diff --git a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/combat-health/Get player combat health.bru b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/combat-health/Get player combat health.bru
index 9ca6dcd..25c1be3 100644
--- a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/combat-health/Get player combat health.bru	
+++ b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/combat-health/Get player combat health.bru	
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ meta {
   seq: 1
 }
 
+script:pre-request {
+  const { resetPrototypeCombatTargets } = require("./scripts/combat-targets-reset-helper.js");
+  await resetPrototypeCombatTargets(bru);
+}
+
 get {
   url: {{baseUrl}}/game/players/dev-local-1/combat-health
   body: none
diff --git a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/encounter-progress/Get encounter progress after defeat spine.bru b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/encounter-progress/Get encounter progress after defeat spine.bru
index 02e23b5..4bd75a4 100644
--- a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/encounter-progress/Get encounter progress after defeat spine.bru	
+++ b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/encounter-progress/Get encounter progress after defeat spine.bru	
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ script:pre-request {
   const {
     moveNearPrototypeNpc,
     PULSE_COOLDOWN_MS,
+    MAX_PULSE_DEFEAT_ATTEMPTS,
     sleep,
   } = require("./scripts/prototype-npc-bruno-helper.js");
   const baseUrl = bru.getEnvVar("baseUrl") || bru.getVar("baseUrl");
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ script:pre-request {
       abilityId: "prototype_pulse",
       targetId,
     };
-    for (let i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
+    for (let i = 0; i < MAX_PULSE_DEFEAT_ATTEMPTS; i++) {
       const response = await axios.post(
         `${baseUrl}/game/players/${playerId}/ability-cast`,
         castBody,
@@ -69,11 +70,13 @@ script:pre-request {
       if (body.combatResolution.targetDefeated) {
         return;
       }
-      if (i < 3) {
+      if (i < MAX_PULSE_DEFEAT_ATTEMPTS - 1) {
         await sleep(bru, PULSE_COOLDOWN_MS);
       }
     }
-    throw new Error(`did not defeat ${targetId} within 4 pulses`);
+    throw new Error(
+      `did not defeat ${targetId} within ${MAX_PULSE_DEFEAT_ATTEMPTS} pulses`,
+    );
   }
 
   await resetPrototypeCombatTargets(bru);
diff --git a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/scripts/prototype-npc-bruno-helper.js b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/scripts/prototype-npc-bruno-helper.js
index a1cd06c..40e4b8e 100644
--- a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/scripts/prototype-npc-bruno-helper.js
+++ b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/scripts/prototype-npc-bruno-helper.js
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ const PROTOTYPE_NPC_ANCHORS = {
 /** <c>prototype_pulse</c> catalog cooldown (seconds) — real-time Bruno waits. */
 const PULSE_COOLDOWN_MS = 3200;
 
+/** Matches <c>AbilityCastApiTests</c> defeat loop (elite 200 HP needs 8×25 damage). */
+const MAX_PULSE_DEFEAT_ATTEMPTS = 12;
+
 /** Bruno sandbox has no <c>setTimeout</c> — use <c>bru.sleep</c>. */
 async function sleep(bru, ms) {
   await bru.sleep(ms);
@@ -34,6 +37,7 @@ async function moveNearPrototypeNpc(baseUrl, playerId, targetId, jsonHeaders) {
 module.exports = {
   PROTOTYPE_NPC_ANCHORS,
   PULSE_COOLDOWN_MS,
+  MAX_PULSE_DEFEAT_ATTEMPTS,
   moveNearPrototypeNpc,
   sleep,
 };