diff --git a/scripts/hv-unified.user.js b/scripts/hv-unified.user.js
index 33d730c..5171948 100644
--- a/scripts/hv-unified.user.js
+++ b/scripts/hv-unified.user.js
@@ -708,16 +708,14 @@ function isRareMonster(idx) {
     // Boss/rare monsters have distinct visual cues:
     // 1. Gold border: style="border-color:#BD7400"
     // 2. Gold background on label: style="background:#E6CCA3"
-    // 3. SP bar present (third btm5 child with nbarred.png)
+    // NOTE: At high levels/difficulties, normal monsters also get SP bars,
+    // so we can't use nbarred.png as a boss indicator anymore.
     const style = m.getAttribute('style') || '';
     const inner = m.innerHTML || '';
 
-    // Check for gold border (boss indicator)
+    // Check for gold border (boss indicator — still reliable)
     if (style.includes('BD7400') || style.includes('E6CCA3')) return true;
 
-    // Check for SP bar (only bosses have all 3 bars: HP, MP, SP)
-    if (inner.includes('nbarred.png')) return true;
-
     // Fallback: check name from DOM
     const n = m.querySelector('.btm3');
     if (!n) return false;
@@ -1006,9 +1004,10 @@ function strategyAdept() {
         }
     }
 
-    // 4. Debuffs — only on important fights (rare/boss/ultimate monsters)
-    //    In random mob fights, just attack through them
-    if (anyRareMonster() || STATE.monsters.length <= 2) {
+    // 4. Debuffs — only on actual boss fights (gold border style)
+    //    At high levels/difficulties, all monsters have SP bars, so
+    //    we only debuff when a gold-bordered rare/boss is present.
+    if (anyRareMonster()) {
         if (hasSpell('Imperil')) {
             const b = findStrongestMonster();
             if (b >= 0 && !checkMonsterDebuff(b, 'imperil'))
@@ -1142,8 +1141,8 @@ function strategyVeteran() {
         }
     }
 
-    // 4. Debuffs — only on important fights (rare/boss)
-    if (CFG.autoDebuff && STATE.mp > 0.2 && (anyRareMonster() || STATE.monsters.length <= 2)) {
+    // 4. Debuffs — only on actual boss fights (gold border)
+    if (CFG.autoDebuff && STATE.mp > 0.2 && anyRareMonster()) {
         if (hasSpell('Imperil')) {
             const b = findStrongestMonster();
             if (b >= 0 && !checkMonsterDebuff(b, 'imperil'))
diff --git a/scripts/latest.user.js b/scripts/latest.user.js
index 33d730c..5171948 100644
--- a/scripts/latest.user.js
+++ b/scripts/latest.user.js
@@ -708,16 +708,14 @@ function isRareMonster(idx) {
     // Boss/rare monsters have distinct visual cues:
     // 1. Gold border: style="border-color:#BD7400"
     // 2. Gold background on label: style="background:#E6CCA3"
-    // 3. SP bar present (third btm5 child with nbarred.png)
+    // NOTE: At high levels/difficulties, normal monsters also get SP bars,
+    // so we can't use nbarred.png as a boss indicator anymore.
     const style = m.getAttribute('style') || '';
     const inner = m.innerHTML || '';
 
-    // Check for gold border (boss indicator)
+    // Check for gold border (boss indicator — still reliable)
     if (style.includes('BD7400') || style.includes('E6CCA3')) return true;
 
-    // Check for SP bar (only bosses have all 3 bars: HP, MP, SP)
-    if (inner.includes('nbarred.png')) return true;
-
     // Fallback: check name from DOM
     const n = m.querySelector('.btm3');
     if (!n) return false;
@@ -1006,9 +1004,10 @@ function strategyAdept() {
         }
     }
 
-    // 4. Debuffs — only on important fights (rare/boss/ultimate monsters)
-    //    In random mob fights, just attack through them
-    if (anyRareMonster() || STATE.monsters.length <= 2) {
+    // 4. Debuffs — only on actual boss fights (gold border style)
+    //    At high levels/difficulties, all monsters have SP bars, so
+    //    we only debuff when a gold-bordered rare/boss is present.
+    if (anyRareMonster()) {
         if (hasSpell('Imperil')) {
             const b = findStrongestMonster();
             if (b >= 0 && !checkMonsterDebuff(b, 'imperil'))
@@ -1142,8 +1141,8 @@ function strategyVeteran() {
         }
     }
 
-    // 4. Debuffs — only on important fights (rare/boss)
-    if (CFG.autoDebuff && STATE.mp > 0.2 && (anyRareMonster() || STATE.monsters.length <= 2)) {
+    // 4. Debuffs — only on actual boss fights (gold border)
+    if (CFG.autoDebuff && STATE.mp > 0.2 && anyRareMonster()) {
         if (hasSpell('Imperil')) {
             const b = findStrongestMonster();
             if (b >= 0 && !checkMonsterDebuff(b, 'imperil'))
diff --git a/src/strategy-engine.js b/src/strategy-engine.js
index 4afde98..9e37c72 100644
--- a/src/strategy-engine.js
+++ b/src/strategy-engine.js
@@ -63,16 +63,14 @@ function isRareMonster(idx) {
     // Boss/rare monsters have distinct visual cues:
     // 1. Gold border: style="border-color:#BD7400"
     // 2. Gold background on label: style="background:#E6CCA3"
-    // 3. SP bar present (third btm5 child with nbarred.png)
+    // NOTE: At high levels/difficulties, normal monsters also get SP bars,
+    // so we can't use nbarred.png as a boss indicator anymore.
     const style = m.getAttribute('style') || '';
     const inner = m.innerHTML || '';
 
-    // Check for gold border (boss indicator)
+    // Check for gold border (boss indicator — still reliable)
     if (style.includes('BD7400') || style.includes('E6CCA3')) return true;
 
-    // Check for SP bar (only bosses have all 3 bars: HP, MP, SP)
-    if (inner.includes('nbarred.png')) return true;
-
     // Fallback: check name from DOM
     const n = m.querySelector('.btm3');
     if (!n) return false;
@@ -361,9 +359,10 @@ function strategyAdept() {
         }
     }
 
-    // 4. Debuffs — only on important fights (rare/boss/ultimate monsters)
-    //    In random mob fights, just attack through them
-    if (anyRareMonster() || STATE.monsters.length <= 2) {
+    // 4. Debuffs — only on actual boss fights (gold border style)
+    //    At high levels/difficulties, all monsters have SP bars, so
+    //    we only debuff when a gold-bordered rare/boss is present.
+    if (anyRareMonster()) {
         if (hasSpell('Imperil')) {
             const b = findStrongestMonster();
             if (b >= 0 && !checkMonsterDebuff(b, 'imperil'))
@@ -497,8 +496,8 @@ function strategyVeteran() {
         }
     }
 
-    // 4. Debuffs — only on important fights (rare/boss)
-    if (CFG.autoDebuff && STATE.mp > 0.2 && (anyRareMonster() || STATE.monsters.length <= 2)) {
+    // 4. Debuffs — only on actual boss fights (gold border)
+    if (CFG.autoDebuff && STATE.mp > 0.2 && anyRareMonster()) {
         if (hasSpell('Imperil')) {
             const b = findStrongestMonster();
             if (b >= 0 && !checkMonsterDebuff(b, 'imperil'))