diff --git a/surface/PlanetSurface.tscn b/surface/PlanetSurface.tscn
index 304ae58..08a7998 100644
--- a/surface/PlanetSurface.tscn
+++ b/surface/PlanetSurface.tscn
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=20 format=3]
+[gd_scene load_steps=21 format=3]
 
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://controllers/GameController.gd" id="1"]
 [ext_resource type="PackedScene" path="res://surface/SurfaceBackground.tscn" id="3"]
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://controllers/GasBombController.gd" id="14"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://controllers/LaserController.gd" id="16"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://controllers/DashController.gd" id="dash_ctrl"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://ui/AbilityButtonLayout.gd" id="ability_layout"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://ui/SpeedFader.gd" id="17"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://surface/CaptureLabel.gd" id="15"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://ui/NarrationBanner.gd" id="banner"]
@@ -43,6 +44,9 @@ script = ExtResource("16")
 [node name="DashController" type="Node2D" parent="."]
 script = ExtResource("dash_ctrl")
 
+[node name="AbilityButtonLayout" type="Node" parent="."]
+script = ExtResource("ability_layout")
+
 [node name="Camera2D" type="Camera2D" parent="."]
 position = Vector2(0, 0)
 zoom = Vector2(1, 1)
diff --git a/tests/test_ability_button_layout.gd b/tests/test_ability_button_layout.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b285881
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_ability_button_layout.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+extends SceneTree
+
+# The three aimed abilities share one responsive quarter-circle layout around
+# the fire stick in both playable scenes. This exercises the real space HUD;
+# PlanetSurface carries the same layout node and is checked structurally.
+
+var main: Node
+var fleet: Node
+var stage: int = 0
+var elapsed: float = 0.0
+
+
+func _initialize() -> void:
+	var state: Node = root.get_node("GameState")
+	state.reset_new_game()
+	state.intro_active = false
+	state.vessel_levels["unlock_laser"] = 1
+	state.vessel_levels["unlock_gas_bomber"] = 1
+	state.vessel_levels["unlock_distorder"] = 1
+	state.fleet_inventory.total_capacity = -1
+	state.deposit_fleet_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY, 500)
+	state.deposit_fleet_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_GAS, 500)
+	main = load("res://world/Main.tscn").instantiate()
+	root.add_child(main)
+	current_scene = main
+	fleet = main.get_node("Fleet")
+
+
+func _process(delta: float) -> bool:
+	elapsed += delta
+	if stage == 0 and elapsed >= 0.2:
+		main.get_node("EnemySpawner").set_process(false)
+		main.get_node("AsteroidField").set_process(false)
+		fleet.spawn_ships(3, Vector2.ZERO, PackedStringArray([
+			GameState.VESSEL_DISTORDER,
+			GameState.VESSEL_GAS_BOMBER,
+			GameState.VESSEL_LASER,
+		]))
+		_refresh_layout()
+		var layout: Node = main.get_node("AbilityButtonLayout")
+		var center: Vector2 = _fire_center()
+		var previous_angle: float = -INF
+		for path in ["UI/DashButton", "UI/GasBombButton", "UI/LaserButton"]:
+			var button: Control = main.get_node(path)
+			if not button.visible:
+				return _fail("%s is hidden in a fleet that provides every ability" % path)
+			var offset: Vector2 = button.global_position + button.size * 0.5 - center
+			if absf(offset.length() - layout.arc_radius) > 1.0 \
+					or offset.x > 0.1 or offset.y > 0.1:
+				return _fail("%s is not on the fire stick's upper-left quarter circle" % path)
+			var angle: float = offset.angle()
+			if angle < 0.0:
+				angle += TAU
+			if previous_angle != -INF and angle <= previous_angle:
+				return _fail("ability buttons do not follow the quarter-circle order")
+			previous_angle = angle
+
+		fleet.spawn_ships(1, Vector2.ZERO, PackedStringArray([GameState.VESSEL_LASER]))
+		_refresh_layout()
+		var laser: Control = main.get_node("UI/LaserButton")
+		var single_offset: Vector2 = laser.global_position + laser.size * 0.5 - _fire_center()
+		if absf(single_offset.x) > 1.0 or single_offset.y >= 0.0:
+			return _fail("a single ability does not sit directly above the fire stick")
+		var surface: Node = load("res://surface/PlanetSurface.tscn").instantiate()
+		if surface.get_node_or_null("AbilityButtonLayout") == null:
+			return _fail("planet surface is missing the shared ability layout")
+		surface.free()
+		print("abilities fan through the fire stick's upper-left quarter circle")
+		print("TEST_ABILITY_BUTTON_LAYOUT: PASS")
+		quit(0)
+		return true
+	return false
+
+
+func _refresh_layout() -> void:
+	main.get_node("DashController")._process(0.0)
+	main.get_node("GasBombController")._process(0.0)
+	main.get_node("LaserController")._process(0.0)
+	main.get_node("AbilityButtonLayout")._process(0.0)
+
+
+func _fire_center() -> Vector2:
+	var stick: Control = main.get_node("UI/FireStick")
+	return stick.global_position + stick.size * 0.5
+
+
+func _fail(message: String) -> bool:
+	print("TEST_ABILITY_BUTTON_LAYOUT: FAIL (%s)" % message)
+	quit(1)
+	return true
diff --git a/tests/test_laser_vessel.gd b/tests/test_laser_vessel.gd
index df23551..3177010 100644
--- a/tests/test_laser_vessel.gd
+++ b/tests/test_laser_vessel.gd
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ func _process(delta: float) -> bool:
 			first_shooter = skill._next_ready_laser_ship()
 			if first_shooter == null:
 				return _fail_now("no laser ship is ready right after spawning")
+			if absf(first_shooter.get_component("laser").beam_range - 2900.0) > 0.1:
+				return _fail_now("laser ship beam range was not doubled to 2900")
 
 			var press := InputEventScreenTouch.new()
 			press.index = 7
@@ -131,7 +133,7 @@ func _process(delta: float) -> bool:
 			off_line_enemy.speed = 0.0
 
 			beyond_range_enemy = load("res://enemies/Enemy.tscn").instantiate()
-			beyond_range_enemy.position = first_shooter.global_position + Vector2(2000.0, 0.0)
+			beyond_range_enemy.position = first_shooter.global_position + Vector2(3400.0, 0.0)
 			main.add_child(beyond_range_enemy)
 			beyond_range_enemy.speed = 0.0
 
diff --git a/ui/AbilityButtonLayout.gd b/ui/AbilityButtonLayout.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..204283b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/AbilityButtonLayout.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+class_name AbilityButtonLayout
+extends Node
+
+# Keeps the aimed fleet abilities close to the firing thumb. One ability sits
+# directly above the fire stick; multiple abilities fan through its upper-left
+# quadrant instead of becoming a detached horizontal toolbar.
+
+@export var arc_radius: float = 280.0
+
+@onready var fire_stick: Control = get_node("../UI/FireStick")
+@onready var buttons: Array = [
+	get_node("../UI/DashButton"),
+	get_node("../UI/GasBombButton"),
+	get_node("../UI/LaserButton"),
+]
+
+var visibility_signature: int = -1
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	get_viewport().size_changed.connect(_layout_visible_buttons)
+	_layout_visible_buttons.call_deferred()
+
+
+func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
+	var signature: int = 0
+	for i in range(buttons.size()):
+		if buttons[i].visible:
+			signature |= 1 << i
+	if signature == visibility_signature:
+		return
+	visibility_signature = signature
+	_layout_visible_buttons()
+
+
+func _layout_visible_buttons() -> void:
+	var visible_buttons: Array = buttons.filter(func(button): return button.visible)
+	if visible_buttons.is_empty():
+		return
+	var center: Vector2 = fire_stick.global_position + fire_stick.size * 0.5
+	for i in range(visible_buttons.size()):
+		# Screen coordinates grow downward: PI points left and 3*PI/2 points
+		# upward, tracing exactly the useful quarter around a bottom-right stick.
+		var weight: float = 1.0 if visible_buttons.size() == 1 \
+			else float(i) / float(visible_buttons.size() - 1)
+		var angle: float = lerpf(PI, PI * 1.5, weight)
+		var button: Control = visible_buttons[i]
+		button.global_position = center + Vector2.from_angle(angle) * arc_radius \
+			- button.size * 0.5
diff --git a/vessels/LaserRangeUpgrade.tres b/vessels/LaserRangeUpgrade.tres
index 061a994..6c7c06d 100644
--- a/vessels/LaserRangeUpgrade.tres
+++ b/vessels/LaserRangeUpgrade.tres
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
 script = ExtResource("1")
 upgrade_id = "lsr_range"
 display_name = "Beam Collimator"
-description = "+150 beam range per level."
+description = "+300 beam range per level."
 base_cost = 25
 max_level = 3
 research_point_cost = 1
 icon = 17
-additive_modifiers = {"beam_range": 150.0}
+additive_modifiers = {"beam_range": 300.0}
diff --git a/vessels/LaserVesselDefinition.tres b/vessels/LaserVesselDefinition.tres
index 76a840d..820b6cb 100644
--- a/vessels/LaserVesselDefinition.tres
+++ b/vessels/LaserVesselDefinition.tres
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ hull_points = PackedVector2Array(0, -26, -9, 14, -4, 10, 4, 10, 9, 14)
 fleet_eligible = true
 capabilities = PackedStringArray("laser")
 component_scenes = Array[PackedScene]([ExtResource("2")])
-base_stats = {"max_speed": 660.0, "acceleration": 1890.0, "delivery_speed": 180.0, "damage": 2.0, "beam_range": 1450.0, "beam_cooldown": 4.0}
+base_stats = {"max_speed": 660.0, "acceleration": 1890.0, "delivery_speed": 180.0, "damage": 2.0, "beam_range": 2900.0, "beam_cooldown": 4.0}
 minimum_stats = {"beam_cooldown": 1.5}
 upgrades = Array[Resource]([ExtResource("3"), ExtResource("4"), ExtResource("5")])
 unlock_id = "unlock_laser"
diff --git a/vessels/VesselLaserComponent.gd b/vessels/VesselLaserComponent.gd
index aa03d12..553357d 100644
--- a/vessels/VesselLaserComponent.gd
+++ b/vessels/VesselLaserComponent.gd
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ extends "res://vessels/VesselCooldownFillComponent.gd"
 
 var capability_id := "laser"
 var damage: int = 2
-var beam_range: float = 950.0
+var beam_range: float = 2900.0
 
 const READY_COLOR := Color(0.3, 0.9, 1.0)
 const COOLING_COLOR := Color(0.08, 0.28, 0.34)
diff --git a/world/Main.tscn b/world/Main.tscn
index 67ceec6..63e8c1e 100644
--- a/world/Main.tscn
+++ b/world/Main.tscn
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=45 format=3]
+[gd_scene load_steps=46 format=3]
 [ext_resource type="PackedScene" path="res://ui/menus/BuildMenu.tscn" id="menu_build"]
 [ext_resource type="PackedScene" path="res://ui/menus/HangarMenu.tscn" id="menu_hangar"]
 [ext_resource type="PackedScene" path="res://ui/menus/LabMenu.tscn" id="menu_lab"]
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://controllers/GasBombController.gd" id="29"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://controllers/LaserController.gd" id="30"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://controllers/DashController.gd" id="dash_ctrl"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://ui/AbilityButtonLayout.gd" id="ability_layout"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://ui/SpeedFader.gd" id="31"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://world/QuestDirector.gd" id="quest_dir"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://ui/QuestPanel.gd" id="quest_panel"]
@@ -87,6 +88,9 @@ script = ExtResource("30")
 [node name="DashController" type="Node2D" parent="."]
 script = ExtResource("dash_ctrl")
 
+[node name="AbilityButtonLayout" type="Node" parent="."]
+script = ExtResource("ability_layout")
+
 [node name="Camera2D" type="Camera2D" parent="."]
 position = Vector2(0, 0)
 zoom = Vector2(1, 1)