diff --git a/src/client/WebGLFrameBuilder.ts b/src/client/WebGLFrameBuilder.ts
index 6a293f15a..17b76b9b0 100644
--- a/src/client/WebGLFrameBuilder.ts
+++ b/src/client/WebGLFrameBuilder.ts
@@ -150,18 +150,20 @@ export class WebGLFrameBuilder {
       const spawnTile = p.state.spawnTile;
       if (spawnTile === undefined) continue;
       const isSelf = me !== null && p.smallID() === me.smallID();
-      // myPlayer's ring color is overridden in SpawnOverlayPass (animated
-      // white→gold pulse); everyone else uses their territory tint.
+      // myPlayer's ring pulses white→this color in SpawnOverlayPass: gold
+      // when teamless, own territory tint in team games (matches teammates'
+      // rings). Everyone else uses their territory tint directly.
       const c = p.territoryColor().toRgb();
+      const useGold = isSelf && myTeam === null;
       centers.push({
         // spawnTile tracks the player's currently-selected spawn directly —
         // updates the same tick the player picks a new location (faster than
         // the nameData centroid which only refreshes every 2 ticks).
         x: gameView.x(spawnTile),
         y: gameView.y(spawnTile),
-        r: c.r / 255,
-        g: c.g / 255,
-        b: c.b / 255,
+        r: useGold ? 1 : c.r / 255,
+        g: useGold ? 0.84 : c.g / 255,
+        b: useGold ? 0 : c.b / 255,
         isSelf,
         isTeammate:
           myTeam !== null &&
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/passes/SpawnOverlayPass.ts b/src/client/render/gl/passes/SpawnOverlayPass.ts
index 50b995c48..c17d012b5 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/passes/SpawnOverlayPass.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/passes/SpawnOverlayPass.ts
@@ -151,11 +151,12 @@ export class SpawnOverlayPass {
       dataA[i * 4 + 0] = c.x;
       dataA[i * 4 + 1] = c.y;
       if (c.isSelf) {
-        // Self ring pulses white (1,1,1) → gold (1,0.84,0) in phase with the
-        // breath so one end of the pulse always contrasts with the terrain.
-        dataA[i * 4 + 2] = 1;
-        dataA[i * 4 + 3] = 1 - 0.16 * breathRadius;
-        dataB[i * 4 + 0] = 1 - breathRadius;
+        // Self ring pulses white (1,1,1) → its center color (gold when
+        // teamless, team color in team games) in phase with the breath so
+        // one end of the pulse always contrasts with the terrain.
+        dataA[i * 4 + 2] = 1 - (1 - c.r) * breathRadius;
+        dataA[i * 4 + 3] = 1 - (1 - c.g) * breathRadius;
+        dataB[i * 4 + 0] = 1 - (1 - c.b) * breathRadius;
       } else {
         dataA[i * 4 + 2] = c.r;
         dataA[i * 4 + 3] = c.g;