diff --git a/packages/engine/src/game.ts b/packages/engine/src/game.ts
index 945d2f9..ffa96d8 100644
--- a/packages/engine/src/game.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/src/game.ts
@@ -4523,8 +4523,9 @@ function doCast(prev: GameState, cmd: Extract<Command, { type: "cast" }>): Comma
     if (!isWand) return null;
     let charges = st.wandCharges[inHand.instanceId];
     if (charges === undefined) {
-      if (mods.numbers.length === 0) return "a wand's first use needs a number card to set its charges";
-      charges = mods.magnitude.power; // AMPLIFY and ADD both work here
+      // "ANY CARD MAY BE PLAYED WITHOUT A NUMBER CARD, but its power is
+      // only 1" — a bare first use lights a single charge.
+      charges = mods.magnitude.power; // 1 without a number; AMPLIFY and ADD work here
       st.wandCharges[inHand.instanceId] = charges;
       if (!wielder.displayed.includes(inHand.instanceId)) wielder.displayed.push(inHand.instanceId);
       events.push({ type: "wandCharged", player: wielder.id, card: inHand, charges });
diff --git a/packages/engine/test/wands.test.ts b/packages/engine/test/wands.test.ts
index 193bc0b..af1563f 100644
--- a/packages/engine/test/wands.test.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/test/wands.test.ts
@@ -12,11 +12,6 @@ describe("magic wands", () => {
     const wand = giveCard(state, attacker, "blaster-wand");
     giveCard(state, attacker, "number-2", "N", 1);
 
-    // First use without a number card is refused.
-    expect(applyCommand(state, attacker, {
-      type: "cast", instanceId: wand.instanceId, target: { kind: "player", playerId: defender },
-    }).ok).toBe(false);
-
     // Charged with a 2: fires (3 damage), one charge left, wand displayed.
     state = must(state, attacker, {
       type: "cast", instanceId: wand.instanceId, numberInstanceIds: ["number-2#N"],
@@ -210,3 +205,20 @@ describe("dropping objects", () => {
     expect(refused.ok).toBe(false);
   });
 });
+
+describe("a bare wand lights a single charge", () => {
+  it("'played without a number card, its power is only 1': one shot, then dust", () => {
+    let { state } = newGame();
+    state = toRound2(state);
+    const { attacker, defender } = faceOff(state);
+    const bw = giveCard(state, attacker, "blaster-wand");
+    state = must(state, attacker, {
+      type: "cast", instanceId: bw.instanceId, target: { kind: "player", playerId: defender },
+    });
+    state = must(state, defender, { type: "pass" });
+    // The single charge fired (3 flat damage) and the wand crumbled.
+    expect(state.players.find((p) => p.id === defender)!.life).toBe(12);
+    expect(state.players.find((p) => p.id === attacker)!.hand.some((c) => c.cardId === "blaster-wand")).toBe(false);
+    expect(state.wandCharges[bw.instanceId]).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/web/src/App.svelte b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
index 7884924..53b854a 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/App.svelte
+++ b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
@@ -1818,7 +1818,7 @@
               <span>— {EDGE_HINTS[selectedCard.cardId] ?? "click a wall line"}</span>
             {/if}
             {#if selectedCard && WAND_IDS.has(selectedCard.cardId) && view.wandCharges[selectedCard.instanceId] == null && !attachedNumber}
-              <span>— first use: tap a NUMBER card to set the wand's charges, then click a target</span>
+              <span>— first use sets the charges: tap a NUMBER card first, or cast bare for a single charge</span>
             {:else if selectedDef.cardType === "attack" && !cellSelectMode && !EDGE_CARDS.has(selectedCard?.cardId ?? "")}
               <span>— click a target, or a wall line to batter it{attachedNumber ? ` (powered by a ${numberTotal})` : ""}</span>
             {/if}