diff --git a/src/main/java/kamkeel/npcs/command/AbilityCommand.java b/src/main/java/kamkeel/npcs/command/AbilityCommand.java
index f40c266cb..982a975b3 100644
--- a/src/main/java/kamkeel/npcs/command/AbilityCommand.java
+++ b/src/main/java/kamkeel/npcs/command/AbilityCommand.java
@@ -231,12 +231,12 @@ public class AbilityCommand extends CommandKamkeelBase {
         }
 
         Ability ability = AbilityController.Instance.resolveAbility(abilityKey);
-        String canonicalKey = abilityKey;
-        String displayName = abilityKey;
-        if (ability != null) {
-            canonicalKey = ability.getId() != null ? ability.getId() : abilityKey;
-            displayName = ability.getDisplayName();
+        if (ability == null) {
+            sendError(sender, "Ability not found: " + abilityKey);
+            return;
         }
+        String canonicalKey = ability.getId() != null ? ability.getId() : abilityKey;
+        String displayName = ability.getDisplayName();
 
         PlayerData data = PlayerDataController.Instance.getPlayerData(player);
         if (!data.abilityData.hasUnlockedAbility(canonicalKey)) {
@@ -376,8 +376,8 @@ public class AbilityCommand extends CommandKamkeelBase {
                 // Chained ability
                 String chainName = key.substring(PlayerAbilityData.CHAIN_PREFIX.length());
                 ChainedAbility chain = AbilityController.Instance.resolveChainedAbility(chainName);
-                String displayName = chain != null ? chain.getDisplayName() : chainName;
-                sendResult(sender, prefix + "\u00A7d[Chain] \u00A7b" + displayName);
+                String display = chain != null ? chain.getDisplayName() : chainName;
+                sendResult(sender, prefix + "\u00A7d[Chain] \u00A7b" + display);
             } else {
                 // Regular ability
                 Ability ability = AbilityController.Instance.resolveAbility(key);
diff --git a/src/main/java/kamkeel/npcs/controllers/AbilityController.java b/src/main/java/kamkeel/npcs/controllers/AbilityController.java
index 7f7dac1c3..44445da04 100644
--- a/src/main/java/kamkeel/npcs/controllers/AbilityController.java
+++ b/src/main/java/kamkeel/npcs/controllers/AbilityController.java
@@ -823,6 +823,35 @@ public class AbilityController implements IAbilityHandler {
         return null;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Resolve a chained ability by key and return the live (non-copied) reference.
+     * For validation/permission checks only — do NOT expose or modify the returned chain.
+     * Uses the same lookup chain as {@link #resolveChainedAbility(String)}.
+     */
+    public ChainedAbility peekChainedAbility(String key) {
+        if (key == null || key.isEmpty()) return null;
+
+        ChainedAbility byId = chainedAbilitiesById.get(key);
+        if (byId != null) return byId;
+
+        ChainedAbility chain = chainedAbilities.get(key);
+        if (chain != null) return chain;
+
+        for (Map.Entry<String, ChainedAbility> entry : chainedAbilities.entrySet()) {
+            if (entry.getKey().equalsIgnoreCase(key)) {
+                return entry.getValue();
+            }
+        }
+
+        String sanitizedKey = FileNameHelper.sanitizeTextInput(key);
+        if (!sanitizedKey.equals(key)) {
+            ChainedAbility sanitized = chainedAbilities.get(sanitizedKey);
+            if (sanitized != null) return sanitized;
+        }
+
+        return null;
+    }
+
     public boolean canResolveChainedAbility(String key) {
         if (key == null || key.isEmpty()) return false;
         if (chainedAbilitiesById.containsKey(key)) return true;
@@ -1014,19 +1043,37 @@ public class AbilityController implements IAbilityHandler {
     public Ability peekAbility(String key) {
         if (key == null || key.isEmpty()) return null;
 
+        // Custom: UUID lookup
         Ability byUuid = customAbilitiesById.get(key);
         if (byUuid != null) return byUuid;
 
+        // Built-in: exact key
         Ability builtIn = builtAbilities.get(key);
         if (builtIn != null) return builtIn;
 
-        for (Ability ability : builtAbilities.values()) {
-            if (key.equals(ability.getId())) return ability;
+        // Built-in: case-insensitive key
+        for (Map.Entry<String, Ability> entry : builtAbilities.entrySet()) {
+            if (entry.getKey().equalsIgnoreCase(key)) {
+                return entry.getValue();
+            }
         }
 
+        // Built-in: by ID (case-insensitive)
+        for (Ability ability : builtAbilities.values()) {
+            if (key.equalsIgnoreCase(ability.getId())) return ability;
+        }
+
+        // Custom: exact name
         Ability custom = customAbilities.get(key);
         if (custom != null) return custom;
 
+        // Custom: case-insensitive name
+        for (Map.Entry<String, Ability> entry : customAbilities.entrySet()) {
+            if (entry.getKey().equalsIgnoreCase(key)) {
+                return entry.getValue();
+            }
+        }
+
         return null;
     }