diff --git a/crates/nyrt/src/lib.rs b/crates/nyrt/src/lib.rs
index e849e3e2..f1cef80b 100644
--- a/crates/nyrt/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/nyrt/src/lib.rs
@@ -147,6 +147,12 @@ pub extern "C" fn nyash_env_box_new(type_name: *const i8) -> i64 {
         Ok(s) => s,
         Err(_) => return 0,
     };
+    // Core-first special cases: construct built-in boxes directly
+    if ty == "MapBox" {
+        use nyash_rust::boxes::map_box::MapBox;
+        let arc: std::sync::Arc<dyn NyashBox> = std::sync::Arc::new(MapBox::new());
+        return handles::to_handle(arc) as i64;
+    }
     let reg = get_global_registry();
     match reg.create_box(ty, &[]) {
         Ok(b) => {
diff --git a/nyash_box.toml b/nyash_box.toml
index 26b5411c..aeef4b97 100644
--- a/nyash_box.toml
+++ b/nyash_box.toml
@@ -32,15 +32,3 @@ returns = { type = "string" }
 
 [FileBox.methods.exists]
 returns = { type = "bool" }
-
-[ArrayBox]
-type_id = 3
-
-[ArrayBox.methods.length]
-returns = { type = "i64" }
-
-[MapBox]
-type_id = 11
-
-[MapBox.methods.size]
-returns = { type = "i64" }
diff --git a/src/backend/llvm/compiler/codegen/instructions.rs b/src/backend/llvm/compiler/codegen/instructions.rs
index 58f42ce0..825d27b0 100644
--- a/src/backend/llvm/compiler/codegen/instructions.rs
+++ b/src/backend/llvm/compiler/codegen/instructions.rs
@@ -1221,7 +1221,7 @@ pub(super) fn lower_boxcall<'ctx>(
         }
     }
 
-    // Map fast-paths (minimal): get/set/has/size with i64 keys
+    // Map fast-paths (core-first): get/set/has/size using NyRT shims with handle receiver
     if let Some(crate::mir::MirType::Box(bname)) = func.metadata.value_types.get(box_val) {
         if bname == "MapBox" && (method == "get" || method == "set" || method == "has" || method == "size") {
             let i64t = codegen.context.i64_type();
@@ -1257,7 +1257,7 @@ pub(super) fn lower_boxcall<'ctx>(
                 "get" => {
                     if args.len() != 1 { return Err("MapBox.get expects 1 arg".to_string()); }
                     let key_v = *vmap.get(&args[0]).ok_or("map.get key missing")?;
-                    // prefer integer key path; if pointer, convert to handle and call get_hh
+                    // prefer integer key; if pointer, convert to handle and call get_hh
                     let call = match key_v {
                         BVE::IntValue(iv) => {
                             let fnty = i64t.fn_type(&[i64t.into(), i64t.into()], false);
diff --git a/src/backend/llvm/compiler/codegen/mod.rs b/src/backend/llvm/compiler/codegen/mod.rs
index 86baac10..02976650 100644
--- a/src/backend/llvm/compiler/codegen/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/llvm/compiler/codegen/mod.rs
@@ -233,8 +233,13 @@ impl LLVMCompiler {
                                     );
                                 }
                                 let type_id = *box_type_ids.get(box_type).unwrap_or(&0);
+                                // Temporary gate: allow forcing MapBox to plugin path explicitly
+                                let force_plugin_map = std::env::var("NYASH_LLVM_FORCE_PLUGIN_MAP")
+                                    .ok()
+                                    .as_deref()
+                                    == Some("1");
                                 let i64t = codegen.context.i64_type();
-                                if type_id != 0 {
+                                if type_id != 0 && !(box_type == "MapBox" && !force_plugin_map) {
                                     // declare i64 @nyash.box.birth_h(i64)
                                     let fn_ty = i64t.fn_type(&[i64t.into()], false);
                                     let callee = codegen
diff --git a/src/mir/builder.rs b/src/mir/builder.rs
index 570d8cb5..a790bc2c 100644
--- a/src/mir/builder.rs
+++ b/src/mir/builder.rs
@@ -125,6 +125,10 @@ impl MirBuilder {
                         | ("StringBox", "toUpper")
                         | ("StringBox", "toLower") => Some(super::MirType::String),
                         ("ArrayBox", "length") => Some(super::MirType::Integer),
+                        // Core MapBox minimal inference (core-first)
+                        ("MapBox", "size") => Some(super::MirType::Integer),
+                        ("MapBox", "has") => Some(super::MirType::Bool),
+                        ("MapBox", "get") => Some(super::MirType::Box("Any".to_string())),
                         _ => None,
                     };
                     if let Some(mt) = inferred {