diff --git a/src/commands/shield.ts b/src/commands/shield.ts
index 2f18bca..551b9c7 100644
--- a/src/commands/shield.ts
+++ b/src/commands/shield.ts
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ import {
   computeShieldMaxAmount,
   estimateShieldGasReserveWei,
   refineShieldMaxAmount,
+  SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT,
+  shieldMaxFeeReserveWei,
 } from "../utils/shield-max.js";
 import {
   assertTornadoDepositAmount,
@@ -834,9 +836,15 @@ export function registerShieldCommand(program: Command): void {
                       data: calls[0]!.data,
                       value: calls[0]!.value,
                     },
-                    2_000_000n
+                    SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT
                   );
-              const estimatedFeeWei = BigInt(feePreview.estimatedMax);
+              const estimatedFeeWei = shieldMaxFeeReserveWei({
+                batch,
+                estimatedMaxWei: BigInt(feePreview.estimatedMax),
+                maxFeePerGasWei: feePreview.maxFeePerGasWei
+                  ? BigInt(feePreview.maxFeePerGasWei)
+                  : undefined,
+              });
               const refined = refineShieldMaxAmount({
                 isEth: tokenMeta.isEth,
                 protocol,
@@ -919,7 +927,7 @@ export function registerShieldCommand(program: Command): void {
                 data: call.data,
                 value: call.value,
               },
-              2_000_000n
+              SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT
             );
           }
         }
@@ -1084,7 +1092,7 @@ export function registerShieldCommand(program: Command): void {
                   to: call.to,
                   data: call.data,
                   value: call.value,
-                  gas: 2_000_000n,
+                  gas: SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT,
                 }
               );
               return { hash };
diff --git a/src/lib/shield-flow.ts b/src/lib/shield-flow.ts
index 085d116..562124e 100644
--- a/src/lib/shield-flow.ts
+++ b/src/lib/shield-flow.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
 import { assertTornadoDepositAmount } from "../utils/tornado-pools.js";
 import type { BalancesSnapshot } from "./balances-snapshot.js";
 import { makePublicAccountsStorage } from "../utils/public-accounts";
+import { SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT } from "../utils/shield-max.js";
 import {
   makeStealthAccountsStorage,
   parseStealthIndex,
@@ -689,7 +690,7 @@ export async function broadcastShield(opts: {
       to: tx.to,
       data: tx.data,
       value: tx.value,
-      gas: 2_000_000n,
+      gas: SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT,
     });
     return [{ type: "shield", hash }];
   } finally {
diff --git a/src/utils/shield-max.ts b/src/utils/shield-max.ts
index b6b5a8d..5a30d36 100644
--- a/src/utils/shield-max.ts
+++ b/src/utils/shield-max.ts
@@ -3,8 +3,39 @@ import { makePublicClient } from "./rpc.js";
 /** Same gas cap shield uses when broadcasting a single EOA deposit. */
 export const SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT = 2_000_000n;
 
+/** 1.3× pad on gas × maxFee so --amount-max survives fee ticks before send. */
+export const SHIELD_FEE_PAD_NUM = 13n;
+export const SHIELD_FEE_PAD_DEN = 10n;
+
+export function padShieldFeeWei(feeWei: bigint): bigint {
+  return (feeWei * SHIELD_FEE_PAD_NUM) / SHIELD_FEE_PAD_DEN;
+}
+
+/** Node checks `gasLimit × maxFee + value`; EOA broadcast pins gas to SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT. */
+export function eoaShieldFeeReserveWei(maxFeePerGas: bigint): bigint {
+  return padShieldFeeWei(SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT * maxFeePerGas);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Wei to reserve when refining --amount-max after a live fee preview.
+ * EOA must not use a tighter `estimateGas` — the signed tx still sets
+ * `gas: SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT`, and the node charges the full limit at submission.
+ */
+export function shieldMaxFeeReserveWei(opts: {
+  batch: boolean;
+  estimatedMaxWei: bigint;
+  maxFeePerGasWei?: bigint;
+}): bigint {
+  if (!opts.batch && opts.maxFeePerGasWei != null && opts.maxFeePerGasWei > 0n) {
+    const fromLimit = eoaShieldFeeReserveWei(opts.maxFeePerGasWei);
+    const fromEstimate = padShieldFeeWei(opts.estimatedMaxWei);
+    return fromLimit > fromEstimate ? fromLimit : fromEstimate;
+  }
+  return padShieldFeeWei(opts.estimatedMaxWei);
+}
+
 /**
- * Conservative wei reserve for a shield (gas × fee × 1.2).
+ * Conservative wei reserve for a shield (gas × fee × pad).
  * Uses ~110% of latest base fee, same pattern as transfer --amount-max.
  */
 export async function estimateShieldGasReserveWei(
@@ -27,7 +58,7 @@ export async function estimateShieldGasReserveWei(
       "Could not determine gas price to compute shield --amount-max."
     );
   }
-  return (SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT * maxFeePerGas * 12n) / 10n;
+  return eoaShieldFeeReserveWei(maxFeePerGas);
 }
 
 /** Floor `amount` down to a multiple of `minDenom` (0 if amount < min). */
diff --git a/tests/shield-max.test.ts b/tests/shield-max.test.ts
index 4933ea1..23b6fa0 100644
--- a/tests/shield-max.test.ts
+++ b/tests/shield-max.test.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,13 @@ import { describe, it } from "node:test";
 
 import {
   computeShieldMaxAmount,
+  eoaShieldFeeReserveWei,
+  padShieldFeeWei,
   refineShieldMaxAmount,
+  SHIELD_FEE_PAD_DEN,
+  SHIELD_FEE_PAD_NUM,
+  SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT,
+  shieldMaxFeeReserveWei,
   tornadoFloorToMinDenom,
 } from "../src/utils/shield-max.js";
 
@@ -181,3 +187,55 @@ describe("refineShieldMaxAmount", () => {
     );
   });
 });
+
+describe("padShieldFeeWei / shieldMaxFeeReserveWei", () => {
+  it("pads 1.3×", () => {
+    assert.equal(SHIELD_FEE_PAD_NUM, 13n);
+    assert.equal(SHIELD_FEE_PAD_DEN, 10n);
+    assert.equal(padShieldFeeWei(1000n), 1300n);
+  });
+
+  it("EOA reserve uses the 2M broadcast gas cap, not a tighter estimateGas", () => {
+    const maxFeePerGas = 117_279_367n;
+    const estimateGas = 1_088_123n;
+    const estimatedMax = estimateGas * maxFeePerGas;
+    const reserved = shieldMaxFeeReserveWei({
+      batch: false,
+      estimatedMaxWei: estimatedMax,
+      maxFeePerGasWei: maxFeePerGas,
+    });
+    const nodeCheck = SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT * maxFeePerGas;
+    assert.equal(reserved, eoaShieldFeeReserveWei(maxFeePerGas));
+    assert.ok(reserved >= nodeCheck);
+    assert.ok(reserved > estimatedMax);
+  });
+
+  it("leaves enough ETH for the node's gasLimit × maxFee check", () => {
+    const maxFeePerGas = 117_279_367n;
+    const balance = 16_235_115_418_919_695n;
+    const estimateGas = 1_088_123n;
+    const tooTight = estimateGas * maxFeePerGas;
+    const reserved = shieldMaxFeeReserveWei({
+      batch: false,
+      estimatedMaxWei: tooTight,
+      maxFeePerGasWei: maxFeePerGas,
+    });
+    const amount = refineShieldMaxAmount({
+      isEth: true,
+      protocol: "railgun",
+      currentAmount: balance - tooTight,
+      ethBalance: balance,
+      estimatedFeeWei: reserved,
+    });
+    const nodeCost = SHIELD_GAS_LIMIT * maxFeePerGas + amount;
+    assert.ok(nodeCost <= balance);
+  });
+
+  it("batch UserOp reserve pads the bundler estimate", () => {
+    const estimatedMax = 50_000_000_000_000n;
+    assert.equal(
+      shieldMaxFeeReserveWei({ batch: true, estimatedMaxWei: estimatedMax }),
+      padShieldFeeWei(estimatedMax)
+    );
+  });
+});