diff --git a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/bytecode/constants.rs b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/bytecode/constants.rs
index acf2f1ce..0bd5f1f0 100644
--- a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/bytecode/constants.rs
+++ b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/bytecode/constants.rs
@@ -18,3 +18,10 @@ pub const STEP_SIZE: usize = 8;
 /// instead of comparing type IDs. This distinguishes `(_)` (any named)
 /// from `_` (any node including anonymous).
 pub const NAMED_WILDCARD: u16 = 0xFFFF;
+
+/// Maximum payload slots for Match instructions.
+///
+/// Match64 (the largest variant) supports up to 28 u16 slots for
+/// effects, neg_fields, and successors combined. When an epsilon
+/// transition needs more successors, it must be split into a cascade.
+pub const MAX_MATCH_PAYLOAD_SLOTS: usize = 28;
diff --git a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/bytecode/mod.rs b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/bytecode/mod.rs
index 7579d62d..483fe76b 100644
--- a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/bytecode/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/bytecode/mod.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ mod nav;
 mod sections;
 mod type_meta;
 
-pub use constants::{MAGIC, NAMED_WILDCARD, SECTION_ALIGN, STEP_SIZE, VERSION};
+pub use constants::{
+    MAGIC, MAX_MATCH_PAYLOAD_SLOTS, NAMED_WILDCARD, SECTION_ALIGN, STEP_SIZE, VERSION,
+};
 
 pub use ids::{QTypeId, StringId};
 
diff --git a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/mod.rs b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/mod.rs
index b1733f3c..1cb8497a 100644
--- a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/mod.rs
@@ -401,4 +401,33 @@ mod tests {
 
         assert!(!result.instructions.is_empty());
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn compile_large_tagged_alternation() {
+        // Regression test: alternations with 30+ branches should compile
+        // by splitting epsilon transitions into a cascade.
+        let branches: String = (0..30)
+            .map(|i| format!("A{i}: (identifier) @x{i}"))
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            .join(" ");
+        let query_str = format!("Q = [{branches}]");
+
+        let query = QueryBuilder::one_liner(&query_str)
+            .parse()
+            .unwrap()
+            .analyze();
+
+        let mut strings = StringTableBuilder::new();
+        let result = Compiler::compile(
+            query.interner(),
+            query.type_context(),
+            &query.symbol_table,
+            &mut strings,
+            None,
+            None,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(!result.instructions.is_empty());
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/scope.rs b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/scope.rs
index 9795c3d4..e6dfafbc 100644
--- a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/scope.rs
+++ b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/scope.rs
@@ -484,17 +484,46 @@ impl Compiler<'_> {
     }
 
     /// Emit an epsilon transition (no node interaction).
+    ///
+    /// If there are more successors than fit in a single Match instruction,
+    /// this creates a cascade of epsilon transitions to preserve NFA semantics.
     pub(super) fn emit_epsilon(&mut self, label: Label, successors: Vec<Label>) {
-        self.instructions.push(Instruction::Match(MatchIR {
-            label,
-            nav: Nav::Stay,
-            node_type: None,
-            node_field: None,
-            pre_effects: vec![],
-            neg_fields: vec![],
-            post_effects: vec![],
-            successors,
-        }));
+        use crate::bytecode::MAX_MATCH_PAYLOAD_SLOTS;
+
+        if successors.len() <= MAX_MATCH_PAYLOAD_SLOTS {
+            self.instructions.push(Instruction::Match(MatchIR {
+                label,
+                nav: Nav::Stay,
+                node_type: None,
+                node_field: None,
+                pre_effects: vec![],
+                neg_fields: vec![],
+                post_effects: vec![],
+                successors,
+            }));
+        } else {
+            // Split: first (MAX-1) successors + intermediate for rest.
+            // This preserves priority order: VM tries s0, s1, ..., then intermediate.
+            let split_at = MAX_MATCH_PAYLOAD_SLOTS - 1;
+            let (first_batch, rest) = successors.split_at(split_at);
+
+            let intermediate = self.fresh_label();
+            self.emit_epsilon(intermediate, rest.to_vec());
+
+            let mut batch = first_batch.to_vec();
+            batch.push(intermediate);
+
+            self.instructions.push(Instruction::Match(MatchIR {
+                label,
+                nav: Nav::Stay,
+                node_type: None,
+                node_field: None,
+                pre_effects: vec![],
+                neg_fields: vec![],
+                post_effects: vec![],
+                successors: batch,
+            }));
+        }
     }
 
     /// Emit a wildcard navigation step that accepts any node.