diff --git a/bridge/src/index.js b/bridge/src/index.js
index d8d33e1..75b0267 100644
--- a/bridge/src/index.js
+++ b/bridge/src/index.js
@@ -456,6 +456,130 @@ function isHostile(entity) {
 }
 
 // --- WebSocket Action Handlers ---
+// --- Equipment Management Helpers ---
+
+// Weapon tiers (higher = better)
+const WEAPON_TIERS = {
+  'netherite_sword': 10, 'diamond_sword': 9, 'iron_sword': 8,
+  'golden_sword': 6, 'stone_sword': 5, 'wooden_sword': 4,
+  'netherite_axe': 9, 'diamond_axe': 8, 'iron_axe': 7,
+  'golden_axe': 5, 'stone_axe': 4, 'wooden_axe': 3,
+};
+
+// Tool type → block types it's best for
+const TOOL_FOR_BLOCK = {
+  'pickaxe': ['stone', 'cobblestone', 'ore', 'iron', 'gold', 'diamond', 'netherite', 'brick', 'obsidian', 'deepslate', 'copper'],
+  'axe': ['log', 'planks', 'wood', 'fence', 'door', 'sign', 'bookshelf', 'chest', 'crafting_table', 'barrel'],
+  'shovel': ['dirt', 'grass', 'sand', 'gravel', 'clay', 'soul_sand', 'snow', 'mud', 'farmland'],
+  'hoe': ['hay', 'sponge', 'leaves', 'sculk', 'moss'],
+};
+
+const TOOL_TIERS = ['netherite', 'diamond', 'iron', 'golden', 'stone', 'wooden'];
+
+// Armor slots and tiers
+const ARMOR_SLOTS = {
+  'helmet': 'head', 'chestplate': 'torso', 'leggings': 'legs', 'boots': 'feet',
+};
+const ARMOR_TIERS = ['netherite', 'diamond', 'iron', 'golden', 'chainmail', 'leather'];
+
+async function equipBestWeapon() {
+  const items = bot.inventory.items();
+  let bestItem = null;
+  let bestTier = -1;
+
+  for (const item of items) {
+    const name = item.name.replace('minecraft:', '');
+    const tier = WEAPON_TIERS[name] || 0;
+    if (tier > bestTier) {
+      bestTier = tier;
+      bestItem = item;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (bestItem && bestItem !== bot.heldItem) {
+    try {
+      await bot.equip(bestItem, 'hand');
+      log('client', 'INFO', `Equipped ${bestItem.name}`);
+      return { equipped: true, item: bestItem.name };
+    } catch (e) {
+      return { equipped: false, error: e.message };
+    }
+  }
+  return { equipped: false, reason: bestItem ? 'already_equipped' : 'no_weapons' };
+}
+
+async function equipBestTool(blockType) {
+  if (!blockType) return { equipped: false, reason: 'no_block_type' };
+
+  // Figure out which tool type is needed
+  let neededToolType = null;
+  const bt = blockType.toLowerCase();
+  for (const [toolType, blockTypes] of Object.entries(TOOL_FOR_BLOCK)) {
+    if (blockTypes.some(b => bt.includes(b))) {
+      neededToolType = toolType;
+      break;
+    }
+  }
+  if (!neededToolType) return { equipped: false, reason: 'no_tool_needed' };
+
+  // Find best tool of that type in inventory
+  const items = bot.inventory.items();
+  let bestItem = null;
+  let bestTierIdx = 999;
+
+  for (const item of items) {
+    const name = item.name.replace('minecraft:', '');
+    if (!name.includes(neededToolType)) continue;
+    const tierIdx = TOOL_TIERS.findIndex(t => name.startsWith(t));
+    if (tierIdx >= 0 && tierIdx < bestTierIdx) {
+      bestTierIdx = tierIdx;
+      bestItem = item;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (bestItem && bestItem !== bot.heldItem) {
+    try {
+      await bot.equip(bestItem, 'hand');
+      log('client', 'INFO', `Equipped ${bestItem.name} for ${blockType}`);
+      return { equipped: true, item: bestItem.name, toolType: neededToolType };
+    } catch (e) {
+      return { equipped: false, error: e.message };
+    }
+  }
+  return { equipped: false, reason: bestItem ? 'already_equipped' : `no_${neededToolType}` };
+}
+
+async function equipBestArmor() {
+  const items = bot.inventory.items();
+  const equipped = [];
+
+  for (const [armorPiece, slot] of Object.entries(ARMOR_SLOTS)) {
+    let bestItem = null;
+    let bestTierIdx = 999;
+
+    for (const item of items) {
+      const name = item.name.replace('minecraft:', '');
+      if (!name.includes(armorPiece)) continue;
+      const tierIdx = ARMOR_TIERS.findIndex(t => name.startsWith(t));
+      if (tierIdx >= 0 && tierIdx < bestTierIdx) {
+        bestTierIdx = tierIdx;
+        bestItem = item;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (bestItem) {
+      try {
+        await bot.equip(bestItem, slot);
+        equipped.push(bestItem.name);
+      } catch (e) {
+        log('client', 'WARN', `Failed to equip ${bestItem.name}: ${e.message}`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return { equipped: equipped.length > 0, items: equipped };
+}
+
 async function handleAction(action, params = {}) {
   if (!spawned && action !== 'status') {
     throw new Error('Bot not spawned yet');
@@ -766,53 +890,103 @@ async function handleAction(action, params = {}) {
       if (hostiles.length === 0) return { attacked: false, reason: 'no_hostiles' };
       hostiles.sort((a, b) => a.dist - b.dist);
       const target = hostiles[0].entity;
-      log('client', 'INFO', `Engaging ${target.name || target.type} (id=${target.id}, dist=${hostiles[0].dist.toFixed(1)}, gameMode=${bot.game?.gameMode})`);
+      const targetId = target.id;
 
-      // Sustained combat: keep attacking until target is dead or out of range
+      // Auto-equip best weapon before fighting
+      await equipBestWeapon();
+
+      log('client', 'INFO', `Fighting ${target.name || target.type} (id=${targetId}, dist=${hostiles[0].dist.toFixed(1)})`);
+
+      // Sustained combat loop
       let hits = 0;
-      const maxHits = 20;
+      const maxHits = 15;
       const combatPromise = new Promise((resolve) => {
-        const attackInterval = setInterval(() => {
-          // Check if target is still alive and in range
-          const ent = bot.entities[target.id];
+        // Track if target dies via entityGone event
+        let targetDead = false;
+        const onGone = (entity) => {
+          if (entity.id === targetId) targetDead = true;
+        };
+        bot.on('entityGone', onGone);
+
+        const attackInterval = setInterval(async () => {
+          // Target despawned or dead
+          if (targetDead) {
+            clearInterval(attackInterval);
+            bot.removeListener('entityGone', onGone);
+            log('client', 'INFO', `Target killed after ${hits} hits`);
+            resolve({ attacked: true, hits, result: 'target_killed' });
+            return;
+          }
+
+          const ent = bot.entities[targetId];
           if (!ent || !ent.position) {
             clearInterval(attackInterval);
+            bot.removeListener('entityGone', onGone);
             resolve({ attacked: true, hits, result: 'target_gone' });
             return;
           }
+
           const d = ent.position.distanceTo(bot.entity.position);
-          if (d > range + 2) {
+          if (d > range + 4) {
             clearInterval(attackInterval);
+            bot.removeListener('entityGone', onGone);
             resolve({ attacked: true, hits, result: 'out_of_range' });
             return;
           }
+
           if (hits >= maxHits) {
             clearInterval(attackInterval);
+            bot.removeListener('entityGone', onGone);
             resolve({ attacked: true, hits, result: 'max_hits' });
             return;
           }
 
-          // Look at target and attack
-          bot.lookAt(ent.position.offset(0, ent.height * 0.8, 0)).then(() => {
-            try { bot.attack(ent); hits++; } catch (e) {}
-          });
-
-          // Move toward target if too far for melee
+          // Chase if too far
           if (d > 3) {
             bot.pathfinder.setGoal(new GoalNear(ent.position.x, ent.position.y, ent.position.z, 2));
           }
-        }, 500); // Attack every 500ms
+
+          // Look at and attack
+          try {
+            await bot.lookAt(ent.position.offset(0, (ent.height || 1) * 0.5, 0), true);
+            await bot.attack(ent);
+            hits++;
+          } catch (e) {
+            // Entity might have died between check and attack
+            clearInterval(attackInterval);
+            bot.removeListener('entityGone', onGone);
+            resolve({ attacked: true, hits, result: 'target_gone' });
+          }
+        }, 500);
 
         // Safety timeout
         setTimeout(() => {
           clearInterval(attackInterval);
+          bot.removeListener('entityGone', onGone);
           resolve({ attacked: true, hits, result: 'timeout' });
-        }, 10000);
+        }, 12000);
       });
 
       return await combatPromise;
     }
 
+    // --- Equipment Management ---
+    case 'equip_best_weapon': {
+      const result = await equipBestWeapon();
+      return result;
+    }
+
+    case 'equip_best_tool': {
+      const { blockType } = params;
+      const result = await equipBestTool(blockType);
+      return result;
+    }
+
+    case 'equip_armor': {
+      const result = await equipBestArmor();
+      return result;
+    }
+
     // --- Crafting ---
     case 'list_recipes': {
       const { itemName } = params;
diff --git a/dougbot/core/brain.py b/dougbot/core/brain.py
index a567b6a..844f919 100644
--- a/dougbot/core/brain.py
+++ b/dougbot/core/brain.py
@@ -222,7 +222,15 @@ class DougBrain(QObject):
     def _on_inventory(self, response: ResponseMessage):
         if response.status != "success":
             return
+        old_items = set(i.get("name", "") for i in self._behaviors.inventory)
         self._behaviors.inventory = response.data.get("items", [])
+        new_items = set(i.get("name", "") for i in self._behaviors.inventory)
+
+        # Auto-equip armor if we picked up new armor pieces
+        new_pickups = new_items - old_items
+        armor_words = ("helmet", "chestplate", "leggings", "boots")
+        if any(any(a in item for a in armor_words) for item in new_pickups):
+            self._ws.send_request("equip_armor", {})
 
     # ── Interrupts (combat/flee — temporary, don't affect stack) ──
 
@@ -232,8 +240,8 @@ class DougBrain(QObject):
         if self._tasks._interruption and self._tasks._interruption.status == TaskStatus.ACTIVE:
             return
 
-        # Cooldown after combat — don't re-engage for 5 seconds
-        if hasattr(self, '_last_combat_time') and time.time() - self._last_combat_time < 5:
+        # 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
 
         b = self._behaviors