diff --git a/language.version b/language.version
index f4b538146..4866d47dd 100644
--- a/language.version
+++ b/language.version
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 [default]
-SWWM_MODVER="\cyDEMOLITIONIST \cw1.3pre r179 \cu(Fri 15 Jul 08:05:08 CEST 2022)\c-";
-SWWM_SHORTVER="\cw1.3pre r179 \cu(2022-07-15 08:05:08)\c-";
+SWWM_MODVER="\cyDEMOLITIONIST \cw1.3pre r180 \cu(Fri 15 Jul 09:32:16 CEST 2022)\c-";
+SWWM_SHORTVER="\cw1.3pre r180 \cu(2022-07-15 09:32:16)\c-";
diff --git a/zscript/swwm_handler.zsc b/zscript/swwm_handler.zsc
index ee06f0c68..a42e763a0 100644
--- a/zscript/swwm_handler.zsc
+++ b/zscript/swwm_handler.zsc
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Class SWWMHandler : EventHandler
 	int iwantdie;
 	int indoomvacation;
 	int inultdoom2;
-	bool funtagsv;
+	Array<Service> funtagsv, mergemonstersv;
 
 	// for checkreplacement
 	bool hasdrlamonsters;
@@ -91,9 +91,14 @@ Class SWWMHandler : EventHandler
 				bludtypes.Push(list[i]);
 			}
 		}
-		// check if fun tag services actually exist (can reduce overhead severely on map load if they don't, due to combat tracker tag lookups)
-		if ( ServiceIterator.Find("FunTagService").Next() )
-			funtagsv = true;
+		// cache various services into the handler on register
+		// this dramatically reduces overhead by not having to use an iterator every time they're needed
+		// especially noticeable for fun tags, as they're looked up for every monster on map load
+		let si = ServiceIterator.Find("FunTagService");
+		Service sv;
+		while ( sv = si.Next() ) funtagsv.Push(sv);
+		si = ServiceIterator.Find("MergeMonsterService");
+		while ( sv = si.Next() ) mergemonstersv.Push(sv);
 		// start profiling
 		if ( swwm_profstart <= 0 ) return;
 		bprofiletics = profiletics = swwm_profstart;
diff --git a/zscript/swwm_thinkers_player.zsc b/zscript/swwm_thinkers_player.zsc
index 44f00703b..1841591ee 100644
--- a/zscript/swwm_thinkers_player.zsc
+++ b/zscript/swwm_thinkers_player.zsc
@@ -144,6 +144,8 @@ Class SWWMStats : SWWMStaticThinker
 	int silveregg;
 	bool oldcheat;
 	bool gotyorick;
+	// caching
+	SWWMHandler hnd;
 
 	bool GotWeapon( Class<Weapon> which )
 	{
@@ -248,7 +250,8 @@ Class SWWMStats : SWWMStaticThinker
 	{
 		if ( victim )
 		{
-			Class<Actor> mvictim = SWWMUtility.MergeMonster(victim.GetClass());
+			if ( !hnd ) hnd = SWWMHandler(EventHandler.Find("SWWMHandler"));
+			Class<Actor> mvictim = SWWMUtility.MergeMonster(hnd,victim.GetClass());
 			bool found = false;
 			for ( int i=0; i<mstats.Size(); i++ )
 			{
diff --git a/zscript/utility/swwm_utility.zsc b/zscript/utility/swwm_utility.zsc
index 75c2e5b8a..e985d998e 100644
--- a/zscript/utility/swwm_utility.zsc
+++ b/zscript/utility/swwm_utility.zsc
@@ -874,19 +874,13 @@ Class SWWMUtility
 	static play String GetFunTag( SWWMHandler hnd, Actor a, String defstr = "" )
 	{
 		// look up fun tag services if available
-		if ( hnd.funtagsv )
+		for ( int i=0; i<hnd.funtagsv.Size(); i++ )
 		{
-			let si = ServiceIterator.Find("FunTagService");
-			Service sv;
-			String res;
-			while ( sv = si.Next() )
-			{
-				res = sv.GetString("GetFunTag",objectArg:a);
-				if ( res == "" ) continue;
-				si.Destroy();
-				return res;
-			}
-			si.Destroy();
+			let sv = hnd.funtagsv[i];
+			if ( !sv ) continue;
+			String res = sv.GetString("GetFunTag",objectArg:a);
+			if ( res == "" ) continue;
+			return res;
 		}
 		int ntags = 1;
 		String basetag = "";
@@ -1437,21 +1431,18 @@ Class SWWMUtility
 	// e.g.: "stealth" monsters and their non-stealth counterparts,
 	// or "HereticImp" and "HereticImpLeader", which have the same exact tag,
 	// and would result in an odd "duplication" of monster names
-	static play Class<Actor> MergeMonster( Class<Actor> a )
+	static play Class<Actor> MergeMonster( SWWMHandler hnd, Class<Actor> a )
 	{
 		// see if any services can resolve this first
-		let si = ServiceIterator.Find("MergeMonsterService");
-		Service sv;
-		String res;
-		while ( sv = si.Next() )
+		for ( int i=0; i<hnd.mergemonstersv.Size(); i++ )
 		{
-			res = sv.GetString("MergeMonster",stringArg:a.GetClassName());
+			let sv = hnd.mergemonstersv[i];
+			if ( !sv ) continue;
+			String res = sv.GetString("MergeMonster",stringArg:a.GetClassName());
 			if ( res == "" ) continue;
-			si.Destroy();
 			Class<Actor> rescls = res;
 			return rescls;
 		}
-		si.Destroy();
 		// stealth monsters, the worst thing ever invented
 		if ( a == 'StealthArachnotron' ) return 'Arachnotron';
 		if ( a == 'StealthArchvile' ) return 'Archvile';