feat(ui): the spell-bar drop ring — retail's authored drag-accept state, and the ring exposed a real drop off-by-one

The green ring is retail's own art: every UIItem cell carries an
authored DragAccept child (catalog 0x21000037, child 0x1000045A), and
the spell bar's drag-over handler (SpellCastSubMenu::OnItemListDragOver
@0x004C5990) flips it to the Accept state (0x10000040 -> surface
0x060011F9) for any spell payload. Ported through a per-slot
SetDragAcceptVisual seam + a catalog DragOverAcceptance hook; other
lists are untouched (null acceptance = neutral). A polarity error in
our older docs (Accept/Reject state ids swapped) was corrected against
three independent sources; the shipped art was always right, only the
labels lied.

The ring shares ONE landing computation with the drop
(FavoriteDropIndex) — and that requirement exposed a genuine #354
off-by-one: the empty-tail path double-applied the -1 adjustment
(retail gates it on the lift's removal @0x004C7157), landing a
reordered spell second-to-last instead of last. Fixed;
discriminator-verified both ways. AP-172 narrowed + its false
empty-tail claim corrected.

Clean-room complete solution: 11,545 passed / 4 skipped / 0 failed.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

docs/ISSUES.md

@@ -60,6 +60,36 @@ bytes for `AddSpellFavorite`/`RemoveSpellFavorite` (opcodes 0x1E3/0x1E4) and
 `RuntimeCharacterState.TryAddFavorite`/`TryRemoveFavorite` were already
 covered and needed no change.
 
+**UPDATE 2026-08-08 (follow-up session, drop-ring gate finding):** the user's
+next gate finding — "Should be the green ring indicator where the spell icon
+should land, like in retail" — is implemented. Retail's mechanism (grepped and
+byte-confirmed): the ring is a per-cell authored slot STATE, not a synthetic
+overlay — `SpellCastSubMenu::OnItemListDragOver` @0x004C5990 sets the shared
+UIItem prototype's `m_elem_Icon_DragAccept` child (element 0x1000045A, bound in
+`UIElement_UIItem::PostInit` @0x004E1870, catalog LayoutDesc 0x21000037) to
+`ItemSlot_DragOver_Accept` (UIStateId 0x10000040 → authored art 0x060011F9)
+whenever the dragged payload carries a spell id; leave resets to
+`ItemSlot_DragOver_Normal` 0x1000003F @0x004E1438. Wired through
+`UiCatalogSlot.DragOverAcceptance` (the catalog port of retail's per-list drag
+handler) → the shared `UiItemSlot.DrawDragAcceptOverlay`. Two corrections
+landed with it: (1) the accept/reject UIStateId labels were SWAPPED in
+`UiItemSlot`/`InventoryController` comments and in the 2026-06-16 / 2026-07-13
+research docs (art-per-semantic was always right; polarity pinned by paperdoll
+`AutoWearIsLegal` @0x004A3AC9/0x004A3AEB, `VendorSellUI` @0x004C2327/0x004C2336,
+DatReaderWriter's `UIStateId` enum, and the 2026-06-25 layout dump); (2) a real
+off-by-one in #354's drop path: the `-1` adjustment double-corrected the
+empty-tail cell's live-count-clamped index, landing a lifted non-last favorite
+second-to-last instead of last — retail's adjustment is gated on
+`RemoveSpellFromMenu`'s return (@0x004C7157), which is `-1` (no adjustment) at
+drop time because the spell left the live list at lift. `FavoriteDropIndex` is
+now THE one landing computation shared by the ring and the drop
+(discriminator-verified: the pre-fix computation fails
+`SpellFavoriteDrag_DroppedOnTheEmptyTail_AppendsAtTheEnd` with landed index 1
+vs 2). AP-172 narrowed + corrected in the same change-set. New tests: ring
+appears/tracks/survives-a-tick/clears-on-drop, empty-tail append, ring clears
+on leave + off-bar release keeps the lift removal, physical payloads stay
+neutral while both spell payload kinds ring.
+
 ## #353 — Toolbar selected-object text: count field ignores authored HJustify; name field does not wrap to its authored two lines
 
 **Status:** CLOSED 2026-08-08 — user-passed ("Ok slider bar looks ok!" + the wrap confirmed); the OneLine routing fix (4cfcc8b3) completed it. (RightAligned on the authored HJustify=2 entry; two stacked centered one-line labels wrapping at the authored 140 px via WrapNameTwoLines).

docs/research/2026-06-16-ui-item-slot-icon-dragdrop-spine-deep-dive.md

@@ -141,6 +141,19 @@ internal element states `SetDragAcceptState` writes — both are real; the Layou
 states and the `0x1000003x/4x` UIStateIds are the same overlay seen from the dat side vs.
 the C++ side. CONFIRMED.
 
+> **Correction 2026-08-08 (spell-bar drop-ring research):** the parenthetical
+> above has the accept/reject ids SWAPPED. The true mapping is
+> `ItemSlot_DragOver_Accept = 0x10000040 → 0x060011F9` and
+> `ItemSlot_DragOver_Reject = 0x10000041 → 0x060011F8`, confirmed by
+> DatReaderWriter's retail-derived `UIStateId` enum, by the legal/illegal
+> branches of `gmPaperDollUI::HandlePaperDollDragOver` @ 0x004A3AC9/0x004A3AEB
+> and `VendorSellUI::OnItemListDragOver` @ 0x004C2327/0x004C2336, and by the
+> machine layout dump (`2026-06-25-retail-ui-layout-dump.json`, states
+> 268435520/268435521 on elements 0x1000046D/0x1000046C). The table row's
+> name→art column above was always right; only this paragraph's numeric
+> pairing was inverted (and propagated into
+> `2026-07-13-retail-item-drag-visuals-pseudocode.md`, corrected the same day).
+
 ### 2.3 Key methods + the update pass (`UIItem_Update`, decomp 230226)
 
 `UIItem_Update` is the per-change refresh; the controller calls it whenever the bound

docs/research/2026-07-13-retail-item-drag-visuals-pseudocode.md

@@ -79,12 +79,28 @@ if target list is a container selector
     target.SetDragAcceptState(0x10000046)  # ItemSlot_DragOver_DropIn
                                            # 0x060011F7 green arrow
 else if target accepts an ordinary item-list placement:
-    target.SetDragAcceptState(0x10000041)  # ItemSlot_DragOver_Accept
+    target.SetDragAcceptState(0x10000040)  # ItemSlot_DragOver_Accept
                                            # 0x060011F9 green circle
 else:
-    target.SetDragAcceptState(0x10000040)  # 0x060011F8 reject
+    target.SetDragAcceptState(0x10000041)  # ItemSlot_DragOver_Reject
+                                           # 0x060011F8 reject
 ```
 
+> **Correction 2026-08-08 (spell-bar drop-ring research):** the block above
+> originally had the Accept/Reject numeric ids swapped (`0x10000041` labeled
+> Accept, `0x10000040` labeled reject). Three primary sources agree the true
+> mapping is `ItemSlot_DragOver_Accept = 0x10000040 → 0x060011F9` and
+> `ItemSlot_DragOver_Reject = 0x10000041 → 0x060011F8`: DatReaderWriter's
+> retail-derived `UIStateId` enum; the legal/illegal branches in
+> `gmPaperDollUI::HandlePaperDollDragOver` (`AutoWearIsLegal` → 0x10000040
+> @ 0x004A3AC9, else 0x10000041 @ 0x004A3AEB) and
+> `VendorSellUI::OnItemListDragOver` (`DragItemAcceptable` → 0x10000040
+> @ 0x004C2327, else 0x10000041 @ 0x004C2336); and the machine layout dump
+> (`2026-06-25-retail-ui-layout-dump.json`: state 268435520 = 0x10000040 →
+> image 0x060011F9, state 268435521 = 0x10000041 → 0x060011F8). The
+> art-per-semantic mapping in the shipped code was always correct; only the
+> numeric labels here were swapped.
+
 Therefore the backpack contents grid uses the green circle; the side-bag column
 and main-pack container cell use the green drop-in arrow. The selected/open
 indicators remain visible while `m_elem_Icon_Ghosted` is active, so the

src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/InventoryController.cs

@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ public sealed class InventoryController : IItemListDragHandler, IRetainedPanelCo
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Bind the exact ItemList_DragOver state for this destination. A normal contents-grid
-    /// insertion uses ItemSlot_DragOver_Accept (0x10000041 → green circle 0x060011F9).
+    /// insertion uses ItemSlot_DragOver_Accept (UIStateId 0x10000040 → green circle 0x060011F9).
     /// An occupied container selector uses ItemSlot_DragOver_DropIn
     /// (0x10000046 → green arrow 0x060011F7). Retail: 0x004e3400.
     /// </summary>

src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/SpellcastingUiController.cs

@@ -349,7 +349,8 @@ public sealed class SpellcastingUiController : IRetainedPanelController
                     uint id = spellId;
                     int position = list.GetNumUIItems();
                     _spellbook.TryGetMetadata(id, out SpellMetadata? metadata);
-                    var slot = new UiCatalogSlot
+                    UiCatalogSlot? slot = null;
+                    slot = new UiCatalogSlot
                     {
                         EntryId = id,
                         CatalogIconTexture = metadata is null ? 0u : _resolveSpellIcon(id),
@@ -358,10 +359,11 @@ public sealed class SpellcastingUiController : IRetainedPanelController
                         CatalogDragPayload = new SpellFavoriteDragPayload(tab, position, id),
                         DragBegan = payload => BeginFavoriteDrag((SpellFavoriteDragPayload)payload),
                         DragEnded = payload => EndFavoriteDrag((SpellFavoriteDragPayload)payload),
+                        DragOverAcceptance = FavoriteDragOverAcceptance,
                         Dropped = payload =>
                         {
                             if (payload is SpellFavoriteDragPayload favorite)
-                                DropFavorite(favorite, targetTab, position);
+                                DropFavorite(favorite, targetTab, list, slot!);
                             else if (payload is SpellbookShortcutDragPayload shortcut)
                                 DropSpellbookShortcut(shortcut, targetTab, position);
                         },
@@ -386,15 +388,17 @@ public sealed class SpellcastingUiController : IRetainedPanelController
         slot = new UiCatalogSlot
         {
             SpriteResolve = list.SpriteResolve,
+            DragOverAcceptance = FavoriteDragOverAcceptance,
             Dropped = payload =>
             {
-                int position = Math.Max(0, list.IndexOf(slot!));
-                int favoriteCount = _spellbook.GetFavorites(targetTab).Count;
-                position = Math.Min(position, favoriteCount);
                 if (payload is SpellFavoriteDragPayload favorite)
-                    DropFavorite(favorite, targetTab, position);
+                    DropFavorite(favorite, targetTab, list, slot!);
                 else if (payload is SpellbookShortcutDragPayload shortcut)
+                {
+                    int position = Math.Max(0, list.IndexOf(slot!));
+                    position = Math.Min(position, _spellbook.GetFavorites(targetTab).Count);
                     DropSpellbookShortcut(shortcut, targetTab, position);
+                }
             },
         };
         ConfigureShortcutOverlay(slot, shortcutIndex);
@@ -450,16 +454,54 @@ public sealed class SpellcastingUiController : IRetainedPanelController
         _favoriteDragActive = false;
     }
 
-    private void DropFavorite(SpellFavoriteDragPayload payload, int targetTab, int targetPosition)
+    /// <summary>
+    /// SpellCastSubMenu::OnItemListDragOver @ 0x004C5990: while a drag hovers a
+    /// favorite-bar cell (occupied OR empty — retail's tail cells are UIItems in
+    /// the same list), retail sets the authored per-cell DragAccept child
+    /// (element 0x1000045A, bound in UIElement_UIItem::PostInit @ 0x004E1870)
+    /// to ItemSlot_DragOver_Accept (UIStateId 0x10000040 → authored ring
+    /// 0x060011F9) when the dragged payload carries a spell id, and leaves it
+    /// neutral otherwise — the handler returns 1, so the generic physical-item
+    /// fallback @ 0x004E3492 never runs for this list.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal static ItemDragAcceptance FavoriteDragOverAcceptance(object payload)
+        => payload is SpellFavoriteDragPayload or SpellbookShortcutDragPayload
+            ? ItemDragAcceptance.Accept
+            : ItemDragAcceptance.None;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// THE one favorite-landing computation: the index a
+    /// <see cref="SpellFavoriteDragPayload"/> drop on <paramref name="cell"/>
+    /// applies. The drag-over Accept ring and <see cref="DropFavorite"/> both key
+    /// off the same hovered cell through this method, so the ring can never
+    /// promise a different landing than the drop delivers. Two numbering spaces,
+    /// both matching retail SpellCastSubMenu::AddFavorite @ 0x004C7060:
+    /// an OCCUPIED sibling cell is still numbered against the PRE-lift bar
+    /// (Rebuild defers for the gesture — AP-172), so retail's
+    /// -1-if-removed-from-before-target adjustment applies (the
+    /// RemoveSpellFromMenu-return-gated decrement @ 0x004C7157); an EMPTY tail
+    /// cell's index clamps to the LIVE favorite count — a post-lift number whose
+    /// lifted spell is already out of the live list, exactly retail's
+    /// RemoveSpellFromMenu == -1 no-adjustment case, so applying the -1 there too
+    /// would double-correct (the off-by-one this method retired: lifting a
+    /// non-last favorite onto the empty tail landed it second-to-last instead of
+    /// last).
+    /// </summary>
+    internal int FavoriteDropIndex(
+        SpellFavoriteDragPayload payload, int targetTab, UiItemList list, UiItemSlot cell)
     {
-        // Rebuild() was deferred for the whole gesture (see BeginFavoriteDrag), so
+        int index = Math.Max(0, list.IndexOf(cell));
-        // every sibling slot's captured target index is still numbered against the
+        if (cell.IsEmptySlot)
-        // PRE-lift list. Retail's own SpellCastSubMenu::AddFavorite @ 0x004C7060
+            return Math.Min(index, _spellbook.GetFavorites(targetTab).Count);
-        // corrects for exactly this staleness: when the lifted item's original
+        if (payload.SourceTab == targetTab && payload.SourcePosition < index)
-        // index was before the drop target, the target index shifts down by one
+            index -= 1;
-        // to land where the target visually sits once the gap closes.
+        return index;
-        if (payload.SourceTab == targetTab && payload.SourcePosition < targetPosition)
+    }
-            targetPosition -= 1;
+
+    private void DropFavorite(
+        SpellFavoriteDragPayload payload, int targetTab, UiItemList list, UiItemSlot cell)
+    {
+        int targetPosition = FavoriteDropIndex(payload, targetTab, list, cell);
         _addFavorite?.Invoke(targetTab, targetPosition, payload.SpellId);
         _selected[targetTab] = payload.SpellId;
     }

src/AcDream.App/UI/UiCatalogSlot.cs

@@ -36,6 +36,19 @@ public sealed class UiCatalogSlot : UiItemSlot
     public Action<object>? DragEnded { get; init; }
     public Action<object>? Dropped { get; init; }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Per-panel drag-over acceptance — the catalog-cell port of retail's
+    /// per-list drag handler deciding the rollover state
+    /// (<c>UIElement_ItemList::ItemList_DragOver</c> @ 0x004E3400 →
+    /// <c>m_dragHandler->OnItemListDragOver</c>; the spell bar's is
+    /// <c>SpellCastSubMenu::OnItemListDragOver</c> @ 0x004C5990). While a drag
+    /// hovers this cell, the returned acceptance drives the authored
+    /// DragAccept frame (accept 0x060011F9 / reject 0x060011F8). Null (the
+    /// default for every list that never set one) keeps the cell neutral —
+    /// no overlay, exactly the pre-existing presentation.
+    /// </summary>
+    public Func<object, ItemDragAcceptance>? DragOverAcceptance { get; init; }
+
     protected override bool IsShortcutOccupied => EntryId != 0u;
     public override bool IsEmptySlot => EntryId == 0u;
 
@@ -77,9 +90,25 @@ public sealed class UiCatalogSlot : UiItemSlot
                 if (e.Payload is not null) DragBegan?.Invoke(e.Payload);
                 return true;
             case UiEventType.DragEnter:
+                // Pointer entered mid-drag: ask the panel's acceptance seam and show
+                // the authored frame (retail ItemList_DragOver → the list handler's
+                // SetDragAcceptState on the hovered UIItem's 0x1000045A child).
+                SetDragAcceptVisual(e.Payload is { } enterPayload
+                    ? DragOverAcceptance?.Invoke(enterPayload) switch
+                    {
+                        ItemDragAcceptance.Accept => DragAcceptState.Accept,
+                        ItemDragAcceptance.Reject => DragAcceptState.Reject,
+                        _ => DragAcceptState.None,
+                    }
+                    : DragAcceptState.None);
+                return true;
             case UiEventType.DragOver:
+                // UiRoot fires DragOver on LEAVE — retail's dwParam1 == 0 reset to
+                // ItemSlot_DragOver_Normal (0x1000003F) @ 0x004E1438-0x004E1456.
+                SetDragAcceptVisual(DragAcceptState.None);
                 return true;
             case UiEventType.DropReleased:
+                SetDragAcceptVisual(DragAcceptState.None);
                 if (e.Payload is not null) Dropped?.Invoke(e.Payload);
                 return true;
             default:
@@ -141,6 +170,10 @@ public sealed class UiCatalogSlot : UiItemSlot
             if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Detail))
                 ctx.DrawString(Detail!, MathF.Max(labelLeft, Width - 48f), 3f, Vector4.One);
         }
+
+        // Drag-rollover frame last — same layering as the physical UIItem draw
+        // (accept/reject above selection; catalog cells have no cooldown layer).
+        DrawDragAcceptOverlay(ctx);
     }
 
     private void DrawSelection(UiRenderContext ctx)

src/AcDream.App/UI/UiItemSlot.cs

@@ -46,10 +46,13 @@ public class UiItemSlot : UiElement
     public ItemDragSource SourceKind { get; set; } = ItemDragSource.Inventory;
 
     /// <summary>Drag-rollover accept frame (retail ItemSlot_DragOver_Accept 0x060011F9,
-    /// state id 0x10000041). Configurable; guard id != 0 before resolving.</summary>
+    /// UIStateId 0x10000040 — the state paperdoll AutoWearIsLegal @ 0x004A3AC7 and
+    /// VendorSellUI DragItemAcceptable @ 0x004C2320 set on a LEGAL target; the
+    /// 2026-06-16 deep-dive's prose swapped the 40/41 ids, the art column was right).
+    /// Configurable; guard id != 0 before resolving.</summary>
     public uint DragAcceptSprite { get; set; } = 0x060011F9u;
     /// <summary>Drag-rollover reject frame (retail ItemSlot_DragOver_Reject 0x060011F8,
-    /// state id 0x10000040).</summary>
+    /// UIStateId 0x10000041 — the illegal-target branch at 0x004A3AEB / 0x004C2336).</summary>
     public uint DragRejectSprite { get; set; } = 0x060011F8u;
 
     /// <summary>True when this cell is the OPEN container (its contents fill the grid). Draws the
@@ -85,6 +88,13 @@ public class UiItemSlot : UiElement
     /// <summary>Current overlay state — internal so unit tests can assert it (InternalsVisibleTo).</summary>
     internal DragAcceptState DragAcceptVisual => _dragAccept;
 
+    /// <summary>Set the drag-rollover overlay state — the port of retail
+    /// <c>UIElement_UIItem::SetDragAcceptState</c> @ 0x004E1290 flipping the authored
+    /// per-cell <c>m_elem_Icon_DragAccept</c> child (element 0x1000045A, bound in
+    /// <c>PostInit</c> @ 0x004E1870). Subclasses whose drops bypass
+    /// <see cref="IItemListDragHandler"/> (catalog cells) drive the same visual here.</summary>
+    private protected void SetDragAcceptVisual(DragAcceptState state) => _dragAccept = state;
+
     /// <summary>Empty-slot sprite. Default = the generic toolbar empty-slot border
     /// 0x060074CF (uiitem template 0x21000037, state ItemSlot_Empty). Configurable so
     /// paperdoll equip slots can use their per-slot silhouettes later.</summary>
@@ -445,19 +455,7 @@ public class UiItemSlot : UiElement
                 ctx.DrawSprite(tex, 0f, 0f, Width, Height, 0f, 0f, 1f, 1f, Vector4.One);
         }
 
-        // Drag-rollover accept/reject frame (retail SetDragAcceptState 0x10000041/40).
+        DrawDragAcceptOverlay(ctx);
-        // Guard id != 0 BEFORE resolving — resolve(0) returns the 1×1 magenta placeholder
-        // with a non-zero GL handle (feedback_ui_resolve_zero_magenta).
-        if (_dragAccept != DragAcceptState.None && SpriteResolve is not null)
-        {
-            uint id = _dragAccept == DragAcceptState.Accept ? DragAcceptSprite : DragRejectSprite;
-            if (id != 0)
-            {
-                var (tex, _, _) = SpriteResolve(id);
-                if (tex != 0)
-                    ctx.DrawSprite(tex, 0f, 0f, Width, Height, 0f, 0f, 1f, 1f, Vector4.One);
-            }
-        }
 
         // UIElement_UIItem::UpdateCooldownDisplay @ 0x004E1E20 selects exactly
         // one of ten authored radial overlays. The shared prototype gives these
@@ -482,6 +480,24 @@ public class UiItemSlot : UiElement
         }
     }
 
+    /// <summary>Draws the drag-rollover accept/reject frame (retail
+    /// <c>SetDragAcceptState</c> writing <c>ItemSlot_DragOver_Accept</c> 0x10000040 /
+    /// <c>_Reject</c> 0x10000041 on the authored 0x1000045A child). Shared with catalog
+    /// cells the same way retail shares the one UIItem prototype (catalog 0x21000037).
+    /// Guard id != 0 BEFORE resolving — resolve(0) returns the 1×1 magenta placeholder
+    /// with a non-zero GL handle (feedback_ui_resolve_zero_magenta).</summary>
+    protected void DrawDragAcceptOverlay(UiRenderContext ctx)
+    {
+        if (_dragAccept == DragAcceptState.None || SpriteResolve is null)
+            return;
+        uint id = _dragAccept == DragAcceptState.Accept ? DragAcceptSprite : DragRejectSprite;
+        if (id == 0)
+            return;
+        var (tex, _, _) = SpriteResolve(id);
+        if (tex != 0)
+            ctx.DrawSprite(tex, 0f, 0f, Width, Height, 0f, 0f, 1f, 1f, Vector4.One);
+    }
+
     /// <summary>Draws the shared retail shortcut-number layer. Catalog spell cells
     /// call this after their icon layer so magic favorites and physical shortcuts
     /// use the same UIItem presentation path.</summary>

tests/AcDream.App.Tests/UI/Layout/SpellcastingUiControllerTests.cs

@@ -275,6 +275,256 @@ public sealed class SpellcastingUiControllerTests
         Assert.Equal(3u, Assert.IsType<UiCatalogSlot>(list.GetItem(2)).EntryId);
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The user's retail memory after #354 landed: "the green ring indicator where
+    /// the spell icon should land, like in retail." Retail's mechanism is a slot
+    /// STATE, not a synthetic overlay: while a drag hovers any favorite-bar cell,
+    /// SpellCastSubMenu::OnItemListDragOver @ 0x004C5990 sets the authored
+    /// per-cell DragAccept child (element 0x1000045A, bound in
+    /// UIElement_UIItem::PostInit @ 0x004E1870) to ItemSlot_DragOver_Accept
+    /// (UIStateId 0x10000040 -&gt; authored ring art 0x060011F9) whenever the
+    /// dragged payload carries a spell id; the pointer leaving the cell resets it
+    /// to ItemSlot_DragOver_Normal (0x1000003F) @ 0x004E1438. This drives the
+    /// whole gesture through UiRoot's real pointer pipeline and asserts the ring
+    /// appears on the hovered cell, tracks the pointer, survives a live per-frame
+    /// tick, clears on drop, and -- through the ONE shared computation
+    /// (<see cref="SpellcastingUiController.FavoriteDropIndex"/>) -- never
+    /// promises a landing index different from the one the drop applies.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void SpellFavoriteDrag_ShowsAuthoredAcceptRing_TracksPointer_AndNeverLiesAboutTheLanding()
+    {
+        var (controller, spellbook, screen, list, adds, _) = BindPointerFixture();
+        using SpellcastingUiController _1 = controller;
+        UiCatalogSlot slot0 = Assert.IsType<UiCatalogSlot>(list.GetItem(0));
+        UiCatalogSlot slot1 = Assert.IsType<UiCatalogSlot>(list.GetItem(1));
+        UiCatalogSlot slot2 = Assert.IsType<UiCatalogSlot>(list.GetItem(2));
+        (int x0, int y0) = CellCenter(slot0);
+        (int x1, int y1) = CellCenter(slot1);
+        (int x2, int y2) = CellCenter(slot2);
+
+        screen.OnMouseDown(UiMouseButton.Left, x0, y0);
+        screen.OnMouseMove(x0 + 10, y0);
+        Assert.Same(slot0, screen.DragSource);
+
+        // Hover spell 3's cell: the ring appears there and nowhere else, and the
+        // cell's accept frame is the authored ring art.
+        screen.OnMouseMove(x2, y2);
+        Assert.Equal(2, SingleAcceptRingIndex(list));
+        Assert.Equal(0x060011F9u, slot2.DragAcceptSprite);
+
+        // A live per-frame tick (production RetailUiRuntime.Tick) must not
+        // destroy the ringed cell -- the #354 deferral keeps the frozen bar.
+        controller.Tick();
+        Assert.Equal(2, SingleAcceptRingIndex(list));
+
+        // The ring tracks the pointer: moving onto spell 2's cell moves it.
+        screen.OnMouseMove(x1, y1);
+        Assert.Equal(1, SingleAcceptRingIndex(list));
+        Assert.Equal(UiItemSlot.DragAcceptState.None, slot2.DragAcceptVisual);
+
+        // Back over spell 3's cell; capture what the ring promises through the
+        // one shared computation, then drop there.
+        screen.OnMouseMove(x2, y2);
+        var payload = Assert.IsType<SpellFavoriteDragPayload>(screen.DragPayload);
+        int ringIndex = SingleAcceptRingIndex(list);
+        Assert.Equal(2, ringIndex);
+        int promised = controller.FavoriteDropIndex(payload, 0, list, list.GetItem(ringIndex)!);
+
+        screen.OnMouseUp(UiMouseButton.Left, x2, y2);
+
+        Assert.Null(screen.DragSource);
+        Assert.Equal([(0, promised, 1u)], adds);
+        Assert.Equal(new uint[] { 2u, 1u, 3u }, spellbook.GetFavorites(0));
+        Assert.Equal(-1, SingleAcceptRingIndex(list));
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The empty-tail landing: retail's -1 adjustment in
+    /// SpellCastSubMenu::AddFavorite @ 0x004C7060 is gated on
+    /// RemoveSpellFromMenu's RETURN -- the dragged spell's LIVE list index at
+    /// add-time. At a drag-drop the spell already left the live list at lift
+    /// (RecvNotice_ItemListBeginDrag @ 0x004C7360), so a live-numbered target
+    /// gets NO adjustment. acdream's empty-cell index is clamped to the live
+    /// favorite count (a post-lift number); applying the pre-lift -1 on top of
+    /// that double-corrected: lifting a non-last favorite onto the empty tail
+    /// landed it second-to-last ([2,1,3]) instead of last ([2,3,1]). This drags
+    /// spell 1 onto the first empty cell through the real pointer pipeline and
+    /// pins the retail-faithful append -- and that the ring's promise equals
+    /// the landing.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void SpellFavoriteDrag_DroppedOnTheEmptyTail_AppendsAtTheEnd()
+    {
+        var (controller, spellbook, screen, list, adds, _) = BindPointerFixture();
+        using SpellcastingUiController _1 = controller;
+        UiCatalogSlot slot0 = Assert.IsType<UiCatalogSlot>(list.GetItem(0));
+        UiCatalogSlot empty = Assert.IsType<UiCatalogSlot>(list.GetItem(3));
+        Assert.True(empty.IsEmptySlot);
+        (int x0, int y0) = CellCenter(slot0);
+        (int ex, int ey) = CellCenter(empty);
+
+        screen.OnMouseDown(UiMouseButton.Left, x0, y0);
+        screen.OnMouseMove(x0 + 10, y0);
+        Assert.Same(slot0, screen.DragSource);
+
+        // Retail's empty tail cells are UIItems in the same list -- they ring too.
+        screen.OnMouseMove(ex, ey);
+        Assert.Equal(3, SingleAcceptRingIndex(list));
+        var payload = Assert.IsType<SpellFavoriteDragPayload>(screen.DragPayload);
+        int promised = controller.FavoriteDropIndex(payload, 0, list, empty);
+        Assert.Equal(2, promised);   // live count after the lift -- append at end
+
+        screen.OnMouseUp(UiMouseButton.Left, ex, ey);
+
+        Assert.Equal([(0, promised, 1u)], adds);
+        Assert.Equal(new uint[] { 2u, 3u, 1u }, spellbook.GetFavorites(0));
+        Assert.Equal(-1, SingleAcceptRingIndex(list));
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Leaving the bar clears the ring (retail's dwParam1 == 0 reset to
+    /// ItemSlot_DragOver_Normal 0x1000003F @ 0x004E1438), and an off-bar release
+    /// keeps the lift's removal (retail's shape: the drag-begin
+    /// RemoveSpellFavorite stands when no drop lands).
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void SpellFavoriteDrag_RingClearsOnLeave_AndAnOffBarReleaseKeepsTheLiftRemoval()
+    {
+        var (controller, spellbook, screen, list, adds, removes) = BindPointerFixture();
+        using SpellcastingUiController _1 = controller;
+        UiCatalogSlot slot0 = Assert.IsType<UiCatalogSlot>(list.GetItem(0));
+        UiCatalogSlot slot2 = Assert.IsType<UiCatalogSlot>(list.GetItem(2));
+        (int x0, int y0) = CellCenter(slot0);
+        (int x2, int y2) = CellCenter(slot2);
+
+        screen.OnMouseDown(UiMouseButton.Left, x0, y0);
+        screen.OnMouseMove(x0 + 10, y0);
+        screen.OnMouseMove(x2, y2);
+        Assert.Equal(2, SingleAcceptRingIndex(list));
+
+        // Pointer leaves every cell (screen corner, off the bar).
+        screen.OnMouseMove((int)screen.Width - 2, (int)screen.Height - 2);
+        Assert.Equal(-1, SingleAcceptRingIndex(list));
+
+        screen.OnMouseUp(UiMouseButton.Left, (int)screen.Width - 2, (int)screen.Height - 2);
+
+        Assert.Null(screen.DragSource);
+        Assert.Empty(adds);
+        Assert.Equal([(0, 1u)], removes);
+        Assert.Equal(new uint[] { 2u, 3u }, spellbook.GetFavorites(0));
+        Assert.Equal(-1, SingleAcceptRingIndex(list));
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Retail's spell-bar handler keys the ring off the dragged payload carrying
+    /// a spell id (@ 0x004C5990: SetDragAcceptState(0x10000040) only when the
+    /// InqDropIconInfo spellID != 0, returning 1 so the generic physical-item
+    /// fallback @ 0x004E3492 never runs for this list). A physical inventory
+    /// payload therefore leaves favorite cells NEUTRAL -- no ring, no reject --
+    /// while both spell payload kinds ring, on occupied and empty cells alike.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void FavoriteCellRing_AcceptsSpellPayloads_StaysNeutralForPhysicalItems()
+    {
+        var (controller, _, _, list, _, _) = BindPointerFixture();
+        using SpellcastingUiController _1 = controller;
+        UiCatalogSlot occupied = Assert.IsType<UiCatalogSlot>(list.GetItem(0));
+        UiCatalogSlot empty = Assert.IsType<UiCatalogSlot>(list.GetItem(3));
+        var physical = new ItemDragPayload(9u, ItemDragSource.Inventory, 0, new UiItemSlot(), null);
+
+        occupied.OnEvent(new UiEvent(0, occupied, UiEventType.DragEnter, Payload: physical));
+        Assert.Equal(UiItemSlot.DragAcceptState.None, occupied.DragAcceptVisual);
+
+        occupied.OnEvent(new UiEvent(
+            0, occupied, UiEventType.DragEnter, Payload: new SpellbookShortcutDragPayload(42u)));
+        Assert.Equal(UiItemSlot.DragAcceptState.Accept, occupied.DragAcceptVisual);
+        occupied.OnEvent(new UiEvent(0, occupied, UiEventType.DragOver));
+        Assert.Equal(UiItemSlot.DragAcceptState.None, occupied.DragAcceptVisual);
+
+        empty.OnEvent(new UiEvent(
+            0, empty, UiEventType.DragEnter, Payload: new SpellFavoriteDragPayload(0, 0, 1u)));
+        Assert.Equal(UiItemSlot.DragAcceptState.Accept, empty.DragAcceptVisual);
+        empty.OnEvent(new UiEvent(0, empty, UiEventType.DropReleased, Payload: physical));
+        Assert.Equal(UiItemSlot.DragAcceptState.None, empty.DragAcceptVisual);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Shared real-pointer fixture: favorites [1,2,3] on tab 0, the layout
+    /// mounted in a UiRoot, adds/removes recorded and applied to the Spellbook.</summary>
+    private (SpellcastingUiController Controller,
+             Spellbook Spellbook,
+             UiRoot Screen,
+             UiItemList List,
+             List<(int Tab, int Position, uint SpellId)> Adds,
+             List<(int Tab, uint SpellId)> Removes) BindPointerFixture()
+    {
+        ImportedLayout layout = LayoutImporter.Build(
+            FixtureLoader.LoadCombatInfos(), NoTex, datFont: null);
+        RetailCombatLayout.FitFavoriteSlots(layout);
+        var spellbook = new Spellbook();
+        spellbook.OnSpellLearned(1u, 1f);
+        spellbook.OnSpellLearned(2u, 1f);
+        spellbook.OnSpellLearned(3u, 1f);
+        spellbook.SetFavorite(0, 0, 1u);
+        spellbook.SetFavorite(0, 1, 2u);
+        spellbook.SetFavorite(0, 2, 3u);
+        var objects = new ClientObjectTable();
+        objects.AddOrUpdate(new ClientObject { ObjectId = 1u, Name = "Player" });
+        var selection = new SelectionState();
+        var casting = new RuntimeSpellCastState(spellbook, selection, new NoopSpellCastOperations());
+        var adds = new List<(int Tab, int Position, uint SpellId)>();
+        var removes = new List<(int Tab, uint SpellId)>();
+
+        SpellcastingUiController? controller = SpellcastingUiController.Bind(
+            layout, spellbook, casting, objects, () => 1u,
+            spellId => spellId,
+            item => item.ObjectId,
+            _ => { },
+            selection,
+            (tab, position, spellId) =>
+            {
+                adds.Add((tab, position, spellId));
+                spellbook.SetFavorite(tab, position, spellId);
+            },
+            (tab, spellId) =>
+            {
+                removes.Add((tab, spellId));
+                spellbook.RemoveFavorite(tab, spellId);
+            });
+        Assert.True(controller is not null, DescribeBinding(layout));
+
+        var screen = new UiRoot { Width = 1280f, Height = 800f };
+        screen.AddChild(layout.Root);
+        controller!.Tick();
+
+        UiElement group = layout.FindElement(0x100000AAu)!;
+        UiItemList list = Descendants(group).OfType<UiItemList>().First();
+        return (controller, spellbook, screen, list, adds, removes);
+    }
+
+    private static (int X, int Y) CellCenter(UiItemSlot cell)
+    {
+        System.Numerics.Vector2 p = cell.ScreenPosition;
+        return ((int)(p.X + cell.Width / 2f), (int)(p.Y + cell.Height / 2f));
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Index of the single cell showing the Accept ring, or -1 when none;
+    /// fails the test if more than one cell rings at once.</summary>
+    private static int SingleAcceptRingIndex(UiItemList list)
+    {
+        int found = -1;
+        for (int i = 0; i < list.GetNumUIItems(); i++)
+        {
+            if (list.GetItem(i) is { } cell
+                && cell.DragAcceptVisual == UiItemSlot.DragAcceptState.Accept)
+            {
+                Assert.Equal(-1, found);
+                found = i;
+            }
+        }
+        return found;
+    }
+
     [Fact]
     public void FavoriteDrop_IgnoresForeignInventoryPayload()
     {