diff --git a/scripts/verify-battle-save-normalization.mjs b/scripts/verify-battle-save-normalization.mjs
index 680c560..656fc19 100644
--- a/scripts/verify-battle-save-normalization.mjs
+++ b/scripts/verify-battle-save-normalization.mjs
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ try {
     ['unknown attack intent unit id', { attackIntents: [{ attackerId: 'liu-bei', targetId: 'ghost-unit' }] }],
     ['self-targeting attack intent', { attackIntents: [{ attackerId: 'liu-bei', targetId: 'liu-bei' }] }],
     ['duplicate attack intent attacker id', { attackIntents: [{ attackerId: 'liu-bei', targetId: 'rebel-1' }, { attackerId: 'liu-bei', targetId: 'rebel-1' }] }],
+    ['defeated attack intent attacker', { units: patchUnit(0, { hp: 0 }) }],
+    ['defeated attack intent target', { units: patchUnit(2, { hp: 0 }) }],
     ['invalid units array', { units: {} }],
     ['too high unit level', { units: patchUnit(0, { level: 100, exp: 0 }) }],
     ['invalid unit exp threshold', { units: patchUnit(0, { exp: 100 }) }],
diff --git a/src/game/state/battleSaveState.ts b/src/game/state/battleSaveState.ts
index e008cf3..492d825 100644
--- a/src/game/state/battleSaveState.ts
+++ b/src/game/state/battleSaveState.ts
@@ -142,16 +142,23 @@ export function isValidBattleSaveState(state: unknown, options: BattleSaveValida
     return false;
   }
 
+  const attackIntents = state.attackIntents;
+  const units = state.units;
+
   if (
     !isUnitIdArray(state.actedUnitIds, options) ||
     !isBattleLog(state.battleLog) ||
-    !isAttackIntentArray(state.attackIntents, options) ||
-    !areSavedBattleUnitsValid(state.units, options) ||
+    !isAttackIntentArray(attackIntents, options) ||
+    !areSavedBattleUnitsValid(units, options) ||
     !isBondArray(state.bonds, options)
   ) {
     return false;
   }
 
+  if (!areAttackIntentsTargetingLiveUnits(attackIntents, units)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
   if (
     !isOptionalItemStockRecord(state.itemStocks, options) ||
     !isOptionalBuffArray(state.battleBuffs, options) ||
@@ -219,7 +226,7 @@ function isBattleLog(value: unknown) {
   );
 }
 
-function isAttackIntentArray(value: unknown, options: BattleSaveValidationOptions) {
+function isAttackIntentArray(value: unknown, options: BattleSaveValidationOptions): value is BattleSaveAttackIntent[] {
   return (
     Array.isArray(value) &&
     value.length <= unitReferenceLimit(options) &&
@@ -236,7 +243,7 @@ function isAttackIntentArray(value: unknown, options: BattleSaveValidationOption
   );
 }
 
-function areSavedBattleUnitsValid(units: unknown[], options: BattleSaveValidationOptions) {
+function areSavedBattleUnitsValid(units: unknown[], options: BattleSaveValidationOptions): units is SavedBattleUnitState[] {
   const seenUnitIds = new Set<string>();
   const seenLiveTileKeys = new Set<string>();
 
@@ -266,6 +273,11 @@ function areSavedBattleUnitsValid(units: unknown[], options: BattleSaveValidatio
   return [...seenUnitIds].every((unitId) => options.validUnitIds?.has(unitId));
 }
 
+function areAttackIntentsTargetingLiveUnits(attackIntents: BattleSaveAttackIntent[], units: SavedBattleUnitState[]) {
+  const liveUnitIds = new Set(units.filter((unit) => unit.hp > 0).map((unit) => unit.id));
+  return attackIntents.every((intent) => liveUnitIds.has(intent.attackerId) && liveUnitIds.has(intent.targetId));
+}
+
 function isSavedBattleUnitState(value: unknown, options: BattleSaveValidationOptions): value is SavedBattleUnitState {
   if (!isRecord(value) || typeof value.id !== 'string' || value.id.length === 0 || !isEquipmentSet(value.equipment, options)) {
     return false;