diff --git a/tests/test_sse_replay.py b/tests/test_sse_replay.py
index bca3d1d0..bdbc86f6 100644
--- a/tests/test_sse_replay.py
+++ b/tests/test_sse_replay.py
@@ -136,6 +136,33 @@ def test_replay_limit_is_bounded():
     assert sse_router._bounded_replay_limit(25, city_count=5) == 25
 
 
+def test_replay_gap_direct_resync_policy():
+    assert (
+        sse_router._should_direct_resync(
+            since_revision=1000,
+            latest_revision=1200,
+            limit=60,
+        )
+        is False
+    )
+    assert (
+        sse_router._should_direct_resync(
+            since_revision=1000,
+            latest_revision=1300,
+            limit=60,
+        )
+        is True
+    )
+    assert (
+        sse_router._should_direct_resync(
+            since_revision=0,
+            latest_revision=1300,
+            limit=60,
+        )
+        is False
+    )
+
+
 def test_legacy_high_replay_limit_is_clamped_by_city_count(monkeypatch):
     captured = {}
 
@@ -178,6 +205,51 @@ def test_legacy_high_replay_limit_is_clamped_by_city_count(monkeypatch):
     assert captured["resync_limit"] == 120
 
 
+def test_stale_client_gets_direct_resync_without_replay_scan(monkeypatch):
+    calls = {"replay": 0, "requires_resync": 0}
+
+    class FakeStore:
+        def latest_revision(self):
+            return 2000
+
+        def replay_events(self, *, cities, since_revision, limit):
+            calls["replay"] += 1
+            return []
+
+        def replay_requires_resync(self, *, cities, since_revision, replay_count, limit):
+            calls["requires_resync"] += 1
+            return False
+
+    async def finite_stream(
+        user_id,
+        *,
+        cities=None,
+        replay_events=None,
+        connected_revision=0,
+        resync_event=None,
+    ):
+        yield sse_router.sse_manager._format_event(
+            {"type": "connected", "revision": connected_revision}
+        )
+        if resync_event:
+            yield sse_router.sse_manager._format_event(resync_event)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sse_router, "event_store", FakeStore())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sse_router.sse_manager, "event_stream", finite_stream)
+
+    response = TestClient(app).get(
+        "/api/events?cities=ankara,buenos%20aires,istanbul,jeddah,seoul"
+        "&since_revision=100&replay_limit=500"
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert calls == {"replay": 0, "requires_resync": 0}
+    events = _decode_sse_events(response.text)
+    assert events[-1]["type"] == "resync_required"
+    assert events[-1]["reason"] == "replay_gap_too_large"
+    assert events[-1]["latest_revision"] == 2000
+
+
 def test_ingest_patch_uses_external_fanout_without_direct_broadcast(monkeypatch):
     class FakeExternalStore:
         uses_external_live_fanout = True
diff --git a/web/routers/sse_router.py b/web/routers/sse_router.py
index 2001dadc..ee100139 100644
--- a/web/routers/sse_router.py
+++ b/web/routers/sse_router.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ _live_subscription_started = False
 SSE_REPLAY_BASE_LIMIT = 60
 SSE_REPLAY_EVENTS_PER_CITY = 24
 SSE_REPLAY_MAX_LIMIT = 240
+SSE_REPLAY_DIRECT_RESYNC_FACTOR = 3
 
 
 def _parse_cities_param(cities: str) -> Set[str]:
@@ -46,6 +47,21 @@ def _bounded_replay_limit(value: int, *, city_count: int = 0) -> int:
     return max(1, min(MAX_REPLAY_LIMIT, route_limit, limit))
 
 
+def _should_direct_resync(
+    *,
+    since_revision: int,
+    latest_revision: int,
+    limit: int,
+) -> bool:
+    since = max(0, int(since_revision or 0))
+    latest = max(0, int(latest_revision or 0))
+    if since <= 0 or latest <= since:
+        return False
+    gap = latest - since
+    threshold = max(SSE_REPLAY_MAX_LIMIT, max(1, int(limit or 1)) * SSE_REPLAY_DIRECT_RESYNC_FACTOR)
+    return gap > threshold
+
+
 def _ensure_live_subscription() -> None:
     starter = getattr(event_store, "start_live_subscription", None)
     if not callable(starter):
@@ -82,23 +98,36 @@ async def sse_events(
 
     if since_revision is not None:
         try:
-            replay_events = event_store.replay_events(
-                cities=city_set,
-                since_revision=max(0, int(since_revision)),
-                limit=limit,
-            )
-            if event_store.replay_requires_resync(
-                cities=city_set,
-                since_revision=max(0, int(since_revision)),
-                replay_count=len(replay_events),
+            since = max(0, int(since_revision))
+            if _should_direct_resync(
+                since_revision=since,
+                latest_revision=latest_revision,
                 limit=limit,
             ):
                 resync_event = {
                     "type": "resync_required",
-                    "reason": "replay_window_exceeded",
+                    "reason": "replay_gap_too_large",
                     "latest_revision": latest_revision,
                     "ts": int(time.time() * 1000),
                 }
+            else:
+                replay_events = event_store.replay_events(
+                    cities=city_set,
+                    since_revision=since,
+                    limit=limit,
+                )
+                if event_store.replay_requires_resync(
+                    cities=city_set,
+                    since_revision=since,
+                    replay_count=len(replay_events),
+                    limit=limit,
+                ):
+                    resync_event = {
+                        "type": "resync_required",
+                        "reason": "replay_window_exceeded",
+                        "latest_revision": latest_revision,
+                        "ts": int(time.time() * 1000),
+                    }
         except Exception:
             resync_event = {
                 "type": "resync_required",