diff --git a/engine-c/src/render.c b/engine-c/src/render.c
index 98fae58..222c2d8 100644
--- a/engine-c/src/render.c
+++ b/engine-c/src/render.c
@@ -200,30 +200,43 @@ void render_units(Game *g) {
         draw_unit_shadow(g->ren, cx, cy, sz / 4 + 4);
         SDL_Texture *tex = g->spr.unit[u->type][u->faction];
         draw_tex_world(g, tex, u->x, u->y, sz, sz, u->heading, 255);
+        /* cream heading tick (parity with snapshot LX/LY overlay) */
+        {
+            float tick = (float)(sz / 2 + 6);
+            int hx = cx + (int)(cosf(u->heading) * tick);
+            int hy = cy + (int)(sinf(u->heading) * tick);
+            SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(g->ren, 250, 245, 210, 255);
+            SDL_RenderDrawLine(g->ren, cx, cy, hx, hy);
+            SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(g->ren, 255, 250, 220, 220);
+            SDL_RenderDrawLine(g->ren, cx + 1, cy, hx + 1, hy);
+        }
         /* selection ring — larger for heavy chassis */
         if (u->selected) {
             int rad = (u->type == UT_TANK || u->type == UT_BEAST || u->type == UT_RAVAGER)
                     ? sz / 2 + 4 : sz / 2 + 2;
-            SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(g->ren, 120, 255, 120, 220);
-            for (int a = 0; a < 360; a += 12) {
+            SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(g->ren, 255, 245, 60, 220);
+            for (int a = 0; a < 360; a += 10) {
                 int px = cx + (int)(cosf(a * 3.14159f / 180) * rad);
                 int py = cy + (int)(sinf(a * 3.14159f / 180) * rad);
                 SDL_RenderDrawPoint(g->ren, px, py);
             }
         }
-        /* health bar */
+        /* HP bar: green→red strip like snapshot */
         if (u->hp < u->max_hp || u->selected) {
-            int by = cy - sz / 2 - 6;
-            int bw = sz - 8;
+            int by = cy - sz / 2 - 8;
+            int bw = sz - 6;
             if (bw < 24) bw = 24;
+            SDL_Rect outline = { cx - bw / 2 - 1, by - 1, bw + 2, 6 };
+            SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(g->ren, 20, 18, 14, 255);
+            SDL_RenderFillRect(g->ren, &outline);
             SDL_Rect bg = { cx - bw / 2, by, bw, 4 };
-            SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(g->ren, 50, 50, 50, 255);
+            SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(g->ren, 55, 48, 36, 255);
             SDL_RenderFillRect(g->ren, &bg);
             float f = u->hp / u->max_hp;
-            SDL_Color c = (u->faction == FACTION_SURVIVOR) ? (SDL_Color){55,235,55,255}
-                                                          : (SDL_Color){255,40,255,255};
-            SDL_Rect fg = { cx - bw / 2, by, (int)(bw * f), 4 };
-            SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(g->ren, c.r, c.g, c.b, 255);
+            if (f < 0) f = 0; if (f > 1) f = 1;
+            Uint8 hr = (Uint8)(255 * (1.0f - f)), hg = (Uint8)(230 * f);
+            SDL_Rect fg = { cx - bw / 2, by, (int)(bw * f + 0.5f), 4 };
+            SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(g->ren, hr, hg, 40, 255);
             SDL_RenderFillRect(g->ren, &fg);
             /* cargo indicator for harvesters */
             if (u->type == UT_HARVESTER && u->cargo > 0) {
diff --git a/engine-c/src/units.c b/engine-c/src/units.c
index ee1064a..999b918 100644
--- a/engine-c/src/units.c
+++ b/engine-c/src/units.c
@@ -62,12 +62,15 @@ void unit_apply_damage(Game *g, Unit *u, float dmg) {
     float eff = dmg - u->defense * 0.25f;
     if (eff < 1) eff = 1;
     u->hp -= eff;
-    particle_burst(g, u->x, u->y, 3, 2, 255, 200, 80);
+    particle_burst(g, u->x, u->y, 4, 2, 255, 200, 80);
     if (u->hp <= 0 && !u->dead) {
         u->dead = 1;
         u->state = STATE_DEAD;
-        particle_burst(g, u->x, u->y, 14, 1, 255, 140, 40);
-        particle_burst(g, u->x, u->y, 8, 3, 90, 80, 70);
+        /* denser KKND2-like death: fire core + debris ring + smoke */
+        particle_burst(g, u->x, u->y, 18, 1, 255, 140, 40);
+        particle_burst(g, u->x, u->y, 10, 3, 90, 80, 70);
+        particle_burst(g, u->x + 6, u->y - 4, 8, 0, 110, 100, 90);
+        particle_burst(g, u->x - 5, u->y + 5, 6, 2, 255, 220, 90);
         audio_sfx(2);
         if (g->cam.shake < 7) g->cam.shake = 7;
         if (u->faction == g->human)
@@ -320,8 +323,13 @@ static void unit_combat_step(Game *g, Unit *u, float dt) {
         if (u->atk_cd <= 0) {
             int kind = (u->type == UT_ARTILLERY || u->type == UT_MISSILE || u->type == UT_TANK)
                        ? 1 : 0;
-            if (tu) bullet_spawn(g, u->x, u->y, tu->id, -1, u->attack, u->faction, kind);
-            else    bullet_spawn(g, u->x, u->y, -1, tb->id, u->attack, u->faction, kind);
+            /* muzzle offset along heading so shot/live FX sit at barrel tip */
+            float mx = u->x + cosf(u->heading) * 14.0f;
+            float my = u->y + sinf(u->heading) * 14.0f;
+            if (tu) bullet_spawn(g, mx, my, tu->id, -1, u->attack, u->faction, kind);
+            else    bullet_spawn(g, mx, my, -1, tb->id, u->attack, u->faction, kind);
+            particle_burst(g, mx, my, 5, 2, 255, 230, 120);
+            particle_burst(g, mx, my, 3, 1, 255, 160, 50);
             u->atk_cd = ((u->type == UT_ARTILLERY) ? 2.2f
                        : (u->type == UT_INFANTRY ? 0.8f : 1.0f)) / u->reload_mul;
             u->anim = 1.0f;