diff --git a/context/locomotion.md b/context/locomotion.md
index 2f5facb..26ec071 100644
--- a/context/locomotion.md
+++ b/context/locomotion.md
@@ -102,12 +102,20 @@ co-dependent parts — change one, re-check the others:
    bias can never paint the shadow OVER the feet, structurally.
 4. **BIAS pairing** (L4D3D.cpp): tilt on (default) → decal epsilon −0.0008; `BT_SHADOW_TILT=0`
    (flat A/B fallback) → the old −0.004 it needs to survive slope burial. `BT_SHADOW_BIAS` overrides.
+5. **LOADER-LEVEL TAG** (L4D3D.cpp `LoadObjectBGF`): `*tshd*` filenames get `SetIsShadow(1)` in the
+   LOADER, not at call sites. The V VIEW TOGGLE (`SetViewInside`) and the damage swaps RELOAD segment
+   meshes; an untagged reload disengages the whole pipeline — solid opaque black, no bias, buried on
+   any slope ("shadow broke mid-session after pressing V", user-confirmed fixed). The all-shadow-
+   material detector misses the mech proxy (plain black material, not shadow_mtl). [T2]
 Polar maps have STUB `*_tshd` (shadow authored-off on snow). The visual-ground conform (`btvisgnd.cpp`)
 stays render-only (never touches localOrigin). [T2]
-⚠ **"Shadow vanishes on inclines" can also be a GAIT-DESYNC symptom.** The first 2026-07-09 recurrence
-CO-RESOLVED with the gait v5 fix (no shadow code changed): a popping root pose (out-of-phase leg
-channel showing through) can push the quad past the bias margin. Check `[sync]`/`BT_SYNC_LOG` for
-channel drift before touching the shadow itself. [T2 observation; mechanism T4]
+⚠ **"Shadow vanishes on inclines" now has THREE confirmed/suspected causes — diagnose before fixing:**
+(a) the V-toggle/reload UNTAG above (solid black + buried; broke mid-session; the likeliest cause of
+the recurring reports — a relaunch always "fixed" it because the fresh build re-tagged); (b) gait
+desync popping the displayed root pose past the bias margin (the first 2026-07-09 recurrence co-
+resolved with gait v5, no shadow code changed — though (a) may have contributed) [T2 obs; mechanism
+T4]; (c) genuine slope burial when the quad is flat/mis-tilted (the depth-bias margin is finite).
+Check `[shadowobj]` tag lines and `[sync]`/`BT_SYNC_LOG` before touching bias/tilt.
 
 ## Key Relationships
 - Detail: `docs/P3_LOCOMOTION.md`. Uses: [[asset-formats]] (SKL/ANI), [[decomp-reference]] (offsets).
diff --git a/engine/MUNGA_L4/L4D3D.cpp b/engine/MUNGA_L4/L4D3D.cpp
index d65e313..aa2c3db 100644
--- a/engine/MUNGA_L4/L4D3D.cpp
+++ b/engine/MUNGA_L4/L4D3D.cpp
@@ -331,6 +331,17 @@ d3d_OBJECT* d3d_OBJECT::LoadObjectBGF(LPDIRECT3DDEVICE9 device, char *fileName)
 		bool allShadow = !data.batches.empty();
 		for (size_t bi = 0; bi < data.batches.size() && allShadow; ++bi)
 			if (!data.batches[bi].shadowMat) allShadow = false;
+		// MECH SHADOW PROXIES (*_tshd.bgf) tag by FILENAME here in the loader
+		// (task #49b): the mech proxy uses a plain black material (not
+		// shadow_mtl), so the all-shadow-material detector above misses it.
+		// The render-tree build used to tag it at its own call site -- but the
+		// VIEW TOGGLE (SetViewInside) and the damage swaps RELOAD segment
+		// meshes through this loader and swapped in an UNTAGGED object: solid
+		// opaque black, no depth bias, buried on slopes (the "shadow broke
+		// mid-session after pressing V" report).  Tagging at load covers every
+		// caller; the drawOps' alphaTest routing below reads the flag.
+		if (!allShadow && fileName != NULL && strstr(fileName, "tshd") != NULL)
+			allShadow = true;
 		if (allShadow)
 		{
 			object->SetIsShadow(1);