diff --git a/src/balancing/ArenaSimulation.cpp b/src/balancing/ArenaSimulation.cpp
index 7497692..c886e51 100644
--- a/src/balancing/ArenaSimulation.cpp
+++ b/src/balancing/ArenaSimulation.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "EntityAdmin.h"
 #include "FactionComponent.h"
 #include "HealthComponent.h"
+#include "HqProxyComponent.h"
 #include "ModuleOwnerComponent.h"
 #include "MovementIntentSystem.h"
 #include "PositionComponent.h"
@@ -121,6 +122,8 @@ void ArenaSimulation::placeStructures()
         }
         m_team1HqEntity = m_admin.spawnStation(anchor, hqParsed.footprint, absCells,
                                                 hp, hp, false);
+        // Tag as an HQ so it is excluded from repair targeting (REQ-SHP-REPAIR).
+        m_admin.addComponent<HqProxyComponent>(m_team1HqEntity);
         m_buildingSystem->registerTileOccupancy(absCells, allocateBuildingId());
     }
 
@@ -140,6 +143,8 @@ void ArenaSimulation::placeStructures()
         }
         m_team2HqEntity = m_admin.spawnStation(anchor, hqParsed.footprint, absCells,
                                                 hp, hp, true);
+        // Tag as an HQ so it is excluded from repair targeting (REQ-SHP-REPAIR).
+        m_admin.addComponent<HqProxyComponent>(m_team2HqEntity);
         m_buildingSystem->registerTileOccupancy(absCells, allocateBuildingId());
     }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/ecs/system/ai/BehaviorTargeting.cpp b/src/lib/ecs/system/ai/BehaviorTargeting.cpp
index 7f065db..47a482d 100644
--- a/src/lib/ecs/system/ai/BehaviorTargeting.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/ecs/system/ai/BehaviorTargeting.cpp
@@ -23,10 +23,14 @@ std::vector<RepairableInfo> buildRepairables(EntityAdmin& admin)
         });
 
     admin.forEach<StationBodyComponent, PositionComponent, FactionComponent, HealthComponent>(
-        [&repairables](entt::entity e, const StationBodyComponent& /*sb*/,
+        [&repairables, &admin](entt::entity e, const StationBodyComponent& /*sb*/,
                        const PositionComponent& pos, const FactionComponent& f,
                        const HealthComponent& h)
         {
+            // The HQ is not a repair target — only ships and defence stations are
+            // (REQ-SHP-REPAIR). In the balancing arena the HQ is spawned as a station,
+            // so it is identified by its HqProxyComponent tag.
+            if (admin.hasAll<HqProxyComponent>(e)) { return; }
             repairables.push_back({e, pos.value, f.isEnemy, false, h.hp, h.maxHp});
         });
 
@@ -52,9 +56,13 @@ std::vector<CombatantInfo> buildCombatants(EntityAdmin& admin)
         });
 
     admin.forEach<PositionComponent, FactionComponent, HqProxyComponent>(
-        [&combatants](entt::entity e, const PositionComponent& pos,
+        [&combatants, &admin](entt::entity e, const PositionComponent& pos,
                       const FactionComponent& f, const HqProxyComponent& /*hq*/)
         {
+            // An arena HQ carries both StationBodyComponent and HqProxyComponent; it
+            // is already listed by the station pass above, so skip it here to avoid
+            // counting it twice.
+            if (admin.hasAll<StationBodyComponent>(e)) { return; }
             combatants.push_back({e, pos.value, f.isEnemy, true});
         });
 
diff --git a/src/test/BehaviorSystemTest.cpp b/src/test/BehaviorSystemTest.cpp
index 1f539f0..2c1e948 100644
--- a/src/test/BehaviorSystemTest.cpp
+++ b/src/test/BehaviorSystemTest.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "EntityAdmin.h"
 #include "FactionComponent.h"
 #include "HealthComponent.h"
+#include "HqProxyComponent.h"
 #include "ModuleOwnerComponent.h"
 #include "MovementIntentComponent.h"
 #include "MovementIntentSystem.h"
@@ -862,6 +863,48 @@ TEST_CASE("RepairSystem: does not crash when a tool's owner is not a repair ship
     REQUIRE_FALSE(f.admin.get<RepairToolComponent>(moduleEntity).currentTarget.has_value());
 }
 
+TEST_CASE("RepairSystem: repair tool does not repair an HQ", "[behavior]")
+{
+    Fixture f;
+    const ShipLayoutConfig repairLayout = makeSingleModuleLayout("repair_tool");
+    const entt::entity repairShip = f.ships.spawn("repair_ship", 1, QVector2D(0.0f, 0.0f),
+                                                   false, repairLayout);
+
+    // A damaged, same-faction HQ in repair range — spawned as a station and tagged
+    // as an HQ (as the balancing arena does). The HQ is not a repair target.
+    const std::vector<QPoint> cells = {QPoint(2, 0), QPoint(3, 0), QPoint(2, 1), QPoint(3, 1)};
+    const entt::entity hq = f.admin.spawnStation(QPoint(2, 0), QSize(2, 2), cells,
+                                                 100.0f, 200.0f, false);
+    f.admin.addComponent<HqProxyComponent>(hq);
+
+    f.decide();
+    f.runRepairHeal();
+
+    REQUIRE(f.admin.get<HealthComponent>(hq).hp == Approx(100.0f));
+    const entt::entity rc = firstRepairChild(f.admin, repairShip);
+    REQUIRE_FALSE(f.admin.get<RepairToolComponent>(rc).currentTarget.has_value());
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("RepairSystem: repair tool still repairs a damaged defence station", "[behavior]")
+{
+    Fixture f;
+    const ShipLayoutConfig repairLayout = makeSingleModuleLayout("repair_tool");
+    const entt::entity repairShip = f.ships.spawn("repair_ship", 1, QVector2D(0.0f, 0.0f),
+                                                   false, repairLayout);
+
+    // A damaged, same-faction defence station (no HQ tag) in repair range.
+    const std::vector<QPoint> cells = {QPoint(2, 0), QPoint(3, 0), QPoint(2, 1), QPoint(3, 1)};
+    const entt::entity station = f.admin.spawnStation(QPoint(2, 0), QSize(2, 2), cells,
+                                                      100.0f, 200.0f, false);
+
+    f.decide();
+    f.runRepairHeal();
+
+    REQUIRE(f.admin.get<HealthComponent>(station).hp > 100.0f);
+    const entt::entity rc = firstRepairChild(f.admin, repairShip);
+    REQUIRE(*f.admin.get<RepairToolComponent>(rc).currentTarget == station);
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // SalvageScrapBehavior / DeliverScrapBehavior
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------