diff --git a/src/scripts/symbol-rain.config.js b/src/scripts/symbol-rain.config.js
index d703f166..11f0c6a6 100644
--- a/src/scripts/symbol-rain.config.js
+++ b/src/scripts/symbol-rain.config.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
     // Spawn rates
     spawnRate: 0.5,
     burstSpawnRate: 0.15,
-    symbolsPerWave: 7,
+    symbolsPerWave: 14,
     waveInterval: 80,
     guaranteedSpawnInterval: 5000,
     // Face reveal
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
     // Layout
     columnWidth: 50,
     gridCellSize: 100,
-    poolSize: 30,
+    poolSize: 60,
     // Desktop collision (pixels)
     desktopSymbolHeight: 30,
     desktopSymbolWidth: 30,
diff --git a/src/scripts/worm-movement-navigation.js b/src/scripts/worm-movement-navigation.js
index 5026546f..947db437 100644
--- a/src/scripts/worm-movement-navigation.js
+++ b/src/scripts/worm-movement-navigation.js
@@ -49,7 +49,9 @@ console.log("🐛 Worm movement navigation loading...");
       return false;
     }
 
-    const symbolsToSearch = this.getCachedAllSymbols();
+    const symbolsToSearch = worm.isPurple
+      ? this.getCachedAllSymbols()
+      : this.getCachedRevealedSymbols();
 
     const targetElement = this._resolveTargetElement(worm, symbolsToSearch);
 
diff --git a/src/scripts/worm-system.behavior.js b/src/scripts/worm-system.behavior.js
index 311a02b0..ebe074eb 100644
--- a/src/scripts/worm-system.behavior.js
+++ b/src/scripts/worm-system.behavior.js
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@
       return;
     }
 
-    // FIX: Purple worms need access to ALL symbols (including hidden), not just revealed
-    const symbolsSource = this.getCachedAllSymbols();
+    const symbolsSource = this.getCachedRevealedSymbols();
 
     // Get all available symbols (not stolen, not spaces, not completed)
     const allAvailableSymbols = Array.from(symbolsSource).filter(
@@ -42,37 +41,22 @@
         !el.classList.contains("completed-row-symbol"),
     );
 
-    // PURPLE WORM LOGIC: Only steal blue symbols when NO red symbols available
+    // PURPLE WORM LOGIC: can only steal symbols currently visible to the user
     let availableSymbols;
     if (worm.canStealBlue && worm.isPurple) {
-      // First, try to get red (hidden) symbols only
-      const redSymbols = allAvailableSymbols.filter((el) =>
-        el.classList.contains("hidden-symbol"),
+      availableSymbols = allAvailableSymbols.filter((el) =>
+        el.classList.contains("revealed-symbol"),
+      );
+      console.log(
+        `🟣 PURPLE WORM - ${availableSymbols.length} revealed symbols available`,
       );
-
-      if (redSymbols.length > 0) {
-        // Red symbols available - purple worm steals red symbols like normal
-        availableSymbols = redSymbols;
-        console.log(
-          `🟣 PURPLE WORM - ${redSymbols.length} red symbols available (preferring red)`,
-        );
-      } else {
-        // NO red symbols - now purple worm can steal blue symbols!
-        const blueSymbols = allAvailableSymbols.filter((el) =>
-          el.classList.contains("revealed-symbol"),
-        );
-        availableSymbols = blueSymbols;
-        console.log(
-          `🟣 PURPLE WORM - NO red symbols! Stealing blue symbols (${blueSymbols.length} available)`,
-        );
-      }
     } else {
-      // Normal worm - only steal red (hidden) symbols
+      // All non-purple steal attempts are restricted to currently revealed symbols
       availableSymbols = allAvailableSymbols.filter((el) =>
-        el.classList.contains("hidden-symbol"),
+        el.classList.contains("revealed-symbol"),
       );
       console.log(
-        `🐛 Normal worm - ${availableSymbols.length} red symbols available`,
+        `🐛 Normal worm - ${availableSymbols.length} revealed symbols available`,
       );
     }
 
@@ -178,18 +162,13 @@
     ));
 
     if (worm.isPurple && worm.canStealBlue) {
-      const redSymbols = allAvailableSymbols.filter((el) =>
-        el.classList.contains("hidden-symbol"),
-      );
-      if (redSymbols.length > 0) return redSymbols;
-
       return allAvailableSymbols.filter((el) =>
         el.classList.contains("revealed-symbol"),
       );
     }
 
     return allAvailableSymbols.filter((el) =>
-      el.classList.contains("hidden-symbol"),
+      el.classList.contains("revealed-symbol"),
     );
   };
 
diff --git a/src/scripts/worm-system.effects.js b/src/scripts/worm-system.effects.js
index 943b18db..c5f085f0 100644
--- a/src/scripts/worm-system.effects.js
+++ b/src/scripts/worm-system.effects.js
@@ -208,9 +208,11 @@
   proto.createSlimeSplat = function(x, y) {
     const splat = document.createElement("div");
     splat.className = "slime-splat";
+    splat.textContent = "🫟";
     splat.style.left = `${x}px`;
     splat.style.top = `${y}px`;
     splat.style.position = "fixed"; // Use fixed positioning to place at exact coordinates
+    splat.style.zIndex = "10002";
 
     // Random rotation for variation
     splat.style.transform = `translate(-50%, -50%) rotate(${Math.random() *
diff --git a/src/scripts/worm-system.events.js b/src/scripts/worm-system.events.js
index 688893b5..c647648f 100644
--- a/src/scripts/worm-system.events.js
+++ b/src/scripts/worm-system.events.js
@@ -108,41 +108,13 @@
 
       const normalizedWormSymbol = normalizeSymbol(worm.stolenSymbol);
 
-      if (normalizedWormSymbol === normalizedClicked) {
-        // PURPLE WORM: Turn green when matching symbol clicked (must click worm to destroy)
+        if (normalizedWormSymbol === normalizedClicked) {
+        // PURPLE WORM: matching rain symbol is the only valid kill path
         if (worm.isPurple) {
           console.log(
-            `🟣→🟢 User clicked rain symbol "${clickedSymbol}" - Purple worm ${worm.id} turns GREEN!`,
+            `💥 User clicked matching rain symbol "${clickedSymbol}" - EXPLODING purple worm ${worm.id}!`,
           );
-
-          // Turn worm green (damaged state)
-          worm.element.style.filter = "hue-rotate(120deg) brightness(1.2)"; // Purple → Green
-          worm.element.classList.remove("purple-worm");
-          worm.element.classList.add("worm-damaged", "purple-turned-green");
-          worm.isPurple = false; // No longer purple
-          worm.canBeClicked = true; // Now clickable for destruction
-
-          // Flash effect
-          worm.element.style.animation = "worm-flash-green 0.5s ease-out";
-          setTimeout(() => {
-            worm.element.style.animation = "";
-          }, 500);
-
-          // Update click handler to explode instead of clone
-          worm.element.removeEventListener("click", worm.clickHandler);
-          worm.clickHandler = (e) => {
-            e.stopPropagation();
-            console.log(
-              `💥 Green (was purple) worm ${worm.id} clicked - EXPLODING!`,
-            );
-
-            // Drop power-up when purple worm (now green) is destroyed
-            this.dropPowerUp(worm.x, worm.y);
-
-            this.explodeWorm(worm, false);
-          };
-          worm.element.addEventListener("click", worm.clickHandler);
-
+          this.explodeWorm(worm, true);
           return;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/scripts/worm-system.interactions.js b/src/scripts/worm-system.interactions.js
index 35450d83..c4d116cf 100644
--- a/src/scripts/worm-system.interactions.js
+++ b/src/scripts/worm-system.interactions.js
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@
       worm.element.style.animation = "";
     }, 500);
 
-    // FIX: Explode original purple worm AND clone it
-    this.explodeWorm(worm, false); 
+    // Purple worms should not die on direct click; click is a clone penalty.
     this.clonePurpleWorm(worm);
   };
 
diff --git a/src/scripts/worm-system.spawn.js b/src/scripts/worm-system.spawn.js
index 666dd1bd..7f22d7d1 100644
--- a/src/scripts/worm-system.spawn.js
+++ b/src/scripts/worm-system.spawn.js
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@
       )}, ${startY.toFixed(0)}). Total worms: ${this.worms.length}`,
     );
     console.log(
-      `🟣 Purple worm moves slower, prioritizes RED symbols, and CLONES on click!`,
+      `🟣 Purple worm moves slower, steals visible symbols, and CLONES on click!`,
     );
 
     // Start animation loop if not already running
diff --git a/src/styles/css/score-timer.css b/src/styles/css/score-timer.css
index 5532544e..3d49eb9f 100644
--- a/src/styles/css/score-timer.css
+++ b/src/styles/css/score-timer.css
@@ -57,13 +57,13 @@
 }
 
 .hud-label {
-  font-size: 12px;
+  font-size: 8px;
   letter-spacing: 2px;
   opacity: 0.9;
 }
 
 .hud-value {
-  font-size: 28px;
+  font-size: 20px;
   font-weight: 900;
   line-height: 1.05;
 }
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@
   }
 
   .hud-value {
-    font-size: 22px;
+    font-size: 15px;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/worm-behavior.spec.js b/tests/worm-behavior.spec.js
index fe9a1b11..8cf700fe 100644
--- a/tests/worm-behavior.spec.js
+++ b/tests/worm-behavior.spec.js
@@ -81,4 +81,32 @@ test.describe("Worm behavior: aggression, targeting, and click rules", () => {
 
     expect(afterSecondClick).toBeFalsy();
   });
+
+  test("purple worm click clones instead of dying", async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.evaluate(() => {
+      document.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent("purpleWormTriggered"));
+    });
+
+    await page.waitForFunction(
+      () => window.wormSystem?.worms.some((w) => w.active && w.isPurple),
+    );
+
+    const beforeClickCount = await page.evaluate(
+      () => window.wormSystem.worms.filter((w) => w.active && w.isPurple).length,
+    );
+
+    const purpleWorm = page.locator(".worm-container.purple-worm").first();
+    await purpleWorm.click({ force: true });
+
+    await page.waitForTimeout(400);
+
+    const afterClickState = await page.evaluate(() => ({
+      purpleCount: window.wormSystem.worms.filter((w) => w.active && w.isPurple)
+        .length,
+      totalActive: window.wormSystem.worms.filter((w) => w.active).length,
+    }));
+
+    expect(afterClickState.purpleCount).toBeGreaterThan(beforeClickCount);
+    expect(afterClickState.totalActive).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(2);
+  });
 });