diff --git a/e2e/tests/us26-templates-crud.spec.ts b/e2e/tests/us26-templates-crud.spec.ts
index 32f6f2a..95c7443 100644
--- a/e2e/tests/us26-templates-crud.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/tests/us26-templates-crud.spec.ts
@@ -153,6 +153,15 @@ test.describe('US-26 — templates CRUD', () => {
     expect(r.data.error).toMatch(/unknown tactic id.*TA9999/i);
   });
 
+  test('AC-26.4 — POST technique_ids as string (not list) → 400 (isinstance guard)', async () => {
+    const r = await makeClient(redteamToken).post('/templates', {
+      name: 'US26 bad technique_ids type',
+      technique_ids: 'T1059',
+    });
+    expect(r.status).toBe(400);
+    expect(r.data.error).toMatch(/technique_ids must be a list/i);
+  });
+
   test('AC-26.4 — SOC POST → 403', async () => {
     const r = await makeClient(socToken).post('/templates', { name: 'soc template attempt' });
     expect(r.status).toBe(403);
@@ -239,6 +248,47 @@ test.describe('US-26 — templates CRUD', () => {
     await deleteTemplate(redteamToken, t.id);
   });
 
+  test('AC-26.7 — DELETE template does NOT cascade to instantiated simulations', async () => {
+    const tok = await adminToken();
+    // Create engagement
+    const engR = await makeClient(tok).post('/engagements', {
+      name: 'US26 cascade eng',
+      start_date: '2026-01-01',
+    });
+    expect(engR.status).toBe(201);
+    const engId = engR.data.id as number;
+
+    // Create template with distinct RT fields
+    const tmpl = await createTemplate(redteamToken, {
+      name: 'US26 cascade template',
+      description: 'cascade test desc',
+      commands: 'cascade cmd',
+      tactic_ids: ['TA0007'],
+    });
+
+    // Instantiate simulation from template
+    const simR = await makeClient(redteamToken).post(`/engagements/${engId}/simulations`, {
+      template_id: tmpl.id,
+    });
+    expect(simR.status).toBe(201);
+    const simId = simR.data.id as number;
+
+    // Delete the template
+    const del = await makeClient(redteamToken).delete(`/templates/${tmpl.id}`);
+    expect(del.status).toBe(204);
+
+    // Simulation must still exist with RT fields copied at instantiation time
+    const simCheck = await makeClient(redteamToken).get(`/simulations/${simId}`);
+    expect(simCheck.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(simCheck.data.name).toBe('US26 cascade template');
+    expect(simCheck.data.description).toBe('cascade test desc');
+    expect(simCheck.data.commands).toBe('cascade cmd');
+
+    // Cleanup
+    await makeClient(tok).delete(`/simulations/${simId}`);
+    await makeClient(tok).delete(`/engagements/${engId}`);
+  });
+
   // AC-26.8 — UI /admin/templates page
   test('AC-26.8 — /admin/templates page is accessible to redteam, shows table + New button', async ({
     page,
diff --git a/e2e/tests/us27-instantiate-from-template.spec.ts b/e2e/tests/us27-instantiate-from-template.spec.ts
index df6c50f..e6d7412 100644
--- a/e2e/tests/us27-instantiate-from-template.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/tests/us27-instantiate-from-template.spec.ts
@@ -336,4 +336,61 @@ test.describe('US-27 — instantiate from template', () => {
 
     await deleteSimulation(redteamToken, simId);
   });
+
+  // NIT 1 — Dropdown closes on Escape key and on outside click
+  test('NIT-1 — dropdown closes on Escape key press', async ({
+    page,
+    context,
+  }) => {
+    await seedTokenInStorage(context, redteamToken);
+    await page.goto(`/engagements/${engagementId}`);
+
+    await page.getByTestId('new-simulation-dropdown-toggle').click();
+    // Menu is open
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('from-template-btn')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 3_000 });
+
+    // Press Escape
+    await page.keyboard.press('Escape');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('from-template-btn')).not.toBeVisible({ timeout: 3_000 });
+  });
+
+  test('NIT-1 — dropdown closes when clicking outside', async ({
+    page,
+    context,
+  }) => {
+    await seedTokenInStorage(context, redteamToken);
+    await page.goto(`/engagements/${engagementId}`);
+
+    await page.getByTestId('new-simulation-dropdown-toggle').click();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('from-template-btn')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 3_000 });
+
+    // Click somewhere outside the dropdown (page heading)
+    await page.getByRole('heading').first().click({ force: true });
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('from-template-btn')).not.toBeVisible({ timeout: 3_000 });
+  });
+
+  // NIT 2 — Empty-engagement SimulationList still shows dropdown
+  test('NIT-2 — engagement with 0 simulations still shows New simulation dropdown', async ({
+    page,
+    context,
+  }) => {
+    // Create a fresh engagement with no simulations
+    const eng = await createEngagement(redteamToken, {
+      name: 'US27 empty eng dropdown',
+      start_date: '2026-01-01',
+    });
+
+    await seedTokenInStorage(context, redteamToken);
+    await page.goto(`/engagements/${eng.id}`);
+
+    // Primary button visible even in empty state
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('new-simulation-btn')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5_000 });
+
+    // Chevron also visible and functional
+    await page.getByTestId('new-simulation-dropdown-toggle').click();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('from-template-btn')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 3_000 });
+
+    const tok = await adminToken();
+    await deleteEngagement(tok, eng.id);
+  });
 });