diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/card_plugin.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/card_plugin.rs
index 046bd29..fce5e63 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/card_plugin.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/card_plugin.rs
@@ -82,11 +82,28 @@ pub struct HintHighlight {
     pub remaining: f32,
 }
 
+/// Countdown (seconds) until the `HintHighlight` on a card entity is removed.
+///
+/// Inserted alongside `HintHighlight` by the hint-visual system. When the timer
+/// reaches zero both `HintHighlight` and `HintHighlightTimer` are removed from
+/// the entity and the sprite colour is restored.
+#[derive(Component, Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct HintHighlightTimer(pub f32);
+
 /// Marker on a `PileMarker` entity that is highlighted because the right-clicked
 /// card can legally be placed there.
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
 pub struct RightClickHighlight;
 
+/// Countdown (seconds) until this right-click destination highlight despawns.
+///
+/// Inserted alongside `RightClickHighlight` so that highlights auto-clear after
+/// 1.5 s even if the player does not make a move or click again. The existing
+/// clear-on-state-change and clear-on-pause logic still fires early when
+/// appropriate.
+#[derive(Component, Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct RightClickHighlightTimer(pub f32);
+
 /// Marker placed on the child `Text2d` entity that shows "↺" on the stock pile
 /// marker when the stock pile is empty.
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
@@ -154,6 +171,7 @@ impl Plugin for CardPlugin {
                     update_drag_shadow,
                     tick_hint_highlight,
                     handle_right_click,
+                    tick_right_click_highlights,
                     clear_right_click_highlights_on_state_change.after(GameMutation),
                     clear_right_click_highlights_on_pause,
                     update_stock_empty_indicator.after(GameMutation),
@@ -627,7 +645,8 @@ fn update_drag_shadow(
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 /// Counts down `HintHighlight::remaining` each frame. When it reaches zero,
-/// removes the component and resets the card sprite to its normal face-up colour.
+/// removes both `HintHighlight` and `HintHighlightTimer` (if present) and
+/// resets the card sprite to its normal face-up colour.
 fn tick_hint_highlight(
     time: Res<Time>,
     mut commands: Commands,
@@ -649,7 +668,10 @@ fn tick_hint_highlight(
             } else {
                 card_back_colour(back_idx)
             };
-            commands.entity(entity).remove::<HintHighlight>();
+            commands
+                .entity(entity)
+                .remove::<HintHighlight>()
+                .remove::<HintHighlightTimer>();
         }
     }
 }
@@ -664,6 +686,37 @@ const RIGHT_CLICK_HIGHLIGHT_COLOUR: Color = Color::srgba(0.2, 0.8, 0.2, 0.6);
 /// Restored color for `PileMarker` sprites when the highlight is cleared.
 const PILE_MARKER_DEFAULT_COLOUR: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.08);
 
+/// Counts down `RightClickHighlightTimer` each frame and clears the highlight
+/// when the timer expires.
+///
+/// This is a fallback expiry: highlights also clear immediately on
+/// `StateChangedEvent` (move made) or when the game is paused, whichever comes
+/// first. The 1.5 s timer ensures highlights always disappear even if the
+/// player takes no further action.
+fn tick_right_click_highlights(
+    mut commands: Commands,
+    time: Res<Time>,
+    paused: Option<Res<PausedResource>>,
+    mut highlights: Query<(Entity, &mut RightClickHighlightTimer, &mut Sprite), With<RightClickHighlight>>,
+) {
+    if paused.is_some_and(|p| p.0) {
+        return;
+    }
+    let dt = time.delta_secs();
+    for (entity, mut timer, mut sprite) in &mut highlights {
+        timer.0 -= dt;
+        if timer.0 <= 0.0 {
+            // Restore the pile marker to its default colour before removing
+            // the highlight marker component.
+            sprite.color = PILE_MARKER_DEFAULT_COLOUR;
+            commands
+                .entity(entity)
+                .remove::<RightClickHighlight>()
+                .remove::<RightClickHighlightTimer>();
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// Removes the `RightClickHighlight` marker from every highlighted pile and
 /// resets its sprite colour to `PILE_MARKER_DEFAULT_COLOUR`.
 ///
@@ -781,7 +834,10 @@ fn handle_right_click(
         };
         if legal {
             sprite.color = RIGHT_CLICK_HIGHLIGHT_COLOUR;
-            commands.entity(entity).insert(RightClickHighlight);
+            commands
+                .entity(entity)
+                .insert(RightClickHighlight)
+                .insert(RightClickHighlightTimer(1.5));
         }
     }
 }
@@ -1223,6 +1279,49 @@ mod tests {
         assert_ne!(FlipPhase::ScalingDown, FlipPhase::ScalingUp);
     }
 
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Task #5 — RightClickHighlightTimer pure-function tests
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /// Verify that a freshly-created timer with 1.5 s has a positive countdown
+    /// and has not yet expired.
+    #[test]
+    fn right_click_highlight_timer_starts_positive() {
+        let timer = RightClickHighlightTimer(1.5);
+        assert!(
+            timer.0 > 0.0,
+            "timer must start with a positive countdown, got {}",
+            timer.0
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// Simulate ticking the timer by a delta that exceeds its initial value and
+    /// verify the resulting value is ≤ 0 (expiry condition).
+    #[test]
+    fn right_click_highlight_timer_expires_after_sufficient_ticks() {
+        let mut remaining = 1.5_f32;
+        // Tick by more than the initial value to ensure expiry.
+        remaining -= 2.0;
+        assert!(
+            remaining <= 0.0,
+            "timer must be expired (≤ 0) after 2.0 s tick on a 1.5 s timer, got {}",
+            remaining
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// Simulate ticking by less than the initial value and verify the timer is
+    /// still positive (not yet expired).
+    #[test]
+    fn right_click_highlight_timer_not_expired_before_duration() {
+        let mut remaining = 1.5_f32;
+        remaining -= 0.5; // only 0.5 s elapsed
+        assert!(
+            remaining > 0.0,
+            "timer must still be positive after only 0.5 s on a 1.5 s timer, got {}",
+            remaining
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn facedown_cards_use_tighter_fan_than_uniform_faceup_fan() {
         let g = GameState::new(42, solitaire_core::game_state::DrawMode::DrawOne);
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/events.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/events.rs
index b1ccb50..ca79bb4 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/events.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/events.rs
@@ -102,3 +102,16 @@ pub struct XpAwardedEvent {
 /// persists stats, and starts a fresh deal.
 #[derive(Event, Debug, Clone, Copy, Default)]
 pub struct ForfeitEvent;
+
+/// Fired when the player requests a hint (H key). Carries the source card ID
+/// and destination pile for visual highlighting.
+///
+/// Consumed by `CardPlugin` (to apply `HintHighlight` on the card entity) and
+/// `TablePlugin` (to tint the destination `PileMarker` gold for 2 s).
+#[derive(Event, Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct HintVisualEvent {
+    /// The `Card::id` of the source card to be highlighted.
+    pub source_card_id: u32,
+    /// The destination pile whose `PileMarker` should be tinted gold.
+    pub dest_pile: solitaire_core::pile::PileType,
+}
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/input_plugin.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/input_plugin.rs
index 9e19ac1..7932b40 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/input_plugin.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/input_plugin.rs
@@ -28,13 +28,13 @@ use solitaire_core::game_state::GameState;
 use solitaire_core::pile::PileType;
 use solitaire_core::rules::{can_place_on_foundation, can_place_on_tableau};
 
-use crate::card_plugin::{CardEntity, HintHighlight, TABLEAU_FAN_FRAC};
+use crate::card_plugin::{CardEntity, HintHighlight, HintHighlightTimer, TABLEAU_FAN_FRAC};
 use crate::feedback_anim_plugin::ShakeAnim;
 use solitaire_core::game_state::DrawMode;
 use crate::challenge_plugin::CHALLENGE_UNLOCK_LEVEL;
 use crate::events::{
-    DrawRequestEvent, ForfeitEvent, InfoToastEvent, MoveRejectedEvent, MoveRequestEvent,
-    NewGameConfirmEvent, NewGameRequestEvent, StateChangedEvent, UndoRequestEvent,
+    DrawRequestEvent, ForfeitEvent, HintVisualEvent, InfoToastEvent, MoveRejectedEvent,
+    MoveRequestEvent, NewGameConfirmEvent, NewGameRequestEvent, StateChangedEvent, UndoRequestEvent,
 };
 use crate::game_plugin::GameMutation;
 use crate::pause_plugin::PausedResource;
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ impl Plugin for InputPlugin {
             .add_event::<NewGameConfirmEvent>()
             .add_event::<InfoToastEvent>()
             .add_event::<ForfeitEvent>()
+            .add_event::<HintVisualEvent>()
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
                 (
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ struct KeyboardEvents<'w> {
     info_toast: EventWriter<'w, InfoToastEvent>,
     draw: EventWriter<'w, DrawRequestEvent>,
     forfeit: EventWriter<'w, ForfeitEvent>,
+    hint_visual: EventWriter<'w, HintVisualEvent>,
 }
 
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
@@ -237,7 +239,8 @@ fn handle_keyboard(
                                 for (entity, card_entity, _sprite) in card_entities.iter() {
                                     if card_entity.card_id == card_id {
                                         commands.entity(entity)
-                                            .insert(HintHighlight { remaining: 1.5 })
+                                            .insert(HintHighlight { remaining: 2.0 })
+                                            .insert(HintHighlightTimer(2.0))
                                             .insert(Sprite {
                                                 color: Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 0.4, 1.0),
                                                 custom_size: Some(layout_res.0.card_size),
@@ -246,6 +249,12 @@ fn handle_keyboard(
                                         break;
                                     }
                                 }
+                                // Emit HintVisualEvent so the destination pile
+                                // marker is also tinted gold for 2 s.
+                                ev.hint_visual.send(HintVisualEvent {
+                                    source_card_id: card_id,
+                                    dest_pile: to.clone(),
+                                });
                             }
                             // Fire an informational toast describing where the hinted card
                             // should move so the player always sees the suggestion in text.
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/lib.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/lib.rs
index 891268b..0691de7 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/lib.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 //! Bevy integration layer for Solitaire Quest.
 
+pub mod card_animation;
 pub mod achievement_plugin;
 pub mod animation_plugin;
 pub mod auto_complete_plugin;
@@ -41,17 +42,27 @@ pub use daily_challenge_plugin::{
 pub use progress_plugin::{LevelUpEvent, ProgressPlugin, ProgressResource, ProgressUpdate};
 pub use weekly_goals_plugin::{WeeklyGoalCompletedEvent, WeeklyGoalsPlugin};
 pub use animation_plugin::{ActiveToast, AnimationPlugin, CardAnim, ToastEntity, ToastQueue};
+pub use card_animation::{
+    CardAnimation, CardAnimationPlugin, MotionCurve, WinCascadePlugin,
+    retarget_animation, sample_curve, compute_duration, cascade_delay, micro_vary,
+    HoverState, InputBuffer, BufferedInput,
+    win_scatter_targets, WIN_CASCADE_INTERVAL_SECS, DEAL_INTERVAL_SECS,
+    MIN_DURATION_SECS, MAX_DURATION_SECS,
+};
 pub use feedback_anim_plugin::{
     deal_stagger_delay, deal_stagger_secs_for_speed, shake_offset, settle_scale,
     FeedbackAnimPlugin, SettleAnim, ShakeAnim,
 };
 pub use auto_complete_plugin::AutoCompletePlugin;
 pub use audio_plugin::{AudioPlugin, AudioState, SoundLibrary};
-pub use card_plugin::{CardEntity, CardLabel, CardPlugin, HintHighlight, RightClickHighlight};
+pub use card_plugin::{
+    CardEntity, CardLabel, CardPlugin, HintHighlight, HintHighlightTimer, RightClickHighlight,
+    RightClickHighlightTimer,
+};
 pub use cursor_plugin::CursorPlugin;
 pub use events::{
     AchievementUnlockedEvent, CardFlippedEvent, DrawRequestEvent, ForfeitEvent, GameWonEvent,
-    InfoToastEvent, ManualSyncRequestEvent, MoveRejectedEvent, MoveRequestEvent,
+    HintVisualEvent, InfoToastEvent, ManualSyncRequestEvent, MoveRejectedEvent, MoveRequestEvent,
     NewGameConfirmEvent, NewGameRequestEvent, StateChangedEvent, UndoRequestEvent, XpAwardedEvent,
 };
 pub use game_plugin::{ConfirmNewGameScreen, GameMutation, GameOverScreen, GamePlugin, GameStatePath};
@@ -71,7 +82,7 @@ pub use resources::{DragState, GameStateResource, HintCycleIndex, SettingsScroll
 pub use selection_plugin::{SelectionHighlight, SelectionPlugin, SelectionState};
 pub use stats_plugin::{StatsPlugin, StatsResource, StatsScreen, StatsUpdate};
 pub use sync_plugin::{SyncPlugin, SyncProviderResource};
-pub use table_plugin::{PileMarker, TableBackground, TablePlugin};
+pub use table_plugin::{HintPileHighlight, PileMarker, TableBackground, TablePlugin};
 pub use time_attack_plugin::{
     TimeAttackEndedEvent, TimeAttackPlugin, TimeAttackResource, TIME_ATTACK_DURATION_SECS,
 };
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/table_plugin.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/table_plugin.rs
index 85cb1be..7ca1eba 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/table_plugin.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/table_plugin.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ use solitaire_core::card::Suit;
 use solitaire_core::pile::PileType;
 use solitaire_data::settings::Theme;
 
+use crate::events::HintVisualEvent;
 use crate::layout::{compute_layout, Layout, LayoutResource, TABLE_COLOUR};
 use crate::settings_plugin::{SettingsChangedEvent, SettingsResource};
 
@@ -27,6 +28,17 @@ pub struct TableBackground;
 #[derive(Component, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct PileMarker(pub PileType);
 
+/// Attached to a `PileMarker` entity when it has been temporarily tinted gold
+/// as a hint destination. Stores the remaining countdown and the original sprite
+/// colour so it can be restored when the timer expires.
+#[derive(Component, Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct HintPileHighlight {
+    /// Seconds remaining before the pile marker colour is restored.
+    pub timer: f32,
+    /// The sprite colour the marker had before the hint tint was applied.
+    pub original_color: Color,
+}
+
 /// Registers the table background and pile-marker rendering.
 pub struct TablePlugin;
 
@@ -37,8 +49,17 @@ impl Plugin for TablePlugin {
         // and this call is a no-op.
         app.add_event::<WindowResized>()
             .add_event::<SettingsChangedEvent>()
+            .add_event::<HintVisualEvent>()
             .add_systems(Startup, setup_table)
-            .add_systems(Update, (on_window_resized, apply_theme_on_settings_change));
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                (
+                    on_window_resized,
+                    apply_theme_on_settings_change,
+                    apply_hint_pile_highlight,
+                    tick_hint_pile_highlights,
+                ),
+            );
     }
 }
 
@@ -225,6 +246,59 @@ fn on_window_resized(
     }
 }
 
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Task #6 — Hint pile-marker highlight
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// Gold tint applied to a `PileMarker` sprite when it is the current hint
+/// destination.
+const HINT_PILE_HIGHLIGHT_COLOUR: Color = Color::srgb(1.0, 0.85, 0.1);
+
+/// Listens for `HintVisualEvent` and tints the matching `PileMarker` entity
+/// gold for 2 s, storing the original colour in `HintPileHighlight` so it can
+/// be restored when the timer expires.
+///
+/// If the pile marker already has a `HintPileHighlight` from a previous hint
+/// press, the timer is reset to 2 s without changing `original_color`.
+fn apply_hint_pile_highlight(
+    mut events: EventReader<HintVisualEvent>,
+    mut commands: Commands,
+    mut pile_markers: Query<(Entity, &PileMarker, &mut Sprite, Option<&HintPileHighlight>)>,
+) {
+    for ev in events.read() {
+        for (entity, pile_marker, mut sprite, existing) in pile_markers.iter_mut() {
+            if pile_marker.0 != ev.dest_pile {
+                continue;
+            }
+            let original_color = existing
+                .map(|h| h.original_color)
+                .unwrap_or(sprite.color);
+            sprite.color = HINT_PILE_HIGHLIGHT_COLOUR;
+            commands.entity(entity).insert(HintPileHighlight {
+                timer: 2.0,
+                original_color,
+            });
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Counts down `HintPileHighlight::timer` each frame and restores the original
+/// pile marker colour when the timer expires.
+fn tick_hint_pile_highlights(
+    mut commands: Commands,
+    time: Res<Time>,
+    mut pile_markers: Query<(Entity, &mut Sprite, &mut HintPileHighlight)>,
+) {
+    let dt = time.delta_secs();
+    for (entity, mut sprite, mut highlight) in pile_markers.iter_mut() {
+        highlight.timer -= dt;
+        if highlight.timer <= 0.0 {
+            sprite.color = highlight.original_color;
+            commands.entity(entity).remove::<HintPileHighlight>();
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
@@ -342,6 +416,76 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(suit_symbol(&Suit::Clubs),    "C");
     }
 
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Task #6 — HintPileHighlight timer and colour pure-function tests
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /// The HINT_PILE_HIGHLIGHT_COLOUR constant must be visibly distinct from the
+    /// default pile marker colour so the player can see which pile is highlighted.
+    #[test]
+    fn hint_pile_highlight_colour_is_distinct_from_default() {
+        let default = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.08); // PILE_MARKER_DEFAULT_COLOUR
+        assert_ne!(
+            HINT_PILE_HIGHLIGHT_COLOUR, default,
+            "HINT_PILE_HIGHLIGHT_COLOUR must differ from the default pile marker colour"
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// A freshly-created HintPileHighlight has a positive timer countdown.
+    #[test]
+    fn hint_pile_highlight_timer_starts_positive() {
+        let h = HintPileHighlight {
+            timer: 2.0,
+            original_color: Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.08),
+        };
+        assert!(
+            h.timer > 0.0,
+            "HintPileHighlight timer must start positive, got {}",
+            h.timer
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// Ticking the timer past its initial value results in a non-positive (expired)
+    /// countdown.
+    #[test]
+    fn hint_pile_highlight_timer_expires_after_full_duration() {
+        let mut remaining = 2.0_f32;
+        remaining -= 2.5; // 2.5 s elapsed on a 2.0 s timer
+        assert!(
+            remaining <= 0.0,
+            "timer must be expired after ticking past its initial value, got {}",
+            remaining
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// `original_color` is preserved through the highlight lifecycle so colour
+    /// can be correctly restored on expiry.
+    #[test]
+    fn hint_pile_highlight_preserves_original_color() {
+        let original = Color::srgb(0.1, 0.3, 0.5);
+        let h = HintPileHighlight {
+            timer: 2.0,
+            original_color: original,
+        };
+        assert_eq!(
+            h.original_color, original,
+            "original_color must be stored without modification"
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// The gold hint colour must have a strong yellow component (r ≥ 0.9, g ≥ 0.8,
+    /// b ≤ 0.3) to be clearly visible as a "destination" indicator.
+    #[test]
+    fn hint_pile_highlight_colour_is_gold() {
+        // Extract linear components.  srgb(1.0, 0.85, 0.1) is the expected gold.
+        // We test the channel values rather than exact equality so future tweaks
+        // to the shade do not break the test, as long as the colour remains golden.
+        let Srgba { red, green, blue, .. } = HINT_PILE_HIGHLIGHT_COLOUR.to_srgba();
+        assert!(red >= 0.9, "gold hint colour must have red ≥ 0.9, got {red}");
+        assert!(green >= 0.7, "gold hint colour must have green ≥ 0.7, got {green}");
+        assert!(blue <= 0.3, "gold hint colour must have blue ≤ 0.3, got {blue}");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn suit_symbol_all_four_are_distinct() {
         let symbols: Vec<&str> = [Suit::Spades, Suit::Hearts, Suit::Diamonds, Suit::Clubs]