diff --git a/src/main/java/kamkeel/npcs/controllers/data/ability/AbilityController.java b/src/main/java/kamkeel/npcs/controllers/data/ability/AbilityController.java
index c86e3e623..992c56cd9 100644
--- a/src/main/java/kamkeel/npcs/controllers/data/ability/AbilityController.java
+++ b/src/main/java/kamkeel/npcs/controllers/data/ability/AbilityController.java
@@ -346,6 +346,11 @@ public class AbilityController implements IAbilityHandler {
         }
         List<AbilityVariant> ext = externalVariants.get(typeId);
         if (ext != null) {
+            // If no built-in variants exist but external ones do,
+            // inject a "Base" variant so the user always gets a choice
+            if (result.isEmpty()) {
+                result.add(new AbilityVariant("ability.variant.base", a -> {}));
+            }
             result.addAll(ext);
         }
         return result;
diff --git a/src/main/resources/assets/customnpcs/lang/en_US.lang b/src/main/resources/assets/customnpcs/lang/en_US.lang
index a29759c31..f265f0fe9 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/assets/customnpcs/lang/en_US.lang
+++ b/src/main/resources/assets/customnpcs/lang/en_US.lang
@@ -1910,6 +1910,7 @@ ability.modifyParent=Edit Parent
 
 # Ability Variant Selection
 ability.selectVariant=Select Variant
+ability.variant.base=Base
 ability.variant.single=Single
 ability.variant.dual=Dual
 ability.variant.barrage=Barrage