diff --git a/app/features/scanner/README.md b/app/features/scanner/README.md
index 967542b6f..a9adc7947 100644
--- a/app/features/scanner/README.md
+++ b/app/features/scanner/README.md
@@ -98,10 +98,15 @@ sequenceDiagram
   0.25s — produced/casted VoDs cut screens to ~1s with transition flicker
   inside, so search cadence must not assume raw-gameplay screen lifetimes;
   gates are ~ms-cheap, so this costs little); once the gate passes it
-  drops to the dense refine cadence for best-read refinement. Suppression ends a refinement streak
-  once it stagnates by parse count AND elapsed time (~3s — the time floor
+  drops to the dense refine cadence for best-read refinement (detectors
+  with expensive parses override it via `refineIntervalS` — death 0.5s,
+  minimap 0.4s). Suppression ends a refinement streak
+  once it stagnates by parse count (default 6; per-detector
+  `maxStagnantParses` — death 3) AND elapsed time (~3s — the time floor
   keeps a dense cadence from suppressing during a screen's entry animation
-  before it is readable) or immediately at `sufficientConfidence`; death
+  before it is readable) or immediately at `sufficientConfidence`, which
+  sits just under each detector's measured clean-read confidence floor
+  (fixture suite + confirmed scan events); death
   adds `rearmCooldownS` (safe because it fits inside the Death timeline
   merge window). `checkIntervalS` (objective: 1s)
   still hard-caps both phases and exempts from suppression; a detector can
diff --git a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/death/index.ts b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/death/index.ts
index 11b7cced7..79d9a8747 100644
--- a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/death/index.ts
+++ b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/death/index.ts
@@ -97,6 +97,13 @@ export const DEATH_EVENT_TYPE = "Death";
 
 /** The constant message line must read back at least this well to emit. */
 const LINE1_MIN_SCORE = 0.5;
+/**
+ * A Latin template's constant line reading at least this well settles the
+ * language and the (expensive) JA line reads are skipped. Fixture-measured:
+ * Latin-language frames read their template at 0.889+, while JA frames'
+ * best Latin-template score is 0.222.
+ */
+const LATIN_DECISIVE_SCORE = 0.85;
 /** Snapped weapon reading below this is reported as null (kept in debug). */
 const WEAPON_MIN_SCORE = 0.55;
 /** Burst-icon fallback match below this is ignored (kept in debug). */
@@ -487,24 +494,32 @@ export function createDeathDetector(
 			};
 			line1 = readLine(SPLAT_LINE1_ROI, weaponGlyphs);
 			line2 = readLine(WEAPON_LINE_ROI, weaponGlyphs);
-			if (jaGlyphs) {
-				jaWeaponLine = readLine(JA_WEAPON_LINE_ROI, jaGlyphs);
-				jaConstLine = readLine(JA_CONST_LINE_ROI, jaGlyphs);
-			}
 			for (const t of DEATH_MESSAGE_TEMPLATES) {
-				let constReading: string;
-				if (isJaTemplate(t)) {
-					if (!jaConstLine) continue;
-					constReading = jaConstLine.text;
-				} else {
-					constReading = t.weaponLine === 1 ? line2.text : line1.text;
-				}
+				if (isJaTemplate(t)) continue;
+				const constReading = t.weaponLine === 1 ? line2.text : line1.text;
 				const score = closestEntry(constReading, [t.constText])?.score ?? 0;
 				if (score > line1Score) {
 					line1Score = score;
 					template = t;
 				}
 			}
+			// the JA line reads cost ~2x the Latin ones (condensed-kana atlas),
+			// so they only run when no Latin template already owns the frame:
+			// measured constant-line scores separate cleanly (Latin frames read
+			// their template at 0.889+, JA frames' best Latin score is <= 0.222)
+			if (jaGlyphs && line1Score < LATIN_DECISIVE_SCORE) {
+				jaWeaponLine = readLine(JA_WEAPON_LINE_ROI, jaGlyphs);
+				jaConstLine = readLine(JA_CONST_LINE_ROI, jaGlyphs);
+				for (const t of DEATH_MESSAGE_TEMPLATES) {
+					if (!isJaTemplate(t)) continue;
+					const score =
+						closestEntry(jaConstLine.text, [t.constText])?.score ?? 0;
+					if (score > line1Score) {
+						line1Score = score;
+						template = t;
+					}
+				}
+			}
 			if (!template || line1Score < LINE1_MIN_SCORE) {
 				gray.delete();
 				rgb.delete();
@@ -822,11 +837,17 @@ export function createDeathDetector(
 
 	// the death cam's animated background flickers the gate; after a
 	// sufficient read the 4s rearm hold stays inside the timeline's 8s
-	// Death merge window, so every parse it skips would merge anyway
+	// Death merge window, so every parse it skips would merge anyway.
+	// sufficientConfidence sits just under the measured clean-read floor
+	// (fixtures 0.750-0.825, confirmed scan events 0.751+); the refine and
+	// stagnation overrides cap what a ~1.4s parse can cost when a dirty
+	// read never reaches it
 	return {
 		id: "death",
-		sufficientConfidence: 0.98,
+		refineIntervalS: 0.5,
+		sufficientConfidence: 0.74,
 		rearmCooldownS: 4,
+		maxStagnantParses: 3,
 		gate,
 		parse,
 	};
diff --git a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/map-start/index.ts b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/map-start/index.ts
index 8e5d8b54f..1824cbed7 100644
--- a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/map-start/index.ts
+++ b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/map-start/index.ts
@@ -365,9 +365,11 @@ export function createMapStartDetector(
 		];
 	}
 
+	// just under the measured clean-read floor (fixtures 0.795-0.864,
+	// confirmed scan events 0.854-1.0)
 	return {
 		id: "map-start",
-		sufficientConfidence: 0.98,
+		sufficientConfidence: 0.79,
 		gate,
 		parse,
 	};
diff --git a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/minimap/index.ts b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/minimap/index.ts
index 845753bb8..3fadcfbc2 100644
--- a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/minimap/index.ts
+++ b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/minimap/index.ts
@@ -639,9 +639,16 @@ export function createMinimapDetector(
 		];
 	}
 
+	// sufficientConfidence sits just under the measured clean-read floor
+	// (fixtures 0.746-0.800; confirmed scan events reach down to 0.699, and
+	// those below the floor fall back to stagnation). The refine override
+	// matters here because a map-open's confidence keeps fluctuating upward,
+	// resetting the stagnation counter — without it a ~0.9s parse runs at
+	// the dense cadence for the whole map-open
 	return {
 		id: "minimap",
-		sufficientConfidence: 0.98,
+		refineIntervalS: 0.4,
+		sufficientConfidence: 0.73,
 		gate,
 		parse,
 	};
diff --git a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scheduler.ts b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scheduler.ts
index 729ac9535..2e5e48894 100644
--- a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scheduler.ts
+++ b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scheduler.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@
  *   cadence must not assume raw-gameplay screen lifetimes; gates are
  *   ~1.6ms, so searching at the analysis floor costs nothing). Once the
  *   gate passes it drops to the dense `refineIntervalS` so the best-read
- *   refinement loop still sees every frame it wants. `checkIntervalS`
+ *   refinement loop still sees every frame it wants; a detector whose
+ *   parse is expensive (death ~1.4s) declares its own refineIntervalS so
+ *   the dense default cannot multiply that cost. `checkIntervalS`
  *   (objective counter) remains a hard cap on both phases and exempts the
  *   detector from suppression, as before. `nextDueT()` lets the caller
  *   skip a frame's canvas readback + normalize entirely when no detector
@@ -47,8 +49,10 @@ export interface SchedulingInfo {
 	id: string;
 	checkIntervalS?: number;
 	searchIntervalS?: number;
+	refineIntervalS?: number;
 	sufficientConfidence?: number;
 	rearmCooldownS?: number;
+	maxStagnantParses?: number;
 }
 
 export interface SchedulerOptions {
@@ -57,12 +61,15 @@ export interface SchedulerOptions {
 	 * parses are never suppressed
 	 */
 	suppressSteadyFrames: boolean;
-	/** check cadence while a detector's gate is passing */
+	/** check cadence while a detector's gate is passing (per-detector
+	 * refineIntervalS overrides — for detectors whose parse is expensive
+	 * enough that the dense default multiplies real cost) */
 	refineIntervalS: number;
 	/** check cadence while a detector's gate is failing (per-detector
 	 * searchIntervalS overrides) */
 	searchIntervalS: number;
-	/** consecutive non-improving parses tolerated before suppression */
+	/** consecutive non-improving parses tolerated before suppression
+	 * (per-detector maxStagnantParses overrides) */
 	maxStagnantParses: number;
 	/** seconds without improvement tolerated before suppression */
 	stagnantAfterS: number;
@@ -250,8 +257,10 @@ export class DetectorScheduler {
 			return;
 		}
 		streak.stagnant += 1;
+		const maxStagnant =
+			state.info.maxStagnantParses ?? this.#options.maxStagnantParses;
 		if (
-			streak.stagnant >= this.#options.maxStagnantParses &&
+			streak.stagnant >= maxStagnant &&
 			t - streak.lastImprovementT >= this.#options.stagnantAfterS
 		) {
 			streak.suppressed = true;
@@ -279,7 +288,8 @@ export class DetectorScheduler {
 		// while suppressed only the gate keeps running (to spot the screen
 		// changing), which the sparser search cadence covers
 		if (state.streak?.suppressed) return search;
-		return state.gatePassing ? this.#options.refineIntervalS : search;
+		if (!state.gatePassing) return search;
+		return info.refineIntervalS ?? this.#options.refineIntervalS;
 	}
 
 	#recordMatchState(
diff --git a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scoreboard-own/index.ts b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scoreboard-own/index.ts
index 4369227cf..7482b9060 100644
--- a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scoreboard-own/index.ts
+++ b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scoreboard-own/index.ts
@@ -256,9 +256,12 @@ export function createScoreboardOwnDetector(
 		];
 	}
 
+	// just under the measured clean-read floor (fixtures 0.562-0.669,
+	// confirmed scan events 0.612-0.635 — this screen's ability-grid scores
+	// keep the mean low even on perfect reads)
 	return {
 		id: "scoreboard-own",
-		sufficientConfidence: 0.98,
+		sufficientConfidence: 0.55,
 		gate,
 		parse,
 	};
diff --git a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scoreboard-replay/index.ts b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scoreboard-replay/index.ts
index d7b65d530..30ffee355 100644
--- a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scoreboard-replay/index.ts
+++ b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scoreboard-replay/index.ts
@@ -427,10 +427,11 @@ export function createScoreboardReplayDetector(
 	}
 
 	// no rearm cooldown — distinct replays browsed in quick succession are
-	// told apart by content
+	// told apart by content. sufficientConfidence just under the measured
+	// clean-read floor (fixtures 0.808-0.890)
 	return {
 		id: "scoreboard-replay",
-		sufficientConfidence: 0.98,
+		sufficientConfidence: 0.8,
 		gate,
 		parse,
 	};
diff --git a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scoreboard/index.ts b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scoreboard/index.ts
index 7c1911c63..a7720def2 100644
--- a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scoreboard/index.ts
+++ b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/scoreboard/index.ts
@@ -321,10 +321,11 @@ export function createScoreboardDetector(
 		];
 	}
 
-	// a 0.98 mean field score is a clean full read
+	// just under the measured clean-read floor (fixtures 0.865-0.899,
+	// confirmed scan events down to 0.799)
 	return {
 		id: "scoreboard",
-		sufficientConfidence: 0.98,
+		sufficientConfidence: 0.79,
 		gate,
 		parse,
 	};
diff --git a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/types.ts b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/types.ts
index e72d4c964..09ba41fa9 100644
--- a/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/types.ts
+++ b/app/features/scanner/core/detectors/types.ts
@@ -52,12 +52,28 @@ export interface Detector<TData = unknown> {
 	 * is effectively free; only override upward with strong evidence.
 	 */
 	searchIntervalS?: number;
+	/**
+	 * Check cadence while the gate is passing (the refine phase); unset =
+	 * the scheduler's dense default (0.15s). Only for detectors whose parse
+	 * is expensive enough that refining at the dense cadence multiplies
+	 * real cost — the sparser cadence still has to sample the screen's
+	 * lifetime several times.
+	 */
+	refineIntervalS?: number;
+	/**
+	 * Consecutive non-improving parses tolerated before stagnation
+	 * suppression; unset = the scheduler's default (6). Lower for expensive
+	 * parses to cap the worst-case cost of a stagnant streak.
+	 */
+	maxStagnantParses?: number;
 	/**
 	 * A parse reaching this confidence ends the streak's refinement
 	 * immediately: the timeline keeps the best read per merge window, so a
 	 * read this good cannot be improved upon in any way that matters.
-	 * Conservative by construction — if real reads never reach it, behavior
-	 * falls back to stagnation-based suppression.
+	 * Set just under the detector's measured clean-read confidence floor
+	 * (fixture-suite reads + confirmed scan events), so a streak's first
+	 * full read suppresses the rest; degraded-footage reads below the
+	 * floor fall back to stagnation-based suppression.
 	 */
 	sufficientConfidence?: number;
 	/**
diff --git a/app/features/scanner/tests/scheduler.test.ts b/app/features/scanner/tests/scheduler.test.ts
index 6e95d51e2..4b9827aac 100644
--- a/app/features/scanner/tests/scheduler.test.ts
+++ b/app/features/scanner/tests/scheduler.test.ts
@@ -65,6 +65,22 @@ test("a passing gate drops to the dense refine cadence", () => {
 	assert.equal(feed(s, 0.2, { pass: true, confidence: 0.7 }), "parsed");
 });
 
+test("a per-detector refine interval overrides the dense default", () => {
+	const s = make({ refineIntervalS: 0.5 });
+	assert.equal(feed(s, 0, { pass: true, confidence: 0.7 }), "parsed");
+	assert.equal(feed(s, 0.1, { pass: true, confidence: 0.7 }), "skipped");
+	assert.equal(feed(s, 0.4, { pass: true, confidence: 0.7 }), "skipped");
+	assert.equal(feed(s, 0.5, { pass: true, confidence: 0.7 }), "parsed");
+});
+
+test("a per-detector stagnation budget suppresses sooner", () => {
+	const s = make({ maxStagnantParses: 2 }, { stagnantAfterS: 0.1 });
+	assert.equal(feed(s, 0.0, { pass: true, confidence: 0.9 }), "parsed");
+	assert.equal(feed(s, 0.1, { pass: true, confidence: 0.9 }), "parsed");
+	assert.equal(feed(s, 0.2, { pass: true, confidence: 0.9 }), "parsed");
+	assert.equal(feed(s, 0.3, { pass: true, confidence: 0.9 }), "gated");
+});
+
 test("suppresses after stagnant parses on a static screen", () => {
 	const s = make({});
 	assert.equal(feed(s, 0.0, { pass: true, confidence: 0.9 }), "parsed");