diff --git a/docs/Fixed-or-Improved-Logics.md b/docs/Fixed-or-Improved-Logics.md
index 595c431c0d..1bc4c44789 100644
--- a/docs/Fixed-or-Improved-Logics.md
+++ b/docs/Fixed-or-Improved-Logics.md
@@ -96,18 +96,17 @@ Grinding.Weapon=           ; WeaponType
 
 ## Vehicles
 
-### Deploy direction for IsSimpleDeployer vehicles & deploy animation customization
+### IsSimpleDeployer vehicle deploy animation / direction customization
 
-- `DeployDir` can be used to set the facing the vehicle needs to turn towards before deploying if it has `DeployingAnim` set. This is works the same as Ares flag of same name other than allowing use of negative numbers to disable the direction-specific deploy and that it only applies to units on ground. If not set, it defaults to `[General] -> DeployDir`.
-- In addition there are some new options for `DeployingAnim`:
-  - `DeployingAnim.KeepUnitVisible` determines if the unit is hidden while the animation is playing.
-  - `DeployingAnim.ReverseForUndeploy` controls whether or not the animation is played in reverse for undeploying.
-  - `DeployingAnim.UseUnitDrawer` controls whether or not the animation is displayed in the unit's palette and team colours.
+- `DeployingAnim.AllowAnyDirection` if set, disables any direction constraints for deployers with `DeployingAnim` set. Only works for ground units.
+- `DeployingAnim.KeepUnitVisible` determines if the unit is hidden while the animation is playing.
+- `DeployingAnim.ReverseForUndeploy` controls whether or not the animation is played in reverse for undeploying.
+- `DeployingAnim.UseUnitDrawer` controls whether or not the animation is displayed in the unit's palette and team colours or regular animation palette, including a potential custom palette.
 
 In `rulesmd.ini`:
 ```ini
 [SOMEVEHICLE]                          ; VehicleType
-DeployDir=                             ; integer, facing or a negative number to disable direction-specific deploy
+DeployingAnim.AllowAnyDirection=false  ; boolean
 DeployingAnim.KeepUnitVisible=false    ; boolean
 DeployingAnim.ReverseForUndeploy=true  ; boolean
 DeployingAnim.UseUnitDrawer=true       ; boolean
diff --git a/src/Ext/TechnoType/Body.cpp b/src/Ext/TechnoType/Body.cpp
index 03cf56ba7f..d291eb8595 100644
--- a/src/Ext/TechnoType/Body.cpp
+++ b/src/Ext/TechnoType/Body.cpp
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ void TechnoTypeExt::ExtData::LoadFromINIFile(CCINIClass* const pINI)
 
 	this->JumpjetAllowLayerDeviation.Read(exINI, pSection, "JumpjetAllowLayerDeviation");
 
+	this->DeployingAnim_AllowAnyDirection.Read(exINI, pSection, "DeployingAnim.AllowAnyDirection");
 	this->DeployingAnim_KeepUnitVisible.Read(exINI, pSection, "DeployingAnim.KeepUnitVisible");
 	this->DeployingAnim_ReverseForUndeploy.Read(exINI, pSection, "DeployingAnim.ReverseForUndeploy");
 	this->DeployingAnim_UseUnitDrawer.Read(exINI, pSection, "DeployingAnim.UseUnitDrawer");
@@ -161,9 +162,6 @@ void TechnoTypeExt::ExtData::LoadFromINIFile(CCINIClass* const pINI)
 	this->NoAmmoWeapon.Read(exINI, pSection, "NoAmmoWeapon");
 	this->NoAmmoAmount.Read(exINI, pSection, "NoAmmoAmount");
 
-	// Ares 2.0
-	this->DeployDir.Read(exINI, pSection, "DeployDir");
-
 	// Art tags
 	INI_EX exArtINI(CCINIClass::INI_Art);
 	auto pArtSection = pThis->ImageFile;
@@ -291,10 +289,10 @@ void TechnoTypeExt::ExtData::Serialize(T& Stm)
 		.Process(this->NoAmmoWeapon)
 		.Process(this->NoAmmoAmount)
 		.Process(this->JumpjetAllowLayerDeviation)
+		.Process(this->DeployingAnim_AllowAnyDirection)
 		.Process(this->DeployingAnim_KeepUnitVisible)
 		.Process(this->DeployingAnim_ReverseForUndeploy)
 		.Process(this->DeployingAnim_UseUnitDrawer)
-		.Process(this->DeployDir)
 		.Process(this->EnemyUIName)
 		;
 }
diff --git a/src/Ext/TechnoType/Body.h b/src/Ext/TechnoType/Body.h
index e277c825d0..7c04f83a3c 100644
--- a/src/Ext/TechnoType/Body.h
+++ b/src/Ext/TechnoType/Body.h
@@ -92,10 +92,10 @@ class TechnoTypeExt
 
 		Nullable<bool> JumpjetAllowLayerDeviation;
 
+		Valueable<bool> DeployingAnim_AllowAnyDirection;
 		Valueable<bool> DeployingAnim_KeepUnitVisible;
 		Valueable<bool> DeployingAnim_ReverseForUndeploy;
 		Valueable<bool> DeployingAnim_UseUnitDrawer;
-		Nullable<int> DeployDir;
 
 		struct LaserTrailDataEntry
 		{
@@ -175,10 +175,10 @@ class TechnoTypeExt
 			, NoAmmoWeapon { -1 }
 			, NoAmmoAmount { 0 }
 			, JumpjetAllowLayerDeviation {}
+			, DeployingAnim_AllowAnyDirection { false }
 			, DeployingAnim_KeepUnitVisible { false }
 			, DeployingAnim_ReverseForUndeploy { true }
 			, DeployingAnim_UseUnitDrawer { true }
-			, DeployDir {}
 			, EnemyUIName {}
 		{ }
 
diff --git a/src/Ext/TechnoType/Hooks.cpp b/src/Ext/TechnoType/Hooks.cpp
index 77aacd8291..cd8d0e1adb 100644
--- a/src/Ext/TechnoType/Hooks.cpp
+++ b/src/Ext/TechnoType/Hooks.cpp
@@ -215,10 +215,10 @@ DEFINE_HOOK(0x73CF46, UnitClass_Draw_It_KeepUnitVisible, 0x6)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-// Ares hooks in at 739B8A, this goes before it and skips & basically reimplements Ares code with some changes.
+// Ares hooks in at 739B8A, this goes before it and skips it if needed.
 DEFINE_HOOK(0x739B7C, UnitClass_Deploy_DeployDir, 0x6)
 {
-	enum { Skip = 0x739C70, Continue = 0x739B9E };
+	enum { SkipAnim = 0x739C70, PlayAnim = 0x739B9E };
 
 	GET(UnitClass*, pThis, ESI);
 
@@ -226,36 +226,16 @@ DEFINE_HOOK(0x739B7C, UnitClass_Deploy_DeployDir, 0x6)
 	{
 		if (pThis->Type->DeployingAnim)
 		{
-			int deployDir = TechnoTypeExt::ExtMap.Find(pThis->GetTechnoType())->DeployDir.Get(RulesClass::Instance->DeployDir >> 5);
+			if (TechnoTypeExt::ExtMap.Find(pThis->GetTechnoType())->DeployingAnim_AllowAnyDirection)
+				return PlayAnim;
 
-			if (deployDir >= 0)
-			{
-				auto targetFacing = DirStruct(deployDir << 13);
-
-				if (pThis->PrimaryFacing.current() != targetFacing)
-				{
-					auto locomotor = pThis->Locomotor.get();
-
-					if (locomotor)
-					{
-						if (locomotor->Is_Moving_Now())
-							return Skip;
-
-						locomotor->Do_Turn(targetFacing);
-
-						return Skip;
-					}
-				}
-			}
-
-			return Continue;
+			return 0;
 		}
 
 		pThis->Deployed = true;
-
 	}
 
-	return Skip;
+	return SkipAnim;
 }
 
 DEFINE_HOOK_AGAIN(0x739D8B, UnitClass_DeployUndeploy_DeployAnim, 0x5)