Phase 1 B3: enemies die with a corpse window instead of popping out of existence

Server: HealthApplyDamageSystem marks EnemyTag Dying{UntilTick} (TickUtil.
NonZero, ~54 ticks) on the lethal 0-crossing instead of instant destroy,
zeroes every live cue (replicated AttackWindup, LungeState + IsLunging bit,
KnockbackState), destroys on expiry; plain-world tests keep instant destroy
(no NetworkTime) so the suite's assertions stay meaningful.

Every consumer now ignores corpses (all confirmed entity-count/unfiltered by
the design review): EnemyAISystem all 4 passes, BossAISystem brain + summon
cap, RoomEnemyDirector room-clear + MaxAlive fit, WaveSystem cap + cleared,
CyclePhaseSystem breach wipe + DefendCleared, ThreatDirector timeout cull,
TurretFire targeting, CoreDamage drain, ProjectileDamage snapshot (corpses
are not shields), AbilityFire auto-aim candidates, debug cull + telemetry.
Wipe passes skip Dying to avoid cross-ECB double-destroys.

Client: EnemyAnimationDriveSystem finally drives the controller's IsDead
param (Health.Current<=0 is the replicated death read; corpse locomotion
zeroed); CombatFeedbackSystem moves the kill CRUNCH to the 0-crossing (the
prune-edge timing would land it ~1 s late) - the prune keeps a small
dissolve puff for corpses and the legacy full read for alive-vanish culls.

456/456 EditMode.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Client/Presentation/CombatFeedbackSystem.cs

@@ -275,6 +275,21 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
                             EmitColored(_hitFx, (Vector3)p + Vector3.up * 0.7f, FeelConfig.HitFlashBurstCount, FeelConfig.HitFlashColor);
                             if (FeelConfig.RumbleEnabled && AimPresentation.Scheme == 1)
                                 RumbleUtil.Pulse(FeelConfig.RumbleHit * 0.6f, FeelConfig.RumbleHit, FeelConfig.RumbleDurationSec);
+
+                            // B3: the kill CRUNCH fires at the 0-CROSSING (the moment of death) — the corpse now
+                            // lingers ~0.9 s playing its death anim, so the old prune-edge timing would land the
+                            // whole package a second late. The prune keeps only a small despawn puff.
+                            if (cur <= 0f && prev.Hp > 0f)
+                            {
+                                Burst(_deathFx, cfg != null ? cfg.EnemyDeath : null, (Vector3)p + Vector3.up * 0.5f, Mathf.Max(1, Mathf.RoundToInt(FeelConfig.DeathBurstCount * FeelConfig.KillBurstScale)));
+                                PlayClip(_deathClip, (Vector3)p, FeelConfig.KillSfxVolume);
+                                PrototypeCameraRig.AddShake(FeelConfig.KillShake);
+                                PrototypeCameraRig.PunchFov(FeelConfig.KillFovKick, FeelConfig.HitStopDurationMs);
+                                TryHold(); // C4: kill crunch (throttled)
+                                EmitColored(_hitFx, (Vector3)p + Vector3.up * 0.6f, FeelConfig.KillFlashBurstCount, FeelConfig.HitFlashColor);
+                                if (FeelConfig.RumbleEnabled && AimPresentation.Scheme == 1)
+                                    RumbleUtil.Pulse(FeelConfig.RumbleKill * 0.7f, FeelConfig.RumbleKill, FeelConfig.RumbleDurationSec);
+                            }
                         }
                     }
 
@@ -322,16 +337,25 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
                     var c = _cache[_stale[i]];
                     if (c.IsEnemy)
                     {
+                        if (c.Hp > 0f)
+                        {
+                            // Vanished while ALIVE (siege wipe / timeout cull / relevancy) — keep the legacy full read.
                             Burst(_deathFx, cfg != null ? cfg.EnemyDeath : null, (Vector3)c.Pos + Vector3.up * 0.5f, Mathf.Max(1, Mathf.RoundToInt(FeelConfig.DeathBurstCount * FeelConfig.KillBurstScale)));
                             PlayClip(_deathClip, (Vector3)c.Pos, FeelConfig.KillSfxVolume);
                             PrototypeCameraRig.AddShake(FeelConfig.KillShake);
                             PrototypeCameraRig.PunchFov(FeelConfig.KillFovKick, FeelConfig.HitStopDurationMs);
                             TryHold(); // C4: kill crunch (throttled)
-
                             EmitColored(_hitFx, (Vector3)c.Pos + Vector3.up * 0.6f, FeelConfig.KillFlashBurstCount, FeelConfig.HitFlashColor); // kill pop
                             if (FeelConfig.RumbleEnabled && AimPresentation.Scheme == 1)
                                 RumbleUtil.Pulse(FeelConfig.RumbleKill * 0.7f, FeelConfig.RumbleKill, FeelConfig.RumbleDurationSec);
                         }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            // B3: corpse despawn after the death window — the kill crunch already fired at the
+                            // 0-crossing; the corpse just dissolves.
+                            Burst(_deathFx, cfg != null ? cfg.EnemyDeath : null, (Vector3)c.Pos + Vector3.up * 0.3f, Mathf.Max(1, FeelConfig.DeathBurstCount / 2));
+                        }
+                    }
                     _cache.Remove(_stale[i]);
                 }
             }

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Client/Presentation/EnemyAnimationDriveSystem.cs

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
         static readonly FastAnimatorParameter k_MoveZ       = new FastAnimatorParameter("MoveZ");
         static readonly FastAnimatorParameter k_Speed       = new FastAnimatorParameter("Speed");
         static readonly FastAnimatorParameter k_IsAttacking = new FastAnimatorParameter("IsAttacking");
+        static readonly FastAnimatorParameter k_IsDead      = new FastAnimatorParameter("IsDead"); // B3: the controller's Death state existed but was never driven
 
         // prevPos cache (per Husk Entity). Pruned every frame (a vanished Husk = a server-authoritative death).
         NativeParallelHashMap<Entity, float3> _prevPos;
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
             var seen = new NativeParallelHashSet<Entity>(64, Allocator.TempJob);
             var job = new EnemyDriveJob
             {
-                moveX = k_MoveX, moveZ = k_MoveZ, speed = k_Speed, isAttacking = k_IsAttacking,
+                moveX = k_MoveX, moveZ = k_MoveZ, speed = k_Speed, isAttacking = k_IsAttacking, isDead = k_IsDead,
                 dt = dt,
                 prevPos = _prevPos,
                 seen = seen,
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
         [WithAll(typeof(EnemyTag))]
         partial struct EnemyDriveJob : IJobEntity
         {
-            public FastAnimatorParameter moveX, moveZ, speed, isAttacking;
+            public FastAnimatorParameter moveX, moveZ, speed, isAttacking, isDead;
             [Unity.Collections.ReadOnly] public ComponentLookup<IsLunging> isLunging; // A7: a lunge has no AttackWindup; OR it in so the boss/Charger attack anim plays during the committed lunge
 
             public float dt;
@@ -104,7 +105,8 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
                 DynamicBuffer<AnimatorControllerParameterComponent> parametersArr,
                 in LocalTransform xform,
                 in EnemyStats stats,
-                in AttackWindup windup)
+                in AttackWindup windup,
+                in Health health)
             {
                 seen.Add(e);
                 float3 cur = xform.Position;
@@ -117,11 +119,17 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
                 float3 p = AnimParamMath.LocomotionParams(vel, facing, stats.MoveSpeed);
                 bool attacking = windup.WindUpUntilTick != 0 || (isLunging.HasComponent(e) && isLunging.IsComponentEnabled(e)); // A7: the committed lunge (which zeroes AttackWindup) still animates as an attack
 
+                // B3: the corpse window — Health.Current is replicated, so <=0 IS the death read. A corpse
+                // plays the Death state and nothing else (no jog, no frozen attack).
+                bool dead = health.Current <= 0f;
+                if (dead) { p = float3.zero; attacking = false; }
+
                 var a = new AnimatorParametersAspect(parametersArr, indexTable);
                 if (a.HasParameter(moveX))       a.SetParameterValue(moveX, p.x);
                 if (a.HasParameter(moveZ))       a.SetParameterValue(moveZ, p.y);
                 if (a.HasParameter(speed))       a.SetParameterValue(speed, p.z);
                 if (a.HasParameter(isAttacking)) a.SetParameterValue(isAttacking, attacking);
+                if (a.HasParameter(isDead))      a.SetParameterValue(isDead, dead);
             }
         }
     }

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/Building/TurretFireSystem.cs

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
             var huskRegion = new NativeList<byte>(Allocator.Temp);
             foreach (var (xform, health, region, e) in
                      SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<LocalTransform>, RefRO<Health>, RefRO<RegionTag>>()
-                         .WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithEntityAccess())
+                         .WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithNone<Dying>().WithEntityAccess()) // LIVING targets only (B3)
             {
                 if (health.ValueRO.Current <= 0f)
                     continue;

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/Combat/BossAISystem.cs

@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
         public void OnCreate(ref SystemState state)
         {
             state.RequireForUpdate<NetworkTime>();
-            m_Bosses = state.GetEntityQuery(ComponentType.ReadOnly<EnemyTag>(), ComponentType.ReadOnly<BossState>());
+            m_Bosses = state.GetEntityQuery(ComponentType.ReadOnly<EnemyTag>(), ComponentType.ReadOnly<BossState>(), ComponentType.Exclude<Dying>());
             state.RequireForUpdate(m_Bosses);
-            m_ZoneEnemies = state.GetEntityQuery(ComponentType.ReadOnly<ZoneEnemyTag>());
+            m_ZoneEnemies = state.GetEntityQuery(ComponentType.ReadOnly<ZoneEnemyTag>(), ComponentType.Exclude<Dying>()); // summon cap counts LIVING only (B3)
         }
 
         [BurstCompile]
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
             foreach (var (xform, stats, health, boss, windup, knockback) in
                      SystemAPI.Query<RefRW<LocalTransform>, RefRO<EnemyStats>, RefRO<Health>, RefRW<BossState>,
                              RefRW<AttackWindup>, RefRW<KnockbackState>>()
-                         .WithAll<EnemyTag, BossState>())
+                         .WithAll<EnemyTag, BossState>().WithNone<Dying>())
             {
                 float3 pos = xform.ValueRO.Position;
 

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/Combat/EnemyAISystem.cs

@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
             foreach (var (xform, stats, cooldown, knockback, windup, region) in
                      SystemAPI.Query<RefRW<LocalTransform>, RefRO<EnemyStats>, RefRW<EnemyAttackCooldown>,
                              RefRW<KnockbackState>, RefRW<AttackWindup>, RefRO<RegionTag>>()
-                         .WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithNone<LungeState, SpitterState>())
+                         .WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithNone<LungeState, SpitterState, Dying>())
             {
                 float3 pos = xform.ValueRO.Position;
                 byte huskRegion = region.ValueRO.Region;
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
             foreach (var (xform, stats, cooldown, knockback, windup, lunge, region) in
                      SystemAPI.Query<RefRW<LocalTransform>, RefRO<EnemyStats>, RefRW<EnemyAttackCooldown>,
                              RefRW<KnockbackState>, RefRW<AttackWindup>, RefRW<LungeState>, RefRO<RegionTag>>()
-                         .WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithNone<SpitterState, BossState>())
+                         .WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithNone<SpitterState, BossState, Dying>())
             {
                 float3 pos = xform.ValueRO.Position;
                 byte cHuskRegion = region.ValueRO.Region;
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
             foreach (var (xform, stats, knockback, windup, spitter, region) in
                      SystemAPI.Query<RefRW<LocalTransform>, RefRO<EnemyStats>, RefRW<KnockbackState>,
                              RefRW<AttackWindup>, RefRW<SpitterState>, RefRO<RegionTag>>()
-                         .WithAll<EnemyTag, SpitterState>().WithNone<LungeState>())
+                         .WithAll<EnemyTag, SpitterState>().WithNone<LungeState, Dying>())
             {
                 float3 pos = xform.ValueRO.Position;
                 byte sRegion = region.ValueRO.Region;
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
             // Charger whose bit is currently DISABLED is still visited (Entities default-excludes disabled enableables).
             foreach (var (lunge, isLunging) in
                      SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<LungeState>, EnabledRefRW<IsLunging>>()
-                         .WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithPresent<IsLunging>())
+                         .WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithPresent<IsLunging>().WithNone<Dying>())
             {
                 isLunging.ValueRW = lunge.ValueRO.UntilTick != 0u; // lunging iff a committed lunge is live this tick
             }

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/Combat/HealthApplyDamageSystem.cs

@@ -132,13 +132,46 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
 
                 health.ValueRW.Current = newHp;
 
-                // Server-authoritative death: training dummies + enemies + EB-1 Destructible structures despawn;
+                // Server-authoritative death: training dummies + EB-1 Destructible structures despawn instantly;
                 // player death is deferred (clamp only). A structure carries NO EffectiveCharacterStats, so it took
                 // the math.max(0,..) branch above and CAN reach 0 — never give a structure stats (it would clamp to
                 // a non-zero floor and become immortal).
-                if (health.ValueRO.Current <= 0f && (SystemAPI.HasComponent<TrainingDummyTag>(entity) || SystemAPI.HasComponent<EnemyTag>(entity) || SystemAPI.HasComponent<Destructible>(entity)))
+                // Phase 1 (B3): ENEMIES get a corpse window instead — mark Dying ONCE on the lethal crossing and
+                // zero every live cue (the replicated windup, the lunge state + ghost bit, knockback) so clients
+                // never see a corpse telegraphing. Plain-world EditMode tests have no NetworkTime → keep the old
+                // instant destroy there so the existing suite still means what it asserts.
+                if (health.ValueRO.Current <= 0f)
+                {
+                    if (SystemAPI.HasComponent<EnemyTag>(entity) && haveTick && netTime.ServerTick.IsValid)
+                    {
+                        if (!SystemAPI.HasComponent<Dying>(entity))
+                        {
+                            ecb.AddComponent(entity, new Dying
+                            {
+                                UntilTick = TickUtil.NonZero(netTime.ServerTick.TickIndexForValidTick + Tuning.EnemyDeathWindowTicks),
+                            });
+                            if (SystemAPI.HasComponent<AttackWindup>(entity)) SystemAPI.SetComponent(entity, default(AttackWindup));
+                            if (SystemAPI.HasComponent<KnockbackState>(entity)) SystemAPI.SetComponent(entity, default(KnockbackState));
+                            if (SystemAPI.HasComponent<LungeState>(entity)) SystemAPI.SetComponent(entity, default(LungeState));
+                            if (SystemAPI.HasComponent<IsLunging>(entity)) SystemAPI.SetComponentEnabled<IsLunging>(entity, false);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    else if (SystemAPI.HasComponent<TrainingDummyTag>(entity) || SystemAPI.HasComponent<EnemyTag>(entity) || SystemAPI.HasComponent<Destructible>(entity))
                         ecb.DestroyEntity(entity);
                 }
+            }
+            // Phase 1 (B3): corpse expiry — destroy Dying enemies whose window elapsed (at-most-once: the Dying
+            // mark is the only path here, and destruction removes it). NetworkTick compare, never raw uint math.
+            if (haveTick && netTime.ServerTick.IsValid)
+            {
+                foreach (var (dying, entity) in SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<Dying>>().WithEntityAccess())
+                {
+                    var until = new NetworkTick(dying.ValueRO.UntilTick);
+                    if (until.IsValid && !until.IsNewerThan(netTime.ServerTick))
+                        ecb.DestroyEntity(entity);
+                }
+            }
+
             if ((negatedThisTick != 0u || punishesThisTick != 0u) && SystemAPI.HasSingleton<DevTelemetry>())
             {
                 var telem = SystemAPI.GetSingletonRW<DevTelemetry>();

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/Combat/ProjectileDamageSystem.cs

@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
             foreach (var (xform, hitRadius, targetEntity) in
                      SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<LocalTransform>, RefRO<HitRadius>>()
                          .WithAll<Health>()
+                         .WithNone<Dying>() // B3: corpses are not shields - a shot passes through to living targets
                          .WithEntityAccess())
             {
                 targetEntities.Add(targetEntity);

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/Combat/RoomEnemyDirectorSystem.cs

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
             state.RequireForUpdate<RunInfo>();
             state.RequireForUpdate<RunRuntime>();
             state.RequireForUpdate<ZoneEnemyDirector>();
-            m_ZoneEnemies = state.GetEntityQuery(ComponentType.ReadOnly<ZoneEnemyTag>());
+            m_ZoneEnemies = state.GetEntityQuery(ComponentType.ReadOnly<ZoneEnemyTag>(), ComponentType.Exclude<Dying>()); // room clear + MaxAlive fit count LIVING only (B3) - corpses neither hold the room open nor crowd out spawns
         }
 
         [BurstCompile]

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/Combat/WaveSystem.cs

@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
 
                         // Live BASE husks for the entity cap (expedition zone enemies are EnemyTag too -> excluded).
                         int aliveBase = 0;
-                        foreach (var hr in SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<RegionTag>>().WithAll<EnemyTag>())
+                        foreach (var hr in SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<RegionTag>>().WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithNone<Dying>())
                             if (hr.ValueRO.Region == RegionId.Base) aliveBase++;
 
                         // MaxAlive counts ENTITIES; spawn the whole pack only if it fits (else WAIT — don't consume the slot).
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
                     // Wave fully spawned: cleared only when no BASE husk remains. Expedition zone enemies are also
                     // EnemyTag but RegionTag{Expedition}; they must NOT hold the base siege open (DR-040 BLOCKER 3).
                     int baseHusks = 0;
-                    foreach (var hr in SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<RegionTag>>().WithAll<EnemyTag>())
+                    foreach (var hr in SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<RegionTag>>().WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithNone<Dying>())
                         if (hr.ValueRO.Region == RegionId.Base) baseHusks++;
                     if (baseHusks == 0)
                     {

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/Debug/DebugCommandReceiveSystem.cs

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
 
         public void OnCreate(ref SystemState state)
         {
-            m_Husks = state.GetEntityQuery(ComponentType.ReadOnly<EnemyTag>());
+            m_Husks = state.GetEntityQuery(ComponentType.ReadOnly<EnemyTag>(), ComponentType.Exclude<Dying>()); // corpses expire on their own (B3; avoids a cross-ECB double-destroy)
             var builder = new EntityQueryBuilder(Allocator.Temp)
                 .WithAll<DebugCommandRequest, ReceiveRpcCommandRequest>();
             state.RequireForUpdate(state.GetEntityQuery(builder));

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/Debug/DevTelemetrySystem.cs

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
         public void OnCreate(ref SystemState state)
         {
             state.RequireForUpdate<NetworkTime>();
-            m_Husks = state.GetEntityQuery(ComponentType.ReadOnly<EnemyTag>());
+            m_Husks = state.GetEntityQuery(ComponentType.ReadOnly<EnemyTag>(), ComponentType.Exclude<Dying>()); // telemetry counts LIVING (B3)
             if (state.GetEntityQuery(ComponentType.ReadWrite<DevTelemetry>()).IsEmpty)
                 state.EntityManager.CreateEntity(typeof(DevTelemetry));
         }

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/World/CoreDamageSystem.cs

@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
             var ecb = new EntityCommandBuffer(Allocator.Temp);
             int drained = 0;
             foreach (var (xform, entity) in
-                     SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<LocalTransform>>().WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithEntityAccess())
+                     SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<LocalTransform>>().WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithNone<Dying>().WithEntityAccess()) // corpses don't drain the Core (B3)
             {
                 if (!EnemyAIMath.InAttackRange(xform.ValueRO.Position, corePos, CoreReachRadius))
                     continue;

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/World/CyclePhaseSystem.cs

@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
                     // Slice 3: cull the BASE wave only — an Expedition wave runs in its own region and must
                     // survive a base Core breach. A region-blind EnemyTag wipe would also spuriously trip the
                     // zone director's aliveZone==0 clear/reward edge. Mirrors ThreatDirectorSystem + DefendCleared.
-                    foreach (var (hr, he) in SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<RegionTag>>().WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithEntityAccess())
+                    foreach (var (hr, he) in SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<RegionTag>>().WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithNone<Dying>().WithEntityAccess()) // skip corpses: the B3 expiry pass owns their destroy (cross-ECB double-destroy)
                         if (hr.ValueRO.Region == RegionId.Base)
                             ecb.DestroyEntity(he);
                     ecb.Playback(state.EntityManager);
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
             // Cleared only when no BASE husk remains: expedition zone enemies (EnemyTag + RegionTag{Expedition})
             // must not hold the base siege open (DR-040 BLOCKER 3 — same global-count soft-lock as WaveSystem).
             int baseHusks = 0;
-            foreach (var hr in SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<RegionTag>>().WithAll<EnemyTag>())
+            foreach (var hr in SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<RegionTag>>().WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithNone<Dying>()) // LIVING only (B3)
                 if (hr.ValueRO.Region == RegionId.Base) baseHusks++;
             return wave.WaveNumber > defendStartWave
                    && wave.RemainingToSpawn == 0

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/World/ThreatDirectorSystem.cs

@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
                         // Collapse the siege: cull every remaining BASE Husk only (expedition zone enemies are also
                         // EnemyTag but RegionTag{Expedition}; the timeout must not destroy them — DR-040 BLOCKER 3).
                         var ecb = new EntityCommandBuffer(Allocator.Temp);
-                        foreach (var (hr, he) in SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<RegionTag>>().WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithEntityAccess())
+                        foreach (var (hr, he) in SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<RegionTag>>().WithAll<EnemyTag>().WithNone<Dying>().WithEntityAccess()) // skip corpses: the B3 expiry pass owns their destroy
                             if (hr.ValueRO.Region == RegionId.Base)
                                 ecb.DestroyEntity(he);
                         ecb.Playback(state.EntityManager);

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Simulation/Combat/AbilityFireSystem.cs

@@ -82,8 +82,9 @@ namespace ProjectM.Simulation
                 foreach (var (tx, th, te) in
                          SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<LocalTransform>, RefRO<Health>>().WithAny<TrainingDummyTag, EnemyTag>().WithEntityAccess())
                 {
+                    if (th.ValueRO.Current <= 0f) continue; // B3: corpses are neither aim magnets nor cleave targets
                     candidatePositions.Add(tx.ValueRO.Position);
-                    if (th.ValueRO.Current > 0f) { coneTargets.Add(te); coneTargetPos.Add(tx.ValueRO.Position); }
+                    coneTargets.Add(te); coneTargetPos.Add(tx.ValueRO.Position);
                 }
             }
             var candidates = candidatePositions.AsArray();

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Simulation/Combat/Dying.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+using Unity.Entities;
+
+namespace ProjectM.Simulation
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Phase 1 (B3): the enemy corpse window. Stamped ONCE by <c>HealthApplyDamageSystem</c> on the lethal
+    /// 0-crossing (server-only, never replicated — clients derive the death read from the replicated
+    /// <c>Health.Current&lt;=0</c>); the entity is destroyed when ServerTick reaches <see cref="UntilTick"/>.
+    /// While present the enemy is a CORPSE: every actor pass (AI move/windup/contact, boss kit), every
+    /// LIVING count (room clear, HUD Remaining, MaxAlive fit, summon cap, siege cleared) and every target
+    /// snapshot (projectiles, melee, turrets, auto-aim, aggro) must skip it — a corpse neither acts, counts,
+    /// nor soaks hits (design review wf_fd177263: all counts were entity-count based, all snapshots unfiltered).
+    /// </summary>
+    public struct Dying : IComponentData
+    {
+        /// <summary>Server tick the corpse despawns (via <c>TickUtil.NonZero</c>; compared via <c>NetworkTick</c>).</summary>
+        public uint UntilTick;
+    }
+}

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Simulation/Combat/Dying.cs.meta

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+fileFormatVersion: 2
+guid: 3b794b215be5185499725afc93d9d78c

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Simulation/Tuning.cs

@@ -95,6 +95,10 @@ namespace ProjectM.Simulation
         /// polish; an idle player died in ~2 s of landing). Subsequent slots keep the normal drip cadence.</summary>
         public const uint RoomEntryGraceTicks = 100;
 
+        /// <summary>Phase 1 (B3) corpse window (~0.9 s @60): a dead enemy lingers as a non-acting, non-counting,
+        /// non-targetable corpse so the client death animation has time to read before the despawn burst.</summary>
+        public const uint EnemyDeathWindowTicks = 54;
+
         // ---- Expedition BOSS (a scaled Charger given a real kit by BossAISystem; server-only feel consts) ----
 
         /// <summary>Radial SLAM AoE radius (world units): a player inside this ring at wind-up elapse eats the hit