diff --git a/src/SmokeTests.cs b/src/SmokeTests.cs
--- a/src/SmokeTests.cs
+++ b/src/SmokeTests.cs
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
             Test_StrikePlus_Deals9,
             Test_Offering_GivesEnergyAndDraw,
             Test_Hellraiser_AutoplaysDrawnStrikes,
+            Test_AscendersBane_NotPlayedByPolicies,
         };
 
         var results = new List<TestResult>();
@@ -124,6 +125,39 @@
                     return $"expected Vulnerable on dummy, got [{string.Join(",", h.Dummy.Powers.Select(p => p.Id.Entry))}]";
                 return null;
             });
+
+    private static Task<TestResult> Test_AscendersBane_NotPlayedByPolicies()
+    {
+        // Ascenders Bane has CardKeyword.Unplayable. Even if a policy considers
+        // every card in hand, none of the policies should ever choose it.
+        var h = Harness.BeginCombat<Ironclad>(deckOverride: new List<Type>
+        {
+            typeof(AscendersBane),
+            typeof(StrikeIronclad),
+        });
+        try
+        {
+            var pcs = h.Player.PlayerCombatState!;
+            Reflect.SetEnergy(pcs, 3);
+            foreach (var c in pcs.DrawPile.Cards.ToList()) { pcs.DrawPile.RemoveInternal(c); pcs.Hand.AddInternal(c); }
+
+            var policies = new IPlayPolicy[]
+            {
+                new GreedyAttackPolicy(),
+                new HighestDamagePolicy(),
+                new RandomPolicy(),
+                new EpsilonGreedyPolicy(new HighestDamagePolicy(), 1.0),
+            };
+            foreach (var p in policies)
+            {
+                var pick = p.ChooseCard(h, 3, new Random(0));
+                if (pick is AscendersBane)
+                    return Task.FromResult(new TestResult("Policies skip Unplayable cards", false, $"{p.Name} chose Ascenders Bane"));
+            }
+            return Task.FromResult(new TestResult("Policies skip Unplayable cards", true, null));
+        }
+        finally { Harness.EndCombat(); }
+    }
 
     private static async Task<TestResult> Test_Hellraiser_AutoplaysDrawnStrikes()
     {
diff --git a/src/Policies/EpsilonGreedyPolicy.cs b/src/Policies/EpsilonGreedyPolicy.cs
--- a/src/Policies/EpsilonGreedyPolicy.cs
+++ b/src/Policies/EpsilonGreedyPolicy.cs
@@ -27,9 +27,7 @@
     {
         if (rng.NextDouble() < _epsilon)
         {
-            var affordable = h.Player.PlayerCombatState!.Hand.Cards
-                .Where(c => c.EnergyCost.GetResolved() <= energyLeft)
-                .ToList();
+            var affordable = Playable.InHand(h, energyLeft).ToList();
             if (affordable.Count == 0) return null;
             return affordable[rng.Next(affordable.Count)];
         }
diff --git a/src/Policies/GreedyAttackPolicy.cs b/src/Policies/GreedyAttackPolicy.cs
--- a/src/Policies/GreedyAttackPolicy.cs
+++ b/src/Policies/GreedyAttackPolicy.cs
@@ -11,10 +11,9 @@
 
     public CardModel? ChooseCard(Harness.CombatHarness h, int energyLeft, Random rng)
     {
-        foreach (var card in h.Player.PlayerCombatState!.Hand.Cards)
+        foreach (var card in Playable.InHand(h, energyLeft))
         {
             if (card.Type != CardType.Attack) continue;
-            if (card.EnergyCost.GetResolved() > energyLeft) continue;
             return card;
         }
         return null;
diff --git a/src/Policies/HighestDamagePolicy.cs b/src/Policies/HighestDamagePolicy.cs
--- a/src/Policies/HighestDamagePolicy.cs
+++ b/src/Policies/HighestDamagePolicy.cs
@@ -16,11 +16,8 @@
 
     public CardModel? ChooseCard(Harness.CombatHarness h, int energyLeft, Random rng)
     {
-        var affordable = h.Player.PlayerCombatState!.Hand.Cards
-            .Where(c => c.EnergyCost.GetResolved() <= energyLeft)
-            .ToList();
+        var affordable = Playable.InHand(h, energyLeft).ToList();
         if (affordable.Count == 0) return null;
-
         return affordable.OrderByDescending(EstimatedDamage).First();
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Policies/IPlayPolicy.cs b/src/Policies/IPlayPolicy.cs
--- a/src/Policies/IPlayPolicy.cs
+++ b/src/Policies/IPlayPolicy.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
+using MegaCrit.Sts2.Core.Entities.Cards;
 using MegaCrit.Sts2.Core.Models;
 
 namespace StS2Sim;
@@ -12,4 +15,22 @@
     string Name { get; }
     /// <summary>Pick a card to play, or null to end turn.</summary>
     CardModel? ChooseCard(Harness.CombatHarness h, int energyLeft, Random rng);
+}
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Shared filtering logic so all policies treat "this card is playable right now"
+/// identically. Excludes cards with the Unplayable keyword (Ascenders Bane,
+/// Burn, etc.) and cards we can't afford.
+/// </summary>
+internal static class Playable
+{
+    public static bool IsPlayable(CardModel card, int energyLeft)
+    {
+        if (card.Keywords.Contains(CardKeyword.Unplayable)) return false;
+        if (card.EnergyCost.GetResolved() > energyLeft) return false;
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    public static IEnumerable<CardModel> InHand(Harness.CombatHarness h, int energyLeft)
+        => h.Player.PlayerCombatState!.Hand.Cards.Where(c => IsPlayable(c, energyLeft));
 }
diff --git a/src/Policies/RandomPolicy.cs b/src/Policies/RandomPolicy.cs
--- a/src/Policies/RandomPolicy.cs
+++ b/src/Policies/RandomPolicy.cs
@@ -22,9 +22,7 @@
     {
         if (_earlyEndProbability > 0 && rng.NextDouble() < _earlyEndProbability) return null;
 
-        var affordable = h.Player.PlayerCombatState!.Hand.Cards
-            .Where(c => c.EnergyCost.GetResolved() <= energyLeft)
-            .ToList();
+        var affordable = Playable.InHand(h, energyLeft).ToList();
         if (affordable.Count == 0) return null;
         return affordable[rng.Next(affordable.Count)];
     }