diff --git a/scripts/hv-unified.user.js b/scripts/hv-unified.user.js
index 9d89d1e..ec45c86 100644
--- a/scripts/hv-unified.user.js
+++ b/scripts/hv-unified.user.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // ==UserScript==
 // @name         HV Unified
 // @namespace    hvunified
-// @version      0.13.16
+// @version      0.13.17
 // @description  HV Unified — battle automation, guidance, and UI enhancements for HentaiVerse
 // @author       GaboGG + Hermes
 // @match        *://*.hentaiverse.org/*
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 // CONFIG — default settings
 // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 
-const VERSION = '0.13.16';
+const VERSION = '0.13.17';
 
 const CFG = {
     // — Battle automation
@@ -903,7 +903,9 @@ function findBestChannelingTarget() {
         const sp = findSpell(b.spell);
         const mpCost = sp ? sp.mp : 0;
         // Fill level: how empty is this buff relative to its max observed duration
-        const maxDur = STATE.maxBuffDur[b.icon] || (dur + 10); // fallback if unknown
+        let maxDur = STATE.maxBuffDur[b.icon] || 0;
+        // If max matches current (first observation, no learning yet), assume min 30 turns
+        if (maxDur <= dur) maxDur = Math.max(dur + 1, 30);
         const emptiness = maxDur > 0 ? Math.min(1, (maxDur - dur) / maxDur) : 1;
         // Score: emptiness × mp_cost — an empty expensive buff is best
         const score = emptiness * mpCost;
diff --git a/scripts/latest.user.js b/scripts/latest.user.js
index 9d89d1e..ec45c86 100644
--- a/scripts/latest.user.js
+++ b/scripts/latest.user.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // ==UserScript==
 // @name         HV Unified
 // @namespace    hvunified
-// @version      0.13.16
+// @version      0.13.17
 // @description  HV Unified — battle automation, guidance, and UI enhancements for HentaiVerse
 // @author       GaboGG + Hermes
 // @match        *://*.hentaiverse.org/*
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 // CONFIG — default settings
 // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 
-const VERSION = '0.13.16';
+const VERSION = '0.13.17';
 
 const CFG = {
     // — Battle automation
@@ -903,7 +903,9 @@ function findBestChannelingTarget() {
         const sp = findSpell(b.spell);
         const mpCost = sp ? sp.mp : 0;
         // Fill level: how empty is this buff relative to its max observed duration
-        const maxDur = STATE.maxBuffDur[b.icon] || (dur + 10); // fallback if unknown
+        let maxDur = STATE.maxBuffDur[b.icon] || 0;
+        // If max matches current (first observation, no learning yet), assume min 30 turns
+        if (maxDur <= dur) maxDur = Math.max(dur + 1, 30);
         const emptiness = maxDur > 0 ? Math.min(1, (maxDur - dur) / maxDur) : 1;
         // Score: emptiness × mp_cost — an empty expensive buff is best
         const score = emptiness * mpCost;
diff --git a/src/config.js b/src/config.js
index dc586d9..c3e785d 100644
--- a/src/config.js
+++ b/src/config.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 // CONFIG — default settings
 // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 
-const VERSION = '0.13.16';
+const VERSION = '0.13.17';
 
 const CFG = {
     // — Battle automation
diff --git a/src/header.user.js b/src/header.user.js
index 61f5e99..9e955d6 100644
--- a/src/header.user.js
+++ b/src/header.user.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // ==UserScript==
 // @name         HV Unified
 // @namespace    hvunified
-// @version      0.13.16
+// @version      0.13.17
 // @description  HV Unified — battle automation, guidance, and UI enhancements for HentaiVerse
 // @author       GaboGG + Hermes
 // @match        *://*.hentaiverse.org/*
diff --git a/src/strategy-engine.js b/src/strategy-engine.js
index c5fbbb4..cc20624 100644
--- a/src/strategy-engine.js
+++ b/src/strategy-engine.js
@@ -240,7 +240,9 @@ function findBestChannelingTarget() {
         const sp = findSpell(b.spell);
         const mpCost = sp ? sp.mp : 0;
         // Fill level: how empty is this buff relative to its max observed duration
-        const maxDur = STATE.maxBuffDur[b.icon] || (dur + 10); // fallback if unknown
+        let maxDur = STATE.maxBuffDur[b.icon] || 0;
+        // If max matches current (first observation, no learning yet), assume min 30 turns
+        if (maxDur <= dur) maxDur = Math.max(dur + 1, 30);
         const emptiness = maxDur > 0 ? Math.min(1, (maxDur - dur) / maxDur) : 1;
         // Score: emptiness × mp_cost — an empty expensive buff is best
         const score = emptiness * mpCost;