diff --git a/blender/init.sls b/blender/init.sls
index cd61d38..5d66ac5 100644
--- a/blender/init.sls
+++ b/blender/init.sls
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 {% from "blender/map.jinja" import blender with context %}
 
-# 1. Download tarball via system curl to preserve User-Agent across redirects
+# 1. Install prerequisites self-contained inside the formula
+blender_prereqs:
+  pkg.installed:
+    - pkgs: {{ blender.pkgs | json }}
+
+# 2. Download tarball via system curl (preserves User-Agent across CDN redirects)
 blender_download_tarball:
   cmd.run:
     - name: |
@@ -10,8 +15,10 @@ blender_download_tarball:
     - creates: /var/tmp/blender-{{ blender.version }}-linux-x64.tar.xz
     - unless:
       - test -d {{ blender.archive_dir }}
+    - require:
+      - pkg: blender_prereqs
 
-# 2. Extract from local file system
+# 3. Extract tarball
 blender_extract_tarball:
   archive.extracted:
     - name: {{ blender.archive_dir }}
@@ -21,8 +28,9 @@ blender_extract_tarball:
     - if_missing: {{ blender.archive_dir }}/blender
     - require:
       - cmd: blender_download_tarball
+      - pkg: blender_prereqs
 
-# 3. Maintain generic symlink pointing to active version
+# 4. Maintain generic symlink pointing to active version
 blender_opt_symlink:
   file.symlink:
     - name: {{ blender.symlink_dir }}
@@ -31,7 +39,7 @@ blender_opt_symlink:
     - require:
       - archive: blender_extract_tarball
 
-# 4. Create CLI launcher symlink
+# 5. Create CLI launcher symlink
 blender_bin_symlink:
   file.symlink:
     - name: {{ blender.bin_dir }}/blender
@@ -40,7 +48,7 @@ blender_bin_symlink:
     - require:
       - file: blender_opt_symlink
 
-# 5. Deploy desktop menu shortcut
+# 6. Deploy desktop menu shortcut
 blender_desktop_entry:
   file.managed:
     - name: {{ blender.desktop_dir }}/blender.desktop
@@ -56,7 +64,7 @@ blender_desktop_entry:
     - require:
       - file: blender_opt_symlink
 
-# 6. Clean up cached tarball after extraction
+# 7. Clean up downloaded archive
 blender_cleanup_tarball:
   file.absent:
     - name: /var/tmp/blender-{{ blender.version }}-linux-x64.tar.xz
diff --git a/blender/map.jinja b/blender/map.jinja
index 7678796..cfe0c96 100644
--- a/blender/map.jinja
+++ b/blender/map.jinja
@@ -1,15 +1,18 @@
 {% set default_version = '4.2.0' %}
 
-{# Extract major.minor (e.g., '4.2.0' -> '4.2') #}
 {% set version_parts = default_version.split('.') %}
 {% set default_major = version_parts[0] ~ '.' ~ version_parts[1] %}
 
+{# Map distro-specific package names using grains #}
+{% set xz_pkg = 'xz-utils' if grains['os_family'] == 'Debian' else 'xz' %}
+
 {% set defaults = {
   'version': default_version,
   'install_root': '/opt',
   'bin_dir': '/usr/local/bin',
   'desktop_dir': '/usr/share/applications',
-  'download_url_base': 'https://download.blender.org/release'
+  'download_url_base': 'https://download.blender.org/release',
+  'pkgs': [xz_pkg, 'tar', 'curl']
 } %}
 
 {# Merge pillar data under the 'blender' key over defaults #}