diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Animation/AC_EnemyTopDown.controller b/Assets/_Project/Animation/AC_EnemyTopDown.controller
index f0172f630..0c0c36d84 100644
--- a/Assets/_Project/Animation/AC_EnemyTopDown.controller
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Animation/AC_EnemyTopDown.controller
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ AnimatorState:
   m_StateMachineBehaviours: []
   m_Position: {x: 50, y: 50, z: 0}
   m_IKOnFeet: 0
-  m_WriteDefaultValues: 1
+  m_WriteDefaultValues: 0
   m_Mirror: 0
   m_SpeedParameterActive: 0
   m_MirrorParameterActive: 0
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Animation/AC_PlayerTopDown.controller b/Assets/_Project/Animation/AC_PlayerTopDown.controller
index c8254075b..b61afe024 100644
--- a/Assets/_Project/Animation/AC_PlayerTopDown.controller
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Animation/AC_PlayerTopDown.controller
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ AnimatorState:
   m_StateMachineBehaviours: []
   m_Position: {x: 50, y: 50, z: 0}
   m_IKOnFeet: 0
-  m_WriteDefaultValues: 1
+  m_WriteDefaultValues: 0
   m_Mirror: 0
   m_SpeedParameterActive: 0
   m_MirrorParameterActive: 0
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Editor/EnemyRigTools.cs b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Editor/EnemyRigTools.cs
index 7818d71ec..15b28edce 100644
--- a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Editor/EnemyRigTools.cs
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Editor/EnemyRigTools.cs
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.EditorTools
             var attackClipAsset = AssetDatabase.LoadAssetAtPath<AnimationClip>(AttackClip);
             var attack = sm.AddState("Attack");
             attack.motion = attackClipAsset;
-            attack.writeDefaultValues = true;
+            attack.writeDefaultValues = false; // partial (Root-only) clip: MUST be false, else WDV resets every un-keyed bone (Hips/Spine/legs) to identity and the body collapses into the floor
 
             var toAttack = sm.AddAnyStateTransition(attack);
             toAttack.hasExitTime = false;
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Editor/PlayerRigTools.cs b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Editor/PlayerRigTools.cs
index 3118a9e48..cd868aedf 100644
--- a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Editor/PlayerRigTools.cs
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Editor/PlayerRigTools.cs
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.EditorTools
             if (swing == null)
             {
                 swing = sm.AddState("MeleeSwing");
-                swing.writeDefaultValues = true;
+                swing.writeDefaultValues = false; // partial (Root-only) clip: MUST be false, else WDV resets every un-keyed bone (Hips/Spine/legs) to identity and the body collapses into the floor
 
                 var toSwing = sm.AddAnyStateTransition(swing);
                 toSwing.hasExitTime = false;