diff --git a/frontend/src/composables/__tests__/useFightPolling.test.ts b/frontend/src/composables/__tests__/useFightPolling.test.ts
index 8d31ddf..cb2310b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/composables/__tests__/useFightPolling.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/composables/__tests__/useFightPolling.test.ts
@@ -106,3 +106,86 @@ describe('useFightPolling SSE reconnection', () => {
     expect(MockEventSource.instances).toHaveLength(3)
   })
 })
+
+describe('useFightPolling exponential backoff', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    MockEventSource.instances = []
+    // @ts-expect-error — mock global
+    globalThis.EventSource = MockEventSource
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+    // @ts-expect-error — cleanup mock
+    delete globalThis.EventSource
+  })
+
+  it('polling uses exponential backoff on consecutive errors', async () => {
+    let fetchCallCount = 0
+    const originalFetch = globalThis.fetch
+    globalThis.fetch = vi.fn().mockImplementation(() => {
+      fetchCallCount++
+      return Promise.reject(new Error('network error'))
+    })
+
+    const fightId = ref('fight-backoff')
+    const { startPolling, stopPolling } = useFightPolling(fightId)
+
+    startPolling()
+
+    // First poll at 1500ms
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1600)
+    expect(fetchCallCount).toBe(1)
+
+    // After error, next poll at 3000ms (1500 * 2^1)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(3100)
+    expect(fetchCallCount).toBe(2)
+
+    // After 2 errors, next poll at 6000ms (1500 * 2^2)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(6100)
+    expect(fetchCallCount).toBe(3)
+
+    stopPolling()
+    globalThis.fetch = originalFetch
+  })
+
+  it('polling resets backoff on success', async () => {
+    let fetchCallCount = 0
+    const originalFetch = globalThis.fetch
+    globalThis.fetch = vi.fn().mockImplementation(() => {
+      fetchCallCount++
+      if (fetchCallCount <= 2) {
+        return Promise.reject(new Error('network error'))
+      }
+      return Promise.resolve({
+        ok: true,
+        json: () => Promise.resolve({ status: 'live', rounds: [] }),
+      })
+    })
+
+    const fightId = ref('fight-reset')
+    const { startPolling, stopPolling } = useFightPolling(fightId)
+
+    startPolling()
+
+    // First poll at 1500ms → error
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1600)
+    expect(fetchCallCount).toBe(1)
+
+    // Next at 3000ms → error
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(3100)
+    expect(fetchCallCount).toBe(2)
+
+    // Next at 6000ms → success (resets backoff)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(6100)
+    expect(fetchCallCount).toBe(3)
+
+    // After success, back to 1500ms
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1600)
+    expect(fetchCallCount).toBe(4)
+
+    stopPolling()
+    globalThis.fetch = originalFetch
+  })
+})
diff --git a/frontend/src/composables/useFightPolling.ts b/frontend/src/composables/useFightPolling.ts
index 397e9a9..a9b0ed6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/composables/useFightPolling.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/composables/useFightPolling.ts
@@ -33,8 +33,9 @@ export function useFightPolling(fightId: Ref<string>) {
   const currentChallengeInfo = ref<{ type: string; label: string } | null>(null)
   const pendingSSEEvents = ref<{ type: string; data: any }[]>([])
 
-  let pollHandle: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
+  let pollHandle: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null
   let pollCount = 0
+  let pollErrors = 0
   let eventSource: EventSource | null = null
   let sseRetries = 0
   const sseListeners: SSEListenerEntry[] = []
@@ -69,27 +70,51 @@ export function useFightPolling(fightId: Ref<string>) {
     keepLive?: boolean  // Don't set isLive=false (human fights manage lifecycle via SSE)
   }) {
     pollCount = 0
-    pollHandle = setInterval(async () => {
+    pollErrors = 0
+
+    function schedulePoll() {
+      // Exponential backoff on consecutive errors: 1.5s → 3s → 6s → max 8s
+      const delay = pollErrors > 0
+        ? Math.min(1500 * 2 ** pollErrors, 8000)
+        : 1500
+      pollHandle = setTimeout(poll, delay)
+    }
+
+    async function poll() {
       pollCount++
       const s = await loadFight()
+
+      if (s === null) {
+        // Error or rate-limited
+        pollErrors++
+      } else {
+        pollErrors = 0 // Reset on success
+      }
+
       if (s === 'finished') {
         if (!eventSource) {
           if (!callbacks?.keepLive) isLive.value = false
           disconnectSSE()
           stopPolling()
           callbacks?.onFinished?.()
+          return
         }
       } else if (pollCount > 120) {
         isLive.value = false
         fightError.value = 'Fight took too long. Try refreshing.'
         stopPolling()
         callbacks?.onTimeout?.()
+        return
       }
-    }, 1500)
+
+      schedulePoll()
+    }
+
+    schedulePoll()
   }
 
   function stopPolling() {
-    if (pollHandle) { clearInterval(pollHandle); pollHandle = null }
+    if (pollHandle) { clearTimeout(pollHandle); pollHandle = null }
   }
 
   // --- SSE ---