diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Definitions/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaSpell.asset b/Assets/_Project/Definitions/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaSpell.asset
index 3439119..cb2746a 100644
--- a/Assets/_Project/Definitions/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaSpell.asset
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Definitions/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaSpell.asset
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ MonoBehaviour:
   areaSound:
     clip: {fileID: 8300000, guid: 038ff3eab9aa0034bac26ccb648ef2a1, type: 3}
     volume: 0.632
-    minPitch: 1.14
+    minPitch: 1.04
     maxPitch: 0.96
   SlowFactor: 0.5
   EffectDuration: 8
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Definitions/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaUpgradedSpell.asset b/Assets/_Project/Definitions/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaUpgradedSpell.asset
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0465991
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Definitions/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaUpgradedSpell.asset
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+%YAML 1.1
+%TAG !u! tag:unity3d.com,2011:
+--- !u!114 &11400000
+MonoBehaviour:
+  m_ObjectHideFlags: 0
+  m_CorrespondingSourceObject: {fileID: 0}
+  m_PrefabInstance: {fileID: 0}
+  m_PrefabAsset: {fileID: 0}
+  m_GameObject: {fileID: 0}
+  m_Enabled: 1
+  m_EditorHideFlags: 0
+  m_Script: {fileID: 11500000, guid: 37cc60a4a6e53e24cb6d1c0be310868a, type: 3}
+  m_Name: SlowAreaUpgradedSpell
+  m_EditorClassIdentifier: Assembly-CSharp::TD.Gameplay.BuilderSpells.SlowAreaUpgradedSpellDefinition
+  DisplayName: Slow Area II
+  Description: Upgraded Slow Area. Slows for 50% longer.
+  Icon: {fileID: 0}
+  Cooldown: 10
+  TargetType: 1
+  Radius: 5
+  enemyLayerMask:
+    serializedVersion: 2
+    m_Bits: 1152
+  areaVfxPrefab: {fileID: 1462673130280185047, guid: bf2f1f2a9a54e9162b80673e3f7eeaf6, type: 3}
+  areaSound:
+    clip: {fileID: 8300000, guid: 038ff3eab9aa0034bac26ccb648ef2a1, type: 3}
+    volume: 0.632
+    minPitch: 1.04
+    maxPitch: 0.96
+  SlowFactor: 0.5
+  EffectDuration: 12
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Definitions/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaUpgradedSpell.asset.meta b/Assets/_Project/Definitions/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaUpgradedSpell.asset.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16266b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Definitions/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaUpgradedSpell.asset.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+fileFormatVersion: 2
+guid: 364edf6abc3c31e33b53d0a01142b8ab
+NativeFormatImporter:
+  externalObjects: {}
+  mainObjectFileID: 11400000
+  userData: 
+  assetBundleName: 
+  assetBundleVariant: 
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Definitions/Draft/Draft_BuilderSpellOption_SlowAreaUpgrade.asset b/Assets/_Project/Definitions/Draft/Draft_BuilderSpellOption_SlowAreaUpgrade.asset
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..743c46d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Definitions/Draft/Draft_BuilderSpellOption_SlowAreaUpgrade.asset
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+%YAML 1.1
+%TAG !u! tag:unity3d.com,2011:
+--- !u!114 &11400000
+MonoBehaviour:
+  m_ObjectHideFlags: 0
+  m_CorrespondingSourceObject: {fileID: 0}
+  m_PrefabInstance: {fileID: 0}
+  m_PrefabAsset: {fileID: 0}
+  m_GameObject: {fileID: 0}
+  m_Enabled: 1
+  m_EditorHideFlags: 0
+  m_Script: {fileID: 11500000, guid: 7b1c5b562f39c72eea3bafd0165af078, type: 3}
+  m_Name: Draft_BuilderSpellOption_SlowAreaUpgrade
+  m_EditorClassIdentifier: Assembly-CSharp::TD.Gameplay.Draft.BuilderSpellUpgradeDraftOption
+  DisplayName: Slow Area II
+  Description: Slows enemies in the area for 50% longer than the default slow area.
+  Icon: {fileID: 0}
+  Weight: 1
+  BaseKind: 1
+  UpgradedKind: 2
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Definitions/Draft/Draft_BuilderSpellOption_SlowAreaUpgrade.asset.meta b/Assets/_Project/Definitions/Draft/Draft_BuilderSpellOption_SlowAreaUpgrade.asset.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13ca9fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Definitions/Draft/Draft_BuilderSpellOption_SlowAreaUpgrade.asset.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+fileFormatVersion: 2
+guid: d180030b68a9a5e1da497bf6f83451d4
+NativeFormatImporter:
+  externalObjects: {}
+  mainObjectFileID: 11400000
+  userData: 
+  assetBundleName: 
+  assetBundleVariant: 
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Scenes/Levels/9Player.unity b/Assets/_Project/Scenes/Levels/9Player.unity
index 684df64..9a4d028 100644
--- a/Assets/_Project/Scenes/Levels/9Player.unity
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Scenes/Levels/9Player.unity
@@ -13428,6 +13428,7 @@ MonoBehaviour:
   spells:
   - {fileID: 11400000, guid: 051c48f416e5366b59d49b0e062333ac, type: 2}
   - {fileID: 11400000, guid: d893f46b037536b4ba91307e184cecfe, type: 2}
+  - {fileID: 11400000, guid: 364edf6abc3c31e33b53d0a01142b8ab, type: 2}
 --- !u!4 &914832726
 Transform:
   m_ObjectHideFlags: 0
@@ -28786,6 +28787,7 @@ MonoBehaviour:
   - {fileID: 11400000, guid: 65ff25c1c8a89f7df8e88f71968c1c98, type: 2}
   - {fileID: 11400000, guid: 5f390de69ba43b2a6a0d89cf09580320, type: 2}
   - {fileID: 11400000, guid: 29b35841f7e5db454903798cb5d83434, type: 2}
+  - {fileID: 11400000, guid: d180030b68a9a5e1da497bf6f83451d4, type: 2}
 --- !u!4 &2139601601
 Transform:
   m_ObjectHideFlags: 0
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Core/BuilderSpellKind.cs b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Core/BuilderSpellKind.cs
index 58fcb5d..91c56e9 100644
--- a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Core/BuilderSpellKind.cs
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Core/BuilderSpellKind.cs
@@ -11,5 +11,6 @@ namespace TD.Core
     {
         Fireball = 0,
         SlowArea = 1,
+        SlowAreaUpgraded = 2,
     }
 }
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaUpgradedSpellDefinition.cs b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaUpgradedSpellDefinition.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dd339f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaUpgradedSpellDefinition.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+// Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaUpgradedSpellDefinition.cs
+
+using TD.Core;
+using UnityEngine;
+
+namespace TD.Gameplay.BuilderSpells
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Draft upgrade for <see cref="SlowAreaSpellDefinition"/> — identical behavior, just a
+    /// distinct <see cref="BuilderSpellKind"/> so <see
+    /// cref="TD.Gameplay.Draft.BuilderSpellUpgradeDraftOption"/> can replace the base spell
+    /// with this one in the player's loadout. All fields (SlowFactor, EffectDuration, etc.)
+    /// are inherited; author this asset with a longer EffectDuration than the base spell.
+    /// </summary>
+    [CreateAssetMenu(fileName = "SlowAreaUpgradedSpell",
+                      menuName = "TD/Builder Spells/Slow Area (Upgraded)")]
+    public class SlowAreaUpgradedSpellDefinition : SlowAreaSpellDefinition
+    {
+        public override BuilderSpellKind Kind => BuilderSpellKind.SlowAreaUpgraded;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaUpgradedSpellDefinition.cs.meta b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaUpgradedSpellDefinition.cs.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af8991f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/BuilderSpells/SlowAreaUpgradedSpellDefinition.cs.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+fileFormatVersion: 2
+guid: 37cc60a4a6e53e24cb6d1c0be310868a
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/Draft/BuilderEffectUpgradeDraftOption.cs.meta b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/Draft/BuilderEffectUpgradeDraftOption.cs.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..393a4c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/Draft/BuilderEffectUpgradeDraftOption.cs.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+fileFormatVersion: 2
+guid: 717648113e8090fc6856744d898ab375
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/Draft/BuilderSpellDraftOption.cs b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/Draft/BuilderSpellDraftOption.cs
index 7582ea2..360a566 100644
--- a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/Draft/BuilderSpellDraftOption.cs
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/Draft/BuilderSpellDraftOption.cs
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ namespace TD.Gameplay.Draft
     /// <see cref="PlayerSpellLoadout"/> and <see cref="BuilderSpellPool"/> already key off of.
     /// <see cref="IsValidFor"/> also checks slot capacity — once
     /// <see cref="PlayerSpellLoadout.MaxSpellSlots"/> is reached, no further spell options are
-    /// offered.
+    /// offered. Gates on <see cref="PlayerSpellLoadout.PlayerHasEverGranted"/> rather than
+    /// current possession, so a base spell already upgraded past (see
+    /// <see cref="BuilderSpellUpgradeDraftOption"/>) is never re-offered.
     /// </remarks>
     [CreateAssetMenu(fileName = "BuilderSpellOption", menuName = "TD/Draft/Builder Spell Option")]
     public class BuilderSpellDraftOption : DraftOption
@@ -29,7 +31,7 @@ namespace TD.Gameplay.Draft
             var loadout = PlayerSpellLoadout.GetForClient(clientId);
             if (loadout == null) return false;
             if (loadout.SlotCount >= PlayerSpellLoadout.MaxSpellSlots) return false;
-            return !loadout.PlayerHasSpell(Kind);
+            return !loadout.PlayerHasEverGranted(Kind);
         }
 
         public override bool ServerApply(ulong clientId)
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/Draft/BuilderSpellUpgradeDraftOption.cs.meta b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/Draft/BuilderSpellUpgradeDraftOption.cs.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d6304f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/Draft/BuilderSpellUpgradeDraftOption.cs.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+fileFormatVersion: 2
+guid: 7b1c5b562f39c72eea3bafd0165af078
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/PlayerSpellLoadout.cs b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/PlayerSpellLoadout.cs
index 0d8bfb3..4782e9f 100644
--- a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/PlayerSpellLoadout.cs
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Gameplay/PlayerSpellLoadout.cs
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ namespace TD.Gameplay
 
         private readonly NetworkList<SpellSlot> spells = new NetworkList<SpellSlot>();
 
+        // Every kind ever granted this match, including ones since upgraded away. Unlike
+        // `spells`, entries here are never removed — see PlayerHasEverGranted.
+        private readonly NetworkList<byte> everGrantedKinds = new NetworkList<byte>();
+
         /// <summary>Fired on every peer when a spell is granted or a cooldown changes.</summary>
         public event System.Action OnLoadoutChanged;
 
@@ -100,6 +104,14 @@ namespace TD.Gameplay
         public BuilderSpellKind? GetKind(int slot)
             => (slot >= 0 && slot < spells.Count) ? spells[slot].Kind : (BuilderSpellKind?)null;
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// True if this player has ever been granted the given spell this match, whether or
+        /// not it's still occupying a slot (e.g. it may have since been upgraded away). Used
+        /// by <see cref="TD.Gameplay.Draft.BuilderSpellDraftOption"/> so a base spell already
+        /// upgraded past is never re-offered.
+        /// </summary>
+        public bool PlayerHasEverGranted(BuilderSpellKind kind) => everGrantedKinds.Contains((byte)kind);
+
         /// <summary>True if <paramref name="slot"/> is out of range, empty, or still cooling down.</summary>
         public bool IsSlotOnCooldown(int slot)
         {
@@ -136,6 +148,7 @@ namespace TD.Gameplay
             if (PlayerHasSpell(kind)) return false;
 
             spells.Add(SpellSlot.CreateReady(kind));
+            if (!everGrantedKinds.Contains((byte)kind)) everGrantedKinds.Add((byte)kind);
             return true;
         }
 
@@ -155,6 +168,7 @@ namespace TD.Gameplay
                 if (spells[i].Kind == oldKind)
                 {
                     spells[i] = SpellSlot.CreateReady(newKind);
+                    if (!everGrantedKinds.Contains((byte)newKind)) everGrantedKinds.Add((byte)newKind);
                     return true;
                 }
             }