diff --git a/packages/api/src/llm/fo-blog-pipeline.ts b/packages/api/src/llm/fo-blog-pipeline.ts
index d9c4692..945a907 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/llm/fo-blog-pipeline.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/llm/fo-blog-pipeline.ts
@@ -2351,8 +2351,8 @@ Article:
 
 export const STEP8b_REDUCTION = `You are running the FLEXOPTIX REDUCTION ENGINE on this article.
 
-Target length: 700–1,000 words. This is the gold zone for a Flexoptix technical blog post.
-DO NOT go below 600 words. DO NOT exceed 1,300 words (warning threshold).
+Target length: 1,200–1,600 words. This is the gold zone for a Flexoptix technical blog post.
+DO NOT go below 1,000 words. DO NOT exceed 2,000 words (warning threshold).
 
 This is a 5-pass refinement. Apply all passes in sequence:
 
@@ -2408,10 +2408,11 @@ Read the final text out loud (mentally). Fix anything that sounds like it was ge
 
 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 LENGTH TARGETS (apply after all 5 passes):
-  Short article: 600–700 words (opinion piece, market note)
-  Standard article: 700–1,000 words (technical analysis, guide) ← DEFAULT TARGET
-  Long article: 1,000–1,300 words (deep-dive, migration tutorial) ← only if content demands it
-  Warning zone: 1,300+ words — something wasn't cut enough, revisit Pass 1.
+  Short article: 1,000–1,200 words (opinion piece, market note)
+  Standard article: 1,200–1,600 words (technical analysis, guide) ← DEFAULT TARGET
+  Long article: 1,600–2,000 words (deep-dive, migration tutorial) ← only if content demands it
+  Warning zone: 2,000+ words — something wasn't cut enough, revisit Pass 1.
+  HARD MINIMUM: 1,000 words. If below 1,000 words — expand Pass 3 bridges, do not submit.
 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 
 DO NOT add section headers. DO NOT add new facts. DO NOT change the writing voice.
diff --git a/packages/api/src/routes/blog.ts b/packages/api/src/routes/blog.ts
index 29453fc..1fe7253 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/routes/blog.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/routes/blog.ts
@@ -333,11 +333,12 @@ function validateArticle(content: string): string[] {
   }
   // Check minimum depth
   const wordCount = content.split(/\s+/).length;
-  if (wordCount < 800) {
-    issues.push(`Too short: ${wordCount} words (minimum 800 for template, 1200 for LLM)`);
+  if (wordCount < 1200) {
+    issues.push(`Too short: ${wordCount} words (minimum 1200)`);
   }
-  // Check for power budget section in troubleshooting articles
-  if (content.toLowerCase().includes("troubleshoot") && !content.toLowerCase().includes("power budget")) {
+  // Check for power budget only in articles primarily about troubleshooting (title contains it)
+  const titleLine = content.split("\n")[0]?.toLowerCase() || "";
+  if (titleLine.includes("troubleshoot") && !content.toLowerCase().includes("power budget")) {
     issues.push("Missing power budget section");
   }
 
@@ -1208,7 +1209,7 @@ async function runLlmPipeline(
     const wordsAfter = step8b.text.split(/\s+/).length;
     const wordsBefore = step8.text.split(/\s+/).length;
     const pctChange = Math.round((1 - wordsAfter / wordsBefore) * 100);
-    console.log(`    After reduction: ${wordsAfter} words (was ${wordsBefore}, −${pctChange}%) ${wordsAfter > 1300 ? "⚠ WARNING: >1300 words" : wordsAfter < 600 ? "⚠ WARNING: <600 words" : "✓ in target range"}`);
+    console.log(`    After reduction: ${wordsAfter} words (was ${wordsBefore}, −${pctChange}%) ${wordsAfter > 2000 ? "⚠ WARNING: >2000 words" : wordsAfter < 1000 ? "⚠ WARNING: <1000 words" : "✓ in target range"}`);
 
     // ═══ STEP AEM: Auto-Editor Mode (Senior Engineer voice polish) ═══
     console.log("  Step 12/16: Auto-Editor Mode (senior engineer voice polish)...");