diff --git a/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.errors.ts b/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.errors.ts
index 2165172..f4b12cd 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.errors.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.errors.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ export type EquipmentErrorCode =
   | 'CHARACTER_ITEM_NOT_FOUND'
   | 'ITEM_NOT_OWNED'
   | 'ITEM_NOT_EQUIPPABLE'
-  | 'ITEM_LEVEL_REQUIREMENT_NOT_MET'
   | 'INVALID_EQUIPMENT_SLOT'
   | 'CHARACTER_IN_COMBAT';
 
@@ -42,14 +41,6 @@ export function itemNotEquippable(): EquipmentDomainError {
   );
 }
 
-export function itemLevelRequirementNotMet(): EquipmentDomainError {
-  return new EquipmentDomainError(
-    'ITEM_LEVEL_REQUIREMENT_NOT_MET',
-    HttpStatus.BAD_REQUEST,
-    "The character does not meet this item's level requirement.",
-  );
-}
-
 // Defensive: slot is always derived from the item definition server-side, so
 // this is unreachable in practice (spec §27 still names it explicitly).
 export function invalidEquipmentSlot(): EquipmentDomainError {
diff --git a/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.spec.ts b/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.spec.ts
index 5536a9d..b722016 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.spec.ts
@@ -143,7 +143,6 @@ function itemDefinition(overrides: Partial<ItemDefinition> = {}): ItemDefinition
     equipmentSlot: EquipmentSlot.WEAPON,
     rarity: ItemRarity.COMMON,
     tier: 1,
-    requiredLevel: 1,
     weaponDamage: 8,
     bonusHp: 0,
     bonusAttack: 0,
@@ -160,7 +159,6 @@ function character(overrides: Partial<Character> = {}): Character {
   return {
     id: CHARACTER_ID,
     name: 'Aric Duskwalker',
-    level: 1,
     baseHp: 100,
     baseAttack: 6,
     currentHp: 100,
@@ -300,29 +298,28 @@ describe('EquipmentService', () => {
       );
     });
 
-    it('rejects equipping an item above the character level', async () => {
-      const highLevelHelm = itemDefinition({
+    it('equips an owned item regardless of the item content that used to carry a level requirement', async () => {
+      const highTierHelm = itemDefinition({
         id: BANDIT_HOOD_ITEM_ID,
         key: 'bandit-hood',
         equipmentSlot: EquipmentSlot.HEAD,
-        requiredLevel: 5,
+        tier: 5,
       });
       const { service } = createHarness({
-        itemDefinitions: [highLevelHelm],
+        itemDefinitions: [highTierHelm],
         characterItems: [
           {
             id: BANDIT_HOOD_ITEM_ID,
             characterId: CHARACTER_ID,
-            itemDefinitionId: highLevelHelm.id,
+            itemDefinitionId: highTierHelm.id,
             quantity: 1,
           } as CharacterItem,
         ],
       });
 
-      await expectEquipmentDomainError(
-        service.equip(CHARACTER_ID, BANDIT_HOOD_ITEM_ID),
-        'ITEM_LEVEL_REQUIREMENT_NOT_MET',
-      );
+      const result = await service.equip(CHARACTER_ID, BANDIT_HOOD_ITEM_ID);
+
+      expect(result.slots.HEAD?.characterItemId).toBe(BANDIT_HOOD_ITEM_ID);
     });
 
     it('rejects equipping a non-equippable item', async () => {
diff --git a/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.ts b/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.ts
index 5fd094a..5f7da30 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/equipment/equipment.service.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import {
   characterInCombat,
   characterItemNotFound,
   characterNotFound,
-  itemLevelRequirementNotMet,
   itemNotEquippable,
   itemNotOwned,
 } from './equipment.errors';
@@ -102,9 +101,6 @@ export class EquipmentService {
       if (!definition.equipmentSlot) {
         throw itemNotEquippable();
       }
-      if (definition.requiredLevel > character.level) {
-        throw itemLevelRequirementNotMet();
-      }
 
       const existing = await equipmentRepo.findOne({
         where: { characterId, slot: definition.equipmentSlot },