diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 77e1a3f..d7e7bc6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ npm run size        # Enforce bundle size budget
 - Milestone 0.2 next targets crowd-flow integrations (RVO + flow fields) and behaviour-tree decorators for richer AI control.
 - Milestone 0.4 plans a procedural + gameplay systems toolkit (Wave Function Collapse, dungeon suite, L-systems, game loop, camera, particles, inventory, combat, save/load, and more).
 
-Examples live under `examples/` and can be executed with `tsx`/`ts-node` or compiled for the browser. See `examples/astar.ts`, `examples/flowField.ts`, `examples/navMesh.ts`, `examples/cellularAutomata.ts`, `examples/poissonDisk.ts`, `examples/voronoi.ts`, `examples/diamondSquare.ts`, `examples/lSystem.ts`, `examples/dungeonBsp.ts`, `examples/mazeRecursive.ts`, `examples/mazePrim.ts`, `examples/mazeKruskal.ts`, `examples/mazeWilson.ts`, `examples/mazeAldous.ts`, `examples/mazeDivision.ts`, `examples/steering.ts`, `examples/boids.ts`, `examples/requestDedup.ts`, `examples/deltaTime.ts`, `examples/fixedTimestep.ts`, `examples/camera2D.ts`, `examples/particleSystem.ts`, `examples/spriteAnimation.ts`, `examples/tween.ts`, `examples/platformerPhysics.ts`, `examples/topDownMovement.ts`, `examples/tileMap.ts`, `examples/shadowcasting.ts`, `examples/inventory.ts`, `examples/search.ts`, `examples/graph.ts`, `examples/geometry.ts`, `examples/bresenham.ts`, `examples/visual.ts`, `examples/sat.ts`, `examples/simplex.ts`, and `examples/worley.ts` for quick starts. The `examples` registry exported from `src/index.ts` provides a typed index you can traverse programmatically.
+Examples live under `examples/` and can be executed with `tsx`/`ts-node` or compiled for the browser. See `examples/astar.ts`, `examples/flowField.ts`, `examples/navMesh.ts`, `examples/cellularAutomata.ts`, `examples/poissonDisk.ts`, `examples/voronoi.ts`, `examples/diamondSquare.ts`, `examples/lSystem.ts`, `examples/dungeonBsp.ts`, `examples/mazeRecursive.ts`, `examples/mazePrim.ts`, `examples/mazeKruskal.ts`, `examples/mazeWilson.ts`, `examples/mazeAldous.ts`, `examples/mazeDivision.ts`, `examples/steering.ts`, `examples/boids.ts`, `examples/requestDedup.ts`, `examples/deltaTime.ts`, `examples/fixedTimestep.ts`, `examples/camera2D.ts`, `examples/particleSystem.ts`, `examples/spriteAnimation.ts`, `examples/tween.ts`, `examples/platformerPhysics.ts`, `examples/topDownMovement.ts`, `examples/tileMap.ts`, `examples/shadowcasting.ts`, `examples/inventory.ts`, `examples/combat.ts`, `examples/search.ts`, `examples/graph.ts`, `examples/geometry.ts`, `examples/bresenham.ts`, `examples/visual.ts`, `examples/sat.ts`, `examples/simplex.ts`, and `examples/worley.ts` for quick starts. The `examples` registry exported from `src/index.ts` provides a typed index you can traverse programmatically.
 
 ## Contributing
 1. Fork the repository.
diff --git a/ROADMAP.md b/ROADMAP.md
index 7fae198..06cb5e0 100644
--- a/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/ROADMAP.md
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
   - [x] Shadowcasting field-of-view utilities and minimap helpers
 - **Systems for gameplay loops**
   - [x] Inventory system primitives (stacking, filtering, persistence hooks)
-  - [ ] Combat resolution helpers (cooldowns, damage formulas, status effects)
+  - [x] Combat resolution helpers (cooldowns, damage formulas, status effects)
   - [ ] Quest/dialog state machine utilities
   - [ ] 2D lighting helpers (falloff, blending stubs)
   - [ ] Wave spawner utilities for encounter pacing
diff --git a/docs/index.d.ts b/docs/index.d.ts
index 411f88c..378accb 100644
--- a/docs/index.d.ts
+++ b/docs/index.d.ts
@@ -1573,6 +1573,128 @@ export interface InventoryController<TMeta = unknown> {
  */
 export function createInventory<TMeta>(options: InventoryOptions<TMeta>): InventoryController<TMeta>;
 
+/**
+ * Combatant statistics used for damage calculations.
+ * Use for: providing combat state to helpers.
+ * Import: gameplay/combat.ts
+ */
+export interface CombatantStats {
+  health: number;
+  attack: number;
+  defense: number;
+  resistance: number;
+  critChance?: number;
+  critMultiplier?: number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Supported damage types.
+ * Use for: distinguishing mitigation paths.
+ * Import: gameplay/combat.ts
+ */
+export type DamageType = 'physical' | 'magical' | 'true';
+
+/**
+ * Damage modifier options.
+ * Use for: tweaking flat bonuses, multipliers, or damage type.
+ * Import: gameplay/combat.ts
+ */
+export interface DamageModifiers {
+  flat?: number;
+  multiplier?: number;
+  type?: DamageType;
+  random?: () => number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Damage result payload.
+ * Use for: applying damage to targets and reporting crits.
+ * Import: gameplay/combat.ts
+ */
+export interface DamageResult {
+  damage: number;
+  type: DamageType;
+  isCrit: boolean;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Calculates combat damage with optional modifiers.
+ * Use for: resolving attacks in RPG systems.
+ * Import: gameplay/combat.ts
+ */
+export function calculateDamage(
+  attacker: CombatantStats,
+  defender: CombatantStats,
+  modifiers?: DamageModifiers
+): DamageResult;
+
+/**
+ * Applies damage result to a target.
+ * Use for: clamping health and producing new combat state.
+ * Import: gameplay/combat.ts
+ */
+export function applyDamage(target: CombatantStats, result: DamageResult): CombatantStats;
+
+/**
+ * Cooldown controller API for abilities.
+ * Use for: tracking per-ability cooldown timers.
+ * Import: gameplay/combat.ts
+ */
+export interface CooldownController {
+  trigger(id: string, cooldown: number): boolean;
+  update(delta: number): void;
+  reset(): void;
+  getRemaining(id: string): number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Creates a cooldown controller.
+ * Use for: enforcing ability cooldowns.
+ * Import: gameplay/combat.ts
+ */
+export function createCooldownController(): CooldownController;
+
+/**
+ * Status effect definition.
+ * Use for: describing duration-based effects.
+ * Import: gameplay/combat.ts
+ */
+export interface StatusEffect {
+  id: string;
+  duration: number;
+  tickInterval?: number;
+  onApply?: (target: CombatantStats) => void;
+  onTick?: (target: CombatantStats) => void;
+  onExpire?: (target: CombatantStats) => void;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Active status effect with runtime timers.
+ * Use for: advancing effects over time.
+ * Import: gameplay/combat.ts
+ */
+export interface ActiveStatusEffect extends StatusEffect {
+  remaining: number;
+  tickTimer?: number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Creates an active status effect instance with timers.
+ * Use for: instantiating status effects in controllers.
+ * Import: gameplay/combat.ts
+ */
+export function createStatusEffect(effect: StatusEffect): ActiveStatusEffect;
+
+/**
+ * Updates active status effects and invokes lifecycle callbacks.
+ * Use for: applying dots, buffs, and expiry hooks.
+ * Import: gameplay/combat.ts
+ */
+export function updateStatusEffects(
+  target: CombatantStats,
+  effects: ActiveStatusEffect[],
+  delta: number
+): ActiveStatusEffect[];
 /**
  * Item insertion payload used by the inventory controller.
  * Use for: adding items with quantity and metadata.
diff --git a/examples/combat.ts b/examples/combat.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a032484
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/combat.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import {
+  calculateDamage,
+  applyDamage,
+  createCooldownController,
+  createStatusEffect,
+  updateStatusEffects,
+} from '../src/index.js';
+
+const attacker = {
+  health: 120,
+  attack: 30,
+  defense: 8,
+  resistance: 4,
+  critChance: 0.25,
+  critMultiplier: 2,
+};
+
+const defender = {
+  health: 100,
+  attack: 15,
+  defense: 10,
+  resistance: 6,
+};
+
+const damage = calculateDamage(attacker, defender, { type: 'physical', flat: 5 });
+const afterHit = applyDamage(defender, damage);
+console.log('Damage dealt:', damage.damage, 'Remaining health:', afterHit.health);
+
+const cooldowns = createCooldownController();
+console.log('Trigger fireball:', cooldowns.trigger('fireball', 3));
+cooldowns.update(1);
+console.log('Remaining cooldown:', cooldowns.getRemaining('fireball').toFixed(2));
+
+const burn = createStatusEffect({ id: 'burn', duration: 3, tickInterval: 1, onTick: () => console.log('Burn ticks') });
+let effects = [burn];
+effects = updateStatusEffects(attacker, effects, 1);
+effects = updateStatusEffects(attacker, effects, 1);
+effects = updateStatusEffects(attacker, effects, 1);
diff --git a/src/gameplay/combat.ts b/src/gameplay/combat.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e39fdbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gameplay/combat.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+
+export type DamageType = 'physical' | 'magical' | 'true';
+
+export interface CombatantStats {
+  health: number;
+  attack: number;
+  defense: number;
+  resistance: number;
+  critChance?: number;
+  critMultiplier?: number;
+}
+
+export interface DamageModifiers {
+  flat?: number;
+  multiplier?: number;
+  type?: DamageType;
+  random?: () => number;
+}
+
+export interface DamageResult {
+  damage: number;
+  type: DamageType;
+  isCrit: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface CooldownController {
+  trigger(id: string, cooldown: number): boolean;
+  update(delta: number): void;
+  reset(): void;
+  getRemaining(id: string): number;
+}
+
+export interface StatusEffect {
+  id: string;
+  duration: number;
+  tickInterval?: number;
+  onApply?: (target: CombatantStats) => void;
+  onTick?: (target: CombatantStats) => void;
+  onExpire?: (target: CombatantStats) => void;
+}
+
+export interface ActiveStatusEffect extends StatusEffect {
+  remaining: number;
+  tickTimer?: number;
+}
+
+function assertFinite(value: number, label: string): void {
+  if (typeof value !== 'number' || Number.isNaN(value) || !Number.isFinite(value)) {
+    throw new Error(`${label} must be a finite number.`);
+  }
+}
+
+function assertNonNegative(value: number, label: string): void {
+  assertFinite(value, label);
+  if (value < 0) {
+    throw new Error(`${label} must be non-negative.`);
+  }
+}
+
+function resolveMitigation(type: DamageType, defender: CombatantStats): number {
+  if (type === 'true') {
+    return 0;
+  }
+  return type === 'magical' ? defender.resistance : defender.defense;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Calculates damage between two combatants with optional modifiers.
+ */
+export function calculateDamage(
+  attacker: CombatantStats,
+  defender: CombatantStats,
+  modifiers: DamageModifiers = {}
+): DamageResult {
+  assertFinite(attacker.attack, 'attacker.attack');
+  assertFinite(defender.health, 'defender.health');
+
+  const type = modifiers.type ?? 'physical';
+  const flat = modifiers.flat ?? 0;
+  const multiplier = modifiers.multiplier ?? 1;
+  const random = modifiers.random ?? Math.random;
+
+  assertNonNegative(flat, 'flat');
+  assertNonNegative(multiplier, 'multiplier');
+
+  const mitigation = resolveMitigation(type, defender);
+  const base = Math.max(attacker.attack * multiplier + flat - mitigation, 0);
+  const critChance = Math.max(0, attacker.critChance ?? 0);
+  const critMultiplier = attacker.critMultiplier ?? 1.5;
+  const isCrit = random() < critChance;
+  const damage = Math.max(0, Math.round(base * (isCrit ? critMultiplier : 1)));
+
+  return { damage, type, isCrit };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Applies damage to a target and returns a new stat snapshot.
+ */
+export function applyDamage(target: CombatantStats, result: DamageResult): CombatantStats {
+  const nextHealth = Math.max(0, target.health - result.damage);
+  return { ...target, health: nextHealth };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Creates a cooldown controller for managing ability cooldowns.
+ */
+export function createCooldownController(): CooldownController {
+  const timers = new Map<string, number>();
+
+  return {
+    trigger(id: string, cooldown: number): boolean {
+      assertNonNegative(cooldown, 'cooldown');
+      const remaining = timers.get(id) ?? 0;
+      if (remaining > 0) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      timers.set(id, cooldown);
+      return true;
+    },
+    update(delta: number): void {
+      assertNonNegative(delta, 'delta');
+      for (const [id, remaining] of timers.entries()) {
+        const next = Math.max(remaining - delta, 0);
+        timers.set(id, next);
+      }
+    },
+    reset(): void {
+      timers.clear();
+    },
+    getRemaining(id: string): number {
+      return timers.get(id) ?? 0;
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Advances active status effects, invoking tick/expire callbacks.
+ */
+export function updateStatusEffects(
+  target: CombatantStats,
+  effects: ActiveStatusEffect[],
+  delta: number
+): ActiveStatusEffect[] {
+  assertNonNegative(delta, 'delta');
+  const nextState = effects.map((effect) => ({ ...effect }));
+
+  for (const effect of nextState) {
+    if (effect.remaining === effect.duration && effect.onApply) {
+      effect.onApply(target);
+    }
+
+    effect.remaining = Math.max(effect.remaining - delta, 0);
+    if (effect.tickInterval !== undefined) {
+      effect.tickTimer = (effect.tickTimer ?? effect.tickInterval) - delta;
+      if (effect.tickTimer <= 0 && effect.remaining > 0) {
+        effect.onTick?.(target);
+        effect.tickTimer = effect.tickInterval;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (effect.remaining === 0) {
+      effect.onExpire?.(target);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return nextState.filter((effect) => effect.remaining > 0);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Creates an active status effect instance with default timers.
+ */
+export function createStatusEffect(effect: StatusEffect): ActiveStatusEffect {
+  assertNonNegative(effect.duration, 'duration');
+  return {
+    ...effect,
+    remaining: effect.duration,
+    tickTimer: effect.tickInterval,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index e19881e..780232b 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -101,6 +101,8 @@ export const examples = {
     createTileMapController: 'examples/tileMap.ts',
     computeFieldOfView: 'examples/shadowcasting.ts',
     createInventory: 'examples/inventory.ts',
+    calculateDamage: 'examples/combat.ts',
+    createCooldownController: 'examples/combat.ts',
   },
   ai: {
     seek: 'examples/steering.ts',
@@ -644,6 +646,29 @@ export type {
   AddItemOptions,
 } from './gameplay/inventory.js';
 
+/**
+ * Combat helpers for damage calculation, cooldowns, and status effects.
+ *
+ * Example file: examples/combat.ts
+ */
+export {
+  calculateDamage,
+  applyDamage,
+  createCooldownController,
+  updateStatusEffects,
+  createStatusEffect,
+} from './gameplay/combat.js';
+
+export type {
+  DamageResult,
+  DamageModifiers,
+  DamageType,
+  CombatantStats,
+  CooldownController,
+  StatusEffect,
+  ActiveStatusEffect,
+} from './gameplay/combat.js';
+
 
 // ============================================================================
 // 🔍 SEARCH & STRING UTILITIES
diff --git a/tests/combat.test.ts b/tests/combat.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..962c13a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/combat.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+import {
+  calculateDamage,
+  applyDamage,
+  createCooldownController,
+  createStatusEffect,
+  updateStatusEffects,
+} from '../src/index.js';
+
+const baseAttacker = {
+  health: 100,
+  attack: 20,
+  defense: 5,
+  resistance: 3,
+  critChance: 0.5,
+  critMultiplier: 2,
+};
+
+const baseDefender = {
+  health: 80,
+  attack: 10,
+  defense: 4,
+  resistance: 6,
+};
+
+describe('combat helpers', () => {
+  it('calculates and applies damage with crits and mitigation', () => {
+    const result = calculateDamage(baseAttacker, baseDefender, {
+      type: 'physical',
+      flat: 2,
+      multiplier: 1,
+      random: () => 0.1,
+    });
+    expect(result.isCrit).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.damage).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+
+    const updated = applyDamage(baseDefender, result);
+    expect(updated.health).toBeLessThan(baseDefender.health);
+  });
+
+  it('handles cooldown triggering and updates', () => {
+    const cooldowns = createCooldownController();
+    expect(cooldowns.trigger('fireball', 3)).toBe(true);
+    expect(cooldowns.trigger('fireball', 3)).toBe(false);
+    cooldowns.update(1.5);
+    expect(cooldowns.getRemaining('fireball')).toBeCloseTo(1.5, 5);
+    cooldowns.update(2);
+    expect(cooldowns.trigger('fireball', 2)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('applies status effects with ticking and expiry', () => {
+    let ticks = 0;
+    let expired = false;
+    const burn = createStatusEffect({
+      id: 'burn',
+      duration: 3,
+      tickInterval: 1,
+      onTick: () => {
+        ticks += 1;
+      },
+      onExpire: () => {
+        expired = true;
+      },
+    });
+
+    let effects = [burn];
+    const target = { ...baseDefender };
+    effects = updateStatusEffects(target, effects, 1);
+    effects = updateStatusEffects(target, effects, 1);
+    expect(ticks).toBe(2);
+    effects = updateStatusEffects(target, effects, 1);
+    expect(expired).toBe(true);
+    expect(effects).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/index.test.ts b/tests/index.test.ts
index 42e2c38..c350986 100644
--- a/tests/index.test.ts
+++ b/tests/index.test.ts
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ describe('package entry point', () => {
       | 'createTileMapController'
       | 'computeFieldOfView'
       | 'createInventory'
+      | 'calculateDamage'
+      | 'createCooldownController'
     >();
   });
 });