diff --git a/boss/fight.cpp b/boss/fight.cpp
index 2224fd6..18dadfb 100644
--- a/boss/fight.cpp
+++ b/boss/fight.cpp
@@ -127,14 +127,14 @@ namespace boss {
         std::string player_move = Random::uniform(0, 1) == 0 ? "player1" : "player3";
         $ui.move_actor("player", player_move);
         if(result.player_did > 0) $ui.animate_actor("player");
-        $ui.damage("player", result.player_did);
+        $ui.damage("player", "boss", result.player_did);
       } break;
       case BattleHostState::not_host: {
         std::string boss_move = Random::uniform(0, 1) == 0 ? "boss5" : "boss6";
 
         $ui.move_actor("boss", boss_move);
         if(result.enemy_did > 0) $ui.animate_actor("boss");
-        $ui.damage("boss", result.enemy_did);
+        $ui.damage("boss", "player", result.enemy_did);
       } break;
       case BattleHostState::out_of_ap:
         break;
diff --git a/boss/ui.cpp b/boss/ui.cpp
index 0c244fa..11cf2f9 100644
--- a/boss/ui.cpp
+++ b/boss/ui.cpp
@@ -106,11 +106,12 @@ namespace boss {
     $arena.play_animations();
   }
 
-  void UI::damage(const std::string& actor, int amount) {
-    $arena.attach_text(actor, fmt::format("{}", amount));
-
+  void UI::damage(const std::string& actor, const std::string& target, int amount) {
     if(amount > 0) {
+      $arena.attach_text(target, fmt::format("{}", amount));
       $arena.apply_effect(actor, "flame");
+    } else {
+      $arena.attach_text(actor, "MISSED");
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/boss/ui.hpp b/boss/ui.hpp
index 48a177a..6ab2881 100644
--- a/boss/ui.hpp
+++ b/boss/ui.hpp
@@ -38,6 +38,6 @@ namespace boss {
     void animate_actor(const std::string& actor);
     void update_stats();
     void play_animations();
-    void damage(const std::string& actor, int amount);
+    void damage(const std::string& actor, const std::string& target, int amount);
   };
 }
diff --git a/scene.cpp b/scene.cpp
index d9f5ca3..b5371e1 100644
--- a/scene.cpp
+++ b/scene.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 #include "animation.hpp"
 #include <ranges>
 #include "shaders.hpp"
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include "dbc.hpp"
 
 const bool DEBUG=false;
 
@@ -109,6 +111,7 @@ namespace scene {
   }
 
   Element& Engine::actor_config(const std::string& actor) {
+    dbc::check($actor_name_ids.contains(actor), fmt::format("scene does not contain actor {}", actor));
     return $actors.at($actor_name_ids.at(actor));
   }
 
@@ -119,7 +122,7 @@ namespace scene {
   }
 
   void Engine::animate_actor(const std::string& actor) {
-    auto& config = $actors.at($actor_name_ids.at(actor));
+    auto& config = actor_config(actor);
     config.anim.play();
   }