diff --git a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/perk-state/Post branch select deny level too low.bru b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/perk-state/Post branch select deny level too low.bru
index 7a80656..1ce851f 100644
--- a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/perk-state/Post branch select deny level too low.bru	
+++ b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/perk-state/Post branch select deny level too low.bru	
@@ -6,11 +6,38 @@ meta {
 
 docs {
   NEO-48: salvage tier 1 requires skill level 2. On a fresh server (no prior salvage XP), expects selected false + level_too_low.
-  Restart server or use a fresh dev DB to hit this deny; skip if salvage already leveled from other Bruno runs.
+  Skipped automatically when dev-local-1 already has salvage level 2+ or a tier-1 branch pick (shared state after other Bruno requests).
+}
+
+script:pre-request {
+  const axios = require("axios");
+  const baseUrl = bru.getEnvVar("baseUrl") || bru.getVar("baseUrl");
+  const playerId = bru.getEnvVar("playerId") || bru.getVar("playerId");
+  let salvageLevel = 1;
+  let hasTier1Pick = false;
+  try {
+    const progression = await axios.get(
+      `${baseUrl}/game/players/${playerId}/skill-progression`,
+    );
+    const salvage = progression.data?.skills?.find((s) => s.id === "salvage");
+    salvageLevel = salvage?.level ?? 1;
+    const perkState = await axios.get(`${baseUrl}/game/players/${playerId}/perk-state`);
+    const salvageTrack = perkState.data?.branchPicks?.find((t) => t.skillId === "salvage");
+    hasTier1Pick = Boolean(
+      salvageTrack?.picks?.some((p) => p.tierIndex === 1),
+    );
+  } catch (_) {
+    /* server down or player missing — let the request surface the error */
+  }
+  if (salvageLevel >= 2 || hasTier1Pick) {
+    bru.skipRequest(
+      "dev-local-1 already progressed (salvage level 2+ or tier-1 pick); restart server for strict level_too_low smoke",
+    );
+  }
 }
 
 post {
-  url: {{baseUrl}}/game/players/dev-local-1/perk-state
+  url: {{baseUrl}}/game/players/{{playerId}}/perk-state
   body: json
   auth: none
 }
@@ -29,11 +56,9 @@ tests {
     expect(res.getStatus()).to.equal(200);
     const body = res.getBody();
     expect(body.schemaVersion).to.equal(1);
-    if (body.selected === false && body.reasonCode === "level_too_low") {
-      expect(body.unlockedEvents).to.be.an("array").that.is.empty;
-      expect(body.perkState.branchPicks).to.be.an("array");
-      return;
-    }
-    expect(body.selected).to.equal(true, "salvage already at level 2+ — restart server for deny smoke");
+    expect(body.selected).to.equal(false);
+    expect(body.reasonCode).to.equal("level_too_low");
+    expect(body.unlockedEvents).to.be.an("array").that.is.empty;
+    expect(body.perkState.branchPicks).to.be.an("array");
   });
 }
diff --git a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/perk-state/folder.bru b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/perk-state/folder.bru
index 3a755c2..9d97eb3 100644
--- a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/perk-state/folder.bru
+++ b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/perk-state/folder.bru
@@ -4,6 +4,6 @@ meta {
 
 docs {
   NEO-48 perk-state HTTP smoke. Run folder in seq order for full coverage.
-  Post branch select deny level too low: passes if salvage is still level 1; if dev-local-1 already has salvage XP from other runs, restart the server (or reset DB in Postgres mode) before expecting level_too_low.
+  Post branch select deny level too low: skipped via pre-request when dev-local-1 already has salvage level 2+ or a tier-1 branch pick (normal after other requests in a full collection run).
   Post branch select deny branch already chosen: self-contained (pre-request grant + first pick); safe to re-run.
 }