diff --git a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/ability-cast/Post cast unknown ability deny.bru b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/ability-cast/Post cast unknown ability deny.bru
index a411329..39f1aa5 100644
--- a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/ability-cast/Post cast unknown ability deny.bru	
+++ b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/ability-cast/Post cast unknown ability deny.bru	
@@ -6,6 +6,21 @@ meta {
 
 docs {
   NEO-79: unknown ability ids deny with reasonCode unknown_ability (catalog-backed IAbilityDefinitionRegistry).
+  Pre-request binds slot 0 so cast validation reaches ability allowlist (not slot_unbound).
+}
+
+script:pre-request {
+  const axios = require("axios");
+  const baseUrl = bru.getEnvVar("baseUrl") || bru.getVar("baseUrl");
+  const playerId = bru.getEnvVar("playerId") || bru.getVar("playerId") || "dev-local-1";
+  await axios.post(
+    `${baseUrl}/game/players/${playerId}/hotbar-loadout`,
+    {
+      schemaVersion: 1,
+      slots: [{ slotIndex: 0, abilityId: "prototype_pulse" }],
+    },
+    { headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" } },
+  );
 }
 
 post {