diff --git a/server/src/game.rs b/server/src/game.rs
index deab56c5..91027c04 100644
--- a/server/src/game.rs
+++ b/server/src/game.rs
@@ -175,6 +175,13 @@ impl Game {
 
     fn skill_phase_start(mut self) -> Game {
         self.phase_start = Utc::now();
+
+        for player in self.players.iter_mut() {
+            if player.skills_required() != 0 {
+                player.set_ready(false);
+            }
+        }
+
         self.log.push("<Skill Phase>".to_string());
 
         if ![Phase::Start, Phase::Resolve].contains(&self.phase) {
@@ -236,6 +243,8 @@ impl Game {
                     panic!("{:?} unable to add pve mob skill {:?}", e, s);
                 },
             }
+
+            self.player_ready(player_id).unwrap();
         }
 
         self
@@ -1094,9 +1103,12 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(game.player_by_id(y_player.id).unwrap().cryps[0].skill_on_cd(Skill::Stun).is_some());
         assert!(game.player_by_id(x_player.id).unwrap().cryps[0].skill_on_cd(Skill::Block).is_none());
 
-        let _x_stun_id = game.add_skill(x_player.id, x_cryp.id, Some(y_cryp.id), Skill::TestTouch).unwrap();
+        game.add_skill(x_player.id, x_cryp.id, Some(y_cryp.id), Skill::TestTouch).unwrap();
         game.add_skill(y_player.id, y_cryp.id, Some(x_cryp.id), Skill::TestTouch).unwrap();
 
+        game.player_ready(x_player.id).unwrap();
+        game.player_ready(y_player.id).unwrap();
+
         game = game.resolve_phase_start();
 
         // should auto progress back to skill phase
@@ -1108,6 +1120,9 @@ mod tests {
         let _x_block_id = game.add_skill(x_player.id, x_cryp.id, Some(y_cryp.id), Skill::Stun).unwrap();
         let _y_touch_id = game.add_skill(y_player.id, y_cryp.id, Some(x_cryp.id), Skill::TestTouch).unwrap();
 
+        game.player_ready(x_player.id).unwrap();
+        game.player_ready(y_player.id).unwrap();
+
         game = game.resolve_phase_start();
 
         assert!(game.player_by_id(x_player.id).unwrap().cryps[0].skill_on_cd(Skill::Stun).is_some());
@@ -1127,6 +1142,9 @@ mod tests {
         let _x_block_id = game.add_skill(x_player.id, x_cryp.id, None, Skill::TestParry).unwrap();
         game.add_skill(y_player.id, y_cryp.id, Some(x_cryp.id), Skill::TestStun).unwrap();
 
+        game.player_ready(x_player.id).unwrap();
+        game.player_ready(y_player.id).unwrap();
+
         game = game.resolve_phase_start();
 
         // should not be stunned because of parry
@@ -1158,6 +1176,9 @@ mod tests {
         game.add_skill(x_player.id, x_cryp.id, Some(i_cryp.id), Skill::Ruin).unwrap();
         game.add_skill(x_player.id, y_cryp.id, Some(i_cryp.id), Skill::TestTouch).unwrap();
 
+        game.player_ready(i_player.id).unwrap();
+        game.player_ready(x_player.id).unwrap();
+
         assert!(game.skill_phase_finished());
         game = game.resolve_phase_start();
 
@@ -1205,7 +1226,9 @@ mod tests {
         game.add_skill(x_player.id, x_cryp.id, Some(i_cryp.id), Skill::Taunt).unwrap();
         game.add_skill(x_player.id, y_cryp.id, Some(i_cryp.id), Skill::TestTouch).unwrap();
 
-        assert!(game.skill_phase_finished());
+        game.player_ready(i_player.id).unwrap();
+        game.player_ready(x_player.id).unwrap();
+
         game = game.resolve_phase_start();
 
         assert!(game.resolved.len() == 4);
@@ -1234,6 +1257,9 @@ mod tests {
         game.add_skill(x_player.id, x_cryp.id, Some(i_cryp.id), Skill::TestTouch).unwrap();
         game.add_skill(x_player.id, y_cryp.id, Some(i_cryp.id), Skill::TestTouch).unwrap();
 
+        game.player_ready(i_player.id).unwrap();
+        game.player_ready(x_player.id).unwrap();
+
         assert!(game.skill_phase_finished());
         game = game.resolve_phase_start();
 
@@ -1251,6 +1277,9 @@ mod tests {
         game.add_skill(x_player.id, y_cryp.id, Some(j_cryp.id), Skill::TestTouch).unwrap();
         assert!(game.add_skill(x_player.id, x_cryp.id, Some(i_cryp.id), Skill::TestTouch).is_err());
 
+        game.player_ready(i_player.id).unwrap();
+        game.player_ready(x_player.id).unwrap();
+
         assert!(game.skill_phase_finished());
         game = game.resolve_phase_start();
 
diff --git a/server/src/instance.rs b/server/src/instance.rs
index 29d3b4cf..bd2e8df3 100644
--- a/server/src/instance.rs
+++ b/server/src/instance.rs
@@ -294,7 +294,10 @@ impl Instance {
 
                     game = game.start();
 
-                    assert!(game.finished());
+                    if !game.finished() {
+                        panic!("game not finished {:?}", game)
+                    }
+
                     let winner = match game.winner() {
                         Some(w) => w,
                         None => panic!("game has no winner {:?}", game),