diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 34868f2f..2986a9b8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -18,9 +18,10 @@ For the provisional two-person setup, the host enables **Two players, two
 factions each** in the lobby. Each person joins with one faction, then adds a
 second and uses **Active faction** to switch seats. Ready each faction before
 the host starts. The factions are independent unless they form an alliance;
-the ordinary victory target is four strongholds per side. The prototype
-requires human-controlled seats and cannot be disabled after a second faction
-is added. Counts for optional modules and wider interactions remain provisional.
+the ordinary victory target is four strongholds per side. The host may add an
+AI opponent and choose its two factions; each uses its own current AI policy
+and difficulty. The mode cannot be disabled while a controller has a second
+faction. Counts for optional modules and wider interactions remain provisional.
 See [the implementation scope](docs/TWO_PLAYER_TWO_FACTIONS.md).
 
 New ordinary-auction lots show a **ten-second bidding countdown**. Native
diff --git a/app/page.tsx b/app/page.tsx
index c3fa0a3d..44d20352 100644
--- a/app/page.tsx
+++ b/app/page.tsx
@@ -861,6 +861,8 @@ export default function Home() {
           onModeChange={(enabled) => void send({ type: 'twoPlayerMode', enabled })}
           onSwitch={switchFaction}
           onAdd={(name, factionId) => void addControlledFaction(name, factionId)}
+          onAddBot={(faction, difficulty) => void send({ type: 'addBot', faction, difficulty })}
+          onAddControlledBot={(controller, faction, difficulty) => void send({ type: 'addControlledBot', controller, faction, difficulty })}
           onRetry={() => { if (twoPlayerEntry) void dispatchControlledFaction(twoPlayerEntry, false); }}
           retryDisabled={busy || needsReconcile || checkingConnection || handoverPending || aiPermissionPending || claimUncertain || !!twoPlayerEntryProblem || twoPlayerEntry?.room !== game.code}
         /></div>}
diff --git a/components/two-player-controls.tsx b/components/two-player-controls.tsx
index 34bd0414..c01456d8 100644
--- a/components/two-player-controls.tsx
+++ b/components/two-player-controls.tsx
@@ -2,13 +2,14 @@
 
 import { useState } from 'react';
 import { FACTIONS } from '@/game/catalog';
+import { DIFFICULTIES, type Difficulty } from '@/game/bot-profiles';
 import type { GameView } from '@/game/engine';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
 
 export function TwoPlayerControls({
   game, disabled, pendingEntry, entryRoom, entryProblem, retryDisabled,
-  onModeChange, onSwitch, onAdd, onRetry,
+  onModeChange, onSwitch, onAdd, onRetry, onAddBot, onAddControlledBot,
 }: {
   game: GameView;
   disabled: boolean;
@@ -20,12 +21,22 @@ export function TwoPlayerControls({
   onSwitch: (seat: string) => void;
   onAdd: (name: string, faction: string) => void;
   onRetry: () => void;
+  onAddBot: (faction: string, difficulty: Difficulty) => void;
+  onAddControlledBot: (controllerId: string, faction: string, difficulty: Difficulty) => void;
 }) {
   const [name, setName] = useState(() => game.players.find((player) => player.id === game.me)?.name ?? '');
   const [choice, setChoice] = useState('');
+  const [botChoice, setBotChoice] = useState('');
+  const [botDifficulty, setBotDifficulty] = useState<Difficulty>('Medium');
   const mode = game.twoPlayerControllers;
   const controlled = game.controlledFactionSeats ?? [];
   const modeLocked = !!mode?.controllers.some((controller) => controller.seats.length > 1);
+  const botController = mode?.controllers.find((controller) =>
+    controller.seats.length === 1 && game.players.some((player) =>
+      player.id === controller.id && !!player.bot));
+  const canAddBotController = !!mode && mode.controllers.length < 2;
+  const showBotForm = game.status === 'lobby' && game.host === game.me &&
+    !!mode && (canAddBotController || !!botController);
   const available = FACTIONS.filter((item) =>
     (item.expansion === 'base' || game.expansions.includes(item.expansion)) &&
     !game.players.some((player) => player.faction === item.id),
@@ -39,13 +50,13 @@ export function TwoPlayerControls({
           Two players, two factions each
         </label>
       )}
-      {game.status === 'lobby' && game.host === game.me && modeLocked && <p className="fine">This mode cannot be turned off after a second faction has been added.</p>}
+      {game.status === 'lobby' && game.host === game.me && modeLocked && <p className="fine">This mode cannot be turned off while a player controls two factions.</p>}
       {mode && <>
         <h2>Two-player factions</h2>
         <p>Each player controls two separate factions. They act independently and are not automatically allied; this interpretation is provisional. Switch between your faction seats to make their decisions and mark each one ready.</p>
         {game.status === 'lobby' && <ul>
           {mode.controllers.map((controller, index) => <li key={controller.id}>
-            Player {index + 1}: {controller.seats.map((id) => {
+            Player {index + 1}{game.players.some((player) => player.id === controller.id && !!player.bot) ? ' (AI)' : ''}: {controller.seats.map((id) => {
               const player = game.players.find((item) => item.id === id);
               return player ? `${FACTIONS.find((item) => item.id === player.faction)?.name ?? player.faction}${player.ready ? ' (ready)' : ' (not ready)'}` : 'unknown faction';
             }).join(', ')}{controller.seats.length < 2 ? ' — needs a second faction' : ''}
@@ -72,6 +83,23 @@ export function TwoPlayerControls({
           </select></label>
           <Button type="submit" disabled={disabled || !name.trim() || !available.some((item) => item.id === choice)}>Add second faction</Button>
         </form>}
+        {showBotForm && <form onSubmit={(event) => {
+          event.preventDefault();
+          if (disabled || !available.some((item) => item.id === botChoice)) return;
+          if (botController) onAddControlledBot(botController.id, botChoice, botDifficulty);
+          else if (canAddBotController) onAddBot(botChoice, botDifficulty);
+        }}>
+          <h3>{botController ? 'Add the AI player’s second faction' : 'Add an AI player'}</h3>
+          <p className="fine">The AI plays each faction independently. Choose a difficulty for this faction; its settings can be changed in the lobby.</p>
+          <label>AI faction <select value={botChoice} disabled={disabled} onChange={(event) => setBotChoice(event.target.value)}>
+            <option value="">Choose a faction</option>
+            {available.map((item) => <option key={item.id} value={item.id}>{item.name}</option>)}
+          </select></label>
+          <label>AI difficulty <select value={botDifficulty} disabled={disabled} onChange={(event) => setBotDifficulty(event.target.value as Difficulty)}>
+            {DIFFICULTIES.map((difficulty) => <option key={difficulty} value={difficulty}>{difficulty}</option>)}
+          </select></label>
+          <Button type="submit" disabled={disabled || !available.some((item) => item.id === botChoice)}>{botController ? 'Add AI second faction' : 'Add AI player'}</Button>
+        </form>}
       </>}
       {pendingEntry && <div>
         <output>A second-faction request for room {entryRoom} is saved in this tab. Retry the same request to confirm its result; it is never retried automatically.</output>
diff --git a/docs/CURRENT_STATUS.md b/docs/CURRENT_STATUS.md
index bc23449e..f67f25ff 100644
--- a/docs/CURRENT_STATUS.md
+++ b/docs/CURRENT_STATUS.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Current development status
 
-Updated 27 October 2026. **The full twelve-faction goal is unfinished. Basic
+Updated 28 October 2026. **The full twelve-faction goal is unfinished. Basic
 is playable. Advanced, expansion-faction and supported optional-module starts
 are labelled previews; complete rules/publication acceptance remains gated.**
 
@@ -16,6 +16,18 @@ open mode gates.
 
 
 ## Current checkpoint and work
+**AI opponent in the four-faction setup — 28 October. Prototyped / Partial.**
+The host can add two AI faction seats under one AI controller. Existing lobby
+configuration applies separately; removing either bot keeps or promotes the
+remaining seat correctly. Mixed human/AI controller groups are rejected, and
+bot IDs grant no human seat access. Seven related unit files pass 75 cases; an
+isolated HTTP case covers room setup, credential rejection and start. Bots use
+their existing independent legal policies; coordinated strategy, strength
+calibration, complete games and deployed acceptance remain open.
+An isolated browser room also exercised adding both AI seats, removing and
+promoting the original primary, and adding a replacement.
+[Scope](TWO_PLAYER_TWO_FACTIONS.md).
+
 **Truthtrance and Atreides ordinary auction knowledge — 27 October. Prototyped /
 Partial.** A structured fact compares the current successfully inspected
 ordinary auction card with a public printed name. Single/compound controls,
@@ -40,8 +52,9 @@ and actions. Exactly two controllers with two seats each are required to start;
 ordinary victory uses the four-stronghold target. Independent factions and no
 automatic alliance are provisional. Focused setup, victory, UI and isolated
 HTTP cases pass; complete games, player-count interactions, comprehensive
-custody review and deployed acceptance remain open. Human seats are required;
-handover into a browser holding another active room seat remains unsupported.
+custody review and deployed acceptance remain open. The current AI-opponent
+follow-up above adds bot seats. Handover into a browser holding another active
+room seat remains unsupported.
 [A dedicated isolated browser room](TWO_PLAYER_TWO_FACTIONS.md) also exercised
 adding, switching and independently readying the host's two factions.
 [Scope](TWO_PLAYER_TWO_FACTIONS.md).
diff --git a/docs/IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS.md b/docs/IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS.md
index 6baaf8a3..111d36e3 100644
--- a/docs/IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS.md
+++ b/docs/IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,17 @@
 # Dune implementation status
 
+## 28 October 2026 — AI opponent with two factions
+
+An AI controller can have two distinct bot faction seats in the optional
+two-person setup. Hosts may add, configure and remove each seat, with controller
+promotion after removing its original bot. The game rejects mixed human/AI
+ownership. Seven focused unit files pass 75 cases, including bot-driven setup;
+an isolated HTTP case confirms room setup, start and rejected bot-seat
+impersonation. An isolated browser room exercised adding both bot seats,
+primary removal, promotion and replacement. The bots retain independent legal policies; coordinated strategy,
+strength calibration, full games and deployed acceptance remain open.
+[Scope](TWO_PLAYER_TWO_FACTIONS.md).
+
 ## 27 October 2026 — Truthtrance and Atreides ordinary auction knowledge
 
 A single or compound structured question can compare a named Treachery Card
diff --git a/docs/TWO_PLAYER_TWO_FACTIONS.md b/docs/TWO_PLAYER_TWO_FACTIONS.md
index bc81e36e..ae87c400 100644
--- a/docs/TWO_PLAYER_TWO_FACTIONS.md
+++ b/docs/TWO_PLAYER_TWO_FACTIONS.md
@@ -95,10 +95,15 @@ the UI explicit about which faction owns each pending decision. Existing
 autopilot can operate a faction seat only under its existing authorization;
 until full AI refinement, each offered decision needs a minimal legal bot path.
 
-The current prototype requires human seats, permits ordinary existing
-seat-autopilot, and does not yet support accepting a handover into a browser
-already holding a different active seat for the same room. The mode cannot be
-disabled once a secondary faction is added. Recovery replaces an existing
+The prototype supports human controllers, an AI controller with two bot seats,
+and ordinary existing human-seat autopilot. AI factions use independent legal
+policies, not coordinated strategy or calibrated two-faction strength. The host
+can add either AI faction, configure each and remove a bot seat; if the primary
+bot leaves, its remaining bot is promoted to the controller identity. Each
+controller must be entirely human or entirely AI. Accepting a handover into a
+browser already holding a different active seat for the same room remains
+unsupported. The mode cannot be disabled while a secondary faction is present.
+Recovery replaces an existing
 scoped credential for the recovered seat without overwriting another valid
 legacy seat. Comprehensive recovery, revocation and custody acceptance remain
 open.
diff --git a/game/engine.ts b/game/engine.ts
index 89e36aa9..71751e86 100644
--- a/game/engine.ts
+++ b/game/engine.ts
@@ -5699,8 +5699,10 @@ function twoPlayerControllersIntegrity(g: Game): void {
   const assigned = g.twoPlayerControllers.controllers.flatMap(controller => controller.seats);
   requireRule(assigned.length === seats.length && seats.every(seat => assigned.includes(seat)),
     'Every two-person faction must belong to exactly one controller.');
-  requireRule(g.players.every(player => !player.bot),
-    'Two-person setup requires human faction seats.');
+  requireRule(g.twoPlayerControllers.controllers.every(controller => {
+    const group = controller.seats.map(seat => g.players.find(player => player.id === seat)!);
+    return group.every(player => !!player.bot === !!group[0].bot);
+  }), 'A two-person controller cannot mix human and AI faction seats.');
 }
 
 function joinFactionSeat(g: Game, p: Player, controllerId?: string) {
@@ -5719,7 +5721,11 @@ function joinFactionSeat(g: Game, p: Player, controllerId?: string) {
   );
   let mapping = g.twoPlayerControllers;
   if (mapping) {
-    requireRule(!p.bot, 'Two-person setup requires human faction seats.');
+    const owner = mapping.controllers.find(controller => controller.id === controllerId);
+    if (owner) {
+      const primary = g.players.find(player => player.id === owner.id)!;
+      requireRule(!!primary.bot === !!p.bot, 'A two-person controller cannot mix human and AI faction seats.');
+    }
     mapping = twoPlayerRule(() => addTwoPlayerControlledSeat(mapping!,
       [...g.players.map(player => player.id), p.id], controllerId ?? p.id, p.id));
   } else requireRule(controllerId === undefined, 'Enable two-person setup before adding a second faction.');
@@ -5740,6 +5746,8 @@ export function joinControlledFaction(g: Game, p: Player, actorId: string) {
     'Enable two-person setup before adding a second faction.');
   const controller = g.twoPlayerControllers.controllers.find(entry => entry.seats.includes(actorId));
   requireRule(controller, 'This faction has no two-person controller.');
+  requireRule(!p.bot && !getPlayer(g, actorId).bot,
+    'Human faction seats must belong to a human controller.');
   joinFactionSeat(g, p, controller.id);
 }
 function setMovementDiscardKnowledge(g: Game, knowledge: MovementDiscardKnowledge | undefined) {
@@ -42870,8 +42878,8 @@ function applyActionInner(
       'Choose whether each of two people controls two factions.');
       if (action.enabled === !!g.twoPlayerControllers) return g;
       if (action.enabled) {
-        requireRule(g.players.length <= 2 && g.players.every(player => !player.bot),
-          'Enable two-person setup with at most two human faction seats and no AI seats.');
+        requireRule(g.players.length <= 2,
+          'Enable two-person setup with at most two existing faction seats.');
         const seats = g.players.map(player => player.id);
         let mapping = createTwoPlayerControllers();
         for (const seat of seats) mapping = twoPlayerRule(() =>
@@ -42882,7 +42890,7 @@ function applyActionInner(
           'Two-person setup cannot be disabled after second faction seats are added.');
         delete g.twoPlayerControllers;
       }
-      g.players.forEach(player => (player.ready = false));
+      g.players.forEach(player => (player.ready = !!player.bot));
       log(g, `${p.name} ${action.enabled ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'} the provisional two-person, four-faction setup. Human readiness was cleared.`);
       return g;
     }
@@ -43037,9 +43045,9 @@ function applyActionInner(
       g.players.forEach((player) => (player.ready = !!player.bot));
       return g;
     }
-    if (t === 'addBot' || t === 'removeBot') {
+    if (t === 'addBot' || t === 'addControlledBot' || t === 'removeBot') {
       requireRule(id === g.host, 'Only the host can manage AI seats.');
-      if (t === 'addBot') {
+      if (t === 'addBot' || t === 'addControlledBot') {
         const difficulty = stringField(action.difficulty);
         requireRule(
           ['Easy', 'Medium', 'Hard', 'Brutal'].includes(difficulty),
@@ -43052,10 +43060,26 @@ function applyActionInner(
         );
         const bot = newPlayer(crypto.randomUUID(), `${faction(f).name} AI`, f);
         bot.bot = difficulty as NonNullable<Player['bot']>;
-        joinGame(g, bot);
+        if (t === 'addControlledBot') {
+          const controllerId = stringField(action.controller);
+          const controller = g.twoPlayerControllers?.controllers.find(entry => entry.id === controllerId);
+          requireRule(controller && getPlayer(g, controller.id).bot,
+            'Choose an existing AI controller for this second faction.');
+          joinFactionSeat(g, bot, controller.id);
+        } else joinGame(g, bot);
       } else {
         const target = getPlayer(g, stringField(action.target));
         requireRule(target.bot, 'Only an AI seat can be removed here.');
+        if (g.twoPlayerControllers) {
+          const owner = g.twoPlayerControllers.controllers.find(controller => controller.seats.includes(target.id));
+          requireRule(owner, 'The AI faction must belong to a controller.');
+          const seats = owner.seats.filter(seat => seat !== target.id);
+          g.twoPlayerControllers = {
+            version: 1,
+            controllers: g.twoPlayerControllers.controllers.flatMap(controller =>
+              controller.id !== owner.id ? [controller] : seats.length ? [{ id: seats[0], seats }] : []),
+          };
+        }
         g.players = g.players.filter((p) => p.id !== target.id);
         if (g.playerPositions) delete g.playerPositions[target.id];
         g.players.forEach((p) => (p.ready = false));
diff --git a/game/reference.ts b/game/reference.ts
index 469afdf4..f8279077 100644
--- a/game/reference.ts
+++ b/game/reference.ts
@@ -4472,12 +4472,12 @@ export const RULE_TOPICS: RuleTopic[] = [
     steps: [
       'The host enables the option before adding extra factions. Each person joins one seat and adds a second, then switches active faction to ready and play each seat.',
       'The provisional interpretation keeps the factions separate and does not automatically ally them. An individual faction or alliance needs four strongholds.',
-      'This prototype requires human seats, cannot be disabled after a second seat is added, and does not yet establish every player-count interaction.',
+      'The host can add an AI opponent with two independently configured faction seats. Human and AI seats cannot be mixed within one controller. The mode cannot be disabled while a second faction is present, and not every player-count interaction is established.',
     ],
     checklist: [
       { area: 'Implementation', status: 'Partial', detail: 'Two controllers own four independently authenticated seats; the shared victory quote uses the validated controller count. Other player-count rules remain provisional.', evidence: ['game/two-player-controllers.ts', 'game/engine.ts', 'game/victory-progress.ts'] },
       { area: 'Player controls', status: 'Partial', detail: 'Lobby controls add and select seats, each with its own view and actions; wider accessibility and complete-game acceptance remain open.', evidence: ['components/two-player-controls.tsx', 'app/page.tsx'] },
-      { area: 'AI', status: 'Partial', detail: 'Existing authorized human-seat autopilot remains available; independent bot seats and strategic calibration for this mode remain unfinished.', evidence: ['game/engine.ts', 'docs/AI_DEVELOPMENT_PLAN.md'] },
+      { area: 'AI', status: 'Partial', detail: 'An AI opponent can own two bot faction seats with independent legal policies; coordinated strategy and strength calibration remain unfinished.', evidence: ['game/engine.ts', 'tests/two-player-bot-engine.test.ts', 'docs/AI_DEVELOPMENT_PLAN.md'] },
       { area: 'Documentation', status: 'Partial', detail: 'The provisional interpretation, sources and limitations are recorded.', evidence: ['docs/TWO_PLAYER_TWO_FACTIONS.md', 'docs/RULE_DECISIONS.md'] },
       { area: 'Verification', status: 'Partial', detail: 'Focused setup, first-turn, victory, seat selection, action and recovery cases exercise the prototype. Full games, combinations, broader custody and deployed acceptance remain open.', evidence: ['tests/two-player-engine.test.ts', 'tests/two-player-seat-http.test.ts', 'tests/victory-progress.test.ts'] },
     ],
diff --git a/game/two-player-controllers.ts b/game/two-player-controllers.ts
index 5a7d8332..a226da2a 100644
--- a/game/two-player-controllers.ts
+++ b/game/two-player-controllers.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /** Explicit two-person setup: faction seats remain separate physical players.
- * Controller IDs are their original, independently authenticated first seats;
- * this public mapping is not itself a credential or an alliance. */
+ * Controller IDs are their first seats, independently authenticated for humans
+ * and internal for bots; this public mapping is not a credential or alliance. */
 export type TwoPlayerController = {
   id: string;
   seats: string[];
diff --git a/tests/two-player-bot-engine.test.ts b/tests/two-player-bot-engine.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0de5cfc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/two-player-bot-engine.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+import test from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import {
+  applyAction, createGame, joinControlledFaction, newPlayer, viewGame, type Game,
+} from '../game/engine';
+import { runBots } from '../game/bots';
+
+/** One real human controls two separately authenticated faction seats. */
+function humanPair(): Game {
+  let g = createGame('TWOBOT01', newPlayer('human', 'Human', 'atreides'));
+  g = applyAction(g, 'human', { type: 'twoPlayerMode', enabled: true });
+  joinControlledFaction(g, newPlayer('second', 'Human second', 'harkonnen'), 'human');
+  return g;
+}
+function botPrimary(g: Game): { game: Game; id: string } {
+  const game = applyAction(g, 'human', { type: 'addBot', faction: 'emperor', difficulty: 'Medium' });
+  const bot = game.players.find(player => player.faction === 'emperor')!;
+  assert.ok(bot.bot);
+  return { game, id: bot.id };
+}
+function botPair(g: Game): { game: Game; primary: string; secondary: string } {
+  const first = botPrimary(g);
+  const game = applyAction(first.game, 'human', {
+    type: 'addControlledBot', controller: first.id, faction: 'guild', difficulty: 'Medium',
+  });
+  const secondary = game.players.find(player => player.faction === 'guild')!;
+  assert.ok(secondary.bot);
+  return { game, primary: first.id, secondary: secondary.id };
+}
+function unchanged(g: Game, action: () => unknown) {
+  const before = structuredClone(g);
+  assert.throws(action);
+  assert.deepEqual(g, before);
+}
+
+void test('a preexisting bot remains ready when enabling the two-controller lobby', () => {
+  let g = createGame('TWOBOT02', newPlayer('human', 'Human', 'atreides'));
+  g = applyAction(g, 'human', { type: 'addBot', faction: 'emperor', difficulty: 'Easy' });
+  const bot = g.players.find(player => player.bot)!;
+  assert.equal(bot.ready, true);
+  g = applyAction(g, 'human', { type: 'twoPlayerMode', enabled: true });
+  assert.equal(g.players.find(player => player.id === bot.id)!.ready, true);
+  assert.equal(g.players.find(player => player.id === 'human')!.ready, false);
+  assert.deepEqual(g.twoPlayerControllers!.controllers.map(controller => controller.seats), [['human'], [bot.id]]);
+  g = applyAction(g, 'human', { type: 'addControlledBot', controller: bot.id, faction: 'guild', difficulty: 'Easy' });
+  assert.equal(g.twoPlayerControllers!.controllers.find(controller => controller.id === bot.id)!.seats.length, 2);
+});
+
+void test('a bot controller gets two independent faction seats without giving the human their private views', () => {
+  const { game: g, primary, secondary } = botPair(humanPair());
+  assert.deepEqual(g.twoPlayerControllers!.controllers.map(controller => controller.seats), [
+    ['human', 'second'], [primary, secondary],
+  ]);
+  assert.deepEqual(viewGame(g, 'human').controlledFactionSeats.map(seat => seat.id), ['human', 'second']);
+  assert.deepEqual(viewGame(g, primary).controlledFactionSeats.map(seat => seat.id), [primary, secondary]);
+  for (const observer of ['human', 'second', primary, secondary])
+    for (const seat of viewGame(g, observer).players)
+      assert.equal('hand' in seat, seat.id === observer);
+  assert.equal(g.players.find(player => player.id === primary)!.ready, true);
+  assert.equal(g.players.find(player => player.id === secondary)!.ready, true);
+});
+
+void test('only the host can create bots, and bot and human controllers cannot be mixed', () => {
+  const initial = humanPair();
+  unchanged(initial, () => applyAction(initial, 'second', {
+    type: 'addBot', faction: 'emperor', difficulty: 'Easy',
+  }));
+  const { game, id } = botPrimary(initial);
+  unchanged(game, () => applyAction(game, 'second', {
+    type: 'addControlledBot', controller: id, faction: 'guild', difficulty: 'Easy',
+  }));
+  unchanged(game, () => applyAction(game, 'human', {
+    type: 'addControlledBot', controller: 'human', faction: 'guild', difficulty: 'Easy',
+  }));
+  unchanged(game, () => joinControlledFaction(game, newPlayer('forged', 'Forged', 'guild'), id));
+  unchanged(game, () => applyAction(game, 'human', {
+    type: 'addControlledBot', controller: id, faction: 'atreides', difficulty: 'Easy',
+  }));
+  unchanged(game, () => applyAction(game, 'human', {
+    type: 'addControlledBot', controller: id, faction: 'guild', difficulty: 'Impossible',
+  }));
+});
+
+void test('removing either bot updates its controller and promotes a surviving secondary', () => {
+  const { game, primary, secondary } = botPair(humanPair());
+  let g = applyAction(game, 'human', { type: 'removeBot', target: secondary });
+  assert.deepEqual(g.twoPlayerControllers!.controllers.find(controller => controller.id === primary)!.seats, [primary]);
+  assert.equal(g.players.some(player => player.id === secondary), false);
+  g = applyAction(g, 'human', { type: 'addControlledBot', controller: primary, faction: 'guild', difficulty: 'Easy' });
+  const replacement = g.players.find(player => player.faction === 'guild')!.id;
+  g = applyAction(g, 'human', { type: 'removeBot', target: primary });
+  assert.equal(g.players.some(player => player.id === primary), false);
+  assert.deepEqual(g.twoPlayerControllers!.controllers.find(controller => controller.id === replacement)!.seats, [replacement]);
+  g = applyAction(g, 'human', { type: 'addControlledBot', controller: replacement, faction: 'emperor', difficulty: 'Hard' });
+  assert.equal(g.twoPlayerControllers!.controllers.find(controller => controller.id === replacement)!.seats.length, 2);
+  assert.equal(viewGame(g, 'human').controlledFactionSeats.length, 2);
+});
+
+void test('per-seat bot configuration and human readiness remain usable in the paired lobby', () => {
+  const { game, primary, secondary } = botPair(humanPair());
+  const position = game.playerPositions![primary];
+  let g = applyAction(game, 'human', { type: 'ready' });
+  g = applyAction(g, 'second', { type: 'ready' });
+  g = applyAction(g, 'human', { type: 'configureBot', target: primary, faction: 'emperor', difficulty: 'Hard', position });
+  assert.equal(g.players.find(player => player.id === primary)!.bot, 'Hard');
+  assert.equal(g.players.find(player => player.id === secondary)!.bot, 'Medium');
+  assert.equal(g.players.find(player => player.id === 'human')!.ready, false);
+  assert.equal(g.players.find(player => player.id === 'second')!.ready, false);
+  assert.equal(g.players.find(player => player.id === primary)!.ready, true);
+  assert.equal(g.players.find(player => player.id === secondary)!.ready, true);
+});
+
+void test('real two-controller setup lets the scheduler make both AI faction decisions', () => {
+  const partial = botPrimary(humanPair());
+  let incomplete = applyAction(partial.game, 'human', { type: 'ready' });
+  incomplete = applyAction(incomplete, 'second', { type: 'ready' });
+  unchanged(incomplete, () => applyAction(incomplete, 'human', { type: 'start' }));
+  const complete = applyAction(incomplete, 'human', {
+    type: 'addControlledBot', controller: partial.id, faction: 'guild', difficulty: 'Medium',
+  });
+  const botIds = complete.players.filter(player => player.bot).map(player => player.id);
+  let g = complete;
+  for (const id of ['human', 'second']) g = applyAction(g, id, { type: 'ready' });
+  g = applyAction(g, 'human', { type: 'start' });
+  assert.equal(g.status, 'setup');
+  for (let n = 0; n < 8 && botIds.some(id => g.players.find(player => player.id === id)!.traitorChoices.length); n++)
+    g = runBots(g, 1);
+  for (const id of botIds) {
+    const bot = g.players.find(player => player.id === id)!;
+    assert.equal(bot.traitorChoices.length, 0);
+    assert.equal(bot.traitors.length, 1);
+  }
+  const human = g.players.find(player => player.id === 'human')!;
+  g = applyAction(g, 'human', { type: 'traitor', leader: human.traitorChoices[0] });
+  assert.equal(g.status, 'playing');
+  assert.equal(g.players.every(player => player.ally === null), true);
+});
diff --git a/tests/two-player-bot-http.test.ts b/tests/two-player-bot-http.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..14371dcb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/two-player-bot-http.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+// @dune-suite integration
+import test from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { randomBytes, randomUUID } from 'node:crypto';
+
+const base = process.env.DUNE_TEST_URL ?? 'http://localhost:3000';
+const receipt = () => ({ operationId: randomUUID(), sessionToken: randomBytes(32).toString('hex') });
+type Wire = {
+  code: string;
+  me: string;
+  version: number;
+  status: string;
+  players: { id: string; faction: string; bot?: string; ready: boolean; hand?: unknown[] }[];
+  twoPlayerControllers?: { controllers: { id: string; seats: string[] }[] } | null;
+  controlledFactionSeats?: { id: string }[];
+  error?: string;
+};
+async function request(path: string, body?: unknown, cookie?: string, selected?: string) {
+  const response = await fetch(base + path, {
+    method: body === undefined ? 'GET' : 'POST',
+    headers: {
+      ...(body === undefined ? {} : { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }),
+      ...(cookie ? { cookie } : {}),
+      ...(selected ? { 'X-Dune-Seat': selected } : {}),
+    },
+    ...(body === undefined ? {} : { body: JSON.stringify(body) }),
+  });
+  return {
+    status: response.status,
+    data: await response.json() as Wire,
+    cookie: response.headers.get('set-cookie')?.split(';')[0],
+  };
+}
+
+void test('two-faction AI opponent starts with separate human credentials and no bot impersonation', async () => {
+  const host = await request('/api/rooms', {
+    name: 'Two-player AI host', faction: 'atreides', advanced: false, expansions: [], entry: receipt(),
+  });
+  assert.equal(host.status, 201, JSON.stringify(host.data));
+  assert.ok(host.cookie);
+  const path = `/api/rooms/${host.data.code}`;
+  const enabled = await request(path, {
+    version: host.data.version, action: { type: 'twoPlayerMode', enabled: true },
+  }, host.cookie, host.data.me);
+  assert.equal(enabled.status, 200, JSON.stringify(enabled.data));
+  const second = await request(path, {
+    type: 'addControlledFaction', version: enabled.data.version,
+    name: 'Human second', faction: 'harkonnen', entry: receipt(),
+  }, host.cookie, host.data.me);
+  assert.equal(second.status, 200, JSON.stringify(second.data));
+  assert.ok(second.cookie);
+  const cookies = `${host.cookie}; ${second.cookie}`;
+  const primary = await request(path, {
+    version: second.data.version, action: { type: 'addBot', faction: 'emperor', difficulty: 'Medium' },
+  }, cookies, host.data.me);
+  assert.equal(primary.status, 200, JSON.stringify(primary.data));
+  const bot = primary.data.players.find(player => player.faction === 'emperor' && player.bot === 'Medium');
+  assert.ok(bot);
+  const paired = await request(path, {
+    version: primary.data.version,
+    action: { type: 'addControlledBot', controller: bot.id, faction: 'guild', difficulty: 'Medium' },
+  }, cookies, host.data.me);
+  assert.equal(paired.status, 200, JSON.stringify(paired.data));
+  const botSecond = paired.data.players.find(player => player.faction === 'guild' && player.bot === 'Medium');
+  assert.ok(botSecond);
+  assert.deepEqual(paired.data.twoPlayerControllers?.controllers.map(controller => controller.seats), [
+    [host.data.me, second.data.me], [bot.id, botSecond.id],
+  ]);
+  assert.deepEqual(paired.data.controlledFactionSeats?.map(seat => seat.id), [host.data.me, second.data.me]);
+  for (const botId of [bot.id, botSecond.id]) {
+    const deniedRead = await request(path, undefined, cookies, botId);
+    assert.equal(deniedRead.status, 409);
+    const deniedAction = await request(path, {
+      version: paired.data.version, action: { type: 'ready' },
+    }, cookies, botId);
+    assert.equal(deniedAction.status, 409);
+  }
+  const firstReady = await request(path, {
+    version: paired.data.version, action: { type: 'ready' },
+  }, cookies, host.data.me);
+  assert.equal(firstReady.status, 200, JSON.stringify(firstReady.data));
+  const secondReady = await request(path, {
+    version: firstReady.data.version, action: { type: 'ready' },
+  }, cookies, second.data.me);
+  assert.equal(secondReady.status, 200, JSON.stringify(secondReady.data));
+  assert.ok(secondReady.data.players.every(player => player.ready));
+  const started = await request(path, {
+    version: secondReady.data.version, action: { type: 'start' },
+  }, cookies, host.data.me);
+  assert.equal(started.status, 200, JSON.stringify(started.data));
+  assert.ok(started.data.status === 'setup' || started.data.status === 'playing');
+  for (const player of started.data.players)
+    assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(player, 'hand'), player.id === host.data.me);
+});
diff --git a/tests/two-player-controls.test.ts b/tests/two-player-controls.test.ts
index a71083ff..50170b0a 100644
--- a/tests/two-player-controls.test.ts
+++ b/tests/two-player-controls.test.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ function render(game: GameView, pendingEntry = false) {
   return renderToStaticMarkup(createElement(TwoPlayerControls, {
     game, disabled: pendingEntry, pendingEntry, entryRoom: game.code, entryProblem: '',
     retryDisabled: false, onModeChange: noop, onSwitch: noop, onAdd: noop, onRetry: noop,
+    onAddBot: noop, onAddControlledBot: noop,
   }));
 }
 
@@ -51,3 +52,53 @@ void test('an unresolved request stays visible with an explicit retry', () => {
   assert.match(html, /never retried automatically/);
   assert.match(html, /<select[^>]*disabled/);
 });
+
+void test('host may add a computer opponent when the second controller slot is empty', () => {
+  const game = {
+    ...base,
+    players: [base.players[0]],
+    twoPlayerControllers: { version: 1 as const, controllers: [{ id: 'a', seats: ['a'] }] },
+    controlledFactionSeats: [{ id: 'a', name: 'Ali', faction: 'atreides' as const }],
+  };
+  const html = render(game);
+  assert.match(html, /Add an AI player/);
+  assert.match(html, /The AI plays each faction independently/);
+  for (const difficulty of ['Easy', 'Medium', 'Hard', 'Brutal'])
+    assert.match(html, new RegExp(`value="${difficulty}"`));
+  assert.match(html, /value="harkonnen"/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(html, /<option[^>]*value="atreides"/);
+});
+
+void test('host adds the second AI faction only for an incomplete AI controller', () => {
+  const human = base.players[0];
+  const ai = { ...base.players[1], bot: 'Hard' as const };
+  const game = {
+    ...base,
+    players: [human, ai],
+    twoPlayerControllers: { version: 1 as const, controllers: [
+      { id: 'a', seats: ['a'] }, { id: 'b', seats: ['b'] },
+    ] },
+    controlledFactionSeats: [{ id: 'a', name: 'Ali', faction: 'atreides' as const }],
+  };
+  const html = render(game);
+  assert.match(html, /Player 2 \(AI\): Harkonnen/);
+  assert.match(html, /Add the AI player’s second faction/);
+  assert.match(html, /Add AI second faction/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(html, /<option[^>]*value="harkonnen"/);
+  const nonHost = render({ ...game, me: 'b' });
+  assert.doesNotMatch(nonHost, /Add AI second faction/);
+  const complete = render({ ...game, twoPlayerControllers: { version: 1, controllers: [
+    { id: 'a', seats: ['a'] }, { id: 'b', seats: ['b', 'c'] },
+  ] } });
+  assert.doesNotMatch(complete, /Add AI second faction/);
+});
+
+void test('a human opponent does not expose controls to add an AI faction to their seat', () => {
+  const game = {
+    ...base,
+    twoPlayerControllers: { version: 1 as const, controllers: [
+      { id: 'a', seats: ['a', 'c'] }, { id: 'b', seats: ['b'] },
+    ] },
+  };
+  assert.doesNotMatch(render(game), /Add AI second faction|Add an AI player/);
+});
diff --git a/tests/two-player-engine.test.ts b/tests/two-player-engine.test.ts
index ee243256..d6bb6232 100644
--- a/tests/two-player-engine.test.ts
+++ b/tests/two-player-engine.test.ts
@@ -46,14 +46,14 @@ void test('two people can independently ready their two physical factions and fi
   assert.equal(game.stormPending, 2);
 });
 
-void test('lobby preserves separate controller seats and refuses incomplete, excess and AI setup', () => {
+void test('lobby preserves separate controller seats and refuses incomplete, excess and mixed ownership', () => {
   let game = createGame('TWOPEOPLE', newPlayer('a', 'A', 'atreides'));
   game = applyAction(game, 'a', { type: 'twoPlayerMode', enabled: true });
   assert.throws(() => joinControlledFaction(game, newPlayer('x', 'X', 'emperor'), 'other'), /controller/);
   joinControlledFaction(game, newPlayer('b', 'B', 'emperor'), 'a');
   assert.throws(() => joinControlledFaction(game, newPlayer('x', 'X', 'guild'), 'b'), /two faction/);
   assert.throws(() => applyAction(game, 'a', { type: 'twoPlayerMode', enabled: false }), /cannot be disabled/);
-  assert.throws(() => applyAction(game, 'a', { type: 'addBot', faction: 'guild', difficulty: 'Easy' }), /human/);
+  assert.throws(() => applyAction(game, 'a', { type: 'addControlledBot', controller: 'a', faction: 'guild', difficulty: 'Easy' }), /AI controller/);
   game = applyAction(game, 'a', { type: 'ready' });
   game = applyAction(game, 'b', { type: 'ready' });
   assert.throws(() => applyAction(game, 'a', { type: 'start' }), /exactly two controllers/);