diff --git a/core/include/vf/Survival.h b/core/include/vf/Survival.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0db6eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/include/vf/Survival.h
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <cstdint>
+#include "Block.h"
+#include "Item.h"
+
+namespace vf {
+
+enum class DamageSource : uint8_t { Fall, Starvation, Drowning, MobAttack, Fire, Lava, Void, Generic };
+
+struct SurvivalConfig {
+    float maxHealth = 20.0f;
+    float maxHunger = 20.0f;
+    float maxSaturation = 20.0f;
+
+    float regenIntervalSeconds = 0.5f;
+    int regenHungerThreshold = 18;
+    float exhaustionPerRegenHeart = 6.0f;
+    float exhaustionThreshold = 4.0f;
+
+    float starveIntervalSeconds = 4.0f;
+    float starveDamagePerTick = 1.0f;
+
+    float safeFallDistance = 3.0f;
+    float fallDamagePerBlock = 1.0f;
+
+    float breathHoldSeconds = 15.0f;
+    float drownIntervalSeconds = 1.0f;
+    float drownDamagePerTick = 2.0f;
+};
+
+struct SurvivalState {
+    float health;
+    float hunger;
+    float saturation;
+    float exhaustion = 0.0f;
+    float regenTimer = 0.0f;
+    float starveTimer = 0.0f;
+    float airRemaining;
+    float drownTimer = 0.0f;
+    bool alive = true;
+
+    explicit SurvivalState(const SurvivalConfig& config = {});
+};
+
+enum class ExertionAction : uint8_t { Walk, Sprint, Jump, SprintJump, Swim, MineBlock, AttackHit };
+
+// Exhaustion added per unit of `action` (per block moved, per jump, per hit).
+float exhaustionCost(ExertionAction action);
+
+void addExhaustion(SurvivalState& state, const SurvivalConfig& config, float amount);
+void applyExertion(SurvivalState& state, const SurvivalConfig& config, ExertionAction action,
+                   float units = 1.0f);
+
+// One fixed tick: drains accumulated exhaustion into saturation/hunger,
+// regenerates health while well fed, and starves the player when hunger is
+// empty.
+void tickHungerAndRegen(SurvivalState& state, const SurvivalConfig& config, float dt);
+
+// Applies raw damage from `source`, clamping health at zero. Returns true if
+// this hit killed the player.
+bool applyDamage(SurvivalState& state, DamageSource source, float amount);
+
+// Eats a food item: restores hunger/saturation up to their caps. No-op for
+// non-food items.
+void eat(SurvivalState& state, const SurvivalConfig& config, ItemId food);
+
+// Damage for a landing after falling `fallDistance` blocks; 0 within the safe
+// distance. Applies the damage to `state` and returns the amount applied.
+float applyFallDamage(SurvivalState& state, const SurvivalConfig& config, float fallDistance);
+
+// Call once per tick with the player's submersion state. Drains held breath
+// while submerged and applies periodic damage once it runs out; recovers
+// breath while not submerged.
+void tickBreath(SurvivalState& state, const SurvivalConfig& config, float dt, bool isUnderwater);
+
+// Seconds to break `block` bare-handed; Bedrock and fluids are unbreakable
+// and return positive infinity.
+float blockHardness(Block block);
+
+// Seconds to break `block` with `tool` held (ItemId::None for bare hands),
+// combining hardness with the tool's mining speed multiplier.
+float miningSeconds(Block block, ItemId tool);
+
+} // namespace vf