diff --git a/internal/topdata/autogen.go b/internal/topdata/autogen.go
index 37dc846..fd4494d 100644
--- a/internal/topdata/autogen.go
+++ b/internal/topdata/autogen.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"slices"
@@ -13,10 +14,13 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"git.westgate.pw/ShadowsOverWestgate/sow-tools/internal/project"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 const autogenManifestCacheMaxAge = time.Hour
 
+const defaultBunnyCDNBase = "https://depot.westgate.pw"
+
 // errAutogenManifestUnavailable marks a released autogen manifest that could not
 // be located or fetched (network failure, missing release/asset, empty payload,
 // or an undeterminable sow-assets repo). It is deliberately distinct from an
@@ -225,6 +229,9 @@ func autogenConsumerTargetsDataset(dataset nativeCollectedDataset, consumer proj
 }
 
 func resolveAutogenConsumerManifest(p *project.Project, consumer project.AutogenConsumerConfig, progress func(string)) (*autogenManifest, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(consumer.Source.Kind) == "cdn_channel" {
+		return resolveCDNChannelManifest(p, consumer, consumer.Source, progress)
+	}
 	if manifestFile := strings.TrimSpace(consumer.ManifestFile); manifestFile != "" {
 		return readAutogenConsumerManifestFile(p, consumer, manifestFile, progress)
 	}
@@ -276,6 +283,183 @@ func readAutogenConsumerManifestFile(p *project.Project, consumer project.Autoge
 	return &manifest, nil
 }
 
+// resolveCDNChannelManifest resolves the accessory-VFX model list anonymously
+// from the asset CDN: channel pointer -> tag -> per-tag vfxs.yml. It ports the
+// fail policy of the deleted resolve-accessory-vfx.sh: unreachable inputs fail
+// OPEN (errAutogenManifestUnavailable -> optional consumer preserves lock IDs);
+// a published-but-broken release (vfxs.yml 404 while haks.json present) or a
+// malformed vfxs.yml HARD fail.
+func resolveCDNChannelManifest(p *project.Project, consumer project.AutogenConsumerConfig, src project.AutogenSourceConfig, progress func(string)) (*autogenManifest, error) {
+	if progress == nil {
+		progress = func(string) {}
+	}
+
+	// 1. Offline / air-gapped override: a vfxs.yml path or a manifest-repo
+	//    checkout root containing assets/vfxs.yml. Skips the network entirely.
+	if envName := strings.TrimSpace(src.OfflineOverrideEnv); envName != "" {
+		if override := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv(envName)); override != "" {
+			vfxsPath := override
+			if info, err := os.Stat(override); err == nil && info.IsDir() {
+				vfxsPath = filepath.Join(override, "assets", "vfxs.yml")
+			}
+			raw, err := os.ReadFile(vfxsPath)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("offline vfxs override %s: %w", vfxsPath, err)
+			}
+			entries, err := filterCDNChannelEntries(raw, consumer)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			progress(fmt.Sprintf("Using offline vfxs override for %s from %s...", consumer.ID, vfxsPath))
+			return &autogenManifest{ID: consumer.Producer, Ref: "local", Entries: entries}, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	// 2. Channel: explicit env, else derived from the git tag.
+	channel := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv(strings.TrimSpace(src.ChannelEnv)))
+	if channel == "" {
+		channel = deriveAssetChannel(p.Root)
+	}
+
+	// 3. CDN base: env override, then config literal, then baked default.
+	cdnBase := defaultBunnyCDNBase
+	if envName := strings.TrimSpace(src.CDNBaseEnv); envName != "" {
+		if v := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv(envName)); v != "" {
+			cdnBase = v
+		}
+	}
+	if v := strings.TrimSpace(src.CDNBase); v != "" {
+		cdnBase = v
+	}
+	cdnBase = strings.TrimRight(cdnBase, "/")
+
+	join := func(path, tag string) string {
+		return cdnBase + "/" + strings.TrimLeft(strings.ReplaceAll(path, "{tag}", tag), "/")
+	}
+
+	// 4. channels.json -> tag. Unreachable / non-JSON / channel-absent = fail open.
+	channelsURL := join(src.ChannelsPath, "")
+	status, body, err := httpGetStatus(channelsURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, unavailableAutogenManifest(fmt.Errorf("channels.json unreachable %s: %w", channelsURL, err))
+	}
+	if status != http.StatusOK {
+		return nil, unavailableAutogenManifest(fmt.Errorf("channels.json HTTP %d %s", status, channelsURL))
+	}
+	var channels map[string]string
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &channels); err != nil {
+		return nil, unavailableAutogenManifest(fmt.Errorf("channels.json not JSON %s: %w", channelsURL, err))
+	}
+	tag := strings.TrimSpace(channels[channel])
+	if tag == "" {
+		return nil, unavailableAutogenManifest(fmt.Errorf("channel %q absent in channels.json (%s)", channel, channelsURL))
+	}
+	progress(fmt.Sprintf("Accessory VFX: channel %s -> tag %s", channel, tag))
+
+	// 5. vfxs.yml for the tag.
+	manifestURL := join(src.ManifestPath, tag)
+	vstatus, vbody, err := httpGetStatus(manifestURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, unavailableAutogenManifest(fmt.Errorf("vfxs.yml unreachable %s: %w", manifestURL, err))
+	}
+	switch vstatus {
+	case http.StatusOK:
+		// fall through to parse
+	case http.StatusNotFound:
+		// 404 + release marker present = published-but-broken release: HARD fail
+		// (this is the v0.1.4 silent-drop bug). 404 + marker absent = no published
+		// release for this tag: fail open.
+		if marker := strings.TrimSpace(src.ReleaseMarkerPath); marker != "" {
+			markerURL := join(marker, tag)
+			if mstatus, _, merr := httpGetStatus(markerURL); merr == nil && mstatus == http.StatusOK {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("release %s has %s but no vfxs.yml (%s) — accessory rows would silently vanish; backfill/republish vfxs.yml for %s", tag, marker, manifestURL, tag)
+			}
+		}
+		return nil, unavailableAutogenManifest(fmt.Errorf("vfxs.yml 404 %s (no published release for %s)", manifestURL, tag))
+	default:
+		return nil, unavailableAutogenManifest(fmt.Errorf("vfxs.yml HTTP %d %s", vstatus, manifestURL))
+	}
+
+	entries, err := filterCDNChannelEntries(vbody, consumer)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err // malformed vfxs.yml = HARD fail
+	}
+	progress(fmt.Sprintf("Accessory VFX: resolved %d model entries from %s", len(entries), manifestURL))
+	return &autogenManifest{ID: consumer.Producer, Ref: tag, Entries: entries}, nil
+}
+
+// filterCDNChannelEntries parses vfxs.yml and keeps restype==mdl assets under
+// vfxs/<group>/ for the consumer's 4 accessory groups, stripping the leading
+// vfxs/ from each source path. A present-but-malformed manifest (unparseable, or
+// no assets array) is an error; an empty assets array yields zero entries.
+func filterCDNChannelEntries(raw []byte, consumer project.AutogenConsumerConfig) ([]autogenManifestEntry, error) {
+	var manifest struct {
+		Assets *[]struct {
+			Path    string `yaml:"path"`
+			Restype string `yaml:"restype"`
+		} `yaml:"assets"`
+	}
+	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(raw, &manifest); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("malformed vfxs.yml (cannot parse): %w", err)
+	}
+	if manifest.Assets == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("malformed vfxs.yml (no assets array)")
+	}
+	groups := make(map[string]struct{}, len(consumer.AccessoryVisualeffects.Groups))
+	for g := range consumer.AccessoryVisualeffects.Groups {
+		if g = strings.TrimSpace(g); g != "" {
+			groups[g] = struct{}{}
+		}
+	}
+	var entries []autogenManifestEntry
+	for _, a := range *manifest.Assets {
+		if a.Restype != "mdl" {
+			continue
+		}
+		path := filepath.ToSlash(strings.TrimSpace(a.Path))
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(path, "vfxs/") {
+			continue
+		}
+		rel := strings.TrimPrefix(path, "vfxs/")
+		parts := strings.Split(rel, "/")
+		if len(parts) < 2 {
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, ok := groups[parts[0]]; !ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		entry := autogenManifestEntry{
+			Source:    rel,
+			Group:     parts[0],
+			ModelStem: strings.TrimSuffix(parts[len(parts)-1], ".mdl"),
+		}
+		if len(parts) > 2 {
+			entry.Subgroup = strings.Join(parts[1:len(parts)-1], "/")
+		}
+		entries = append(entries, entry)
+	}
+	slices.SortFunc(entries, func(a, b autogenManifestEntry) int {
+		return strings.Compare(a.Source, b.Source)
+	})
+	return entries, nil
+}
+
+// deriveAssetChannel maps the current git tag (or GITHUB_REF_NAME) to a channel:
+// a prerelease tag (v*-*) -> testing; a stable tag (v*) -> current; anything
+// else (branch/PR/dev) -> current. Mirrors resolve-accessory-vfx.sh.
+func deriveAssetChannel(root string) string {
+	ref := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv("GITHUB_REF_NAME"))
+	if ref == "" {
+		if out, err := gitOutput(root, "describe", "--tags", "--exact-match"); err == nil {
+			ref = strings.TrimSpace(out)
+		}
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(ref, "v") && strings.Contains(ref, "-") {
+		return "testing"
+	}
+	return "current"
+}
+
 func resolveAutogenLocalOverrideRoot(p *project.Project, consumer project.AutogenConsumerConfig) (string, error) {
 	root := strings.TrimSpace(consumer.LocalOverrideRoot)
 	if root != "" {
diff --git a/internal/topdata/autogen_cdn_channel_test.go b/internal/topdata/autogen_cdn_channel_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3454150
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/topdata/autogen_cdn_channel_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+package topdata
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"git.westgate.pw/ShadowsOverWestgate/sow-tools/internal/project"
+)
+
+func cdnConsumer() project.AutogenConsumerConfig {
+	return project.AutogenConsumerConfig{
+		ID: "accessory_visualeffects", Producer: "accessory_visualeffects",
+		Dataset: "visualeffects", Mode: "accessory_visualeffects", Optional: true,
+		AccessoryVisualeffects: project.AccessoryVisualeffectsConfig{
+			Groups: map[string]project.AccessoryVisualeffectGroupConfig{
+				"head_accessories": {}, "chest_accessories": {},
+				"head_decorations": {}, "head_features": {},
+			},
+		},
+		Source: project.AutogenSourceConfig{
+			Kind:              "cdn_channel",
+			ChannelsPath:      "releases/haks/channels.json",
+			ManifestPath:      "releases/haks/{tag}/vfxs.yml",
+			ReleaseMarkerPath: "releases/haks/{tag}/haks.json",
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+// cdnServer serves channels.json, vfxs.yml, and haks.json from in-memory maps.
+// A key absent from the map returns 404.
+func cdnServer(t *testing.T, files map[string]string) *httptest.Server {
+	t.Helper()
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		body, ok := files[r.URL.Path]
+		if !ok {
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
+			return
+		}
+		fmt.Fprint(w, body)
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+	return srv
+}
+
+func TestResolveCDNChannelHappyPath(t *testing.T) {
+	root := testProjectRoot(t)
+	srv := cdnServer(t, map[string]string{
+		"/releases/haks/channels.json": `{"current":"v1.2.3"}`,
+		"/releases/haks/v1.2.3/vfxs.yml": `assets:
+  - path: vfxs/head_accessories/hat/hfx_bandana.mdl
+    restype: mdl
+    sha256: aaa
+  - path: vfxs/chest_accessories/cape/cfx_cloak.mdl
+    restype: mdl
+    sha256: bbb
+  - path: vfxs/head_accessories/hat/hfx_bandana.tga
+    restype: tga
+    sha256: ccc
+  - path: vfxs/weapons/sword.mdl
+    restype: mdl
+    sha256: ddd
+`,
+	})
+	t.Setenv("BUNNY_CDN_BASE", srv.URL)
+	t.Setenv("SOW_TOPDATA_ASSET_CHANNEL", "current")
+
+	p := testProject(root)
+	c := cdnConsumer()
+	c.Source.CDNBaseEnv = "BUNNY_CDN_BASE"
+	c.Source.ChannelEnv = "SOW_TOPDATA_ASSET_CHANNEL"
+
+	m, err := resolveCDNChannelManifest(p, c, c.Source, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolve failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(m.Entries) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 2 mdl entries under target groups, got %d: %#v", len(m.Entries), m.Entries)
+	}
+	// Sorted by source: chest_accessories/... before head_accessories/...
+	if m.Entries[0].Source != "chest_accessories/cape/cfx_cloak.mdl" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected first entry: %#v", m.Entries[0])
+	}
+	if m.Entries[1].Source != "head_accessories/hat/hfx_bandana.mdl" ||
+		m.Entries[1].Group != "head_accessories" ||
+		m.Entries[1].Subgroup != "hat" ||
+		m.Entries[1].ModelStem != "hfx_bandana" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected derived entry: %#v", m.Entries[1])
+	}
+	if m.Ref != "v1.2.3" {
+		t.Fatalf("want ref v1.2.3, got %q", m.Ref)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolveCDNChannelFailOpen(t *testing.T) {
+	root := testProjectRoot(t)
+	c := cdnConsumer()
+	c.Source.CDNBaseEnv = "BUNNY_CDN_BASE"
+	c.Source.ChannelEnv = "SOW_TOPDATA_ASSET_CHANNEL"
+	t.Setenv("SOW_TOPDATA_ASSET_CHANNEL", "current")
+
+	t.Run("channels.json unreachable", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Setenv("BUNNY_CDN_BASE", "http://127.0.0.1:0") // unroutable
+		_, err := resolveCDNChannelManifest(testProject(root), c, c.Source, nil)
+		if err == nil || !errorIsUnavailable(err) {
+			t.Fatalf("want fail-open (unavailable), got %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("channel absent", func(t *testing.T) {
+		srv := cdnServer(t, map[string]string{"/releases/haks/channels.json": `{"testing":"v9"}`})
+		t.Setenv("BUNNY_CDN_BASE", srv.URL)
+		_, err := resolveCDNChannelManifest(testProject(root), c, c.Source, nil)
+		if err == nil || !errorIsUnavailable(err) {
+			t.Fatalf("want fail-open (unavailable), got %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("vfxs 404 no release marker", func(t *testing.T) {
+		srv := cdnServer(t, map[string]string{"/releases/haks/channels.json": `{"current":"v1"}`})
+		t.Setenv("BUNNY_CDN_BASE", srv.URL)
+		_, err := resolveCDNChannelManifest(testProject(root), c, c.Source, nil)
+		if err == nil || !errorIsUnavailable(err) {
+			t.Fatalf("want fail-open (unavailable), got %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestResolveCDNChannelHardFail(t *testing.T) {
+	root := testProjectRoot(t)
+	c := cdnConsumer()
+	c.Source.CDNBaseEnv = "BUNNY_CDN_BASE"
+	c.Source.ChannelEnv = "SOW_TOPDATA_ASSET_CHANNEL"
+	t.Setenv("SOW_TOPDATA_ASSET_CHANNEL", "current")
+
+	t.Run("broken release: vfxs 404 + haks.json present", func(t *testing.T) {
+		srv := cdnServer(t, map[string]string{
+			"/releases/haks/channels.json": `{"current":"v1"}`,
+			"/releases/haks/v1/haks.json":  `{}`,
+		})
+		t.Setenv("BUNNY_CDN_BASE", srv.URL)
+		_, err := resolveCDNChannelManifest(testProject(root), c, c.Source, nil)
+		if err == nil || errorIsUnavailable(err) {
+			t.Fatalf("want HARD fail, got %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("malformed vfxs.yml: no assets array", func(t *testing.T) {
+		srv := cdnServer(t, map[string]string{
+			"/releases/haks/channels.json": `{"current":"v1"}`,
+			"/releases/haks/v1/vfxs.yml":   "generated_at: 2026-01-01\n",
+		})
+		t.Setenv("BUNNY_CDN_BASE", srv.URL)
+		_, err := resolveCDNChannelManifest(testProject(root), c, c.Source, nil)
+		if err == nil || errorIsUnavailable(err) {
+			t.Fatalf("want HARD fail, got %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestResolveCDNChannelOfflineOverride(t *testing.T) {
+	root := testProjectRoot(t)
+	vfxs := filepath.Join(root, "vfxs.yml")
+	writeFile(t, vfxs, `assets:
+  - path: vfxs/head_features/scar/hfx_scar.mdl
+    restype: mdl
+    sha256: zzz
+`)
+	t.Setenv("SOW_VFXS_MANIFEST", vfxs)
+	c := cdnConsumer()
+	c.Source.OfflineOverrideEnv = "SOW_VFXS_MANIFEST"
+
+	m, err := resolveCDNChannelManifest(testProject(root), c, c.Source, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("offline override failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(m.Entries) != 1 || m.Entries[0].Source != "head_features/scar/hfx_scar.mdl" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected offline entries: %#v", m.Entries)
+	}
+}
+
+func errorIsUnavailable(err error) bool {
+	return errors.Is(err, errAutogenManifestUnavailable)
+}
diff --git a/internal/topdata/parts_manifest.go b/internal/topdata/parts_manifest.go
index 725a95a..a5e11e0 100644
--- a/internal/topdata/parts_manifest.go
+++ b/internal/topdata/parts_manifest.go
@@ -274,6 +274,19 @@ func writePartsManifestCache(path string, manifest *partsManifest) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// httpGetStatus performs an anonymous GET and returns the status code plus the
+// body (capped). No auth header: cdn_channel inputs (channels.json, vfxs.yml,
+// haks.json) are public CDN text — R1.
+func httpGetStatus(target string) (int, []byte, error) {
+	resp, err := partsManifestHTTPClient.Get(target)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, nil, err
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	body, _ := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(resp.Body, 8<<20))
+	return resp.StatusCode, body, nil
+}
+
 func inventoryFromPartsManifest(manifest *partsManifest) map[string]map[int]struct{} {
 	result := make(map[string]map[int]struct{}, len(supportedPartCategories))
 	for _, category := range supportedPartCategories {