diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/RenderSettings.ts b/src/client/render/gl/RenderSettings.ts
index 7acdfe99e..9d848a992 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/RenderSettings.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/RenderSettings.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,17 @@ export interface RenderSettings {
     bloomB: number;
     bloomCoverage: number;
     heatDecayPerTick: number;
+    particleColorDarkR: number;
+    particleColorDarkG: number;
+    particleColorDarkB: number;
+    particleColorBrightR: number;
+    particleColorBrightG: number;
+    particleColorBrightB: number;
+    particleThresholdUnowned: number;
+    particleThresholdOwned: number;
+    particleFlickerSpeed: number;
+    particleStrength: number;
+    particleFreshScale: number;
   };
   dayNight: {
     mode: "light" | "dark";
@@ -55,19 +66,12 @@ export interface RenderSettings {
   mapOverlay: {
     trailAlpha: number;
     defenseCheckerDarken: number;
-    charcoalBase: number;
-    charcoalVariation: number;
-    charcoalAlpha: number;
-    emberThresholdUnowned: number;
-    emberThresholdOwned: number;
-    emberFlickerSpeed: number;
-    emberColorDarkR: number;
-    emberColorDarkG: number;
-    emberColorDarkB: number;
-    emberColorBrightR: number;
-    emberColorBrightG: number;
-    emberColorBrightB: number;
-    emberStrengthUnowned: number;
+    staleNukeBase: number;
+    staleNukeVariation: number;
+    staleNukeAlpha: number;
+    staleNukeR: number;
+    staleNukeG: number;
+    staleNukeB: number;
     highlightBrighten: number;
     highlightFillBrighten: number;
     highlightThicken: number;
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/Renderer.ts b/src/client/render/gl/Renderer.ts
index 8aeb25d1d..b3065113a 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/Renderer.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/Renderer.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  *
  * Draw order:
  *   DATA SYNC: tile flush → heat update → border compute
- *   BASE PASS (darkened by night): terrain → territory fill + fallout charcoal
+ *   BASE PASS (darkened by night): terrain → territory fill + stale-nuke ground
  *   NIGHT COMPOSITE (optional): lightmap → scene × (ambient + lightmap)
  *   FULL BRIGHTNESS (always): borders → railroads → ground units → structures →
  *     structure levels → bars → bloom → trails → missiles → fx → conquest → names
@@ -342,13 +342,13 @@ export class GPURenderer {
       this.settings,
     );
 
-    // --- Fallout light (needs tileTex, borderTex, heatManager) ---
+    // --- Fallout light (needs tileTex + heatManager; particle flicker is
+    //     computed inline using the falloutBloom particle settings) ---
     this.falloutLightPass = new FalloutLightPass(
       gl,
       mapW,
       mapH,
       this.res.tileTex,
-      this.res.borderTex,
       this.heatManager,
       this.settings,
     );
@@ -1070,8 +1070,7 @@ export class GPURenderer {
   }
 
   private computeTextures(): void {
-    if (this.settings.passEnabled.mapOverlay)
-      this.borderPass.draw(this.frameTick);
+    if (this.settings.passEnabled.mapOverlay) this.borderPass.draw();
   }
 
   private renderFrame(): void {
@@ -1086,7 +1085,7 @@ export class GPURenderer {
       const sceneTex = toTarget(this.gl, this.sceneTarget, () =>
         this.drawBaseLayer(cam),
       );
-      const lightTex = this.lightmapPass.draw(cam, cw, ch);
+      const lightTex = this.lightmapPass.draw(cam, cw, ch, this.frameTick);
       toScreen(this.gl, cw, ch, () =>
         this.nightCompositePass.draw(sceneTex, lightTex),
       );
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/debug/Layout.ts b/src/client/render/gl/debug/Layout.ts
index 67077228e..a727d4127 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/debug/Layout.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/debug/Layout.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,48 @@ export function buildTree(s: RenderSettings, d: RenderSettings): DebugNode[] {
       ),
       slider(s.falloutBloom, "bloomCoverage", d.falloutBloom, 0, 10, 0.1),
       slider(s.falloutBloom, "heatDecayPerTick", d.falloutBloom, 0, 5, 0.01),
+      color(
+        s.falloutBloom,
+        "particleColorDarkR",
+        "particleColorDarkG",
+        "particleColorDarkB",
+        d.falloutBloom,
+        "Particle Color Dark",
+      ),
+      color(
+        s.falloutBloom,
+        "particleColorBrightR",
+        "particleColorBrightG",
+        "particleColorBrightB",
+        d.falloutBloom,
+        "Particle Color Bright",
+      ),
+      slider(
+        s.falloutBloom,
+        "particleThresholdUnowned",
+        d.falloutBloom,
+        0.5,
+        1,
+        0.005,
+      ),
+      slider(
+        s.falloutBloom,
+        "particleThresholdOwned",
+        d.falloutBloom,
+        0.5,
+        1,
+        0.005,
+      ),
+      slider(
+        s.falloutBloom,
+        "particleFlickerSpeed",
+        d.falloutBloom,
+        0,
+        2,
+        0.01,
+      ),
+      slider(s.falloutBloom, "particleStrength", d.falloutBloom, 0, 5, 0.01),
+      slider(s.falloutBloom, "particleFreshScale", d.falloutBloom, 0, 1, 0.01),
     ]),
 
     folder("Day / Night", [
@@ -79,36 +121,17 @@ export function buildTree(s: RenderSettings, d: RenderSettings): DebugNode[] {
     folder("Map Overlay", [
       slider(s.mapOverlay, "trailAlpha", d.mapOverlay, 0, 1, 0.01),
       slider(s.mapOverlay, "defenseCheckerDarken", d.mapOverlay, 0, 1, 0.01),
-      slider(s.mapOverlay, "charcoalBase", d.mapOverlay, 0, 0.3, 0.005),
-      slider(s.mapOverlay, "charcoalVariation", d.mapOverlay, 0, 0.3, 0.005),
-      slider(s.mapOverlay, "charcoalAlpha", d.mapOverlay, 0, 1, 0.01),
-      slider(
-        s.mapOverlay,
-        "emberThresholdUnowned",
-        d.mapOverlay,
-        0.5,
-        1,
-        0.005,
-      ),
-      slider(s.mapOverlay, "emberThresholdOwned", d.mapOverlay, 0.5, 1, 0.005),
-      slider(s.mapOverlay, "emberFlickerSpeed", d.mapOverlay, 0, 2, 0.01),
+      slider(s.mapOverlay, "staleNukeBase", d.mapOverlay, 0, 0.3, 0.005),
+      slider(s.mapOverlay, "staleNukeVariation", d.mapOverlay, 0, 0.3, 0.005),
+      slider(s.mapOverlay, "staleNukeAlpha", d.mapOverlay, 0, 1, 0.01),
       color(
         s.mapOverlay,
-        "emberColorDarkR",
-        "emberColorDarkG",
-        "emberColorDarkB",
+        "staleNukeR",
+        "staleNukeG",
+        "staleNukeB",
         d.mapOverlay,
-        "Ember Color Dark",
+        "Stale Nuke Color",
       ),
-      color(
-        s.mapOverlay,
-        "emberColorBrightR",
-        "emberColorBrightG",
-        "emberColorBrightB",
-        d.mapOverlay,
-        "Ember Color Bright",
-      ),
-      slider(s.mapOverlay, "emberStrengthUnowned", d.mapOverlay, 0, 2, 0.01),
       slider(
         s.mapOverlay,
         "highlightBrighten",
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/passes/BorderComputePass.ts b/src/client/render/gl/passes/BorderComputePass.ts
index e6e0910e5..828c907aa 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/passes/BorderComputePass.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/passes/BorderComputePass.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * Runs a fullscreen quad at tile resolution (mapW × mapH) and writes to an
  * RGBA8 texture:
  *   R = border type: 0 = interior, 0.5 = normal border, 1.0 = highlight border
- *   G = ember intensity: 0–255 (pre-computed flicker value, 0 = no ember)
+ *   G = unused (was ember intensity — moved to FalloutBloomPass/FalloutLightPass)
  *   B = defense proximity: 1.0 if border tile is within range of same-owner defense post
  *
  * Both MapOverlayPass (daytime) and the night stamp overlay read this buffer
@@ -48,10 +48,6 @@ export class BorderComputePass {
   private uMapSize: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uHighlightOwner: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uHighlightThicken: WebGLUniformLocation;
-  private uTick: WebGLUniformLocation;
-  private uEmberThresholdUnowned: WebGLUniformLocation;
-  private uEmberThresholdOwned: WebGLUniformLocation;
-  private uEmberFlickerSpeed: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uDefensePosts: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uDefensePostCount: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uDefensePostRange: WebGLUniformLocation;
@@ -91,19 +87,6 @@ export class BorderComputePass {
       this.program,
       "uHighlightThicken",
     )!;
-    this.uTick = gl.getUniformLocation(this.program, "uTick")!;
-    this.uEmberThresholdUnowned = gl.getUniformLocation(
-      this.program,
-      "uEmberThresholdUnowned",
-    )!;
-    this.uEmberThresholdOwned = gl.getUniformLocation(
-      this.program,
-      "uEmberThresholdOwned",
-    )!;
-    this.uEmberFlickerSpeed = gl.getUniformLocation(
-      this.program,
-      "uEmberFlickerSpeed",
-    )!;
     this.uDefensePosts = gl.getUniformLocation(this.program, "uDefensePosts")!;
     this.uDefensePostCount = gl.getUniformLocation(
       this.program,
@@ -131,7 +114,7 @@ export class BorderComputePass {
     });
 
     // --- RGBA8 border buffer at tile resolution ---
-    // R = border type, G = ember intensity, B = defense proximity flag
+    // R = border type, G = unused, B = defense proximity flag
     this.borderTex = createTexture2D(gl, {
       width: mapW,
       height: mapH,
@@ -223,7 +206,7 @@ export class BorderComputePass {
    * Compute border flags for the current frame. Call before MapOverlayPass and stamp overlay.
    * Leaves the GL state with its own FBO bound — caller must restore FBO and viewport.
    */
-  draw(tick: number): void {
+  draw(): void {
     if (!this.dirty) return;
     this.dirty = false;
 
@@ -238,10 +221,6 @@ export class BorderComputePass {
     gl.uniform2f(this.uMapSize, this.mapW, this.mapH);
     gl.uniform1ui(this.uHighlightOwner, this.highlightOwner);
     gl.uniform1i(this.uHighlightThicken, Math.floor(mo.highlightThicken));
-    gl.uniform1f(this.uTick, tick);
-    gl.uniform1f(this.uEmberThresholdUnowned, mo.emberThresholdUnowned);
-    gl.uniform1f(this.uEmberThresholdOwned, mo.emberThresholdOwned);
-    gl.uniform1f(this.uEmberFlickerSpeed, mo.emberFlickerSpeed);
     gl.uniform4fv(this.uDefensePosts, this.defensePostData);
     gl.uniform1i(this.uDefensePostCount, this.defensePostCount);
     gl.uniform1f(this.uDefensePostRange, mo.defensePostRange);
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/passes/BorderStampPass.ts b/src/client/render/gl/passes/BorderStampPass.ts
index 9334a3b92..ba125526b 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/passes/BorderStampPass.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/passes/BorderStampPass.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 /**
- * BorderStampPass — territory borders + defense checkerboard + embers.
+ * BorderStampPass — territory borders + defense checkerboard.
  *
  * Always draws at full brightness (after the optional night composite).
- * Reads pre-computed border flags, ember intensity, and defense proximity
+ * Reads pre-computed border flags and defense proximity
  * from the BorderComputePass RGBA8 buffer.
  */
 
@@ -27,9 +27,6 @@ export class BorderStampPass {
   private uDefenseCheckerDarken: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uEmbargoTintRatio: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uFriendlyTintRatio: WebGLUniformLocation;
-  private uEmberColorDark: WebGLUniformLocation;
-  private uEmberColorBright: WebGLUniformLocation;
-  private uEmberStrengthUnowned: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uAltView: WebGLUniformLocation;
 
   private vao: WebGLVertexArrayObject;
@@ -82,18 +79,6 @@ export class BorderStampPass {
       this.program,
       "uFriendlyTintRatio",
     )!;
-    this.uEmberColorDark = gl.getUniformLocation(
-      this.program,
-      "uEmberColorDark",
-    )!;
-    this.uEmberColorBright = gl.getUniformLocation(
-      this.program,
-      "uEmberColorBright",
-    )!;
-    this.uEmberStrengthUnowned = gl.getUniformLocation(
-      this.program,
-      "uEmberStrengthUnowned",
-    )!;
     this.uAltView = gl.getUniformLocation(this.program, "uAltView")!;
 
     gl.useProgram(this.program);
@@ -112,7 +97,7 @@ export class BorderStampPass {
     this.affiliationTex = tex;
   }
 
-  /** Draw borders + defense checkerboard + embers. Blending must be enabled. */
+  /** Draw borders + defense checkerboard. Blending must be enabled. */
   draw(cameraMatrix: Float32Array): void {
     const gl = this.gl;
     const mo = this.settings.mapOverlay;
@@ -124,19 +109,6 @@ export class BorderStampPass {
     gl.uniform1f(this.uDefenseCheckerDarken, mo.defenseCheckerDarken);
     gl.uniform1f(this.uEmbargoTintRatio, mo.embargoTintRatio);
     gl.uniform1f(this.uFriendlyTintRatio, mo.friendlyTintRatio);
-    gl.uniform3f(
-      this.uEmberColorDark,
-      mo.emberColorDarkR,
-      mo.emberColorDarkG,
-      mo.emberColorDarkB,
-    );
-    gl.uniform3f(
-      this.uEmberColorBright,
-      mo.emberColorBrightR,
-      mo.emberColorBrightG,
-      mo.emberColorBrightB,
-    );
-    gl.uniform1f(this.uEmberStrengthUnowned, mo.emberStrengthUnowned);
     gl.uniform1i(this.uAltView, this.altView ? 1 : 0);
 
     gl.activeTexture(gl.TEXTURE0);
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/passes/FalloutBloomPass.ts b/src/client/render/gl/passes/FalloutBloomPass.ts
index dbbc5fdbf..68d18b00c 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/passes/FalloutBloomPass.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/passes/FalloutBloomPass.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,13 @@ export class FalloutBloomPass {
   private uMetaInfluenceHot: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uOpacityFadeEnd: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uBloomColor: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uParticleColorDark: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uParticleColorBright: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uParticleThresholdUnowned: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uParticleThresholdOwned: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uParticleFlickerSpeed: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uParticleStrength: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uParticleFreshScale: WebGLUniformLocation;
 
   // Uniforms — composite
   private uCompositeCam: WebGLUniformLocation;
@@ -147,6 +154,34 @@ export class FalloutBloomPass {
       "uOpacityFadeEnd",
     )!;
     this.uBloomColor = gl.getUniformLocation(this.extractProg, "uBloomColor")!;
+    this.uParticleColorDark = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.extractProg,
+      "uParticleColorDark",
+    )!;
+    this.uParticleColorBright = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.extractProg,
+      "uParticleColorBright",
+    )!;
+    this.uParticleThresholdUnowned = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.extractProg,
+      "uParticleThresholdUnowned",
+    )!;
+    this.uParticleThresholdOwned = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.extractProg,
+      "uParticleThresholdOwned",
+    )!;
+    this.uParticleFlickerSpeed = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.extractProg,
+      "uParticleFlickerSpeed",
+    )!;
+    this.uParticleStrength = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.extractProg,
+      "uParticleStrength",
+    )!;
+    this.uParticleFreshScale = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.extractProg,
+      "uParticleFreshScale",
+    )!;
     gl.useProgram(this.extractProg);
     gl.uniform1i(gl.getUniformLocation(this.extractProg, "uTileTex"), 0);
     gl.uniform1i(gl.getUniformLocation(this.extractProg, "uHeatTex"), 1);
@@ -257,6 +292,23 @@ export class FalloutBloomPass {
     gl.uniform1f(this.uMetaInfluenceHot, fb.metaInfluenceHot);
     gl.uniform1f(this.uOpacityFadeEnd, fb.opacityFadeEnd);
     gl.uniform3f(this.uBloomColor, fb.bloomR, fb.bloomG, fb.bloomB);
+    gl.uniform3f(
+      this.uParticleColorDark,
+      fb.particleColorDarkR,
+      fb.particleColorDarkG,
+      fb.particleColorDarkB,
+    );
+    gl.uniform3f(
+      this.uParticleColorBright,
+      fb.particleColorBrightR,
+      fb.particleColorBrightG,
+      fb.particleColorBrightB,
+    );
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uParticleThresholdUnowned, fb.particleThresholdUnowned);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uParticleThresholdOwned, fb.particleThresholdOwned);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uParticleFlickerSpeed, fb.particleFlickerSpeed);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uParticleStrength, fb.particleStrength);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uParticleFreshScale, fb.particleFreshScale);
 
     gl.activeTexture(gl.TEXTURE0);
     gl.bindTexture(gl.TEXTURE_2D, this.tileTex);
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/passes/FalloutLightPass.ts b/src/client/render/gl/passes/FalloutLightPass.ts
index 67d065d9b..c5266d8d2 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/passes/FalloutLightPass.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/passes/FalloutLightPass.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
  * FalloutLightPass — tile-space fallout light extraction + composite.
  *
  * Extracted from LightmapPass. Two-step:
- *   1. Extract fallout light at tile resolution (mapW x mapH) — reads heat + embers
+ *   1. Extract fallout light at tile resolution (mapW x mapH) — reads heat and
+ *      computes the same particle flicker as FalloutBloomPass inline
  *   2. Composite into the target lightmap FBO via camera-projected map quad (additive)
  */
 
@@ -28,7 +29,6 @@ export class FalloutLightPass {
   private mapH: number;
   private heatManager: HeatManager;
   private tileTex: WebGLTexture;
-  private borderTex: WebGLTexture;
 
   // Fallout light extraction
   private falloutLightProg: WebGLProgram;
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@ export class FalloutLightPass {
   private uFalloutLightThreshold: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uEmberLightColor: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uEmberLightIntensity: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uFalloutTick: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uParticleThresholdUnowned: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uParticleThresholdOwned: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uParticleFlickerSpeed: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uParticleFreshScale: WebGLUniformLocation;
 
   // Fallout composite (tile-space → lightmap)
   private falloutCompositeProg: WebGLProgram;
@@ -57,7 +62,6 @@ export class FalloutLightPass {
     mapW: number,
     mapH: number,
     tileTex: WebGLTexture,
-    borderTex: WebGLTexture,
     heatManager: HeatManager,
     settings: RenderSettings,
   ) {
@@ -66,7 +70,6 @@ export class FalloutLightPass {
     this.mapW = mapW;
     this.mapH = mapH;
     this.tileTex = tileTex;
-    this.borderTex = borderTex;
     this.heatManager = heatManager;
 
     // Fallout light extraction program
@@ -99,10 +102,26 @@ export class FalloutLightPass {
       this.falloutLightProg,
       "uEmberLightIntensity",
     )!;
+    this.uFalloutTick = gl.getUniformLocation(this.falloutLightProg, "uTick")!;
+    this.uParticleThresholdUnowned = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.falloutLightProg,
+      "uParticleThresholdUnowned",
+    )!;
+    this.uParticleThresholdOwned = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.falloutLightProg,
+      "uParticleThresholdOwned",
+    )!;
+    this.uParticleFlickerSpeed = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.falloutLightProg,
+      "uParticleFlickerSpeed",
+    )!;
+    this.uParticleFreshScale = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.falloutLightProg,
+      "uParticleFreshScale",
+    )!;
     gl.useProgram(this.falloutLightProg);
     gl.uniform1i(gl.getUniformLocation(this.falloutLightProg, "uHeatTex"), 0);
     gl.uniform1i(gl.getUniformLocation(this.falloutLightProg, "uTileTex"), 1);
-    gl.uniform1i(gl.getUniformLocation(this.falloutLightProg, "uBorderTex"), 2);
 
     // Fallout composite program
     this.falloutCompositeProg = createProgram(
@@ -170,9 +189,11 @@ export class FalloutLightPass {
     targetFbo: WebGLFramebuffer,
     targetW: number,
     targetH: number,
+    tick: number,
   ): void {
     const gl = this.gl;
     const dn = this.settings.dayNight;
+    const fb = this.settings.falloutBloom;
 
     // Step 1: Extract fallout light in tile space
     gl.bindFramebuffer(gl.FRAMEBUFFER, this.falloutFbo);
@@ -198,13 +219,16 @@ export class FalloutLightPass {
       dn.emberLightB,
     );
     gl.uniform1f(this.uEmberLightIntensity, dn.emberLightIntensity);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uFalloutTick, tick);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uParticleThresholdUnowned, fb.particleThresholdUnowned);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uParticleThresholdOwned, fb.particleThresholdOwned);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uParticleFlickerSpeed, fb.particleFlickerSpeed);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uParticleFreshScale, fb.particleFreshScale);
 
     gl.activeTexture(gl.TEXTURE0);
     gl.bindTexture(gl.TEXTURE_2D, this.heatManager.getHeatTex());
     gl.activeTexture(gl.TEXTURE1);
     gl.bindTexture(gl.TEXTURE_2D, this.tileTex);
-    gl.activeTexture(gl.TEXTURE2);
-    gl.bindTexture(gl.TEXTURE_2D, this.borderTex);
     gl.bindVertexArray(this.quadVao);
     gl.drawArrays(gl.TRIANGLES, 0, 6);
 
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/passes/LightmapPass.ts b/src/client/render/gl/passes/LightmapPass.ts
index 8a74a57f2..aa2c3086b 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/passes/LightmapPass.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/passes/LightmapPass.ts
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ export class LightmapPass {
     cameraMatrix: Float32Array,
     sceneW: number,
     sceneH: number,
+    tick: number,
   ): WebGLTexture {
     const gl = this.gl;
     const lw = Math.max(1, sceneW >> 1);
@@ -159,7 +160,7 @@ export class LightmapPass {
     this.pointLightPass.draw(cameraMatrix);
 
     // --- 2. Fallout light → extract at tile res, composite into FBO A (additive) ---
-    this.falloutLightPass.draw(cameraMatrix, this.lightFboA, lw, lh);
+    this.falloutLightPass.draw(cameraMatrix, this.lightFboA, lw, lh, tick);
 
     // --- 3. Blur: 2 iterations separable H+V Gaussian ---
     const zoom = Math.abs(cameraMatrix[0]);
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/passes/TerritoryPass.ts b/src/client/render/gl/passes/TerritoryPass.ts
index bd3b2f800..3b27a17d0 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/passes/TerritoryPass.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/passes/TerritoryPass.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 /**
- * TerritoryPass — territory fill + fallout charcoal ground.
+ * TerritoryPass — territory fill + stale-nuke ground.
  *
  * Draws only what should be darkened by the night cycle:
  *   - Owned territory (player color fill)
- *   - Unowned fallout (charcoal ground)
+ *   - Any fallout tile (stale-nuke ground, overrides owned territory)
  *
  * No borders, embers, trails, or defense checkerboard — those are
  * handled by BorderStampPass and TrailPass at full brightness.
@@ -31,9 +31,10 @@ export class TerritoryPass {
   private uCamera: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uMapSize: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uAltView: WebGLUniformLocation;
-  private uCharcoalBase: WebGLUniformLocation;
-  private uCharcoalVariation: WebGLUniformLocation;
-  private uCharcoalAlpha: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uStaleNukeBase: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uStaleNukeVariation: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uStaleNukeAlpha: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uStaleNukeColor: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uHighlightOwner: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uHighlightBrighten: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uShowPatterns: WebGLUniformLocation;
@@ -103,14 +104,21 @@ export class TerritoryPass {
     this.uCamera = gl.getUniformLocation(this.program, "uCamera")!;
     this.uMapSize = gl.getUniformLocation(this.program, "uMapSize")!;
     this.uAltView = gl.getUniformLocation(this.program, "uAltView")!;
-    this.uCharcoalBase = gl.getUniformLocation(this.program, "uCharcoalBase")!;
-    this.uCharcoalVariation = gl.getUniformLocation(
+    this.uStaleNukeBase = gl.getUniformLocation(
       this.program,
-      "uCharcoalVariation",
+      "uStaleNukeBase",
     )!;
-    this.uCharcoalAlpha = gl.getUniformLocation(
+    this.uStaleNukeVariation = gl.getUniformLocation(
       this.program,
-      "uCharcoalAlpha",
+      "uStaleNukeVariation",
+    )!;
+    this.uStaleNukeAlpha = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.program,
+      "uStaleNukeAlpha",
+    )!;
+    this.uStaleNukeColor = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.program,
+      "uStaleNukeColor",
     )!;
     this.uHighlightOwner = gl.getUniformLocation(
       this.program,
@@ -362,7 +370,7 @@ export class TerritoryPass {
     this.highlightOwner = ownerID;
   }
 
-  /** Draw territory fill + fallout charcoal. Blending must be enabled by caller. */
+  /** Draw territory fill + stale-nuke ground. Blending must be enabled by caller. */
   draw(cameraMatrix: Float32Array): void {
     this.flushTileTexture();
 
@@ -373,9 +381,15 @@ export class TerritoryPass {
     gl.uniformMatrix3fv(this.uCamera, false, cameraMatrix);
     gl.uniform2f(this.uMapSize, this.mapW, this.mapH);
     gl.uniform1i(this.uAltView, this.altView ? 1 : 0);
-    gl.uniform1f(this.uCharcoalBase, mo.charcoalBase);
-    gl.uniform1f(this.uCharcoalVariation, mo.charcoalVariation);
-    gl.uniform1f(this.uCharcoalAlpha, mo.charcoalAlpha);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uStaleNukeBase, mo.staleNukeBase);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uStaleNukeVariation, mo.staleNukeVariation);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uStaleNukeAlpha, mo.staleNukeAlpha);
+    gl.uniform3f(
+      this.uStaleNukeColor,
+      mo.staleNukeR,
+      mo.staleNukeG,
+      mo.staleNukeB,
+    );
     gl.uniform1ui(this.uHighlightOwner, this.highlightOwner);
     gl.uniform1f(this.uHighlightBrighten, mo.highlightFillBrighten);
     gl.uniform1i(
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/render-settings.json b/src/client/render/gl/render-settings.json
index 9786f09fb..cd088f21f 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/render-settings.json
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/render-settings.json
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
     "contrastHiHot": 0,
     "metaFreq": 0.02,
     "intensityCold": 0.15,
-    "intensityHot": 0.6,
+    "intensityHot": 1.8,
     "metaInfluenceCold": 1,
     "metaInfluenceHot": 0,
     "opacityFadeEnd": 1,
@@ -31,7 +31,18 @@
     "bloomG": 0.8196078431372549,
     "bloomB": 0,
     "bloomCoverage": 1.1,
-    "heatDecayPerTick": 1
+    "heatDecayPerTick": 1,
+    "particleColorDarkR": 0.05,
+    "particleColorDarkG": 0.4,
+    "particleColorDarkB": 0.05,
+    "particleColorBrightR": 0.2,
+    "particleColorBrightG": 1,
+    "particleColorBrightB": 0.2,
+    "particleThresholdUnowned": 0.85,
+    "particleThresholdOwned": 0.875,
+    "particleFlickerSpeed": 0.2,
+    "particleStrength": 1,
+    "particleFreshScale": 0.2
   },
   "dayNight": {
     "mode": "light",
@@ -53,19 +64,12 @@
   "mapOverlay": {
     "trailAlpha": 0.588,
     "defenseCheckerDarken": 0.7,
-    "charcoalBase": 0,
-    "charcoalVariation": 0.05,
-    "charcoalAlpha": 0.87,
-    "emberThresholdUnowned": 0.85,
-    "emberThresholdOwned": 0.875,
-    "emberFlickerSpeed": 0.12,
-    "emberColorDarkR": 0.6,
-    "emberColorDarkG": 0.15,
-    "emberColorDarkB": 0,
-    "emberColorBrightR": 1,
-    "emberColorBrightG": 0.5,
-    "emberColorBrightB": 0.05,
-    "emberStrengthUnowned": 0.5,
+    "staleNukeBase": 0,
+    "staleNukeVariation": 0.05,
+    "staleNukeAlpha": 1,
+    "staleNukeR": 0.05,
+    "staleNukeG": 0.55,
+    "staleNukeB": 0.07,
     "highlightBrighten": 0.25,
     "highlightFillBrighten": 0.15,
     "highlightThicken": 2,
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/border-compute/border-compute.frag.glsl b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/border-compute/border-compute.frag.glsl
index c5ca55d80..8d060f9a3 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/border-compute/border-compute.frag.glsl
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/border-compute/border-compute.frag.glsl
@@ -7,10 +7,6 @@ uniform usampler2D uRelationTex; // R8UI — relationship matrix (ownerA × owne
 uniform vec2 uMapSize;
 uniform uint uHighlightOwner;
 uniform int uHighlightThicken; // Chebyshev radius for highlight expansion
-uniform float uTick;
-uniform float uEmberThresholdUnowned;
-uniform float uEmberThresholdOwned;
-uniform float uEmberFlickerSpeed;
 
 // Defense post proximity — (x, y, ownerID, _) per post
 uniform vec4 uDefensePosts[MAX_DEFENSE_POSTS];
@@ -31,7 +27,6 @@ void main() {
 
   uint raw = texelFetch(uTileTex, tc, 0).r;
   uint owner = raw & uint(OWNER_MASK);
-  bool fallout = (raw & (1u << FALLOUT_BIT)) != 0u;
 
   // --- Border detection ---
   float borderType = 0.0; // 0=interior, ~0.5=normal border, ~1.0=highlight border
@@ -104,20 +99,9 @@ void main() {
     }
   }
 
-  // --- Ember detection ---
-  float emberIntensity = 0.0;
-  if (fallout) {
-    float h = fract(sin(float(tc.x) * 12.9898 + float(tc.y) * 78.233) * 43758.5453);
-    float h2 = fract(sin(float(tc.x) * 63.7 + float(tc.y) * 157.3) * 23421.631);
-    float threshold = (owner == 0u) ? uEmberThresholdUnowned : uEmberThresholdOwned;
-    if (h2 > threshold) {
-      float flicker = max(0.0, sin(uTick * uEmberFlickerSpeed + h * 12.0) * 0.8 + 0.2);
-      flicker *= flicker; // sharpen
-      emberIntensity = flicker;
-    }
-  }
-
   // A = relationship: 0.0=neutral, 0.5=friendly, 1.0=embargo
   float relation = float(maxRel) * 0.5;
-  fragColor = vec4(borderType, emberIntensity, defenseFlag, relation);
+  // G channel is unused (formerly emberIntensity; ember is now computed in
+  // FalloutBloomPass and FalloutLightPass).
+  fragColor = vec4(borderType, 0.0, defenseFlag, relation);
 }
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/day-night/border-stamp.frag.glsl b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/day-night/border-stamp.frag.glsl
index 7d8c7a5cd..94fe780c6 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/day-night/border-stamp.frag.glsl
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/day-night/border-stamp.frag.glsl
@@ -12,9 +12,6 @@ uniform float uHighlightBrighten;
 uniform float uDefenseCheckerDarken;
 uniform float uEmbargoTintRatio;
 uniform float uFriendlyTintRatio;
-uniform vec3 uEmberColorDark;
-uniform vec3 uEmberColorBright;
-uniform float uEmberStrengthUnowned;
 
 in vec2 vWorldPos;
 out vec4 fragColor;
@@ -29,7 +26,6 @@ void main() {
   // Read pre-computed border flags from BorderComputePass
   vec4 borderData = texelFetch(uBorderTex, tc, 0);
   float borderType = borderData.r;      // 0=interior, ~0.5=normal, ~1.0=highlight
-  float emberIntensity = borderData.g;   // 0–1 flicker value
   bool defense = borderData.b > 0.5;    // defense post proximity
   float relation = borderData.a;        // 0.0=neutral, ~0.5=friendly, ~1.0=embargo
 
@@ -64,16 +60,5 @@ void main() {
     return;
   }
 
-  // --- Ember stamp: full-brightness ember on fallout tiles ---
-  if (emberIntensity > 0.0) {
-    float h = fract(sin(float(tc.x) * 12.9898 + float(tc.y) * 78.233) * 43758.5453);
-    vec3 ember = mix(uEmberColorDark, uEmberColorBright, h) * emberIntensity * uEmberStrengthUnowned;
-    float a = max(ember.r, max(ember.g, ember.b));
-    if (a > 0.01) {
-      fragColor = vec4(ember, 1.0);
-      return;
-    }
-  }
-
   discard;
 }
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/day-night/fallout-light.frag.glsl b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/day-night/fallout-light.frag.glsl
index 3d4246d09..baa78fb5e 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/day-night/fallout-light.frag.glsl
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/day-night/fallout-light.frag.glsl
@@ -3,13 +3,17 @@ precision highp float;
 precision highp usampler2D;
 uniform sampler2D uHeatTex;
 uniform usampler2D uTileTex;
-uniform sampler2D uBorderTex;
 uniform vec2 uMapSize;
+uniform float uTick;
 uniform vec3 uFalloutLightColor;
 uniform float uFalloutLightIntensity;
 uniform float uFalloutLightThreshold;
 uniform vec3 uEmberLightColor;
 uniform float uEmberLightIntensity;
+uniform float uParticleThresholdUnowned;
+uniform float uParticleThresholdOwned;
+uniform float uParticleFlickerSpeed;
+uniform float uParticleFreshScale;
 out vec4 fragColor;
 void main() {
   ivec2 tc = ivec2(gl_FragCoord.xy);
@@ -19,6 +23,7 @@ void main() {
   bool fallout = (raw & (1u << FALLOUT_BIT)) != 0u;
   if (!fallout) discard;
 
+  uint owner = raw & uint(OWNER_MASK);
   float heat = texelFetch(uHeatTex, tc, 0).r;
 
   // Green fallout glow
@@ -28,10 +33,16 @@ void main() {
     light += uFalloutLightColor * fi;
   }
 
-  // Ember light — read pre-computed flicker from BorderComputePass
-  float emberIntensity = texelFetch(uBorderTex, tc, 0).g;
-  if (emberIntensity > 0.0) {
-    light += uEmberLightColor * emberIntensity * uEmberLightIntensity;
+  // Ember light — compute the same flicker as FalloutBloomPass.extract inline.
+  float h1 = fract(sin(float(tc.x) * 12.9898 + float(tc.y) * 78.233) * 43758.5453);
+  float h2 = fract(sin(float(tc.x) * 63.7 + float(tc.y) * 157.3) * 23421.631);
+  float pThresh = (owner == 0u) ? uParticleThresholdUnowned : uParticleThresholdOwned;
+  if (h2 > pThresh) {
+    float tileRate = uParticleFlickerSpeed * (0.4 + h1 * 1.2);
+    float flick = max(0.0, sin(uTick * tileRate + h1 * 12.0) * 0.8 + 0.2);
+    flick *= flick;
+    flick *= mix(uParticleFreshScale, 1.0, 1.0 - heat);
+    light += uEmberLightColor * flick * uEmberLightIntensity;
   }
 
   float a = max(light.r, max(light.g, light.b));
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/fallout-bloom/extract.frag.glsl b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/fallout-bloom/extract.frag.glsl
index e6653425d..1f0a13238 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/fallout-bloom/extract.frag.glsl
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/fallout-bloom/extract.frag.glsl
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ uniform float uMetaInfluenceCold;
 uniform float uMetaInfluenceHot;
 uniform float uOpacityFadeEnd;
 uniform vec3 uBloomColor;
+uniform vec3 uParticleColorDark;
+uniform vec3 uParticleColorBright;
+uniform float uParticleThresholdUnowned;
+uniform float uParticleThresholdOwned;
+uniform float uParticleFlickerSpeed;
+uniform float uParticleStrength;
+uniform float uParticleFreshScale;
 
 uniform sampler2D uHeatTex;
 
@@ -55,6 +62,7 @@ void main() {
 
   uint raw = texelFetch(uTileTex, tc, 0).r;
   if ((raw & (1u << FALLOUT_BIT)) == 0u) discard;
+  uint owner = raw & uint(OWNER_MASK);
 
   float heat = texelFetch(uHeatTex, tc, 0).r;
   vec2 tileCenter = vec2(tc) + 0.5;
@@ -79,4 +87,22 @@ void main() {
   float opacity = smoothstep(0.0, uOpacityFadeEnd, heat);
 
   fragColor = vec4(uBloomColor, 1.0) * broil * intensity * opacity;
+
+  // Particle dots — sharper per-tile flicker gated by a stochastic hash.
+  // (Relocated here from BorderStampPass; this is fallout-domain logic.)
+  float h1 = fract(sin(float(tc.x) * 12.9898 + float(tc.y) * 78.233) * 43758.5453);
+  float h2 = fract(sin(float(tc.x) * 63.7 + float(tc.y) * 157.3) * 23421.631);
+  float pThresh = (owner == 0u) ? uParticleThresholdUnowned : uParticleThresholdOwned;
+  if (h2 > pThresh) {
+    // Per-tile rate variation breaks the global rhythm so tiles don't all
+    // pulse at the same frequency. h1 spans [0,1] → rate spans 0.4×–1.6× base.
+    float tileRate = uParticleFlickerSpeed * (0.4 + h1 * 1.2);
+    float flick = max(0.0, sin(uTick * tileRate + h1 * 12.0) * 0.8 + 0.2);
+    flick *= flick;
+    // Dampen when fresh (high heat); ramp to full as heat decays.
+    flick *= mix(uParticleFreshScale, 1.0, 1.0 - heat);
+    vec3 pc = mix(uParticleColorDark, uParticleColorBright, h1) * flick * uParticleStrength;
+    float pa = max(pc.r, max(pc.g, pc.b));
+    fragColor += vec4(pc, pa);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/map-overlay/territory.frag.glsl b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/map-overlay/territory.frag.glsl
index 5443633b9..e78b3b9ed 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/map-overlay/territory.frag.glsl
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/map-overlay/territory.frag.glsl
@@ -10,9 +10,10 @@ uniform int uShowPatterns;
 
 uniform vec2 uMapSize;
 uniform int uAltView;
-uniform float uCharcoalBase;
-uniform float uCharcoalVariation;
-uniform float uCharcoalAlpha;
+uniform float uStaleNukeBase;
+uniform float uStaleNukeVariation;
+uniform float uStaleNukeAlpha;
+uniform vec3 uStaleNukeColor;
 uniform uint uHighlightOwner;      // 0 = no highlight; otherwise smallID of hovered owner
 uniform float uHighlightBrighten;  // mix amount toward white for highlighted tiles
 
@@ -30,18 +31,20 @@ void main() {
 
   if (owner == 0u && !fallout) discard;
 
-  // Alt-view: hide territory fill, keep fallout charcoal
-  if (uAltView != 0 && owner != 0u) discard;
-
-  // --- Fallout charcoal ground (unowned) ---
-  if (owner == 0u && fallout) {
+  // --- Stale-nuke ground (any fallout tile, owned or not) ---
+  // Renders for owned tiles too so the player's territory color can't bleed
+  // through dim/transparent spots in the fallout bloom above.
+  if (fallout) {
     float h = fract(sin(float(tc.x) * 12.9898 + float(tc.y) * 78.233) * 43758.5453);
-    float charcoal = uCharcoalBase + h * uCharcoalVariation;
-    fragColor = vec4(vec3(charcoal), uCharcoalAlpha);
+    float noise = uStaleNukeBase + h * uStaleNukeVariation;
+    fragColor = vec4(uStaleNukeColor + vec3(noise), uStaleNukeAlpha);
     return;
   }
 
-  // --- Territory fill (owned) ---
+  // Alt-view: hide owned non-fallout tiles
+  if (uAltView != 0) discard;
+
+  // --- Territory fill (owned, not fallout) ---
   float u = (float(owner) + 0.5) / float(PALETTE_SIZE);
   vec4 color = texture(uPalette, vec2(u, 0.25));
 
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/utils/GpuResources.ts b/src/client/render/gl/utils/GpuResources.ts
index 9e0c84986..d9dc7c352 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/utils/GpuResources.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/utils/GpuResources.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export interface GPUResources {
   tileTex: WebGLTexture; // R16UI  — tile ownership + flags
   trailTex: WebGLTexture; // R8UI   — trail owner per tile
   paletteTex: WebGLTexture; // RGBA32F — player colors
-  borderTex: WebGLTexture; // RGBA8  — border type + ember + defense
+  borderTex: WebGLTexture; // RGBA8  — border type + defense + relation (G unused)
   heatTexA: WebGLTexture; // R8     — fallout heat ping-pong A
   heatTexB: WebGLTexture; // R8     — fallout heat ping-pong B
 }