diff --git a/src/__tests__/utility/ability-facing.ts b/src/__tests__/utility/ability-facing.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..01821264c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/__tests__/utility/ability-facing.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import { expect, describe, test } from '@jest/globals';
+import { shouldFaceTargetDuringCast } from '../../utility/ability-facing';
+
+describe('shouldFaceTargetDuringCast', () => {
+	test('faces the target when the ability says nothing', () => {
+		// Every existing ability is in this shape, so none of them change.
+		expect(shouldFaceTargetDuringCast({})).toBe(true);
+	});
+
+	test('faces the target when the ability opts in explicitly', () => {
+		expect(shouldFaceTargetDuringCast({ _facesTarget: true })).toBe(true);
+	});
+
+	test('leaves the caster alone only on an explicit opt out', () => {
+		expect(shouldFaceTargetDuringCast({ _facesTarget: false })).toBe(false);
+	});
+
+	test('treats an undefined flag as opting in', () => {
+		expect(shouldFaceTargetDuringCast({ _facesTarget: undefined })).toBe(true);
+	});
+});
diff --git a/src/abilities/Golden-Wyrm.ts b/src/abilities/Golden-Wyrm.ts
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
index 7813dd9eb..467db4b0b
--- a/src/abilities/Golden-Wyrm.ts
+++ b/src/abilities/Golden-Wyrm.ts
@@ -322,6 +322,12 @@ export default (G: Game) => {
 
 			_targetTeam: Team.Ally,
 
+			/* Reaching out to heal an ally standing next to the Golden Wyrm should
+			not spin it around. Its own hexes span three columns, so an ally on a
+			frontal diagonal hex can compare as being behind it and make it turn its
+			back on the unit it is healing. */
+			_facesTarget: false,
+
 			_maxTransferAmount: 50,
 
 			require: function () {
diff --git a/src/ability.ts b/src/ability.ts
index ea4eaac47..03afd05f8 100644
--- a/src/ability.ts
+++ b/src/ability.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import Game from './game';
 import { Player, ScoreEvent } from './player';
 import { Point } from './utility/pointfacade';
 import { getVisibilityAwareDelay } from './utility/time';
+import { shouldFaceTargetDuringCast } from './utility/ability-facing';
 
 /**
  * Ability Class
@@ -142,6 +143,7 @@ export class Ability {
 	_targets: Hex[];
 	_addOffenseBuff: () => void;
 	_maxTransferAmount: number;
+	_facesTarget?: boolean;
 	_confirmTarget: (c: Creature) => boolean;
 	_damaged: boolean;
 	_executeHealthThreshold: number;
@@ -562,8 +564,9 @@ export class Ability {
 
 		this.creature.facePlayerDefault();
 
-		// Force creatures to face towards their target
-		if (args[0]) {
+		// Force creatures to face towards their target, unless the ability opts
+		// out because turning the caster around would be wrong for it.
+		if (args[0] && shouldFaceTargetDuringCast(this)) {
 			if (args[0] instanceof Creature) {
 				this.creature.faceHex(args[0]);
 			} else if (args[0] instanceof Array) {
diff --git a/src/utility/ability-facing.ts b/src/utility/ability-facing.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b635b07c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utility/ability-facing.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+/**
+ * `Ability.animation2()` turns the caster to face its target before playing the
+ * cast animation. That is right for an attack, but wrong for abilities that
+ * reach out to a unit already beside the caster: the caster spins on the spot,
+ * and for a multi-hex creature a target on a frontal diagonal hex can even read
+ * as being behind it, so it turns its back on the ally it is helping.
+ *
+ * An ability opts out by declaring `_facesTarget: false`.
+ */
+export type FacingAwareAbility = {
+	_facesTarget?: boolean;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Whether an ability should re-orient its caster towards the target.
+ *
+ * Facing is the default; only an explicit `false` opts out, so abilities that
+ * say nothing keep the behaviour they have always had.
+ */
+export function shouldFaceTargetDuringCast(ability: FacingAwareAbility): boolean {
+	return ability._facesTarget !== false;
+}