diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/BotProfilePage.vue b/frontend/src/pages/BotProfilePage.vue
index 708d1c8..526b761 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/BotProfilePage.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/BotProfilePage.vue
@@ -298,11 +298,18 @@ async function loadGuide() {
   guideContent.value = ''
   guideCopied.value = false
   try {
-    const res = await fetch('/docs/BOTFIGHTS.md')
+    // Fetch the server-rendered /api/docs/prompt, not the static
+    // /docs/BOTFIGHTS.md file — the static file's {{ARENA_URL}} has no
+    // choice but to be substituted client-side with window.location.origin,
+    // which on a proxy-mode instance (ARENA_UPSTREAM_URL set) is this
+    // node's own local/LAN/Tailscale address, not the real externally-
+    // reachable arena. /api/docs/prompt is under /api/*, so arena-proxy
+    // forwards it to the real upstream arena in proxy mode, which resolves
+    // {{ARENA_URL}} to its own correct origin (see server/src/routes/docs.ts).
+    const res = await fetch('/api/docs/prompt')
     let content = await res.text()
     content = content.replace(/YOUR_BOT_ID/g, regeneratedBotId.value)
     content = content.replace(/YOUR_BOT_SECRET/g, regeneratedSecret.value)
-    content = content.replace(/\{\{ARENA_URL\}\}/g, window.location.origin)
     guideContent.value = content
   } catch {
     guideContent.value = '# Failed to load setup guide'
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/JoinBoutPage.vue b/frontend/src/pages/JoinBoutPage.vue
index 4ad13d6..6d3d587 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/JoinBoutPage.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/JoinBoutPage.vue
@@ -522,8 +522,21 @@ const setupContentCopied = ref(false)
 // What DOES need to visibly react to the picker is `modeHint` below, so a
 // click still produces an immediate, obvious change instead of looking inert.
 
+// IMPORTANT: fetch the server-rendered /api/docs/prompt, NOT the static
+// /docs/BOTFIGHTS.md file. The static file is never proxy-aware — on an
+// instance running in proxy mode (ARENA_UPSTREAM_URL set), the raw file's
+// {{ARENA_URL}} would have to be substituted client-side with
+// window.location.origin, which is whatever address the browser happens to
+// be on (e.g. this node's own LAN/Tailscale IP) — reachable on that network,
+// but not the real, externally-reachable arena, and useless to an external
+// bot with no route to that address. /api/docs/prompt is mounted under
+// /api/*, so arena-proxy transparently forwards it to the real upstream
+// arena in proxy mode, which resolves {{ARENA_URL}} to ITS OWN correct,
+// externally-reachable origin — the same substitution already proven
+// correct (see server/src/routes/docs.ts). Standalone instances (no
+// ARENA_UPSTREAM_URL) get their own correct origin either way.
 function setupDocPath() {
-  return '/docs/BOTFIGHTS.md'
+  return '/api/docs/prompt'
 }
 
 function setupDocName() {
@@ -546,9 +559,10 @@ async function toggleSetupContent() {
     try {
       const res = await fetch(setupDocPath())
       let content = await res.text()
+      // {{ARENA_URL}} is already resolved server-side (proxy-aware — see
+      // setupDocPath() above); only the bot-specific placeholders remain.
       content = content.replace(/YOUR_BOT_ID/g, botId.value)
       content = content.replace(/YOUR_BOT_SECRET/g, botSecret.value)
-      content = content.replace(/\{\{ARENA_URL\}\}/g, window.location.origin)
       setupContent.value = content
     } catch {
       setupContent.value = '# Failed to load setup guide'
@@ -568,9 +582,10 @@ async function copyFullPrompt() {
     try {
       const res = await fetch(setupDocPath())
       let content = await res.text()
+      // {{ARENA_URL}} is already resolved server-side (proxy-aware — see
+      // setupDocPath() above); only the bot-specific placeholders remain.
       content = content.replace(/YOUR_BOT_ID/g, botId.value)
       content = content.replace(/YOUR_BOT_SECRET/g, botSecret.value)
-      content = content.replace(/\{\{ARENA_URL\}\}/g, window.location.origin)
       setupContent.value = content
     } catch { /* fall through with empty content */ }
   }