diff --git a/include/rendering/m2_renderer.hpp b/include/rendering/m2_renderer.hpp
index 1f19b46e..08d83d32 100644
--- a/include/rendering/m2_renderer.hpp
+++ b/include/rendering/m2_renderer.hpp
@@ -323,6 +323,7 @@ public:
     void setInstancePosition(uint32_t instanceId, const glm::vec3& position);
     void setInstanceTransform(uint32_t instanceId, const glm::mat4& transform);
     void setInstanceAnimationFrozen(uint32_t instanceId, bool frozen);
+    float getInstanceAnimDuration(uint32_t instanceId) const;
     void removeInstance(uint32_t instanceId);
     void removeInstances(const std::vector<uint32_t>& instanceIds);
     void setSkipCollision(uint32_t instanceId, bool skip);
diff --git a/include/rendering/renderer.hpp b/include/rendering/renderer.hpp
index 588fa3af..1a99a6f4 100644
--- a/include/rendering/renderer.hpp
+++ b/include/rendering/renderer.hpp
@@ -334,7 +334,11 @@ private:
     pipeline::AssetManager* cachedAssetManager = nullptr;
 
     // Spell visual effects — transient M2 instances spawned by SMSG_PLAY_SPELL_VISUAL/IMPACT
-    struct SpellVisualInstance { uint32_t instanceId; float elapsed; };
+    struct SpellVisualInstance {
+        uint32_t instanceId;
+        float elapsed;
+        float duration;  // per-instance lifetime in seconds (from M2 anim or default)
+    };
     std::vector<SpellVisualInstance> activeSpellVisuals_;
     std::unordered_map<uint32_t, std::string> spellVisualCastPath_;   // visualId → cast M2 path
     std::unordered_map<uint32_t, std::string> spellVisualImpactPath_; // visualId → impact M2 path
@@ -343,7 +347,8 @@ private:
     bool spellVisualDbcLoaded_ = false;
     void loadSpellVisualDbc();
     void updateSpellVisuals(float deltaTime);
-    static constexpr float SPELL_VISUAL_DURATION = 3.5f;
+    static constexpr float SPELL_VISUAL_MAX_DURATION = 5.0f;
+    static constexpr float SPELL_VISUAL_DEFAULT_DURATION = 2.0f;
 
     uint32_t currentZoneId = 0;
     std::string currentZoneName;
diff --git a/src/rendering/m2_renderer.cpp b/src/rendering/m2_renderer.cpp
index 40ffd4b1..365bf7c3 100644
--- a/src/rendering/m2_renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/m2_renderer.cpp
@@ -3956,6 +3956,18 @@ void M2Renderer::setInstanceAnimationFrozen(uint32_t instanceId, bool frozen) {
     }
 }
 
+float M2Renderer::getInstanceAnimDuration(uint32_t instanceId) const {
+    auto idxIt = instanceIndexById.find(instanceId);
+    if (idxIt == instanceIndexById.end()) return 0.0f;
+    const auto& inst = instances[idxIt->second];
+    if (!inst.cachedModel) return 0.0f;
+    const auto& seqs = inst.cachedModel->sequences;
+    if (seqs.empty()) return 0.0f;
+    int seqIdx = inst.currentSequenceIndex;
+    if (seqIdx < 0 || seqIdx >= static_cast<int>(seqs.size())) seqIdx = 0;
+    return seqs[seqIdx].duration; // in milliseconds
+}
+
 void M2Renderer::setInstanceTransform(uint32_t instanceId, const glm::mat4& transform) {
     auto idxIt = instanceIndexById.find(instanceId);
     if (idxIt == instanceIndexById.end()) return;
diff --git a/src/rendering/renderer.cpp b/src/rendering/renderer.cpp
index 2d942c23..c3241337 100644
--- a/src/rendering/renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/renderer.cpp
@@ -2892,16 +2892,21 @@ void Renderer::playSpellVisual(uint32_t visualId, const glm::vec3& worldPosition
         LOG_WARNING("SpellVisual: failed to create instance for visualId=", visualId);
         return;
     }
-    activeSpellVisuals_.push_back({instanceId, 0.0f});
+    // Determine lifetime from M2 animation duration (clamp to reasonable range)
+    float animDurMs = m2Renderer->getInstanceAnimDuration(instanceId);
+    float duration = (animDurMs > 100.0f)
+        ? std::clamp(animDurMs / 1000.0f, 0.5f, SPELL_VISUAL_MAX_DURATION)
+        : SPELL_VISUAL_DEFAULT_DURATION;
+    activeSpellVisuals_.push_back({instanceId, 0.0f, duration});
     LOG_DEBUG("SpellVisual: spawned visualId=", visualId, " instanceId=", instanceId,
-              " model=", modelPath);
+              " duration=", duration, "s model=", modelPath);
 }
 
 void Renderer::updateSpellVisuals(float deltaTime) {
     if (activeSpellVisuals_.empty() || !m2Renderer) return;
     for (auto it = activeSpellVisuals_.begin(); it != activeSpellVisuals_.end(); ) {
         it->elapsed += deltaTime;
-        if (it->elapsed >= SPELL_VISUAL_DURATION) {
+        if (it->elapsed >= it->duration) {
             m2Renderer->removeInstance(it->instanceId);
             it = activeSpellVisuals_.erase(it);
         } else {