diff --git a/src/town/a5.py b/src/town/a5.py
index d1812e5..f42ac57 100644
--- a/src/town/a5.py
+++ b/src/town/a5.py
@@ -127,10 +127,26 @@ class A5(IAct):
                 return True
         # Recovery path after failed vendor/menu interactions: restart from known town start.
         Logger.warning("A5 waypoint open failed, retrying from town start anchor")
-        if not self._pather.traverse_nodes((Location.A5_TOWN_START, Location.A5_WP), self._char, force_move=True):
-            return False
-        wait(0.6, 0.8)
-        return self._char.select_by_template("A5_WP", found_wp_func, telekinesis=True)
+        if self._pather.traverse_nodes((Location.A5_TOWN_START, Location.A5_WP), self._char, force_move=True):
+            wait(0.6, 0.8)
+            if self._char.select_by_template("A5_WP", found_wp_func, telekinesis=True):
+                return True
+        # Last resort: the char may be stranded in a corner where no path nodes anchor
+        # (e.g. after a failed Malah hunt). Walk a search pattern across the small town
+        # and scan the whole screen for the WP template directly each step.
+        from screen import convert_abs_to_monitor
+        Logger.warning("A5 open_wp: node pathing failed — walking search pattern with direct WP scan")
+        for step_abs in [(-350, 100), (-300, -200), (-250, 250), (450, 50), (-100, -300)]:
+            wp_match = template_finder.search("A5_WP", grab(), threshold=0.58)
+            if wp_match.valid:
+                self._char.move(wp_match.center_monitor, force_move=True)
+                wait(0.5, 0.7)
+                if self._char.select_by_template("A5_WP", found_wp_func, threshold=0.58, telekinesis=True):
+                    return True
+            pos_m = convert_abs_to_monitor(step_abs)
+            self._char.move(pos_m, force_move=True)
+            wait(1.2, 1.5)
+        return False
 
     def wait_for_tp(self) -> Location | bool:
         success = template_finder.search_and_wait(["A5_TOWN_1", "A5_TOWN_0"], timeout=20).valid