diff --git a/include/rendering/terrain_manager.hpp b/include/rendering/terrain_manager.hpp
index 2a746d3e..58138ea4 100644
--- a/include/rendering/terrain_manager.hpp
+++ b/include/rendering/terrain_manager.hpp
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ private:
 
     // Streaming parameters
     bool streamingEnabled = true;
-    int loadRadius = 4;      // Load tiles within this radius (9x9 grid = 81 tiles)
+    int loadRadius = 3;      // Load tiles within this radius (7x7 circular ~29 tiles)
     int unloadRadius = 7;    // Unload tiles beyond this radius
     float updateInterval = 0.033f;  // Check streaming every 33ms (~30 fps)
     float timeSinceLastUpdate = 0.0f;
diff --git a/src/core/application.cpp b/src/core/application.cpp
index f9ac557c..65220f79 100644
--- a/src/core/application.cpp
+++ b/src/core/application.cpp
@@ -1108,7 +1108,7 @@ void Application::update(float deltaTime) {
                 // Taxi flights move fast (32 u/s) — load further ahead so terrain is ready
                 // before the camera arrives.  Keep updates frequent to spot new tiles early.
                 renderer->getTerrainManager()->setUpdateInterval(onTaxi ? 0.033f : 0.033f);
-                renderer->getTerrainManager()->setLoadRadius(onTaxi ? 6 : 4);
+                renderer->getTerrainManager()->setLoadRadius(onTaxi ? 5 : 3);
                 renderer->getTerrainManager()->setUnloadRadius(onTaxi ? 9 : 7);
                 renderer->getTerrainManager()->setTaxiStreamingMode(onTaxi);
                 }
@@ -4041,7 +4041,7 @@ void Application::loadOnlineWorldTerrain(uint32_t mapId, float x, float y, float
             // Use a small radius for the initial load (just immediate tiles),
             // then restore the full radius after entering the game.
             // This matches WoW's behavior: load quickly, stream the rest in-game.
-            const int savedLoadRadius = 4;
+            const int savedLoadRadius = 3;
             terrainMgr->setLoadRadius(1);
             terrainMgr->setUnloadRadius(7);
 
diff --git a/src/rendering/terrain_manager.cpp b/src/rendering/terrain_manager.cpp
index e186ed96..9f0dc95b 100644
--- a/src/rendering/terrain_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/terrain_manager.cpp
@@ -816,7 +816,7 @@ bool TerrainManager::advanceFinalization(FinalizingTile& ft) {
             }
             bool allDone = terrainRenderer->loadTerrainIncremental(
                 pending->mesh, pending->terrain.textures, x, y,
-                ft.terrainChunkNext, 16);
+                ft.terrainChunkNext, 8);
             if (!allDone) {
                 return false; // More chunks remain — yield to time budget
             }
@@ -858,7 +858,7 @@ bool TerrainManager::advanceFinalization(FinalizingTile& ft) {
                 std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(queueMutex);
                 workersIdle = loadQueue.empty() && readyQueue.empty();
             }
-            const size_t kModelsPerStep = workersIdle ? 6 : 4;
+            const size_t kModelsPerStep = 2;
             size_t uploaded = 0;
             while (ft.m2ModelIndex < pending->m2Models.size() && uploaded < kModelsPerStep) {
                 auto& m2Ready = pending->m2Models[ft.m2ModelIndex];
@@ -925,7 +925,7 @@ bool TerrainManager::advanceFinalization(FinalizingTile& ft) {
                 std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(queueMutex);
                 wmoWorkersIdle = loadQueue.empty() && readyQueue.empty();
             }
-            const size_t kWmosPerStep = wmoWorkersIdle ? 2 : 1;
+            const size_t kWmosPerStep = 1;
             size_t uploaded = 0;
             while (ft.wmoModelIndex < pending->wmoModels.size() && uploaded < kWmosPerStep) {
                 auto& wmoReady = pending->wmoModels[ft.wmoModelIndex];
@@ -1006,7 +1006,7 @@ bool TerrainManager::advanceFinalization(FinalizingTile& ft) {
         if (m2Renderer && ft.wmoDoodadIndex < pending->wmoDoodads.size()) {
             // Set pre-decoded BLP cache for doodad M2 textures
             m2Renderer->setPredecodedBLPCache(&pending->preloadedM2Textures);
-            constexpr size_t kDoodadsPerStep = 4;
+            constexpr size_t kDoodadsPerStep = 2;
             size_t uploaded = 0;
             while (ft.wmoDoodadIndex < pending->wmoDoodads.size() && uploaded < kDoodadsPerStep) {
                 auto& doodad = pending->wmoDoodads[ft.wmoDoodadIndex];