diff --git a/assets/bosses.json b/assets/bosses.json
index 5a8fa5a..7e31746 100644
--- a/assets/bosses.json
+++ b/assets/bosses.json
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
           }
         ]
       },
-      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 200, "max_hp": 200, "damage": 20, "dead": false},
+      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 200, "max_hp": 200,  "ap": 0, "ap_delta": 9, "max_ap": 20, "damage": 20, "dead": false},
       {"_type": "Sound", "attack": "Marmot_Scream_1", "death": "Creature_Death_1"},
       {"_type": "EnemyConfig", "ai_script": "Enemy::actions", "ai_start_name": "Enemy::initial_state", "ai_goal_name": "Enemy::final_state"}
     ]
diff --git a/assets/enemies.json b/assets/enemies.json
index b9f7c83..f09909d 100644
--- a/assets/enemies.json
+++ b/assets/enemies.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
         "foreground": "enemies/fg:player",
         "background": "color:transparent"
       },
-      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 200, "max_hp": 200, "damage": 10, "dead": false},
+      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 200, "max_hp": 200, "ap": 0, "max_ap": 12, "ap_delta": 6, "damage": 10, "dead": false},
       {"_type": "Motion", "dx": 0, "dy": 0, "random": false},
       {"_type": "Collision", "has": true},
       {"_type": "LightSource", "strength": 35, "radius": 2.0}
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
         "foreground": "enemies/fg:gold_savior",
         "background": "color:transparent"
       },
-      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 20, "max_hp": 20, "damage": 1, "dead": false},
+      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 20, "max_hp": 20, "ap": 0, "max_ap": 12, "ap_delta": 6, "damage": 1, "dead": false},
       {"_type": "Collision", "has": true},
       {"_type": "Motion", "dx": 0, "dy": 0, "random": false},
       {"_type": "EnemyConfig", "ai_script": "Enemy::actions", "ai_start_name": "Enemy::initial_state", "ai_goal_name": "Enemy::final_state"},
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
         "foreground": "enemies/fg:knight",
         "background": "color:transparent"
       },
-      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 20, "max_hp": 20, "damage": 1, "dead": false},
+      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 20, "max_hp": 20,  "ap": 0, "max_ap": 12, "ap_delta": 6,"damage": 1, "dead": false},
       {"_type": "Collision", "has": true},
       {"_type": "Motion", "dx": 0, "dy": 0, "random": false},
       {"_type": "EnemyConfig", "ai_script": "Enemy::actions", "ai_start_name": "Enemy::initial_state", "ai_goal_name": "Enemy::final_state"},
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
         "foreground": "enemies/fg:axe_ranger",
         "background": "color:transparent"
       },
-      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 40, "max_hp": 40, "damage": 10, "dead": false},
+      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 40, "max_hp": 40,  "ap": 0, "max_ap": 12, "ap_delta": 6,"damage": 10, "dead": false},
       {"_type": "Collision", "has": true},
       {"_type": "Motion", "dx": 0, "dy": 0, "random": true},
       {"_type": "EnemyConfig", "ai_script": "Enemy::actions", "ai_start_name": "Enemy::initial_state", "ai_goal_name": "Enemy::final_state"},
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
         "foreground": "enemies/fg:rat_giant",
         "background": "color:transparent"
       },
-      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 50, "max_hp": 50, "damage": 2, "dead": false},
+      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 50, "max_hp": 50,  "ap": 0, "max_ap": 12, "ap_delta": 6,"damage": 2, "dead": false},
       {"_type": "Collision", "has": true},
       {"_type": "Motion", "dx": 0, "dy": 0, "random": false},
       {"_type": "EnemyConfig", "ai_script": "Enemy::actions", "ai_start_name": "Enemy::initial_state", "ai_goal_name": "Enemy::final_state"},
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
         "foreground": "enemies/fg:spider_giant",
         "background": "color:transparent"
       },
-      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 20, "max_hp": 20, "damage": 20, "dead": false},
+      {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 20, "max_hp": 20,  "ap": 0, "max_ap": 12, "ap_delta": 6,"damage": 20, "dead": false},
       {"_type": "Collision", "has": true},
       {"_type": "Motion", "dx": 0, "dy": 0, "random": false},
       {"_type": "EnemyConfig", "ai_script": "Enemy::actions", "ai_start_name": "Enemy::initial_state", "ai_goal_name": "Enemy::final_state"},
diff --git a/battle.cpp b/battle.cpp
index 8b36d90..b851b8b 100644
--- a/battle.cpp
+++ b/battle.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,16 @@ namespace combat {
 
     int active = 0;
 
+    fmt::println("---------- start combatants");
     for(auto& [entity, enemy] : $combatants) {
+      if(enemy.combat->ap < enemy.combat->max_ap) {
+        // only add up to the max
+        enemy.combat->ap = std::min(enemy.combat->max_ap, enemy.combat->ap_delta + enemy.combat->ap);
+      }
+
+      fmt::println("--- enemy {} has {} ap", entity, enemy.combat->ap);
+      // reset action points
+
       enemy.ai->update();
       active += enemy.ai->active();
 
@@ -24,15 +33,38 @@ namespace combat {
         for(auto& action : enemy.ai->plan.script) {
           BattleHostState host_state = not_host;
 
-          if(enemy.is_host) {
+          if(action.cost > enemy.combat->ap) {
+            host_state = out_of_ap;
+          } else if(enemy.is_host) {
             host_state = $player_requests.contains(action.name) ? agree : disagree;
           }
 
+          if(host_state == out_of_ap) {
+            fmt::println("--- enemy CANNOT go: {}-{}={}",
+                enemy.combat->ap, action.cost,
+                enemy.combat->ap - action.cost);
+            break;
+          } else {
+            fmt::println("--- enemy can go, {}-{}={}",
+                enemy.combat->ap, action.cost,
+                enemy.combat->ap - action.cost);
+
+            enemy.combat->ap -= action.cost;
+          }
+
+          fmt::println("--- active enemy {} ap={}, host_state={}",
+              entity, enemy.combat->ap, int(host_state));
+
           $pending_actions.emplace_back(enemy, action.name, action.cost, host_state);
         }
+
+        dbc::check(enemy.combat->ap >= 0, "enemy's AP went below 0");
+        dbc::check(enemy.combat->ap <= enemy.combat->max_ap, "enemy's AP went above max");
       }
     }
 
+    fmt::print("<---- end of enemy setup, sorting");
+
     if($pending_actions.size() > 0) {
       std::sort($pending_actions.begin(), $pending_actions.end(),
           [](const auto& a, const auto& b) -> bool
diff --git a/battle.hpp b/battle.hpp
index eaa6937..779aebc 100644
--- a/battle.hpp
+++ b/battle.hpp
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ namespace combat {
   enum class BattleHostState {
     not_host = 0,
     agree = 1,
-    disagree = 2
+    disagree = 2,
+    out_of_ap = 3
   };
 
   struct Combatant {
diff --git a/boss/system.cpp b/boss/system.cpp
index 0f82a9f..6e4be5d 100644
--- a/boss/system.cpp
+++ b/boss/system.cpp
@@ -89,6 +89,10 @@ namespace boss {
           if(wants_to == "kill_enemy") {
             result.enemy_did = enemy.combat->attack(player_combat);
           }
+          break;
+        case combat::BattleHostState::out_of_ap:
+          fmt::println("OUT OF AP {}", wants_to);
+          break;
       }
 
       if(result.player_did > 0) {
diff --git a/components.hpp b/components.hpp
index 3a2c0f9..039ecac 100644
--- a/components.hpp
+++ b/components.hpp
@@ -102,6 +102,11 @@ namespace components {
     int hp;
     int max_hp;
     int damage;
+    int ap_delta;
+    int max_ap;
+
+    // everyone starts at 0 but ap_delta is added each round
+    int ap = 0;
 
     /* NOTE: This is used to _mark_ entities as dead, to detect ones that have just died. Don't make attack automatically set it.*/
     bool dead = false;
@@ -176,7 +181,7 @@ namespace components {
   ENROLL_COMPONENT(EnemyConfig, ai_script, ai_start_name, ai_goal_name);
   ENROLL_COMPONENT(Personality, hearing_distance, tough);
   ENROLL_COMPONENT(Motion, dx, dy, random);
-  ENROLL_COMPONENT(Combat, hp, max_hp, damage, dead);
+  ENROLL_COMPONENT(Combat, hp, max_hp, damage, ap_delta, max_ap, dead);
   ENROLL_COMPONENT(Device, config, events);
   ENROLL_COMPONENT(Storyboard, image, audio, layout, beats);
   ENROLL_COMPONENT(Animation, min_x, min_y,
diff --git a/systems.cpp b/systems.cpp
index 170b7a3..a35cb25 100644
--- a/systems.cpp
+++ b/systems.cpp
@@ -250,6 +250,7 @@ void System::combat(int attack_id) {
 
     battle.set_all("enemy_found", true);
     battle.set_all("in_combat", true);
+    battle.player_request("kill_enemy");
     battle.plan();
   }
 
diff --git a/tests/battle.cpp b/tests/battle.cpp
index d8f51b7..899c95b 100644
--- a/tests/battle.cpp
+++ b/tests/battle.cpp
@@ -20,17 +20,17 @@ TEST_CASE("battle operations fantasy", "[combat-battle]") {
 
   DinkyECS::Entity host = 0;
   ai::EntityAI host_ai("Host::actions", host_start, host_goal);
-  components::Combat host_combat{100, 100, 20};
+  components::Combat host_combat{100, 100, 20, 6, 12};
   battle.add_enemy({host, &host_ai, &host_combat, true});
 
   DinkyECS::Entity axe_ranger = 1;
   ai::EntityAI axe_ai("Enemy::actions", ai_start, ai_goal);
-  components::Combat axe_combat{100, 100, 20};
+  components::Combat axe_combat{100, 100, 20, 8, 12};
   battle.add_enemy({axe_ranger, &axe_ai, &axe_combat});
 
   DinkyECS::Entity rat = 2;
   ai::EntityAI rat_ai("Enemy::actions", ai_start, ai_goal);
-  components::Combat rat_combat{10, 10, 2};
+  components::Combat rat_combat{10, 10, 2, 12, 18};
   battle.add_enemy({rat, &rat_ai, &rat_combat});
 
   battle.set_all("enemy_found", true);
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ TEST_CASE("battle operations fantasy", "[combat-battle]") {
   battle.set(host, "have_healing", false);
   battle.set(host, "tough_personality", false);
 
-
   while(host_combat.hp > 0) {
     battle.set(host, "health_good", host_combat.hp > 20);
 
@@ -52,14 +51,14 @@ TEST_CASE("battle operations fantasy", "[combat-battle]") {
     battle.plan();
 
     while(auto act = battle.next()) {
-      auto& [enemy, wants_to, cost, host_behavior] = *act;
+      auto& [enemy, wants_to, cost, enemy_state] = *act;
 
-      fmt::println(">>>>> entity: {} wants to {} cost={} and has {} HP and {} damage",
+      fmt::println(">>>>> entity: {} wants to {} cost={}; has {} HP; {} ap",
           enemy.entity, wants_to,
           cost, enemy.combat->hp,
-          enemy.combat->damage);
+          enemy.combat->ap);
 
-      switch(host_behavior) {
+      switch(enemy_state) {
         case BattleHostState::agree:
           fmt::println("HOST and PLAYER requests match {}, doing it.",
               wants_to);
@@ -72,6 +71,10 @@ TEST_CASE("battle operations fantasy", "[combat-battle]") {
          if(wants_to == "kill_enemy") {
           enemy.combat->attack(host_combat);
          }
+         break;
+        case BattleHostState::out_of_ap:
+         fmt::println("ENEMY OUT OF AP");
+         break;
       }
 
       fmt::println("<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<");