diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 5512d40..79bf06e 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -373,15 +373,17 @@ if (location.hostname !== 'splatter-tennis.wuwi.one' && !window.Capacitor?.isNat
                      align-items: center; gap: 4px; }
   /* ...and an earned shield SMOULDERS: two-pixel embers drifting off it, each on its own delay and
      lane (main.embers). Pure CSS — the menu parks the game loop and this has no business waking it. */
-  #cdBadges .badge em { position: absolute; bottom: 22px; width: 3px; height: 3px; background: #f2cf6a;
-                     box-shadow: 0 0 4px 1px rgba(232,178,58,0.55);
+  /* they lift off the shield's TOP EDGE into the dark above it — at the old bottom:22px the whole
+     flight happened ACROSS the artwork, where a 3px gold speck is invisible (Oliver saw nothing) */
+  #cdBadges .badge em { position: absolute; bottom: 52px; width: 3px; height: 3px; background: #fff2c9;
+                     box-shadow: 0 0 6px 2px rgba(232,178,58,0.75);
                      opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; animation-name: ember;
                      animation-timing-function: linear; animation-iteration-count: infinite; }
   @keyframes ember {
-    0%   { transform: translate(0, 0) scale(1); opacity: 0; }
-    18%  { opacity: 0.85; }
-    60%  { transform: translate(2px, -16px) scale(0.8); opacity: 0.5; }
-    100% { transform: translate(-1px, -30px) scale(0.4); opacity: 0; } }
+    0%   { transform: translate(0, 6px) scale(0.6); opacity: 0; }
+    20%  { opacity: 1; }
+    60%  { transform: translate(3px, -10px) scale(1); opacity: 0.75; }
+    100% { transform: translate(-2px, -32px) scale(0.35); opacity: 0; } }
   @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { #cdBadges .badge em { display: none; } }
   #cdBadges img { height: 46px; image-rendering: pixelated; }
   #cdBadges .badge u { font: 700 7px Silkscreen, monospace; color: var(--acid); letter-spacing: 0.5px;
diff --git a/src/main.js b/src/main.js
index c757128..8579c8c 100644
--- a/src/main.js
+++ b/src/main.js
@@ -602,10 +602,12 @@ const countUp = (write, target, dur = 700) => {
 // leichtes feuer"). CSS keyframes, not a loop: the menu deliberately parks the game loop, and six
 // two-pixel sparks per badge have no business waking it. The randomness is baked into each spark's
 // own delay, duration and lane at build time, so no two shields burn in step.
-const embers = won => !won ? '' : Array.from({ length: 5 }, () =>
-  `<em style="left:${(14 + Math.random() * 62).toFixed(0)}%;` +
-  `animation-delay:${(Math.random() * 2.6).toFixed(2)}s;` +
-  `animation-duration:${(1.9 + Math.random() * 1.5).toFixed(2)}s"></em>`).join('');
+const embers = won => !won ? '' : Array.from({ length: 7 }, () =>
+  `<em style="left:${(16 + Math.random() * 58).toFixed(0)}%;` +
+  // a SHORT delay window: spread over 2.6s the shield was empty half the time, which is why the
+  // first cut read as nothing happening at all
+  `animation-delay:${(Math.random() * 1.7).toFixed(2)}s;` +
+  `animation-duration:${(1.7 + Math.random() * 1.1).toFixed(2)}s"></em>`).join('');
 
 function buildCard() {
   for (const t of cardTimers) clearTimeout(t);