diff --git a/pathetic-model/src/main/java/org/patheloper/model/pathing/Node.java b/pathetic-model/src/main/java/org/patheloper/model/pathing/Node.java
index 6572348b..e888d947 100644
--- a/pathetic-model/src/main/java/org/patheloper/model/pathing/Node.java
+++ b/pathetic-model/src/main/java/org/patheloper/model/pathing/Node.java
@@ -67,13 +67,19 @@ private double heuristic() {
     double manhattanDistance = this.position.manhattanDistance(target);
     double octileDistance = this.position.octileDistance(target);
     double perpendicularDistance = calculatePerpendicularDistance();
-    double heightFactor =
-        Math.abs(this.position.getBlockY() - target.getBlockY()); // Consider height differences
+    double heightDifference = Math.abs(this.position.getBlockY() - target.getBlockY());
 
-    return (manhattanDistance * heuristicWeights.getManhattanWeight())
-        + (octileDistance * heuristicWeights.getOctileWeight())
-        + (perpendicularDistance * heuristicWeights.getPerpendicularWeight())
-        + (heightFactor * heuristicWeights.getHeightWeight());
+    double manhattanWeight = heuristicWeights.getManhattanWeight();
+    double octileWeight = heuristicWeights.getOctileWeight();
+    double perpendicularWeight = heuristicWeights.getPerpendicularWeight();
+    double heightWeight = heuristicWeights.getHeightWeight();
+
+    // Ensure the combined heuristic is consistent
+    return Math.max(
+        manhattanDistance * manhattanWeight,
+        octileDistance * octileWeight
+            + perpendicularDistance * perpendicularWeight
+            + heightDifference * heightWeight);
   }
 
   private double calculatePerpendicularDistance() {
@@ -85,6 +91,10 @@ private double calculatePerpendicularDistance() {
 
   @Override
   public int compareTo(@NonNull Node o) {
+    int fCostComparison = Double.compare(this.getFCost(), o.getFCost());
+    if (fCostComparison != 0) {
+      return fCostComparison;
+    }
     int heuristicComparison = Double.compare(this.heuristic.get(), o.heuristic.get());
     if (heuristicComparison != 0) {
       return heuristicComparison;