diff --git a/src/main/java/net/tfminecraft/dowsing/managers/NodeManager.java b/src/main/java/net/tfminecraft/dowsing/managers/NodeManager.java
index 17d5502..73782a7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/tfminecraft/dowsing/managers/NodeManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/tfminecraft/dowsing/managers/NodeManager.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.TreeMap;
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang.WordUtils;
 import org.bukkit.Bukkit;
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ public static double getTotalUpkeep(Guild g) {
 	public static Integer getNodeAmount(Guild g) {
 		Integer i = 0;
 		if(g == null) return i;
+		if(passCounts != null) return g.getId() == null ? i : passCounts.getOrDefault(g.getId(), i);
 		for(Node n : nodes) {
 			if(!n.hasGuild()) continue;
 			if(n.getBlock().isSpecial()) continue;
@@ -123,6 +125,34 @@ public static Integer getNodeAmount(Guild g) {
 		}
 		return i;
 	}
+	/**
+	 * Claimed-node counts per guild for one particle pass. The pass checks every claimed node four
+	 * times a second, and each check counted its guild's nodes by walking every node, so a pass cost
+	 * nodes x nodes guild lookups. Counted once per pass instead, and kept right by {@link #released}.
+	 */
+	private static Map<String, Integer> passCounts;
+
+	static void beginCountPass() {
+		Map<String, Integer> counts = new TreeMap<>(String.CASE_INSENSITIVE_ORDER);
+		for(Node n : nodes) {
+			if(!n.hasGuild()) continue;
+			if(n.getBlock().isSpecial()) continue;
+			String id = n.getGuild().getId();
+			if(id != null) counts.merge(id, 1, Integer::sum);
+		}
+		passCounts = counts;
+	}
+
+	static void endCountPass() {
+		passCounts = null;
+	}
+
+	/** A node of {@code g} was just let go during a particle pass, so its guild holds one fewer. */
+	public static void released(Guild g, Node n) {
+		if(passCounts == null || g == null || g.getId() == null || n.getBlock().isSpecial()) return;
+		passCounts.computeIfPresent(g.getId(), (id, count) -> count - 1);
+	}
+
 	public static Integer getNodeCapacity(Guild g) {
 		int capacity = 1;
 		if(g == null) return capacity;
@@ -211,14 +241,19 @@ public void particleCycle(){
 			public void run()
 			{
 				if (!DowsingMain.plugin.nodesReady()) return;
-				for(Node n : nodes){
-					if(n.isClaimable()){
-						Location loc = n.getLoc().clone().add(0.5, 1, 0.5);
-						loc.getWorld().spawnParticle(Particle.HAPPY_VILLAGER, loc, 10);
-					} else {
-						n.check();
+				beginCountPass();
+				try {
+					for(Node n : nodes){
+						if(n.isClaimable()){
+							Location loc = n.getLoc().clone().add(0.5, 1, 0.5);
+							loc.getWorld().spawnParticle(Particle.HAPPY_VILLAGER, loc, 10);
+						} else {
+							n.check();
+						}
 					}
-				}	
+				} finally {
+					endCountPass();
+				}
 			}
 		}.runTaskTimer(DowsingMain.plugin, 0L, 5L);
 	}
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/tfminecraft/dowsing/objects/Node.java b/src/main/java/net/tfminecraft/dowsing/objects/Node.java
index 6eef8e3..3459489 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/tfminecraft/dowsing/objects/Node.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/tfminecraft/dowsing/objects/Node.java
@@ -403,6 +403,7 @@ public void check() {
 			p.closeInventory();
 		}
 		guild = null;
+		NodeManager.released(g, this);
 		NodeManager.requestNodeBenefitSync();
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/tfminecraft/dowsing/managers/NodeManagerCyclesTest.java b/src/test/java/net/tfminecraft/dowsing/managers/NodeManagerCyclesTest.java
index a8b9322..18d589b 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/tfminecraft/dowsing/managers/NodeManagerCyclesTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/tfminecraft/dowsing/managers/NodeManagerCyclesTest.java
@@ -159,6 +159,53 @@ void cachingReloadsBlockTypeAndPreviouslySelectedProductionMethods() {
         NodeManager.nodes.clear(); f.manager.cacheNodes(); assertTrue(f.manager.cached.isEmpty());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void aParticlePassCountsEachGuildOnceAndTracksNodesLetGo() {
+        Node second = f.nodeAt(f.location), unowned = f.nodeAt(f.location), other = f.nodeAt(f.location), special = f.nodeAt(f.location), noId = f.nodeAt(f.location);
+        when(unowned.hasGuild()).thenReturn(false);
+        Guild otherGuild = mock(Guild.class); when(otherGuild.getId()).thenReturn("OTHER"); when(other.getGuild()).thenReturn(otherGuild);
+        NodeBlock specialBlock = mock(NodeBlock.class); when(specialBlock.isSpecial()).thenReturn(true); when(special.getBlock()).thenReturn(specialBlock);
+        Guild idless = mock(Guild.class); when(noId.getGuild()).thenReturn(idless);
+        NodeManager.nodes.addAll(List.of(f.node, second, unowned, other, special));
+        assertEquals(2, NodeManager.getNodeAmount(f.guild));
+        NodeManager.nodes.add(noId); // the live walk throws on a guild without an id; a pass skips it
+        NodeManager.beginCountPass();
+        try {
+            assertEquals(2, NodeManager.getNodeAmount(f.guild)); assertEquals(1, NodeManager.getNodeAmount(otherGuild));
+            assertEquals(0, NodeManager.getNodeAmount(idless)); assertEquals(0, NodeManager.getNodeAmount(null));
+            when(f.node.hasGuild()).thenReturn(false);
+            assertEquals(2, NodeManager.getNodeAmount(f.guild), "counted once at the start of the pass");
+            NodeManager.released(f.guild, f.node); assertEquals(1, NodeManager.getNodeAmount(f.guild));
+            NodeManager.released(f.guild, special); NodeManager.released(null, f.node); NodeManager.released(idless, f.node);
+            Guild unknown = mock(Guild.class); when(unknown.getId()).thenReturn("unknown"); NodeManager.released(unknown, f.node);
+            assertEquals(1, NodeManager.getNodeAmount(f.guild)); assertEquals(0, NodeManager.getNodeAmount(unknown));
+        } finally {
+            NodeManager.endCountPass();
+        }
+        NodeManager.nodes.remove(noId); NodeManager.released(f.guild, second);
+        assertEquals(1, NodeManager.getNodeAmount(f.guild), "live again once the pass ends");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void aRealCheckThatLetsANodeGoLowersItsGuildsCountForTheRestOfThePass() {
+        Cache.extraCapacity = false;
+        Node first = new Node(UUID.randomUUID(), f.block, f.location, f.guild, true, 1, 0, f.type, 60, 0, 25);
+        Node second = new Node(UUID.randomUUID(), f.block, f.location, f.guild, true, 1, 0, f.type, 60, 0, 25);
+        NodeManager.nodes.addAll(List.of(first, second));
+        assertEquals(1, NodeManager.getNodeCapacity(f.guild));
+        NodeManager.beginCountPass();
+        try {
+            assertEquals(2, NodeManager.getNodeAmount(f.guild));
+            first.check();
+            assertTrue(first.isClaimable(), "over capacity, so the first node is let go");
+            assertEquals(1, NodeManager.getNodeAmount(f.guild), "Node.check lowers the pass count");
+            second.check();
+            assertFalse(second.isClaimable(), "back within capacity, so the second node stays");
+        } finally {
+            NodeManager.endCountPass();
+        }
+    }
+
     @Test
     void timersUseTheirIntendedCadenceAndRunParticlesChecksAndEfficiencyGrowth() {
         Node claimed = f.node, unclaimed = f.nodeAt(f.location);