diff --git a/scripts/verify-campaign-save-normalization.mjs b/scripts/verify-campaign-save-normalization.mjs
index 90d071b..da198fb 100644
--- a/scripts/verify-campaign-save-normalization.mjs
+++ b/scripts/verify-campaign-save-normalization.mjs
@@ -287,6 +287,7 @@ try {
       bonds: [
         { id: 'broken-bond', title: 'Broken Bond', unitIds: { corrupted: true }, level: 3, exp: 12, battleExp: 2 },
         { id: 'self-bond', title: 'Self Bond', unitIds: ['liu-bei', 'liu-bei'], level: 2, exp: 12, battleExp: 2 },
+        { id: 'zero-bond', title: 'Zero Bond', unitIds: ['liu-bei', 'guan-yu'], level: 0, exp: '999', battleExp: 2 },
         { id: 'oath-bond', title: 'Oath Bond', unitIds: ['liu-bei', 'guan-yu'], level: '2', exp: '999', battleExp: '5' },
         9
       ],
@@ -320,11 +321,9 @@ try {
   assert(Array.isArray(malformed.roster) && malformed.roster.length === 0, `Expected malformed roster to reset to an array: ${JSON.stringify(malformed)}`);
   assert(
     Array.isArray(malformed.bonds) &&
-      malformed.bonds.length === 1 &&
-      malformed.bonds[0].id === 'oath-bond' &&
-      malformed.bonds[0].level === 2 &&
-      malformed.bonds[0].exp === 99 &&
-      malformed.bonds[0].unitIds.length === 2,
+      malformed.bonds.length === 2 &&
+      malformed.bonds.some((bond) => bond.id === 'zero-bond' && bond.level === 1 && bond.exp === 99 && bond.unitIds.length === 2) &&
+      malformed.bonds.some((bond) => bond.id === 'oath-bond' && bond.level === 2 && bond.exp === 99 && bond.unitIds.length === 2),
     `Expected malformed bond entries to be filtered while valid bonds normalize: ${JSON.stringify(malformed)}`
   );
   assert(
@@ -810,7 +809,7 @@ try {
             }))
           ],
           bonds: [
-            { id: firstScenario.bonds[0].id, title: firstScenario.bonds[0].title, level: '2', exp: '22', battleExp: '4' },
+            { id: firstScenario.bonds[0].id, title: firstScenario.bonds[0].title, level: '0', exp: '200', battleExp: '4' },
             { id: '', title: 'Broken Bond' },
             ...Array.from({ length: 120 }, (_, index) => ({
               id: `history-bond-${index}`,
@@ -912,6 +911,8 @@ try {
       malformedHistory.battleHistory['first-battle-zhuo-commandery']?.units[0].equipment.armor.itemId === 'cloth-armor' &&
       malformedHistory.battleHistory['first-battle-zhuo-commandery']?.units[0].equipment.accessory.itemId === 'grain-pouch' &&
       malformedHistory.battleHistory['first-battle-zhuo-commandery']?.bonds.length === 1 &&
+      malformedHistory.battleHistory['first-battle-zhuo-commandery']?.bonds[0].level === 1 &&
+      malformedHistory.battleHistory['first-battle-zhuo-commandery']?.bonds[0].exp === 99 &&
       malformedHistory.battleHistory['first-battle-zhuo-commandery']?.bonds[0].battleExp === 4 &&
       malformedHistory.battleHistory['first-battle-zhuo-commandery']?.reserveTraining?.length === 1 &&
       malformedHistory.battleHistory['first-battle-zhuo-commandery']?.reserveTraining?.[0].focusId === 'balanced',
diff --git a/src/game/state/campaignState.ts b/src/game/state/campaignState.ts
index 07696e6..7512085 100644
--- a/src/game/state/campaignState.ts
+++ b/src/game/state/campaignState.ts
@@ -983,7 +983,7 @@ function normalizeCharacterExpForLevel(level: number, value: unknown) {
 }
 
 function normalizeBondLevel(value: unknown) {
-  return Math.min(100, normalizeNonNegativeInteger(value));
+  return Math.min(100, Math.max(1, normalizeNonNegativeInteger(value)));
 }
 
 function normalizeBondExpForLevel(level: number, value: unknown) {