diff --git a/backend/tests/test_game.py b/backend/tests/test_game.py
index df5b695..494859f 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_game.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_game.py
@@ -195,14 +195,16 @@ def test_pve_freezes_streak_and_pays_no_win_bonus(art, cfg):
 
 
 def test_natural_level_progression(art, cfg):
-    """Ohne XP-Kauf: Level 1 bei 1-2, Level 4 bei 2-1, Level 5 mit 6/20 bei 3-2."""
+    """Ohne XP-Kauf, laut VOD: 1-3 Lvl 2, 1-4 Lvl 3, 2-1 Lvl 3 (2/6), 2-5 Lvl 4 (2/10)."""
     game = Game(art, cfg, seed=6)
-    assert game.player.level == 1 and game.player.xp == 2  # 1-1-XP gebankt
+    assert game.player.level == 1 and game.player.xp == 0  # 1-1 gibt keine XP
     checks = {}
     while not game.over and game.round["label"] != "3-3":
         checks[game.round["label"]] = (game.player.level, game.player.xp)
         game.step()
-    assert checks["1-2"][0] == 1
-    assert checks["1-3"][0] == 3  # gratis Level 2 + kaskadierte XP
-    assert checks["2-1"] == (4, 0)
-    assert checks["3-2"] == (5, 6)
+    assert checks["1-2"] == (1, 0)
+    assert checks["1-3"] == (2, 0)
+    assert checks["1-4"] == (3, 0)
+    assert checks["2-1"] == (3, 2)
+    assert checks["2-5"] == (4, 2)
+    assert checks["3-2"] == (5, 0)
diff --git a/backend/tft/constants/loader.py b/backend/tft/constants/loader.py
index a7cc090..0f41e8f 100644
--- a/backend/tft/constants/loader.py
+++ b/backend/tft/constants/loader.py
@@ -26,10 +26,9 @@ def validate(c: dict) -> None:
     if len(c["pool"]["sizes"]) != 5:
         raise ValueError("pool sizes must have 5 cost tiers")
     xp = c["xp"]
-    # Level 1 -> 2 ist gratis (erste Welle); to_next deckt 2->3 bis (max-1)->max.
-    if len(xp["to_next"]) != xp["max_level"] - 2:
+    if len(xp["to_next"]) != xp["max_level"] - 1:
         raise ValueError(
-            f"xp.to_next needs {xp['max_level'] - 2} entries, has {len(xp['to_next'])}"
+            f"xp.to_next needs {xp['max_level'] - 1} entries, has {len(xp['to_next'])}"
         )
     if len(c["shop"]["odds"]) != xp["max_level"]:
         raise ValueError("shop odds must have one row per level")
diff --git a/backend/tft/constants/set17.toml b/backend/tft/constants/set17.toml
index 95c50e4..d9b6f68 100644
--- a/backend/tft/constants/set17.toml
+++ b/backend/tft/constants/set17.toml
@@ -29,10 +29,11 @@ copies_for_2star = 3
 copies_for_3star = 9
 
 [xp]
-# Start auf Level 1. Level 2 kommt GRATIS nach der ersten PvE-Welle (1-2),
-# XP banken solange. to_next: Index 0 = Level 2 -> 3.
+# Start auf Level 1. Kampfrunden (PvE/PvP) geben 2 XP, Carousels KEINE.
+# Verlauf laut VOD: 1-3 Lvl 2, 1-4 Lvl 3, 2-1 Lvl 3 (2/6), 2-5 Lvl 4 (2/10).
+# to_next: Index 0 = Level 1 -> 2.
 start_level = 1
-to_next = [2, 6, 10, 20, 36, 60, 68, 68]
+to_next = [2, 2, 6, 10, 20, 36, 60, 68, 68]
 passive_per_round = 2
 buy_amount = 4
 buy_cost = 4
diff --git a/backend/tft/sim/economy.py b/backend/tft/sim/economy.py
index 06cfff6..f7ec40d 100644
--- a/backend/tft/sim/economy.py
+++ b/backend/tft/sim/economy.py
@@ -27,9 +27,7 @@ def xp_to_next(level: int, cfg: dict) -> int | None:
     xp = cfg["xp"]
     if level >= xp["max_level"]:
         return None
-    if level < 2:
-        return None  # Level 2 kommt gratis nach der ersten PvE-Welle
-    return xp["to_next"][level - 2]
+    return xp["to_next"][level - 1]
 
 
 def apply_xp(level: int, xp: int, gained: int, cfg: dict) -> tuple[int, int]:
diff --git a/backend/tft/sim/game.py b/backend/tft/sim/game.py
index 7f5ef2e..1f6e18b 100644
--- a/backend/tft/sim/game.py
+++ b/backend/tft/sim/game.py
@@ -44,11 +44,10 @@ class Game:
         ]
 
         # 1-1-Carousel läuft automatisch für alle ab, dann startet 1-2.
-        # Die 2 Passiv-XP aus 1-1 banken (Level 2 kommt erst nach 1-2 gratis).
+        # Carousels geben keine XP.
         if self.round["kind"] == "carousel":
             for p in self.players:
                 self._carousel(p)
-                p.xp += cfg["xp"]["passive_per_round"]
             self.idx += 1
         # Bei 1-2 gibt es noch keinen Shop — niemand hat Gold.
         for p in self.players:
@@ -156,10 +155,6 @@ class Game:
             p.level, p.xp = economy.apply_xp(
                 p.level, p.xp, self.cfg["xp"]["passive_per_round"], self.cfg
             )
-            # Nach der ersten PvE-Welle gibt es Level 2 gratis; gebankte XP kaskadieren.
-            if rnd["label"] == "1-2" and p.level == 1:
-                p.level = 2
-                p.level, p.xp = economy.apply_xp(p.level, p.xp, 0, self.cfg)
 
         self._advance()
 
@@ -232,12 +227,9 @@ class Game:
             self.idx += 1
             if self.round["kind"] != "carousel":
                 break
-            # Carousel ist keine eigene Einkommensrunde — nur Loot, Unit und XP.
+            # Carousel gibt weder Einkommen noch XP — nur Loot und Unit.
             for p in self._alive():
                 self._carousel(p)
-                p.level, p.xp = economy.apply_xp(
-                    p.level, p.xp, self.cfg["xp"]["passive_per_round"], self.cfg
-                )
         for p in self._alive():
             if p is self.player and p.shop_locked:
                 continue