diff --git a/bridge/src/index.js b/bridge/src/index.js
index 547c88f..72d0117 100644
--- a/bridge/src/index.js
+++ b/bridge/src/index.js
@@ -253,6 +253,152 @@ bot.on('path_update', (results) => {
   }
 });
 
+// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+// CORE REFLEXES — these run automatically, not managed by Python
+// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+// --- Auto-Combat: Attack hostile mobs on sight ---
+let combatActive = false;
+let combatTargetId = null;
+let combatInterval = null;
+let lastEquipCheck = 0;
+
+function startCombat(target) {
+  if (combatActive) return;
+  combatActive = true;
+  combatTargetId = target.id;
+
+  // Equip best weapon first
+  equipBestWeapon().then(() => {
+    log('client', 'INFO', `⚔ Engaging ${target.name || target.type} (id=${Number(target.id)})`);
+    sendEvent('combat_started', { target: target.name || target.type, id: Number(target.id) });
+
+    combatInterval = setInterval(async () => {
+      const ent = bot.entities[combatTargetId];
+
+      // Target gone — combat over
+      if (!ent || !ent.position || !ent.isValid) {
+        endCombat('target_dead');
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const dist = ent.position.distanceTo(bot.entity.position);
+
+      // Target too far — give up
+      if (dist > 16) {
+        endCombat('out_of_range');
+        return;
+      }
+
+      // Chase if not in melee range
+      if (dist > 3.5) {
+        bot.pathfinder.setGoal(new GoalNear(ent.position.x, ent.position.y, ent.position.z, 2));
+      }
+
+      // Attack if in range
+      if (dist <= 4.5) {
+        try {
+          await bot.lookAt(ent.position.offset(0, (ent.height || 1) * 0.5, 0), true);
+          await bot.attack(ent);
+        } catch (e) {
+          // Entity died between check and attack
+          endCombat('target_dead');
+        }
+      }
+    }, 450);
+
+    // Safety timeout — 15 seconds max combat per target
+    setTimeout(() => {
+      if (combatActive && combatTargetId === target.id) {
+        endCombat('timeout');
+      }
+    }, 15000);
+  });
+}
+
+function endCombat(reason) {
+  if (!combatActive) return;
+  if (combatInterval) clearInterval(combatInterval);
+  combatInterval = null;
+  combatActive = false;
+  log('client', 'INFO', `⚔ Combat ended: ${reason}`);
+  sendEvent('combat_ended', { reason });
+  combatTargetId = null;
+}
+
+// Check for hostile mobs every 2 seconds
+setInterval(() => {
+  if (!spawned || combatActive) return;
+
+  const pos = bot.entity.position;
+  let closestHostile = null;
+  let closestDist = 8; // Aggro range
+
+  for (const entity of Object.values(bot.entities)) {
+    if (entity === bot.entity || !entity.position) continue;
+    if (!isHostile(entity)) continue;
+    const dist = entity.position.distanceTo(pos);
+    if (dist < closestDist) {
+      closestDist = dist;
+      closestHostile = entity;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (closestHostile) {
+    startCombat(closestHostile);
+  }
+}, 2000);
+
+// When an entity we're fighting disappears, end combat
+bot.on('entityGone', (entity) => {
+  if (combatActive && entity.id === combatTargetId) {
+    endCombat('target_dead');
+  }
+});
+
+// --- Auto-Equip: Evaluate gear when inventory changes ---
+let lastInventoryHash = '';
+
+bot.on('playerCollect', async (collector, collected) => {
+  if (collector !== bot.entity) return;
+
+  // Small delay to let the item appear in inventory
+  await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 500));
+
+  // Don't interrupt combat for gear evaluation
+  if (combatActive) {
+    // Queue it for after combat
+    const checkAfterCombat = setInterval(() => {
+      if (!combatActive) {
+        clearInterval(checkAfterCombat);
+        evaluateEquipment();
+      }
+    }, 1000);
+    setTimeout(() => clearInterval(checkAfterCombat), 20000);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  evaluateEquipment();
+});
+
+async function evaluateEquipment() {
+  // Don't evaluate too frequently
+  if (Date.now() - lastEquipCheck < 3000) return;
+  lastEquipCheck = Date.now();
+
+  const weaponResult = await equipBestWeapon();
+  if (weaponResult.equipped) {
+    log('client', 'INFO', `🛡 Auto-equipped weapon: ${weaponResult.item}`);
+    sendEvent('equipment_changed', { type: 'weapon', item: weaponResult.item });
+  }
+
+  const armorResult = await equipBestArmor();
+  if (armorResult.equipped) {
+    log('client', 'INFO', `🛡 Auto-equipped armor: ${armorResult.items.join(', ')}`);
+    sendEvent('equipment_changed', { type: 'armor', items: armorResult.items });
+  }
+}
+
 // --- Player-friendly name → Bedrock item ID mapping ---
 const ITEM_ALIASES = {
   // Plural → singular
diff --git a/dougbot/core/brain.py b/dougbot/core/brain.py
index 844f919..cec0c0b 100644
--- a/dougbot/core/brain.py
+++ b/dougbot/core/brain.py
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ class DougBrain(QObject):
         # Action tracking
         self._action_sent_time = 0.0
         self._last_combat_time = 0.0
+        self._in_combat = False  # Bridge handles combat as core reflex
 
     def start(self):
         self._running = True
@@ -120,6 +121,21 @@ class DougBrain(QObject):
             self._goals.on_death()
             log.info("Doug died — all tasks cleared")
 
+        elif event == "combat_started":
+            self._in_combat = True
+            target = data.get("target", "mob")
+            log.info(f"COMBAT: Fighting {target}")
+
+        elif event == "combat_ended":
+            self._in_combat = False
+            reason = data.get("reason", "unknown")
+            log.info(f"COMBAT: Ended ({reason}) — resuming tasks")
+
+        elif event == "equipment_changed":
+            etype = data.get("type", "")
+            item = data.get("item", data.get("items", ""))
+            log.info(f"EQUIP: Auto-equipped {etype}: {item}")
+
         elif event == "player_joined":
             username = data.get("username", "")
             if username and username != self._doug_name:
@@ -175,14 +191,18 @@ class DougBrain(QObject):
         if self._pending_scan:
             return
 
-        # Step 3: Check for interrupts (combat/flee)
+        # Step 3: If bridge is handling combat, WAIT — don't do anything else
+        if self._in_combat:
+            return
+
+        # Step 4: Check for flee (cowardly Dougs only)
         self._check_interrupts()
 
-        # Step 4: If stack is empty, generate self-directed tasks
+        # Step 5: If stack is empty, generate self-directed tasks
         if not self._tasks.current_task:
             self._generate_self_directed()
 
-        # Step 5: Execute next subtask from the stack
+        # Step 6: Execute next subtask from the stack
         self._execute_next()
 
     # ── Scanning ──
@@ -235,49 +255,31 @@ class DougBrain(QObject):
     # ── Interrupts (combat/flee — temporary, don't affect stack) ──
 
     def _check_interrupts(self):
-        """Check for immediate threats that need a temporary interrupt."""
-        # Don't stack interrupts — if already fighting/fleeing, let it finish
-        if self._tasks._interruption and self._tasks._interruption.status == TaskStatus.ACTIVE:
-            return
-
-        # Cooldown after combat — don't re-engage for 10 seconds
-        if hasattr(self, '_last_combat_time') and time.time() - self._last_combat_time < 10:
-            return
+        """Check for threats. Combat is handled by bridge core reflex.
+        Brain only handles fleeing for cowardly Dougs."""
+        # Combat is automatic in the bridge — don't manage it here
+        if self._in_combat:
+            return  # Bridge is fighting, wait
 
         b = self._behaviors
         bravery = self._traits.get("bravery", 50)
 
-        hostile = self._nearest_hostile(10)
-        if not hostile:
-            return
+        # Only cowardly Dougs flee (bravery < 30) — brave ones let the bridge fight
+        if bravery < 30 and b.health < 14:
+            hostile = self._nearest_hostile(10)
+            if hostile and hostile.get("distance", 99) < 8:
+                hpos = hostile.get("position", b.position)
+                dx = b.position["x"] - hpos.get("x", 0)
+                dz = b.position["z"] - hpos.get("z", 0)
+                d = max(0.1, math.sqrt(dx * dx + dz * dz))
+                flee_x = b.position["x"] + (dx / d) * 15
+                flee_z = b.position["z"] + (dz / d) * 15
 
-        dist = hostile.get("distance", 99)
-        mob_type = hostile.get("type", "mob")
-
-        # FIGHT if brave enough and healthy
-        should_fight = bravery > 30 and b.health > 8 and dist < 6
-        # FLEE if scared or hurt
-        should_flee = (not should_fight) and (dist < 8) and (b.health < 14 or bravery < 30)
-
-        if should_fight:
-            self._last_combat_time = time.time()
-            self._tasks.interrupt(make_interrupt(
-                "combat", f"Fighting {mob_type}!",
-                "attack_nearest_hostile", {"range": 6}, timeout=12,
-            ))
-        elif should_flee:
-            hpos = hostile.get("position", b.position)
-            dx = b.position["x"] - hpos.get("x", 0)
-            dz = b.position["z"] - hpos.get("z", 0)
-            d = max(0.1, math.sqrt(dx * dx + dz * dz))
-            flee_x = b.position["x"] + (dx / d) * 15
-            flee_z = b.position["z"] + (dz / d) * 15
-
-            self._tasks.interrupt(make_interrupt(
-                "flee", f"Fleeing from {mob_type}!",
-                "move_to", {"x": flee_x, "y": b.position["y"], "z": flee_z, "range": 3},
-                timeout=15,
-            ))
+                self._tasks.interrupt(make_interrupt(
+                    "flee", f"Fleeing from {hostile.get('type', 'mob')}!",
+                    "move_to", {"x": flee_x, "y": b.position["y"], "z": flee_z, "range": 3},
+                    timeout=15,
+                ))
 
     # ── Self-directed task generation ──