diff --git a/src/game/maze.ts b/src/game/maze.ts
index f30b410..94ba571 100644
--- a/src/game/maze.ts
+++ b/src/game/maze.ts
@@ -1591,29 +1591,9 @@ function themeRoll(level: MazeLevel, pieces: readonly MazePiece[], stats: MazeSt
 }
 
 /**
- * Compute BFS topological distance of every room from the level's entrance room
- * (the room holding a 'prev' or 'entrance' piece, or `level.first`).
- */
-function bfsDistances(level: MazeLevel): Map<Room, number> {
-  const start = level.rooms.find(r => r.piece?.kind === 'prev' || r.piece?.kind === 'entrance') ?? level.first
-  const dist = new Map<Room, number>([[start, 0]])
-  const queue: Room[] = [start]
-  while (queue.length > 0) {
-    const current = queue.shift()!
-    const d = dist.get(current)!
-    for (const orth of current.orths) {
-      if (!dist.has(orth.room)) {
-        dist.set(orth.room, d + 1)
-        queue.push(orth.room)
-      }
-    }
-  }
-  return dist
-}
-
-/**
- * Place a special room group using topological dead-end / BFS distance selection
- * and `LvlPrest.txt` full-room preset substitution.
+ * Place a special room group following standard D2 scanning rules:
+ * scans room candidates against valid wall connections, LvlPrest file definitions,
+ * and room flags, rather than imposing an artificial global maximum BFS distance.
  *
  * @param level - the level.
  * @param pieces - the level's pieces.
@@ -1630,11 +1610,9 @@ function placeSpecialGroup(
   index: PieceIndex,
   stats: MazeStats,
 ): void {
-  const isExit = group.kind === 'next' || group.kind === 'down' || group.kind === 'quest'
-  const distMap = bfsDistances(level)
-
-  // Phase 1: Try to replace an existing unfinished room in place, preferring
-  // maximum BFS distance from entrance for exits/objectives and minimum for entrances.
+  // Phase 1: Try to replace an existing unfinished room in place, scanning
+  // room candidates against valid wall connections, LvlPrest definitions,
+  // and room flags in standard D2 roster order.
   for (let offset = 0; offset < group.entries.length; offset += 1) {
     const entry = group.entries[(startCursor + offset) % group.entries.length]!
     const wanted = sideMaskFromToken(entry.plainSides)
@@ -1642,20 +1620,14 @@ function placeSpecialGroup(
     const special = findSpecial(pieces, group.kind, entry.sides)
     if (special === undefined) continue
 
-    const candidates = level.rooms.filter(r => {
+    const chosen = level.rooms.find(r => {
       if (roomSideMask(r) !== wanted) return false
       if (!r.hasDs1) return true
       if (group.inPlaceOnly === true && (r.piece === special || r.piece?.kind === 'theme')) return true
       return false
     })
 
-    if (candidates.length > 0) {
-      candidates.sort((a, b) => {
-        const da = distMap.get(a) ?? 0
-        const db = distMap.get(b) ?? 0
-        return isExit ? db - da : da - db
-      })
-      const chosen = candidates[0]!
+    if (chosen !== undefined) {
       chosen.piece = special
       chosen.variant = 0
       chosen.hasDs1 = true
@@ -1670,16 +1642,12 @@ function placeSpecialGroup(
     return
   }
 
-  // Phase 2: Grow a new dead-end room off the best available parent room.
-  const parentCandidates = level.rooms.filter(
-    r => !r.hasDs1 || r.piece?.kind === 'theme',
-  )
-  parentCandidates.sort((a, b) => {
-    if (a.hasDs1 !== b.hasDs1) return a.hasDs1 ? 1 : -1
-    const da = distMap.get(a) ?? 0
-    const db = distMap.get(b) ?? 0
-    return isExit ? db - da : da - db
-  })
+  // Phase 2: Grow a new dead-end room off an available parent room in D2
+  // roster order (plain rooms without DS1 scanned first, followed by theme rooms).
+  const parentCandidates = [
+    ...level.rooms.filter(r => !r.hasDs1),
+    ...level.rooms.filter(r => r.hasDs1 && r.piece?.kind === 'theme'),
+  ]
 
   for (const parent of parentCandidates) {
     for (let offset = 0; offset < group.entries.length; offset += 1) {