diff --git a/src/bot.py b/src/bot.py
index 12ccbf8..a025fa2 100644
--- a/src/bot.py
+++ b/src/bot.py
@@ -382,8 +382,16 @@ class Bot:
     def on_start_from_town(self):
         self._curr_loc = self._town_manager.wait_for_town_spawn()
         if not self._curr_loc:
-            Logger.warning("Could not detect town spawn — defaulting to A1_TOWN_START. Run will waypoint to correct act.")
-            self._curr_loc = Location.A1_TOWN_START
+            # Try a direct marker scan before any blind default — D2R respawns the
+            # char in the act it last save+exited from, which is A4/A5 for this
+            # route, so the old A1 default ran wrong-act pathing immediately.
+            detected = self._town_manager.detect_current_act(timeout=4)
+            if detected:
+                Logger.warning(f"Town spawn templates missed — act detection says {detected}")
+                self._curr_loc = detected
+            else:
+                Logger.warning("Could not detect town spawn — defaulting to A5_TOWN_START (route home act)")
+                self._curr_loc = Location.A5_TOWN_START
         self._spawn_act = TownManager.get_act_from_location(self._curr_loc)
         
         # Handle picking up corpse in case of death