diff --git a/packages/server/src/index.ts b/packages/server/src/index.ts
index 1df94f4..aa60137 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/index.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ interface Session {
   socket: WebSocket;
   playerId: PlayerId | null;
   roomId: string | null;
+  claimFails: number;
 }
 
 const sessions = new Set<Session>();
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ function broadcastRoomState(room: Room): void {
 }
 
 wss.on("connection", (socket) => {
-  const session: Session = { socket, playerId: null, roomId: null };
+  const session: Session = { socket, playerId: null, roomId: null, claimFails: 0 };
   sessions.add(session);
   send(socket, { type: "welcome", game: "wizwar" });
 
@@ -142,8 +143,15 @@ wss.on("connection", (socket) => {
           break;
         }
         case "claimTransfer": {
+          if (session.claimFails >= 5) {
+            return send(socket, { type: "error", message: "too many attempts on this connection — reconnect and mint a fresh phrase" });
+          }
           const result = claimTransferCode(String(msg.code ?? ""));
-          if ("error" in result) return send(socket, { type: "error", message: result.error });
+          if ("error" in result) {
+            session.claimFails++;
+            return send(socket, { type: "error", message: result.error });
+          }
+          session.claimFails = 0;
           send(socket, { type: "transferClaimed", seat: result });
           break;
         }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/rooms.ts b/packages/server/src/rooms.ts
index a5f536b..7a8cd79 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/rooms.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/rooms.ts
@@ -190,7 +190,11 @@ const TRANSFER_WORDS = [
   "moss", "torch", "skull", "frost", "amber", "wisp", "cellar", "gable",
   "onyx", "briar", "tome", "cinder", "gloom", "spiral", "hex", "mirror",
   "portal", "quill", "shade", "tusk", "vault", "wyrm", "zephyr", "idol",
-] as const;
+  "anvil", "bramble", "crypt", "dusk", "fable", "grotto", "hollow", "ivory",
+  "jinx", "keep", "lantern", "marsh", "nettle", "oath", "plume", "quartz",
+  "relic", "sconce", "talon", "umber", "vellum", "warden", "yarrow", "zeal",
+  "bastion", "chalice", "drake", "eaves", "fen", "gargoyle", "harrow", "imp",
+] as const; // 64 words; 4-word phrases = 64^4 = ~16.7M combinations (~24 bits)
 
 interface PendingTransfer {
   roomId: string;
@@ -212,17 +216,36 @@ export function makeTransferCode(room: Room, playerId: PlayerId): { code: string
   }
   let code: string;
   do {
-    code = Array.from({ length: 3 }, () => TRANSFER_WORDS[randomInt(TRANSFER_WORDS.length)]).join("-");
+    code = Array.from({ length: 4 }, () => TRANSFER_WORDS[randomInt(TRANSFER_WORDS.length)]).join("-");
   } while (transfers.has(code));
   const expiresAt = now + TRANSFER_TTL_MS;
   transfers.set(code, { roomId: room.id, name: playerId, token, expiresAt });
   return { code, expiresAt };
 }
 
+// Brute-force backstop: too many failed claims globally voids every pending
+// code (they cost nothing to re-mint) and cools the endpoint off.
+let failedClaims = 0;
+let failWindowStart = 0;
+const FAIL_WINDOW_MS = 10 * 60 * 1000;
+const FAIL_LIMIT = 30;
+
 export function claimTransferCode(code: string): { roomId: string; name: PlayerId; token: string } | { error: string } {
+  const now = Date.now();
+  if (now - failWindowStart > FAIL_WINDOW_MS) {
+    failWindowStart = now;
+    failedClaims = 0;
+  }
+  if (failedClaims >= FAIL_LIMIT) {
+    return { error: "too many failed claims — transfers are cooling off, mint a fresh phrase" };
+  }
   const normalized = code.trim().toLowerCase().replace(/\s+/g, "-");
   const t = transfers.get(normalized);
-  if (!t || t.expiresAt < Date.now()) return { error: "that transfer phrase is unknown or has expired" };
+  if (!t || t.expiresAt < now) {
+    failedClaims++;
+    if (failedClaims >= FAIL_LIMIT) transfers.clear();
+    return { error: "that transfer phrase is unknown or has expired" };
+  }
   transfers.delete(normalized); // one-time
   const room = rooms.get(t.roomId);
   if (!room || room.tokens.get(t.name) !== t.token) return { error: "that seat no longer exists" };