diff --git a/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/map-renderer.test.ts b/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/map-renderer.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..aa93f1e56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/map-renderer.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,220 @@
+import { Vec3 } from 'vec3'
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+
+import { renderMap } from './map-renderer'
+
+// ─── Helpers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function createBotStub(options: {
+  position?: Vec3
+  blocks?: Map<string, { name: string }>
+  entities?: Record<number, any>
+} = {}) {
+  const pos = options.position ?? new Vec3(0, 64, 0)
+  const blocks = options.blocks ?? new Map()
+  const entities = options.entities ?? {}
+
+  // Add bot entity to entities
+  const botEntity = {
+    id: 99,
+    position: pos,
+    type: 'player',
+    username: 'Bot',
+    name: 'player',
+  }
+  entities[99] = botEntity
+
+  return {
+    entity: botEntity,
+    entities,
+    blockAt: (queryPos: Vec3) => {
+      const key = `${Math.floor(queryPos.x)},${Math.floor(queryPos.y)},${Math.floor(queryPos.z)}`
+      const found = blocks.get(key)
+      if (found)
+        return { name: found.name, position: new Vec3(Math.floor(queryPos.x), Math.floor(queryPos.y), Math.floor(queryPos.z)), diggable: true, boundingBox: 'block' }
+      return { name: 'air', position: new Vec3(Math.floor(queryPos.x), Math.floor(queryPos.y), Math.floor(queryPos.z)), diggable: false, boundingBox: 'empty' }
+    },
+  } as any
+}
+
+function buildBlockMap(entries: Array<[number, number, number, string]>): Map<string, { name: string }> {
+  const map = new Map<string, { name: string }>()
+  for (const [x, y, z, name] of entries) {
+    map.set(`${x},${y},${z}`, { name })
+  }
+  return map
+}
+
+// ─── Tests ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+describe('map-renderer', () => {
+  describe('renderMap top-down', () => {
+    it('calls blockAt with Vec3-compatible positions', () => {
+      const pos = new Vec3(0, 64, 0)
+      const bot = {
+        entity: {
+          id: 99,
+          position: pos,
+          type: 'player',
+          username: 'Bot',
+          name: 'player',
+        },
+        entities: {},
+        blockAt: (queryPos: Vec3) => {
+          queryPos.floored()
+          return { name: 'air', position: pos, diggable: false, boundingBox: 'empty' }
+        },
+      } as any
+
+      expect(() => renderMap(bot, { radius: 1, showEntities: false, showElevation: false })).not.toThrow()
+    })
+
+    it('renders a basic map with the bot at center', () => {
+      const bot = createBotStub()
+      const result = renderMap(bot, { radius: 3, showElevation: false })
+
+      expect(result.view).toBe('top-down')
+      expect(result.center).toEqual({ x: 0, y: 64, z: 0 })
+      expect(result.radius).toBe(3)
+      expect(result.map).toContain('@') // Bot marker
+    })
+
+    it('classifies ground blocks correctly', () => {
+      const blocks = buildBlockMap([
+        [0, 64, 0, 'grass_block'],
+        [1, 64, 0, 'grass_block'],
+        [-1, 64, 0, 'dirt'],
+      ])
+      const bot = createBotStub({ blocks })
+      const result = renderMap(bot, { radius: 2, showEntities: false, showElevation: false })
+
+      // Ground blocks should appear as '.'
+      expect(result.map).toContain('.')
+      expect(result.legend).toContain('grass/dirt')
+    })
+
+    it('shows water blocks as ~', () => {
+      const blocks = buildBlockMap([
+        [2, 64, 0, 'water'],
+        [3, 64, 0, 'water'],
+      ])
+      const bot = createBotStub({ blocks })
+      const result = renderMap(bot, { radius: 4, showEntities: false, showElevation: false })
+
+      expect(result.map).toContain('~')
+      expect(result.legend).toContain('water')
+    })
+
+    it('shows tree trunks as T', () => {
+      const blocks = buildBlockMap([
+        [3, 64, 0, 'oak_log'],
+        [3, 65, 0, 'oak_log'],
+        [3, 66, 0, 'oak_log'],
+        [3, 67, 0, 'oak_leaves'],
+      ])
+      const bot = createBotStub({ blocks })
+      const result = renderMap(bot, { radius: 4, showEntities: false, showElevation: false })
+
+      // Top-down view should show the topmost block — leaves on top of the log column
+      // But the log at surface level should be visible if it's the surface block
+      expect(result.legend).toMatch(/tree trunk|leaves/)
+    })
+
+    it('shows ores as $', () => {
+      const blocks = buildBlockMap([
+        [1, 64, 0, 'iron_ore'],
+        [2, 64, 0, 'diamond_ore'],
+      ])
+      const bot = createBotStub({ blocks })
+      const result = renderMap(bot, { radius: 3, showEntities: false, showElevation: false })
+
+      expect(result.map).toContain('$')
+      expect(result.legend).toContain('ore')
+    })
+
+    it('shows interactive blocks as !', () => {
+      const blocks = buildBlockMap([
+        [1, 64, 0, 'crafting_table'],
+        [-1, 64, 0, 'chest'],
+      ])
+      const bot = createBotStub({ blocks })
+      const result = renderMap(bot, { radius: 2, showEntities: false, showElevation: false })
+
+      expect(result.map).toContain('!')
+      expect(result.legend).toContain('chest/furnace/table')
+    })
+
+    it('overlays entities on the map', () => {
+      const entities: Record<number, any> = {
+        1: { id: 1, name: 'zombie', type: 'mob', position: new Vec3(2, 64, 0) },
+        2: { id: 2, name: 'cow', type: 'mob', position: new Vec3(-1, 64, 1) },
+        3: { id: 3, name: 'player', type: 'player', username: 'Alex', position: new Vec3(0, 64, -2) },
+      }
+      const bot = createBotStub({ entities })
+      const result = renderMap(bot, { radius: 4, showElevation: false })
+
+      expect(result.map).toContain('M') // hostile mob
+      expect(result.map).toContain('A') // passive mob (animal)
+      expect(result.map).toContain('P') // player
+      expect(result.map).toContain('@') // self
+      expect(result.map).toContain('zombie')
+      expect(result.map).toContain('Alex')
+    })
+
+    it('respects radius clamping', () => {
+      const bot = createBotStub()
+      const result = renderMap(bot, { radius: 100 })
+      expect(result.radius).toBe(32) // MAX_RADIUS
+
+      const result2 = renderMap(bot, { radius: 0 })
+      expect(result2.radius).toBe(1) // min 1
+    })
+
+    it('shows compass directions', () => {
+      const bot = createBotStub()
+      const result = renderMap(bot, { radius: 3 })
+
+      expect(result.map).toContain('N(-Z)')
+      expect(result.map).toContain('S(+Z)')
+      expect(result.map).toContain('W(-X)')
+      expect(result.map).toContain('E(+X)')
+    })
+  })
+
+  describe('renderMap cross-section', () => {
+    it('renders a cross-section at the bot Y level', () => {
+      const blocks = buildBlockMap([
+        [0, 63, 0, 'stone'],
+        [0, 64, 0, 'grass_block'],
+        [1, 63, 0, 'stone'],
+        [1, 64, 0, 'grass_block'],
+        [-1, 63, 0, 'stone'],
+        [-1, 64, 0, 'dirt'],
+      ])
+      const bot = createBotStub({ blocks })
+      const result = renderMap(bot, { radius: 3, view: 'cross-section' })
+
+      expect(result.view).toBe('cross-section')
+      expect(result.map).toContain('Cross-section')
+      expect(result.map).toContain('@') // Bot marker
+    })
+  })
+
+  describe('legend', () => {
+    it('only includes categories present on the map', () => {
+      // Map with only ground and water
+      const blocks = buildBlockMap([
+        [0, 64, 0, 'grass_block'],
+        [1, 64, 0, 'water'],
+      ])
+      const bot = createBotStub({ blocks })
+      const result = renderMap(bot, { radius: 2, showEntities: false, showElevation: false })
+
+      expect(result.legend).toContain('grass/dirt')
+      expect(result.legend).toContain('water')
+      // Should NOT contain categories not on the map
+      expect(result.legend).not.toContain('lava')
+      expect(result.legend).not.toContain('ore')
+    })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/map-renderer.ts b/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/map-renderer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..63ce6d54f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/map-renderer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,543 @@
+import type { Bot } from 'mineflayer'
+
+import { Vec3 } from 'vec3'
+
+// ─── Types ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export type MapViewType = 'top-down' | 'cross-section'
+
+export interface MapOptions {
+  /** Radius in blocks from center (default: 16, max: 32) */
+  radius?: number
+  /** View type (default: 'top-down') */
+  view?: MapViewType
+  /** Whether to show entities on the map (default: true) */
+  showEntities?: boolean
+  /** Whether to show elevation numbers (default: true) */
+  showElevation?: boolean
+  /** Y level for cross-section view (default: bot's Y) */
+  yLevel?: number
+}
+
+export interface MapResult {
+  /** The rendered ASCII map string */
+  map: string
+  /** Legend explaining the symbols used */
+  legend: string
+  /** Center position of the map */
+  center: { x: number, y: number, z: number }
+  /** Radius used */
+  radius: number
+  /** View type used */
+  view: MapViewType
+}
+
+// ─── Block Category Classification ──────────────────────────────────
+//
+// We collapse hundreds of block names into a small set of semantic
+// categories. Each category gets a single ASCII symbol. The goal is
+// maximum information density with minimum noise.
+
+type BlockCategory
+  = | 'air'
+    | 'ground'
+    | 'stone'
+    | 'sand'
+    | 'water'
+    | 'lava'
+    | 'log'
+    | 'leaves'
+    | 'ore'
+    | 'crop'
+    | 'path'
+    | 'wood_structure'
+    | 'stone_structure'
+    | 'interactive'
+    | 'danger'
+    | 'snow'
+    | 'ice'
+    | 'glass'
+    | 'unknown'
+
+// NOTICE: Symbol choices are intentionally single-character ASCII that
+// are visually distinct in monospace fonts and semantically suggestive.
+const CATEGORY_SYMBOLS: Record<BlockCategory, string> = {
+  air: ' ',
+  ground: '.',
+  stone: '#',
+  sand: ':',
+  water: '~',
+  lava: '%',
+  log: 'T',
+  leaves: '*',
+  ore: '$',
+  crop: ';',
+  path: '_',
+  wood_structure: '=',
+  stone_structure: 'B',
+  interactive: '!',
+  danger: 'X',
+  snow: '\'',
+  ice: '-',
+  glass: 'o',
+  unknown: '?',
+}
+
+const CATEGORY_LEGEND: Record<BlockCategory, string> = {
+  air: 'air/void',
+  ground: 'grass/dirt',
+  stone: 'stone/rock',
+  sand: 'sand/gravel',
+  water: 'water',
+  lava: 'lava',
+  log: 'tree trunk',
+  leaves: 'leaves',
+  ore: 'ore',
+  crop: 'crops/farmland',
+  path: 'path/road',
+  wood_structure: 'wood building',
+  stone_structure: 'stone building',
+  interactive: 'chest/furnace/table',
+  danger: 'danger (cactus/fire/magma)',
+  snow: 'snow',
+  ice: 'ice',
+  glass: 'glass',
+  unknown: 'unknown',
+}
+
+// Entity symbols placed on top of terrain
+const ENTITY_SYMBOLS = {
+  self: '@',
+  player: 'P',
+  hostile: 'M',
+  passive: 'A',
+  neutral: 'N',
+  item: 'i',
+} as const
+
+// ─── Block Name → Category Mapping ──────────────────────────────────
+
+const BLOCK_PATTERNS: Array<[RegExp | string[], BlockCategory]> = [
+  // Interactive (highest priority — these are actionable)
+  [['crafting_table', 'furnace', 'blast_furnace', 'smoker', 'chest', 'trapped_chest', 'ender_chest', 'barrel', 'anvil', 'enchanting_table', 'brewing_stand', 'grindstone', 'stonecutter', 'loom', 'cartography_table', 'smithing_table', 'composter', 'lectern', 'bed'], 'interactive'],
+
+  // Danger
+  [['lava', 'flowing_lava'], 'lava'],
+  [['cactus', 'fire', 'soul_fire', 'magma_block', 'sweet_berry_bush', 'wither_rose', 'pointed_dripstone'], 'danger'],
+
+  // Water
+  [['water', 'flowing_water', 'bubble_column', 'kelp', 'kelp_plant', 'seagrass', 'tall_seagrass'], 'water'],
+
+  // Ores
+  [/_(ore|_ore)$/, 'ore'],
+  [['ancient_debris', 'raw_iron_block', 'raw_gold_block', 'raw_copper_block'], 'ore'],
+
+  // Trees
+  [/_log$/, 'log'],
+  [['mushroom_stem'], 'log'],
+  [/_leaves$/, 'leaves'],
+  [['mangrove_roots', 'muddy_mangrove_roots'], 'log'],
+
+  // Crops / farming
+  [['farmland', 'wheat', 'carrots', 'potatoes', 'beetroots', 'melon', 'pumpkin', 'melon_stem', 'pumpkin_stem', 'sugar_cane', 'bamboo', 'cocoa', 'nether_wart', 'sweet_berries', 'cave_vines', 'cave_vines_plant'], 'crop'],
+
+  // Paths
+  [['dirt_path', 'grass_path'], 'path'],
+  [/_slab$/, 'path'],
+
+  // Wood structures (planks, fences, doors, stairs)
+  [/_planks$/, 'wood_structure'],
+  [/_fence$/, 'wood_structure'],
+  [/_door$/, 'wood_structure'],
+  [/_stairs$/, 'wood_structure'],
+  [/_trapdoor$/, 'wood_structure'],
+  [/_wall$/, 'stone_structure'],
+
+  // Stone structures
+  [/_bricks?$/, 'stone_structure'],
+  [['cobblestone', 'mossy_cobblestone', 'smooth_stone', 'polished_andesite', 'polished_diorite', 'polished_granite', 'cut_sandstone', 'smooth_sandstone'], 'stone_structure'],
+
+  // Ice / snow
+  [['snow', 'snow_block', 'powder_snow'], 'snow'],
+  [['ice', 'packed_ice', 'blue_ice', 'frosted_ice'], 'ice'],
+
+  // Glass
+  [/glass/, 'glass'],
+
+  // Sand / gravel
+  [['sand', 'red_sand', 'gravel', 'soul_sand', 'soul_soil', 'clay'], 'sand'],
+
+  // Stone (natural)
+  [['stone', 'deepslate', 'andesite', 'diorite', 'granite', 'tuff', 'calcite', 'dripstone_block', 'basalt', 'smooth_basalt', 'blackstone', 'netherrack', 'end_stone', 'obsidian', 'crying_obsidian', 'bedrock', 'terracotta'], 'stone'],
+  [/_terracotta$/, 'stone'],
+
+  // Ground (dirt, grass, etc.)
+  [['grass_block', 'dirt', 'coarse_dirt', 'rooted_dirt', 'podzol', 'mycelium', 'mud', 'packed_mud', 'moss_block', 'muddy_mangrove_roots'], 'ground'],
+]
+
+function classifyBlock(blockName: string): BlockCategory {
+  if (blockName === 'air' || blockName === 'cave_air' || blockName === 'void_air')
+    return 'air'
+
+  for (const [pattern, category] of BLOCK_PATTERNS) {
+    if (pattern instanceof RegExp) {
+      if (pattern.test(blockName))
+        return category
+    }
+    else if (pattern.includes(blockName)) {
+      return category
+    }
+  }
+
+  return 'unknown'
+}
+
+// ─── Entity Classification ──────────────────────────────────────────
+
+const HOSTILE_MOBS = new Set([
+  'zombie',
+  'skeleton',
+  'creeper',
+  'spider',
+  'cave_spider',
+  'enderman',
+  'witch',
+  'slime',
+  'magma_cube',
+  'blaze',
+  'ghast',
+  'wither_skeleton',
+  'phantom',
+  'drowned',
+  'husk',
+  'stray',
+  'pillager',
+  'vindicator',
+  'ravager',
+  'vex',
+  'evoker',
+  'guardian',
+  'elder_guardian',
+  'hoglin',
+  'piglin_brute',
+  'warden',
+  'breeze',
+])
+
+const PASSIVE_MOBS = new Set([
+  'cow',
+  'sheep',
+  'pig',
+  'chicken',
+  'horse',
+  'donkey',
+  'mule',
+  'rabbit',
+  'cat',
+  'ocelot',
+  'parrot',
+  'fox',
+  'turtle',
+  'axolotl',
+  'glow_squid',
+  'squid',
+  'bat',
+  'cod',
+  'salmon',
+  'tropical_fish',
+  'pufferfish',
+  'mooshroom',
+  'strider',
+  'frog',
+  'tadpole',
+  'allay',
+  'sniffer',
+  'camel',
+  'armadillo',
+  'villager',
+  'wandering_trader',
+])
+
+function classifyEntity(entityName: string): keyof typeof ENTITY_SYMBOLS {
+  if (HOSTILE_MOBS.has(entityName))
+    return 'hostile'
+  if (PASSIVE_MOBS.has(entityName))
+    return 'passive'
+  return 'neutral'
+}
+
+// ─── Surface Finding ────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/**
+ * Find the topmost non-air block at (x, z) by scanning downward from
+ * a reasonable height. Returns the block name and Y level, or null if
+ * the column is entirely air (unloaded chunk).
+ */
+function findSurfaceBlock(
+  bot: Bot,
+  x: number,
+  z: number,
+  startY: number,
+): { name: string, y: number } | null {
+  // Scan from startY + 16 down to startY - 32 to handle hills and valleys
+  const top = Math.min(startY + 16, 319)
+  const bottom = Math.max(startY - 48, -64)
+
+  for (let y = top; y >= bottom; y--) {
+    const block = bot.blockAt(new Vec3(x, y, z))
+    if (block && block.name !== 'air' && block.name !== 'cave_air' && block.name !== 'void_air') {
+      return { name: block.name, y }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return null
+}
+
+// ─── Renderers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function renderTopDown(bot: Bot, options: Required<MapOptions>): MapResult {
+  const center = bot.entity.position
+  const cx = Math.floor(center.x)
+  const cy = Math.floor(center.y)
+  const cz = Math.floor(center.z)
+  const r = options.radius
+
+  // Build the grid: each cell is [symbol, elevation_delta]
+  const size = r * 2 + 1
+  const grid: string[][] = Array.from({ length: size }, () => Array.from({ length: size }, () => ' '))
+  const elevations: (number | null)[][] = Array.from({ length: size }, () => Array.from({ length: size }, () => null))
+  const usedCategories = new Set<BlockCategory>()
+
+  for (let dz = -r; dz <= r; dz++) {
+    for (let dx = -r; dx <= r; dx++) {
+      const wx = cx + dx
+      const wz = cz + dz
+      const gx = dx + r
+      const gz = dz + r
+
+      const surface = findSurfaceBlock(bot, wx, wz, cy)
+      if (!surface) {
+        grid[gz][gx] = ' '
+        continue
+      }
+
+      const category = classifyBlock(surface.name)
+      usedCategories.add(category)
+      grid[gz][gx] = CATEGORY_SYMBOLS[category]
+      elevations[gz][gx] = surface.y - cy
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Overlay entities
+  const entityOverlays: Array<{ gx: number, gz: number, symbol: string, label: string }> = []
+
+  if (options.showEntities) {
+    // Bot itself
+    grid[r][r] = ENTITY_SYMBOLS.self
+    entityOverlays.push({ gx: r, gz: r, symbol: ENTITY_SYMBOLS.self, label: 'You' })
+
+    // Other entities
+    for (const entity of Object.values(bot.entities)) {
+      if (entity === bot.entity)
+        continue
+
+      const ex = Math.floor(entity.position.x) - cx
+      const ez = Math.floor(entity.position.z) - cz
+
+      if (Math.abs(ex) > r || Math.abs(ez) > r)
+        continue
+
+      const gx = ex + r
+      const gz = ez + r
+
+      if (entity.type === 'player') {
+        grid[gz][gx] = ENTITY_SYMBOLS.player
+        entityOverlays.push({ gx, gz, symbol: ENTITY_SYMBOLS.player, label: entity.username ?? 'player' })
+      }
+      else if (entity.type === 'mob') {
+        const kind = classifyEntity(entity.name ?? '')
+        grid[gz][gx] = ENTITY_SYMBOLS[kind]
+        entityOverlays.push({ gx, gz, symbol: ENTITY_SYMBOLS[kind], label: entity.name ?? 'mob' })
+      }
+      else if (entity.type === 'object' && entity.name === 'item') {
+        grid[gz][gx] = ENTITY_SYMBOLS.item
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Build the map string
+  const lines: string[] = []
+
+  // Header with compass and coordinates
+  lines.push(`  Top-down view centered at (${cx}, ${cy}, ${cz}) | radius: ${r}`)
+  lines.push(`  N(-Z)`)
+  lines.push(`  |`)
+
+  // Column header (X axis markers at edges)
+  const xLeft = cx - r
+  const xRight = cx + r
+  lines.push(`W(-X)${'─'.repeat(size + 2)}E(+X)  [${xLeft}..${xRight}]`)
+
+  for (let gz = 0; gz < size; gz++) {
+    const row = grid[gz].join('')
+    // Add elevation markers on the right side for every 4th row
+    if (options.showElevation && gz % 4 === 0) {
+      const elevSamples = elevations[gz]
+        .filter((e): e is number => e !== null)
+      if (elevSamples.length > 0) {
+        const minE = Math.min(...elevSamples)
+        const maxE = Math.max(...elevSamples)
+        lines.push(`  |${row}| dy:${minE > 0 ? '+' : ''}${minE}..${maxE > 0 ? '+' : ''}${maxE}`)
+      }
+      else {
+        lines.push(`  |${row}|`)
+      }
+    }
+    else {
+      lines.push(`  |${row}|`)
+    }
+  }
+
+  lines.push(`  ${'─'.repeat(size + 2)}`)
+  lines.push(`  |`)
+  lines.push(`  S(+Z)  [Z: ${cz - r}..${cz + r}]`)
+
+  // Entity list
+  if (entityOverlays.length > 1) {
+    lines.push('')
+    lines.push('Entities:')
+    for (const e of entityOverlays) {
+      if (e.symbol === ENTITY_SYMBOLS.self)
+        continue
+      const dx = e.gx - r
+      const dz = e.gz - r
+      lines.push(`  ${e.symbol} ${e.label} (${dx > 0 ? '+' : ''}${dx}, ${dz > 0 ? '+' : ''}${dz})`)
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Legend (only show categories that appear on this map)
+  const legendParts: string[] = []
+  for (const cat of usedCategories) {
+    if (cat === 'air')
+      continue
+    legendParts.push(`${CATEGORY_SYMBOLS[cat]}=${CATEGORY_LEGEND[cat]}`)
+  }
+  // Always include entity symbols if entities are shown
+  if (options.showEntities) {
+    legendParts.push(`${ENTITY_SYMBOLS.self}=you`)
+    legendParts.push(`${ENTITY_SYMBOLS.player}=player`)
+    legendParts.push(`${ENTITY_SYMBOLS.hostile}=hostile mob`)
+    legendParts.push(`${ENTITY_SYMBOLS.passive}=animal`)
+  }
+
+  const legend = legendParts.join('  ')
+
+  return {
+    map: lines.join('\n'),
+    legend,
+    center: { x: cx, y: cy, z: cz },
+    radius: r,
+    view: 'top-down',
+  }
+}
+
+function renderCrossSection(bot: Bot, options: Required<MapOptions>): MapResult {
+  const center = bot.entity.position
+  const cx = Math.floor(center.x)
+  const cy = options.yLevel
+  const cz = Math.floor(center.z)
+  const r = options.radius
+
+  // Cross-section: X horizontal, Y vertical, at fixed Z = cz
+  const width = r * 2 + 1
+  const height = r * 2 + 1
+  const yTop = cy + r
+  const yBottom = cy - r
+
+  const grid: string[][] = Array.from({ length: height }, () => Array.from({ length: width }, () => ' '))
+  const usedCategories = new Set<BlockCategory>()
+
+  for (let dy = -r; dy <= r; dy++) {
+    for (let dx = -r; dx <= r; dx++) {
+      const wx = cx + dx
+      const wy = cy - dy // Flip Y so top of grid = higher Y
+      const gx = dx + r
+      const gy = dy + r
+
+      const block = bot.blockAt(new Vec3(wx, wy, cz))
+      if (!block) {
+        grid[gy][gx] = ' '
+        continue
+      }
+
+      const category = classifyBlock(block.name)
+      usedCategories.add(category)
+      grid[gy][gx] = CATEGORY_SYMBOLS[category]
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Mark bot position if visible
+  const botDx = 0
+  const botDy = cy - Math.floor(center.y)
+  if (Math.abs(botDx) <= r && Math.abs(botDy) <= r) {
+    grid[botDy + r][botDx + r] = ENTITY_SYMBOLS.self
+  }
+
+  const lines: string[] = []
+  lines.push(`  Cross-section at Z=${cz} centered at (${cx}, ${cy}) | radius: ${r}`)
+  lines.push(`  Y=${yTop}`)
+
+  for (let gy = 0; gy < height; gy++) {
+    const row = grid[gy].join('')
+    const worldY = yTop - gy
+    if (gy % 4 === 0) {
+      lines.push(`${String(worldY).padStart(4)}|${row}|`)
+    }
+    else {
+      lines.push(`    |${row}|`)
+    }
+  }
+
+  lines.push(`  Y=${yBottom}`)
+  lines.push(`  [X: ${cx - r}..${cx + r}]`)
+
+  // Legend
+  const legendParts: string[] = []
+  for (const cat of usedCategories) {
+    if (cat === 'air')
+      continue
+    legendParts.push(`${CATEGORY_SYMBOLS[cat]}=${CATEGORY_LEGEND[cat]}`)
+  }
+  legendParts.push(`${ENTITY_SYMBOLS.self}=you`)
+
+  return {
+    map: lines.join('\n'),
+    legend: legendParts.join('  '),
+    center: { x: cx, y: cy, z: cz },
+    radius: r,
+    view: 'cross-section',
+  }
+}
+
+// ─── Public API ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+const DEFAULT_RADIUS = 16
+const MAX_RADIUS = 32
+
+export function renderMap(bot: Bot, options: MapOptions = {}): MapResult {
+  const resolved: Required<MapOptions> = {
+    radius: Math.min(Math.max(options.radius ?? DEFAULT_RADIUS, 1), MAX_RADIUS),
+    view: options.view ?? 'top-down',
+    showEntities: options.showEntities ?? true,
+    showElevation: options.showElevation ?? true,
+    yLevel: options.yLevel ?? Math.floor(bot.entity.position.y),
+  }
+
+  switch (resolved.view) {
+    case 'cross-section':
+      return renderCrossSection(bot, resolved)
+    case 'top-down':
+    default:
+      return renderTopDown(bot, resolved)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/prompts/brain-prompt.md b/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/prompts/brain-prompt.md
index df23312ff..d4a9c5c04 100644
--- a/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/prompts/brain-prompt.md
+++ b/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/prompts/brain-prompt.md
@@ -67,6 +67,12 @@ Core query entrypoints:
 - `query.entities()`: nearby entities with chain methods (`within`, `limit`, `whereType`, `names`, `first`, `list`)
 - `query.inventory()`: inventory stacks (`whereName`, `names`, `countByName`, `count`, `has`, `summary`, `list`)
 - `query.craftable()`: craftable item names (supports `uniq`, `whereIncludes`, `list`)
+- `query.gaze(options?)`: where nearby players are looking (`playerName`, `lookPoint`, `hitBlock`)
+- `query.map(options?)`: ASCII top-down or cross-section map of surroundings. Returns `{ map, legend, center, radius, view }`.
+  - Options: `{ radius?: number (1-32, default 16), view?: "top-down" | "cross-section", showEntities?: boolean, showElevation?: boolean, yLevel?: number }`
+  - Symbols: `.`=ground `#`=stone `~`=water `%`=lava `T`=tree trunk `$`=ore `!`=chest/furnace/table `@`=you `P`=player `M`=hostile `A`=animal
+  - Use `query.map()` for spatial awareness — finding trees, water, ores, structures, and navigating terrain.
+  - Use `query.map({ view: "cross-section" })` to see underground layers (caves, ore veins, elevation).
 
 Composable patterns:
 - `const ores = query.blocks().within(24).isOre().names().uniq().list()`
@@ -79,6 +85,8 @@ Composable patterns:
 - `const invSummary = query.inventory().summary(); invSummary`
 - `const invLine = query.inventory().summary().map(({ name, count }) => `${count} ${name}`).join(", "); invLine`
 - `const craftableTools = query.craftable().whereIncludes("pickaxe").uniq().list()`
+- `const area = query.map({ radius: 16 }); area.map` — top-down ASCII map of surroundings
+- `const underground = query.map({ view: "cross-section", radius: 8 }); underground.map` — vertical slice showing caves/ores
 
 Inventory summary shape reminder:
 - `query.inventory().summary()` returns an **array** of `{ name, count }`.
diff --git a/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/query-dsl.ts b/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/query-dsl.ts
index 0a155f754..86b6f1973 100644
--- a/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/query-dsl.ts
+++ b/services/minecraft/src/cognitive/conscious/query-dsl.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { inspect } from 'node:util'
 import { Vec3 } from 'vec3'
 
 import { computeNearbyPlayerGaze } from '../perception/gaze'
+import { renderMap } from './map-renderer'
 
 import * as world from '../../skills/world'
 
@@ -447,5 +448,8 @@ export function createQueryRuntime(mineflayer: Mineflayer) {
         nearbyDistance: options?.range ?? 16,
       })
     },
+    map: (options?: { radius?: number, view?: 'top-down' | 'cross-section', showEntities?: boolean, showElevation?: boolean, yLevel?: number }) => {
+      return renderMap(mineflayer.bot, options)
+    },
   }
 }