diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/chat/FriendsPage.test.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/chat/FriendsPage.test.tsx
index d6aead21..9a7c1e9a 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/chat/FriendsPage.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/chat/FriendsPage.test.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,21 @@ import { useSocialStore, type TaggedFriend, type TaggedFriendRequest } from '../
 import { useSpaceStore } from '../../stores/spaceStore';
 import type { Friend, FriendRequest } from '@backspace/shared';
 
+// Mock the mascot animation hook
+vi.mock('../../hooks/useMascotAnimation', () => ({
+  useMascotAnimation: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+// Stub AudioManager to avoid AudioWorkletNode reference error in jsdom
+vi.mock('../../audio/AudioManager', () => ({
+  AudioManager: {
+    getInstance: vi.fn().mockReturnValue({
+      setOutputDevice: vi.fn(),
+      setVolume: vi.fn(),
+    }),
+  },
+}));
+
 // Mock the api module
 vi.mock('../../api/client', () => ({
   api: {
@@ -365,4 +380,36 @@ describe('FriendsPage', () => {
       });
     });
   });
+
+  describe('Empty state mascot messages', () => {
+    it('shows "No one\'s online right now." in online tab when no friends online', () => {
+      useSocialStore.setState({ friends: [], requests: [] });
+      renderFriendsPage();
+
+      expect(screen.getByText("No one's online right now.")).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.queryByText(/Wumpus/)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it('shows "No friends yet — add someone!" in all tab when no friends', async () => {
+      const user = userEvent.setup();
+      useSocialStore.setState({ friends: [], requests: [] });
+      renderFriendsPage();
+
+      await user.click(screen.getByText('All'));
+
+      expect(screen.getByText('No friends yet — add someone!')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.queryByText(/Wumpus/)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it('shows "No pending requests — Nori is napping." in pending tab when empty', async () => {
+      const user = userEvent.setup();
+      useSocialStore.setState({ friends: [], requests: [] });
+      renderFriendsPage();
+
+      await user.click(screen.getByText('Pending'));
+
+      expect(screen.getByText('No pending requests — Nori is napping.')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.queryByText(/Wumpus/)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/chat/FriendsPage.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/chat/FriendsPage.tsx
index 735859d8..5ce7a8a8 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/chat/FriendsPage.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/chat/FriendsPage.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { MemberListToggleButton } from '../layout/MemberListToggleButton';
 import { LoadingSpinner } from '../ui/LoadingSpinner';
 import { getAvatarGradient } from '../../utils/gradients';
 import { api } from '../../api/client';
+import { Mascot } from '../ui/Mascot';
 
 type Tab = 'online' | 'all' | 'pending' | 'add';
 
@@ -97,9 +98,9 @@ export function FriendsPage({ mobile }: FriendsPageProps) {
               Online — {onlineFriends.length}
             </h2>
             {onlineFriends.length === 0 ? (
-              <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center h-full opacity-60">
-                <img src="/friends-empty.svg" alt="" className="w-64 h-64 mb-4" onError={(e) => (e.target as any).style.display='none'} />
-                <p className="text-txt-tertiary">No one's around to play with Wumpus.</p>
+              <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center h-full opacity-80">
+                <Mascot state="idle" className="w-32 h-32 mb-4" />
+                <p className="text-txt-tertiary text-sm">No one's online right now.</p>
               </div>
             ) : (
               onlineFriends.map(friend => (
@@ -115,8 +116,9 @@ export function FriendsPage({ mobile }: FriendsPageProps) {
               All Friends — {friends.length}
             </h2>
             {friends.length === 0 ? (
-              <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center h-full opacity-60">
-                <p className="text-txt-tertiary">Wumpus is waiting on friends. You can add them!</p>
+              <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center h-full opacity-80">
+                <Mascot state="lonely" className="w-32 h-32 mb-4" />
+                <p className="text-txt-tertiary text-sm">No friends yet — add someone!</p>
               </div>
             ) : (
               friends.map(friend => (
@@ -132,8 +134,9 @@ export function FriendsPage({ mobile }: FriendsPageProps) {
               Pending — {pendingIncoming.length + pendingOutgoing.length}
             </h2>
             {[...pendingIncoming, ...pendingOutgoing].length === 0 ? (
-              <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center h-full opacity-60">
-                <p className="text-txt-tertiary">There are no pending friend requests. Here's Wumpus for now!</p>
+              <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center h-full opacity-80">
+                <Mascot state="sleeping" className="w-32 h-32 mb-4" />
+                <p className="text-txt-tertiary text-sm">No pending requests — Nori is napping.</p>
               </div>
             ) : (
               <>