diff --git a/lan-client/precon-loader.js b/lan-client/precon-loader.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cbffdb6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lan-client/precon-loader.js
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+/**
+ * precon-loader.js
+ * Handles loading precon .dck files from the backend into the lan-client simulator.
+ * Depends on: engine.js (gameState, initGame, drawCard, addLogEntry, renderPlayerPanels)
+ *             ai-bridge.js (AIBridge.deckSource.fetchPreconDeck)
+ *             ui.js (setupDeckChoices, setupPlayerCount, setupStartingLife)
+ */
+
+'use strict';
+
+// ============================================================
+// startGameWithDecks
+// Called by ui.js startGame() when players have selected precon decks.
+// Initialises the game state first, then async-loads each player's deck.
+// ============================================================
+async function startGameWithDecks() {
+  // Collect player names from the setup form
+  const playerNames = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < (setupPlayerCount || 4); i++) {
+    const inp = document.getElementById('player-name-' + i);
+    playerNames.push(inp && inp.value.trim() ? inp.value.trim() : 'Player ' + (i + 1));
+  }
+
+  // Boot the game with empty zones first so the battlefield renders immediately
+  initGame(setupPlayerCount || 4, playerNames, setupStartingLife || 40);
+
+  // Now async-fill each player's zones from their chosen precon
+  const choices = typeof setupDeckChoices !== 'undefined' ? setupDeckChoices : {};
+  const loadPromises = Object.entries(choices).map(async ([idxStr, choice]) => {
+    const playerIdx = parseInt(idxStr, 10);
+    if (choice.type !== 'precon' || !choice.preconId) return;
+
+    try {
+      // Ensure fileName always ends with .dck
+      const fileName = choice.preconId.endsWith('.dck')
+        ? choice.preconId
+        : choice.preconId + '.dck';
+
+      const data = await AIBridge.deckSource.fetchPreconDeck(fileName);
+      if (!data || !data.decklist) {
+        addLogEntry('\u26A0 Could not load deck for Player ' + (playerIdx + 1) + ' (no decklist returned)');
+        return;
+      }
+
+      loadPreconDeckFromDck(playerIdx, data.decklist, choice.preconId);
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.warn('[precon-loader] Failed to load deck for player', playerIdx, e);
+      addLogEntry('\u26A0 Deck load failed for Player ' + (playerIdx + 1) + ': ' + e.message);
+    }
+  });
+
+  await Promise.all(loadPromises);
+
+  // Refresh the full UI after all decks are loaded
+  if (typeof renderPlayerPanels === 'function') renderPlayerPanels();
+  if (typeof updateActivePlayerHighlight === 'function') updateActivePlayerHighlight();
+}
+
+
+// ============================================================
+// loadPreconDeckFromDck
+// Parses a Forge-format .dck file string and populates a player's zones.
+//
+// Forge .dck format:
+//   [metadata]
+//   Name=Deck Name
+//   [Commander]
+//   1 Lathril, Blade of the Elves
+//   [Main]
+//   1 Sol Ring
+//   ...
+// ============================================================
+function loadPreconDeckFromDck(playerIdx, dckContent, deckLabel) {
+  if (!gameState) return;
+  const player = gameState.players[playerIdx];
+  if (!player) return;
+
+  let commander = '';
+  let section = '';
+  const mainCards = [];
+
+  for (const rawLine of dckContent.split('\n')) {
+    const line = rawLine.trim();
+    if (!line || line.startsWith('//')) continue;
+
+    // Section headers: [Commander], [Main], [Sideboard], [metadata]
+    if (line.startsWith('[') && line.endsWith(']')) {
+      section = line.slice(1, -1);
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    // Skip metadata key=value lines
+    if (line.includes('=') && !line.match(/^\d/)) continue;
+
+    // Card lines: "1 Sol Ring" or "1 Sol Ring|ELD"
+    const m = line.match(/^(\d+)\s+(.+?)(?:\|.*)?$/);
+    if (!m) continue;
+
+    const qty = parseInt(m[1], 10);
+    const name = m[2].trim();
+
+    if (section === 'Commander') {
+      commander = name;
+    } else if (section === 'Main') {
+      for (let q = 0; q < qty; q++) {
+        mainCards.push(name);
+      }
+    }
+    // Sideboard is ignored for Commander
+  }
+
+  // Clear existing zones before populating
+  player.zones.command = [];
+  player.zones.library = [];
+  player.zones.hand = [];
+  player.zones.graveyard = [];
+  player.zones.exile = [];
+
+  // Populate command zone
+  if (commander) {
+    player.zones.command.push({
+      id: 'cmd-' + playerIdx + '-' + Date.now(),
+      name: commander,
+      imageUrl: '',        // Scryfall fetch can enrich this later
+      typeLine: 'Legendary Creature',
+      oracleText: '',
+      manaCost: '',
+    });
+    player.commanderCardName = commander;
+  }
+
+  // Populate library
+  for (const cardName of mainCards) {
+    player.zones.library.push({
+      id: 'lib-' + playerIdx + '-' + cardName + '-' + Math.random().toString(36).slice(2, 6),
+      name: cardName,
+      imageUrl: '',
+      typeLine: '',
+      oracleText: '',
+      manaCost: '',
+    });
+  }
+
+  // Shuffle library (Fisher-Yates)
+  const lib = player.zones.library;
+  for (let i = lib.length - 1; i > 0; i--) {
+    const j = Math.floor(Math.random() * (i + 1));
+    [lib[i], lib[j]] = [lib[j], lib[i]];
+  }
+
+  // Draw opening hand (7 cards)
+  for (let d = 0; d < 7 && lib.length > 0; d++) {
+    player.zones.hand.push(lib.shift());
+  }
+
+  // Update UI for this player
+  if (typeof updateZoneCountsForPlayer === 'function') updateZoneCountsForPlayer(playerIdx);
+  if (typeof renderCommanderZone === 'function') renderCommanderZone(playerIdx);
+  if (typeof renderHandZone === 'function') renderHandZone(playerIdx);
+
+  const label = deckLabel ? deckLabel.replace('.dck', '') : 'Unknown Deck';
+  addLogEntry(
+    '\uD83C\uDCCF <strong>' + player.name + '</strong> loaded: <em>' + label + '</em>' +
+    (commander ? ' — Commander: <strong>' + commander + '</strong>' : '') +
+    ' (' + lib.length + ' in library, 7 in hand)'
+  );
+}