp HP against a block it did not build")
+  eq(party.hp, 7, "nor rewrite the stored HP")
+
+  -- a species the merged data does not know must not raise here: validate's
+  -- own quarantine pass owns that mon, and ensure runs before it
+  local unknown = boxShapedMon("NOT_A_SPECIES", 13, 7)
+  Stats.ensure(nil, unknown)
+  eq(unknown.stats, nil, "an unknown species leaves stats nil instead of raising")
+end
+
+-- ================================================================== 2
+-- The real .sav path: encode -> decode is what an imported battery save does
+-- to a box mon (SaveFileIO -> SaveConvert.importSav -> GenSave.decode).
+do
+  local GenSave = require("src.save_convert.GenSave")
+  GenSave.setCharmap(loadfile("src/save_convert/data/charmap.lua")())
+
+  local save = SaveData.newGame({ playerName = "RED", rivalName = "BLUE" })
+  Boxes.ensure(save)
+  -- the same mon in the party and in box 1, so the two structs can be
+  -- compared against each other after the round trip
+  save.party = { boxShapedMon("ODDISH", 13, 20) }
+  Stats.ensure(Data.pokemon.ODDISH, save.party[1])
+  save.boxes[1] = { boxShapedMon("ODDISH", 13, 20) }
+  Stats.ensure(Data.pokemon.ODDISH, save.boxes[1][1])
+
+  local bytes = GenSave.encode(save, Data, nil)
+  eq(#bytes, GenSave.SAVE_SIZE, "the fixture save encodes to a 32768-byte .sav")
+
+  local imported = GenSave.decode(bytes, Data)
+  check(type(imported.party[1]) == "table", "the .sav decodes a party mon")
+  check(type((imported.boxes[1] or {})[1]) == "table", "and a box 1 mon")
+  local pmon, bmon = imported.party[1], imported.boxes[1][1]
+  check(type(pmon.stats) == "table",
+        "premise: party_struct carries stats, so the party mon has them")
+  eq(bmon.stats, nil,
+     "premise: box_struct does not, so the imported box mon has none (#233)")
+
+  -- Game:restoreSave runs this on every load, which is the only thing that
+  -- reaches a save already sitting on disk
+  SaveData.validate(imported, Data)
+  -- guarded: without the repair every line below raises the reported crash
+  -- itself, which would hide the rest of the suite
+  if check(type(bmon.stats) == "table", "validate repairs the imported box mon") then
+    local want = Stats.calc(Data.pokemon[bmon.species], bmon.level, bmon.dvs,
+                            bmon.statExp)
+    for _, key in ipairs(Stats.ORDER) do
+      eq(bmon.stats[key], want[key], "repaired box " .. key .. " matches CalcStats")
+    end
+    eq(bmon.stats.hp, pmon.stats.hp,
+       "the box copy ends up with the same max HP the party copy stored")
+    check(bmon.hp <= bmon.stats.hp, "current HP can never sit above the maximum")
+    -- the exact expression src/render/HudTiles.lua drawHPBar died on
+    check(type(bmon.stats.hp) == "number",
+          "mon.stats.hp is a number (the nil index)")
+  end
+
+  -- the call SummaryMenu:draw and PartyMenu:draw both make (#233 / #304)
+  local okDraw, err = pcall(HudTiles.drawHPBar, Data, 11, 3, bmon, 1)
+  check(okDraw, "drawHPBar over a repaired box mon does not raise: " .. tostring(err))
+
+  -- box_struct has no stat fields, so the repair must not move a byte of the
+  -- exported .sav
+  local reexported = GenSave.encode(imported, Data)
+  eq(#reexported, GenSave.SAVE_SIZE, "the repaired save re-exports to 32768 bytes")
+  local firstDiff
+  for i = 1, #bytes do
+    if bytes:byte(i) ~= reexported:byte(i) then firstDiff = i break end
+  end
+  eq(firstDiff, nil,
+     "the stat repair leaves the .sav byte-identical on export (box_struct "
+     .. "has no stat fields)")
+end
+
+-- ================================================================== 3
+-- Every list a stats-less mon can sit in: party, all twelve boxes, and the
+-- daycare (status_screen.asm treats DAYCARE_DATA like BOX_DATA).
+do
+  local save = SaveData.newGame()
+  Boxes.ensure(save)
+  save.party = { boxShapedMon("PIDGEY", 9, 5) }
+  save.boxes[1] = { boxShapedMon("RATTATA", 4, 3) }
+  save.boxes[7] = { boxShapedMon("ZUBAT", 22, 40) }
+  save.daycare = { mon = boxShapedMon("ODDISH", 13, 6) }
+
+  SaveData.validate(save, Data)
+  check(type(save.party[1].stats) == "table", "validate repairs a party slot")
+  check(type(save.boxes[1][1].stats) == "table", "validate repairs box 1")
+  check(type(save.boxes[7][1].stats) == "table", "validate repairs box 7")
+  check(type(save.daycare.mon.stats) == "table", "validate repairs the daycare mon")
+
+  -- the level clamp runs first, so the derived stats use a sane level
+  local wild = boxShapedMon("PIDGEY", 250, 5)
+  local save2 = SaveData.newGame()
+  Boxes.ensure(save2)
+  save2.boxes[1] = { wild }
+  SaveData.validate(save2, Data)
+  eq(wild.level, 100, "an out-of-range level clamps to 100")
+  eq(wild.stats and wild.stats.hp,
+     Stats.calc(Data.pokemon.PIDGEY, 100, wild.dvs, wild.statExp).hp,
+     "and the derived stats use the clamped level, not the stored one")
+end
+
+-- ================================================================== 4
+-- #233's own site: SummaryMenu.new ports status_screen.asm's
+-- .DontRecalculate branch, and Bill's PC hands it the box mon directly.
+do
+  local realSound = package.loaded["src.core.Sound"]
+  package.loaded["src.core.Sound"] = { play = function() end,
+                                       playCry = function() end }
+  local SummaryMenu = require("src.ui.SummaryMenu")
+  local mon = boxShapedMon("ODDISH", 13, 20)
+  local game = { data = Data, save = SaveData.newGame() }
+  local ok, screen = pcall(SummaryMenu.new, game, mon)
+  check(ok, "opening STATS on a stats-less box mon does not raise: "
+            .. tostring(screen))
+  check(type(mon.stats) == "table",
+        "SummaryMenu.new recalculates the block before it draws (#233)")
+  if ok and screen then
+    local okDraw, err = pcall(function()
+      HudTiles.drawHPBar(Data, 11, 3, screen.mon, 1)
+    end)
+    check(okDraw, "and its HP bar draws: " .. tostring(err))
+  end
+  package.loaded["src.core.Sound"] = realSound
+end
+
+-- ================================================================== 5
+-- #304's own site: the box -> party transfer, which is the only thing that
+-- covers a mon a mod drops into a box mid-session.  withdraw is a
+-- file-local, reached through upvalues as tests/parity_bills_pc.lua does.
+do
+  local BoxMenu = require("src.ui.BoxMenu")
+
+  local function getUpvalue(fn, name)
+    local i = 1
+    while true do
+      local n, v = debug.getupvalue(fn, i)
+      if not n then return nil end
+      if n == name then return v end
+      i = i + 1
+    end
+  end
+  local function setUpvalue(fn, name, val)
+    local i = 1
+    while true do
+      local n = debug.getupvalue(fn, i)
+      if not n then return false end
+      if n == name then debug.setupvalue(fn, i, val); return true end
+      i = i + 1
+    end
+  end
+
+  local withdraw = getUpvalue(BoxMenu.new, "withdraw")
+  check(type(withdraw) == "function", "found BoxMenu's withdraw upvalue")
+
+  if type(withdraw) == "function" then
+    -- capture the list menu's opts instead of building a real one
+    local captured
+    check(setUpvalue(withdraw, "ListMenu", {
+      new = function(_, _, items, opts)
+        captured = { items = items, opts = opts }
+        return { kind = "list", items = items, close = function() end }
+      end,
+    }), "stubbed ListMenu on withdraw")
+    -- the WITHDRAW row is what fires onAction; run it straight
+    check(setUpvalue(withdraw, "monSubmenu",
+                     function(_, _, _, onAction) onAction() end),
+          "stubbed monSubmenu on withdraw")
+    check(setUpvalue(withdraw, "afterTransfer", function() end),
+          "stubbed afterTransfer on withdraw")
+
+    local realSound = package.loaded["src.core.Sound"]
+    package.loaded["src.core.Sound"] = { play = function() end,
+                                         playCry = function() end }
+
+    local save = SaveData.newGame()
+    Boxes.ensure(save)
+    save.party = {}
+    save.boxes[1] = { boxShapedMon("ODDISH", 13, 20) }
+    local mon = save.boxes[1][1]
+    local game = { data = Data, save = save,
+                   stack = { push = function() end, pop = function() end } }
+
+    withdraw(game)
+    check(captured ~= nil, "withdraw opened its box list")
+    if captured then
+      eq(#captured.items, 1, "the list has the one box mon in it")
+      captured.opts.onChoose(captured.items[1],
+                             { index = 1, close = function() end })
+      eq(#save.boxes[1], 0, "the mon left the box")
+      eq(#save.party, 1, "and landed in the party")
+      eq(save.party[1], mon, "it is the same mon table")
+      check(type(mon.stats) == "table",
+            "withdraw ran CalcStats on the way out (#304)")
+      local want = Stats.calc(Data.pokemon.ODDISH, 13, mon.dvs, mon.statExp)
+      eq(mon.stats and mon.stats.hp, want.hp,
+         "the withdrawn mon's max HP is the derived one")
+      local okDraw, err = pcall(HudTiles.drawHPBar, Data, 5, 5, mon, 2)
+      check(okDraw, "the party row's HP bar draws for it: " .. tostring(err))
+    end
+
+    package.loaded["src.core.Sound"] = realSound
+    -- run_tests.lua dofiles the parity suites in one interpreter, so a later
+    -- suite would inherit these stubs
+    package.loaded["src.ui.BoxMenu"] = nil
+  end
+end
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_cycling_road_brake.lua b/tests/parity_cycling_road_brake.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3b1bffc6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_cycling_road_brake.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+-- Regression: holding A or B on Cycling Road stops the downhill roll (#255).
+-- home/overworld.asm:1825 JoypadOverworld masks PAD_CTRL_PAD | PAD_B | PAD_A
+-- before forcing PAD_DOWN, so a HELD A or B brakes the bike just like a held
+-- direction.  The port read only the four directions, and A reached the roll
+-- through an edge-only wasPressed, so it stalled for one fixed step and rolled
+-- on.  Every case below holds the button with no press edge queued.
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not (Data.maps and Data.maps.ROUTE_17) then Data:load() end
+
+local Game = require("src.core.Game")
+local Input = require("src.core.Input")
+local Renderer = require("src.render.Renderer")
+local SaveData = require("src.core.SaveData")
+local StateStack = require("src.core.StateStack")
+local OW = require("src.world.OverworldController")
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity cycling road brake")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+-- ground truth for the map the rule is keyed on
+local fm = Data.field.forcedMovement
+local slope = {}
+for _, id in ipairs((fm and fm.slopeMaps) or {}) do slope[id] = true end
+check(slope.ROUTE_17, "field.forcedMovement.slopeMaps names ROUTE_17")
+
+Game.data = Data
+Game.input = Input; Input:init()
+Game.renderer = Renderer; Renderer:init()
+Game.stack = StateStack; StateStack:init()
+Game.save = SaveData.newGame()
+Game.overworld = OW
+
+-- (1,20) and the two cells below it are open road, so nothing but the brake
+-- can explain a stalled roll.
+local START_X, START_Y = 1, 20
+
+-- Every case starts from a fresh state: a half-finished step would carry into
+-- the next one and read as a roll that never stopped.
+local function freshRoad()
+  Input:reset()
+  Game.save.onBike = true
+  while Game.stack:top() do Game.stack:pop() end
+  Game.stack:push(OW, "ROUTE_17", START_X, START_Y, "down")
+  local ow = Game.stack:top()
+  ow.player.moving = false
+  ow.player.turnTimer = 0
+  return ow
+end
+
+local ow = freshRoad()
+eq(ow.map.id, "ROUTE_17", "standing on Cycling Road")
+check(ow.map:isWalkableCell(START_X, START_Y + 1), "the cell south is open road")
+check(ow.map:isWalkableCell(START_X, START_Y + 2), "and the one after it")
+
+-- Hands off the pad: the bike rolls south on its own.
+do
+  local o = freshRoad()
+  o:handleInput()
+  check(o.player.moving, "no buttons held: the bike starts a step")
+  eq(o.player.facing, "down", "the forced step faces south")
+  eq(o.player.targetY, START_Y + 1, "and targets the cell below")
+end
+
+-- Held A / held B brake and keep braking.  120 fixed steps is ~2 seconds, far
+-- past the single-step stall the old wasPressed edge gave.
+local function heldBrakes(btn)
+  local o = freshRoad()
+  Input.state[btn] = true
+  Input.pressed = {} -- HELD, with no press edge: the case A got wrong
+  check(not Input:wasPressed(btn),
+        ("holding %s queues no press edge"):format(btn:upper()))
+  check(Input:isDown(btn), ("Input:isDown reports %s held"):format(btn:upper()))
+  local moved = false
+  for _ = 1, 120 do
+    o:handleInput()
+    o.player:update()
+    if o.player.cellY ~= START_Y or o.player.moving then moved = true end
+  end
+  check(not moved,
+        ("holding %s stops the roll for as long as it is held"):format(btn:upper()))
+  eq(o.player.cellY, START_Y, ("player has not drifted south under %s"):format(btn:upper()))
+
+  -- ...and letting go hands the hill back
+  Input.state[btn] = false
+  o:handleInput()
+  check(o.player.moving,
+        ("releasing %s resumes the roll immediately"):format(btn:upper()))
+  Input:reset()
+end
+
+heldBrakes("a")
+heldBrakes("b")
+
+-- A held direction still wins: pokered's mask suppresses the simulated
+-- PAD_DOWN, never the player's own step.
+do
+  local o = freshRoad()
+  Input.state.a = true
+  Input.state.up = true
+  Input.pressed = {}
+  o:handleInput()      -- first press turns; pokered turns in place too
+  o.player.turnTimer = 0
+  o:handleInput()
+  check(o.player.moving, "holding A + UP still walks north")
+  eq(o.player.facing, "up", "the held direction, not the forced south, wins")
+  Input:reset()
+end
+
+-- Off the bike there is no roll to brake: the whole block is gated on
+-- save.onBike, and Route 17 force-bikes anyway.
+do
+  local o = freshRoad()
+  Game.save.onBike = false
+  o:handleInput()
+  check(not o.player.moving, "on foot the hill does not push at all")
+  Game.save.onBike = true
+end
+
+-- Any other map is untouched: no forced step with or without the brake.
+do
+  Input:reset()
+  Game.save.onBike = true
+  while Game.stack:top() do Game.stack:pop() end
+  Game.stack:push(OW, "PALLET_TOWN", 10, 8, "down")
+  local o = Game.stack:top()
+  o:handleInput()
+  check(not o.player.moving, "PALLET_TOWN has no downhill pull")
+  Input.state.a = true
+  Input.pressed = {}
+  o:handleInput()
+  check(not o.player.moving, "and holding A there changes nothing")
+  Input:reset()
+end
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_ledge_seam_hop.lua b/tests/parity_ledge_seam_hop.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..65401096
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_ledge_seam_hop.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+-- Regression: a ledge hop whose landing is on the CONNECTED map still hops
+-- (#223).  engine/overworld/ledges.asm HandleLedges only simulates two button
+-- presses and never looks at where the hop lands, so a ledge on a map's last
+-- row legitimately drops onto the neighbour.  The port gated every hop on
+-- self.map:inBounds(lx, ly), which refused all nine such cells in the game.
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not (Data.maps and Data.maps.ROUTE_4) then Data:load() end
+
+local Game = require("src.core.Game")
+local Input = require("src.core.Input")
+local Map = require("src.world.Map")
+local MapLoader = require("src.world.MapLoader")
+local Renderer = require("src.render.Renderer")
+local SaveData = require("src.core.SaveData")
+local StateStack = require("src.core.StateStack")
+local OW = require("src.world.OverworldController")
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity ledge seam hop")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+-- ---- ground truth: the ledge rows, the cells, the connection -------------
+local route4 = MapLoader.load(Data, "ROUTE_4")
+local route3 = MapLoader.load(Data, "ROUTE_3")
+local route17 = MapLoader.load(Data, "ROUTE_17")
+local route18 = MapLoader.load(Data, "ROUTE_18")
+
+-- data/tilesets/ledge_tiles.asm has two DOWN rows: $39 over $36, $39 over $37
+local rows = {}
+for _, l in ipairs(Data.field.ledges) do
+  if l.facing == "down" and l.input == "down" and l.standingTile == 0x39 then
+    rows[l.ledgeTile] = true
+  end
+end
+check(rows[0x36] and rows[0x37],
+      "LedgeTiles has both DOWN rows ($39 over $36 and $39 over $37)")
+
+eq(route4:cellTile(13, 16), 0x39, "ROUTE_4 (13,16) is the ledge's standing tile")
+eq(route4:cellTile(13, 17), 0x37, "ROUTE_4 (13,17) is a DOWN ledge tile")
+eq(route4:cellTile(12, 16), 0x39, "ROUTE_4 (12,16) is the ledge's standing tile")
+eq(route4:cellTile(12, 17), 0x36, "ROUTE_4 (12,17) is a DOWN ledge tile")
+eq(route4.def.height * 2, 18, "ROUTE_4 is 18 cells tall, so row 18 is off the map")
+check(not route4:inBounds(13, 18), "the landing two south is off ROUTE_4")
+
+local south4 = route4:connection("south")
+check(south4 and south4.map == "ROUTE_3", "ROUTE_4 connects south to ROUTE_3")
+eq(south4 and south4.offset, -25, "at block offset -25 (destX = curX + 50)")
+check(route3:isWalkableCell(63, 0), "the landing ROUTE_3 (63,0) is walkable")
+check(route3:isWalkableCell(62, 0), "and ROUTE_3 (62,0) beside it")
+
+eq(route17:cellTile(7, 142), 0x39, "ROUTE_17 (7,142) is the ledge's standing tile")
+eq(route17:cellTile(7, 143), 0x37, "ROUTE_17 (7,143) is a DOWN ledge tile")
+local south17 = route17:connection("south")
+check(south17 and south17.map == "ROUTE_18", "ROUTE_17 connects south to ROUTE_18")
+check(route18:isWalkableCell(7, 0), "the landing ROUTE_18 (7,0) is walkable")
+
+-- ---- live engine ---------------------------------------------------------
+Game.data = Data
+Game.input = Input; Input:init()
+Game.renderer = Renderer; Renderer:init()
+Game.stack = StateStack; StateStack:init()
+Game.save = SaveData.newGame()
+Game.overworld = OW
+
+local function stand(mapId, x, y)
+  Input:reset()
+  Game.save.onBike = false
+  while Game.stack:top() do Game.stack:pop() end
+  Game.stack:push(OW, mapId, x, y, "down")
+  local ow = Game.stack:top()
+  ow.player.moving = false
+  ow.player.turnTimer = 0
+  return ow
+end
+
+-- One fixed step of the parts of OverworldState:update a hop rides on:
+-- updateScriptMoves retires a finished move (its onDone is where the seam
+-- crossing is handed to checkEdgeExit) and starts the next; Player:update
+-- advances the current one.
+local function runFrames(ow, n)
+  for _ = 1, n do
+    ow:updateScriptMoves()
+    ow.player:update()
+  end
+end
+
+-- The Mt Moon plaza drop: ROUTE_4 (13,16) -> ROUTE_3 (63,0).
+do
+  local ow = stand("ROUTE_4", 13, 16)
+  Input.state.down = true
+  Input.pressed = {}
+  local hopped = ow:checkLedgeHop("down")
+  check(hopped, "holding DOWN on ROUTE_4 (13,16) starts the hop")
+  eq(ow.player.hopFrames, 32, "the 32-frame jump arc is armed")
+  runFrames(ow, 120)
+  eq(ow.map.id, "ROUTE_3", "the hop carries the player across the seam")
+  eq(ow.player.cellX, 63, "landing x on ROUTE_3")
+  eq(ow.player.cellY, 0, "landing y on ROUTE_3 (the top row)")
+  check(not ow.player.moving, "the two-cell hop has finished")
+  eq(#ow.scriptMoves, 0, "no scripted move is left hanging")
+  Input:reset()
+end
+
+-- Its neighbour, the other half of the 2-cell terrace.
+do
+  local ow = stand("ROUTE_4", 12, 16)
+  Input.state.down = true
+  Input.pressed = {}
+  check(ow:checkLedgeHop("down"), "ROUTE_4 (12,16) hops too")
+  runFrames(ow, 120)
+  eq(ow.map.id, "ROUTE_3", "(12,16) also lands on ROUTE_3")
+  eq(ow.player.cellX, 62, "landing x on ROUTE_3")
+  eq(ow.player.cellY, 0, "landing y on ROUTE_3")
+  Input:reset()
+end
+
+-- The last drop off Cycling Road: ROUTE_17 (7,142) -> ROUTE_18 (7,0).
+do
+  local ow = stand("ROUTE_17", 7, 142)
+  Input.state.down = true
+  Input.pressed = {}
+  check(ow:checkLedgeHop("down"), "holding DOWN on ROUTE_17 (7,142) starts the hop")
+  runFrames(ow, 120)
+  eq(ow.map.id, "ROUTE_18", "Cycling Road's last ledge crosses onto ROUTE_18")
+  eq(ow.player.cellX, 7, "landing x on ROUTE_18 (south offset 0)")
+  eq(ow.player.cellY, 0, "landing y on ROUTE_18")
+  Input:reset()
+end
+
+-- Ordinary in-map ledges are untouched: two cells, same map, no seam.
+do
+  local ow = stand("ROUTE_4", 72, 4)
+  Input.state.down = true
+  Input.pressed = {}
+  check(ow:checkLedgeHop("down"), "the in-map ledge at ROUTE_4 (72,4) still hops")
+  runFrames(ow, 120)
+  eq(ow.map.id, "ROUTE_4", "an in-map hop does not change maps")
+  eq(ow.player.cellX, 72, "x unchanged")
+  eq(ow.player.cellY, 6, "landed two cells south")
+  Input:reset()
+end
+
+-- Refusals that must survive the split.  All nine real off-map ledges do have
+-- a connection, so the stub below is the only way to express "none behind it".
+do
+  local ow = stand("ROUTE_4", 13, 16)
+  Input.state.down = true
+  Input.pressed = {}
+  local realConnection = ow.map.connection
+  ow.map.connection = function() return nil end
+  check(ow:checkLedgeHop("down") == false,
+        "an off-map landing with no connection is still refused")
+  eq(#ow.scriptMoves, 0, "and nothing was queued")
+  ow.map.connection = realConnection
+
+  -- ...and the landing is validated the way crossConnection validates it
+  local dest, ts, cx, cy = ow:connectionLanding("down")
+  check(dest ~= nil and ts ~= nil, "connectionLanding resolves the ROUTE_3 strip")
+  eq(cx, 63, "connectionLanding agrees on the landing x")
+  eq(cy, 0, "connectionLanding agrees on the landing y")
+  check(Map.defPassable(dest, ts, cx, cy, false),
+        "Map.defPassable passes the ROUTE_3 landing on foot")
+
+  -- a plain floor cell is not a ledge no matter which way you lean
+  local plain = stand("ROUTE_4", 13, 14)
+  Input.state.down = true
+  Input.pressed = {}
+  check(plain:checkLedgeHop("down") == false, "a non-ledge cell does not hop")
+  check(plain:checkLedgeHop("left") == false, "and neither does a sideways lean")
+  Input:reset()
+end
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_low_health_alarm.lua b/tests/parity_low_health_alarm.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..94fdf193
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_low_health_alarm.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+-- Parity test: the low-health alarm is a LATCH, not a per-frame function of the
+-- model's HP (#293).  pokered keeps it in wLowHealthAlarm bit 7, set by
+-- DrawPlayerHUDAndHPBar (engine/battle/core.asm:1858-1875) and cleared by
+-- RemoveFaintedPlayerMon (core.asm:1011-1016).  That redraw does not run until
+-- UpdateHPBar2 finishes (core.asm:4727-4729), so a siren already sounding rides
+-- through the next hit.  This walks that timeline frame by frame.
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+local Sound = require("src.core.Sound")
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity low health alarm")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+-- A stand-in carrying only what updateFx/stepHPDrain/lowHealthAlarmActive read.
+-- The point is the frame-by-frame decision, not the damage roll behind it.
+local function battler(maxHP, hp)
+  return { mon = { hp = hp, stats = { hp = maxHP } }, shownHP = hp }
+end
+
+-- BattleState.__index = BattleState (BattleState.lua:32), so the stand-in
+-- gets the real methods without newWild's Data/RNG/queue setup
+local function battleAt(maxHP, hp)
+  return setmetatable({
+    data = {},        -- only ever handed to the stubbed Sound.startLoop
+    introSlide = 0,   -- HUD already drawn (post send-out)
+    showPlayerBack = false,
+    player = battler(maxHP, hp),
+    enemy = battler(40, 40),
+  }, BattleState)
+end
+
+-- Record what the siren did instead of making noise.  updateFx re-requires
+-- src.core.Sound each frame, so it picks these up off the same module table.
+local siren = false
+local realStart, realStop = Sound.startLoop, Sound.stopLoop
+Sound.startLoop = function(_, name)
+  if name == "Low_Health_Alarm" then siren = true end
+end
+Sound.stopLoop = function(name)
+  if name == "Low_Health_Alarm" then siren = false end
+end
+
+-- One battle frame in BattleState:update's order: updateFx first
+-- (BattleState.lua:1281), then the queue, whose {drain=true} row steps the bar
+-- (BattleState.lua:798).  Returns one siren sample per frame, oldest first.
+local function frames(b, n, draining)
+  local log = {}
+  for _ = 1, n do
+    BattleState.updateFx(b)
+    if draining then BattleState.stepHPDrain(b) end
+    log[#log + 1] = siren
+  end
+  return log
+end
+
+local function allOn(log)
+  for _, on in ipairs(log) do
+    if not on then return false end
+  end
+  return #log > 0
+end
+
+local function allOff(log)
+  for _, on in ipairs(log) do
+    if on then return false end
+  end
+  return #log > 0
+end
+
+-- drain the bar to the model one frame at a time, sampling as we go; capped so
+-- a broken stepHPDrain cannot spin forever
+local function drainToModel(b, cap)
+  local log = {}
+  for _ = 1, cap or 200 do
+    if b.player.shownHP == b.player.mon.hp then break end
+    local f = frames(b, 1, true)
+    log[#log + 1] = f[1]
+  end
+  return log
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- the regression: a hit lands while the siren is already sounding
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+do
+  -- 9/48 = 9 px of a 48-px bar, one under HP_BAR_RED's threshold
+  local b = battleAt(48, 9)
+  check(allOn(frames(b, 10)), "a red bar starts the siren")
+  check(b.lowHealthAlarmOn == true, "and latches wLowHealthAlarm's bit 7")
+
+  -- applyDamage: the model loses the HP while the turn is still being queued,
+  -- and the bar will not move until the {drain} row runs.
+  b.player.mon.hp = 4
+  eq(b.player.shownHP, 9, "the drawn bar has not moved yet")
+
+  -- "FOE RATTATA used TACKLE!" plus the move animation: dozens of frames with
+  -- no drain running at all, which is where #293 went silent
+  check(allOn(frames(b, 60)),
+        "the siren holds through the announcement and the move animation (#293)")
+
+  -- ...and then the bar drains, maxHP/96 per frame (BattleState:stepHPDrain,
+  -- porting engine/gfx/hp_bar.asm UpdateHPBar)
+  local drain = drainToModel(b)
+  check(#drain > 1, "the drain really took multiple frames")
+  check(allOn(drain), "the siren holds for every frame of the drain (#293)")
+  check(allOn(frames(b, 5)), "and is still sounding once the bar settles")
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- a lethal hit: the siren must last until the bar is visibly empty
+-- (RemoveFaintedPlayerMon, core.asm:1011-1016, runs after the drain)
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+do
+  local b = battleAt(48, 4)
+  check(allOn(frames(b, 5)), "siren sounding before the killing blow")
+
+  b.player.mon.hp = 0 -- applyDamage zeroes the model at queue-build time
+  check(allOn(frames(b, 45)),
+        "a lethal hit keeps the siren through \"used X!\" and the animation (#293)")
+
+  local drain = drainToModel(b)
+  check(allOn(drain), "and through the bar draining to empty (#293)")
+  eq(b.player.shownHP, 0, "the bar reached empty")
+
+  -- updateFx samples before the drain step, so the frame that lands on
+  -- empty is decided from the previous value; the siren stops on the next
+  local after = frames(b, 3)
+  check(after[#after] == false, "the empty bar silences it")
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- the over-correction guard: a STOPPED alarm must not start during a drain.
+-- DrawPlayerHUDAndHPBar sets the bit and does not run until UpdateHPBar2 has
+-- finished, so the siren begins when the BAR lands in the red, not the model.
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+do
+  local b = battleAt(48, 48)
+  check(allOff(frames(b, 5)), "a full bar is silent")
+
+  b.player.mon.hp = 9 -- big hit: model in the red, bar still at the top
+  local drain = drainToModel(b)
+  check(#drain > 1, "the long drain really took multiple frames")
+  check(allOff(drain), "the siren does not start until the bar lands (#293)")
+  check(allOn(frames(b, 3)), "and starts the moment it does")
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- healing out of the red silences it AT ONCE, not after the bar animates:
+-- engine/items/item_effects.asm:991-994 clears the alarm before the heal
+-- draws.  This is the one place the latch must not hold.
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+do
+  local b = battleAt(48, 9)
+  check(allOn(frames(b, 5)), "siren sounding on a red bar")
+  b.player.mon.hp = 30 -- SUPER POTION: model jumps, the bar climbs after
+  local after = frames(b, 1)
+  check(after[1] == false, "a heal out of the red silences it on the spot")
+  check(b.player.shownHP < b.player.mon.hp,
+        "and it was silenced while the bar was still climbing")
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- the pre-existing gates still win over the latch: a decided battle
+-- (EndLowHealthAlarm) and a fainted battler both stop it dead
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+do
+  local b = battleAt(48, 9)
+  check(allOn(frames(b, 3)), "siren sounding")
+  b.result = "win"
+  check(allOff(frames(b, 3)), "a decided battle stops it (EndLowHealthAlarm)")
+
+  local c = battleAt(48, 9)
+  check(allOn(frames(c, 3)), "siren sounding")
+  c.player.fainted = true
+  check(allOff(frames(c, 3)), "a fainted battler stops it")
+
+  local d = battleAt(48, 9)
+  check(allOn(frames(d, 3)), "siren sounding")
+  d.lowHealthAlarmDisabled = true
+  check(allOff(frames(d, 3)), "wLowHealthAlarmDisabled stops it")
+
+  -- safari/old-man battles draw no player HUD, so they have no alarm to latch
+  local e = battleAt(48, 9)
+  e.safari = true
+  check(allOff(frames(e, 3)), "the safari battle never starts one")
+end
+
+Sound.startLoop, Sound.stopLoop = realStart, realStop
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_npc_exit_clearance.lua b/tests/parity_npc_exit_clearance.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..11321358
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_npc_exit_clearance.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,280 @@
+-- Parity: scripted NPC exit walks must stay on walkable ground and must never
+-- route through the player's parking cell (#236, #241).  scriptMove is a pure
+-- tween with no collision, like pokered's MoveSprite, so the movement lists
+-- are the only thing keeping an NPC out of solid world.  #236 picks the
+-- Route 22 exit list off wSavedCoordIndex (home/map_objects.asm:107); #241
+-- never walks the Pewter guide home (PewterCity.asm:133 + SetSpritePosition2).
+
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not (Data.maps and Data.maps.ROUTE_22) then Data:load() end
+local MapLoader = require("src.world.MapLoader")
+
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity npc exit clearance")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+-- restored at the bottom for the suites run after this file
+local realMusic = package.loaded["src.core.Music"]
+local realCommands = package.loaded["src.script.Commands"]
+local realPicBox = package.loaded["src.ui.PicBox"]
+local realTextBox = package.loaded["src.render.TextBox"]
+package.loaded["src.core.Music"] = {
+  play = function() end, playMap = function() end,
+  playOnce = function() return true end, stop = function() end,
+}
+package.loaded["src.script.Commands"] = { hide_object = function() end }
+package.loaded["src.ui.PicBox"] = { new = function() return {} end }
+-- the mock stack below runs a TextBox's continuation the moment it is handed
+-- one, so the whole callback chain (escort -> "take on BROCK" -> walk home)
+-- plays out inside one call with no frame pump
+package.loaded["src.render.TextBox"] = {
+  new = function(_, s, done) return { text = s, done = done } end,
+}
+
+local story5 = dofile("data/scripts/story5.lua")
+
+local DIRV = { up = { 0, -1 }, down = { 0, 1 }, left = { -1, 0 }, right = { 1, 0 } }
+
+-- Replay a movement list one cell at a time.  `avoid` is the player's parking
+-- cell: pokered's lists are authored so the NPC walks around him.
+local function replay(map, sx, sy, dirs, avoid, label)
+  local x, y = sx, sy
+  for i, d in ipairs(dirs) do
+    local v = DIRV[d]
+    check(v ~= nil, ("%s step %d is a real direction (%s)"):format(label, i, tostring(d)))
+    if not v then return x, y end
+    x, y = x + v[1], y + v[2]
+    check(map:isWalkableCell(x, y),
+          ("%s step %d (%s) lands on walkable ground at (%d,%d)")
+            :format(label, i, d, x, y))
+    check(not (x == avoid.x and y == avoid.y),
+          ("%s step %d (%s) does not walk through the player on (%d,%d)")
+            :format(label, i, d, avoid.x, avoid.y))
+  end
+  return x, y
+end
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------ #236
+-- Route 22: both ambush tiles, both rivals.
+do
+  local r22 = MapLoader.load(Data, "ROUTE_22")
+
+  -- ground truth first, so a later map/tileset change reads as "the cliff
+  -- moved" rather than as a script regression
+  check(not r22:isWalkableCell(28, 3),
+        "ROUTE_22 (28,3) is the cliff face, not walkable (the #236 crash site)")
+  check(not r22:isWalkableCell(30, 7),
+        "ROUTE_22 (30,7) is solid too (the old y=5 branch crossed it)")
+  for x = 28, 31 do
+    for y = 4, 5 do
+      check(r22:isWalkableCell(x, y),
+            ("ROUTE_22 (%d,%d) is walkable ambush ground"):format(x, y))
+    end
+  end
+  check(r22:isWalkableCell(31, 10),
+        "ROUTE_22 (31,10) is walkable (pokered's exit end cell)")
+
+  -- the object_event spawn both rivals share
+  local spawn
+  for _, o in ipairs(Data.maps.ROUTE_22.objects or {}) do
+    if o.name == "ROUTE22_RIVAL1" then spawn = o end
+  end
+  check(spawn ~= nil, "ROUTE22_RIVAL1 has an object_event")
+  eq(spawn and spawn.x, 25, "ROUTE22_RIVAL1 spawns at x=25")
+  eq(spawn and spawn.y, 5, "ROUTE22_RIVAL1 spawns at y=5")
+
+  -- drive onStep the way ScriptRunner would: capture the queued rows without
+  -- executing them
+  local function capture(game, x, y)
+    local rows
+    local ow = {
+      runner = {
+        isRunning = function() return false end,
+        run = function(_, r) rows = r end,
+      },
+      player = { facing = "down" },
+      npcByIndex = function() return { def = { name = "X" } } end,
+    }
+    check(story5.ROUTE_22.onStep(game, ow, x, y),
+          ("ROUTE_22 onStep fires at (%d,%d)"):format(x, y))
+    return rows, ow.player.facing
+  end
+
+  local function row(rows, name)
+    for _, r in ipairs(rows or {}) do
+      if r[1] == name then return r end
+    end
+  end
+
+  -- (trigger y, expected end cell) for rival 1; rival 2 always ends back
+  -- on his spawn because Route22Rival2ExitMovementData1 falls through
+  -- into Data2 (Route22.asm:355).
+  local cases = {
+    { n = 1, y = 4, endX = 31, endY = 10,
+      flags = { EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX = true } },
+    { n = 1, y = 5, endX = 31, endY = 10,
+      flags = { EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX = true } },
+    { n = 2, y = 4, endX = 25, endY = 5,
+      flags = { EVENT_BEAT_BROCK = true,
+                EVENT_BEAT_ROUTE22_RIVAL_1ST_BATTLE = true,
+                EVENT_BEAT_GIOVANNI = true } },
+    { n = 2, y = 5, endX = 25, endY = 5,
+      flags = { EVENT_BEAT_BROCK = true,
+                EVENT_BEAT_ROUTE22_RIVAL_1ST_BATTLE = true,
+                EVENT_BEAT_GIOVANNI = true } },
+  }
+
+  for _, c in ipairs(cases) do
+    local tag = ("rival%d from (29,%d)"):format(c.n, c.y)
+    local rows, playerFacing =
+      capture({ save = { flags = c.flags }, data = {} }, 29, c.y)
+    local moveTo = row(rows, "move_npc_to")
+    local face = row(rows, "face_object")
+    local walk = row(rows, "walk_npc")
+    check(moveTo and face and walk, tag .. ": scene has move/face/walk rows")
+    if moveTo and face and walk then
+      local rx, ry = moveTo[3], moveTo[4]
+      -- Route22MoveRivalRightScript only ever walks him RIGHT along his
+      -- own spawn row, so he cannot end up anywhere but row 5.
+      eq(ry, 5, tag .. ": rival stops on his own row 5")
+      check(r22:isWalkableCell(rx, ry),
+            ("%s: rival stops on walkable ground (%d,%d)"):format(tag, rx, ry))
+      check(not (rx == 29 and ry == c.y),
+            tag .. ": rival does not stop on top of the player")
+      check(math.abs(rx - 29) + math.abs(ry - c.y) == 1,
+            tag .. ": rival stops in a cell adjacent to the player")
+
+      -- the two sprites have to be looking at each other, or the battle text
+      -- reads as a conversation with empty air
+      local fv = DIRV[face[3]]
+      check(fv and rx + fv[1] == 29 and ry + fv[2] == c.y,
+            ("%s: rival faces %s, straight at the player"):format(tag, tostring(face[3])))
+      local pv = DIRV[playerFacing]
+      check(pv and 29 + pv[1] == rx and c.y + pv[2] == ry,
+            ("%s: player is turned %s, straight at the rival")
+              :format(tag, tostring(playerFacing)))
+
+      local ex, ey = replay(r22, rx, ry, walk[3], { x = 29, y = c.y }, tag .. " exit")
+      eq(ex, c.endX, tag .. ": exit ends at x=" .. c.endX)
+      eq(ey, c.endY, tag .. ": exit ends at y=" .. c.endY)
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------ #241
+-- Pewter City: the gym guide's walk after the escort.
+do
+  local pew = MapLoader.load(Data, "PEWTER_CITY")
+
+  check(pew:isWalkableCell(11, 18), "PEWTER_CITY (11,18) is the player's parking cell")
+  check(pew:isWalkableCell(12, 18), "PEWTER_CITY (12,18) is where the escort leaves the guide")
+  for x = 13, 17 do
+    check(pew:isWalkableCell(x, 18),
+          ("PEWTER_CITY (%d,18) is walkable gym road"):format(x))
+  end
+  -- why the original teleports him instead of walking him home: (17,18)
+  -- is a dead-end pocket, so there is no route out that misses the player
+  check(not pew:isWalkableCell(18, 18), "PEWTER_CITY (18,18) is the fence")
+  check(not pew:isWalkableCell(17, 17), "PEWTER_CITY (17,17) is wall")
+
+  local spawn
+  for _, o in ipairs(Data.maps.PEWTER_CITY.objects or {}) do
+    if o.name == "PEWTERCITY_YOUNGSTER" then spawn = o end
+  end
+  check(spawn ~= nil, "PEWTERCITY_YOUNGSTER has an object_event")
+  eq(spawn and spawn.x, 35, "PEWTERCITY_YOUNGSTER spawns at x=35")
+  eq(spawn and spawn.y, 16, "PEWTERCITY_YOUNGSTER spawns at y=16")
+
+  -- Run the escort through a mock overworld.  scriptMove lands synchronously
+  -- here instead of over 16 frames, and the real pump advances guide and
+  -- player in the same frame, so only per-entity cell SEQUENCES are
+  -- meaningful, which is all these assertions read.
+  local function runEscort(tx, ty)
+    local moves = {}
+    local guy = { cellX = spawn.x, cellY = spawn.y, facing = "down", moving = false }
+    local player = { cellX = tx, cellY = ty, facing = "left" }
+    local game = {
+      data = { text = {} },
+      save = { flags = {} },
+      stack = { push = function(_, box) if box.done then box.done() end end },
+    }
+    local ow = {
+      scriptMoves = {},
+      runner = { isRunning = function() return false end },
+      player = player,
+      npcByIndex = function(_, i) return (i == 5) and guy or nil end,
+      scriptMove = function(_, ent, dir, tiles, onDone)
+        local v = DIRV[dir]
+        for _ = 1, (tiles or 1) do
+          ent.cellX, ent.cellY = ent.cellX + v[1], ent.cellY + v[2]
+        end
+        ent.facing = dir
+        moves[#moves + 1] = {
+          who = (ent == guy) and "guy" or "player",
+          dir = dir, x = ent.cellX, y = ent.cellY,
+        }
+        if onDone then onDone() end
+      end,
+    }
+    story5.PEWTER_CITY.talk.TEXT_PEWTERCITY_YOUNGSTER(game, ow, guy, nil)
+    return moves, guy, player
+  end
+
+  -- PewterGymGuyCoords: every tile that arms the escort
+  for _, trig in ipairs({ { 35, 17 }, { 36, 17 }, { 37, 18 }, { 37, 19 }, { 34, 16 } }) do
+    local tag = ("guide from (%d,%d)"):format(trig[1], trig[2])
+    local moves, guy, player = runEscort(trig[1], trig[2])
+    check(#moves > 0, tag .. ": the escort actually walked")
+
+    -- the escort's landing pair decides what the walk home has to avoid
+    local lastPlayer
+    for i, m in ipairs(moves) do
+      if m.who == "player" then lastPlayer = i end
+    end
+    check(lastPlayer ~= nil, tag .. ": the player was walked too")
+    eq(player.cellX, 11, tag .. ": player parks on x=11")
+    eq(player.cellY, 18, tag .. ": player parks on y=18")
+
+    -- everything after the player's last step is the walk home
+    local home = {}
+    for i = (lastPlayer or 0) + 1, #moves do
+      check(moves[i].who == "guy", tag .. ": only the guide moves after the escort")
+      home[#home + 1] = moves[i]
+    end
+    eq(#home, 5, tag .. ": MovementData_PewterGymGuyExit is five steps")
+    local hx, hy = 12, 18
+    for i, m in ipairs(home) do
+      eq(m.dir, "right", ("%s: exit step %d is RIGHT"):format(tag, i))
+      local v = DIRV[m.dir] or { 0, 0 }
+      hx, hy = hx + v[1], hy + v[2]
+      check(pew:isWalkableCell(hx, hy),
+            ("%s: exit step %d lands on walkable ground (%d,%d)")
+              :format(tag, i, hx, hy))
+      check(not (hx == 11 and hy == 18),
+            ("%s: exit step %d does not walk through the player on (11,18)")
+              :format(tag, i))
+    end
+    eq(hx, 17, tag .. ": the exit ends on x=17")
+    eq(hy, 18, tag .. ": the exit ends on y=18")
+
+    -- SetSpritePosition2 + ShowObject: back on the object_event spawn
+    eq(guy.cellX, spawn.x, tag .. ": guide is snapped back to spawn x")
+    eq(guy.cellY, spawn.y, tag .. ": guide is snapped back to spawn y")
+    eq(guy.facing, "down", tag .. ": guide faces DOWN again at his spawn")
+    -- npcAtCell (OverworldController.lua:1451) also matches on targetX/Y, so
+    -- a teleport that leaves them set reserves the vacated cell forever and
+    -- silently walls the player out of the pocket
+    eq(guy.targetX, nil, tag .. ": the snap clears targetX")
+    eq(guy.targetY, nil, tag .. ": the snap clears targetY")
+    eq(guy.moving, false, tag .. ": the snap clears the moving flag")
+  end
+end
+
+package.loaded["src.core.Music"] = realMusic
+package.loaded["src.script.Commands"] = realCommands
+package.loaded["src.ui.PicBox"] = realPicBox
+package.loaded["src.render.TextBox"] = realTextBox
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_party_hp_bar_palette.lua b/tests/parity_party_hp_bar_palette.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2efd7cf2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_party_hp_bar_palette.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+-- Parity test: the party screen's SGB block packet (#274, absorbing #272).
+-- SetPal_PartyMenu sends PalPacket_PartyMenu plus BlkPacket_PartyMenu
+-- (engine/gfx/palettes.asm:90, data/sgb/sgb_packets.asm:149-158 and :219), and
+-- each bar block takes its palette from that mon's wPartyMenuHPBarColors entry
+-- (palettes.asm:293-325).  The port gave the whole screen one MEWMON zone, and
+-- the pre-tinted fill then double-applied on top of it (the #229 hazard).
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity party hp bar palette")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not Data.maps then Data:load() end
+local Font = require("src.render.Font")
+Font.load(Data)
+
+local PaletteFX = require("src.render.PaletteFX")
+local HudTiles = require("src.render.HudTiles")
+local PartyMenu = require("src.ui.PartyMenu")
+local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+
+local prevMode = PaletteFX.mode
+
+-- A 48/48 bar is one pixel per HP, so GetHealthBarColor's 27 / 10 pixel
+-- thresholds land on plain numbers here.
+local LEVELS = {
+  { species = "BULBASAUR", hp = 48, pal = "GREENBAR" },
+  { species = "PIDGEY",    hp = 26, pal = "YELLOWBAR" },
+  { species = "RATTATA",   hp = 9,  pal = "REDBAR" },
+  { species = "CATERPIE",  hp = 0,  pal = "REDBAR" },
+}
+
+local party = {}
+for i, l in ipairs(LEVELS) do
+  local mon = Pokemon.new(Data, l.species, 20)
+  mon.stats.hp = 48
+  mon.hp = l.hp
+  party[i] = mon
+  eq(PaletteFX.barPalName(l.hp, 48), l.pal,
+     ("%d/48 HP is a %s bar"):format(l.hp, l.pal))
+end
+
+local game = {
+  data = Data,
+  save = { party = party, options = {} },
+  stack = { push = function() end, pop = function() end,
+            top = function() end },
+}
+
+-- ---- the block packet ----------------------------------------------------
+local function zonesIn(mode, menu)
+  PaletteFX.setMode(mode)
+  return menu:sgbPalettes(game), mode
+end
+
+for _, mode in ipairs({ "gbc", "redpp" }) do
+  local menu = PartyMenu.new(game, {})
+  local zones = zonesIn(mode, menu)
+  local tag = " [" .. PaletteFX.modeLabel(mode) .. "]"
+
+  check(type(zones) == "table", "sgbPalettes returns a zone list" .. tag)
+  zones = zones or {}
+  eq(#zones, 2 + #party,
+     "base + icon column + one block per HP bar row" .. tag)
+
+  local green = PaletteFX.pal(Data, "GREENBAR")
+  local mew = PaletteFX.pal(Data, "MEWMON")
+  check(green and mew, "GREENBAR and MEWMON both resolve" .. tag)
+
+  -- pal 1 of the PAL_SET is the screen's base, not MEWMON
+  local base = zones[1] or {}
+  eq(base.colors, green, "the base zone is GREENBAR, not MEWMON" .. tag)
+  eq(base.x, 0, "base zone x" .. tag)
+  eq(base.y, 0, "base zone y" .. tag)
+  eq(base.w, 160, "base zone spans the screen width" .. tag)
+  eq(base.h, 144, "base zone spans the screen height" .. tag)
+
+  -- ATTR_BLK_DATA ... 01,00, 02,12 -> tiles x 1..2, rows 0..11 here: the block
+  -- stops at row 11 because row 12 is this port's message-box edge
+  local col = zones[2] or {}
+  eq(col.colors, mew, "the icon column keeps MEWMON" .. tag)
+  eq(col.x, 8, "icon column starts at tile 1" .. tag)
+  eq(col.y, 0, "icon column starts at row 0" .. tag)
+  eq(col.w, 16, "icon column is the two-tile-wide icon block" .. tag)
+  eq(col.h, 96, "icon column stops above the message box" .. tag)
+
+  -- the base swap is invisible outside the icons and the bars only because
+  -- MEWMON and GREENBAR agree on paper and ink in every pack: names, levels,
+  -- HP numbers, border and cursor are all color 3 on color 0
+  for _, ci in ipairs({ 1, 4 }) do
+    local a, b = mew and mew[ci], green and green[ci]
+    check(a and b and a[1] == b[1] and a[2] == b[2] and a[3] == b[3],
+          ("MEWMON and GREENBAR share color %d (text/box unchanged)%s")
+            :format(ci - 1, tag))
+  end
+
+  for i, l in ipairs(LEVELS) do
+    local z = zones[2 + i] or {}
+    local want = PaletteFX.pal(Data, l.pal)
+    eq(z.colors, want,
+       ("row %d (%d/48 HP) carries the %s block palette%s")
+         :format(i, l.hp, l.pal, tag))
+    -- 05,YY - 11,YY shifted one tile right, because this port draws the bar at
+    -- tile 5 where party_menu.asm:71-76 draws it at 4; still cap + six fill
+    eq(z.x, 48, ("row %d bar block starts at tile 6%s"):format(i, tag))
+    eq(z.w, 56, ("row %d bar block is seven tiles wide%s"):format(i, tag))
+    eq(z.y, (i * 2 - 1) * 8, ("row %d bar block sits on its HP row%s"):format(i, tag))
+    eq(z.h, 8, ("row %d bar block is one tile tall%s"):format(i, tag))
+  end
+end
+
+-- ---- TM/HM list: ABLE / NOT ABLE where the bar would be (#210) ------------
+do
+  PaletteFX.setMode("redpp")
+  local menu = PartyMenu.new(game, { tmhm = { move = "TM01", kind = "TM" } })
+  local zones = menu:sgbPalettes(game) or {}
+  eq(#zones, 2, "the TM/HM list has no bar rows to color")
+end
+
+-- ---- a medicine's fill holds the PRE-heal block palette (#252) ------------
+do
+  PaletteFX.setMode("redpp")
+  local menu = PartyMenu.new(game, {})
+  menu.heal = { mon = party[3], from = 9, shown = 30 }
+  local zones = menu:sgbPalettes(game) or {}
+  eq((zones[5] or {}).colors, PaletteFX.pal(Data, "REDBAR"),
+     "a healing row keeps its pre-heal bar palette until the redraw")
+end
+
+-- ---- the bar the rects are aimed at --------------------------------------
+-- grayFill: with a zone pass coming, the fill must stay raw DMG shade-2 gray
+-- or the tint and the zone double-apply (a GREENBAR fill has red channel 0, so
+-- the red-keyed shade shader maps the whole bar to color 3 = black).
+-- PaletteFX.shader() is stubbed rather than the love global because the real
+-- one caches its compile and another suite may already have resolved it.
+do
+  PaletteFX.setMode("redpp")
+  local menu = PartyMenu.new(game, {})
+  local realShader, realBar = PaletteFX.shader, HudTiles.drawHPBar
+  local realDraw = love.graphics.draw
+  local seen = {}
+  local function record()
+    HudTiles.drawHPBar = function(data, tx, ty, mon, barType, grayFill)
+      seen[#seen + 1] = { tx = tx, ty = ty, barType = barType,
+                          gray = grayFill and true or false }
+    end
+    love.graphics.draw = function() end
+  end
+  local function restore()
+    HudTiles.drawHPBar, love.graphics.draw = realBar, realDraw
+    PaletteFX.shader = realShader
+  end
+
+  PaletteFX.shader = function() return { send = function() end } end
+  record()
+  local ok, err = pcall(function() menu:draw() end)
+  restore()
+  check(ok, "PartyMenu:draw runs headless" .. (ok and "" or (": " .. tostring(err))))
+  eq(#seen, #party, "one HP bar per party row")
+  for i, bar in ipairs(seen) do
+    eq(bar.gray, true, ("row %d draws a gray fill when a zone pass will run")
+                         :format(i))
+    -- the placement the sgbPalettes rects above are keyed to
+    eq(bar.tx, 5, ("row %d bar starts at tile 5"):format(i))
+    eq(bar.ty, i * 2 - 1, ("row %d bar sits on its HP row"):format(i))
+    -- wHPBarType 2: the party menu closes with the $6C nub, not the
+    -- player-battle double bar (home/pokemon.asm DrawHPBar "Right")
+    eq(bar.barType, nil, ("row %d keeps the party-menu right cap"):format(i))
+    eq(HudTiles.capTile(bar.barType), 0x6C,
+       ("row %d cap tile is the party nub"):format(i))
+  end
+
+  -- and the other way: with no shade-remap shader nothing will colorize the
+  -- canvas, so the per-pixel tint is the only color the bar can get
+  seen = {}
+  PaletteFX.shader = function() return nil end
+  record()
+  pcall(function() menu:draw() end)
+  restore()
+  eq(#seen, #party, "one HP bar per party row (unshaded build)")
+  for i, bar in ipairs(seen) do
+    eq(bar.gray, false,
+       ("row %d keeps its tinted fill with no shader to colorize it"):format(i))
+  end
+end
+
+PaletteFX.setMode(prevMode)
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_party_icon_mirror.lua b/tests/parity_party_icon_mirror.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..51fa81da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_party_icon_mirror.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+-- Parity test: the party list draws each icon as a mirrored LEFT half (#276).
+-- pokered engine/gfx/mon_icons.asm:234-251 sends every icon but ICON_HELIX
+-- through WriteSymmetricMonPartySpriteOAM (engine/items/town_map.asm:494-534),
+-- whose inner loop writes the same tile twice (plain, then OAM_XFLIP) before
+-- bumping the tile number by 2, so the frame's right column never reaches the
+-- screen.  Pixels: tests/drivers/party_icon_mirror_bug276_test.lua.
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity party icon mirror")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not Data.maps then Data:load() end
+local Font = require("src.render.Font")
+Font.load(Data)
+
+local PartyMenu = require("src.ui.PartyMenu")
+local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+
+-- ---- the HELIX carve-out, as a pure function -----------------------------
+-- data/pokemon/menu_icons.asm gives ICON_HELIX to Shellder/Cloyster,
+-- Staryu/Starmie and the fossil lines, and to nothing else.
+check(type(PartyMenu.mirrorsIcon) == "function",
+      "PartyMenu.mirrorsIcon is exported")
+-- keep going when it is missing, so the draw geometry below still reports
+local mirrors = type(PartyMenu.mirrorsIcon) == "function"
+                and PartyMenu.mirrorsIcon or function() return nil end
+eq(mirrors("MON"), true, "MON mirrors")
+eq(mirrors("FAIRY"), true, "FAIRY mirrors")
+eq(mirrors("BIRD"), true, "BIRD mirrors")
+eq(mirrors("BALL"), true, "BALL mirrors")
+eq(mirrors("HELIX"), false, "HELIX takes the asymmetric path")
+eq(mirrors(nil), false, "mod art (no built-in icon name) draws whole")
+
+-- ---- one party row per icon class, each on its own sheet -----------------
+-- Distinct sheets so a recorded draw can be attributed back to its row.
+-- byDex is the extractor's copy of MonPartyData; the frames come from
+-- PartyMenu.iconFrames (data/icon_pointers.asm MonPartySpritePointers).
+local CASES = {
+  { species = "CHARMANDER", icon = "MON",       rest = 3, alt = 0 },
+  { species = "PIKACHU",    icon = "FAIRY",     rest = 3, alt = 0 },
+  { species = "SPEAROW",    icon = "BIRD",      rest = 3, alt = 0 },
+  -- HELIX and BALL carry no iconFrames row: one 16x16 frame, and
+  -- AnimatePartyMon nudges them a pixel down instead of swapping frames.
+  { species = "OMANYTE",    icon = "HELIX",     rest = 0 },
+  { species = "WEEDLE",     icon = "BUG",       rest = 1, alt = 0 },
+  { species = "RATTATA",    icon = "QUADRUPED", rest = 0, alt = 1 },
+}
+
+local icons = Data.icons
+check(icons and icons.icons and icons.byDex, "data.icons carries icons/byDex")
+
+local party = {}
+for i, c in ipairs(CASES) do
+  local def = Data.pokemon[c.species]
+  local name = def and def.dex and icons.byDex[def.dex]
+  eq(name, c.icon, c.species .. " uses the " .. c.icon .. " icon")
+  local path = name and icons.icons[name]
+  check(type(path) == "string" and path ~= "",
+        c.icon .. " resolves a sheet path")
+  c.path = path
+  eq(PartyMenu.frameFor(name, false, 96), c.rest, c.icon .. " rest frame")
+  if c.alt then
+    eq(PartyMenu.frameFor(name, true, 96), c.alt, c.icon .. " animated frame")
+  end
+  party[i] = Pokemon.new(Data, c.species, 20)
+end
+
+-- every case must sit on its own sheet or the per-row attribution below lies
+do
+  local seen = {}
+  for _, c in ipairs(CASES) do
+    check(c.path and not seen[c.path], (c.icon or "?") .. " has its own sheet")
+    seen[c.path] = true
+  end
+end
+
+local game = {
+  data = Data,
+  save = { party = party, options = {} },
+  stack = { push = function() end, pop = function() end,
+            top = function() end },
+}
+local menu = PartyMenu.new(game, {})
+
+-- ---- record the icon draws ------------------------------------------------
+-- love.graphics.draw(image, quad, x, y, r, sx, sy).  The stub's newImage
+-- keeps the resolved path, which is how a draw is tied back to a row.
+local function drawsFor(index, blink)
+  menu.index = index or 1
+  menu.blink = blink or 0
+  local real = love.graphics.draw
+  local rec = {}
+  love.graphics.draw = function(img, a, b, c, d, e, f)
+    rec[#rec + 1] = { img = img, a = a, b = b, c = c, d = d, e = e, f = f }
+  end
+  local ok, err = pcall(function() menu:draw() end)
+  love.graphics.draw = real
+  check(ok, "PartyMenu:draw runs headless" .. (ok and "" or (": " .. tostring(err))))
+  local byRow = {}
+  for _, r in ipairs(rec) do
+    local p = type(r.img) == "table" and r.img.path
+    if type(p) == "string" then
+      for ci, c in ipairs(CASES) do
+        -- Assets.resolve may prefix an override dir, so match on the tail
+        if p:sub(-#c.path) == c.path then
+          byRow[ci] = byRow[ci] or {}
+          table.insert(byRow[ci], r)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  return byRow
+end
+
+-- Park the cursor on row 4 (the fossil) so the other five rows are at rest
+-- and no alt frame is in play.
+local rows = drawsFor(4, 0)
+
+for i, c in ipairs(CASES) do
+  local d = rows[i] or {}
+  local y = PartyMenu.entryY(i)
+  if c.icon == "HELIX" then
+    -- WriteAsymmetricMonPartySpriteOAM (town_map.asm:461-492): the one icon
+    -- whose four tile patterns are all distinct, so it draws whole
+    eq(#d, 1, "HELIX icon is one whole draw")
+    if d[1] then
+      eq(d[1].a, 8, "HELIX draws at x=8 with no quad")
+      eq(d[1].b, y, "HELIX draws on its own row")
+    end
+  else
+    eq(#d, 2, c.icon .. " icon is a half plus its mirror")
+    local half, flip = d[1], d[2]
+    if half and flip then
+      check(type(half.a) == "table" and half.a.w == 8 and half.a.h == 16,
+            c.icon .. " left half is an 8x16 quad")
+      eq(type(half.a) == "table" and half.a.x, 0,
+         c.icon .. " left half starts at the frame's left edge")
+      eq(type(half.a) == "table" and half.a.y, c.rest * 16,
+         c.icon .. " left half reads the rest frame")
+      eq(half.b, 8, c.icon .. " left half lands at x=8")
+      eq(half.c, y, c.icon .. " left half lands on its row")
+      eq(flip.a, half.a, c.icon .. " mirror reuses the same left-half quad")
+      eq(flip.b, 8 + 16, c.icon .. " mirror is anchored on the block's right edge")
+      eq(flip.c, y, c.icon .. " mirror lands on its row")
+      eq(flip.e, -1, c.icon .. " mirror is x-flipped (OAM_XFLIP)")
+      eq(flip.f, 1, c.icon .. " mirror is not y-flipped")
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+-- ---- the animated frame mirrors too --------------------------------------
+-- AnimatePartyMon only animates the selected mon, and BIRD is the class whose
+-- animated frame is the asymmetric one, so a Spearow only goes lopsided while
+-- the cursor is on it.  At full HP the phase is 5 frames, so blink 5 is alt.
+do
+  local bird = 3
+  local alt = drawsFor(bird, 5)
+  local d = alt[bird] or {}
+  eq(#d, 2, "the animated BIRD frame is still a half plus its mirror")
+  if d[1] and d[2] then
+    eq(type(d[1].a) == "table" and d[1].a.y, CASES[bird].alt * 16,
+       "the animated BIRD frame is tile 0, not the rest frame")
+    eq(d[1].a.w, 8, "the animated BIRD half is 8 wide")
+    eq(d[2].e, -1, "the animated BIRD mirror is x-flipped")
+  end
+end
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_picker_pointer_grab.lua b/tests/parity_picker_pointer_grab.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f7b1a4e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_picker_pointer_grab.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+-- #254: the launcher's native file pickers must not open while a mouse button
+-- is still held.  All three (ROM, mod .zip, .sav) block the LOVE loop in
+-- io.popen straight out of mousepressed, so SDL never processes the button-up
+-- and never drops its pointer capture; on X11 the chooser then draws but
+-- ignores the mouse.  The X11 half needs a human on a Linux box; the fake
+-- mouse here only stays down until pump() is called.
+
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("launcher picker pointer grab")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+local RomImporter = require("src.import.RomImporter")
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------- the funnel
+-- The release lives in commandOutput because all three pickers reach popen
+-- through it; a fourth picker calling io.popen directly would bring #254 back.
+do
+  local f = io.open("src/import/RomImporter.lua", "rb")
+  check(f ~= nil, "RomImporter source is readable")
+  if f then
+    local src = f:read("*a")
+    f:close()
+    local calls = 0
+    for _ in src:gmatch("io%.popen%(") do calls = calls + 1 end
+    eq(calls, 1, "every desktop picker still funnels through the one io.popen"
+      .. " call, which is where the pointer grab is released (#254)")
+  end
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------- instrumentation
+-- The love stub is shared with every later suite in run_tests.lua, so the getOS
+-- FIELD is saved as well as the table: restoring only the reference would hand
+-- the next suite this file's Linux answer.
+local saved = {
+  mouse = love.mouse,
+  event = love.event,
+  timer = love.timer,
+  system = love.system,
+  getOS = love.system and love.system.getOS,
+  popen = io.popen,
+}
+
+local W  -- the world one scenario runs in
+
+-- releaseAfterPumps: how many pumps SDL needs before it reports the button
+-- up.  math.huge models a physically stuck button.
+local function newWorld(releaseAfterPumps)
+  W = {
+    held = true,          -- a button is down, the way it is during a click
+    polls = 0,            -- love.mouse.isDown calls
+    pumps = 0,            -- love.event.pump calls
+    clock = 0,            -- fake monotonic seconds, advanced only by sleep
+    popens = {},          -- one entry per picker launch
+    releaseAfterPumps = releaseAfterPumps or 3,
+    overran = false,
+  }
+end
+
+love.mouse = {
+  isDown = function()
+    W.polls = W.polls + 1
+    return W.held
+  end,
+}
+love.event = {
+  pump = function()
+    W.pumps = W.pumps + 1
+    -- SDL learns about the release here and nowhere else
+    if W.pumps >= W.releaseAfterPumps then W.held = false end
+    -- runaway guard: an unbounded wait would take the whole suite with it
+    if W.pumps > 20000 then
+      W.overran = true
+      W.held = false
+    end
+  end,
+}
+love.timer = {
+  getTime = function() return W.clock end,
+  sleep = function(seconds) W.clock = W.clock + (seconds or 0) end,
+}
+love.system = love.system or {}
+love.system.getOS = function() return "Linux" end
+
+io.popen = function(command)
+  W.popens[#W.popens + 1] = {
+    command = command,
+    heldAtLaunch = W.held,
+    pumps = W.pumps,
+    clock = W.clock,
+  }
+  -- an empty answer = the player cancelled, so nothing downstream runs
+  return {
+    read = function() return "" end,
+    close = function() return true end,
+  }
+end
+
+local function fakeImporter()
+  return setmetatable({
+    android = false,
+    workState = nil,
+    ready = { red = false, blue = false },
+    chooseVersion = nil,
+    saveNotice = {},
+    startPath = function(self, path) self._startedPath = path end,
+    setError = function(self, msg) self._error = msg end,
+    _installMod = function(self, path) self._installed = path end,
+    _importSave = function(self, version, path) self._imported = path end,
+  }, RomImporter)
+end
+
+-- every picker launch in this scenario found the pointer already released
+local function assertReleasedBeforeEveryPicker(label)
+  check(#W.popens >= 1, label .. ": the picker actually opened")
+  for i, call in ipairs(W.popens) do
+    check(call.heldAtLaunch == false,
+      ("%s: picker %d blocked in io.popen with no mouse button still held"
+        .. " -- SDL got to drop its pointer capture first (#254)"):format(label, i))
+  end
+  check(W.pumps >= 1,
+    label .. ": the event queue was pumped before blocking, which is what lets"
+    .. " SDL see the button-up at all")
+end
+
+local function run()
+  -- ---- a normal click: the release lands a few pumps in ------------------
+  newWorld(3)
+  local ri = fakeImporter()
+  ri:choose("red")
+  assertReleasedBeforeEveryPicker("ROM picker")
+  eq(ri._error, nil, "a cancelled Linux pick reports no error")
+  check(W.clock < 1,
+    "the wait costs nothing a player can perceive on a normal click (waited "
+    .. tostring(W.clock) .. "s)")
+
+  -- ---- the same for the mod .zip picker ----------------------------------
+  newWorld(2)
+  ri = fakeImporter()
+  ri:chooseMod()
+  assertReleasedBeforeEveryPicker("mod .zip picker")
+
+  -- ---- and the .sav picker ------------------------------------------------
+  newWorld(2)
+  ri = fakeImporter()
+  ri:chooseSaveImport("red")
+  assertReleasedBeforeEveryPicker(".sav picker")
+
+  -- ---- a button that never comes up must not hang the launcher -----------
+  newWorld(math.huge)
+  ri = fakeImporter()
+  ri:choose("red")
+  check(#W.popens >= 1,
+    "a stuck button still opens the picker rather than hanging the launcher")
+  check(not W.overran, "the wait ends on its own instead of spinning forever")
+  local previous = 0
+  for i, call in ipairs(W.popens) do
+    local waited = call.clock - previous
+    previous = call.clock
+    check(waited <= 1.05,
+      ("picker %d waited %.3fs for a stuck button, bounded at one second")
+        :format(i, waited))
+  end
+
+  -- ---- no mouse module at all (headless): the guard bails out ------------
+  newWorld(3)
+  local mouseModule = love.mouse
+  love.mouse = nil
+  ri = fakeImporter()
+  local ok, err = pcall(function() ri:choose("red") end)
+  love.mouse = mouseModule
+  check(ok, "a build with no love.mouse still opens the picker instead of"
+    .. " erroring (" .. tostring(err) .. ")")
+  check(#W.popens >= 1, "and the picker still ran")
+end
+
+local ok, err = pcall(run)
+
+love.mouse, love.event, love.timer = saved.mouse, saved.event, saved.timer
+if love.system then love.system.getOS = saved.getOS end
+love.system = saved.system
+io.popen = saved.popen
+
+if not ok then check(false, "suite raised: " .. tostring(err)) end
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_portable_mods.lua b/tests/parity_portable_mods.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a417cc91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_portable_mods.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,378 @@
+-- #330: a portable install must keep installed mods in the game folder.
+-- love.filesystem has one write directory (the OS save dir) and it is not
+-- relocatable, so installs landed in appdata and remove() could not touch the
+-- game folder at all.  Reads merge both trees, which is why nothing looked
+-- wrong.  The fake below reads from three places and writes to one, like
+-- physfs; the game folder is real on disk, so the assertions are real files.
+
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("portable mod install")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+local FsIo = require("tests.fs_io")
+local SaveData = require("src.core.SaveData")
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------- sandbox
+local WIN = FsIo.isWindows
+
+local function mkdirp(path)
+  if WIN then
+    os.execute('mkdir "' .. path:gsub("/", "\\") .. '" 2>nul')
+  else
+    os.execute('mkdir -p "' .. path .. '" 2>/dev/null')
+  end
+end
+
+local function rmrf(path)
+  if WIN then
+    os.execute('rmdir /s /q "' .. path:gsub("/", "\\") .. '" 2>nul')
+  else
+    os.execute('rm -rf "' .. path .. '" 2>/dev/null')
+  end
+end
+
+local function fileExists(path)
+  local f = io.open(path, "rb")
+  if not f then return false end
+  f:close()
+  return true
+end
+
+local function writeReal(path, body)
+  local f = io.open(path, "wb")
+  if not f then return false end
+  f:write(body)
+  f:close()
+  return true
+end
+
+local function fileBody(path)
+  local f = io.open(path, "rb")
+  if not f then return nil end
+  local body = f:read("*a")
+  f:close()
+  return body
+end
+
+local TMP = (os.getenv("TMPDIR") or os.getenv("TEMP") or "/tmp")
+  :gsub("[/\\]+$", "")
+local SANDBOX = ("%s/pokeport_bug330_%d_%d"):format(TMP, os.time(),
+  math.random(1, 999999))
+-- Where portable.txt would sit, next to the executable.  Deliberately NOT
+-- given one: SaveData's detection is cached process-wide, and a later suite
+-- must not inherit a temp directory.  portableBaseDir() is stubbed instead.
+local GAME_FOLDER = SANDBOX .. "/game"
+local ZIP_PATH = SANDBOX .. "/portable_probe.zip"
+
+mkdirp(GAME_FOLDER)
+do
+  local f = io.open(ZIP_PATH, "wb")
+  if f then
+    -- readArchive only has to read SOME bytes: the mount is stubbed below
+    f:write("PK\003\004 stand-in for a mod .zip")
+    f:close()
+  end
+end
+check(FsIo.isDir(GAME_FOLDER), "sandbox game folder created at " .. GAME_FOLDER)
+check(fileExists(ZIP_PATH), "sandbox .zip staged at " .. ZIP_PATH)
+
+local MOD_ID = "portable_probe"
+
+local function manifestJson(id, name)
+  return ('{"id":"%s","name":"%s","version":"1.0.0","entry":"main.lua"}')
+    :format(id, name)
+end
+
+-- one top-level mod folder, one nested subfolder, so the recursive copy and
+-- the recursive delete are both exercised
+local ARCHIVE = {
+  [MOD_ID .. "/manifest.json"] = manifestJson(MOD_ID, "Portable Probe"),
+  [MOD_ID .. "/main.lua"] = "return function() end\n",
+  [MOD_ID .. "/data/extra.txt"] = "nested payload\n",
+}
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------- fake physfs
+-- Three read sources, one write sink -- the real asymmetry of the bug.
+local realFs = FsIo.new(GAME_FOLDER)
+local save, saveDirs, arch = {}, {}, {}
+
+local function resetTrees()
+  for k in pairs(save) do save[k] = nil end
+  for k in pairs(saveDirs) do saveDirs[k] = nil end
+  for k in pairs(arch) do arch[k] = nil end
+end
+
+-- the immediate child of `name` that `key` lies under, or nil
+local function dirChild(key, name)
+  if name == nil or name == "" then return key:match("^[^/]+") end
+  local prefix = name .. "/"
+  if key:sub(1, #prefix) ~= prefix then return nil end
+  return key:sub(#prefix + 1):match("^[^/]+")
+end
+
+local function mapInfo(map, name, kind)
+  if map[name] ~= nil then return { type = kind or "file" } end
+  for key in pairs(map) do
+    if dirChild(key, name) then return { type = "directory" } end
+  end
+  return nil
+end
+
+local vfs = {}
+
+function vfs.write(name, data)
+  -- physfs writes to the save directory and nowhere else, portable or not
+  save[name] = data
+  return true
+end
+
+function vfs.read(name)
+  if arch[name] ~= nil then return arch[name] end
+  if save[name] ~= nil then return save[name] end
+  local body = realFs.read(name)
+  return body
+end
+
+function vfs.remove(name)
+  -- likewise: love.filesystem.remove never reaches outside the save directory
+  save[name] = nil
+  saveDirs[name] = nil
+  return true
+end
+
+function vfs.createDirectory(name)
+  saveDirs[name] = true
+  return true
+end
+
+function vfs.getInfo(name, kind)
+  local info = mapInfo(arch, name)
+    or mapInfo(save, name)
+    or mapInfo(saveDirs, name, "directory")
+    or realFs.getInfo(name)
+  if info and kind and info.type ~= kind then return nil end
+  return info
+end
+
+function vfs.getDirectoryItems(name)
+  local seen, items = {}, {}
+  local function add(child)
+    if child and not seen[child] then
+      seen[child] = true
+      items[#items + 1] = child
+    end
+  end
+  for key in pairs(arch) do add(dirChild(key, name)) end
+  for key in pairs(save) do add(dirChild(key, name)) end
+  for key in pairs(saveDirs) do add(dirChild(key, name)) end
+  local info = realFs.getInfo(name)
+  if info and info.type == "directory" then
+    for _, child in ipairs(realFs.getDirectoryItems(name)) do add(child) end
+  end
+  table.sort(items)
+  return items
+end
+
+function vfs.load(name)
+  local body = vfs.read(name)
+  if not body then return nil, "no file" end
+  return load(body, name)
+end
+
+function vfs.mount(_, point)
+  for rel, body in pairs(ARCHIVE) do arch[point .. "/" .. rel] = body end
+  return true
+end
+
+function vfs.unmount()
+  for k in pairs(arch) do arch[k] = nil end
+  return true
+end
+
+-- a source run: the game folder IS the physfs source, which is the branch
+-- CacheFs takes when it does not need an FFI mount
+function vfs.getSource() return GAME_FOLDER end
+function vfs.getSaveDirectory() return SANDBOX .. "/os-save-dir" end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------- module swap
+local savedLoveFs = love.filesystem
+local savedPortableBaseDir = SaveData.portableBaseDir
+local savedCacheFs = package.loaded["src.import.CacheFs"]
+local savedLauncherMods = package.loaded["src.mods.LauncherMods"]
+
+-- CacheFs caches its resolved root (and its mkdir probe) at module level, so
+-- each half of this suite needs its own copy.  Both are restored at the end.
+local function freshModules(portableDir)
+  package.loaded["src.import.CacheFs"] = nil
+  package.loaded["src.mods.LauncherMods"] = nil
+  SaveData.portableBaseDir = function() return portableDir end
+  local LauncherMods = require("src.mods.LauncherMods")
+  local CacheFs = require("src.import.CacheFs")
+  return LauncherMods, CacheFs
+end
+
+local function saveTreeKeys(prefix)
+  local hits = {}
+  for key in pairs(save) do
+    if key:sub(1, #prefix) == prefix then hits[#hits + 1] = key end
+  end
+  table.sort(hits)
+  return hits
+end
+
+local function listedIds(rows)
+  local ids = {}
+  for _, row in ipairs(rows) do ids[#ids + 1] = row.id end
+  table.sort(ids)
+  return ids
+end
+
+local function contains(list, want)
+  for _, v in ipairs(list) do if v == want then return true end end
+  return false
+end
+
+local ffiAvailable = pcall(require, "ffi")
+
+local function run()
+  love.filesystem = vfs
+
+  -- ------------------------------------------------- not portable: unchanged
+  -- No portable.txt: the mods tree stays in the OS save directory.
+  local plainMods, plainCache = freshModules(nil)
+  resetTrees()
+  eq(plainCache.root(), nil, "with no portable folder the cache root stays unset")
+
+  local ok, id = plainMods.installZip(ZIP_PATH)
+  check(ok == true, "a non-portable install still succeeds (" .. tostring(id) .. ")")
+  eq(id, MOD_ID, "and reports the manifest id")
+  check(save["mods/" .. MOD_ID .. "/manifest.json"] ~= nil,
+    "a non-portable install still lands in the OS save directory")
+  check(save["mods/" .. MOD_ID .. "/data/extra.txt"] ~= nil,
+    "including nested files")
+  check(not FsIo.isDir(GAME_FOLDER .. "/mods"),
+    "and writes nothing at all next to the game")
+
+  check(contains(listedIds(plainMods.list()), MOD_ID),
+    "the mods panel lists it")
+  local uok = plainMods.uninstall(MOD_ID)
+  check(uok == true, "a non-portable uninstall succeeds")
+  eq(#saveTreeKeys("mods/"), 0,
+    "and clears the save-directory tree, so the row stays gone")
+
+  if plainCache.removeDir then
+    saveDirs["mods/ghost"] = true
+    plainCache.removeDir("mods/ghost")
+    check(saveDirs["mods/ghost"] == nil,
+      "CacheFs.removeDir falls back to love.filesystem when not portable")
+  else
+    check(false, "CacheFs.removeDir exists (the uninstall counterpart to its"
+      .. " windowless mkdir -- #330)")
+  end
+
+  -- ------------------------------------------------- portable: the fix
+  if not ffiAvailable then
+    print("[#330] no FFI on this interpreter, so CacheFs keeps the cache in"
+      .. " the save directory by design: the portable half was skipped")
+    return
+  end
+
+  local portableMods, portableCache = freshModules(GAME_FOLDER)
+  resetTrees()
+  eq(portableCache.root(), GAME_FOLDER,
+    "portable.txt's folder becomes the cache root")
+
+  -- The launcher leaves CacheFs.prefix on whichever version it last imported,
+  -- but the mods tree is shared, so this must NOT land in blue/mods/.
+  portableCache.prefix = "blue/"
+  ok, id = portableMods.installZip(ZIP_PATH)
+  eq(portableCache.prefix, "blue/",
+    "installZip hands the version prefix back to the launcher")
+  portableCache.prefix = ""
+
+  check(ok == true, "a portable install succeeds (" .. tostring(id) .. ")")
+  eq(id, MOD_ID, "and reports the manifest id")
+
+  local installed = GAME_FOLDER .. "/mods/" .. MOD_ID
+  check(fileExists(installed .. "/manifest.json"),
+    "the mod's manifest is a real file in the game folder, next to the"
+    .. " executable (#330)")
+  eq(fileBody(installed .. "/manifest.json"),
+    ARCHIVE[MOD_ID .. "/manifest.json"],
+    "with the bytes from the .zip")
+  check(fileExists(installed .. "/main.lua"), "the entry chunk came with it")
+  check(fileExists(installed .. "/data/extra.txt"),
+    "and so did the nested folder's contents")
+  check(not FsIo.isDir(GAME_FOLDER .. "/blue"),
+    "nothing landed under the version prefix (mods are shared by Red and Blue)")
+  eq(#saveTreeKeys("mods/"), 0,
+    "and nothing was stranded in the OS save directory")
+
+  check(contains(listedIds(portableMods.list()), MOD_ID),
+    "the mods panel lists the game-folder copy")
+
+  -- ------------------------------------------------- portable uninstall
+  local uerr
+  uok, uerr = portableMods.uninstall(MOD_ID)
+  check(uok == true, "a portable uninstall succeeds (" .. tostring(uerr) .. ")")
+  check(not fileExists(installed .. "/manifest.json"),
+    "uninstall deletes the real files out of the game folder (#330)")
+  check(not fileExists(installed .. "/data/extra.txt"),
+    "including the nested ones")
+  check(not FsIo.isDir(installed .. "/data"),
+    "the emptied subfolder is removed too")
+  check(not FsIo.isDir(installed),
+    "and so is the mod folder, so the row does not come back on the next launch")
+  check(not contains(listedIds(portableMods.list()), MOD_ID),
+    "the mods panel no longer lists it")
+
+  -- ------------------------------------------------- a mod already on disk
+  -- The other half of the report: a mod carried over from another machine.
+  -- Uninstall used to delete nothing, so the row was back on the next launch.
+  local shipped = "shipped_probe"
+  local shippedDir = GAME_FOLDER .. "/mods/" .. shipped
+  mkdirp(shippedDir .. "/data")
+  local wrote = writeReal(shippedDir .. "/manifest.json",
+      manifestJson(shipped, "Shipped Probe"))
+    and writeReal(shippedDir .. "/main.lua", "return function() end\n")
+    and writeReal(shippedDir .. "/data/extra.txt", "carried over\n")
+  check(wrote, "staged a mod that was already sitting in the game folder")
+  check(contains(listedIds(portableMods.list()), shipped),
+    "the panel lists it (reads have always found the game folder)")
+  uok, uerr = portableMods.uninstall(shipped)
+  check(uok == true, "uninstalling it succeeds (" .. tostring(uerr) .. ")")
+  check(not fileExists(shippedDir .. "/manifest.json"),
+    "and it really is deleted off the disk this time (#330)")
+  check(not fileExists(shippedDir .. "/data/extra.txt"), "nested files too")
+  check(not FsIo.isDir(shippedDir),
+    "the folder is gone, so it does not come back on the next launch")
+  check(not contains(listedIds(portableMods.list()), shipped),
+    "and the panel row stays gone")
+
+  -- ------------------------------------------------- the pre-fix leftover
+  -- Upgrading from a buggy build leaves a copy in appdata, which physfs
+  -- searches first, so uninstall has to clear that too.
+  local legacy = "legacy_twin"
+  save["mods/" .. legacy .. "/manifest.json"] = manifestJson(legacy, "Legacy Twin")
+  save["mods/" .. legacy .. "/main.lua"] = "return function() end\n"
+  check(contains(listedIds(portableMods.list()), legacy),
+    "a pre-fix copy in the OS save directory shows up in the panel")
+  uok = portableMods.uninstall(legacy)
+  check(uok == true, "uninstalling it succeeds")
+  eq(#saveTreeKeys("mods/" .. legacy), 0,
+    "and a pre-fix copy stranded in the OS save directory is cleared too")
+end
+
+local ok, err = pcall(run)
+
+love.filesystem = savedLoveFs
+SaveData.portableBaseDir = savedPortableBaseDir
+package.loaded["src.import.CacheFs"] = savedCacheFs
+package.loaded["src.mods.LauncherMods"] = savedLauncherMods
+rmrf(SANDBOX)
+
+if not ok then check(false, "suite raised: " .. tostring(err)) end
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_rival_walkoff.lua b/tests/parity_rival_walkoff.lua
index 2c78a864..5a27469d 100644
--- a/tests/parity_rival_walkoff.lua
+++ b/tests/parity_rival_walkoff.lua
@@ -61,13 +61,20 @@ local function capture(mapMod, game, x, y)
   return rows
 end
 
--- Route22Rival1ExitMovementData1 / Data2
-local R1_Y5 = { "right", "right", "down", "down", "down", "down", "down" }
-local R1_Y4 = { "up", "right", "right", "right",
+-- Route22Rival1ExitMovementData1 / Data2, keyed on wSavedCoordIndex (which
+-- Route22RivalBattleCoords entry matched, counted from 1) and NOT on the
+-- rival's own row: index 1 is the (29,4) tile, where he stops BELOW the
+-- player on (29,5) and leaves east; index 2 is the (29,5) tile, where he
+-- stops LEFT of him on (28,5) and must step UP to row 4 to get around him.
+-- This mapping was backwards until #236 (the y=4 walk began UP into the
+-- cliff cell (28,3)), so these constants flipped with the fix.
+local R1_Y4 = { "right", "right", "down", "down", "down", "down", "down" }
+local R1_Y5 = { "up", "right", "right", "right",
                 "down", "down", "down", "down", "down", "down" }
--- Route22Rival2ExitMovementData1 falls through Data2 on y=5
-local R2_Y5 = { "left", "left", "left", "left" }
-local R2_Y4 = { "left", "left", "left" }
+-- Route22Rival2ExitMovementData1 falls through Data2, so index 1 (y=4) is
+-- LEFT x4 from (29,5) and index 2 (y=5) LEFT x3 from (28,5)
+local R2_Y4 = { "left", "left", "left", "left" }
+local R2_Y5 = { "left", "left", "left" }
 local CER_X20 = { "right", "down", "down", "down", "down", "down", "down" }
 local CER_X21 = { "left", "down", "down", "down", "down", "down", "down" }
 
@@ -75,8 +82,8 @@ do
   local game = { save = { flags = { EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX = true } }, data = {} }
   local w5 = findWalk(capture(story5.ROUTE_22, game, 29, 5))
   local w4 = findWalk(capture(story5.ROUTE_22, game, 29, 4))
-  check(dirsEqual(w5[3], R1_Y5), "Rival1 y=5 exits toward Viridian (R,R,D×5)")
-  check(dirsEqual(w4[3], R1_Y4), "Rival1 y=4 exits U,R×3,D×6")
+  check(dirsEqual(w5[3], R1_Y5), "Rival1 y=5 goes U,R×3,D×6 around the player")
+  check(dirsEqual(w4[3], R1_Y4), "Rival1 y=4 exits toward Viridian (R,R,D×5)")
   local rows = capture(story5.ROUTE_22,
     { save = { flags = { EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX = true } }, data = {} }, 29, 5)
   for _, r in ipairs(rows) do
@@ -93,8 +100,8 @@ do
   }
   local w5 = findWalk(capture(story5.ROUTE_22, { save = { flags = flags }, data = {} }, 29, 5))
   local w4 = findWalk(capture(story5.ROUTE_22, { save = { flags = flags }, data = {} }, 29, 4))
-  check(dirsEqual(w5[3], R2_Y5), "Rival2 y=5 exits left×4 toward League")
-  check(dirsEqual(w4[3], R2_Y4), "Rival2 y=4 exits left×3 toward League")
+  check(dirsEqual(w5[3], R2_Y5), "Rival2 y=5 exits left×3 toward League")
+  check(dirsEqual(w4[3], R2_Y4), "Rival2 y=4 exits left×4 toward League")
 end
 
 do
diff --git a/tests/parity_save_fly_towns.lua b/tests/parity_save_fly_towns.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..46efec9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_save_fly_towns.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,240 @@
+-- Parity test: imported saves keep their FLY town set (#263).  pokered's
+-- wTownVisitedFlag (ram/wram.asm:2057) is a NUM_CITY_MAPS = 11 bit array whose
+-- bit index IS the town's map number, LSB first: town_map.asm
+-- BuildFlyLocationsList does `srl d / rr e` with b counting up from 0, so bit 0
+-- is map 0 = PALLET_TOWN.  src/save_convert/GenSave.lua never modeled it, so an
+-- imported .sav arrived with save.visited == nil and FLY offered one town.
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not (Data.maps and Data.maps.PALLET_TOWN) then Data:load() end
+
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity save fly towns")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+local bit = require("bit")
+local GenSave = require("src.save_convert.GenSave")
+local SaveConvert = require("src.save_convert.SaveConvert")
+local SaveData = require("src.core.SaveData")
+local FlyMenu = require("src.ui.FlyMenu")
+
+-- loadData() hands back the crosswalk set GenSave wants ({pokemon, moves,
+-- items, maps, eventFlags}) and installs the charmap as a side effect
+local cwData = assert(SaveConvert.loadData(), "save-convert crosswalk data")
+local O = GenSave.OFFSETS
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- The wTownVisitedFlag offset, re-derived here rather than read off
+-- GenSave.OFFSETS: a suite trusting the codec's own constant cannot fail when
+-- that constant is wrong.  O.mainData mirrors wMainDataStart, and the flag sits
+-- 1044 bytes in -- 359 past wPlayerCoins (mainData + 685) and 60 before
+-- wEventFlags (mainData + 1104), both of which predate this fix.
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+local TOWN_VISITED = O.mainData + 1044
+local NUM_CITY_MAPS = 11
+
+-- Independent re-implementation of CalcCheckSum (complement of the additive
+-- byte sum, engine/menus/save.asm), so a hand-poked image can be re-sealed
+-- without going back through the encoder under test.
+local function rawChecksum(bytes, from, to)
+  local sum = 0
+  for i = from, to - 1 do sum = bit.band(sum + bytes:byte(i + 1), 0xFF) end
+  return bit.band(bit.bnot(sum), 0xFF)
+end
+
+local function reseal(bytes)
+  local ck = rawChecksum(bytes, O.checksumStart, O.checksumEnd)
+  return bytes:sub(1, O.mainChecksum) .. string.char(ck)
+         .. bytes:sub(O.mainChecksum + 2)
+end
+
+-- write the two wTownVisitedFlag bytes straight into an image, the way a
+-- cartridge would have left them, and re-seal so importSav accepts it
+local function pokeTownBytes(bytes, b0, b1)
+  return reseal(bytes:sub(1, TOWN_VISITED) .. string.char(b0, b1)
+                .. bytes:sub(TOWN_VISITED + 3))
+end
+
+local function townBytesOf(bytes)
+  return bytes:byte(TOWN_VISITED + 1), bytes:byte(TOWN_VISITED + 2)
+end
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- 1) the bit-index-is-the-map-index premise, straight off generated data
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- data/generated/maps.lua carries pokered's map constant order, so indices 0..10
+-- must be PALLET_TOWN..SAFFRON_CITY, the same 11 the flag_array covers.  An
+-- extractor that renumbered them would leave every bit assertion meaningless.
+local TOWN_BY_BIT = {}
+for id, def in pairs(Data.maps) do
+  if type(def.index) == "number" and def.index >= 0
+     and def.index < NUM_CITY_MAPS then
+    TOWN_BY_BIT[def.index] = id
+  end
+end
+local EXPECTED_ORDER = {
+  [0] = "PALLET_TOWN", "VIRIDIAN_CITY", "PEWTER_CITY", "CERULEAN_CITY",
+  "LAVENDER_TOWN", "VERMILION_CITY", "CELADON_CITY", "FUCHSIA_CITY",
+  "CINNABAR_ISLAND", "INDIGO_PLATEAU", "SAFFRON_CITY",
+}
+for i = 0, NUM_CITY_MAPS - 1 do
+  eq(TOWN_BY_BIT[i], EXPECTED_ORDER[i],
+     ("map index %d is %s (wTownVisitedFlag bit %d)"):format(i, EXPECTED_ORDER[i], i))
+end
+
+local function bitsFor(set)
+  local b0, b1 = 0, 0
+  for i = 0, NUM_CITY_MAPS - 1 do
+    if set[TOWN_BY_BIT[i]] then
+      if i < 8 then b0 = bit.bor(b0, bit.lshift(1, i))
+      else b1 = bit.bor(b1, bit.lshift(1, i - 8)) end
+    end
+  end
+  return b0, b1
+end
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- 2) decode: the town bits become save.visited
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+local fresh = SaveData.newGame({ playerName = "RED", rivalName = "BLUE" })
+fresh.flags = { EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX = true, EVENT_GOT_STARTER = true }
+fresh.money = 54321
+local base = GenSave.encode(fresh, cwData, nil)
+eq(#base, GenSave.SAVE_SIZE, "baseline image is 32768 bytes")
+
+-- the reported case: a completed cartridge save, all eleven bits set
+local completed = pokeTownBytes(base, 0xFF, 0x07)
+local compSave, compErr = SaveConvert.importSav(completed, 2)
+check(compSave ~= nil, "a completed-cartridge image imports (" .. tostring(compErr) .. ")")
+check(type(compSave and compSave.visited) == "table",
+      "an imported save arrives with a visited table, not nil (#263)")
+local compVisited = (compSave and compSave.visited) or {}
+local compCount = 0
+for _ in pairs(compVisited) do compCount = compCount + 1 end
+eq(compCount, NUM_CITY_MAPS,
+   "all eleven towns come back visited from a full wTownVisitedFlag")
+for i = 0, NUM_CITY_MAPS - 1 do
+  check(compVisited[EXPECTED_ORDER[i]] == true,
+        EXPECTED_ORDER[i] .. " is visited on a completed save")
+end
+-- decode must stop at bit 10: ROUTE_1 is map index 12 and can never be a
+-- FLY town, so a loop that ran past NUM_CITY_MAPS would show up here
+check(compVisited.ROUTE_1 == nil,
+      "a route never lands in the visited set (the loop stops at NUM_CITY_MAPS)")
+
+-- the reported 3DS VC save: Cerulean and Fuchsia visited, Celadon and Saffron
+-- not.  Bits 0,1,2,3,7 -> 0x8F 0x00.
+local partialSet = {
+  PALLET_TOWN = true, VIRIDIAN_CITY = true, PEWTER_CITY = true,
+  CERULEAN_CITY = true, FUCHSIA_CITY = true,
+}
+local pb0, pb1 = bitsFor(partialSet)
+eq(pb0, 0x8F, "bits 0,1,2,3,7 pack LSB-first into byte 0 = 0x8F")
+eq(pb1, 0x00, "no town above bit 7 is set, so byte 1 = 0x00")
+local partial = pokeTownBytes(base, pb0, pb1)
+local partSave = assert(SaveConvert.importSav(partial, 2), "partial image imports")
+local partVisited = partSave.visited or {}
+for id in pairs(partialSet) do
+  check(partVisited[id] == true, id .. " decodes as visited")
+end
+check(partVisited.CELADON_CITY == nil,
+      "CELADON_CITY was never visited and does not come back visited")
+check(partVisited.SAFFRON_CITY == nil,
+      "SAFFRON_CITY was never visited and does not come back visited")
+check(partVisited.INDIGO_PLATEAU == nil,
+      "INDIGO_PLATEAU was never visited and does not come back visited")
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- 3) the offset is right: poking the town bytes disturbs nothing else
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- An offset a few bytes off still "works" for the checks above while quietly
+-- corrupting a neighbour: wEventFlags starts 60 bytes later, wPlayerCoins 359
+-- earlier, so re-decode the poked image and confirm both survived.
+local baseDec = GenSave.decode(base, cwData)
+local compDec = GenSave.decode(completed, cwData)
+eq(#compDec.warnings, 0, "the re-sealed image passes its own checksum")
+eq(compDec.money, baseDec.money, "poking wTownVisitedFlag leaves money alone")
+check(compDec.flags.EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX and compDec.flags.EVENT_GOT_STARTER,
+      "poking wTownVisitedFlag leaves the event flags alone")
+local baseFlagCount, compFlagCount = 0, 0
+for _ in pairs(baseDec.flags) do baseFlagCount = baseFlagCount + 1 end
+for _ in pairs(compDec.flags) do compFlagCount = compFlagCount + 1 end
+eq(compFlagCount, baseFlagCount,
+   "setting all eleven town bits sets no event flag (the arrays do not overlap)")
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- 4) encode: the set goes back out in pokered's bit layout
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Hand-picked so an MSB-first writer cannot pass: PALLET is bit 0 and
+-- FUCHSIA bit 7 (byte 0 = 0x81), SAFFRON is bit 10 (byte 1 = 0x04).
+local outSave = SaveData.newGame({ playerName = "RED", rivalName = "BLUE" })
+outSave.visited = {
+  PALLET_TOWN = true, FUCHSIA_CITY = true, SAFFRON_CITY = true,
+}
+local outBytes = GenSave.encode(outSave, cwData, nil)
+local ob0, ob1 = townBytesOf(outBytes)
+eq(ob0, 0x81, "PALLET (bit 0) + FUCHSIA (bit 7) write byte 0 = 0x81")
+eq(ob1, 0x04, "SAFFRON (bit 10) writes byte 1 = 0x04")
+
+-- and the full loop the reporter cares about: cartridge -> port -> cartridge
+local rtBytes = GenSave.encode(compSave, cwData, nil)
+local r0, r1 = townBytesOf(rtBytes)
+eq(r0, 0xFF, "a completed save exports byte 0 = 0xFF")
+eq(r1, 0x07, "a completed save exports byte 1 = 0x07")
+local rtSave = assert(SaveConvert.importSav(reseal(rtBytes), 2),
+                      "the exported image re-imports")
+local rtVisited = rtSave.visited or {}
+for i = 0, NUM_CITY_MAPS - 1 do
+  check(rtVisited[EXPECTED_ORDER[i]] == true,
+        EXPECTED_ORDER[i] .. " survives export and re-import")
+end
+
+-- A save with no `visited` key says nothing about the set, so encoding over a
+-- template keeps the template's bits rather than un-flying it on the way back
+-- to hardware.
+local silent = SaveData.newGame({ playerName = "RED", rivalName = "BLUE" })
+silent.visited = nil
+local kept = GenSave.encode(silent, cwData, completed)
+local k0, k1 = townBytesOf(kept)
+eq(k0, 0xFF, "a save with no visited key keeps the template's byte 0")
+eq(k1, 0x07, "a save with no visited key keeps the template's byte 1")
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- 5) the payoff: the real FLY picker lists them
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- src/ui/FlyMenu.lua walks data.field.flyOrder and keeps the entries in
+-- save.visited, so this is the list the player sees under FLY.  Before #263 an
+-- imported save reached it with visited == nil and the list came back empty.
+local function flyLabels(save)
+  local menu = FlyMenu.new({ data = Data, save = save })
+  local out = {}
+  for _, item in ipairs(menu.items or {}) do out[#out + 1] = item.value end
+  return out
+end
+
+local compList = flyLabels(compSave)
+eq(#compList, NUM_CITY_MAPS,
+   "FLY on a completed imported save lists all eleven destinations")
+-- flyOrder puts the towns in map-constant order after the dungeon escape
+-- spots, which is the order the picker shows
+for i = 0, NUM_CITY_MAPS - 1 do
+  eq(compList[i + 1], EXPECTED_ORDER[i],
+     ("FLY entry %d is %s"):format(i + 1, EXPECTED_ORDER[i]))
+end
+
+local partList = flyLabels(partSave)
+eq(#partList, 5, "FLY on the partial save lists exactly the five visited towns")
+local partSeen = {}
+for _, id in ipairs(partList) do partSeen[id] = true end
+check(partSeen.CERULEAN_CITY and partSeen.FUCHSIA_CITY,
+      "Cerulean AND Fuchsia are both offered (the reported 3DS VC case)")
+check(not partSeen.CELADON_CITY and not partSeen.SAFFRON_CITY,
+      "unvisited towns stay out of the FLY list")
+
+-- negative control, the pre-#263 shape: no visited table is an empty picker
+local blank = SaveData.newGame({ playerName = "RED", rivalName = "BLUE" })
+blank.visited = nil
+eq(#flyLabels(blank), 0, "a save with no visited set has no FLY destinations")
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_save_nicknames.lua b/tests/parity_save_nicknames.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9bc30999
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_save_nicknames.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,282 @@
+-- Parity: Gen1 has no "is nicknamed" bit, so a declined nickname stores the
+-- species' own display name in the slot, and the save codec has to translate
+-- that both ways (#257).  engine/menus/naming_screen.asm AskName's
+-- .declinedNickname copies wNameBuffer over the nickname field, and
+-- engine/pokemon/evos_moves.asm RenameEvolvedMon recovers the distinction by
+-- comparing the two.  This port models it as mon.nickname == nil.
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not (Data.maps and Data.maps.PALLET_TOWN) then Data:load() end
+
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity save nicknames")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+local GenSave = require("src.save_convert.GenSave")
+local SaveConvert = require("src.save_convert.SaveConvert")
+local SaveData = require("src.core.SaveData")
+local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+local Evolution = require("src.pokemon.Evolution")
+
+local cwData = assert(SaveConvert.loadData(), "save-convert crosswalk data")
+local O = GenSave.OFFSETS
+local NAME_LENGTH = 11
+local charmap = assert(loadfile("src/save_convert/data/charmap.lua"))()
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Independent name codec, so the byte assertions below cannot inherit an
+-- encoder bug from the module under test.  Same rule as GenSave's encodeName:
+-- one charmap byte per game character (UTF-8 aware, since names.asm carries
+-- the male/female signs), then a single $50 terminator.
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+local function charsOf(text)
+  local out, pos = {}, 1
+  while pos <= #text do
+    local b0 = text:byte(pos)
+    local len = (b0 < 0x80 and 1) or (b0 < 0xE0 and 2) or (b0 < 0xF0 and 3) or 4
+    out[#out + 1] = text:sub(pos, pos + len - 1)
+    pos = pos + len
+  end
+  return out
+end
+
+local function expectBytes(text)
+  local out = {}
+  for _, ch in ipairs(charsOf(text)) do
+    out[#out + 1] = string.char(charmap.byToken[ch] or charmap.byToken["?"])
+  end
+  out[#out + 1] = string.char(0x50)
+  return table.concat(out)
+end
+
+-- the raw nickname slot of party index i (0-based) up to and including its
+-- first $50: what a cartridge or PKHeX would read out of the field
+local function partyNickSlot(bytes, i)
+  local off = O.partyMonNicks + i * NAME_LENGTH
+  local raw = bytes:sub(off + 1, off + NAME_LENGTH)
+  local term = raw:find("\80", 1, true)
+  return term and raw:sub(1, term) or raw
+end
+
+local QUESTION = string.char(charmap.byToken["?"])   -- $E6
+
+-- name slots are raw game bytes, so a failure printed verbatim is mojibake;
+-- every byte assertion below compares hex so the diff is readable
+local function hex(s)
+  return (s:gsub(".", function(c) return ("%02X "):format(c:byte()) end)):gsub("%s+$", "")
+end
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- 0) the premise: def.name is byte-for-byte the cartridge's own display
+-- name (extracted from data/pokemon/names.asm), and the ROM constant is NOT.
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- UTF-8 for U+2642 MALE SIGN / U+2640 FEMALE SIGN, spelled as bytes because
+-- LuaJIT is Lua 5.1 and this file should not depend on \u escapes
+eq(Data.pokemon.NIDORAN_M.name, "NIDORAN\226\153\130",
+   "NIDORAN_M's display name carries the male sign")
+eq(Data.pokemon.NIDORAN_F.name, "NIDORAN\226\153\128",
+   "NIDORAN_F's display name carries the female sign")
+eq(Data.pokemon.MR_MIME.name, "MR.MIME", "MR_MIME's display name is MR.MIME")
+eq(Data.pokemon.FARFETCHD.name, "FARFETCH'D", "FARFETCHD's display name keeps its apostrophe")
+-- "_" has no glyph in the charmap, so encoding the ROM constant falls back to
+-- "?" ($E6): exactly the corruption the old encode wrote out
+check(charmap.byToken["_"] == nil,
+      "the charmap has no glyph for \"_\", so a ROM constant cannot encode cleanly")
+check(expectBytes("NIDORAN_M"):find(QUESTION, 1, true) ~= nil,
+      "encoding the constant NIDORAN_M really does produce a \"?\" byte")
+check(expectBytes(Data.pokemon.NIDORAN_M.name):find(QUESTION, 1, true) == nil,
+      "encoding the display name NIDORAN(male) produces no \"?\" byte")
+
+-- every species name has to survive the charmap exactly, or the equality test
+-- the fix rests on mis-fires on some species
+local unmappable = {}
+for id, def in pairs(Data.pokemon) do
+  for _, ch in ipairs(charsOf(def.name or "")) do
+    if not charmap.byToken[ch] then unmappable[#unmappable + 1] = id .. ":" .. ch end
+  end
+end
+eq(#unmappable, 0,
+   "every species display name maps to real charmap glyphs (" ..
+   table.concat(unmappable, ",") .. ")")
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- 1) decode: a stored name equal to the species name is NOT a nickname
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- the nickname field is set explicitly on every fixture, so encode writes
+-- those exact characters and the decode half is tested on its own
+local function fixtureMon(species, level, storedName)
+  local mon = Pokemon.new(Data, species, level)
+  mon.nickname = storedName
+  mon.ot = "ASH"
+  mon.otId = 12345
+  mon.catchRate = Data.pokemon[species].catchRate
+  return mon
+end
+
+local cart = SaveData.newGame({ playerName = "ASH", rivalName = "GARY" })
+cart.party = {
+  -- the reported case: an un-nicknamed SQUIRTLE, one level short of evolving
+  fixtureMon("SQUIRTLE", 15, "SQUIRTLE"),
+  -- the control: a genuinely nicknamed one, same species, same level
+  fixtureMon("SQUIRTLE", 15, "SHELLY"),
+  -- the awkward display names, stored as the cartridge stores them
+  fixtureMon("NIDORAN_M", 10, Data.pokemon.NIDORAN_M.name),
+  fixtureMon("MR_MIME", 20, Data.pokemon.MR_MIME.name),
+  fixtureMon("FARFETCHD", 20, Data.pokemon.FARFETCHD.name),
+  -- the trade-evolution pair from the report
+  fixtureMon("GRAVELER", 30, "GRAVELER"),
+}
+cart.boxes = {}
+for i = 1, 12 do cart.boxes[i] = {} end
+cart.boxes[3] = {
+  fixtureMon("KADABRA", 20, "KADABRA"),
+  fixtureMon("PIKACHU", 10, "PIKA"),
+}
+cart.currentBox = 1
+
+local cartBytes = GenSave.encode(cart, cwData, nil)
+local imported = assert(SaveConvert.importSav(cartBytes, 2), "cartridge image imports")
+local p = imported.party
+
+eq(p[1] and p[1].species, "SQUIRTLE", "party slot 1 is a SQUIRTLE")
+eq(p[1] and p[1].nickname, nil,
+   "a stored \"SQUIRTLE\" on a SQUIRTLE imports as NOT nicknamed (#257)")
+eq(p[2] and p[2].nickname, "SHELLY",
+   "a genuine nickname survives import untouched")
+eq(p[3] and p[3].nickname, nil,
+   "an un-nicknamed NIDORAN(male) imports as NOT nicknamed")
+eq(p[4] and p[4].nickname, nil,
+   "an un-nicknamed MR.MIME imports as NOT nicknamed")
+eq(p[5] and p[5].nickname, nil,
+   "an un-nicknamed FARFETCH'D imports as NOT nicknamed")
+eq(p[6] and p[6].nickname, nil,
+   "an un-nicknamed GRAVELER imports as NOT nicknamed")
+
+local box = imported.boxes[3]
+eq(box[1] and box[1].species, "KADABRA", "box 3 slot 1 is a KADABRA")
+eq(box[1] and box[1].nickname, nil,
+   "the boxed un-nicknamed KADABRA imports as NOT nicknamed")
+eq(box[2] and box[2].nickname, "PIKA",
+   "a boxed genuine nickname survives import untouched")
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- 2) the payoff: an imported mon renames itself when it evolves
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- RenameEvolvedMon as this port expresses it: the display name is
+-- `mon.nickname or def.name`, so a nil nickname follows the species.
+local evoGame = {
+  data = Data,
+  save = { pokedex = { seen = {}, owned = {} } },
+}
+local function displayName(mon)
+  return mon.nickname or Data.pokemon[mon.species].name
+end
+
+local plain, named = p[1], p[2]
+eq(displayName(plain), "SQUIRTLE", "the imported un-nicknamed mon reads SQUIRTLE before evolving")
+eq(displayName(named), "SHELLY", "the imported nicknamed mon reads SHELLY before evolving")
+plain.level, named.level = 16, 16
+eq(Evolution.pendingLevelEvo(Data, plain), "WARTORTLE", "SQUIRTLE evolves at 16")
+Evolution.apply(evoGame, plain, "WARTORTLE", "LEVEL")
+Evolution.apply(evoGame, named, "WARTORTLE", "LEVEL")
+eq(displayName(plain), "WARTORTLE",
+   "an imported un-nicknamed SQUIRTLE reads WARTORTLE after evolving (#257)")
+eq(displayName(named), "SHELLY",
+   "an imported nicknamed SQUIRTLE keeps SHELLY after evolving")
+
+-- the trade-evolution half: GRAVELER -> GOLEM and KADABRA -> ALAKAZAM, both
+-- un-nicknamed on the cartridge
+local grav, kad = p[6], box[1]
+-- box_struct stores no computed stats (macros/ram.asm: they are recalculated
+-- on withdrawal), so a boxed mon decodes without mon.stats; give the KADABRA
+-- the stats it would get out of the PC before evolving it
+kad.stats = require("src.pokemon.Stats").calc(Data.pokemon.KADABRA, kad.level,
+                                              kad.dvs, kad.statExp)
+kad.hp = kad.stats.hp
+Evolution.apply(evoGame, grav, "GOLEM", "TRADE")
+Evolution.apply(evoGame, kad, "ALAKAZAM", "TRADE")
+eq(displayName(grav), "GOLEM", "a trade-evolved imported GRAVELER reads GOLEM")
+eq(displayName(kad), "ALAKAZAM", "a trade-evolved imported KADABRA reads ALAKAZAM")
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- 3) encode: a nil nickname writes the DISPLAY name, not the ROM constant
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+local eng = SaveData.newGame({ playerName = "OAK", rivalName = "BLUE" })
+local ENG_PARTY = { "NIDORAN_M", "NIDORAN_F", "MR_MIME", "FARFETCHD", "SQUIRTLE" }
+eng.party = {}
+for _, species in ipairs(ENG_PARTY) do
+  local mon = Pokemon.new(Data, species, 10)
+  mon.nickname = nil          -- never nicknamed, the engine's own spelling
+  mon.ot = "OAK"
+  mon.otId = eng.player.id
+  mon.catchRate = Data.pokemon[species].catchRate
+  eng.party[#eng.party + 1] = mon
+end
+-- one real nickname in the same image, so the rule cannot regress into
+-- dropping every nickname on export
+local nicked = Pokemon.new(Data, "PIKACHU", 10)
+nicked.nickname = "SPARKY"
+nicked.ot = "OAK"
+nicked.otId = eng.player.id
+eng.party[#eng.party + 1] = nicked
+
+local engBytes = GenSave.encode(eng, cwData, nil)
+for i, species in ipairs(ENG_PARTY) do
+  local slot = partyNickSlot(engBytes, i - 1)
+  local want = expectBytes(Data.pokemon[species].name)
+  eq(hex(slot), hex(want),
+     species .. " with no nickname exports the cartridge's display name \"" ..
+     Data.pokemon[species].name .. "\"")
+  check(slot:find(QUESTION, 1, true) == nil,
+        species .. "'s exported nickname field holds no \"?\" byte")
+end
+eq(hex(partyNickSlot(engBytes, #ENG_PARTY)), hex(expectBytes("SPARKY")),
+   "a real nickname is exported verbatim")
+
+-- and the loop closes: those exports read back as un-nicknamed
+local engBack = assert(SaveConvert.importSav(engBytes, 2), "engine-origin image re-imports")
+for i, species in ipairs(ENG_PARTY) do
+  eq(engBack.party[i] and engBack.party[i].species, species,
+     "engine-origin party slot " .. i .. " is " .. species)
+  eq(engBack.party[i] and engBack.party[i].nickname, nil,
+     species .. " round-trips through export and import still un-nicknamed")
+end
+eq(engBack.party[#ENG_PARTY + 1] and engBack.party[#ENG_PARTY + 1].nickname, "SPARKY",
+   "SPARKY round-trips through export and import as a real nickname")
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- 4) the box side of the export, same rule
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
+local boxOut = SaveData.newGame({ playerName = "OAK", rivalName = "BLUE" })
+boxOut.boxes = {}
+for i = 1, 12 do boxOut.boxes[i] = {} end
+local boxMon = Pokemon.new(Data, "NIDORAN_F", 12)
+boxMon.nickname = nil
+boxMon.ot = "OAK"
+boxMon.otId = boxOut.player.id
+local boxNamed = Pokemon.new(Data, "MR_MIME", 22)
+boxNamed.nickname = "MIMEY"
+boxNamed.ot = "OAK"
+boxNamed.otId = boxOut.player.id
+boxOut.boxes[1] = { boxMon, boxNamed }
+boxOut.currentBox = 1
+
+local boxBytes = GenSave.encode(boxOut, cwData, nil)
+local boxBack = assert(SaveConvert.importSav(boxBytes, 2), "boxed image re-imports")
+eq(boxBack.boxes[1][1] and boxBack.boxes[1][1].species, "NIDORAN_F",
+   "boxed slot 1 is a NIDORAN(female)")
+eq(boxBack.boxes[1][1] and boxBack.boxes[1][1].nickname, nil,
+   "a boxed un-nicknamed NIDORAN(female) round-trips still un-nicknamed")
+eq(boxBack.boxes[1][2] and boxBack.boxes[1][2].nickname, "MIMEY",
+   "a boxed real nickname round-trips untouched")
+-- the raw box nickname slot must hold the display name, "?" free
+do
+  local base = O.curBoxData
+  local off = base + 22 + 20 * (33 + NAME_LENGTH)   -- boxMonNicks, slot 0
+  local raw = boxBytes:sub(off + 1, off + NAME_LENGTH)
+  local term = raw:find("\80", 1, true)
+  eq(hex(term and raw:sub(1, term) or raw), hex(expectBytes(Data.pokemon.NIDORAN_F.name)),
+     "the boxed NIDORAN(female)'s stored name is the display name, not NIDORAN_F")
+end
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_shift_exp_share.lua b/tests/parity_shift_exp_share.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..601af1a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_shift_exp_share.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+-- Parity test: the SHIFT free switch hands the WHOLE exp share to the mon
+-- coming in (#275).  EnemySendOutFirstMon zeroes wPartyGainExpFlags and
+-- wPartyFoughtCurrentEnemyFlags before jumping to SwitchPlayerMon, which sets
+-- only the incoming mon's bit (engine/battle/core.asm:1436-1443, 2424-2433);
+-- GiveExperiencePoints divides by the set bits (experience.asm:295-300), so a
+-- leftover flag halves the payout.  The reset was never ported.
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not (Data.pokemon and Data.pokemon.RATTATA) then Data:load() end
+local TypeChart = require("src.battle.TypeChart")
+TypeChart.load(Data)
+
+local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+local Experience = require("src.battle.Experience")
+local Screens = require("src.ui.Screens")
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity shift exp share")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+-- Minimal game stub: what BattleState.newTrainer / enemyMonFainted touch.
+-- battleStyle is per-scenario, so the caller sets it.
+local function freshGame(style)
+  return {
+    data = Data,
+    save = {
+      party = {
+        Pokemon.new(Data, "BULBASAUR", 50),
+        Pokemon.new(Data, "SQUIRTLE", 40),
+      },
+      player = { name = "RED" },
+      inventory = {},
+      options = { battleStyle = style },
+      pokedex = { seen = {}, owned = {} },
+      flags = {},
+      money = 0,
+    },
+    stack = { push = function() end, pop = function() end, top = function() end },
+  }
+end
+
+-- Drain the queue, running act rows and answering the SHIFT prompt.  `yes`
+-- picks YES (the free switch) or NO; `pick` is the party mon the battle
+-- PartyMenu would hand back.  Text rows are collected in order so the exp
+-- line can be read the way the player reads it.
+local function pump(b, yes, pick, seen)
+  local origPush = Screens.push
+  Screens.push = function(_, id, opts)
+    if id == "PartyMenu" and opts and opts.onSwitch and pick then
+      opts.onSwitch(pick)
+    end
+  end
+  local ok, err = pcall(function()
+    local n = 0
+    while #b.queue > 0 and n < 500 do
+      n = n + 1
+      local item = table.remove(b.queue, 1)
+      if item.fn then
+        b.nextInsert = 0
+        item.fn()
+      elseif item.text then
+        seen[#seen + 1] = item.text
+        if item.choice and item.text:find("change POKéMON", 1, true) then
+          item.choice(yes)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end)
+  Screens.push = origPush
+  return ok, err
+end
+
+-- the number _ExpPointsText prints (wExpAmountGained), out of the port's
+-- "%s gained\n%d EXP. Points!" row
+local function expLine(seen)
+  for _, t in ipairs(seen) do
+    local n = t:match("gained\n(%d+) EXP%. Points!")
+    if n then return tonumber(n), t end
+  end
+  return nil
+end
+
+-- OPP_YOUNGSTER 1 is RATTATA 11 / EKANS 11 in both versions: two slots, so
+-- there is a second mon to KO after the switch.
+local YOUNGSTER, ROSTER = "OPP_YOUNGSTER", 1
+
+-- Set up the fight at the moment the first enemy mon drops, with the lead the
+-- only participant (as markParticipant left it), so the caller only has to pump.
+local function atFirstKO(style)
+  local Game = freshGame(style)
+  local b = BattleState.newTrainer(Game, YOUNGSTER, ROSTER)
+  b.enemyParty[1].hp = 0
+  b.enemyIndex = 1
+  b.enemy.mon = b.enemyParty[1]
+  b.participants = { [Game.save.party[1]] = true }
+  b:enemyMonFainted()
+  return Game, b
+end
+
+-- KO whatever is out now and read back the exp line for it.
+local function koAndRead(b)
+  local before = {}
+  for i, mon in ipairs(b.game.save.party) do before[i] = mon.exp end
+  local seen = {}
+  b.enemy.mon.hp = 0
+  -- updateQueue zeroes this before every act row it runs; calling
+  -- enemyMonFainted straight from the test has to do the same, or the *Next
+  -- inserters index past the end of the drained queue and leave a hole
+  b.nextInsert = 0
+  b:enemyMonFainted()
+  local ok, err = pump(b, false, nil, seen)
+  local delta = {}
+  for i, mon in ipairs(b.game.save.party) do delta[i] = mon.exp - before[i] end
+  return ok, err, seen, delta
+end
+
+do
+  local Game, b = atFirstKO("shift")
+  eq(#b.enemyParty, 2, "OPP_YOUNGSTER roster " .. ROSTER .. " has two mons")
+  local lead, reserve = Game.save.party[1], Game.save.party[2]
+
+  -- KO one: the SHIFT prompt, answered YES with the reserve picked.
+  local seen = {}
+  local ok, err = pump(b, true, reserve, seen)
+  check(ok, "the SHIFT switch pumped without error: " .. tostring(err))
+  check(b.player.mon == reserve, "the free switch put the reserve on the field")
+  check(b.enemy.mon.hp > 0, "the foe's second mon is out")
+
+  -- The participant set is the mechanism; the exp number below is the symptom.
+  check(b.participants[reserve] == true, "the switch-in is a participant")
+  check(b.participants[lead] == nil,
+        "the mon that was out when the foe fainted is no longer one (#275)")
+
+  -- KO two: the reserve fights alone, so it must be paid as a single
+  -- participant.
+  local ok2, err2, seen2, delta = koAndRead(b)
+  check(ok2, "the second KO pumped without error: " .. tostring(err2))
+
+  local foeDef = Data.pokemon[b.enemyParty[2].species]
+  local solo = Experience.gainFor(foeDef, b.enemyParty[2].level, true, 1, nil,
+                                  Data.constants)
+  local halved = Experience.gainFor(foeDef, b.enemyParty[2].level, true, 2, nil,
+                                    Data.constants)
+  check(solo > halved,
+        "the two divisors are distinguishable for this foe (" ..
+        solo .. " vs " .. halved .. ")")
+
+  local shown, line = expLine(seen2)
+  check(shown ~= nil, "the KO printed an EXP. Points! line")
+  eq(shown, solo, "the switch-in is paid a whole share, not a split one (#275)")
+  check(shown ~= halved,
+        "the printed number is not the two-way split (" .. tostring(line) .. ")")
+  eq(delta[2], solo, "the reserve's exp rose by exactly that share")
+  eq(delta[1], 0, "the mon left behind is paid nothing for a KO it missed")
+
+  local lines = 0
+  for _, t in ipairs(seen2) do
+    if t:find("EXP%. Points!") then lines = lines + 1 end
+  end
+  eq(lines, 1, "exactly one mon is announced as gaining exp")
+end
+
+-- Control: SET style has no free switch, so the lead fights both mons and is
+-- paid a whole share for each.  Pin it here: the SHIFT switch-in above must
+-- earn the same number.
+do
+  local Game, b = atFirstKO("set")
+  local seen = {}
+  local ok = pump(b, false, nil, seen)
+  check(ok, "SET style pumped without error")
+  check(b.player.mon == Game.save.party[1], "SET style never offered a switch")
+
+  local ok2, _, seen2, delta = koAndRead(b)
+  check(ok2, "the SET second KO pumped without error")
+  local foeDef = Data.pokemon[b.enemyParty[2].species]
+  local solo = Experience.gainFor(foeDef, b.enemyParty[2].level, true, 1, nil,
+                                  Data.constants)
+  local shown = expLine(seen2)
+  eq(shown, solo, "SET style pays the lead a whole share")
+  eq(delta[1], solo, "and the lead's exp rises by it")
+end
+
+-- The path the reset must NOT touch: the party-menu SwitchPlayerMon
+-- (core.asm:2424-2433, from PartyMenuOrRockOrRun) sets the incoming mon's bit
+-- without zeroing the flag bytes, which is the exp-share trick every player
+-- uses: send a weak mon in, switch it straight out, it still splits the KO.
+do
+  local Game = freshGame("shift")
+  local b = BattleState.newTrainer(Game, YOUNGSTER, ROSTER)
+  local lead, reserve = Game.save.party[1], Game.save.party[2]
+  b.participants = { [lead] = true }
+  b:resolveSwitch(reserve)
+  local n = 0
+  while #b.queue > 0 and n < 200 do
+    n = n + 1
+    local item = table.remove(b.queue, 1)
+    if item.fn then b.nextInsert = 0; item.fn() end
+  end
+  check(b.player.mon == reserve, "the voluntary switch went through")
+  check(b.participants[reserve] == true, "the mon coming in participates")
+  check(b.participants[lead] == true,
+        "a VOLUNTARY switch keeps the outgoing mon flagged (the exp share)")
+end
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_starter_dex.lua b/tests/parity_starter_dex.lua
index 30ba9cb4..49935232 100644
--- a/tests/parity_starter_dex.lua
+++ b/tests/parity_starter_dex.lua
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 -- pret StarterDex (engine/events/starter_dex.asm) temporarily sets the
 -- owned bits so ShowPokedexData prints the full entry before the player
 -- has caught anything.  Also: English R/B prints only the kind string
--- (no " POKéMON" suffix — that clipped "LIZARD" to "LIZARD POKé").
+-- (no " POKéMON" suffix -- that clipped "LIZARD" to "LIZARD POKé").
 package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
 if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
 local Data = require("src.core.Data")
diff --git a/tests/parity_trainer_ball_block.lua b/tests/parity_trainer_ball_block.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6f1039f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_trainer_ball_block.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+-- Parity test: a ball thrown at a trainer's mon is blocked, animated, and
+-- costs the turn (#291).  pokered engine/items/item_effects.asm:109-113
+-- branches to ThrowBallAtTrainerMon before ItemUseText00 ever prints;
+-- :2292-2303 plays TOSS_ANIM and prints the two block texts; animations.asm:
+-- 2629-2637 .BlockBall is the plain arc whatever the ball tier; and the turn
+-- is still spent (core.asm:2257-2259).  Pixels: the #291 driver.
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not (Data.pokemon and Data.pokemon.RATTATA) then Data:load() end
+local TypeChart = require("src.battle.TypeChart")
+TypeChart.load(Data)
+
+local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity trainer ball block")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+local function freshGame()
+  return {
+    data = Data,
+    save = {
+      party = { Pokemon.new(Data, "CHARIZARD", 50) },
+      player = { name = "RED" },
+      inventory = { POKE_BALL = 5, MASTER_BALL = 1 },
+      options = { battleStyle = "set", battleAnim = "on" },
+      pokedex = { seen = {}, owned = {} },
+      flags = {},
+      money = 0,
+    },
+    stack = { push = function() end, pop = function() end, top = function() end },
+  }
+end
+
+-- Throw `ball` and drain the queue, recording what the player would see.
+-- executeAction / endOfTurn are wrapped and counted: their absence is the
+-- "free turn" half of the report.
+local function throwAndRecord(b, ball)
+  local rec = { anims = {}, texts = {}, actions = 0, endTurns = 0 }
+  local realAction, realEnd = b.executeAction, b.endOfTurn
+  b.executeAction = function(self, ...)
+    rec.actions = rec.actions + 1
+    return realAction(self, ...)
+  end
+  b.endOfTurn = function(self, ...)
+    rec.endTurns = rec.endTurns + 1
+    return realEnd(self, ...)
+  end
+  b.phase = "messages"      -- what openItems leaves behind before BagMenu
+  b.afterQueue = "menu"
+  b.nextInsert = 0
+  local ok, err = pcall(function()
+    b:throwBall(ball)
+    local n = 0
+    while #b.queue > 0 and n < 400 do
+      n = n + 1
+      local item = table.remove(b.queue, 1)
+      if item.fn then
+        b.nextInsert = 0
+        item.fn()
+      elseif item.anim then
+        rec.anims[#rec.anims + 1] = item.anim
+      elseif item.text then
+        rec.texts[#rec.texts + 1] = item.text
+      end
+    end
+  end)
+  rec.ok, rec.err = ok, err
+  return rec
+end
+
+local function joined(list) return table.concat(list, " | ") end
+
+local function has(list, needle)
+  for _, v in ipairs(list) do
+    if v == needle or (type(v) == "string" and v:find(needle, 1, true)) then
+      return true
+    end
+  end
+  return false
+end
+
+-- ItemUseText00 is "<PLAYER> used\n<ITEM>!".  Anchor on the player name, or
+-- the foe's own "Enemy RATTATA used TACKLE!" reads as the item line.
+local function itemUseLine(texts)
+  for _, t in ipairs(texts) do
+    if t:find("^RED used") then return t end
+  end
+  return nil
+end
+
+local function indexOf(list, needle)
+  for i, v in ipairs(list) do
+    if v == needle or (type(v) == "string" and v:find(needle, 1, true)) then
+      return i
+    end
+  end
+  return nil
+end
+
+-- The ROM's own wording, used verbatim: a hard-coded copy is how the port
+-- ended up with "The TRAINER" in upper case.
+do
+  check(type(Data.text._ThrowBallAtTrainerMonText1) == "string",
+        "_ThrowBallAtTrainerMonText1 is in the generated text")
+  check(type(Data.text._ThrowBallAtTrainerMonText2) == "string",
+        "_ThrowBallAtTrainerMonText2 is in the generated text")
+  check(Data.battle_anims and Data.battle_anims.moveAnims
+        and Data.battle_anims.moveAnims.BLOCKBALL_ANIM ~= nil,
+        "BLOCKBALL_ANIM has an extracted animation program")
+  check(Data.battle_anims and Data.battle_anims.moveAnims
+        and Data.battle_anims.moveAnims.TOSS_ANIM ~= nil,
+        "TOSS_ANIM has an extracted animation program")
+  check(Data.audio and Data.audio.sfx and Data.audio.sfx.Faint_Thud ~= nil,
+        "SFX_FAINT_THUD is in the generated audio")
+end
+
+do
+  local Game = freshGame()
+  local b = BattleState.newTrainer(Game, "OPP_YOUNGSTER", 1)
+  eq(b.kind, "trainer", "the fixture really is a trainer battle")
+  local rec = throwAndRecord(b, "POKE_BALL")
+  check(rec.ok, "the trainer throw pumped without error: " .. tostring(rec.err))
+
+  -- ItemUseBall branches out before ItemUseText00.
+  check(itemUseLine(rec.texts) == nil,
+        "no \"<PLAYER> used <ITEM>!\" line in a trainer battle (#291): "
+        .. joined(rec.texts))
+
+  -- .BlockBall: the arc, then the block.
+  check(has(rec.anims, "TOSS_ANIM"),
+        "the toss arc is queued (#291): " .. joined(rec.anims))
+  check(has(rec.anims, "BLOCKBALL_ANIM"),
+        "the block animation is queued (#291): " .. joined(rec.anims))
+  local toss, block = indexOf(rec.anims, "TOSS_ANIM"),
+                      indexOf(rec.anims, "BLOCKBALL_ANIM")
+  check(toss and block and toss < block, "the arc plays before the block")
+  check(not has(rec.anims, "GREATTOSS_ANIM")
+        and not has(rec.anims, "ULTRATOSS_ANIM"),
+        ".BlockBall hardcodes the plain TOSS arc, not the per-tier one")
+
+  -- The ROM's texts, in order, after the animation.
+  eq(rec.texts[1], Data.text._ThrowBallAtTrainerMonText1,
+     "the block line is the ROM's own text, lower-case \"trainer\" and all")
+  eq(rec.texts[2], Data.text._ThrowBallAtTrainerMonText2,
+     "followed by _ThrowBallAtTrainerMonText2")
+
+  -- The turn is spent: this is the half that made a throw free scouting.
+  eq(rec.actions, 1, "the foe takes its turn after the block (#291)")
+  eq(rec.endTurns, 1, "and end-of-turn effects run (#291)")
+end
+
+-- .BlockBall ignores wCurItem for the arc it picks.  It still flickers OBP0
+-- for a Master/Ultra toss, but that rides on the row's `ball` field.
+do
+  local Game = freshGame()
+  local b = BattleState.newTrainer(Game, "OPP_YOUNGSTER", 1)
+  local rec = throwAndRecord(b, "MASTER_BALL")
+  check(rec.ok, "the Master Ball throw pumped without error")
+  check(has(rec.anims, "TOSS_ANIM") and has(rec.anims, "BLOCKBALL_ANIM"),
+        "a Master Ball is blocked with the same plain arc: " .. joined(rec.anims))
+  check(itemUseLine(rec.texts) == nil,
+        "and still prints no \"used\" line: " .. joined(rec.texts))
+  eq(rec.actions, 1, "and still costs the turn")
+end
+
+-- Control: wIsInBattle == 1 in the wild, so ItemUseText00 does print and the
+-- block branch is never reached.  If this regresses, every catch in the game
+-- lost its "used" line.
+do
+  local Game = freshGame()
+  local b = BattleState.newWild(Game, "PIDGEY", 8)
+  eq(b.kind, "wild", "the control fixture is a wild battle")
+  local rec = throwAndRecord(b, "POKE_BALL")
+  check(rec.ok, "the wild throw pumped without error: " .. tostring(rec.err))
+  check(itemUseLine(rec.texts) ~= nil,
+        "a wild throw still prints \"RED used POKé BALL!\": " .. joined(rec.texts))
+  check(not has(rec.anims, "BLOCKBALL_ANIM"),
+        "and nothing blocks it: " .. joined(rec.anims))
+  check(not has(rec.texts, "thief"), "no \"Don't be a thief!\" in the wild")
+end
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_trainer_victory_text.lua b/tests/parity_trainer_victory_text.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..47a24a8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_trainer_victory_text.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+-- Parity: the beaten trainer's own loss line prints ON the battle screen,
+-- between the pic scrolling back in and the prize money (#282).
+-- TrainerBattleVictory (engine/battle/core.asm:915-949) runs TrainerDefeatedText,
+-- ScrollTrainerPicAfterBattle, PrintEndBattleText, then MoneyForWinningText.
+-- The scroll (scroll_draw_trainer_pic.asm:1-31) rewrites tilemap columns only,
+-- so the pokeball row ClearSprites emptied does not come back with the pic.
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity trainer victory text")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not Data.maps then Data:load() end
+local Font = require("src.render.Font")
+Font.load(Data)
+
+local BattleState = require("src.battle.BattleState")
+local Pokemon = require("src.pokemon.Pokemon")
+local SaveData = require("src.core.SaveData")
+local Sound = require("src.core.Sound")
+local Music = require("src.core.Music")
+
+Sound.playCry = function() end
+Sound.play = function() end
+Sound.playMove = function() end
+Sound.playMoveCry = function() end
+Sound.stopLoop = function() end
+Music.playBattle = function() end
+Music.play = function() end
+
+local press = {}
+local function makeGame(party)
+  local save = SaveData.newGame()
+  save.party = party
+  local stack = { states = {} }
+  function stack:push(state) self.states[#self.states + 1] = state end
+  function stack:pop() return table.remove(self.states) end
+  function stack:top() return self.states[#self.states] end
+  return { data = Data, save = save, stack = stack,
+           input = { wasPressed = function(_, b) return press[b] == true end } }
+end
+
+-- A held: updateQueue only reads the button once a page is typed out, so an
+-- early press is ignored and the queue drains at a player's pace.
+local function step(battle)
+  press.a = true
+  battle:update(1 / 60)
+  press.a = false
+end
+
+-- Fight a YOUNGSTER, wipe its party, and record every message row in the order
+-- it reached the screen plus what the foe's pic slot was doing at the time.
+local function fightAndWin(endBattleText)
+  local game = makeGame({ Pokemon.new(Data, "BULBASAUR", 60) })
+  local battle = BattleState.newTrainer(game, "OPP_YOUNGSTER", 1)
+  battle.endBattleText = endBattleText
+  local result, resultAt
+  battle.onFinish = function(r) result = r end
+  battle:enter()
+  for _ = 1, 500 do
+    step(battle)
+    if battle.phase == "menu" then break end
+  end
+
+  -- the KO itself, through the real faint path (onFaint queues the slide,
+  -- the faint text and the enemyMonFainted act)
+  for _, mon in ipairs(battle.enemyParty) do mon.hp = 0 end
+  battle.enemy.mon.hp = 0
+  battle.phase = "messages"
+  battle.nextInsert = 0
+  battle:onFaint(battle.enemy)
+
+  local pages, foeOffAt, foeShownAt = {}, {}, {}
+  local ballRowsSeen, frame, foeMax, foeSteps = 0, 0, 0, 0
+  local realRow = battle.drawBallRow
+  battle.drawBallRow = function() ballRowsSeen = ballRowsSeen + 1 end
+  local lastOff = battle:picOffset("foe")
+  for f = 1, 2000 do
+    frame = f
+    step(battle)
+    local cur = battle.current
+    local text = cur and cur.text
+    if text and pages[#pages] ~= text then
+      pages[#pages + 1] = text
+      foeOffAt[text] = battle:picOffset("foe")
+      foeShownAt[text] = battle.showEnemyTrainer and true or false
+    end
+    local off = battle:picOffset("foe")
+    if off > foeMax then foeMax = off end
+    -- count only the inward frames; the jump from 0 to 64 is the program
+    -- being armed off-screen, not a step of the scroll
+    if off < lastOff then foeSteps = foeSteps + 1 end
+    lastOff = off
+    -- drawHUDs is the only place a ball row can come from; sample it while
+    -- the beaten trainer is back on screen
+    if battle.showEnemyTrainer then pcall(battle.drawHUDs, battle, 0) end
+    if result then resultAt = f break end
+  end
+  battle.drawBallRow = realRow
+  return {
+    battle = battle, pages = pages, result = result, resultAt = resultAt,
+    foeOffAt = foeOffAt, foeShownAt = foeShownAt, ballRowsSeen = ballRowsSeen,
+    frames = frame, foeMax = foeMax, foeSteps = foeSteps,
+  }
+end
+
+local function indexOf(pages, fragment)
+  for i, p in ipairs(pages) do
+    if p:find(fragment, 1, true) then return i end
+  end
+  return nil
+end
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------- the full victory order
+local LOSS = "What a total\nwaste of time!"
+local run = fightAndWin(LOSS)
+
+eq(run.result, "win", "the battle resolves as a win")
+local defeated = indexOf(run.pages, "defeated")
+local loss = indexOf(run.pages, "waste of time")
+local money = indexOf(run.pages, "for winning")
+check(defeated ~= nil, "TrainerDefeatedText prints (\"RED defeated YOUNGSTER!\")")
+check(loss ~= nil,
+      "the trainer's own EndBattleText prints INSIDE the battle (#282)")
+check(money ~= nil, "MoneyForWinningText prints")
+check(defeated and loss and defeated < loss,
+      "the defeat line comes before the trainer's loss line")
+check(loss and money and loss < money,
+      "PrintEndBattleText comes before MoneyForWinningText (core.asm:942-949)")
+check(money == #run.pages,
+      "the prize money is the LAST thing on the battle screen")
+
+-- the pic is back, at rest, with no ball row beside it
+if loss then
+  local text = run.pages[loss]
+  eq(run.foeShownAt[text], true,
+     "the beaten trainer's pic is on screen for his loss line")
+  eq(run.foeOffAt[text], 16,
+     "the pic has come to rest two tiles right of the battle slot "
+     .. "(_ScrollTrainerPicAfterBattle ends at hlcoord 14,0)")
+end
+eq(run.ballRowsSeen, 0,
+   "no pokeball row comes back with the pic (ClearSprites emptied that OAM; "
+   .. "_ScrollTrainerPicAfterBattle only rewrites tilemap columns)")
+eq(run.battle.introBalls, nil, "the DrawAllPokeballs window stays closed")
+
+-- The pic is on screen well before the LAST page: the plain act() this used to
+-- ride appended to the end of the queue, so the trainer flashed up one row
+-- before finish() popped the battle.
+if money then
+  eq(run.foeShownAt[run.pages[money]], true,
+     "the trainer's pic is already back for the money line, not flashed up "
+     .. "one row before the battle pops (#282)")
+end
+
+-- and it really scrolls rather than popping into place: 64px off the right
+-- edge, then 2px a frame down to the resting 16
+eq(run.foeMax, 64, "the scroll-in starts 8 tiles off the right edge")
+eq(run.foeSteps, 24,
+   "it takes 24 frames to walk in (six 4-frame columns, "
+   .. "scroll_draw_trainer_pic.asm:1-31)")
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------ ordering vs onFinish
+-- finish() pops the battle, so anything the overworld pushes afterwards is a
+-- second screen cut.  Every trainer-victory row must be consumed before it.
+check(run.resultAt ~= nil and run.resultAt >= run.frames,
+      "onFinish fires only once the whole sequence has drained")
+
+-- ------------------------------------------------------------- \f pages
+-- Five EndBattleTexts carry a `para` (e.g. _Route9Youngster1EndBattleText).
+-- BattleState:startMessage only splits \n and \v, so an unsplit \f would
+-- render as a garbage glyph instead of starting a new page.
+local para = fightAndWin("Oh well.\fI give up!")
+check(indexOf(para.pages, "Oh well.") ~= nil,
+      "a \\f EndBattleText prints its first page")
+check(indexOf(para.pages, "I give up!") ~= nil,
+      "a \\f EndBattleText prints its second page")
+local p1, p2 = indexOf(para.pages, "Oh well."), indexOf(para.pages, "I give up!")
+check(p1 and p2 and p2 == p1 + 1, "the two pages are consecutive rows")
+for _, page in ipairs(para.pages) do
+  check(page:find("\f", 1, true) == nil,
+        "no page still carries a raw \\f: " .. (page:gsub("\n", " / ")))
+end
+
+-- --------------------------------------------------- scripted battles
+-- Commands.start_battle never sets endBattleText; those scripts print their
+-- own follow-up, so the sequence must simply skip the row.
+local none = fightAndWin(nil)
+eq(none.result, "win", "a battle with no EndBattleText still resolves")
+local d2, m2 = indexOf(none.pages, "defeated"), indexOf(none.pages, "for winning")
+check(d2 and m2 and d2 < m2,
+      "defeat text then money, with nothing between them")
+eq(m2, #none.pages, "the prize money is still last")
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_victory_road_reset.lua b/tests/parity_victory_road_reset.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..80e80c34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_victory_road_reset.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+-- Regression: Route 23 resets the Victory Road boulder puzzle, and a solved
+-- barrier closes again on the next map load (#258).  scripts/Route23.asm:8 and
+-- scripts/VictoryRoad2F.asm:19 reset the switch events on entry; neither was
+-- ported.  scripts/VictoryRoad1F.asm:14 only ever stamps the OPEN block, but
+-- the port's Map:setBlock writes through to the shared Game.data record, so it
+-- has to stamp the CLOSED block itself or the barrier stays open all session.
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not (Data.maps and Data.maps.VICTORY_ROAD_2F) then Data:load() end
+
+local mapScripts = require("data.scripts.init")
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity victory road reset")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+local SW1F = "EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_1_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH"
+local SW2A = "EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_2_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH1"
+local SW2B = "EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_2_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH2"
+local SW3A = "EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_3_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH1"
+local SW3B = "EVENT_VICTORY_ROAD_3_BOULDER_ON_SWITCH2"
+
+-- ---- ground truth: the shipped .blk bytes and the object names -----------
+-- The closed ids the onEnter hooks stamp back must BE the map's own bytes,
+-- so read them out of data/generated rather than typing them in.
+local function blockAt(mapId, bx, by)
+  local def = Data.maps[mapId]
+  return def.blocks[by * def.width + bx + 1]
+end
+
+local CLOSED = {
+  { "VICTORY_ROAD_1F", 4, 6, 0x25 },
+  { "VICTORY_ROAD_2F", 3, 4, 0x37 },
+  { "VICTORY_ROAD_2F", 11, 7, 0x25 },
+  { "VICTORY_ROAD_3F", 3, 5, 0x25 },
+}
+for _, b in ipairs(CLOSED) do
+  eq(blockAt(b[1], b[2], b[3]), b[4],
+     ("%s block (%d,%d) ships closed as 0x%02X"):format(b[1], b[2], b[3], b[4]))
+end
+
+-- data/maps/toggleable_objects.asm:202 names the last 2F entry
+-- VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER3 and the last 3F one VICTORYROAD3F_BOULDER4
+local function objectNames(mapId)
+  local names = {}
+  for _, o in ipairs(Data.maps[mapId].objects or {}) do names[o.name or "?"] = true end
+  return names
+end
+local names2F, names3F = objectNames("VICTORY_ROAD_2F"), objectNames("VICTORY_ROAD_3F")
+check(names2F.VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER3,
+      "VICTORY_ROAD_2F really has an object named VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER3")
+check(names3F.VICTORYROAD3F_BOULDER4,
+      "VICTORY_ROAD_3F really has an object named VICTORYROAD3F_BOULDER4")
+check(not names2F.VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER,
+      "and nothing is named VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER (the old, never-matching key)")
+
+-- Map:setBlock writes into the shared Game.data record, which is the invariant
+-- the both-ways stamp exists for.  Restored immediately: every later suite in
+-- this process reads the same table.
+do
+  local def = Data.maps.VICTORY_ROAD_1F
+  local MapLoader = require("src.world.MapLoader")
+  local map = MapLoader.load(Data, "VICTORY_ROAD_1F")
+  local before = blockAt("VICTORY_ROAD_1F", 4, 6)
+  map:setBlock(4, 6, 0x1D)
+  eq(blockAt("VICTORY_ROAD_1F", 4, 6), 0x1D,
+     "replaceBlock/setBlock writes through to the SHARED map record")
+  map:setBlock(4, 6, before)
+  eq(def.blocks[6 * def.width + 4 + 1], 0x25, "restored for the rest of the run")
+end
+
+-- ---- fakes ---------------------------------------------------------------
+-- The hooks only need a save with flags and an ow that records replaceBlock.
+-- Commands.toggleObject returns early once it has written save.objectToggles
+-- when the toggle targets another map, which it always does here.
+local function world(mapId)
+  local game = { data = Data, save = { flags = {}, objectToggles = {} } }
+  local ow = {
+    -- toggleObject walks these when the toggle names the CURRENT map; empty
+    -- lists make that a no-op and leave objectToggles as the assertion surface
+    map = { id = mapId, def = Data.maps[mapId] or { objects = {} } },
+    npcs = {}, entities = {}, npcPool = {},
+    stamped = {},
+    replaceBlock = function(self, bx, by, block)
+      self.stamped[bx .. "," .. by] = block
+    end,
+    npcAtCell = function() return nil end,
+  }
+  return game, ow
+end
+
+local function hooks(mapId)
+  local h = mapScripts.get(mapId)
+  check(h ~= nil, mapId .. " has hand-ported hooks")
+  return h or {}
+end
+
+local route23 = hooks("ROUTE_23")
+local vr1 = hooks("VICTORY_ROAD_1F")
+local vr2 = hooks("VICTORY_ROAD_2F")
+local vr3 = hooks("VICTORY_ROAD_3F")
+check(route23.talk ~= nil, "ROUTE_23's badge-guard talk table survived the merge")
+
+-- A missing hook should read as a wall of failed expectations, not as one
+-- traceback that hides every later assertion.
+local function hookFn(h, key, label)
+  local fn = h[key]
+  if check(type(fn) == "function", label .. " exists") then return fn end
+  return function() end
+end
+
+local r23Enter = hookFn(route23, "onEnter", "ROUTE_23.onEnter (Route23SetVictoryRoadBoulders)")
+local vr1Enter = hookFn(vr1, "onEnter", "VICTORY_ROAD_1F.onEnter")
+local vr2Enter = hookFn(vr2, "onEnter", "VICTORY_ROAD_2F.onEnter")
+local vr3Enter = hookFn(vr3, "onEnter", "VICTORY_ROAD_3F.onEnter")
+local vr2Boulder = hookFn(vr2, "onBoulderMoved", "VICTORY_ROAD_2F.onBoulderMoved")
+local vr3Boulder = hookFn(vr3, "onBoulderMoved", "VICTORY_ROAD_3F.onBoulderMoved")
+
+-- ---- entering Route 23 resets everything --------------------------------
+do
+  local game, ow = world("ROUTE_23")
+  local f = game.save.flags
+  f[SW2A], f[SW2B], f[SW3A], f[SW3B] = true, true, true, true
+  f[SW1F] = true
+  r23Enter(game, ow)
+  check(not f[SW2A], "entering Route 23 clears 2F switch 1")
+  check(not f[SW2B], "entering Route 23 clears 2F switch 2")
+  check(not f[SW3A], "entering Route 23 clears 3F switch 1")
+  check(not f[SW3B], "entering Route 23 clears 3F switch 2")
+  check(f[SW1F], "1F's event is NOT reset here (the lobby and 2F own it)")
+  local t = game.save.objectToggles
+  eq(t.VICTORY_ROAD_3F and t.VICTORY_ROAD_3F.VICTORYROAD3F_BOULDER4, true,
+     "the 3F boulder is shown again (ShowObject TOGGLE_VICTORY_ROAD_3F_BOULDER)")
+  eq(t.VICTORY_ROAD_2F and t.VICTORY_ROAD_2F.VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER3, false,
+     "the 2F copy is hidden again (HideObject TOGGLE_VICTORY_ROAD_2F_BOULDER)")
+end
+
+-- ---- each floor stamps its barrier BOTH ways on entry --------------------
+do
+  local game, ow = world("VICTORY_ROAD_1F")
+  vr1Enter(game, ow)
+  eq(ow.stamped["4,6"], 0x25, "1F: no switch solved -> the barrier is solid rock")
+  game.save.flags[SW1F] = true
+  vr1Enter(game, ow)
+  eq(ow.stamped["4,6"], 0x1D, "1F: switch solved -> the barrier is open")
+end
+
+do
+  local game, ow = world("VICTORY_ROAD_2F")
+  game.save.flags[SW1F] = true
+  vr2Enter(game, ow)
+  check(not game.save.flags[SW1F],
+        "entering 2F clears the 1F switch event (VictoryRoad2FResetBoulderEventScript)")
+  eq(ow.stamped["3,4"], 0x37, "2F: switch 1 unsolved -> solid")
+  eq(ow.stamped["11,7"], 0x25, "2F: switch 2 unsolved -> solid")
+  game.save.flags[SW2A], game.save.flags[SW2B] = true, true
+  vr2Enter(game, ow)
+  eq(ow.stamped["3,4"], 0x15, "2F: switch 1 solved -> open")
+  eq(ow.stamped["11,7"], 0x1D, "2F: switch 2 solved -> open")
+end
+
+do
+  local game, ow = world("VICTORY_ROAD_3F")
+  vr3Enter(game, ow)
+  eq(ow.stamped["3,5"], 0x25, "3F: switch unsolved -> solid")
+  game.save.flags[SW3A] = true
+  vr3Enter(game, ow)
+  eq(ow.stamped["3,5"], 0x1D, "3F: switch solved -> open")
+end
+
+-- ---- the 3F hole hands its boulder to 2F, once ---------------------------
+do
+  local game, ow = world("VICTORY_ROAD_3F")
+  local boulder = { cellX = 23, cellY = 15, def = { name = "VICTORYROAD3F_BOULDER4" } }
+  vr3Boulder(game, ow, boulder)
+  check(game.save.flags[SW3B],
+        "dropping a boulder down the hole sets switch-2's event (CheckAndSetEvent)")
+  local t = game.save.objectToggles
+  eq(t.VICTORY_ROAD_3F and t.VICTORY_ROAD_3F.VICTORYROAD3F_BOULDER4, false,
+     "the boulder disappears from 3F")
+  eq(t.VICTORY_ROAD_2F and t.VICTORY_ROAD_2F.VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER3, true,
+     "and appears on 2F under its REAL object name")
+
+  -- CheckAndSetEvent: the second boulder down the same hole is a no-op
+  t.VICTORY_ROAD_2F.VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER3 = "untouched"
+  local second = { cellX = 23, cellY = 15, def = { name = "VICTORYROAD3F_BOULDER3" } }
+  vr3Boulder(game, ow, second)
+  eq(t.VICTORY_ROAD_2F.VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER3, "untouched",
+     "a second boulder into the already-used hole changes nothing")
+end
+
+-- ---- the reporter's round trip ------------------------------------------
+-- Solve 2F switch 1, walk out to Route 23, come back: the barrier must be rock
+-- again and the fallen boulder must be back upstairs.
+do
+  local game, ow2 = world("VICTORY_ROAD_2F")
+  vr2Enter(game, ow2)
+  eq(ow2.stamped["3,4"], 0x37, "arrive on 2F with the puzzle untouched")
+
+  local boulder = { cellX = 1, cellY = 16, def = { name = "VICTORYROAD2F_BOULDER1" } }
+  vr2Boulder(game, ow2, boulder)
+  check(game.save.flags[SW2A], "pushing the boulder onto the switch solves it")
+  eq(ow2.stamped["3,4"], 0x15, "and the barrier opens immediately")
+
+  -- ...and stays open while you are still on the floor
+  vr2Enter(game, ow2)
+  eq(ow2.stamped["3,4"], 0x15, "re-entering 2F with the switch still set keeps it open")
+
+  local _, ow23 = world("ROUTE_23")
+  ow23.map.id = "ROUTE_23"
+  r23Enter(game, ow23)
+  vr2Enter(game, ow2)
+  eq(ow2.stamped["3,4"], 0x37,
+     "after a trip through Route 23 the 2F barrier is solid rock again")
+  eq(ow2.stamped["11,7"], 0x25, "and so is the other one")
+
+  local _, ow3 = world("VICTORY_ROAD_3F")
+  vr3Enter(game, ow3)
+  eq(ow3.stamped["3,5"], 0x25, "3F's barrier is closed again too")
+end
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/parity_warp_after_warp_step.lua b/tests/parity_warp_after_warp_step.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..75e494db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_warp_after_warp_step.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+-- Regression: the first completed step after a warp still checks for a warp
+-- under the player's feet (#265).  home/overworld.asm:391 CheckWarpsNoCollision
+-- runs on EVERY completed step with no first-step-after-a-warp counter, so the
+-- arrival disable is POSITIONAL (the cell you came in on is inert until you
+-- leave it), which is what warpEntryCell models.  #230's stand-still bonk guard,
+-- still backed by justWarped, is asserted here too.
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not (Data.maps and Data.maps.SEAFOAM_ISLANDS_B3F) then Data:load() end
+
+local Game = require("src.core.Game")
+local Input = require("src.core.Input")
+local MapLoader = require("src.world.MapLoader")
+local Renderer = require("src.render.Renderer")
+local SaveData = require("src.core.SaveData")
+local StateStack = require("src.core.StateStack")
+local Warp = require("src.world.Warp")
+local OW = require("src.world.OverworldController")
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity warp after warp step")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+
+-- ---- ground truth: two ladders one cell apart ----------------------------
+local b3 = MapLoader.load(Data, "SEAFOAM_ISLANDS_B3F")
+eq(b3:cellTile(25, 3), 0x1A, "B3F (25,3) is a CAVERN ladder tile")
+eq(b3:cellTile(25, 4), 0x18, "B3F (25,4) is the other CAVERN ladder tile")
+local up = Warp.onArrive(b3, 25, 3)
+local down = Warp.onArrive(b3, 25, 4)
+check(up ~= nil, "(25,3) carries a warp")
+check(down ~= nil, "(25,4) carries a warp")
+eq(up and up.def.destMap, "SEAFOAM_ISLANDS_B2F", "(25,3) climbs back to B2F")
+eq(down and down.def.destMap, "SEAFOAM_ISLANDS_B4F", "(25,4) drops to B4F")
+
+local reds2 = MapLoader.load(Data, "REDS_HOUSE_2F")
+eq(reds2:cellTile(7, 1), 0x1A, "REDS_HOUSE_2F (7,1) is the staircase warp tile")
+eq(reds2.def.width * 2, 8, "REDS_HOUSE_2F is 8 cells wide, so x=7 is the east edge")
+
+-- ---- live engine ---------------------------------------------------------
+Game.data = Data
+Game.input = Input; Input:init()
+Game.renderer = Renderer; Renderer:init()
+Game.stack = StateStack; StateStack:init()
+Game.save = SaveData.newGame()
+Game.overworld = OW
+
+-- Reproduce a warp ARRIVAL without running the fade: startWarpTo sets exactly
+-- these two fields once setMap has placed the player (OverworldController.lua,
+-- inside the Transition callback).  takeWarp is stubbed per instance so the
+-- assertion is which warp the engine decided to take, with no Transition to pump.
+local function arriveOn(mapId, x, y, facing)
+  Input:reset()
+  while Game.stack:top() do Game.stack:pop() end
+  Game.stack:push(OW, mapId, x, y, facing or "down")
+  local ow = Game.stack:top()
+  ow.player.moving = false
+  ow.player.turnTimer = 0
+  ow.justWarped = true
+  ow.warpEntryCell = { x = x, y = y }
+  ow.taken = nil
+  ow.takeWarp = function(self, def) self.taken = def end
+  return ow
+end
+
+-- Walk one cell the way Player:update would leave things, then run the
+-- completed-step handler.
+local function stepTo(ow, x, y, facing)
+  local p = ow.player
+  p.facing = facing or p.facing
+  p.cellX, p.cellY = x, y
+  p.px, p.py = x * 16, y * 16
+  p.moving = false
+  ow:onStepComplete()
+end
+
+-- The reported case: down the B2F ladder onto (25,3), then one press of DOWN
+-- onto the adjacent ladder at (25,4).
+do
+  local ow = arriveOn("SEAFOAM_ISLANDS_B3F", 25, 3, "down")
+  check(ow:onWarpArrivalCell(), "the cell just arrived on is inert")
+  stepTo(ow, 25, 4, "down")
+  check(ow.taken ~= nil, "the step onto (25,4) fires a warp")
+  eq(ow.taken and ow.taken.destMap, "SEAFOAM_ISLANDS_B4F",
+     "and it is the ladder down to B4F")
+  check(ow.justWarped == false, "the arrival record is cleared by that step")
+end
+
+-- The arrival cell stays inert while you stand on it, even if a scripted nudge
+-- re-runs the step handler there.  That is warpEntryCell's job, not justWarped's.
+do
+  local ow = arriveOn("SEAFOAM_ISLANDS_B3F", 25, 3, "down")
+  stepTo(ow, 25, 3, "down")
+  check(ow.taken == nil, "standing on the arrival ladder does not re-fire it")
+  eq(ow.warpEntryCell and ow.warpEntryCell.x, 25, "the entry cell is remembered")
+  eq(ow.warpEntryCell and ow.warpEntryCell.y, 3, "at the arrival row")
+end
+
+-- Once you have left it, that cell is live again (a real second visit).
+do
+  local ow = arriveOn("SEAFOAM_ISLANDS_B3F", 25, 3, "down")
+  stepTo(ow, 25, 2, "up")
+  check(ow.taken == nil, "stepping onto a plain floor cell warps nowhere")
+  check(ow.warpEntryCell == nil, "leaving clears the entry record")
+  stepTo(ow, 25, 3, "down")
+  check(ow.taken ~= nil, "coming back onto the ladder now takes it")
+  eq(ow.taken and ow.taken.destMap, "SEAFOAM_ISLANDS_B2F", "back up to B2F")
+end
+
+-- #230 must not come back: justWarped still guards the two STAND-STILL warp
+-- triggers, where no step ever completes.  Red's house 2F staircase is on the
+-- map's east edge, so pushing into that edge has to bonk, not bounce floors.
+do
+  local ow = arriveOn("REDS_HOUSE_2F", 7, 1, "down")
+  check(ow:onWarpArrivalCell(), "the staircase arrival cell reports inert")
+  check(ow:checkEdgeExit("right") == false,
+        "pushing east off the map edge from it does not warp (#230)")
+  Input.state.right = true
+  Input.pressed = {}
+  for _ = 1, 30 do
+    ow.player.turnTimer = 0
+    ow:handleInput()
+    ow.player:update()
+  end
+  check(ow.taken == nil, "holding RIGHT into the edge never fires the staircase")
+  eq(ow.player.cellX, 7, "and the player has not moved")
+  eq(ow.player.cellY, 1, "in either axis")
+  Input:reset()
+
+  -- the same from the blocked-step path: north of (7,1) is solid wall
+  Input.state.up = true
+  Input.pressed = {}
+  for _ = 1, 30 do
+    ow.player.turnTimer = 0
+    ow:handleInput()
+    ow.player:update()
+  end
+  check(ow.taken == nil, "bonking the wall from the arrival cell does not warp")
+  Input:reset()
+end
+
+S.finish()
diff --git a/tests/run_tests.lua b/tests/run_tests.lua
index eec7849f..3a2d0486 100644
--- a/tests/run_tests.lua
+++ b/tests/run_tests.lua
@@ -2240,20 +2240,34 @@ end
   local SummaryMenu = require("src.ui.SummaryMenu")
   local HudTiles = require("src.render.HudTiles")
   local drawn = {}
-  local savedDraw, savedTile = Font.draw, HudTiles.tile
+  local savedDraw, savedCode = Font.draw, Font.drawCode
+  -- The status screen draws its HUD glyphs through HudTiles.statusTile, not
+  -- HudTiles.tile: it loads a DIFFERENT VRAM overlay from the battle screen
+  -- (status_screen.asm:86-97 vs core.asm LoadHudTilePatterns), which is what
+  -- keeps $73/$74 as the <ID> and № glyphs there.  Stub both so this test
+  -- keeps seeing every tile the page puts down. #280
+  local savedTile, savedStatusTile = HudTiles.tile, HudTiles.statusTile
   Font.draw = function(text, x, y)
     drawn[#drawn + 1] = { text = tostring(text), x = x, y = y }
     return Font.width(text)
   end
+  Font.drawCode = function(code, x, y)
+    drawn[#drawn + 1] = { glyph = code, x = x, y = y }
+  end
   HudTiles.tile = function(code, x, y)
     drawn[#drawn + 1] = { tile = code, x = x, y = y }
   end
+  HudTiles.statusTile = function(code, x, y)
+    drawn[#drawn + 1] = { tile = code, x = x, y = y }
+  end
   local summary = SummaryMenu.new(Game, mon)
   summary.page = 2
   summary:draw()
   Font.draw = savedDraw
+  Font.drawCode = savedCode
   HudTiles.tile = savedTile
-  local nextExp, lvTile, lvNum
+  HudTiles.statusTile = savedStatusTile
+  local nextExp, lvTile, lvNum, toTile, lvOnPage2
   for _, d in ipairs(drawn) do
     if d.text == "LEVEL UP" then
       eq(d.y, 40, "LEVEL UP sits on tile row 5")
@@ -2261,6 +2275,10 @@ end
       nextExp = d
     elseif d.tile == 0x6E and d.y == 48 then
       lvTile = d
+    elseif d.tile == 0x70 and d.y == 48 then
+      toTile = d
+    elseif d.tile == 0x6E and d.y == 16 then
+      lvOnPage2 = d
     elseif d.text == "28" and d.y == 48 then
       lvNum = d
     end
@@ -2268,6 +2286,13 @@ end
   check(nextExp, "next-exp prints at (7,6)")
   check(lvTile and lvTile.x == 128, "next level uses the <LV> tile at col 16")
   check(lvNum and lvNum.x == 136, "next level digits follow <LV>")
+  -- status_screen.asm:393-397 writes the narrow '<to>' tile at (14,6)
+  -- between the next-exp number and PrintLevel; the port used to skip it (#280)
+  check(toTile and toTile.x == 112, "the '<to>' tile sits at (14,6)")
+  -- StatusScreen2 opens with ClearScreenArea over (9,2) 5x10
+  -- (status_screen.asm:303-305), which wipes PrintLevel's (14,2): page 2
+  -- must show no level in the header (#280)
+  check(not lvOnPage2, "page 2 draws no <LV> in the header")
   local edge = 19 * 8 -- DrawLineBox vertical at col 19
   check(lvNum.x + Font.width(lvNum.text) <= edge,
         "next level digits stay left of the status line-box")
@@ -2443,6 +2468,21 @@ do
   lp.shownHP = 20
   check(not lhb:lowHealthAlarmActive(), "alarm waits for the HP drain to catch up")
   lp.shownHP = 9
+  -- ...but once it IS sounding it follows the drawn bar, not the model:
+  -- applyDamage drops mon.hp while the turn is still being queued, so
+  -- keying the running siren off it silenced the whole "used X!" line +
+  -- move animation + drain window (#293)
+  lhb.lowHealthAlarmOn = true
+  lp.mon.hp, lp.shownHP = 3, 9
+  check(lhb:lowHealthAlarmActive(), "a sounding alarm rides the hit's drain out (#293)")
+  lp.mon.hp, lp.shownHP = 0, 9
+  check(lhb:lowHealthAlarmActive(), "a lethal hit holds it until the bar empties (#293)")
+  lp.mon.hp, lp.shownHP = 0, 0
+  check(not lhb:lowHealthAlarmActive(), "the empty bar silences it (RemoveFaintedPlayerMon)")
+  lp.mon.hp, lp.shownHP = 30, 9
+  check(not lhb:lowHealthAlarmActive(), "a heal out of the red silences it at once")
+  lhb.lowHealthAlarmOn = nil
+  lp.mon.hp, lp.shownHP = 9, 9
   lhb.result = "win"
   check(not lhb:lowHealthAlarmActive(), "decided battle keeps the alarm off (EndLowHealthAlarm)")
   lhb.result = nil
diff --git a/tests/save_convert_tests.lua b/tests/save_convert_tests.lua
index 94cf92b2..87ff9b3f 100644
--- a/tests/save_convert_tests.lua
+++ b/tests/save_convert_tests.lua
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ save.bagOrder = { "POKE_BALL", "ANTIDOTE" }
 save.pcItems = { REVIVE = 2 }
 save.pokedex = { seen = { MEW = true, PIKACHU = true }, owned = { PIKACHU = true } }
 save.flags = { EVENT_GOT_STARTER = true, EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX = true }
+-- the FLY destination set (pokered's wTownVisitedFlag), keyed by map id
+save.visited = { PALLET_TOWN = true, CELADON_CITY = true }
 save.boxes = {}
 save.party = {
   {
@@ -151,6 +153,13 @@ check(decoded2.pokedex.seen.MEW and decoded2.pokedex.seen.PIKACHU and decoded2.p
 check(not decoded2.pokedex.owned.MEW, "a species only marked seen doesn't also come back owned")
 check(decoded2.flags.EVENT_GOT_STARTER and decoded2.flags.EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX,
       "event flags round-trip")
+-- wTownVisitedFlag: bit index == map index, LSB first (PALLET_TOWN is bit 0,
+-- CELADON_CITY bit 6).  Before #263 decode never touched it, so an imported
+-- save reached FLY with no destinations at all.
+check(decoded2.visited and decoded2.visited.PALLET_TOWN and decoded2.visited.CELADON_CITY,
+      "visited towns (the FLY destination set) round-trip")
+check(decoded2.visited and not decoded2.visited.PEWTER_CITY,
+      "a town that was never visited does not come back visited")
 
 local mon1 = decoded2.party[1]
 check(mon1 and mon1.species == "MEW", "party mon species round-trips")
@@ -160,7 +169,15 @@ check(mon1 and mon1.hp == 399 and mon1.stats and mon1.stats.hp == 399,
 check(mon1 and mon1.dvs.attack == 15 and mon1.dvs.speed == 12, "party mon DVs round-trip")
 check(mon1 and mon1.moves[1].id == "TRANSFORM" and mon1.moves[1].pp == 16
       and mon1.moves[1].ppUps == 3, "party mon move/PP/PP-Up round-trip")
-check(mon1 and mon1.nickname == "MEW" and mon1.otId == 55721, "party mon nickname/OT ID round-trip")
+-- Gen1 has no "is nicknamed" bit: an un-nicknamed mon stores its species'
+-- standard name in the nickname slot (engine/menus/naming_screen.asm AskName
+-- .declinedNickname) and the game reads exactly that back as "not nicknamed"
+-- (engine/pokemon/evos_moves.asm RenameEvolvedMon).  This project spells that
+-- state mon.nickname == nil, so this fixture's MEW named "MEW" must come back
+-- with no nickname at all, or it would refuse to rename itself on evolution
+-- and export as a forced nickname (#257).
+check(mon1 and mon1.nickname == nil and mon1.otId == 55721,
+      "a stored name equal to the species name decodes as NOT nicknamed, OT ID round-trips")
 check(mon1 and mon1.ot == "Lt<DOT>Ash",
       "an OT name containing a bracketed charmap token (\"<DOT>\") round-trips as one unit, "..
       "not per-byte \"?\" (got " .. tostring(mon1 and mon1.ot) .. ")")
@@ -168,6 +185,10 @@ check(mon1 and mon1.ot == "Lt<DOT>Ash",
 local box3mon = decoded2.boxes[3][1]
 check(box3mon and box3mon.species == "PIKACHU" and box3mon.status == "PSN",
       "a boxed mon's species and status condition round-trip")
+-- the positive half of the #257 rule: a name that differs from the species
+-- name IS a real nickname and must survive untouched
+check(box3mon and box3mon.nickname == "PIKA",
+      "a real nickname (different from the species name) still round-trips")
 check(box3mon and box3mon.moves[1].id == "THUNDERSHOCK", "a boxed mon's move round-trips")
 check(decoded2.currentBox == 1, "current box selection round-trips")
 
diff --git a/tools/save-editor/App.lua b/tools/save-editor/App.lua
index 58aa54a0..8d6caccd 100644
--- a/tools/save-editor/App.lua
+++ b/tools/save-editor/App.lua
@@ -75,7 +75,21 @@ local function applyLoaded(path, statusVerb)
   S._quitArmed = false
   S._openArmed = false
   S.editingMon = nil
-  require("src.pokemon.Boxes").ensure(S.save)
+  local boxes = require("src.pokemon.Boxes").ensure(S.save)
+  -- Imported .sav box mons have no stat block (box_struct stops before
+  -- MON_STATS).  The game derives them in SaveData.validate; the editor
+  -- only validates a copy, so hydrate here for Boxes/Party/MonEditor.
+  local Stats = require("src.pokemon.Stats")
+  local function ensureStats(mon)
+    Stats.ensure(Data.pokemon and Data.pokemon[mon.species], mon)
+  end
+  for _, mon in ipairs(S.save.party or {}) do ensureStats(mon) end
+  for _, box in ipairs(boxes) do
+    for _, mon in ipairs(box) do ensureStats(mon) end
+  end
+  if S.save.daycare and S.save.daycare.mon then
+    ensureStats(S.save.daycare.mon)
+  end
   -- what the running game would quarantine, computed on a copy so the
   -- editor never mutates the file behind the user's back
   local SaveData = require("src.core.SaveData")