diff --git a/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.spec.ts b/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.spec.ts
index 5536a9d..5e96426 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { DataSource, EntityManager, EntityTarget } from 'typeorm';
 import { CharacterStatsService } from '../characters/character-stats.service';
+import { CharacterVitalsService } from '../characters/character-vitals.service';
 import { Character } from '../characters/entities/character.entity';
 import { CombatStatus } from '../combat/combat-status.enum';
 import { Combat } from '../combat/entities/combat.entity';
@@ -164,6 +165,7 @@ function character(overrides: Partial<Character> = {}): Character {
     baseHp: 100,
     baseAttack: 6,
     currentHp: 100,
+    hpRegenSince: null,
     ...overrides,
   } as Character;
 }
@@ -178,8 +180,18 @@ function createHarness(state: Partial<State> = {}) {
     ...state,
   };
   const dataSource = new FakeDataSource(fullState);
-  const characterStats = new CharacterStatsService(dataSource as unknown as DataSource);
-  const service = new EquipmentService(dataSource as unknown as DataSource, characterStats);
+  const characterVitals = new CharacterVitalsService({
+    now: () => new Date('2026-08-18T09:00:00.000Z'),
+  });
+  const characterStats = new CharacterStatsService(
+    dataSource as unknown as DataSource,
+    characterVitals,
+  );
+  const service = new EquipmentService(
+    dataSource as unknown as DataSource,
+    characterStats,
+    characterVitals,
+  );
   return { state: fullState, service };
 }
 
@@ -408,6 +420,33 @@ describe('EquipmentService', () => {
         'CHARACTER_IN_COMBAT',
       );
     });
+
+    it('re-anchors HP regeneration so a later max-HP increase does not gift accumulated overflow', async () => {
+      const bonusHpHelm = itemDefinition({
+        id: 'def-bonus-hp-helm',
+        key: 'bonus-hp-helm',
+        name: 'Gepolsterter Helm',
+        equipmentSlot: EquipmentSlot.HEAD,
+        bonusHp: 20,
+        weaponDamage: 0,
+      });
+      const { state, service } = createHarness({
+        characters: [character({ currentHp: 100, hpRegenSince: null })],
+        itemDefinitions: [bonusHpHelm],
+        characterItems: [
+          {
+            id: BANDIT_HOOD_ITEM_ID,
+            characterId: CHARACTER_ID,
+            itemDefinitionId: bonusHpHelm.id,
+            quantity: 1,
+          } as CharacterItem,
+        ],
+      });
+
+      await service.equip(CHARACTER_ID, BANDIT_HOOD_ITEM_ID);
+
+      expect(state.characters[0].currentHp).toBe(100);
+    });
   });
 
   describe('getEquipment', () => {
diff --git a/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.ts b/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.ts
index 5fd094a..b0d92c5 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { DataSource } from 'typeorm';
 import { CharacterStatsService } from '../characters/character-stats.service';
+import { CharacterVitalsService } from '../characters/character-vitals.service';
 import { Character } from '../characters/entities/character.entity';
 import { CombatStatus } from '../combat/combat-status.enum';
 import { Combat } from '../combat/entities/combat.entity';
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ export class EquipmentService {
   constructor(
     private readonly dataSource: DataSource,
     private readonly characterStats: CharacterStatsService,
+    private readonly characterVitals: CharacterVitalsService,
   ) {}
 
   async getEquipment(characterId: string): Promise<EquipmentResponseDto> {
@@ -106,6 +108,10 @@ export class EquipmentService {
         throw itemLevelRequirementNotMet();
       }
 
+      const statsBeforeChange = await this.characterStats.calculate(character, manager);
+      this.characterVitals.settle(character, statsBeforeChange.maxHp);
+      await characters.save(character);
+
       const existing = await equipmentRepo.findOne({
         where: { characterId, slot: definition.equipmentSlot },
         lock: { mode: 'pessimistic_write' },