diff --git a/frontend/src/game/engine.ts b/frontend/src/game/engine.ts
index 6b196ac..2bf167c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/game/engine.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/game/engine.ts
@@ -440,8 +440,8 @@ export class GameEngine {
       if (isBlocked || isEvaded) {
         this._emitDamage(
           0,
-          defender === 'enemy' ? viewport.width / 2 + 60 : viewport.width / 2 - 60,
-          viewport.height / 2 - 30,
+          defender === 'enemy' ? viewport.width / 2 + 88 : viewport.width / 2 - 88,
+          viewport.height / 2 - 42,
           false,
           isBlocked ? 'blocked' : 'evaded',
           defender,
@@ -449,8 +449,8 @@ export class GameEngine {
       } else {
         this._emitDamage(
           damage,
-          defender === 'enemy' ? viewport.width / 2 + 60 : viewport.width / 2 - 60,
-          viewport.height / 2 - 30,
+          defender === 'enemy' ? viewport.width / 2 + 88 : viewport.width / 2 - 88,
+          viewport.height / 2 - 42,
           source === 'hero' ? isCrit : false,
           'damage',
           defender,
@@ -473,8 +473,8 @@ export class GameEngine {
       const viewport = getViewport();
       this._emitDamage(
         amount,
-        viewport.width / 2 + 60,
-        viewport.height / 2 - 30,
+        viewport.width / 2 + 88,
+        viewport.height / 2 - 42,
         false,
         'regen',
         'enemy',
diff --git a/frontend/src/shared/constants.ts b/frontend/src/shared/constants.ts
index 0860ea6..1fecfcf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/shared/constants.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/shared/constants.ts
@@ -47,10 +47,13 @@ export const WS_HEARTBEAT_TIMEOUT_MS = 5000;
 export const MAX_ACCUMULATED_MS = 250;
 
 /** Floating damage number duration in milliseconds */
-export const DAMAGE_NUMBER_DURATION_MS = 1800;
+export const DAMAGE_NUMBER_DURATION_MS = 2600;
 
-/** Floating damage rise distance in pixels */
-export const DAMAGE_NUMBER_RISE_PX = 60;
+/** Floating damage rise distance in pixels (vertical flight from anchor) */
+export const DAMAGE_NUMBER_RISE_PX = 96;
+
+/** Horizontal drift during float (per target side; scales with progress) */
+export const DAMAGE_NUMBER_DRIFT_PX = 44;
 
 /** Buff cooldown overlay animation fps */
 export const BUFF_OVERLAY_FPS = 30;
diff --git a/frontend/src/ui/FloatingDamage.tsx b/frontend/src/ui/FloatingDamage.tsx
index 9832be4..da7fe6f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ui/FloatingDamage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/ui/FloatingDamage.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
-import { useEffect, useState, type CSSProperties } from 'react';
-import { DAMAGE_NUMBER_DURATION_MS, DAMAGE_NUMBER_RISE_PX } from '../shared/constants';
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useState, type CSSProperties } from 'react';
+import {
+  DAMAGE_NUMBER_DURATION_MS,
+  DAMAGE_NUMBER_DRIFT_PX,
+  DAMAGE_NUMBER_RISE_PX,
+} from '../shared/constants';
 import type { FloatingDamageData } from '../game/types';
 
 interface FloatingDamageProps {
@@ -34,6 +38,8 @@ function DamageNumber({ data, onExpire }: DamageNumberProps) {
     return () => cancelAnimationFrame(rafId);
   }, [data.createdAt, data.id, onExpire]);
 
+  const driftDir = data.target === 'enemy' ? 1 : -1;
+  const offsetX = progress * DAMAGE_NUMBER_DRIFT_PX * driftDir;
   const offsetY = -progress * DAMAGE_NUMBER_RISE_PX;
   const opacity = 1 - progress * progress; // ease-out fade
   const scale = data.isCrit && data.kind === 'damage' ? 1.4 - progress * 0.4 : 1;
@@ -47,7 +53,7 @@ function DamageNumber({ data, onExpire }: DamageNumberProps) {
 
   const style: CSSProperties = {
     position: 'absolute',
-    left: data.x,
+    left: data.x + offsetX,
     top: data.y + offsetY,
     transform: `translate(-50%, -50%) scale(${scale})`,
     opacity,
@@ -90,9 +96,9 @@ export function FloatingDamage({ damages }: FloatingDamageProps) {
     });
   }, [damages]);
 
-  const handleExpire = (id: number) => {
+  const handleExpire = useCallback((id: number) => {
     setActiveDamages((prev) => prev.filter((d) => d.id !== id));
-  };
+  }, []);
 
   return (
     <div style={{