diff --git a/assets/shaders/terrain.frag b/assets/shaders/terrain.frag
index 64104b0e..194e23cf 100644
--- a/assets/shaders/terrain.frag
+++ b/assets/shaders/terrain.frag
@@ -52,14 +52,8 @@ float calcShadow() {
     vec3 norm = normalize(Normal);
     vec3 lightDir = normalize(-uLightDir);
     float bias = max(0.005 * (1.0 - dot(norm, lightDir)), 0.001);
-    float shadow = 0.0;
-    vec2 texelSize = vec2(1.0 / 2048.0);
-    for (int x = -1; x <= 1; x++) {
-        for (int y = -1; y <= 1; y++) {
-            shadow += texture(uShadowMap, vec3(proj.xy + vec2(x, y) * texelSize, proj.z - bias));
-        }
-    }
-    shadow /= 9.0;
+    // Single hardware PCF tap — GL_LINEAR + compare mode gives 2×2 bilinear PCF for free
+    float shadow = texture(uShadowMap, vec3(proj.xy, proj.z - bias));
     return mix(1.0, shadow, coverageFade);
 }
 
diff --git a/include/rendering/renderer.hpp b/include/rendering/renderer.hpp
index b6b517c3..d2146fc7 100644
--- a/include/rendering/renderer.hpp
+++ b/include/rendering/renderer.hpp
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ private:
     void shutdownPostProcess();
 
     // Shadow mapping
-    static constexpr int SHADOW_MAP_SIZE = 2048;
+    static constexpr int SHADOW_MAP_SIZE = 1024;
     uint32_t shadowFBO = 0;
     uint32_t shadowDepthTex = 0;
     uint32_t shadowShaderProgram = 0;
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ private:
     glm::vec3 shadowCenter = glm::vec3(0.0f);
     bool shadowCenterInitialized = false;
     bool shadowsEnabled = false;
+    int shadowFrameCounter_ = 0;  // throttle: only re-render depth map every 2 frames
 
 public:
     void setShadowsEnabled(bool enabled) { shadowsEnabled = enabled; }
diff --git a/src/rendering/character_renderer.cpp b/src/rendering/character_renderer.cpp
index 31216866..3c19b500 100644
--- a/src/rendering/character_renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/character_renderer.cpp
@@ -153,14 +153,8 @@ bool CharacterRenderer::initialize() {
                     float edgeDist = max(abs(proj.x - 0.5), abs(proj.y - 0.5));
                     float coverageFade = 1.0 - smoothstep(0.40, 0.49, edgeDist);
                     float bias = max(0.005 * (1.0 - abs(dot(normal, lightDir))), 0.001);
-                    shadow = 0.0;
-                    vec2 texelSize = vec2(1.0 / 2048.0);
-                    for (int sx = -1; sx <= 1; sx++) {
-                        for (int sy = -1; sy <= 1; sy++) {
-                            shadow += texture(uShadowMap, vec3(proj.xy + vec2(sx, sy) * texelSize, proj.z - bias));
-                        }
-                    }
-                    shadow /= 9.0;
+                    // Single hardware PCF tap — GL_LINEAR + compare mode gives 2×2 bilinear PCF for free
+                    shadow = texture(uShadowMap, vec3(proj.xy, proj.z - bias));
                     shadow = mix(1.0, shadow, coverageFade);
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/rendering/m2_renderer.cpp b/src/rendering/m2_renderer.cpp
index fe689a18..7828d911 100644
--- a/src/rendering/m2_renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/m2_renderer.cpp
@@ -391,14 +391,8 @@ bool M2Renderer::initialize(pipeline::AssetManager* assets) {
                         float edgeDist = max(abs(proj.x - 0.5), abs(proj.y - 0.5));
                         float coverageFade = 1.0 - smoothstep(0.40, 0.49, edgeDist);
                         float bias = max(0.005 * (1.0 - abs(dot(normal, lightDir))), 0.001);
-                        shadow = 0.0;
-                        vec2 texelSize = vec2(1.0 / 2048.0);
-                        for (int sx = -1; sx <= 1; sx++) {
-                            for (int sy = -1; sy <= 1; sy++) {
-                                shadow += texture(uShadowMap, vec3(proj.xy + vec2(sx, sy) * texelSize, proj.z - bias));
-                            }
-                        }
-                        shadow /= 9.0;
+                        // Single hardware PCF tap — GL_LINEAR + compare mode gives 2×2 bilinear PCF for free
+                        shadow = texture(uShadowMap, vec3(proj.xy, proj.z - bias));
                         shadow = mix(1.0, shadow, coverageFade);
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/src/rendering/renderer.cpp b/src/rendering/renderer.cpp
index 63518232..9aedb0a6 100644
--- a/src/rendering/renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/renderer.cpp
@@ -2449,9 +2449,11 @@ void Renderer::renderWorld(game::World* world, game::GameHandler* gameHandler) {
     lastWMORenderMs = 0.0;
     lastM2RenderMs = 0.0;
 
-    // Shadow pass (before main scene)
+    // Shadow pass (before main scene) — throttled to every 2 frames (depth buffer persists)
     if (shadowsEnabled && shadowFBO && shadowShaderProgram && terrainLoaded) {
-        renderShadowPass();
+        if (shadowFrameCounter_++ % 2 == 0) {
+            renderShadowPass();
+        }
     } else {
         // Clear shadow maps when disabled
         if (terrainRenderer) terrainRenderer->clearShadowMap();
diff --git a/src/rendering/wmo_renderer.cpp b/src/rendering/wmo_renderer.cpp
index f9b6ae9d..f32affc8 100644
--- a/src/rendering/wmo_renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/wmo_renderer.cpp
@@ -161,14 +161,8 @@ bool WMORenderer::initialize(pipeline::AssetManager* assets) {
                         float edgeDist = max(abs(proj.x - 0.5), abs(proj.y - 0.5));
                         float coverageFade = 1.0 - smoothstep(0.40, 0.49, edgeDist);
                         float bias = max(0.005 * (1.0 - dot(normal, lightDir)), 0.001);
-                        shadow = 0.0;
-                        vec2 texelSize = vec2(1.0 / 2048.0);
-                        for (int sx = -1; sx <= 1; sx++) {
-                            for (int sy = -1; sy <= 1; sy++) {
-                                shadow += texture(uShadowMap, vec3(proj.xy + vec2(sx, sy) * texelSize, proj.z - bias));
-                            }
-                        }
-                        shadow /= 9.0;
+                        // Single hardware PCF tap — GL_LINEAR + compare mode gives 2×2 bilinear PCF for free
+                        shadow = texture(uShadowMap, vec3(proj.xy, proj.z - bias));
                         shadow = mix(1.0, shadow, coverageFade);
                     }
                 }