diff --git a/scripts/hv-unified.user.js b/scripts/hv-unified.user.js
index 6ec9ec1..c2128c6 100644
--- a/scripts/hv-unified.user.js
+++ b/scripts/hv-unified.user.js
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ const STATE = {
     battleMode: '',
     inBattle: false,
     battleInitialized: false,
+    battleRound: 0,           // Incremented each round for first-round logic
 
     hoverTarget: -1,
     interruptHover: false,
@@ -791,6 +792,50 @@ function getBestDamageSpell() {
 // Best trigger spells: Regen/Absorb (17 MP = ~6% proc chance each cast)
 // Cheaper spells have proportionally lower proc chance.
 
+// Checks if we're in the initial buff-up phase (most buffs are missing)
+function isFirstRoundBuffs() {
+    let missing = 0, total = 0;
+    for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
+        if (!hasSpell(b.spell)) continue;
+        total++;
+        if (buffDuration(b.icon) === 0) missing++;
+    }
+    return total > 0 && missing >= total * 0.6; // 60%+ of our buffs are down
+}
+
+// Round 1 strategy: cast buffs from cheapest to most expensive.
+//   - Cheaper spells first = more casts before channeling = more proc chances
+//   - If channeling procs mid-sequence, switch to most expensive remaining buff
+// Returns the next buff to cast, or null if all buffs are up.
+function castInitialBuffs() {
+    if (!isFirstRoundBuffs()) return null;
+    if (STATE.mp < 0.20) return null;
+
+    // Collect all missing/expiring buffs with their MP cost
+    const candidates = [];
+    for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
+        if (!hasSpell(b.spell)) continue;
+        const dur = buffDuration(b.icon);
+        if (dur === 0 || dur < 3) {
+            if (b.icon === 'regen' && STATE.hp >= CFG.cureRegenHP) continue;
+            const sp = findSpell(b.spell);
+            candidates.push({ ...b, mpCost: sp ? sp.mp : 999, dur });
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (candidates.length === 0) return null;
+
+    if (STATE.channeling) {
+        // Channeling is charged — cast the MOST expensive buff for best value
+        candidates.sort((a, b) => b.mpCost - a.mpCost);
+    } else {
+        // No channeling — cast the CHEAPEST buff first for more proc attempts
+        candidates.sort((a, b) => a.mpCost - b.mpCost);
+    }
+
+    return { type: 'spell', name: candidates[0].spell, selfTarget: true };
+}
+
 function kickstartChanneling() {
     if (STATE.channeling) return null;
 
@@ -909,6 +954,11 @@ function strategyNovice() {
     }
 
     // 3. Buffs — cast if missing or about to expire
+    //    On first round, cast cheapest-first to proc channeling
+    {
+        const ib = castInitialBuffs();
+        if (ib) return ib;
+    }
     for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
         if (shouldBuff(b.icon, b.minTurns) && STATE.mp > 0.2 && hasSpell(b.spell)) {
             if (b.icon === 'regen' && STATE.hp >= CFG.cureRegenHP) continue;
@@ -1019,6 +1069,11 @@ function strategyAdept() {
     }
 
     // 3. Buffs
+    //    On first round, cast cheapest-first to proc channeling
+    {
+        const ib = castInitialBuffs();
+        if (ib) return ib;
+    }
     for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
         if (shouldBuff(b.icon, b.minTurns) && STATE.mp > 0.2 && hasSpell(b.spell)) {
             if (b.icon === 'regen' && STATE.hp >= CFG.cureRegenHP) continue;
@@ -1141,7 +1196,12 @@ function strategyVeteran() {
     }
 
     // 3. Buffs
+    //    On first round, cast cheapest-first to proc channeling
     if (CFG.autoBuff) {
+        {
+            const ib = castInitialBuffs();
+            if (ib) return ib;
+        }
         for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
             if (shouldBuff(b.icon, b.minTurns) && STATE.mp > 0.2 && hasSpell(b.spell)) {
                 if (b.icon === 'regen' && STATE.hp >= CFG.cureRegenHP) continue;
diff --git a/scripts/latest.user.js b/scripts/latest.user.js
index 6ec9ec1..c2128c6 100644
--- a/scripts/latest.user.js
+++ b/scripts/latest.user.js
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ const STATE = {
     battleMode: '',
     inBattle: false,
     battleInitialized: false,
+    battleRound: 0,           // Incremented each round for first-round logic
 
     hoverTarget: -1,
     interruptHover: false,
@@ -791,6 +792,50 @@ function getBestDamageSpell() {
 // Best trigger spells: Regen/Absorb (17 MP = ~6% proc chance each cast)
 // Cheaper spells have proportionally lower proc chance.
 
+// Checks if we're in the initial buff-up phase (most buffs are missing)
+function isFirstRoundBuffs() {
+    let missing = 0, total = 0;
+    for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
+        if (!hasSpell(b.spell)) continue;
+        total++;
+        if (buffDuration(b.icon) === 0) missing++;
+    }
+    return total > 0 && missing >= total * 0.6; // 60%+ of our buffs are down
+}
+
+// Round 1 strategy: cast buffs from cheapest to most expensive.
+//   - Cheaper spells first = more casts before channeling = more proc chances
+//   - If channeling procs mid-sequence, switch to most expensive remaining buff
+// Returns the next buff to cast, or null if all buffs are up.
+function castInitialBuffs() {
+    if (!isFirstRoundBuffs()) return null;
+    if (STATE.mp < 0.20) return null;
+
+    // Collect all missing/expiring buffs with their MP cost
+    const candidates = [];
+    for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
+        if (!hasSpell(b.spell)) continue;
+        const dur = buffDuration(b.icon);
+        if (dur === 0 || dur < 3) {
+            if (b.icon === 'regen' && STATE.hp >= CFG.cureRegenHP) continue;
+            const sp = findSpell(b.spell);
+            candidates.push({ ...b, mpCost: sp ? sp.mp : 999, dur });
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (candidates.length === 0) return null;
+
+    if (STATE.channeling) {
+        // Channeling is charged — cast the MOST expensive buff for best value
+        candidates.sort((a, b) => b.mpCost - a.mpCost);
+    } else {
+        // No channeling — cast the CHEAPEST buff first for more proc attempts
+        candidates.sort((a, b) => a.mpCost - b.mpCost);
+    }
+
+    return { type: 'spell', name: candidates[0].spell, selfTarget: true };
+}
+
 function kickstartChanneling() {
     if (STATE.channeling) return null;
 
@@ -909,6 +954,11 @@ function strategyNovice() {
     }
 
     // 3. Buffs — cast if missing or about to expire
+    //    On first round, cast cheapest-first to proc channeling
+    {
+        const ib = castInitialBuffs();
+        if (ib) return ib;
+    }
     for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
         if (shouldBuff(b.icon, b.minTurns) && STATE.mp > 0.2 && hasSpell(b.spell)) {
             if (b.icon === 'regen' && STATE.hp >= CFG.cureRegenHP) continue;
@@ -1019,6 +1069,11 @@ function strategyAdept() {
     }
 
     // 3. Buffs
+    //    On first round, cast cheapest-first to proc channeling
+    {
+        const ib = castInitialBuffs();
+        if (ib) return ib;
+    }
     for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
         if (shouldBuff(b.icon, b.minTurns) && STATE.mp > 0.2 && hasSpell(b.spell)) {
             if (b.icon === 'regen' && STATE.hp >= CFG.cureRegenHP) continue;
@@ -1141,7 +1196,12 @@ function strategyVeteran() {
     }
 
     // 3. Buffs
+    //    On first round, cast cheapest-first to proc channeling
     if (CFG.autoBuff) {
+        {
+            const ib = castInitialBuffs();
+            if (ib) return ib;
+        }
         for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
             if (shouldBuff(b.icon, b.minTurns) && STATE.mp > 0.2 && hasSpell(b.spell)) {
                 if (b.icon === 'regen' && STATE.hp >= CFG.cureRegenHP) continue;
diff --git a/src/state.js b/src/state.js
index b6984b9..4b023ad 100644
--- a/src/state.js
+++ b/src/state.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ const STATE = {
     battleMode: '',
     inBattle: false,
     battleInitialized: false,
+    battleRound: 0,           // Incremented each round for first-round logic
 
     hoverTarget: -1,
     interruptHover: false,
diff --git a/src/strategy-engine.js b/src/strategy-engine.js
index 051f8d9..54890b6 100644
--- a/src/strategy-engine.js
+++ b/src/strategy-engine.js
@@ -143,6 +143,50 @@ function getBestDamageSpell() {
 // Best trigger spells: Regen/Absorb (17 MP = ~6% proc chance each cast)
 // Cheaper spells have proportionally lower proc chance.
 
+// Checks if we're in the initial buff-up phase (most buffs are missing)
+function isFirstRoundBuffs() {
+    let missing = 0, total = 0;
+    for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
+        if (!hasSpell(b.spell)) continue;
+        total++;
+        if (buffDuration(b.icon) === 0) missing++;
+    }
+    return total > 0 && missing >= total * 0.6; // 60%+ of our buffs are down
+}
+
+// Round 1 strategy: cast buffs from cheapest to most expensive.
+//   - Cheaper spells first = more casts before channeling = more proc chances
+//   - If channeling procs mid-sequence, switch to most expensive remaining buff
+// Returns the next buff to cast, or null if all buffs are up.
+function castInitialBuffs() {
+    if (!isFirstRoundBuffs()) return null;
+    if (STATE.mp < 0.20) return null;
+
+    // Collect all missing/expiring buffs with their MP cost
+    const candidates = [];
+    for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
+        if (!hasSpell(b.spell)) continue;
+        const dur = buffDuration(b.icon);
+        if (dur === 0 || dur < 3) {
+            if (b.icon === 'regen' && STATE.hp >= CFG.cureRegenHP) continue;
+            const sp = findSpell(b.spell);
+            candidates.push({ ...b, mpCost: sp ? sp.mp : 999, dur });
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (candidates.length === 0) return null;
+
+    if (STATE.channeling) {
+        // Channeling is charged — cast the MOST expensive buff for best value
+        candidates.sort((a, b) => b.mpCost - a.mpCost);
+    } else {
+        // No channeling — cast the CHEAPEST buff first for more proc attempts
+        candidates.sort((a, b) => a.mpCost - b.mpCost);
+    }
+
+    return { type: 'spell', name: candidates[0].spell, selfTarget: true };
+}
+
 function kickstartChanneling() {
     if (STATE.channeling) return null;
 
@@ -261,6 +305,11 @@ function strategyNovice() {
     }
 
     // 3. Buffs — cast if missing or about to expire
+    //    On first round, cast cheapest-first to proc channeling
+    {
+        const ib = castInitialBuffs();
+        if (ib) return ib;
+    }
     for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
         if (shouldBuff(b.icon, b.minTurns) && STATE.mp > 0.2 && hasSpell(b.spell)) {
             if (b.icon === 'regen' && STATE.hp >= CFG.cureRegenHP) continue;
@@ -371,6 +420,11 @@ function strategyAdept() {
     }
 
     // 3. Buffs
+    //    On first round, cast cheapest-first to proc channeling
+    {
+        const ib = castInitialBuffs();
+        if (ib) return ib;
+    }
     for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
         if (shouldBuff(b.icon, b.minTurns) && STATE.mp > 0.2 && hasSpell(b.spell)) {
             if (b.icon === 'regen' && STATE.hp >= CFG.cureRegenHP) continue;
@@ -493,7 +547,12 @@ function strategyVeteran() {
     }
 
     // 3. Buffs
+    //    On first round, cast cheapest-first to proc channeling
     if (CFG.autoBuff) {
+        {
+            const ib = castInitialBuffs();
+            if (ib) return ib;
+        }
         for (const b of BUFF_PRIORITY) {
             if (shouldBuff(b.icon, b.minTurns) && STATE.mp > 0.2 && hasSpell(b.spell)) {
                 if (b.icon === 'regen' && STATE.hp >= CFG.cureRegenHP) continue;