diff --git a/src/scene/act-scene.ts b/src/scene/act-scene.ts
index 5e2a431..cddcf68 100644
--- a/src/scene/act-scene.ts
+++ b/src/scene/act-scene.ts
@@ -2203,7 +2203,7 @@ export function castSkill(
     player.fireMasterySlvl = fireMasterySlvl
     player.isSorceress = true
 
-    engine.spawnOverlay('enchant', { x: player.x, y: player.y }, 'player', { loop: true, isStateOverlay: true })
+    engine.spawnOverlay('enchant', { x: player.x, y: player.y }, 'player', { loop: false })
 
     player.cooldown = 0
     engine.metrics.casts += 1
diff --git a/tests/skills/sor/issue-438-enchant-oneshot-overlay.test.ts b/tests/skills/sor/issue-438-enchant-oneshot-overlay.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e8fd18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/skills/sor/issue-438-enchant-oneshot-overlay.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+/**
+ * Issue #438: Enchant (#52) One-Shot Visual Playback Verification Suite
+ *
+ * 1.13c Ground Truth Invariants:
+ * 1. One-Shot Visual: Enchant cast overlay (`enchant`, FireEnchant.dc6) plays 17 frames once (`loop: false`).
+ * 2. Natural Dissolution: After 17 animation frames (~27 logic ticks), the overlay naturally expires and
+ *    is removed from `engine.overlays`.
+ * 3. Buff Persistence: Player's enchant buff (`player.enchantTicks`, `player.enchantDamage`,
+ *    `player.enchantAttackRatingPercent`) remains active for its full duration (e.g. 3600+ ticks)
+ *    even after the visual overlay has expired.
+ */
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { GameEngine, type EngineInput } from '../../../src/game/engine.ts'
+import { castSkill } from '../../../src/scene/act-scene.ts'
+import { DEMO_SKILLS } from '../../../src/game/demo-data.ts'
+
+const DEFAULT_INPUT: EngineInput = {
+  movement: { x: 0, y: 0 },
+  attacking: false,
+  pickingUp: false,
+  talking: false,
+  digits: [],
+  saving: false,
+  loading: false,
+}
+
+describe('Issue #438: Enchant (#52) One-Shot Visual Overlay', () => {
+  it('spawns enchant overlay with loop: false which expires after 17 frames while buff remains active', () => {
+    const engine = new GameEngine(
+      { widthPx: 1000, heightPx: 1000, overlap: () => 0 },
+      { spawn: { x: 300, y: 300 }, stats: [], questDefs: [], npcDefs: [], skills: DEMO_SKILLS } as any,
+    )
+    const player = engine.world.player
+    player.x = 300
+    player.y = 300
+    player.mana = 500
+    player.cooldown = 0
+
+    const statusEl = { textContent: '' } as HTMLElement
+    const dummyRuntime = {
+      walkable: { isWalkable: () => true },
+      collision: { isWalkable: () => true },
+    } as any
+
+    const castOk = castSkill(52, 300, 300, {
+      engine,
+      runtime: dummyRuntime,
+      hudManager: null,
+      status: statusEl,
+    })
+    expect(castOk).toBe(true)
+
+    // Verify buff is active on player
+    expect(player.enchantTicks).toBeGreaterThan(1000)
+    expect(player.enchantDamage).toBeDefined()
+    expect(player.enchantAttackRatingPercent).toBeDefined()
+
+    // Verify overlay was spawned with loop: false
+    const enchantOverlay = engine.overlays.find(ov => ov.overlayName === 'enchant')
+    expect(enchantOverlay).toBeDefined()
+    expect(enchantOverlay!.loop).toBe(false)
+    expect(enchantOverlay!.maxFrames).toBe(17)
+
+    // Tick engine for 20 ticks: overlay is still playing (< 17 frames)
+    for (let t = 0; t < 20; t++) {
+      engine.tick(DEFAULT_INPUT)
+    }
+    expect(enchantOverlay!.expired).toBe(false)
+    expect(engine.overlays.some(ov => ov.overlayName === 'enchant')).toBe(true)
+
+    // Tick engine for another 15 ticks (total 35 ticks > 27 ticks required for 17 frames at 16/25 frame rate)
+    for (let t = 0; t < 15; t++) {
+      engine.tick(DEFAULT_INPUT)
+    }
+
+    // Verify overlay is now naturally expired and cleaned up from engine.overlays
+    expect(enchantOverlay!.expired).toBe(true)
+    const activeEnchantOverlay = engine.overlays.find(ov => ov.overlayName === 'enchant' && !ov.expired)
+    expect(activeEnchantOverlay).toBeUndefined()
+
+    // Verify player buff is STILL ACTIVE and unexpired!
+    expect(player.enchantTicks).toBeGreaterThan(1000)
+    expect(player.enchantDamage).toBeDefined()
+    expect(player.enchantAttackRatingPercent).toBeDefined()
+  })
+})