Merge pull request 'refactor(engine): ambiguity gate covers the full cluster — batches 1-3' (#188) from refactor/ambiguity-gate-cluster-v2 into master

Port the July 7 gate-extender branch onto current master (the You-hub,
touch action bar, glass tab bar, Phase L, and hint-ghost work all landed
since) and finish batch 3. cluster_app now includes the mode, replay,
input, radial, tooltip, cursor, touch-selection, and safe-area plugins on
top of batches 1-2; the 585 ambiguous pairs the expansion exposed are
annotated down to zero and the gate stays assert_eq!(count, 0).

New ordering machinery:
- ReplayPlayback: playback driver chain on the pre-mutation spine
  (PointerInput < ReplayPlayback < overlay chain < GameMutation)
- ModeStart: mode-start handlers between the stats abandon-recorder and
  GameMutation; ChallengeCompletion < DailyCompletion < WeeklyGoalsEval
  pinned inside ProgressUpdate so `.after(ProgressUpdate)` readers see
  settled progress
- PointerInput: public set wrapping the input chain; AbandonRecord on the
  stats abandon-recorder; PendingHint around the async hint pipeline;
  HintGhostFx for the ghost chain (after the full visual spine)
- Clubs: MoveRequestWriters, WarningToastWriters join the existing
  request/toast writer clubs; UiTextFx grows the overlay/tooltip/safe-area
  chrome painters; SettingsAccess grows the lag-tolerant settings readers

Gate: cargo test --workspace green (993 engine tests), clippy
--all-targets -D warnings clean, rustfmt applied.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -6,6 +6,93 @@ project follows [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/).
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [0.48.1] — 2026-07-15
+
+### Added
+
+- **Reduce Transparency.** Settings → Accessibility gains a toggle that
+  replaces the see-through glass toolbar with a solid panel, so cards
+  behind it can never reduce readability. High Contrast mode now also
+  makes the glass markedly more opaque with a brighter outline. (#187)
+
+### Changed
+
+- **The toolbar gets out of your way.** While you're dragging a card,
+  the floating toolbar slides off the bottom edge and returns when you
+  drop — bottom-row piles are never hidden behind it. Instant (no
+  animation) when Reduce Motion is on. (#187)
+
+## [0.48.0] — 2026-07-15
+
+### Changed
+
+- **Floating glass tab bar** (touch). The bottom action bar is now a
+  floating translucent pill — Undo, Draw, Hint, and Pause — with a
+  separate round Menu button beside it, hovering above the bottom edge
+  instead of docking to it. Draw stays expanded as the highlighted
+  action; the other buttons reveal their label while held (instantly,
+  with reduce-motion on). Same actions, same behaviour — new clothes.
+  (#186)
+- **Consistent empty, loading, and error screens.** The theme store,
+  leaderboard, and replay list now share one visual language for
+  "nothing here yet", "still loading", and "something went wrong" —
+  each with a next step instead of a dead end. (#184)
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **Hotkeys during drags.** Pressing Undo, New Game, Draw, or a mode
+  key mid-drag no longer fights the card you're holding — game-mutating
+  hotkeys are ignored until the card is dropped. (#185)
+
+## [0.47.0] — 2026-07-13
+
+### Added
+
+- **"What's new" on update.** The first launch after an update shows a
+  one-time card summarising what changed — like this one, right now.
+  Dismiss it and it never repeats; fresh installs never see it. (#180)
+- **Situational tips.** Two one-time teaches that fire from play, not a
+  tour: staring at a stuck board for a while points you at Hint, and an
+  engaged game quietly mentions the long-press quick-action menu —
+  unless you've already found it yourself. (#181)
+- **UI scale.** Settings → Accessibility now has a UI Scale control
+  (90% / 100% / 115% / 130%) that resizes every menu, button, and HUD
+  element live. The table always fits your screen regardless. (#182)
+- **Hold `/` for shortcuts** (desktop). A reference card of every
+  keyboard binding appears while `/` is held. The onboarding tour and
+  this card now share one binding table, so they can never disagree —
+  the tour's copy had drifted from reality. (#183)
+
+## [0.46.0] — 2026-07-13
+
+### Added
+
+- **Theme-store previews.** The store modal now shows each theme's
+  preview image next to its name — the server has advertised them since
+  the store launched; the client finally fetches them. Thumbnails load
+  in the background, pop in as they arrive, and are remembered for the
+  session. (#179)
+- **Hint ghost preview.** Asking for a hint now also plays a translucent
+  copy of the suggested card gliding to its destination (twice, then it
+  fades) alongside the usual highlights — you see the move, not just the
+  pieces. Automatically disabled when reduce-motion is on. (#179)
+
+### Changed
+
+- **One toast style, one place.** Queued info banners and instant
+  celebration/warning/error toasts now share a single bottom-anchored
+  stack that clears the touch action bar; simultaneous toasts stack
+  upward instead of overlapping. (#178)
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **Touch onboarding copy.** The how-to-play slide no longer tells touch
+  players to left/right-click; it now describes drag, double-tap, and
+  the bottom-bar Hint button. (#178)
+- **First launch shows one screen at a time.** On a fresh install the
+  Home screen no longer spawns underneath the welcome tour; the order is
+  now onboarding → Home → table. (#178)
+
 ## [0.45.0] — 2026-07-13
 
 ### Added

solitaire_core/src/game_state.rs

@@ -490,6 +490,32 @@ impl GameState {
         self.session.stats().stats().recycle_count()
     }
 
+    /// Number of cards moved onto foundations this game, read from the
+    /// upstream session stats. Cumulative like [`Self::recycle_count`] —
+    /// not rolled back on undo.
+    pub fn move_to_foundation_count(&self) -> u32 {
+        self.session.stats().stats().move_to_foundation_count()
+    }
+
+    /// Number of stacks moved onto tableaus (from stock or another tableau)
+    /// this game, read from the upstream session stats. Cumulative — not
+    /// rolled back on undo.
+    pub fn move_to_tableau_count(&self) -> u32 {
+        self.session.stats().stats().move_to_tableau_count()
+    }
+
+    /// Number of cards taken back off a foundation this game, read from the
+    /// upstream session stats. Cumulative — not rolled back on undo.
+    pub fn move_from_foundation_count(&self) -> u32 {
+        self.session.stats().stats().move_from_foundation_count()
+    }
+
+    /// Number of face-down cards revealed (flipped up) this game, read from
+    /// the upstream session stats. Cumulative — not rolled back on undo.
+    pub fn flip_up_count(&self) -> u32 {
+        self.session.stats().stats().flip_up_bonus_count()
+    }
+
     /// Total moves made this game (draws, recycles, and card moves), derived
     /// from the session's instruction history length.
     pub fn move_count(&self) -> u32 {

solitaire_data/src/settings.rs

@@ -154,6 +154,14 @@ pub struct Settings {
     /// `#[serde(default)]`.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub reduce_motion_mode: bool,
+    /// When `true`, replaces translucent "glass" chrome (the floating
+    /// touch tab bar) with opaque fills so table content behind it can
+    /// never reduce label/icon contrast. The accessibility counterpart
+    /// of iOS "Reduce Transparency". Older `settings.json` files written
+    /// before this field existed deserialize cleanly to `false` thanks
+    /// to `#[serde(default)]`.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub reduce_transparency_mode: bool,
     /// Window size and screen position to restore on next launch. `None`
     /// means "use platform defaults" — set on first run, then populated
     /// as the player resizes / moves the window. Older `settings.json`
@@ -257,6 +265,32 @@ pub struct Settings {
     /// deserialize cleanly to `GameMode::Classic` via `#[serde(default)]`.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub last_mode: GameMode,
+    /// The release version whose "What's new" card the player has already
+    /// seen (e.g. `"0.46.0"`). Empty on installs that predate the card,
+    /// which correctly reads as "there is news to show" after an upgrade;
+    /// fresh installs stamp it silently when onboarding completes. Older
+    /// `settings.json` files deserialize cleanly to `""` via
+    /// `#[serde(default)]`.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub last_seen_whats_new: String,
+    /// `true` once the one-shot "Stuck? Try a hint" contextual tip has
+    /// fired (or been suppressed as unnecessary). Phase I teach: fired
+    /// by the situation, shown once, like `shown_achievement_onboarding`.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub shown_stall_hint_tip: bool,
+    /// `true` once the one-shot radial-menu contextual tip has fired —
+    /// or the player has already opened the radial menu on their own,
+    /// which marks the tip as unnecessary without showing it.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub shown_radial_menu_tip: bool,
+    /// Global UI scale multiplier applied to all UI chrome (HUD, modals,
+    /// action bar) — the table itself stays window-fit via
+    /// `compute_layout`. Cycles through 0.9 / 1.0 / 1.15 / 1.3 in
+    /// Settings → Accessibility; clamped to `[UI_SCALE_MIN,
+    /// UI_SCALE_MAX]` by [`Settings::sanitized`]. Older `settings.json`
+    /// files deserialize cleanly to `1.0` via the serde default.
+    #[serde(default = "default_ui_scale")]
+    pub ui_scale: f32,
     /// Custom public name displayed on the leaderboard. When `None`, the
     /// player's server `username` is used instead. Trimmed to 32 characters
     /// before submission. Older `settings.json` files written before this
@@ -365,6 +399,16 @@ fn default_replay_move_interval_secs() -> f32 {
     0.45
 }
 
+/// Lowest / highest UI scale the settings row offers; anything outside
+/// (hand-edited settings.json) clamps here on load.
+pub const UI_SCALE_MIN: f32 = 0.9;
+/// See [`UI_SCALE_MIN`].
+pub const UI_SCALE_MAX: f32 = 1.3;
+
+fn default_ui_scale() -> f32 {
+    1.0
+}
+
 fn default_matomo_site_id() -> u32 {
     1
 }
@@ -415,6 +459,7 @@ impl Default for Settings {
             color_blind_mode: false,
             high_contrast_mode: false,
             reduce_motion_mode: false,
+            reduce_transparency_mode: false,
             window_geometry: None,
             selected_theme_id: default_theme_id(),
             shown_achievement_onboarding: false,
@@ -425,6 +470,10 @@ impl Default for Settings {
             replay_move_interval_secs: default_replay_move_interval_secs(),
             last_difficulty: None,
             last_mode: GameMode::Classic,
+            last_seen_whats_new: String::new(),
+            shown_stall_hint_tip: false,
+            shown_radial_menu_tip: false,
+            ui_scale: default_ui_scale(),
             leaderboard_display_name: None,
             leaderboard_opted_in: false,
             take_from_foundation: true,
@@ -460,6 +509,7 @@ impl Settings {
             replay_move_interval_secs: self
                 .replay_move_interval_secs
                 .clamp(REPLAY_MOVE_INTERVAL_MIN_SECS, REPLAY_MOVE_INTERVAL_MAX_SECS),
+            ui_scale: self.ui_scale.clamp(UI_SCALE_MIN, UI_SCALE_MAX),
             selected_theme_id,
             ..self
         }

solitaire_engine/src/achievement_plugin.rs

@@ -67,6 +67,16 @@ pub struct AchievementsResource(pub Vec<AchievementRecord>);
 #[derive(Resource, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct AchievementsStoragePath(pub Option<PathBuf>);
 
+/// Set wrapping the win-path achievement evaluator. It writes
+/// `AchievementsResource`/`ProgressResource` and emits unlock events; UI
+/// readers of those (HUD popovers, the stats/achievements panels) order
+/// themselves `.after(AchievementEval)`. The replay-completion evaluator is
+/// deliberately NOT a member: it runs after `AutoComplete`, and panel chains
+/// that need `.after(AchievementEval)` run before `AutoComplete` — putting
+/// both in one set would close an ordering cycle (#143).
+#[derive(bevy::ecs::schedule::SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct AchievementEval;
+
 pub struct AchievementPlugin {
     pub storage_path: Option<PathBuf>,
 }
@@ -119,9 +129,13 @@ impl Plugin for AchievementPlugin {
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
                 evaluate_on_win
+                    .in_set(AchievementEval)
                     .after(GameMutation)
                     .after(StatsUpdate)
-                    .after(ProgressUpdate),
+                    .after(ProgressUpdate)
+                    // The unlock/XP/level-up events it emits are drained by
+                    // the toast pipeline this frame (#143).
+                    .before(crate::animation_plugin::AnimFx),
             )
             // Achievement-onboarding cue: fires once after the player's very
             // first win to teach the Achievements panel exists. Must run
@@ -131,20 +145,50 @@ impl Plugin for AchievementPlugin {
                 Update,
                 fire_achievement_onboarding_toast
                     .after(GameMutation)
-                    .after(StatsUpdate),
+                    .after(StatsUpdate)
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                    // Writes the one-shot onboarding flag into
+                    // SettingsResource: board painters re-read settings, so
+                    // land the write first; UiTextFx members read disjoint
+                    // settings fields (reduce-motion), so writer/reader
+                    // order there is provably irrelevant (#143).
+                    .before(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                    .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
             )
             // Open/close/tab handling moved to `you_hub_plugin`
             // (Phase E) — this plugin now owns body content + scroll.
-            .add_systems(Update, scroll_achievements_panel)
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
-                crate::ui_modal::touch_scroll_panel::<AchievementsScrollable>,
+                scroll_achievements_panel
+                    .in_set(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll),
+            )
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                crate::ui_modal::touch_scroll_panel::<AchievementsScrollable>
+                    .in_set(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll),
             )
             // Event-driven unlock: observe `ReplayPlaybackState` and unlock
             // `cinephile` the first time playback runs to natural completion.
             // Reads the resource via `Option<Res<_>>` so headless tests that
             // omit `ReplayPlaybackPlugin` still build.
-            .add_systems(Update, evaluate_cinephile_on_replay_completion);
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                // Shares the unlock stream and AchievementsResource with
+                // evaluate_on_win; ordered after it and before the toast
+                // pipeline that drains the unlock events (#143).
+                evaluate_cinephile_on_replay_completion
+                    .after(evaluate_on_win)
+                    // The stats overlay's watch-replay button (ordered
+                    // before AutoComplete) writes ReplayPlaybackState this
+                    // system reads.
+                    .after(crate::auto_complete_plugin::AutoComplete)
+                    .before(crate::animation_plugin::AnimFx),
+            );
     }
 }
 

solitaire_engine/src/animation_plugin.rs

@@ -179,10 +179,13 @@ pub struct ToastStackRoot;
 pub struct ToastNode;
 
 /// Logical-pixel gap between the screen bottom and the toast stack,
-/// before safe-area insets. Clears the Phase F bottom action bar on
-/// touch (compact 44px buttons + primary 64px trio + bar padding);
-/// desktop's shorter bar needs less.
-const TOAST_STACK_BASE_BOTTOM_PX: f32 = if USE_TOUCH_UI_LAYOUT { 112.0 } else { 72.0 };
+/// before safe-area insets. Clears the floating glass tab bar on touch
+/// (its margin + height + breathing room); desktop's docked bar needs less.
+const TOAST_STACK_BASE_BOTTOM_PX: f32 = if USE_TOUCH_UI_LAYOUT {
+    crate::hud_plugin::tab_bar::TAB_BAR_CLEARANCE_PX
+} else {
+    72.0
+};
 
 /// Spawns the persistent [`ToastStackRoot`] container at startup.
 fn spawn_toast_stack_root(mut commands: Commands) {
@@ -227,6 +230,14 @@ fn adopt_toasts_into_stack(
 /// Drives all linear card animations (`CardAnim`), toast notifications, deal stagger, win cascade, and the auto-complete card-slide sequence.
 pub struct AnimationPlugin;
 
+/// Set wrapping this plugin's Update chain (card slide/cascade animation and
+/// the toast pipeline). Ordered after [`crate::card_animation::CardTweenFx`]
+/// on the shared visual spine — members write card `Transform`s, which every
+/// other painter set also touches — and after the toast/stat/progress writer
+/// sets so the toast handlers drain this frame's events (#143).
+#[derive(bevy::ecs::schedule::SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct AnimFx;
+
 impl Plugin for AnimationPlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
         // Register the events this plugin consumes so tests that don't include
@@ -250,12 +261,36 @@ impl Plugin for AnimationPlugin {
             .init_resource::<ToastQueue>()
             .init_resource::<ActiveToast>()
             .add_systems(Startup, (init_slide_duration, spawn_toast_stack_root))
+            .configure_sets(
+                Update,
+                AnimFx
+                    // Visual spine: …BoardVisuals < MarkerVisuals <
+                    // CardTweenFx < AnimFx < FeedbackFx (#143). GameMutation
+                    // ordering is inherited transitively.
+                    .after(crate::card_animation::CardTweenFx)
+                    .after(crate::table_plugin::MarkerVisuals)
+                    // Stats/progress must settle before the win/level-up
+                    // toast handlers read their events. (No edge against
+                    // InfoToastWriters: toast writers exist on both sides
+                    // of this set — enqueue_toasts drains via cursor and
+                    // joins the club instead; a toast surfacing one frame
+                    // later is invisible.)
+                    .after(crate::stats_plugin::StatsUpdate)
+                    .after(crate::progress_plugin::ProgressUpdate)
+                    .after(GameMutation)
+                    // HUD text pulses are disjoint from the card entities
+                    // this set animates (see UiTextFx × BoardVisuals, #143).
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+            )
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
                 (
                     advance_card_anims,
-                    sync_slide_duration,
-                    handle_win_cascade,
+                    // Both drain SettingsChangedEvent / read anim-speed
+                    // fields via cursor; a home deal-option edit surfacing
+                    // one frame later is invisible (#143).
+                    sync_slide_duration.ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
+                    handle_win_cascade.ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
                     handle_achievement_toast,
                     handle_levelup_toast,
                     handle_daily_goal_announcement_toast,
@@ -263,16 +298,23 @@ impl Plugin for AnimationPlugin {
                     handle_weekly_toast,
                     handle_time_attack_toast,
                     handle_challenge_toast,
-                    handle_settings_toast,
+                    handle_settings_toast.ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
                     handle_auto_complete_toast,
                     handle_xp_awarded_toast,
                     handle_move_rejected_toast,
                     handle_warning_toast,
                     tick_toasts,
-                    (enqueue_toasts, drive_toast_display).chain(),
+                    (
+                        enqueue_toasts
+                            .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                            .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
+                        drive_toast_display,
+                    )
+                        .chain(),
                     adopt_toasts_into_stack,
                 )
-                    .after(GameMutation),
+                    .chain()
+                    .in_set(AnimFx),
             );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/assets/hud_icon_svg.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+//! SVG builders for the floating tab bar's action icons.
+//!
+//! The touch tab bar (`hud_plugin::tab_bar`) is icon-first, but the bundled
+//! FiraMono face has no icon glyphs (and the Geometric Shapes block U+25xx
+//! is missing on Android entirely), so the icons are authored here as tiny
+//! stroke-based SVGs and rasterised through the same `usvg`/`resvg` pipeline
+//! as the card themes (`assets::rasterize_svg`).
+//!
+//! Icons are drawn in **white** on a transparent background inside a
+//! 24-unit logical box; the spawn site tints them to the theme colour via
+//! `ImageNode::color` (a per-node multiply), so one texture serves every
+//! button state.
+
+use bevy::image::Image;
+use bevy::math::UVec2;
+
+use super::svg_loader::{SvgLoaderError, rasterize_svg};
+
+/// Rasterisation size for one tab-bar icon texture. Icons display at
+/// 24 logical px; 96 px texels keep them crisp at the Fold's 1.2 scale
+/// factor (and any future 3× phone) while staying trivially small.
+pub const HUD_ICON_TEXTURE_PX: u32 = 96;
+
+/// The five actions the floating touch tab bar can show.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum HudIcon {
+    /// Counter-clockwise "take back" arrow.
+    Undo,
+    /// Two offset card outlines — draw from the stock.
+    Draw,
+    /// Lightbulb — highlight a suggested move.
+    Hint,
+    /// Two vertical bars.
+    Pause,
+    /// Three-line hamburger — the floating menu button.
+    Menu,
+}
+
+impl HudIcon {
+    /// Build the icon's SVG document. All icons share one visual language:
+    /// 2-unit white strokes, round caps, transparent fill, 24-unit box.
+    pub fn svg(self) -> String {
+        let body = match self {
+            // Arrow head pointing left into a half-circle sweeping back
+            // over the top — the conventional undo mark.
+            HudIcon::Undo => concat!(
+                r##"<path d="M 8 5 L 4 9 L 8 13"/>"##,
+                r##"<path d="M 4 9 H 14 A 5.5 5.5 0 0 1 14 20 H 8"/>"##,
+            ),
+            // Back card peeks out behind the front card; the front card is
+            // drawn second so its stroke reads on top.
+            HudIcon::Draw => concat!(
+                r##"<rect x="8.5" y="3" width="11" height="15" rx="2"/>"##,
+                r##"<rect x="4" y="6.5" width="11" height="15" rx="2"/>"##,
+            ),
+            // Bulb dome with a flat lamp base beneath.
+            HudIcon::Hint => concat!(
+                r##"<path d="M 9 15.5 A 6.5 6.5 0 1 1 15 15.5 V 18 H 9 Z"/>"##,
+                r##"<path d="M 10 21 H 14"/>"##,
+            ),
+            HudIcon::Pause => concat!(
+                r##"<path d="M 9 6 V 18"/>"##,
+                r##"<path d="M 15 6 V 18"/>"##,
+            ),
+            HudIcon::Menu => concat!(
+                r##"<path d="M 4 6.5 H 20"/>"##,
+                r##"<path d="M 4 12 H 20"/>"##,
+                r##"<path d="M 4 17.5 H 20"/>"##,
+            ),
+        };
+        format!(
+            concat!(
+                r##"<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24">"##,
+                r##"<g fill="none" stroke="#ffffff" stroke-width="2" "##,
+                r##"stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">{body}</g>"##,
+                r##"</svg>"##,
+            ),
+            body = body
+        )
+    }
+
+    /// Rasterise this icon into a Bevy [`Image`] at
+    /// [`HUD_ICON_TEXTURE_PX`] square.
+    pub fn rasterize(self) -> Result<Image, SvgLoaderError> {
+        rasterize_svg(self.svg().as_bytes(), UVec2::splat(HUD_ICON_TEXTURE_PX))
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    const ALL: [HudIcon; 5] = [
+        HudIcon::Undo,
+        HudIcon::Draw,
+        HudIcon::Hint,
+        HudIcon::Pause,
+        HudIcon::Menu,
+    ];
+
+    /// Every icon must survive the real usvg/resvg pipeline at the real
+    /// texture size — a malformed path here would otherwise only surface
+    /// as a blank button on device.
+    #[test]
+    fn every_icon_rasterizes_at_texture_size() {
+        for icon in ALL {
+            let img = icon.rasterize().expect("icon SVG must rasterise");
+            assert_eq!(img.width(), HUD_ICON_TEXTURE_PX, "{icon:?} width");
+            assert_eq!(img.height(), HUD_ICON_TEXTURE_PX, "{icon:?} height");
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Rasterised icons must contain visible (non-transparent) pixels —
+    /// guards against a stroke accidentally drawn outside the viewBox.
+    #[test]
+    fn every_icon_has_visible_pixels() {
+        for icon in ALL {
+            let img = icon.rasterize().expect("icon SVG must rasterise");
+            let data = img.data.as_ref().expect("rasterised image has data");
+            let opaque = data.chunks_exact(4).filter(|px| px[3] > 0).count();
+            assert!(
+                opaque > 100,
+                "{icon:?} renders only {opaque} visible pixels"
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}

solitaire_engine/src/assets/mod.rs

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 //! custom `AssetSource` implementations used by the theme system.
 
 pub mod card_face_svg;
+pub mod hud_icon_svg;
 pub mod icon_svg;
 pub mod sources;
 pub mod svg_loader;

solitaire_engine/src/card_animation/mod.rs

@@ -83,6 +83,14 @@ use tuning::update_input_platform;
 /// long as no single entity carries both `CardAnim` and `CardAnimation`.
 pub struct CardAnimationPlugin;
 
+/// Set wrapping this plugin's Update chain (curve tweens, hover/drag
+/// visuals). First anim stage on the visual spine: …BoardVisuals <
+/// MarkerVisuals < CardTweenFx < [`crate::animation_plugin::AnimFx`] <
+/// FeedbackFx — members write card `Transform`s, which every other painter
+/// set also touches (#143).
+#[derive(bevy::ecs::schedule::SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct CardTweenFx;
+
 impl Plugin for CardAnimationPlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
         // Register events and resources idempotently — double-registration is
@@ -115,7 +123,14 @@ impl Plugin for CardAnimationPlugin {
                     // still present in the same frame it was removed (deferred
                     // commands aren't applied until the next ApplyDeferred
                     // point), causing a 1-frame gap between every chain step.
-                    ApplyDeferred,
+                    //
+                    // `ambiguous_with_all`: an explicit sync point conflicts
+                    // (on `World`) with every unordered system in the
+                    // schedule. Only the flush of THIS chain's commands needs
+                    // ordering — the chain edges provide that; whether an
+                    // unrelated system's commands flush here or at the next
+                    // sync point is immaterial to it (#143).
+                    ApplyDeferred.ambiguous_with_all(),
                     // After each animation finishes, pop the next chain segment.
                     advance_animation_chains,
                     // Interaction visuals (run after animation for final positions).
@@ -123,10 +138,24 @@ impl Plugin for CardAnimationPlugin {
                     apply_hover_scale,
                     apply_drag_visual,
                     // Drain buffered inputs only when no animations remain.
-                    drain_input_buffer,
+                    // It re-emits buffered undo/new-game requests, so it
+                    // joins the self-ambiguous writer clubs (#143).
+                    drain_input_buffer
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::UndoRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::UndoRequestWriters),
                 )
                     .chain()
-                    .after(GameMutation),
+                    .in_set(CardTweenFx),
+            )
+            .configure_sets(
+                Update,
+                CardTweenFx
+                    .after(GameMutation)
+                    .after(crate::table_plugin::MarkerVisuals)
+                    // HUD text pulses touch Transform on UI entities only —
+                    // disjoint from the card entities this set animates
+                    // (same rationale as UiTextFx × BoardVisuals, #143).
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
             );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/card_plugin/mod.rs

@@ -592,7 +592,9 @@ impl Plugin for CardPlugin {
                     tick_right_click_highlights,
                     clear_right_click_highlights_on_state_change,
                     clear_right_click_highlights_on_pause,
-                    tick_hint_highlight,
+                    // Reads only the anim-speed/reduce-motion flags; a frame
+                    // of lag is invisible (#143).
+                    tick_hint_highlight.ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
                     update_stock_empty_indicator,
                     update_stock_count_badge.run_if(resource_changed::<GameStateResource>),
                     collect_resize_events,

solitaire_engine/src/challenge_plugin.rs

@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@ use solitaire_data::{challenge_count, challenge_seed_for, save_progress_to};
 use crate::events::{
     GameWonEvent, InfoToastEvent, NewGameRequestEvent, StartChallengeRequestEvent,
 };
-use crate::game_plugin::GameMutation;
-use crate::progress_plugin::{ProgressResource, ProgressStoragePath, ProgressUpdate};
+use crate::progress_plugin::{ProgressResource, ProgressStoragePath};
 use crate::resources::GameStateResource;
 
 /// Minimum player level required to start a Challenge run.
@@ -38,8 +37,28 @@ impl Plugin for ChallengePlugin {
             .add_message::<StartChallengeRequestEvent>()
             .add_message::<InfoToastEvent>()
             // Run after ProgressUpdate so we don't fight ProgressPlugin's add_xp.
-            .add_systems(Update, advance_on_challenge_win.after(ProgressUpdate))
-            .add_systems(Update, handle_start_challenge_request.before(GameMutation));
+            // Ordering comes from the mode-completion chain configured in
+            // progress_plugin; the toast it emits joins the writer club
+            // drained by the toast pipeline this frame (#143).
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                advance_on_challenge_win
+                    .in_set(crate::progress_plugin::ChallengeCompletion)
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
+            )
+            // ModeStart places it between the stats abandon-recorder and
+            // GameMutation; it shares the new-game request/toast streams
+            // with the other writers (#143).
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                handle_start_challenge_request
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::ModeStart)
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
+            );
     }
 }
 

solitaire_engine/src/cheat_sheet_plugin.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+//! Hold-`/` hotkey cheat sheet (Phase J).
+//!
+//! While `/` is held on a keyboard platform, a lightweight overlay
+//! lists every binding from [`crate::hotkeys::HOTKEYS`] — the same
+//! table the onboarding slide teaches from, so the two can never
+//! disagree. Releasing the key hides it instantly; it never captures
+//! input, never pauses the game, and never spawns while a modal owns
+//! the screen (which also keeps it out of the seed-entry text field's
+//! way).
+//!
+//! Not a `spawn_modal` modal on purpose: modals are sticky and guarded;
+//! this is a momentary reference card, closer to a tooltip than a
+//! dialog.
+
+use bevy::input::ButtonInput;
+use bevy::prelude::*;
+
+use crate::font_plugin::FontResource;
+use crate::hotkeys::HOTKEYS;
+use crate::platform::SHOW_KEYBOARD_ACCELERATORS;
+use crate::ui_modal::ModalScrim;
+use crate::ui_theme::{
+    ACCENT_PRIMARY, BG_ELEVATED, BORDER_STRONG, HighContrastBorder, RADIUS_MD, TEXT_PRIMARY,
+    TEXT_SECONDARY, TYPE_BODY, TYPE_CAPTION, VAL_SPACE_1, VAL_SPACE_2, VAL_SPACE_3, VAL_SPACE_4,
+    Z_TOOLTIP,
+};
+
+/// Marker on the cheat-sheet overlay root.
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+pub struct CheatSheetOverlay;
+
+/// Registers the hold-`/` driver. Inert on touch-first builds.
+pub struct CheatSheetPlugin;
+
+impl Plugin for CheatSheetPlugin {
+    fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
+        app.init_resource::<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>()
+            .add_systems(Update, drive_cheat_sheet);
+    }
+}
+
+/// Shows the overlay while `/` is held (and no modal owns the screen);
+/// hides it the frame the key releases.
+fn drive_cheat_sheet(
+    keys: Res<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>,
+    scrims: Query<(), With<ModalScrim>>,
+    existing: Query<Entity, With<CheatSheetOverlay>>,
+    font_res: Option<Res<FontResource>>,
+    mut commands: Commands,
+) {
+    if !SHOW_KEYBOARD_ACCELERATORS {
+        return;
+    }
+    let held = keys.pressed(KeyCode::Slash);
+    if held && existing.is_empty() && scrims.is_empty() {
+        spawn_cheat_sheet(&mut commands, font_res.as_deref());
+    } else if !held {
+        for entity in &existing {
+            commands.entity(entity).despawn();
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn spawn_cheat_sheet(commands: &mut Commands, font_res: Option<&FontResource>) {
+    let font_handle = font_res.map(|f| f.0.clone()).unwrap_or_default();
+    let font_header = TextFont {
+        font: font_handle.clone(),
+        font_size: TYPE_BODY,
+        ..default()
+    };
+    let font_keys = TextFont {
+        font: font_handle.clone(),
+        font_size: TYPE_CAPTION,
+        ..default()
+    };
+    let font_desc = TextFont {
+        font: font_handle,
+        font_size: TYPE_CAPTION,
+        ..default()
+    };
+
+    commands
+        .spawn((
+            CheatSheetOverlay,
+            Node {
+                position_type: PositionType::Absolute,
+                right: Val::Px(16.0),
+                top: Val::Percent(8.0),
+                flex_direction: FlexDirection::Column,
+                row_gap: VAL_SPACE_1,
+                padding: UiRect::all(VAL_SPACE_4),
+                border: UiRect::all(Val::Px(1.0)),
+                border_radius: BorderRadius::all(Val::Px(RADIUS_MD)),
+                max_height: Val::Percent(84.0),
+                overflow: Overflow::scroll_y(),
+                ..default()
+            },
+            BackgroundColor(BG_ELEVATED),
+            BorderColor::all(BORDER_STRONG),
+            HighContrastBorder::with_default(BORDER_STRONG),
+            GlobalZIndex(Z_TOOLTIP),
+        ))
+        .with_children(|panel| {
+            panel.spawn((
+                Text::new("Keyboard shortcuts"),
+                font_header.clone(),
+                TextColor(TEXT_PRIMARY),
+                Node {
+                    margin: UiRect::bottom(VAL_SPACE_2),
+                    ..default()
+                },
+            ));
+            for row in HOTKEYS {
+                panel
+                    .spawn(Node {
+                        flex_direction: FlexDirection::Row,
+                        column_gap: VAL_SPACE_3,
+                        ..default()
+                    })
+                    .with_children(|line| {
+                        line.spawn((
+                            Text::new(row.keys),
+                            font_keys.clone(),
+                            TextColor(ACCENT_PRIMARY),
+                            Node {
+                                min_width: Val::Px(110.0),
+                                ..default()
+                            },
+                        ));
+                        line.spawn((
+                            Text::new(row.description),
+                            font_desc.clone(),
+                            TextColor(TEXT_SECONDARY),
+                        ));
+                    });
+            }
+        });
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn app() -> App {
+        let mut app = App::new();
+        app.add_plugins(MinimalPlugins)
+            .add_plugins(CheatSheetPlugin);
+        app.update();
+        app
+    }
+
+    fn overlay_count(app: &mut App) -> usize {
+        app.world_mut()
+            .query::<&CheatSheetOverlay>()
+            .iter(app.world())
+            .count()
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn holding_slash_shows_and_release_hides() {
+        let mut app = app();
+        app.world_mut()
+            .resource_mut::<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>()
+            .press(KeyCode::Slash);
+        app.update();
+        assert_eq!(overlay_count(&mut app), 1, "held / must show the sheet");
+        // Still held on later frames: exactly one overlay, no stacking.
+        app.update();
+        assert_eq!(overlay_count(&mut app), 1);
+
+        app.world_mut()
+            .resource_mut::<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>()
+            .release(KeyCode::Slash);
+        app.update();
+        app.update();
+        assert_eq!(overlay_count(&mut app), 0, "release must hide the sheet");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn suppressed_while_a_modal_is_open() {
+        let mut app = app();
+        app.world_mut().spawn(ModalScrim);
+        app.update();
+        app.world_mut()
+            .resource_mut::<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>()
+            .press(KeyCode::Slash);
+        app.update();
+        assert_eq!(
+            overlay_count(&mut app),
+            0,
+            "the sheet must not spawn over a modal (or into a text field)"
+        );
+    }
+}

solitaire_engine/src/contextual_tips_plugin.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,309 @@
+//! Contextual one-time tips (Phase I of the 2026-07 UI redesign).
+//!
+//! Everything the first-run onboarding doesn't cover is invisible until
+//! stumbled upon: hint cycling, the radial quick-action menu. These
+//! tips fire **from the situation, not a tour** — each exactly once,
+//! recorded in `Settings` like `shown_achievement_onboarding`:
+//!
+//! - **Stall tip** — after [`STALL_TIP_SECS`] with no board change in an
+//!   active game, an info toast points at Hint. A player staring at a
+//!   stuck board is the one moment the tip is welcome.
+//! - **Radial tip** — once a game reaches [`RADIAL_TIP_MIN_MOVES`] moves
+//!   (an engaged player) and the radial menu has never been opened, an
+//!   info toast teaches the long-press / right-click gesture. Opening
+//!   the radial organically marks the tip as unnecessary — it is never
+//!   shown to someone who already knows.
+//!
+//! Tips render through the queued [`InfoToastEvent`] path, so they share
+//! the unified toast stack and never interrupt play.
+
+use bevy::prelude::*;
+
+use solitaire_data::save_settings_to;
+
+use crate::events::{InfoToastEvent, StateChangedEvent};
+use crate::game_plugin::GameMutation;
+use crate::pause_plugin::PausedResource;
+use crate::platform::SHOW_KEYBOARD_ACCELERATORS;
+use crate::radial_menu::RightClickRadialState;
+use crate::resources::GameStateResource;
+use crate::settings_plugin::{SettingsResource, SettingsStoragePath};
+use crate::ui_modal::ModalScrim;
+
+/// Seconds without any board change before the stall tip fires.
+/// Long enough that normal thinking never triggers it; short enough to
+/// reach a genuinely stuck player before they quit.
+const STALL_TIP_SECS: f32 = 45.0;
+
+/// Move count at which an engaged player earns the radial-menu teach.
+const RADIAL_TIP_MIN_MOVES: u32 = 15;
+
+/// Stall-tip copy per platform input vocabulary.
+const STALL_TIP: &str = if SHOW_KEYBOARD_ACCELERATORS {
+    "Stuck? Press H for a hint."
+} else {
+    "Stuck? Tap Hint in the bottom bar for a suggested move."
+};
+
+/// Radial-tip copy per platform input vocabulary.
+const RADIAL_TIP: &str = if SHOW_KEYBOARD_ACCELERATORS {
+    "Tip: right-click a card for quick actions."
+} else {
+    "Tip: long-press a card for quick actions."
+};
+
+/// Seconds of board inactivity, frozen while paused / a modal is open,
+/// reset by every [`StateChangedEvent`].
+#[derive(Resource, Debug, Default)]
+pub struct StallClock(pub f32);
+
+/// Registers the stall clock and the two tip triggers.
+pub struct ContextualTipsPlugin;
+
+impl Plugin for ContextualTipsPlugin {
+    fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
+        app.init_resource::<StallClock>()
+            .add_message::<InfoToastEvent>()
+            .add_message::<StateChangedEvent>()
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                (
+                    tick_stall_clock,
+                    fire_stall_hint_tip
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
+                    observe_radial_menu_use,
+                    fire_radial_menu_tip
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
+                )
+                    .chain()
+                    .after(GameMutation),
+            );
+    }
+}
+
+/// Advances the stall clock; resets on any board change; freezes while
+/// paused, while a modal owns the screen, or when the game is over.
+fn tick_stall_clock(
+    time: Res<Time>,
+    mut state_events: MessageReader<StateChangedEvent>,
+    paused: Option<Res<PausedResource>>,
+    scrims: Query<(), With<ModalScrim>>,
+    game: Option<Res<GameStateResource>>,
+    mut clock: ResMut<StallClock>,
+) {
+    if state_events.read().next().is_some() {
+        clock.0 = 0.0;
+        return;
+    }
+    if paused.is_some_and(|p| p.0)
+        || !scrims.is_empty()
+        || game.as_ref().is_none_or(|g| g.0.is_won())
+    {
+        // Frozen, not reset: backgrounding into a menu mid-stall
+        // shouldn't restart the wait.
+        return;
+    }
+    clock.0 += time.delta_secs();
+}
+
+/// Fires the one-shot stall tip once the clock passes the threshold in
+/// a game the player has actually started (at least one move).
+fn fire_stall_hint_tip(
+    clock: Res<StallClock>,
+    game: Option<Res<GameStateResource>>,
+    mut settings: Option<ResMut<SettingsResource>>,
+    storage_path: Option<Res<SettingsStoragePath>>,
+    mut toast: MessageWriter<InfoToastEvent>,
+) {
+    let Some(s) = settings.as_mut() else { return };
+    if s.0.shown_stall_hint_tip || clock.0 < STALL_TIP_SECS {
+        return;
+    }
+    if game
+        .as_ref()
+        .is_none_or(|g| g.0.move_count() == 0 || g.0.is_won())
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+    toast.write(InfoToastEvent(STALL_TIP.to_string()));
+    s.0.shown_stall_hint_tip = true;
+    persist(storage_path.as_deref(), &s.0);
+}
+
+/// A player who opens the radial menu on their own doesn't need the
+/// teach — mark the tip done silently.
+fn observe_radial_menu_use(
+    radial: Option<Res<RightClickRadialState>>,
+    mut settings: Option<ResMut<SettingsResource>>,
+    storage_path: Option<Res<SettingsStoragePath>>,
+) {
+    let Some(radial) = radial else { return };
+    if !radial.is_active() {
+        return;
+    }
+    let Some(s) = settings.as_mut() else { return };
+    if s.0.shown_radial_menu_tip {
+        return;
+    }
+    s.0.shown_radial_menu_tip = true;
+    persist(storage_path.as_deref(), &s.0);
+}
+
+/// Fires the one-shot radial teach for an engaged player who has never
+/// opened the menu themselves.
+fn fire_radial_menu_tip(
+    game: Option<Res<GameStateResource>>,
+    mut settings: Option<ResMut<SettingsResource>>,
+    storage_path: Option<Res<SettingsStoragePath>>,
+    mut toast: MessageWriter<InfoToastEvent>,
+) {
+    let Some(s) = settings.as_mut() else { return };
+    if s.0.shown_radial_menu_tip {
+        return;
+    }
+    if game
+        .as_ref()
+        .is_none_or(|g| g.0.move_count() < RADIAL_TIP_MIN_MOVES || g.0.is_won())
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+    toast.write(InfoToastEvent(RADIAL_TIP.to_string()));
+    s.0.shown_radial_menu_tip = true;
+    persist(storage_path.as_deref(), &s.0);
+}
+
+fn persist(storage_path: Option<&SettingsStoragePath>, settings: &solitaire_data::Settings) {
+    if let Some(p) = storage_path
+        && let Some(path) = p.0.as_deref()
+        && let Err(e) = save_settings_to(path, settings)
+    {
+        warn!("contextual tips: failed to persist tip flag: {e}");
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use bevy::ecs::message::Messages;
+    use solitaire_core::{DrawStockConfig, game_state::GameState};
+    use solitaire_data::Settings;
+
+    fn app_with(settings: Settings, game: GameState) -> App {
+        let mut app = App::new();
+        app.add_plugins(MinimalPlugins)
+            .add_plugins(ContextualTipsPlugin);
+        app.insert_resource(SettingsResource(settings));
+        app.insert_resource(GameStateResource(game));
+        app.update();
+        app
+    }
+
+    fn info_toast_count(app: &App) -> usize {
+        let events = app.world().resource::<Messages<InfoToastEvent>>();
+        let mut cursor = events.get_cursor();
+        cursor.read(events).count()
+    }
+
+    fn started_game() -> GameState {
+        let mut game = GameState::new(7, DrawStockConfig::DrawOne);
+        game.draw().expect("draw from fresh deal");
+        game
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn stall_tip_fires_once_past_threshold() {
+        let mut app = app_with(Settings::default(), started_game());
+        app.world_mut().resource_mut::<StallClock>().0 = STALL_TIP_SECS + 1.0;
+        app.update();
+
+        assert_eq!(info_toast_count(&app), 1, "stall tip must fire");
+        assert!(
+            app.world()
+                .resource::<SettingsResource>()
+                .0
+                .shown_stall_hint_tip,
+            "the tip flag must set so it never repeats"
+        );
+
+        app.world_mut().resource_mut::<StallClock>().0 = STALL_TIP_SECS + 30.0;
+        app.world_mut()
+            .resource_mut::<Messages<InfoToastEvent>>()
+            .clear();
+        app.update();
+        assert_eq!(info_toast_count(&app), 0, "the tip is one-shot");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn stall_tip_needs_a_started_unwon_game() {
+        // Untouched deal: staring at the launch screen is not a stall.
+        let mut app = app_with(
+            Settings::default(),
+            GameState::new(7, DrawStockConfig::DrawOne),
+        );
+        app.world_mut().resource_mut::<StallClock>().0 = STALL_TIP_SECS + 1.0;
+        app.update();
+        assert_eq!(info_toast_count(&app), 0, "no tip on an untouched deal");
+
+        // Won game: nothing to hint at.
+        let mut won = started_game();
+        won.set_test_won(true);
+        let mut app = app_with(Settings::default(), won);
+        app.world_mut().resource_mut::<StallClock>().0 = STALL_TIP_SECS + 1.0;
+        app.update();
+        assert_eq!(info_toast_count(&app), 0, "no tip on a won game");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn stall_clock_resets_on_state_change() {
+        let mut app = app_with(Settings::default(), started_game());
+        app.world_mut().resource_mut::<StallClock>().0 = 30.0;
+        app.world_mut().write_message(StateChangedEvent);
+        app.update();
+        assert_eq!(
+            app.world().resource::<StallClock>().0,
+            0.0,
+            "any board change must reset the stall clock"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn radial_tip_fires_for_engaged_player() {
+        let mut game = started_game();
+        game.set_test_move_count(RADIAL_TIP_MIN_MOVES);
+        let mut app = app_with(Settings::default(), game);
+        app.update();
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            info_toast_count(&app),
+            1,
+            "radial tip must fire at the move threshold"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            app.world()
+                .resource::<SettingsResource>()
+                .0
+                .shown_radial_menu_tip
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn radial_tip_suppressed_after_organic_use() {
+        let mut game = started_game();
+        game.set_test_move_count(RADIAL_TIP_MIN_MOVES);
+        let mut app = app_with(
+            Settings {
+                shown_radial_menu_tip: true,
+                ..Settings::default()
+            },
+            game,
+        );
+        app.update();
+        assert_eq!(
+            info_toast_count(&app),
+            0,
+            "a player who used the radial menu never sees the teach"
+        );
+    }
+}

solitaire_engine/src/core_game_plugin.rs

@@ -14,14 +14,14 @@ use crate::platform::{
 };
 use crate::{
     AchievementPlugin, AnimationPlugin, AssetSourcesPlugin, AutoCompletePlugin,
-    CardAnimationPlugin, CardPlugin, ChallengePlugin, CursorPlugin, DailyChallengePlugin,
-    DiagnosticsHudPlugin, DifficultyPlugin, FeedbackAnimPlugin, FontPlugin, GamePlugin, HelpPlugin,
-    HomePlugin, HudPlugin, InputPlugin, OnboardingPlugin, PausePlugin, PlayBySeedPlugin,
-    ProfilePlugin, ProgressPlugin, RadialMenuPlugin, ReplayOverlayPlugin, ReplayPlaybackPlugin,
-    SafeAreaInsetsPlugin, SelectionPlugin, SettingsPlugin, SolutionPlaybackPlugin, SplashPlugin,
-    StatsPlugin, SyncProvider, TablePlugin, ThemePlugin, ThemeRegistryPlugin, TimeAttackPlugin,
-    TouchSelectionPlugin, UiFocusPlugin, UiModalPlugin, UiTooltipPlugin, WeeklyGoalsPlugin,
-    WinSummaryPlugin,
+    CardAnimationPlugin, CardPlugin, ChallengePlugin, CheatSheetPlugin, ContextualTipsPlugin,
+    CursorPlugin, DailyChallengePlugin, DiagnosticsHudPlugin, DifficultyPlugin, FeedbackAnimPlugin,
+    FontPlugin, GamePlugin, HelpPlugin, HomePlugin, HudPlugin, InputPlugin, OnboardingPlugin,
+    PausePlugin, PlayBySeedPlugin, ProfilePlugin, ProgressPlugin, RadialMenuPlugin,
+    ReplayOverlayPlugin, ReplayPlaybackPlugin, SafeAreaInsetsPlugin, SelectionPlugin,
+    SettingsPlugin, SolutionPlaybackPlugin, SplashPlugin, StatsPlugin, SyncProvider, TablePlugin,
+    ThemePlugin, ThemeRegistryPlugin, TimeAttackPlugin, TouchSelectionPlugin, UiFocusPlugin,
+    UiModalPlugin, UiTooltipPlugin, WeeklyGoalsPlugin, WhatsNewPlugin, WinSummaryPlugin,
 };
 #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
 use crate::{
@@ -115,6 +115,9 @@ impl Plugin for CoreGamePlugin {
             .add_plugins(PausePlugin)
             .add_plugins(SettingsPlugin::default())
             .add_plugins(OnboardingPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(WhatsNewPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(ContextualTipsPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(CheatSheetPlugin)
             .add_plugins(WinSummaryPlugin)
             .add_plugins(UiModalPlugin)
             .add_plugins(UiFocusPlugin)

solitaire_engine/src/cursor_plugin.rs

@@ -76,12 +76,31 @@ pub struct CursorPlugin;
 
 impl Plugin for CursorPlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
+        // All three read the DragState/game state the input chain and
+        // mutation systems settle, so they run after both. The highlight
+        // painters write card/overlay Sprites and join the visual spine
+        // ahead of the board painters; the cursor icon touches only the
+        // window cursor (#143).
         app.add_systems(
             Update,
             (
-                update_cursor_icon,
-                update_drop_highlights.run_if(resource_changed::<DragState>),
-                update_drop_target_overlays,
+                update_cursor_icon
+                    .after(crate::input_plugin::PointerInput)
+                    .after(crate::game_plugin::GameMutation)
+                    .after(crate::selection_plugin::SelectionFx)
+                    .before(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals),
+                (
+                    update_drop_highlights.run_if(resource_changed::<DragState>),
+                    update_drop_target_overlays,
+                )
+                    .chain()
+                    .after(crate::input_plugin::PointerInput)
+                    .after(crate::game_plugin::GameMutation)
+                    // Selection maintenance clears DragState and the hint
+                    // poll writes highlight sprites — both settle first.
+                    .after(crate::selection_plugin::SelectionFx)
+                    .after(crate::pending_hint::PendingHint)
+                    .before(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals),
             ),
         );
     }

solitaire_engine/src/daily_challenge_plugin.rs

@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ use crate::events::{
     GameWonEvent, InfoToastEvent, NewGameRequestEvent, StartDailyChallengeRequestEvent,
     WarningToastEvent, XpAwardedEvent,
 };
-use crate::game_plugin::GameMutation;
-use crate::progress_plugin::{ProgressResource, ProgressStoragePath, ProgressUpdate};
+
+use crate::progress_plugin::{ProgressResource, ProgressStoragePath};
 use crate::resources::GameStateResource;
 #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
 use crate::sync_plugin::SyncProviderResource;
@@ -124,17 +124,51 @@ impl Plugin for DailyChallengePlugin {
             .add_message::<StartDailyChallengeRequestEvent>()
             .add_message::<WarningToastEvent>()
             .add_message::<XpAwardedEvent>()
-            // record/award after the base ProgressUpdate so we don't fight
-            // ProgressPlugin's add_xp on the same frame.
-            .add_systems(Update, handle_daily_completion.after(ProgressUpdate))
-            .add_systems(Update, handle_start_daily_request.before(GameMutation))
-            .add_systems(Update, check_daily_expiry_warning)
-            .add_systems(Update, check_date_rollover);
+            // Ordering comes from the mode-completion chain configured in
+            // progress_plugin; the toast it emits joins the writer club
+            // drained by the toast pipeline this frame (#143).
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                handle_daily_completion
+                    .in_set(crate::progress_plugin::DailyCompletion)
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
+            )
+            // ModeStart places it between the stats abandon-recorder and
+            // GameMutation; it shares the new-game request/toast streams
+            // with the other writers (#143).
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                handle_start_daily_request
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::ModeStart)
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
+            )
+            // One chain for the DailyChallengeResource writers/readers:
+            // the local date rollover replaces today's challenge and the
+            // expiry warning reads it. Before ModeStart so a rollover
+            // lands before the start handler reads the seed this frame
+            // (#143).
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                (
+                    check_date_rollover,
+                    check_daily_expiry_warning
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::WarningToastWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::WarningToastWriters),
+                )
+                    .chain()
+                    .before(crate::game_plugin::ModeStart),
+            );
 
         // Server-challenge fetch uses SyncProviderResource (reqwest), not available on wasm.
+        // The poll replaces DailyChallengeResource, so it heads the same
+        // pre-ModeStart timeline as the rollover/expiry chain above (#143).
         #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
         app.add_systems(Startup, fetch_server_challenge)
-            .add_systems(Update, poll_server_challenge);
+            .add_systems(Update, poll_server_challenge.before(check_date_rollover));
     }
 }
 

solitaire_engine/src/difficulty_plugin.rs

@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ use solitaire_core::game_state::{DifficultyLevel, GameMode};
 use solitaire_data::difficulty_seeds::seeds_for;
 
 use crate::events::{NewGameRequestEvent, StartDifficultyRequestEvent};
-use crate::game_plugin::GameMutation;
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Resources
@@ -77,7 +76,16 @@ impl Plugin for DifficultyPlugin {
         app.init_resource::<DifficultyIndexResource>()
             .add_message::<StartDifficultyRequestEvent>()
             .add_message::<NewGameRequestEvent>()
-            .add_systems(Update, handle_difficulty_request.before(GameMutation));
+            // ModeStart places it between the stats abandon-recorder and
+            // GameMutation; it shares the new-game request stream with the
+            // other writers (#143).
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                handle_difficulty_request
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::ModeStart)
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters),
+            );
     }
 }
 

solitaire_engine/src/feedback_anim_plugin.rs

@@ -198,6 +198,22 @@ pub fn deal_stagger_jitter(card_id: u32) -> f32 {
 /// animation systems.
 pub struct FeedbackAnimPlugin;
 
+/// Set wrapping the shake/settle/deal/flourish systems. Last anim stage on
+/// the visual spine: …MarkerVisuals < CardTweenFx <
+/// [`crate::animation_plugin::AnimFx`] < FeedbackFx. Runs after
+/// MarkerVisuals because the foundation flourish tints pile-marker sprites,
+/// which the marker painters also write; the tint must win within the frame
+/// (#143). GameMutation ordering is inherited transitively.
+#[derive(bevy::ecs::schedule::SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct FeedbackFx;
+
+/// Set wrapping the hint-ghost chain (spawn → tick → despawn). Ghost
+/// entities are `Without<CardEntity>` sprites owned solely by this chain —
+/// systems that animate other entity domains (e.g. the win-summary camera
+/// shake) declare themselves `.ambiguous_with(HintGhostFx)` (#143).
+#[derive(bevy::ecs::schedule::SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct HintGhostFx;
+
 impl Plugin for FeedbackAnimPlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
         // Register the events this plugin consumes so it can run in isolation
@@ -211,22 +227,36 @@ impl Plugin for FeedbackAnimPlugin {
             .add_message::<HintVisualEvent>()
             .add_message::<StateChangedEvent>()
             .add_message::<RequestRedraw>()
+            .configure_sets(
+                Update,
+                FeedbackFx
+                    .after(GameMutation)
+                    .after(crate::animation_plugin::AnimFx)
+                    // HUD text pulses are disjoint from the card/marker
+                    // entities this set animates (see UiTextFx ×
+                    // BoardVisuals, #143).
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+            )
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
                 (
-                    start_shake_anim.after(GameMutation),
+                    // Reads only the reduce-motion flag; a frame of lag is
+                    // invisible (#143).
+                    start_shake_anim.ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
                     tick_shake_anim,
-                    start_settle_anim.after(GameMutation),
+                    start_settle_anim,
                     // tick_foundation_flourish writes the full Transform.scale
                     // (Vec3); tick_settle_anim writes only scale.y on top of
                     // it. Ordering ensures the settle's y-only write always
                     // applies last so it wins on the ~0.15 s overlap when both
                     // components are present on the same King entity.
-                    tick_foundation_flourish.before(tick_settle_anim),
+                    tick_foundation_flourish,
                     tick_settle_anim,
-                    start_deal_anim.after(GameMutation),
-                    start_foundation_flourish.after(GameMutation),
-                ),
+                    start_deal_anim,
+                    start_foundation_flourish,
+                )
+                    .chain()
+                    .in_set(FeedbackFx),
             )
             // Hint ghost (Phase H): the spawn reads card Transform/Sprite,
             // so it orders after the board painters; the tick only touches
@@ -240,7 +270,24 @@ impl Plugin for FeedbackAnimPlugin {
                     tick_hint_ghosts,
                     despawn_hint_ghosts_on_state_change.after(GameMutation),
                 )
-                    .chain(),
+                    .chain()
+                    .in_set(HintGhostFx)
+                    // The spawn reads card Sprites the marker painters (theme
+                    // apply, pile highlights) also write — those settle first.
+                    // Ghost entities are Without<CardEntity> and never HUD
+                    // chrome, and the spawn reads only the reduce-motion flag
+                    // (frame-lag invisible) (#143).
+                    .after(crate::table_plugin::MarkerVisuals)
+                    // …and the card tweens/slides, whose Transform writes
+                    // the spawn snapshot must not race.
+                    .after(crate::card_animation::CardTweenFx)
+                    // FeedbackFx (deal slide, shake) is the last Transform
+                    // writer on the spine — the ghost snapshot reads after
+                    // the whole visual pipeline has settled.
+                    .after(FeedbackFx)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                    .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
             );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/game_plugin/mod.rs

@@ -99,6 +99,38 @@ pub struct DrawRequestWriters;
 #[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
 pub struct InfoToastWriters;
 
+/// Self-ambiguous club for writers of `MoveRequestEvent` (drag drops, stock
+/// clicks, radial menu, selection keys, replay step button). Consumers drain
+/// the whole queue — append order is meaningless (#143). Same rules as
+/// [`NewGameRequestWriters`]: do NOT hang ordering edges off this set.
+#[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct MoveRequestWriters;
+
+/// Self-ambiguous club for writers of `WarningToastEvent` (daily-expiry
+/// warning, leaderboard opt-in/out failure polls). The toast pipeline
+/// drains the whole queue — append order is meaningless (#143). Same
+/// rules as [`InfoToastWriters`].
+#[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct WarningToastWriters;
+
+/// Set + self-ambiguous club for the mode-start request handlers (challenge,
+/// daily, time-attack, play-by-seed, difficulty). Each drains its own
+/// request stream and resets `GameStateResource` for its mode; only one
+/// stream carries an event on any real frame, so member order is irrelevant
+/// (club), while the set as a whole runs between the stats abandon-recorder
+/// ([`crate::stats_plugin::AbandonRecord`], which must read the old game
+/// first) and [`GameMutation`] (#143).
+#[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct ModeStart;
+
+/// Set wrapping `GamePlugin`'s pre-mutation game-state spine (elapsed-time
+/// tick, settings sync, restore prompt). Sits between
+/// [`crate::settings_plugin::SettingsMutation`] and [`GameMutation`]; other
+/// pre-mutation readers of `GameStateResource` (e.g. the stats
+/// abandon-recorder) order themselves `.after(PreMutation)` (#143).
+#[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct PreMutation;
+
 /// Persistence path for the in-progress game state file. `None` disables I/O.
 #[derive(Resource, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct GameStatePath(pub Option<PathBuf>);
@@ -267,7 +299,14 @@ impl Plugin for GamePlugin {
                     .in_set(InfoToastWriters)
                     .ambiguous_with(InfoToastWriters),
             )
-            .add_systems(Update, record_replay_on_win.after(GameMutation))
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                record_replay_on_win
+                    .after(GameMutation)
+                    // Before the playback skip-recorder (which runs after
+                    // AutoComplete) — both touch RecordingReplay (#143).
+                    .before(crate::auto_complete_plugin::AutoComplete),
+            )
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
                 (
@@ -301,9 +340,20 @@ impl Plugin for GamePlugin {
                         .ambiguous_with(NewGameRequestWriters),
                 )
                     .chain()
+                    .in_set(PreMutation),
+            )
+            .configure_sets(
+                Update,
+                PreMutation
                     .after(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsMutation)
                     .before(GameMutation),
             )
+            .configure_sets(
+                Update,
+                ModeStart
+                    .after(crate::stats_plugin::AbandonRecord)
+                    .before(GameMutation),
+            )
             .init_resource::<AutoSaveTimer>()
             .add_systems(Update, auto_save_game_state.after(GameMutation))
             .add_systems(Last, save_game_state_on_exit);

solitaire_engine/src/help_plugin.rs

@@ -54,12 +54,23 @@ impl Plugin for HelpPlugin {
             .add_message::<TouchInput>()
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
-                (
-                    toggle_help_screen,
-                    handle_help_close_button,
-                    scroll_help_panel,
-                    crate::ui_modal::touch_scroll_panel::<HelpScrollable>,
-                ),
+                (toggle_help_screen, handle_help_close_button)
+                    .chain()
+                    // FocusKeys consumes Esc after the modal handlers
+                    // (mirrors toggle_settings_screen, #143).
+                    .before(crate::ui_focus::FocusKeys),
+            )
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                scroll_help_panel
+                    .in_set(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll),
+            )
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                crate::ui_modal::touch_scroll_panel::<HelpScrollable>
+                    .in_set(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll),
             );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/home_plugin.rs

@@ -334,19 +334,45 @@ impl Plugin for HomePlugin {
                     spawn_home_on_launch,
                     toggle_home_screen,
                     attach_focusable_to_home_mode_cards,
-                    handle_home_card_click,
-                    handle_home_new_game_hero,
+                    handle_home_card_click
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
+                    handle_home_new_game_hero
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters),
                     handle_home_cancel_button,
-                    handle_home_profile_chip,
+                    handle_home_profile_chip
+                        .in_set(crate::profile_plugin::ProfileToggleWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::profile_plugin::ProfileToggleWriters),
                     handle_home_draw_mode_buttons,
                     handle_home_winnable_toggle,
                     handle_home_deal_options_toggle,
-                    handle_home_difficulty_chip_click,
-                    handle_home_digit_keys,
+                    handle_home_difficulty_chip_click
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters),
+                    handle_home_digit_keys
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .before(crate::ui_focus::FocusKeys),
                 )
-                    .chain(),
+                    .chain()
+                    // The home context repaints from this frame's settled
+                    // progress/stats/achievements; settings access joins the
+                    // screen-plugin club (#143).
+                    .after(crate::progress_plugin::ProgressUpdate)
+                    .after(crate::stats_plugin::StatsUpdate)
+                    .after(crate::achievement_plugin::AchievementEval)
+                    .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
             )
-            .add_systems(Update, scroll_home_panel);
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                scroll_home_panel
+                    .in_set(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll),
+            );
     }
 }
 
@@ -480,6 +506,10 @@ fn persist_last_mode(
 ///   owns the launch beat; Home appearing underneath it stacked two
 ///   modals (Phase H fix; spotted in the v0.44.0 emulator smoke). Home
 ///   spawns on the first frame after the player finishes or skips.
+/// * The What's-new card (Phase I) must have had its beat —
+///   [`crate::whats_new_plugin::WhatsNewPending`] released — so an
+///   upgrade's release notes get read before the mode picker lands on
+///   top of them.
 /// * `HomeScreen` must not already exist (defensive — e.g. the player
 ///   pressed `M` between ticks).
 /// * `LaunchHomeShown` flips to `true` after the first spawn so this
@@ -494,6 +524,7 @@ fn spawn_home_on_launch(
     restore_prompts: Query<(), With<crate::game_plugin::RestorePromptScreen>>,
     pending_restore: Option<Res<crate::game_plugin::PendingRestoredGame>>,
     onboarding: Query<(), With<crate::onboarding_plugin::OnboardingScreen>>,
+    whats_new: Option<Res<crate::whats_new_plugin::WhatsNewPending>>,
     existing: Query<(), With<HomeScreen>>,
     sources: HomeSpawnSources,
     mut deal_expanded: ResMut<DealOptionsExpanded>,
@@ -503,6 +534,7 @@ fn spawn_home_on_launch(
         || !restore_prompts.is_empty()
         || pending_restore.as_ref().is_some_and(|p| p.0.is_some())
         || !onboarding.is_empty()
+        || whats_new.as_ref().is_some_and(|w| w.0)
         || sources
             .settings
             .as_ref()

solitaire_engine/src/hotkeys.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+//! Single source of truth for the desktop keyboard bindings (Phase J).
+//!
+//! Two static hotkey tables had already diverged (onboarding's slide
+//! and Help's controls reference); every future drift multiplies. This
+//! module owns THE table: the onboarding slide renders the
+//! [`HotkeyRow::essential`] subset, the hold-`/` cheat sheet
+//! ([`crate::cheat_sheet_plugin`]) renders everything.
+//!
+//! The table is hand-maintained but **pinned by test** against the
+//! handlers that actually consume each key — adding a binding without
+//! updating this table (or vice versa) is designed to fail review, not
+//! runtime. A registry generated from the input systems themselves is
+//! the eventual ideal; this is the honest 90 % at 1 % of the cost.
+
+/// One row of the hotkey table.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+pub struct HotkeyRow {
+    /// Display form of the key(s), e.g. `"D / Space"`.
+    pub keys: &'static str,
+    /// One-line action description.
+    pub description: &'static str,
+    /// `true` for the beginner-relevant subset the onboarding slide
+    /// shows; the cheat sheet always shows every row.
+    pub essential: bool,
+}
+
+/// Every desktop keyboard binding, in teaching order.
+pub const HOTKEYS: &[HotkeyRow] = &[
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "D / Space",
+        description: "Draw from stock",
+        essential: true,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "U",
+        description: "Undo last move (hold to repeat)",
+        essential: true,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "H",
+        description: "Hint (repeat to cycle alternatives)",
+        essential: true,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "Tab → Enter",
+        description: "Pick a card; arrows pick where; Enter to drop",
+        essential: true,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "N",
+        description: "New Classic game",
+        essential: true,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "M",
+        description: "Open Home (then 1–6 to pick a mode)",
+        essential: true,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "Esc",
+        description: "Pause / resume; close the top dialog",
+        essential: true,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "F1",
+        description: "Help / controls",
+        essential: true,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "S",
+        description: "Stats & progression",
+        essential: true,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "A",
+        description: "Achievements",
+        essential: true,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "O",
+        description: "Settings",
+        essential: true,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "P",
+        description: "Profile",
+        essential: false,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "L",
+        description: "Leaderboard",
+        essential: false,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "C",
+        description: "Daily Challenge",
+        essential: false,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "Z",
+        description: "Zen mode",
+        essential: false,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "X",
+        description: "Challenge mode",
+        essential: false,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "T",
+        description: "Time Attack",
+        essential: false,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "G",
+        description: "Give up the current deal",
+        essential: false,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "[ / ]",
+        description: "Volume down / up",
+        essential: false,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "F11",
+        description: "Toggle fullscreen",
+        essential: false,
+    },
+    HotkeyRow {
+        keys: "/ (hold)",
+        description: "This cheat sheet",
+        essential: false,
+    },
+];
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn table_is_populated_and_well_formed() {
+        assert!(!HOTKEYS.is_empty());
+        for row in HOTKEYS {
+            assert!(!row.keys.trim().is_empty(), "empty keys cell");
+            assert!(
+                !row.description.trim().is_empty(),
+                "empty description for {}",
+                row.keys
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn essential_subset_is_a_teachable_size() {
+        let essentials = HOTKEYS.iter().filter(|r| r.essential).count();
+        assert!(
+            (6..=12).contains(&essentials),
+            "the onboarding slide wants a skimmable essential set, got {essentials}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn keys_cells_are_unique() {
+        let mut seen = std::collections::HashSet::new();
+        for row in HOTKEYS {
+            assert!(seen.insert(row.keys), "duplicate hotkey row: {}", row.keys);
+        }
+    }
+}

solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/fx.rs

@@ -109,12 +109,19 @@ pub(super) fn apply_action_fade(
 /// Visual feedback for every action button — paints idle / hover / pressed
 /// states by mutating `BackgroundColor` whenever the interaction state
 /// changes. One query covers all action buttons via the shared
-/// `ActionButton` marker.
+/// `ActionButton` marker. Glass tab-bar buttons are excluded: they carry
+/// their own per-button colour triple and are painted by
+/// `paint_glass_tab_buttons` instead (this system's opaque `ACTION_BTN_*`
+/// fills would destroy the translucent glass look).
 #[allow(clippy::type_complexity)]
 pub(super) fn paint_action_buttons(
     mut buttons: Query<
         (&Interaction, &mut BackgroundColor),
-        (With<ActionButton>, Changed<Interaction>),
+        (
+            With<ActionButton>,
+            Without<GlassTabButton>,
+            Changed<Interaction>,
+        ),
     >,
 ) {
     for (interaction, mut bg) in &mut buttons {

solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/mod.rs

@@ -12,11 +12,13 @@ use bevy::window::WindowResized;
 mod fx;
 mod interaction;
 mod spawn;
+pub(crate) mod tab_bar;
 mod updates;
 
 pub use fx::*;
 use interaction::*;
 use spawn::*;
+use tab_bar::*;
 use updates::*;
 
 // On wasm32 AvatarPlugin is gated out; define a placeholder type so the
@@ -515,13 +517,31 @@ impl Plugin for HudPlugin {
                 Update,
                 (restore_hud_on_modal, apply_hud_visibility)
                     .chain()
-                    .before(LayoutSystem::UpdateOnResize),
+                    .before(LayoutSystem::UpdateOnResize)
+                    // Toggles Visibility on HUD chrome roots only — joins
+                    // the chrome club (#143).
+                    .in_set(UiTextFx)
+                    .ambiguous_with(UiTextFx),
             )
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
                 (
-                    update_hud_avatar.after(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsMutation),
-                    handle_avatar_button.ambiguous_with(HudButtons),
+                    update_hud_avatar
+                        // Same-frame-exact after the settings spine, so NOT
+                        // a SettingsAccess member — but the club's readers
+                        // and the home deal-option writers touch settings
+                        // fields the avatar never reads (#143).
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                        .after(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsMutation)
+                        // Two more settings writers arrived with the wider
+                        // ambiguity cluster: the pause overlay's draw-mode
+                        // toggle and the achievement onboarding flag (#143).
+                        .after(crate::pause_plugin::PauseMutation)
+                        .after(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
+                    handle_avatar_button
+                        .ambiguous_with(HudButtons)
+                        .in_set(crate::profile_plugin::ProfileToggleWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::profile_plugin::ProfileToggleWriters),
                 ),
             )
             .add_systems(
@@ -536,7 +556,11 @@ impl Plugin for HudPlugin {
             // the board painters that resize card/label text (#143).
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
-                update_hud_typography.after(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals),
+                update_hud_typography
+                    .after(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals)
+                    // Writes HUD TextFont only — chrome club (#143).
+                    .in_set(UiTextFx)
+                    .ambiguous_with(UiTextFx),
             )
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
@@ -549,16 +573,26 @@ impl Plugin for HudPlugin {
                     .after(GameMutation)
                     .in_set(UiTextFx)
                     .ambiguous_with(UiTextFx)
-                    .ambiguous_with(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals),
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals)
+                    // Reads only the reduce-motion flag; a frame of lag is
+                    // invisible (#143).
+                    .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
             )
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
                 (start_streak_flourish, advance_streak_flourish)
                     .chain()
                     .after(GameMutation)
+                    // Reads the streak-milestone events StatsUpdate emits.
+                    .after(crate::stats_plugin::StatsUpdate)
                     .in_set(UiTextFx)
                     .ambiguous_with(UiTextFx)
-                    .ambiguous_with(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals),
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals)
+                    // Reads only the reduce-motion flag; a frame of lag is
+                    // invisible (#143).
+                    .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
             )
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
@@ -582,19 +616,48 @@ impl Plugin for HudPlugin {
                     handle_help_button,
                     handle_hint_button
                         .after(GameMutation)
+                        // A press cancels/spawns the solver task before
+                        // this frame's drop/poll pass (#143).
+                        .before(crate::pending_hint::PendingHint)
                         .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
                         .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
-                    handle_modes_button,
+                    // The modes/menu popovers repaint the player level from
+                    // ProgressResource — read it after this frame's XP award
+                    // settles (#143).
+                    handle_modes_button
+                        .after(crate::progress_plugin::ProgressUpdate)
+                        .after(crate::achievement_plugin::AchievementEval),
                     handle_mode_option_click
                         .in_set(NewGameRequestWriters)
                         .ambiguous_with(NewGameRequestWriters),
                     handle_modes_backdrop_click,
                     close_modes_popover_on_escape,
                     handle_menu_button,
-                    handle_menu_option_click,
+                    handle_menu_option_click
+                        .after(crate::progress_plugin::ProgressUpdate)
+                        .after(crate::achievement_plugin::AchievementEval)
+                        .in_set(crate::profile_plugin::ProfileToggleWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::profile_plugin::ProfileToggleWriters),
                     handle_menu_backdrop_click,
                     close_menu_popover_on_escape,
                     paint_action_buttons,
+                    paint_glass_tab_buttons,
+                    drive_tab_expansion,
+                    // Writes tab-label TextColor and reads TextFont — entity-
+                    // disjoint from the UiTextFx readout writers (tab labels
+                    // vs HUD readouts), which Bevy can't prove, so declare it.
+                    animate_tab_expansion
+                        .ambiguous_with(UiTextFx)
+                        // Tab-label fonts are never card/corner-label fonts.
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals)
+                        // Reads only reduce-motion; a frame of lag is
+                        // invisible, so it joins the settings-reader club.
+                        .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
+                    // Reads only reduce-motion — settings-reader club (#143).
+                    duck_tab_bar_during_drag
+                        .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
                 )
                     .chain()
                     .in_set(HudButtons)

solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/spawn.rs

@@ -360,6 +360,7 @@ pub(super) fn handle_avatar_button(
 pub(super) fn spawn_action_buttons(
     font_res: Option<Res<FontResource>>,
     windows: Query<&Window>,
+    images: Option<ResMut<Assets<Image>>>,
     mut commands: Commands,
 ) {
     let action_font_size =
@@ -370,9 +371,18 @@ pub(super) fn spawn_action_buttons(
         ..default()
     };
 
-    // Bottom bar: full-width, centered, sits above the gesture-navigation zone.
+    // Touch layout: the floating glass tab bar (pill + circular Menu).
+    // `Assets<Image>` is absent under `MinimalPlugins`; `rasterize_into`
+    // returning `None` switches the bar to its text-fallback form.
+    if USE_TOUCH_UI_LAYOUT {
+        let icons = images.and_then(|mut imgs| TabIcons::rasterize_into(&mut imgs));
+        spawn_glass_tab_bar(&mut commands, &font, icons.as_ref());
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // Desktop bottom bar: full-width, centered, docked to the bottom edge.
     // `SafeAreaAnchoredBottom` applies the correct logical-pixel inset once
-    // Android reports it (frames 1-3); initial value is 0.0.
+    // the platform reports it; initial value is 0.0.
     commands
         .spawn((
             Node {
@@ -400,73 +410,10 @@ pub(super) fn spawn_action_buttons(
             HudActionBar,
         ))
         .with_children(|row| {
-            if USE_TOUCH_UI_LAYOUT {
-                spawn_touch_action_bar(row, &font);
-            } else {
-                spawn_desktop_action_bar(row, &font);
-            }
+            spawn_desktop_action_bar(row, &font);
         });
 }
 
-/// Phase F touch action bar — five buttons, three of them big.
-///
-/// The core gameplay trio (**Undo · Draw · Hint**) gets enlarged
-/// thumb-reach targets; Menu and Pause stay compact at the edges. The
-/// utility actions the desktop bar carries are reachable elsewhere on
-/// touch and are deliberately absent here: Help lives in Menu → System,
-/// mode switching lives on the Home screen (Phase B), and New Game is
-/// Home's hero button. Draw duplicates the stock-pile tap so the most
-/// frequent action of all no longer requires reaching the top half of a
-/// tall folded screen.
-pub(super) fn spawn_touch_action_bar(row: &mut ChildSpawnerCommands, font: &TextFont) {
-    // The trailing `order` argument feeds `Focusable { group: Hud, order }`
-    // so Tab (external keyboard) cycles the bar in visual reading order.
-    spawn_action_button(
-        row,
-        MenuButton,
-        "Menu",
-        None,
-        "Open Home, Stats, Achievements, Profile, Settings, or Leaderboard.",
-        font,
-        0,
-        TEXT_SECONDARY,
-    );
-    spawn_primary_action_button(
-        row,
-        UndoButton,
-        "Undo",
-        "Take back your last move. Hold to keep undoing. Costs points and blocks No Undo.",
-        font,
-        1,
-    );
-    spawn_primary_action_button(
-        row,
-        DrawButton,
-        "Draw",
-        "Draw from the stock — same as tapping the deck.",
-        font,
-        2,
-    );
-    spawn_primary_action_button(
-        row,
-        HintButton,
-        TOUCH_HINT_LABEL,
-        "Highlight a suggested move. Cycles through alternatives on repeat taps.",
-        font,
-        3,
-    );
-    spawn_action_button(
-        row,
-        PauseButton,
-        "Pause",
-        None,
-        "Pause the game and freeze the timer.",
-        font,
-        4,
-        TEXT_SECONDARY,
-    );
-}
-
 /// Desktop action bar — unchanged by Phase F (decision 5: the touch bar
 /// is touch-only). All seven actions, uniform sizing.
 pub(super) fn spawn_desktop_action_bar(row: &mut ChildSpawnerCommands, font: &TextFont) {
@@ -585,44 +532,9 @@ pub(super) fn spawn_action_button<M: Component>(
     );
 }
 
-/// Enlarged variant for the touch bar's core gameplay trio (Phase F):
-/// bigger padding / minimum target and a scaled-up label so Undo, Draw,
-/// and Hint read (and hit) as the primary actions. Hotkey chips are
-/// irrelevant on touch, so the variant takes none.
-pub(super) fn spawn_primary_action_button<M: Component>(
-    row: &mut ChildSpawnerCommands,
-    marker: M,
-    label: &str,
-    tooltip: &'static str,
-    font: &TextFont,
-    order: i32,
-) {
-    let (pad, min_w, min_h) = primary_action_button_metrics();
-    let primary_font = TextFont {
-        font: font.font.clone(),
-        // 1.35× the bar's responsive size, capped so landscape tablets
-        // don't blow the row height out.
-        font_size: (font.font_size * 1.35).min(24.0),
-        ..default()
-    };
-    spawn_action_button_sized(
-        row,
-        marker,
-        label,
-        None,
-        tooltip,
-        &primary_font,
-        order,
-        TEXT_PRIMARY,
-        pad,
-        min_w,
-        min_h,
-    );
-}
-
-/// Shared body of [`spawn_action_button`] / [`spawn_primary_action_button`]
-/// — one place owns the component set so `paint_action_buttons`, tooltips,
-/// and the focus ring treat every bar button identically.
+/// Shared body of [`spawn_action_button`] — one place owns the component
+/// set so `paint_action_buttons`, tooltips, and the focus ring treat every
+/// bar button identically.
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 fn spawn_action_button_sized<M: Component>(
     row: &mut ChildSpawnerCommands,

solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/tab_bar.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,529 @@
+//! Floating "liquid glass" touch tab bar — layout and animation.
+//!
+//! Replaces the docked full-width touch action bar (Phase F) with an
+//! iOS-26-style floating arrangement: a pill of icon buttons hovering
+//! above the bottom edge, plus a detached circular Menu button to its
+//! right. The *visual treatment* (translucent sheen, specular rim, drop
+//! shadow) lives in [`crate::ui_glass`]; this module owns only geometry,
+//! button wiring, and the expand/collapse label animation, so the glass
+//! material can be swapped without touching layout.
+//!
+//! Interaction compatibility: every button keeps the same marker
+//! components as the old bar (`UndoButton`, `DrawButton`, …) plus
+//! `ActionButton`, `Button`, `Tooltip`, and `Focusable`, so the click
+//! handlers, tooltips, focus ring, and the tap-to-toggle chrome guard in
+//! `interaction.rs` all work unchanged.
+//!
+//! Expansion model (user decision, 2026-07-15): **Draw** — the most
+//! frequent action — is the persistently-expanded "active" pill showing
+//! icon + label; the other buttons are icon-only and reveal their label
+//! with a width-animated slide while pressed.
+
+use super::*;
+use crate::assets::hud_icon_svg::HudIcon;
+use crate::ui_glass::{GLASS_BORDER_PX, glass_surface};
+use crate::ui_theme::{ACCENT_PRIMARY_HOVER, SPACE_3};
+use bevy::text::{LineBreak, TextLayout};
+use bevy::ui::{Overflow, UiTransform, Val2};
+
+use crate::resources::DragState;
+use crate::safe_area::SafeAreaInsets;
+
+/// Height of both the pill and the circular Menu button, in logical px.
+/// 64 keeps the inner 48-px buttons comfortably past the 44-px touch
+/// floor with 8 px of glass around them.
+pub(crate) const TAB_BAR_HEIGHT: f32 = 64.0;
+
+/// Gap between the bar and the bottom screen edge (the "floating" margin;
+/// the Android gesture-bar inset is added on top by `SafeAreaAnchoredBottom`).
+const TAB_BAR_MARGIN: f32 = SPACE_3;
+
+/// Vertical space UI stacked above the bar (the toast stack) must clear:
+/// floating margin + bar height + one spacing step of breathing room.
+pub(crate) const TAB_BAR_CLEARANCE_PX: f32 = TAB_BAR_MARGIN + TAB_BAR_HEIGHT + SPACE_2;
+
+/// Diameter of a button inside the pill (and its fully-round radius ×2).
+const TAB_BUTTON_SIZE: f32 = 48.0;
+
+/// Displayed icon size in logical px (texture is rasterised larger; see
+/// `assets::hud_icon_svg::HUD_ICON_TEXTURE_PX`).
+const TAB_ICON_PX: f32 = 24.0;
+
+/// FiraMono glyph advance as a fraction of font size. The bar is
+/// monospace-only, so `chars × advance × font_size` is the exact label
+/// width — the same ratio `action_bar_font_size` documents.
+const FIRA_ADVANCE: f32 = 0.62;
+
+/// Gap between an icon and its revealed label, folded into the animated
+/// wrapper width so it collapses together with the text.
+const LABEL_LEAD_PX: f32 = SPACE_2;
+
+/// Idle fill of an inactive icon button — fully transparent so the pill's
+/// glass shows through untouched.
+const GLASS_BTN_IDLE: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.0);
+/// Hover fill of an inactive icon button (desktop pointer / DPAD focus).
+const GLASS_BTN_HOVER: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.08);
+/// Pressed fill of an inactive icon button.
+const GLASS_BTN_PRESSED: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.14);
+/// Pressed state of the active (accent-filled) pill — darker than idle so
+/// the press reads as the surface receding, mirroring `BG_ELEVATED_PRESSED`.
+const GLASS_ACTIVE_PRESSED: Color = Color::srgb(0.55, 0.22, 0.22);
+
+/// Idle / hovered / pressed fills for one tab-bar button. Presence of this
+/// component also routes the button to `paint_glass_tab_buttons` instead of
+/// the legacy `paint_action_buttons` (which excludes it).
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+pub struct GlassTabButton {
+    idle: Color,
+    hovered: Color,
+    pressed: Color,
+}
+
+/// Animated label-reveal state, on the clipping wrapper node between the
+/// button and its `Text` label. `progress` ∈ [0, 1] maps to wrapper width
+/// via [`expansion_width`]; `target` is where it is heading.
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+pub struct TabLabelWrap {
+    /// Current reveal amount, 0 = collapsed, 1 = fully expanded.
+    pub progress: f32,
+    /// Reveal amount the animation is moving towards.
+    pub target: f32,
+    /// `true` keeps the label expanded regardless of interaction —
+    /// the persistent Draw pill, and every button in text-fallback mode.
+    persistent: bool,
+    /// Label length; width is recomputed from the live font size each
+    /// frame so viewport-driven font rescales stay correct.
+    label_chars: usize,
+    /// Last width written to the node, to skip no-op layout writes.
+    last_width: f32,
+}
+
+/// Marker on the label `Text` inside a [`TabLabelWrap`].
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+pub struct TabLabel;
+
+/// Duck-away state on the bar container: while a card drag is committed
+/// the whole bar slides below the screen edge so it never occludes a
+/// drop target on the bottom tableau rows, then slides back on release.
+/// `progress` ∈ [0, 1]; 1 = fully off-screen.
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+pub struct TabBarDuck {
+    /// Current slide amount, animated by [`duck_tab_bar_during_drag`].
+    pub progress: f32,
+}
+
+/// Extra slide distance past the bar's own height so its drop shadow
+/// (16 px blur + 6 px offset) also clears the screen edge.
+const DUCK_SHADOW_ALLOWANCE_PX: f32 = 24.0;
+
+/// Rasterised icon textures for the five tab-bar actions.
+pub(super) struct TabIcons {
+    undo: Handle<Image>,
+    draw: Handle<Image>,
+    hint: Handle<Image>,
+    pause: Handle<Image>,
+    menu: Handle<Image>,
+}
+
+impl TabIcons {
+    /// Rasterise all five icons into `images`. Returns `None` (and warns)
+    /// if any icon fails — the caller then falls back to text-only labels,
+    /// so a bad SVG degrades the look, never the playability.
+    pub(super) fn rasterize_into(images: &mut Assets<Image>) -> Option<Self> {
+        let mut add = |icon: HudIcon| match icon.rasterize() {
+            Ok(img) => Some(images.add(img)),
+            Err(e) => {
+                warn!("tab_bar: failed to rasterise {icon:?} icon: {e}");
+                None
+            }
+        };
+        Some(Self {
+            undo: add(HudIcon::Undo)?,
+            draw: add(HudIcon::Draw)?,
+            hint: add(HudIcon::Hint)?,
+            pause: add(HudIcon::Pause)?,
+            menu: add(HudIcon::Menu)?,
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+/// Wrapper width in logical px for a label of `chars` monospace glyphs at
+/// `font_size`, revealed to `progress`. Pure so the animation curve is
+/// unit-testable without an app.
+pub(super) fn expansion_width(chars: usize, font_size: f32, progress: f32) -> f32 {
+    progress.clamp(0.0, 1.0) * (LABEL_LEAD_PX + chars as f32 * font_size * FIRA_ADVANCE)
+}
+
+/// Advance `progress` towards `target` by one frame of `dt` seconds.
+/// Linear tween over `MOTION_SLIDE_SECS`, snapping when reduce-motion is
+/// active. Pure for the same reason as [`expansion_width`].
+pub(super) fn step_expansion(progress: f32, target: f32, dt: f32, reduce_motion: bool) -> f32 {
+    if reduce_motion {
+        return target;
+    }
+    let max_step = dt / crate::ui_theme::MOTION_SLIDE_SECS;
+    progress + (target - progress).clamp(-max_step, max_step)
+}
+
+/// Spawns the floating glass tab bar: one full-width invisible flex row
+/// (carrying the `HudActionBar` marker so chrome show/hide keeps working)
+/// centring the glass pill and the detached circular Menu button.
+///
+/// `icons: None` (rasteriser unavailable, e.g. `MinimalPlugins` tests, or
+/// an SVG regression) switches every button to text-fallback: labels stay
+/// expanded so the bar remains fully usable without textures.
+pub(super) fn spawn_glass_tab_bar(
+    commands: &mut Commands,
+    font: &TextFont,
+    icons: Option<&TabIcons>,
+) {
+    let text_fallback = icons.is_none();
+    commands
+        .spawn((
+            Node {
+                position_type: PositionType::Absolute,
+                bottom: Val::Px(TAB_BAR_MARGIN),
+                left: Val::Px(0.0),
+                width: Val::Percent(100.0),
+                flex_direction: FlexDirection::Row,
+                justify_content: JustifyContent::Center,
+                align_items: AlignItems::Center,
+                column_gap: VAL_SPACE_3,
+                ..default()
+            },
+            ZIndex(Z_HUD),
+            SafeAreaAnchoredBottom {
+                base_bottom: TAB_BAR_MARGIN,
+            },
+            HudActionBar,
+            TabBarDuck { progress: 0.0 },
+            UiTransform::IDENTITY,
+        ))
+        .with_children(|bar| {
+            // The main pill: Undo · [Draw] · Hint · Pause.
+            bar.spawn((
+                Node {
+                    height: Val::Px(TAB_BAR_HEIGHT),
+                    flex_direction: FlexDirection::Row,
+                    align_items: AlignItems::Center,
+                    padding: UiRect::axes(Val::Px(SPACE_2), Val::Px(0.0)),
+                    column_gap: Val::Px(4.0),
+                    border: UiRect::all(Val::Px(GLASS_BORDER_PX)),
+                    border_radius: BorderRadius::all(Val::Px(TAB_BAR_HEIGHT / 2.0)),
+                    ..default()
+                },
+                glass_surface(),
+            ))
+            .with_children(|pill| {
+                spawn_tab_button(
+                    pill,
+                    UndoButton,
+                    "Undo",
+                    "Take back your last move. Hold to keep undoing. Costs points and blocks No Undo.",
+                    font,
+                    0,
+                    icons.map(|i| i.undo.clone()),
+                    false,
+                    text_fallback,
+                );
+                spawn_tab_button(
+                    pill,
+                    DrawButton,
+                    "Draw",
+                    "Draw from the stock — same as tapping the deck.",
+                    font,
+                    1,
+                    icons.map(|i| i.draw.clone()),
+                    true,
+                    text_fallback,
+                );
+                spawn_tab_button(
+                    pill,
+                    HintButton,
+                    TOUCH_HINT_LABEL,
+                    "Highlight a suggested move. Cycles through alternatives on repeat taps.",
+                    font,
+                    2,
+                    icons.map(|i| i.hint.clone()),
+                    false,
+                    text_fallback,
+                );
+                spawn_tab_button(
+                    pill,
+                    PauseButton,
+                    "Pause",
+                    "Pause the game and freeze the timer.",
+                    font,
+                    3,
+                    icons.map(|i| i.pause.clone()),
+                    false,
+                    text_fallback,
+                );
+            });
+
+            // The detached circular Menu button, same glass material.
+            bar.spawn((
+                MenuButton,
+                ActionButton,
+                Button,
+                GlassTabButton {
+                    idle: GLASS_BTN_IDLE,
+                    hovered: GLASS_BTN_HOVER,
+                    pressed: GLASS_BTN_PRESSED,
+                },
+                Tooltip::new(
+                    "Open Home, Stats, Achievements, Profile, Settings, or Leaderboard.",
+                ),
+                Focusable {
+                    group: FocusGroup::Hud,
+                    order: 4,
+                },
+                Node {
+                    width: Val::Px(TAB_BAR_HEIGHT),
+                    height: Val::Px(TAB_BAR_HEIGHT),
+                    justify_content: JustifyContent::Center,
+                    align_items: AlignItems::Center,
+                    border: UiRect::all(Val::Px(GLASS_BORDER_PX)),
+                    border_radius: BorderRadius::all(Val::Px(TAB_BAR_HEIGHT / 2.0)),
+                    ..default()
+                },
+                BackgroundColor(GLASS_BTN_IDLE),
+                glass_surface(),
+            ))
+            .with_children(|circle| {
+                if let Some(icons) = icons {
+                    spawn_tab_icon(circle, icons.menu.clone(), TEXT_PRIMARY);
+                } else {
+                    // Text fallback: a menu glyph-free label keeps the
+                    // button discoverable without any texture.
+                    circle.spawn((
+                        Text::new("Menu"),
+                        TextLayout::new_with_linebreak(LineBreak::NoWrap),
+                        font.clone(),
+                        TextColor(TEXT_PRIMARY),
+                    ));
+                }
+            });
+        });
+}
+
+/// Spawns one button inside the pill: icon, then the width-animated label
+/// wrapper. `active` gives the accent-filled persistent pill (Draw);
+/// `text_fallback` pins every label open when icons are unavailable.
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
+fn spawn_tab_button<M: Component>(
+    pill: &mut ChildSpawnerCommands,
+    marker: M,
+    label: &str,
+    tooltip: &'static str,
+    font: &TextFont,
+    order: i32,
+    icon: Option<Handle<Image>>,
+    active: bool,
+    text_fallback: bool,
+) {
+    let (idle, hovered, pressed) = if active {
+        (ACCENT_PRIMARY, ACCENT_PRIMARY_HOVER, GLASS_ACTIVE_PRESSED)
+    } else {
+        (GLASS_BTN_IDLE, GLASS_BTN_HOVER, GLASS_BTN_PRESSED)
+    };
+    let icon_tint = if active { TEXT_PRIMARY } else { TEXT_SECONDARY };
+    let persistent = active || text_fallback;
+    let start = if persistent { 1.0 } else { 0.0 };
+    let chars = label.chars().count();
+
+    pill.spawn((
+        marker,
+        ActionButton,
+        Button,
+        GlassTabButton {
+            idle,
+            hovered,
+            pressed,
+        },
+        Tooltip::new(tooltip),
+        Focusable {
+            group: FocusGroup::Hud,
+            order,
+        },
+        Node {
+            height: Val::Px(TAB_BUTTON_SIZE),
+            min_width: Val::Px(TAB_BUTTON_SIZE),
+            flex_direction: FlexDirection::Row,
+            justify_content: JustifyContent::Center,
+            align_items: AlignItems::Center,
+            padding: UiRect::axes(Val::Px(SPACE_3), Val::Px(0.0)),
+            border_radius: BorderRadius::all(Val::Px(TAB_BUTTON_SIZE / 2.0)),
+            ..default()
+        },
+        BackgroundColor(idle),
+    ))
+    .with_children(|b| {
+        if let Some(handle) = icon {
+            spawn_tab_icon(b, handle, icon_tint);
+        }
+        // The clipping wrapper the animation drives. Label text sits
+        // left-anchored inside, so growing the width reveals it
+        // left-to-right and shrinking clips it from the right.
+        b.spawn((
+            TabLabelWrap {
+                progress: start,
+                target: start,
+                persistent,
+                label_chars: chars,
+                last_width: f32::NAN,
+            },
+            Node {
+                overflow: Overflow::clip(),
+                width: Val::Px(expansion_width(chars, font.font_size, start)),
+                height: Val::Percent(100.0),
+                align_items: AlignItems::Center,
+                justify_content: JustifyContent::FlexEnd,
+                ..default()
+            },
+        ))
+        .with_children(|wrap| {
+            let mut color = TEXT_PRIMARY;
+            color.set_alpha(start);
+            wrap.spawn((
+                TabLabel,
+                ActionButtonLabel,
+                Text::new(label),
+                TextLayout::new_with_linebreak(LineBreak::NoWrap),
+                font.clone(),
+                TextColor(color),
+            ));
+        });
+    });
+}
+
+/// One fixed-size tinted icon node.
+fn spawn_tab_icon(parent: &mut ChildSpawnerCommands, handle: Handle<Image>, tint: Color) {
+    parent.spawn((
+        ImageNode {
+            color: tint,
+            ..ImageNode::new(handle)
+        },
+        Node {
+            width: Val::Px(TAB_ICON_PX),
+            height: Val::Px(TAB_ICON_PX),
+            flex_shrink: 0.0,
+            ..default()
+        },
+    ));
+}
+
+/// Sets each label wrapper's animation target from its button's
+/// interaction state: persistent wrappers pin to 1, the rest expand while
+/// pressed or hovered and collapse on release.
+pub(super) fn drive_tab_expansion(
+    buttons: Query<(&Interaction, &Children), With<GlassTabButton>>,
+    mut wraps: Query<&mut TabLabelWrap>,
+) {
+    for (interaction, children) in &buttons {
+        for child in children.iter() {
+            let Ok(mut wrap) = wraps.get_mut(child) else {
+                continue;
+            };
+            let target = if wrap.persistent || !matches!(interaction, Interaction::None) {
+                1.0
+            } else {
+                0.0
+            };
+            // Bypass change detection on no-ops so `animate_tab_expansion`
+            // and layout stay idle while nothing moves.
+            if wrap.target != target {
+                wrap.target = target;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Advances every label reveal towards its target and writes the wrapper
+/// width + label alpha. Width is derived from the label's *live* font size,
+/// so the Fold's posture-change font rescale re-widens expanded labels
+/// automatically. Node writes are skipped when the width is unchanged to
+/// avoid dirtying UI layout every frame.
+pub(super) fn animate_tab_expansion(
+    time: Res<Time>,
+    settings: Option<Res<SettingsResource>>,
+    mut wraps: Query<(&mut TabLabelWrap, &mut Node, &Children)>,
+    mut labels: Query<(&TextFont, &mut TextColor), With<TabLabel>>,
+) {
+    let reduce_motion = settings.as_deref().is_some_and(|s| s.0.reduce_motion_mode);
+    let dt = time.delta_secs();
+    for (mut wrap, mut node, children) in &mut wraps {
+        for child in children.iter() {
+            let Ok((font, mut text_color)) = labels.get_mut(child) else {
+                continue;
+            };
+            let next = step_expansion(wrap.progress, wrap.target, dt, reduce_motion);
+            let width = expansion_width(wrap.label_chars, font.font_size, next);
+            // `!=` (not epsilon) is deliberate: last_width starts NaN so the
+            // first frame always writes, and equal floats mean a true no-op.
+            if next != wrap.progress || width != wrap.last_width {
+                wrap.progress = next;
+                wrap.last_width = width;
+                node.width = Val::Px(width);
+                text_color.0.set_alpha(next);
+            }
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Slides the bar off the bottom edge while a card drag is committed and
+/// back once it ends. Effectively touch-only: the desktop docked bar
+/// never carries [`TabBarDuck`], so the query is empty there.
+///
+/// The slide animates `UiTransform::translation` (a render-time offset,
+/// +y = down) rather than `Node::bottom`, for two reasons: layout is
+/// never dirtied mid-drag (the whole point is not to cost frames while
+/// the player is dragging), and `Node::bottom` is owned by the safe-area
+/// anchor system — two writers on one field would fight.
+pub(super) fn duck_tab_bar_during_drag(
+    time: Res<Time>,
+    settings: Option<Res<SettingsResource>>,
+    drag: Option<Res<DragState>>,
+    insets: Option<Res<SafeAreaInsets>>,
+    windows: Query<&Window>,
+    mut bars: Query<(&mut TabBarDuck, &mut UiTransform), With<HudActionBar>>,
+) {
+    let target = if drag.as_deref().is_some_and(|d| d.committed) {
+        1.0
+    } else {
+        0.0
+    };
+    let reduce_motion = settings.as_deref().is_some_and(|s| s.0.reduce_motion_mode);
+    let dt = time.delta_secs();
+    // Physical-px inset → logical, same conversion the safe-area anchors
+    // apply (CLAUDE.md §10): the bar sits `inset` above its base position,
+    // so the slide must cover that extra travel to fully clear the edge.
+    let scale = windows.iter().next().map_or(1.0, |w| w.scale_factor());
+    let inset_logical = insets.as_deref().map_or(0.0, |i| i.bottom / scale);
+    let slide_px = TAB_BAR_CLEARANCE_PX + inset_logical + DUCK_SHADOW_ALLOWANCE_PX;
+    for (mut duck, mut transform) in &mut bars {
+        let next = step_expansion(duck.progress, target, dt, reduce_motion);
+        if next == duck.progress && duck.progress == target {
+            continue;
+        }
+        duck.progress = next;
+        transform.translation = Val2::px(0.0, next * slide_px);
+    }
+}
+
+/// Idle / hover / pressed feedback for glass tab buttons — the glass
+/// counterpart of `paint_action_buttons`, using each button's own colour
+/// triple so the accent-filled active pill and the transparent icon
+/// buttons share one system.
+pub(super) fn paint_glass_tab_buttons(
+    mut buttons: Query<(&Interaction, &GlassTabButton, &mut BackgroundColor), Changed<Interaction>>,
+) {
+    for (interaction, style, mut bg) in &mut buttons {
+        bg.0 = match interaction {
+            Interaction::Pressed => style.pressed,
+            Interaction::Hovered => style.hovered,
+            Interaction::None => style.idle,
+        };
+    }
+}

solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/tests.rs

@@ -907,6 +907,10 @@ fn hud_focus_only_engages_when_button_hovered() {
 /// Bare app (no `HudPlugin`) so bar-content assertions count only the
 /// buttons the tested spawn function creates — `headless_app` would
 /// pre-spawn the platform-default bar and pollute the counts.
+///
+/// The touch branch spawns the glass tab bar with `icons: None`
+/// (`MinimalPlugins` has no `Assets<Image>`), which exercises the
+/// text-fallback path — same markers, labels pinned expanded.
 fn bar_only_app(touch: bool) -> App {
     let mut app = App::new();
     app.add_plugins(MinimalPlugins);
@@ -914,13 +918,13 @@ fn bar_only_app(touch: bool) -> App {
     let font = TextFont::default();
     let world = app.world_mut();
     let mut commands = world.commands();
-    commands.spawn(Node::default()).with_children(|row| {
-        if touch {
-            spawn_touch_action_bar(row, &font);
-        } else {
+    if touch {
+        spawn_glass_tab_bar(&mut commands, &font, None);
+    } else {
+        commands.spawn(Node::default()).with_children(|row| {
             spawn_desktop_action_bar(row, &font);
-        }
-    });
+        });
+    }
     app.update();
     app
 }
@@ -933,7 +937,7 @@ fn count_buttons<C: Component>(app: &mut App) -> usize {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn touch_action_bar_has_thumb_trio_plus_menu_and_pause() {
+fn touch_tab_bar_has_thumb_trio_plus_menu_and_pause() {
     let mut app = bar_only_app(true);
 
     assert_eq!(count_buttons::<UndoButton>(&mut app), 1);
@@ -949,6 +953,130 @@ fn touch_action_bar_has_thumb_trio_plus_menu_and_pause() {
     assert_eq!(count_buttons::<NewGameButton>(&mut app), 0);
 }
 
+/// The glass bar floats: its container must carry a bottom margin (not be
+/// docked at 0) both before and after safe-area insets arrive.
+#[test]
+fn glass_tab_bar_floats_above_bottom_edge() {
+    let mut app = bar_only_app(true);
+    let world = app.world_mut();
+    let mut q = world.query_filtered::<(&Node, &SafeAreaAnchoredBottom), With<HudActionBar>>();
+    let (node, anchor) = q.single(world).expect("glass bar container exists");
+    assert!(anchor.base_bottom > 0.0, "bar must float, not dock");
+    assert_eq!(node.bottom, Val::Px(anchor.base_bottom));
+}
+
+/// Draw is the persistently-expanded active pill (user decision
+/// 2026-07-15); with `icons: None` every wrapper is pinned expanded via
+/// text fallback, so instead assert on the *persistent* flag's effect:
+/// all wrappers spawn at full reveal and target full reveal.
+#[test]
+fn glass_tab_bar_text_fallback_pins_labels_expanded() {
+    let mut app = bar_only_app(true);
+    let world = app.world_mut();
+    let mut q = world.query::<&TabLabelWrap>();
+    let wraps: Vec<_> = q.iter(world).collect();
+    assert_eq!(wraps.len(), 4, "Undo/Draw/Hint/Pause each carry a wrapper");
+    for wrap in wraps {
+        assert_eq!(wrap.progress, 1.0);
+        assert_eq!(wrap.target, 1.0);
+    }
+}
+
+/// Focus order must match visual reading order: pill buttons left to
+/// right, then the detached Menu circle.
+#[test]
+fn glass_tab_bar_focus_order_reads_left_to_right() {
+    let mut app = bar_only_app(true);
+
+    for (f, expected) in [
+        (focusable_for::<UndoButton>(&mut app), 0),
+        (focusable_for::<DrawButton>(&mut app), 1),
+        (focusable_for::<HintButton>(&mut app), 2),
+        (focusable_for::<PauseButton>(&mut app), 3),
+        (focusable_for::<MenuButton>(&mut app), 4),
+    ] {
+        assert_eq!(f.group, FocusGroup::Hud);
+        assert_eq!(f.order, expected);
+    }
+}
+
+/// `expansion_width` is the single source of truth for the label reveal:
+/// zero when collapsed, lead + monospace advance when expanded, linear
+/// in between.
+#[test]
+fn expansion_width_is_linear_in_progress() {
+    assert_eq!(expansion_width(4, 16.0, 0.0), 0.0);
+    let full = expansion_width(4, 16.0, 1.0);
+    assert!(full > 4.0 * 16.0 * 0.62, "full width includes the lead gap");
+    let half = expansion_width(4, 16.0, 0.5);
+    assert!((half - full / 2.0).abs() < f32::EPSILON * 100.0);
+    // Out-of-range progress clamps rather than extrapolating.
+    assert_eq!(expansion_width(4, 16.0, 1.5), full);
+}
+
+/// While a committed drag is active the bar must slide down (positive
+/// `UiTransform` y — off-screen) and return to identity once the drag
+/// ends. Manual time steps make the tween deterministic.
+#[test]
+fn tab_bar_ducks_during_committed_drag_and_returns() {
+    use crate::resources::DragState;
+    use bevy::ui::UiTransform;
+
+    let mut app = bar_only_app(true);
+    set_manual_time_step(&mut app, 0.05);
+    app.add_systems(Update, duck_tab_bar_during_drag);
+    app.insert_resource(DragState {
+        committed: true,
+        ..default()
+    });
+
+    let translation_y_px = |app: &mut App| -> f32 {
+        let world = app.world_mut();
+        let mut q = world.query_filtered::<&UiTransform, With<HudActionBar>>();
+        let t = q.single(world).expect("bar carries UiTransform");
+        match t.translation.y {
+            Val::Px(px) => px,
+            other => panic!("duck must write Val::Px, got {other:?}"),
+        }
+    };
+
+    // 0.18s slide at 0.05s/frame: fully ducked within 5 frames.
+    app.update();
+    app.update();
+    let mid = translation_y_px(&mut app);
+    assert!(mid > 0.0, "bar must start sliding down: {mid}");
+    for _ in 0..5 {
+        app.update();
+    }
+    let ducked = translation_y_px(&mut app);
+    assert!(
+        ducked > TAB_BAR_CLEARANCE_PX,
+        "fully ducked bar must clear its own floating footprint: {ducked}"
+    );
+
+    // Drag ends → bar slides back to identity.
+    app.world_mut().resource_mut::<DragState>().committed = false;
+    for _ in 0..8 {
+        app.update();
+    }
+    assert_eq!(translation_y_px(&mut app), 0.0);
+}
+
+/// The tween must move at the `MOTION_SLIDE_SECS` rate, never overshoot,
+/// and snap instantly under reduce-motion.
+#[test]
+fn step_expansion_tweens_and_respects_reduce_motion() {
+    // One 60 fps frame covers 1/(0.18*60) ≈ 9.3% of the reveal.
+    let one_frame = step_expansion(0.0, 1.0, 1.0 / 60.0, false);
+    assert!(one_frame > 0.0 && one_frame < 0.2);
+    // A huge dt clamps at the target instead of overshooting.
+    assert_eq!(step_expansion(0.0, 1.0, 10.0, false), 1.0);
+    // Collapse works symmetrically.
+    assert!(step_expansion(1.0, 0.0, 1.0 / 60.0, false) < 1.0);
+    // Reduce-motion snaps regardless of dt.
+    assert_eq!(step_expansion(0.0, 1.0, 0.0, true), 1.0);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn desktop_action_bar_keeps_all_seven_and_no_draw() {
     let mut app = bar_only_app(false);

solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/updates.rs

@@ -573,20 +573,6 @@ pub(super) fn action_button_metrics() -> (UiRect, Val, Val) {
     }
 }
 
-/// Metrics for the touch bar's enlarged Undo / Draw / Hint trio (Phase F).
-/// 96×64 px targets — comfortably past the 44 px accessibility floor and
-/// big enough to hit one-handed without looking. Only the touch layout
-/// spawns primary buttons, so no desktop branch is needed; the desktop
-/// values exist purely so host-side tests can exercise the touch spawn
-/// path with sensible numbers.
-pub(super) fn primary_action_button_metrics() -> (UiRect, Val, Val) {
-    (
-        UiRect::axes(Val::Px(10.0), Val::Px(8.0)),
-        Val::Px(96.0),
-        Val::Px(64.0),
-    )
-}
-
 pub(super) fn spawn_action_button_label(
     parent: &mut ChildSpawnerCommands,
     label: &str,

solitaire_engine/src/input_plugin/mod.rs

@@ -58,6 +58,14 @@ use crate::touch_selection_plugin::TouchSelectionState;
 use crate::ui_theme::{MOTION_DRAG_REJECT_SECS, STATE_SUCCESS, STATE_WARNING};
 use solitaire_core::DrawStockConfig;
 
+/// Set wrapping the core pointer/keyboard input chain (clicks, drags, touch,
+/// hotkeys). Runs between [`crate::game_plugin::PreMutation`] (it reads the
+/// ticked game state) and [`crate::selection_plugin::SelectionKeySet`] (the
+/// selection keys check `DragState::is_idle`); request events it emits are
+/// consumed at `GameMutation` in the same frame (#143).
+#[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct PointerInput;
+
 /// System-set labels used to anchor external systems relative to the touch
 /// drag pipeline without duplicating the internal chain ordering.
 #[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
@@ -143,7 +151,13 @@ impl Plugin for InputPlugin {
                     // `.chain()` still orders them relative to each other.
                     handle_keyboard_core
                         .in_set(crate::game_plugin::DrawRequestWriters)
-                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::DrawRequestWriters),
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::DrawRequestWriters)
+                        // N/Z/X/… and U also feed the shared new-game and
+                        // undo request streams (#143).
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::UndoRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::UndoRequestWriters),
                     handle_keyboard_hint,
                     handle_keyboard_forfeit,
                     handle_stock_click
@@ -159,29 +173,61 @@ impl Plugin for InputPlugin {
                     end_drag.before(GameMutation),
                     // Touch drag pipeline (parallel path through DragState).
                     touch_start_drag.in_set(TouchDragSet::AfterStartDrag),
-                    touch_follow_drag,
+                    // Moves the dragged card's Transform; UiTextFx members
+                    // animate chrome entities only — disjoint domains Bevy
+                    // can't prove (#143).
+                    touch_follow_drag.ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
                     handle_double_tap, // before touch_end_drag: reads drag state pre-clear
                     touch_end_drag
                         .after(TouchDragSet::BeforeEndDrag)
                         .before(GameMutation),
+                    // Reads StateChangedEvent via cursor — a reset one frame
+                    // after the mutation is invisible (the cycle index only
+                    // matters on the next H press), so it rides at the end
+                    // of the input chain instead of chasing every
+                    // StateChanged writer (#143).
+                    // It also drains the new-game request stream via its own
+                    // cursor, so it joins the writer club the same way
+                    // enqueue_toasts does (#143).
+                    reset_hint_cycle_on_state_change
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters),
                 )
-                    .chain(),
+                    .chain()
+                    .in_set(PointerInput),
             )
-            .add_systems(Update, reset_hint_cycle_on_state_change);
+            .configure_sets(
+                Update,
+                PointerInput
+                    .after(crate::game_plugin::PreMutation)
+                    .before(crate::selection_plugin::SelectionKeySet)
+                    .before(crate::ui_focus::FocusKeys),
+            );
         // F11 fullscreen toggle is desktop-only; Android windows are always full-screen.
+        // It writes only `Window.mode`; no system reads the mode, and the
+        // geometry change it triggers arrives via WindowResized events on a
+        // later frame — order against Window readers is provably irrelevant
+        // (#143).
         #[cfg(not(target_os = "android"))]
-        app.add_systems(Update, handle_fullscreen);
+        app.add_systems(Update, handle_fullscreen.ambiguous_with_all());
         app
             // Async hint pipeline: state-change drop runs before the
             // poll system so a move applied this frame cancels any
-            // in-flight task before its result can be surfaced.
+            // in-flight task before its result can be surfaced. The poll
+            // emits the hint toast and the pile-highlight event the board
+            // painters consume this frame (#143).
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
                 (
                     crate::pending_hint::drop_pending_hint_on_state_change,
-                    crate::pending_hint::poll_pending_hint_task,
+                    crate::pending_hint::poll_pending_hint_task
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
                 )
-                    .chain(),
+                    .chain()
+                    .in_set(crate::pending_hint::PendingHint)
+                    .after(GameMutation)
+                    .before(crate::auto_complete_plugin::AutoComplete),
             );
     }
 }
@@ -215,6 +261,7 @@ fn handle_keyboard_core(
     keys: Res<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>,
     paused: Option<Res<PausedResource>>,
     progress: Option<Res<ProgressResource>>,
+    drag: Res<DragState>,
     mut ev: CoreKeyboardMessages<'_>,
     mut time_attack: Option<ResMut<TimeAttackResource>>,
     selection: Option<Res<SelectionState>>,
@@ -227,6 +274,19 @@ fn handle_keyboard_core(
         return;
     }
 
+    // Mutual exclusion with pointer drags — mirrors `handle_selection_keys`.
+    // Undo / draw / new-game during an active mouse or touch drag would fire
+    // a StateChangedEvent whose card re-sync inserts a `CardAnim` on the
+    // dragged cards, fighting `follow_drag`'s per-frame Transform writes and
+    // leaving `DragState` origin indices stale against the mutated state.
+    // The keyboard-drag sentinel may proceed: `clear_selection_on_state_change`
+    // already drops that lift cleanly when the state moves.
+    if !drag.is_idle()
+        && drag.active_touch_id != Some(crate::selection_plugin::KEYBOARD_DRAG_TOUCH_ID)
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+
     // During replay playback (Playing or Completed) all game-input shortcuts
     // are suppressed. The replay overlay owns Space (pause/resume) and the
     // arrow keys (step). Letting game input through would mutate
@@ -473,11 +533,19 @@ pub fn emit_hint_visuals(
 fn handle_keyboard_forfeit(
     keys: Res<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>,
     paused: Option<Res<PausedResource>>,
+    drag: Res<DragState>,
     mut requests: MessageWriter<ForfeitRequestEvent>,
 ) {
     if paused.is_some_and(|p| p.0) {
         return;
     }
+    // Same pointer-drag exclusion as `handle_keyboard_core` — forfeiting
+    // mid-drag would mutate the game state under the dragged cards.
+    if !drag.is_idle()
+        && drag.active_touch_id != Some(crate::selection_plugin::KEYBOARD_DRAG_TOUCH_ID)
+    {
+        return;
+    }
     if !keys.just_pressed(KeyCode::KeyG) {
         return;
     }

solitaire_engine/src/input_plugin/tests.rs

@@ -817,3 +817,123 @@ fn pressing_h_spawns_pending_hint_task() {
         "pressing H must spawn an async hint task",
     );
 }
+
+// -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Pointer-drag / keyboard mutual exclusion.
+//
+// A state mutation fired while `follow_drag` is writing the dragged cards'
+// transforms every frame would make the card re-sync insert a `CardAnim`
+// on the same entities (two systems fighting over `Transform`) and leave
+// `DragState`'s origin indices stale. `handle_keyboard_core` and
+// `handle_keyboard_forfeit` therefore swallow game-mutating shortcuts
+// while a mouse or touch drag is live, mirroring `handle_selection_keys`.
+// The keyboard-lift sentinel is exempt: `clear_selection_on_state_change`
+// drops that lift cleanly when the state moves.
+// -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+fn keyboard_core_app() -> App {
+    let mut app = App::new();
+    app.add_plugins(MinimalPlugins);
+    app.add_message::<UndoRequestEvent>();
+    app.add_message::<NewGameRequestEvent>();
+    app.add_message::<InfoToastEvent>();
+    app.add_message::<DrawRequestEvent>();
+    app.add_message::<StartZenRequestEvent>();
+    app.init_resource::<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>();
+    app.init_resource::<DragState>();
+    app.add_systems(Update, handle_keyboard_core);
+    app
+}
+
+fn press_key(app: &mut App, key: KeyCode) {
+    let mut input = app.world_mut().resource_mut::<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>();
+    input.release(key);
+    input.clear();
+    input.press(key);
+}
+
+fn message_count<M: Message>(app: &App) -> usize {
+    let messages = app.world().resource::<Messages<M>>();
+    let mut cursor = messages.get_cursor();
+    cursor.read(messages).count()
+}
+
+fn set_drag(app: &mut App, active_touch_id: Option<u64>) {
+    let mut drag = app.world_mut().resource_mut::<DragState>();
+    drag.cards = vec![Card::new(Deck::Deck1, Suit::Clubs, Rank::Two)];
+    drag.committed = true;
+    drag.active_touch_id = active_touch_id;
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn u_key_fires_undo_when_no_drag_active() {
+    let mut app = keyboard_core_app();
+    press_key(&mut app, KeyCode::KeyU);
+    app.update();
+    assert_eq!(
+        message_count::<UndoRequestEvent>(&app),
+        1,
+        "U with an idle DragState must fire UndoRequestEvent",
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn u_key_ignored_during_committed_mouse_drag() {
+    let mut app = keyboard_core_app();
+    set_drag(&mut app, None); // mouse drag
+    press_key(&mut app, KeyCode::KeyU);
+    app.update();
+    assert_eq!(
+        message_count::<UndoRequestEvent>(&app),
+        0,
+        "U during a mouse drag must be swallowed",
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn draw_key_ignored_during_touch_drag() {
+    let mut app = keyboard_core_app();
+    set_drag(&mut app, Some(7)); // real touch id
+    press_key(&mut app, KeyCode::KeyD);
+    app.update();
+    assert_eq!(
+        message_count::<DrawRequestEvent>(&app),
+        0,
+        "D during a touch drag must be swallowed",
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn u_key_allowed_during_keyboard_lift() {
+    let mut app = keyboard_core_app();
+    set_drag(
+        &mut app,
+        Some(crate::selection_plugin::KEYBOARD_DRAG_TOUCH_ID),
+    );
+    press_key(&mut app, KeyCode::KeyU);
+    app.update();
+    assert_eq!(
+        message_count::<UndoRequestEvent>(&app),
+        1,
+        "the keyboard-lift sentinel must not block core shortcuts",
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn g_key_forfeit_ignored_during_mouse_drag() {
+    let mut app = App::new();
+    app.add_plugins(MinimalPlugins);
+    app.add_message::<ForfeitRequestEvent>();
+    app.init_resource::<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>();
+    app.init_resource::<DragState>();
+    app.add_systems(Update, handle_keyboard_forfeit);
+
+    set_drag(&mut app, None);
+    press_key(&mut app, KeyCode::KeyG);
+    app.update();
+    assert_eq!(
+        message_count::<ForfeitRequestEvent>(&app),
+        0,
+        "G during a mouse drag must be swallowed",
+    );
+}

solitaire_engine/src/leaderboard_plugin.rs

@@ -24,13 +24,13 @@ use crate::font_plugin::FontResource;
 use crate::settings_plugin::{SettingsResource, SettingsStoragePath};
 use crate::sync_plugin::SyncProviderResource;
 use crate::ui_modal::{
-    ButtonVariant, ModalScrim, ScrimDismissible, spawn_modal, spawn_modal_actions,
-    spawn_modal_button, spawn_modal_header,
+    ButtonVariant, ModalScrim, ScrimDismissible, spawn_empty_state, spawn_modal,
+    spawn_modal_actions, spawn_modal_button, spawn_modal_header,
 };
 use crate::ui_theme::{
-    ACCENT_PRIMARY, BG_ELEVATED, BORDER_SUBTLE, RADIUS_SM, STATE_INFO, TEXT_DISABLED, TEXT_PRIMARY,
-    TEXT_SECONDARY, TYPE_BODY, TYPE_BODY_LG, TYPE_CAPTION, VAL_SPACE_2, VAL_SPACE_3, VAL_SPACE_4,
-    Z_MODAL_PANEL, Z_PAUSE_DIALOG,
+    ACCENT_PRIMARY, BG_ELEVATED, BORDER_SUBTLE, RADIUS_SM, TEXT_DISABLED, TEXT_PRIMARY,
+    TEXT_SECONDARY, TYPE_BODY, TYPE_CAPTION, VAL_SPACE_2, VAL_SPACE_3, VAL_SPACE_4, Z_MODAL_PANEL,
+    Z_PAUSE_DIALOG,
 };
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -158,18 +158,38 @@ impl Plugin for LeaderboardPlugin {
                     poll_leaderboard_fetch,
                     update_leaderboard_panel,
                     handle_opt_in_button,
-                    poll_opt_in_task,
+                    // The polls share the warning-toast stream with the
+                    // daily-expiry check (drained wholesale, #143).
+                    poll_opt_in_task
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::WarningToastWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::WarningToastWriters),
                     handle_opt_out_button,
-                    poll_opt_out_task,
+                    poll_opt_out_task
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::WarningToastWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::WarningToastWriters),
                     handle_set_display_name_button,
                     handle_display_name_text_input,
                     handle_display_name_confirm,
                     handle_display_name_cancel,
-                    update_leaderboard_public_name_label,
+                    // Writes one marker-filtered Text label — disjoint from
+                    // the HUD/stats text painters (UiTextFx club, #143).
+                    update_leaderboard_public_name_label
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
                 )
-                    .chain(),
+                    .chain()
+                    // Opt-in state and display name live in
+                    // SettingsResource — the whole chain joins the
+                    // screen-plugin settings club (#143).
+                    .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
             )
-            .add_systems(Update, scroll_leaderboard_panel);
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                scroll_leaderboard_panel
+                    .in_set(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll),
+            );
     }
 }
 
@@ -536,11 +556,6 @@ fn spawn_leaderboard_screen(
             font_size: TYPE_CAPTION,
             ..default()
         };
-        let font_status = TextFont {
-            font: font_handle.clone(),
-            font_size: TYPE_BODY_LG,
-            ..default()
-        };
         let font_row = TextFont {
             font: font_handle.clone(),
             font_size: TYPE_BODY,
@@ -647,30 +662,31 @@ fn spawn_leaderboard_screen(
         .with_children(|body| {
             match data {
                 LeaderboardResource::Idle => {
-                    body.spawn((
-                        Text::new("Fetching\u{2026}"),
-                        font_status.clone(),
-                        TextColor(STATE_INFO),
-                    ));
+                    spawn_empty_state(
+                        body,
+                        "\u{21BB}",
+                        "Fetching the leaderboard\u{2026}",
+                        None,
+                        font_res,
+                    );
                 }
                 LeaderboardResource::Error(_) => {
-                    body.spawn((
-                        Text::new("Couldn't reach the leaderboard. Try again later."),
-                        font_status.clone(),
-                        TextColor(TEXT_SECONDARY),
-                    ));
+                    spawn_empty_state(
+                        body,
+                        "!",
+                        "Couldn't reach the leaderboard.",
+                        Some("Try again later."),
+                        font_res,
+                    );
                 }
                 LeaderboardResource::Loaded(rows) if rows.is_empty() => {
-                    body.spawn((
-                        Text::new("Be the first on the leaderboard."),
-                        font_status.clone(),
-                        TextColor(TEXT_PRIMARY),
-                    ));
-                    body.spawn((
-                        Text::new("Win a game and opt in to appear here."),
-                        font_row.clone(),
-                        TextColor(TEXT_SECONDARY),
-                    ));
+                    spawn_empty_state(
+                        body,
+                        "\u{2660}",
+                        "Be the first on the leaderboard.",
+                        Some("Win a game and opt in to appear here."),
+                        font_res,
+                    );
                 }
                 LeaderboardResource::Loaded(rows) => {
                     // Column headers

solitaire_engine/src/lib.rs

@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ pub mod avatar_plugin;
 pub mod card_animation;
 pub mod card_plugin;
 pub mod challenge_plugin;
+pub mod cheat_sheet_plugin;
+pub mod contextual_tips_plugin;
 pub mod core_game_plugin;
 pub mod cursor_plugin;
 pub mod daily_challenge_plugin;
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ pub mod font_plugin;
 pub mod game_plugin;
 pub mod help_plugin;
 pub mod home_plugin;
+pub mod hotkeys;
 pub mod hud_plugin;
 pub mod input_plugin;
 pub mod layout;
@@ -60,10 +63,12 @@ pub mod theme_store_plugin;
 pub mod time_attack_plugin;
 pub mod touch_selection_plugin;
 pub mod ui_focus;
+pub mod ui_glass;
 pub mod ui_modal;
 pub mod ui_theme;
 pub mod ui_tooltip;
 pub mod weekly_goals_plugin;
+pub mod whats_new_plugin;
 pub mod win_summary_plugin;
 pub mod you_hub_plugin;
 
@@ -93,6 +98,8 @@ pub use card_plugin::{
 pub use challenge_plugin::{
     CHALLENGE_UNLOCK_LEVEL, ChallengeAdvancedEvent, ChallengePlugin, challenge_progress_label,
 };
+pub use cheat_sheet_plugin::{CheatSheetOverlay, CheatSheetPlugin};
+pub use contextual_tips_plugin::ContextualTipsPlugin;
 pub use core_game_plugin::CoreGamePlugin;
 pub use cursor_plugin::CursorPlugin;
 pub use daily_challenge_plugin::{
@@ -194,6 +201,7 @@ pub use ui_modal::{
 };
 pub use ui_tooltip::{Tooltip, UiTooltipPlugin};
 pub use weekly_goals_plugin::{WeeklyGoalCompletedEvent, WeeklyGoalsPlugin};
+pub use whats_new_plugin::{WhatsNewPending, WhatsNewPlugin, WhatsNewScreen};
 pub use win_summary_plugin::{
     ScreenShakeResource, SessionAchievements, WinSummaryPending, WinSummaryPlugin, format_win_time,
 };

solitaire_engine/src/onboarding_plugin.rs

@@ -84,66 +84,11 @@ struct OnboardingSkipButton;
 pub struct OnboardingSlideIndex(pub u8);
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Slide data — hotkey rows are taken verbatim from `help_plugin.rs` so the
-// two screens stay in sync without a shared abstraction.
+// Slide data — the hotkey slide renders the essential subset of the
+// shared table in `crate::hotkeys` (Phase J unified the previously
+// diverging copies here and in help_plugin).
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-/// A single `key — description` pair shown on slide 3.
-#[cfg(not(target_os = "android"))]
-struct HotkeyRow {
-    keys: &'static str,
-    description: &'static str,
-}
-
-/// Most-used shortcuts from the `help_plugin` canonical list.
-///
-/// Updating the list in `help_plugin.rs` should be mirrored here. The
-/// ARCHITECTURE.md decision log calls out that we copy values rather than
-/// refactor the help plugin.
-#[cfg(not(target_os = "android"))]
-const HOTKEYS: &[HotkeyRow] = &[
-    HotkeyRow {
-        keys: "D / Space",
-        description: "Draw from stock",
-    },
-    HotkeyRow {
-        keys: "U",
-        description: "Undo last move",
-    },
-    HotkeyRow {
-        keys: "Tab → Enter",
-        description: "Pick a card; arrows pick where; Enter to drop",
-    },
-    HotkeyRow {
-        keys: "N",
-        description: "New Classic game",
-    },
-    HotkeyRow {
-        keys: "M",
-        description: "Open Mode Launcher (then 1–5 to pick)",
-    },
-    HotkeyRow {
-        keys: "S",
-        description: "Stats & progression",
-    },
-    HotkeyRow {
-        keys: "A",
-        description: "Achievements",
-    },
-    HotkeyRow {
-        keys: "O",
-        description: "Settings",
-    },
-    HotkeyRow {
-        keys: "Esc",
-        description: "Pause / resume",
-    },
-    HotkeyRow {
-        keys: "F1",
-        description: "Help / controls",
-    },
-];
-
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Plugin
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -153,12 +98,26 @@ pub struct OnboardingPlugin;
 
 impl Plugin for OnboardingPlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
-        app.init_resource::<OnboardingSlideIndex>()
-            .add_systems(Update, spawn_if_first_run)
-            .add_systems(
-                Update,
-                (handle_onboarding_buttons, handle_onboarding_keyboard).chain(),
-            );
+        app.init_resource::<OnboardingSlideIndex>().add_systems(
+            Update,
+            // One chain: all three touch the slide index and the
+            // first-run flag in SettingsResource. Club membership
+            // declares the settings access disjoint from the other
+            // screen plugins'; the keyboard handler runs before
+            // FocusKeys like every other Esc consumer (#143).
+            (
+                spawn_if_first_run,
+                handle_onboarding_buttons,
+                handle_onboarding_keyboard.before(crate::ui_focus::FocusKeys),
+            )
+                .chain()
+                // Before the settings spine: the first-run flag write
+                // lands before every same-frame settings reader (they
+                // all sit at or after SettingsMutation transitively).
+                .before(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsMutation)
+                .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
+        );
     }
 }
 
@@ -313,6 +272,10 @@ fn complete_onboarding(
     despawn_screen(commands, screens);
     if let Some(s) = settings {
         s.0.first_run_complete = true;
+        // A fresh install has nothing "new" to announce — stamp the
+        // running release so the What's-new card (Phase I) only ever
+        // fires after an actual upgrade.
+        s.0.last_seen_whats_new = crate::whats_new_plugin::current_release_version();
         persist(path.map(|p| &p.0), &s.0);
     }
 }
@@ -442,8 +405,10 @@ fn spawn_slide_hotkeys(commands: &mut Commands, font_res: Option<&FontResource>)
     spawn_modal(commands, OnboardingScreen, Z_ONBOARDING, |card| {
         spawn_modal_header(card, "Keyboard shortcuts", font_res);
 
-        // Vertical list of `key — description` rows, same chip style as HelpScreen.
-        for row in HOTKEYS {
+        // Vertical list of `key — description` rows, same chip style as
+        // HelpScreen. Essential subset only — the full table lives on
+        // the hold-`/` cheat sheet.
+        for row in crate::hotkeys::HOTKEYS.iter().filter(|r| r.essential) {
             card.spawn(Node {
                 flex_direction: FlexDirection::Row,
                 align_items: AlignItems::Center,
@@ -822,22 +787,15 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-    // Hotkey list is non-empty (guards against accidental truncation)
+    // Hotkey slide renders a non-empty essential subset (the table's own
+    // integrity tests live in `crate::hotkeys`)
     // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     #[test]
-    fn hotkey_list_is_non_empty() {
-        assert!(!HOTKEYS.is_empty(), "HOTKEYS must not be empty");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn all_hotkey_rows_have_non_empty_fields() {
-        for row in HOTKEYS {
-            assert!(!row.keys.is_empty(), "hotkey key field must not be empty");
-            assert!(
-                !row.description.is_empty(),
-                "hotkey description must not be empty"
-            );
-        }
+    fn hotkey_slide_subset_is_non_empty() {
+        assert!(
+            crate::hotkeys::HOTKEYS.iter().any(|r| r.essential),
+            "the onboarding slide needs at least one essential hotkey"
+        );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/pause_plugin.rs

@@ -104,6 +104,15 @@ pub fn draw_mode_label(mode: DrawStockConfig) -> &'static str {
 /// to disk, and routes the Forfeit confirm-modal flow.
 pub struct PausePlugin;
 
+/// Set wrapping every system that mutates [`PausedResource`] or drives the
+/// pause/forfeit modal flow. Runs as one deterministic chain between
+/// [`crate::settings_plugin::SettingsMutation`] (the pause overlay's
+/// draw-mode toggle writes `SettingsResource`) and
+/// [`crate::game_plugin::GameMutation`], so every system ordered after
+/// `GameMutation` observes this frame's pause state transitively (#143).
+#[derive(bevy::ecs::schedule::SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct PauseMutation;
+
 impl Plugin for PausePlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
         // add_message is idempotent — other plugins may register these
@@ -116,28 +125,55 @@ impl Plugin for PausePlugin {
             .add_message::<crate::events::ShowSolutionRequestEvent>()
             .add_message::<InfoToastEvent>()
             .init_resource::<PausedResource>()
+            .configure_sets(
+                Update,
+                PauseMutation
+                    .after(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsMutation)
+                    // Before the pre-mutation game-state spine: the elapsed
+                    // timer must observe this frame's pause transition, and
+                    // the draw-mode toggle's settings write must land before
+                    // sync_settings_to_game forwards it.
+                    .before(crate::game_plugin::PreMutation)
+                    .before(crate::game_plugin::GameMutation)
+                    // toggle_pause must see SelectionState *before*
+                    // handle_selection_keys clears it, so it can skip Escape
+                    // when a card is selected. The other members mutate
+                    // PausedResource, which the selection keys read.
+                    .before(SelectionKeySet)
+                    // HUD buttons read PausedResource (e.g. hint is inert
+                    // while paused) — order them after this frame's pause
+                    // transition.
+                    .before(crate::hud_plugin::HudButtons),
+            )
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
                 (
-                    // toggle_pause must see SelectionState *before* handle_selection_keys
-                    // clears it, so it can skip Escape when a card is selected.
-                    // It must also run *before* handle_forfeit_keyboard so the
-                    // ForfeitConfirmScreen is still alive when toggle_pause's
-                    // early-return guard checks for it — otherwise an Esc that
-                    // closes the forfeit modal would also open pause in the
-                    // same frame.
+                    // toggle_pause must run *before* handle_forfeit_keyboard
+                    // so the ForfeitConfirmScreen is still alive when
+                    // toggle_pause's early-return guard checks for it —
+                    // otherwise an Esc that closes the forfeit modal would
+                    // also open pause in the same frame. The chain preserves
+                    // that edge and makes the whole pause/forfeit flow
+                    // deterministic (all members share PausedResource and
+                    // the forfeit message streams).
+                    // Reads only motion/display settings fields — disjoint
+                    // from the screen-plugin club's writes (#143).
                     toggle_pause
-                        .before(SelectionKeySet)
-                        .before(handle_forfeit_keyboard),
-                    handle_pause_draw_buttons,
+                        .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
+                    auto_resume_on_overlay,
+                    handle_pause_draw_buttons
+                        .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
                     handle_pause_resume_button,
                     handle_pause_forfeit_button,
                     handle_pause_solution_button,
                     handle_forfeit_request,
-                    handle_forfeit_confirm_buttons,
                     handle_forfeit_keyboard,
-                    auto_resume_on_overlay,
-                ),
+                    handle_forfeit_confirm_buttons,
+                )
+                    .chain()
+                    .in_set(PauseMutation),
             );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/pending_hint.rs

@@ -39,6 +39,13 @@ use crate::resources::{GameStateResource, HintCycleIndex};
 /// emits the hint visuals once the task completes. At most one task
 /// is ever in flight: a fresh H press while a previous task is
 /// running drops the previous task and queues the new one.
+/// Set wrapping the async hint pipeline (state-change drop → poll). The
+/// HUD hint button orders `.before` it so a press cancels/spawns before
+/// this frame's poll; the drag-highlight painters order `.after` it so
+/// the hint sprite writes are settled (#143).
+#[derive(bevy::ecs::schedule::SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct PendingHint;
+
 #[derive(Resource, Default)]
 pub struct PendingHintTask {
     /// `Some` while the solver is still working on a verdict.

solitaire_engine/src/play_by_seed_plugin.rs

@@ -115,10 +115,27 @@ impl Plugin for PlayBySeedPlugin {
                 Update,
                 (
                     handle_open_dialog,
-                    handle_text_input,
-                    tick_debounce_and_spawn_solver_task,
-                    poll_solver_task,
-                    handle_confirm,
+                    // Writes the marker-filtered seed-dialog Text nodes —
+                    // disjoint from the other text painters (UiTextFx
+                    // club, #143).
+                    handle_text_input
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    tick_debounce_and_spawn_solver_task
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        // Reads deal settings for the solver spawn; a frame
+                        // of lag is invisible (#143).
+                        .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
+                    poll_solver_task
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    // Shares the new-game request stream with the other
+                    // writers (drained wholesale at GameMutation, #143).
+                    handle_confirm
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters),
                     handle_cancel,
                 )
                     .chain()

solitaire_engine/src/profile_plugin.rs

@@ -60,6 +60,14 @@ pub struct DailyCalendarDot {
 /// [`spawn_profile_body`] for this tab's content.
 pub struct ProfilePlugin;
 
+/// Self-ambiguous club for writers of
+/// [`crate::events::ToggleProfileRequestEvent`] (HUD avatar button, home
+/// profile chip, HUD menu option). The You-hub reader drains the whole
+/// queue, so writer append order is irrelevant; `you_hub_plugin` orders
+/// its open/tab handling after the club (#143).
+#[derive(bevy::ecs::schedule::SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct ProfileToggleWriters;
+
 /// Marker on the scrollable body Node inside the Profile modal.
 ///
 /// The Profile panel renders sync info, progression (incl. 14-day
@@ -82,7 +90,12 @@ impl Plugin for ProfilePlugin {
             .add_message::<MouseWheel>()
             // Open/close/tab handling moved to `you_hub_plugin`
             // (Phase E) — this plugin now owns body content + scroll.
-            .add_systems(Update, scroll_profile_panel);
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                scroll_profile_panel
+                    .in_set(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll),
+            );
     }
 }
 

solitaire_engine/src/progress_plugin.rs

@@ -37,6 +37,21 @@ pub struct LevelUpEvent {
 #[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
 pub struct ProgressUpdate;
 
+/// Set for `challenge_plugin::advance_on_challenge_win`. See the
+/// mode-completion chain configured in `ProgressPlugin::build` (#143).
+#[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct ChallengeCompletion;
+
+/// Set for `daily_challenge_plugin::handle_daily_completion`. See the
+/// mode-completion chain configured in `ProgressPlugin::build` (#143).
+#[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct DailyCompletion;
+
+/// Set for `weekly_goals_plugin::evaluate_weekly_goals`. See the
+/// mode-completion chain configured in `ProgressPlugin::build` (#143).
+#[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct WeeklyGoalsEval;
+
 /// Bevy plugin that awards XP on `GameWonEvent`, persists `PlayerProgress`,
 /// and emits `LevelUpEvent` whenever a win crosses a level boundary.
 ///
@@ -74,7 +89,27 @@ impl Plugin for ProgressPlugin {
             .add_message::<GameWonEvent>()
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
-                award_xp_on_win.after(GameMutation).in_set(ProgressUpdate),
+                award_xp_on_win
+                    .after(GameMutation)
+                    .in_set(ProgressUpdate)
+                    // Base win XP lands before the mode bonuses so the
+                    // level-up attribution is stable.
+                    .before(ChallengeCompletion),
+            )
+            // Mode-completion evaluators, pinned in one explicit chain
+            // INSIDE ProgressUpdate — every `.after(ProgressUpdate)`
+            // reader then sees fully-settled progress. Each evaluator
+            // drains GameWonEvent via its own cursor and writes disjoint
+            // ProgressResource fields plus XP, but a daily win also counts
+            // toward weekly goals, so two members can fire on the same
+            // frame — we pin an order rather than argue the XP/level-up
+            // event stream is commutative (#143).
+            .configure_sets(
+                Update,
+                (ChallengeCompletion, DailyCompletion, WeeklyGoalsEval)
+                    .chain()
+                    .in_set(ProgressUpdate)
+                    .after(GameMutation),
             );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/radial_menu.rs

@@ -185,16 +185,31 @@ impl Plugin for RadialMenuPlugin {
             // Tests inject `RadialCursorOverride` themselves; production
             // never touches it. We do not `init_resource` here so the
             // cursor-from-window path is the default.
+            // The radial gesture reacts to pointer state the drag pipeline
+            // settles, and its release handler feeds the shared move
+            // request stream consumed at GameMutation this frame, so the
+            // chain sits between PointerInput and GameMutation. The redraw
+            // reads settings (reduce-motion) where a frame of lag is
+            // invisible — SettingsAccess club (#143).
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
                 (
                     radial_open_on_right_click,
                     radial_open_on_long_press,
                     radial_track_cursor,
-                    radial_handle_release_or_cancel,
-                    radial_redraw_overlay,
+                    radial_handle_release_or_cancel
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::MoveRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::MoveRequestWriters),
+                    radial_redraw_overlay
+                        .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
                 )
-                    .chain(),
+                    .chain()
+                    .after(crate::input_plugin::PointerInput)
+                    // Selection keys also touch DragState (mutual pointer/
+                    // keyboard exclusion) — keys settle first.
+                    .after(crate::selection_plugin::SelectionKeySet)
+                    .before(crate::game_plugin::GameMutation),
             );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/replay_overlay/mod.rs

@@ -464,25 +464,71 @@ impl Plugin for ReplayOverlayPlugin {
                 Update,
                 (
                     react_to_state_change,
-                    update_banner_label,
-                    update_progress_text,
-                    update_floating_progress_chip,
-                    update_scrub_fill,
-                    update_move_log_header,
-                    update_move_log_active_row,
-                    update_move_log_prev_rows,
-                    update_move_log_next_rows,
-                    update_mini_tableau_foundations,
-                    update_mini_tableau_stock_waste,
-                    update_pause_button_label,
+                    // Marker-filtered Text/Node repaints — each owns one
+                    // disjoint overlay marker, so they join the UiTextFx
+                    // club alongside the HUD text painters (#143).
+                    update_banner_label
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    update_progress_text
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    update_floating_progress_chip
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    update_scrub_fill
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    update_move_log_header
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    update_move_log_active_row
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    update_move_log_prev_rows
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    update_move_log_next_rows
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    update_mini_tableau_foundations
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    update_mini_tableau_stock_waste
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    update_pause_button_label
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
                     handle_pause_button,
-                    handle_step_button,
+                    // Step/scrub dispatch into the shared move/draw/undo
+                    // request streams (drained wholesale at GameMutation),
+                    // so they join the writer clubs (#143).
+                    handle_step_button
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::MoveRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::MoveRequestWriters)
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::DrawRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::DrawRequestWriters),
                     handle_pause_keyboard,
                     handle_stop_keyboard,
-                    handle_arrow_keyboard,
+                    handle_arrow_keyboard
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::MoveRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::MoveRequestWriters)
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::UndoRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::UndoRequestWriters)
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::DrawRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::DrawRequestWriters),
                     handle_stop_button,
                 )
-                    .chain(),
+                    .chain()
+                    // After the playback driver so painters render the
+                    // post-tick state; before GameMutation so the step /
+                    // scrub events are consumed this frame. Click handlers
+                    // writing ReplayPlaybackState stay at the end of the
+                    // chain — a press is observed by react_to_state_change
+                    // next frame (state-driven loop, see above) (#143).
+                    .after(crate::replay_playback::ReplayPlayback)
+                    .before(crate::game_plugin::GameMutation),
             );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/replay_playback.rs

@@ -550,6 +550,14 @@ fn fire_state_changed_on_completion(
     *last_was_completed = now_completed;
 }
 
+/// Set wrapping the replay playback driver chain (tick → auto-clear →
+/// completion `StateChangedEvent`). The tick feeds `MoveRequestEvent` /
+/// `DrawRequestEvent` into this frame's [`GameMutation`], so the set sits
+/// on the pre-mutation spine; the overlay UI (`replay_overlay`) orders
+/// itself after this set so its painters render the post-tick state (#143).
+#[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct ReplayPlayback;
+
 /// Bevy plugin that initialises [`ReplayPlaybackState`] and drives
 /// playback ticks, completion linger, and the recording-pause guard.
 ///
@@ -562,18 +570,46 @@ impl Plugin for ReplayPlaybackPlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
         app.init_resource::<ReplayPlaybackState>()
             .add_message::<StateChangedEvent>()
-            .add_systems(
+            .configure_sets(
                 Update,
-                (
-                    tick_replay_playback,
-                    auto_clear_completed_replay,
-                    fire_state_changed_on_completion,
-                )
-                    .chain(),
+                ReplayPlayback
+                    .after(crate::game_plugin::PreMutation)
+                    // Input first: a stop/pause press or a drag-emitted
+                    // request this frame is observed before the tick fires
+                    // the next scripted move (#143).
+                    .after(crate::input_plugin::PointerInput)
+                    .before(GameMutation),
             )
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
-                record_replay_skip_during_playback.after(GameMutation),
+                (
+                    // The tick shares the move/draw request streams with the
+                    // pointer/keyboard writers (drained wholesale at
+                    // GameMutation) and reads playback speed from settings.
+                    tick_replay_playback
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::MoveRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::MoveRequestWriters)
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::DrawRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::DrawRequestWriters)
+                        .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
+                    auto_clear_completed_replay,
+                    // Chained before GameMutation: explicit order against the
+                    // mutation systems' StateChangedEvent writes; readers
+                    // drain the whole queue after GameMutation.
+                    fire_state_changed_on_completion,
+                )
+                    .chain()
+                    .in_set(ReplayPlayback),
+            )
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                record_replay_skip_during_playback
+                    .after(GameMutation)
+                    // After AutoComplete so the stats overlay's watch-replay
+                    // handler (which resets ReplayPlaybackState) and the
+                    // win-path recorder have both settled (#143).
+                    .after(crate::auto_complete_plugin::AutoComplete),
             );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/safe_area.rs

@@ -74,10 +74,28 @@ impl Plugin for SafeAreaInsetsPlugin {
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
                 (
-                    apply_safe_area_anchors,
-                    apply_safe_area_bottom_anchors,
-                    apply_safe_area_to_modal_scrims,
-                    on_app_resumed,
+                    // All three write Node padding on disjoint chrome roots
+                    // (top anchors / bottom anchors / modal scrims); chained
+                    // for a deterministic pass, and they join the UiTextFx
+                    // chrome club — anchored roots are never the label/
+                    // tooltip/readout entities the other members touch,
+                    // which Bevy can't prove from the queries (#143).
+                    (
+                        apply_safe_area_anchors,
+                        apply_safe_area_bottom_anchors,
+                        apply_safe_area_to_modal_scrims,
+                    )
+                        .chain()
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        // UiScale is written on the settings mutator spine.
+                        .after(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsMutation),
+                    // Emits a synthetic WindowResized on resume only; every
+                    // reader drains the queue via cursor, and a resume
+                    // already spans hundreds of ms, so whether the synthetic
+                    // event lands this frame or next is invisible — same
+                    // argument as handle_fullscreen (#143).
+                    on_app_resumed.ambiguous_with_all(),
                 ),
             );
 
@@ -101,9 +119,10 @@ impl Plugin for SafeAreaInsetsPlugin {
 fn apply_safe_area_anchors(
     insets: Res<SafeAreaInsets>,
     windows: Query<&Window>,
+    ui_scale: Option<Res<UiScale>>,
     mut q: Query<(&SafeAreaAnchoredTop, &mut Node)>,
 ) {
-    if !insets.is_changed() {
+    if !insets.is_changed() && !ui_scale.as_ref().is_some_and(|s| s.is_changed()) {
         return;
     }
     // Android's WindowInsets API returns physical pixels; Bevy UI's Val::Px
@@ -119,19 +138,31 @@ fn apply_safe_area_anchors(
         );
     }
     let top_logical = raw_top.min(max_inset);
+    // `bevy::ui::UiScale` (Phase K) multiplies every Val::Px at layout
+    // time. `base_top` is UI chrome and SHOULD scale with the rest of
+    // the interface, but the system-bar inset is physical reality —
+    // pre-divide it so the post-multiplication offset stays exact.
+    let ui = effective_ui_scale(ui_scale.as_deref());
     for (anchor, mut node) in &mut q {
-        node.top = Val::Px(anchor.base_top + top_logical);
+        node.top = Val::Px(anchor.base_top + top_logical / ui);
     }
 }
 
+/// The live UI scale, defensively clamped — a zero or negative scale
+/// would flip or destroy the inset math.
+fn effective_ui_scale(ui_scale: Option<&UiScale>) -> f32 {
+    ui_scale.map_or(1.0, |s| s.0.max(0.1))
+}
+
 /// Re-applies `base_bottom + insets.bottom / scale` to every entity carrying
 /// [`SafeAreaAnchoredBottom`] whenever [`SafeAreaInsets`] changes.
 fn apply_safe_area_bottom_anchors(
     insets: Res<SafeAreaInsets>,
     windows: Query<&Window>,
+    ui_scale: Option<Res<UiScale>>,
     mut q: Query<(&SafeAreaAnchoredBottom, &mut Node)>,
 ) {
-    if !insets.is_changed() {
+    if !insets.is_changed() && !ui_scale.as_ref().is_some_and(|s| s.is_changed()) {
         return;
     }
     let scale = windows.iter().next().map_or(1.0, |w| w.scale_factor());
@@ -144,8 +175,12 @@ fn apply_safe_area_bottom_anchors(
         );
     }
     let bottom_logical = raw_bottom.min(max_inset);
+    // See `apply_safe_area_anchors`: the physical inset is pre-divided
+    // by the UI scale so a 90% setting can't sink the action bar into
+    // the gesture zone (and 130% doesn't over-inset it).
+    let ui = effective_ui_scale(ui_scale.as_deref());
     for (anchor, mut node) in &mut q {
-        node.bottom = Val::Px(anchor.base_bottom + bottom_logical);
+        node.bottom = Val::Px(anchor.base_bottom + bottom_logical / ui);
     }
 }
 
@@ -163,19 +198,23 @@ fn apply_safe_area_bottom_anchors(
 fn apply_safe_area_to_modal_scrims(
     insets: Res<SafeAreaInsets>,
     windows: Query<&Window>,
+    ui_scale: Option<Res<UiScale>>,
     mut scrims: Query<&mut Node, With<ModalScrim>>,
     new_scrims: Query<(), (With<ModalScrim>, Added<ModalScrim>)>,
 ) {
     let has_new = !new_scrims.is_empty();
-    if !insets.is_changed() && !has_new {
+    if !insets.is_changed() && !has_new && !ui_scale.as_ref().is_some_and(|s| s.is_changed()) {
         return;
     }
     let scale = windows.iter().next().map_or(1.0, |w| w.scale_factor());
     let window_height = windows.iter().next().map_or(800.0, |w| w.height());
     // Clamp each inset to 25% of screen height so an unexpectedly large OS
     // value can't push the modal card off the visible area entirely.
-    let top_logical = (insets.top / scale).min(window_height * 0.25);
-    let bottom_logical = (insets.bottom / scale).min(window_height * 0.25);
+    // Physical insets are pre-divided by the UI scale — see
+    // `apply_safe_area_anchors`.
+    let ui = effective_ui_scale(ui_scale.as_deref());
+    let top_logical = (insets.top / scale).min(window_height * 0.25) / ui;
+    let bottom_logical = (insets.bottom / scale).min(window_height * 0.25) / ui;
     for mut node in &mut scrims {
         // Set both edges so the scrim's content box equals the usable area
         // between the status bar and the gesture/navigation bar. With

solitaire_engine/src/schedule_checks.rs

@@ -23,14 +23,43 @@ mod tests {
     use bevy::ecs::schedule::{LogLevel, ScheduleBuildSettings};
     use bevy::prelude::*;
 
+    use crate::achievement_plugin::AchievementPlugin;
+    use crate::animation_plugin::AnimationPlugin;
     use crate::auto_complete_plugin::AutoCompletePlugin;
+    use crate::card_animation::CardAnimationPlugin;
     use crate::card_plugin::CardPlugin;
+    use crate::challenge_plugin::ChallengePlugin;
+    use crate::cursor_plugin::CursorPlugin;
+    use crate::daily_challenge_plugin::DailyChallengePlugin;
+    use crate::difficulty_plugin::DifficultyPlugin;
+    use crate::feedback_anim_plugin::FeedbackAnimPlugin;
     use crate::game_plugin::GamePlugin;
+    use crate::help_plugin::HelpPlugin;
+    use crate::home_plugin::HomePlugin;
     use crate::hud_plugin::HudPlugin;
+    use crate::input_plugin::InputPlugin;
+    use crate::leaderboard_plugin::LeaderboardPlugin;
+    use crate::onboarding_plugin::OnboardingPlugin;
+    use crate::pause_plugin::PausePlugin;
+    use crate::play_by_seed_plugin::PlayBySeedPlugin;
+    use crate::profile_plugin::ProfilePlugin;
+    use crate::progress_plugin::ProgressPlugin;
+    use crate::radial_menu::RadialMenuPlugin;
+    use crate::replay_overlay::ReplayOverlayPlugin;
+    use crate::replay_playback::ReplayPlaybackPlugin;
+    use crate::safe_area::SafeAreaInsetsPlugin;
+    use crate::selection_plugin::SelectionPlugin;
     use crate::settings_plugin::SettingsPlugin;
+    use crate::splash_plugin::SplashPlugin;
+    use crate::stats_plugin::StatsPlugin;
     use crate::table_plugin::TablePlugin;
+    use crate::time_attack_plugin::TimeAttackPlugin;
+    use crate::touch_selection_plugin::TouchSelectionPlugin;
     use crate::ui_focus::UiFocusPlugin;
     use crate::ui_modal::UiModalPlugin;
+    use crate::ui_tooltip::UiTooltipPlugin;
+    use crate::weekly_goals_plugin::WeeklyGoalsPlugin;
+    use crate::win_summary_plugin::WinSummaryPlugin;
 
     /// The backlog (302 pairs on 2026-07-06) was burned down to ZERO the
     /// same day (#143, PRs #146–#149) — this is now a hard gate. If your
@@ -51,7 +80,40 @@ mod tests {
             .add_plugins(AutoCompletePlugin)
             .add_plugins(UiModalPlugin)
             .add_plugins(UiFocusPlugin)
-            .add_plugins(SettingsPlugin::headless());
+            .add_plugins(SettingsPlugin::headless())
+            // Batch: game-adjacent plugins (all already exercised headless
+            // by the engine behaviour tests).
+            .add_plugins(ProgressPlugin::headless())
+            .add_plugins(StatsPlugin::headless())
+            .add_plugins(AchievementPlugin::headless())
+            .add_plugins(SelectionPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(AnimationPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(CardAnimationPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(FeedbackAnimPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(PausePlugin)
+            // Batch: screen/overlay plugins.
+            .add_plugins(HomePlugin::headless())
+            .add_plugins(WinSummaryPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(SplashPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(HelpPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(OnboardingPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(ProfilePlugin)
+            .add_plugins(LeaderboardPlugin)
+            // Batch: mode/replay/input plugins.
+            .add_plugins(ChallengePlugin)
+            .add_plugins(DailyChallengePlugin)
+            .add_plugins(TimeAttackPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(WeeklyGoalsPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(PlayBySeedPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(DifficultyPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(ReplayPlaybackPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(ReplayOverlayPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(RadialMenuPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(InputPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(TouchSelectionPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(UiTooltipPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(CursorPlugin)
+            .add_plugins(SafeAreaInsetsPlugin);
         app.init_resource::<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>();
         app
     }

solitaire_engine/src/selection_plugin.rs

@@ -134,6 +134,14 @@ impl KeyboardDragState {
 #[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
 pub struct SelectionKeySet;
 
+/// Set wrapping the post-mutation selection maintenance chain (clearing the
+/// selection on state change, painting the highlight). Runs between
+/// [`crate::game_plugin::GameMutation`] and
+/// [`crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals`] so the painters read the settled
+/// selection/drag state (#143).
+#[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct SelectionFx;
+
 /// Marker component placed on the outline sprite used as the keyboard-selection
 /// highlight.
 ///
@@ -158,14 +166,35 @@ impl Plugin for SelectionPlugin {
                 (
                     handle_selection_keys
                         .in_set(SelectionKeySet)
-                        .before(GameMutation),
-                    clear_selection_on_state_change.after(GameMutation),
-                    update_selection_highlight.after(GameMutation).run_if(
-                        resource_changed::<SelectionState>
-                            .or(resource_changed::<KeyboardDragState>)
-                            .or(resource_changed::<GameStateResource>),
-                    ),
+                        .before(GameMutation)
+                        // Enter-to-move feeds the shared move request
+                        // stream (drained wholesale at GameMutation, #143).
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::MoveRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::MoveRequestWriters),
+                    (
+                        clear_selection_on_state_change,
+                        update_selection_highlight.run_if(
+                            resource_changed::<SelectionState>
+                                .or(resource_changed::<KeyboardDragState>)
+                                .or(resource_changed::<GameStateResource>),
+                        ),
+                    )
+                        .chain()
+                        .in_set(SelectionFx),
                 ),
+            )
+            .configure_sets(
+                Update,
+                SelectionFx
+                    .after(GameMutation)
+                    .before(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals),
+            )
+            .configure_sets(
+                Update,
+                // Selection reads GameStateResource (legal destinations) —
+                // run after the pre-mutation spine that ticks/mutates it
+                // (#143).
+                SelectionKeySet.after(crate::game_plugin::PreMutation),
             );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/input.rs

@@ -353,6 +353,14 @@ pub(super) fn handle_settings_buttons(
                     **t = on_off_label(settings.0.reduce_motion_mode);
                 }
             }
+            SettingsButton::ToggleReduceTransparency => {
+                settings.0.reduce_transparency_mode = !settings.0.reduce_transparency_mode;
+                persist(&path, &settings.0);
+                changed.write(SettingsChangedEvent(settings.0.clone()));
+                // Text refreshed by `update_reduce_transparency_text`; the
+                // glass chrome itself follows via `update_glass_surfaces`
+                // next frame.
+            }
             SettingsButton::ToggleTouchInputMode => {
                 use solitaire_data::settings::TouchInputMode;
                 settings.0.touch_input_mode = match settings.0.touch_input_mode {
@@ -363,6 +371,14 @@ pub(super) fn handle_settings_buttons(
                 changed.write(SettingsChangedEvent(settings.0.clone()));
                 // Text refreshed by `update_touch_input_mode_text` next frame.
             }
+            SettingsButton::CycleUiScale => {
+                settings.0.ui_scale = next_ui_scale(settings.0.ui_scale);
+                persist(&path, &settings.0);
+                changed.write(SettingsChangedEvent(settings.0.clone()));
+                // Text refreshed by `update_ui_scale_text`; the live
+                // `bevy::ui::UiScale` resource follows via
+                // `sync_ui_scale_resource` next frame.
+            }
             SettingsButton::ToggleWinnableDealsOnly => {
                 settings.0.winnable_deals_only = !settings.0.winnable_deals_only;
                 persist(&path, &settings.0);

solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/mod.rs

@@ -87,6 +87,19 @@ pub struct SettingsChangedEvent(pub Settings);
 #[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
 pub struct SettingsMutation;
 
+/// Self-ambiguous club for the screen/overlay systems that touch
+/// [`SettingsResource`] (onboarding first-run flag, home difficulty/draw
+/// chips, leaderboard opt-in and display name, pause draw toggle, splash
+/// reduce-motion reads, …). Each accessor touches its own disjoint fields,
+/// and the modal-stacking guard means at most one of these screens is
+/// interactive at a time — same-frame access order is provably irrelevant,
+/// so members declare `.in_set(SettingsAccess).ambiguous_with(SettingsAccess)`
+/// (#143). [`SettingsMutation`] is nested inside the club (its members keep
+/// their internal chain). Do NOT add members whose settings read must be
+/// same-frame-exact; order those `.after(SettingsMutation)` instead.
+#[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct SettingsAccess;
+
 /// Marker on the root Settings panel entity.
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
 pub struct SettingsPanel;
@@ -135,10 +148,18 @@ struct HighContrastText;
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
 struct ReduceMotionText;
 
+/// Marks the `Text` node showing the current reduce-transparency state.
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+struct ReduceTransparencyText;
+
 /// Marks the `Text` node showing the current touch input mode state.
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
 struct TouchInputModeText;
 
+/// Marks the `Text` node showing the current UI scale percentage.
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+struct UiScaleText;
+
 /// Marks the `Text` node showing the live tooltip-delay value.
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
 struct TooltipDelayText;
@@ -273,10 +294,18 @@ enum SettingsButton {
     /// non-essential motion (card-slide animations become instant
     /// snaps) per `design-system.md` §Accessibility (#3).
     ToggleReduceMotion,
+    /// Toggle the [`Settings::reduce_transparency_mode`] flag — swaps
+    /// translucent glass chrome (the floating touch tab bar) for opaque
+    /// fills so table content never bleeds through UI text.
+    ToggleReduceTransparency,
     /// Toggle [`Settings::touch_input_mode`] between `OneTap`
     /// (auto-move on tap, default) and `TapToSelect` (first tap selects
     /// a card/stack, second tap on a target pile moves it).
     ToggleTouchInputMode,
+    /// Cycle [`Settings::ui_scale`] through 90 % → 100 % → 115 % →
+    /// 130 % → 90 %. Applied live via `bevy::ui::UiScale`; the table
+    /// stays window-fit (Phase K).
+    CycleUiScale,
     /// Toggle the [`Settings::winnable_deals_only`] flag. When on, new
     /// random Classic-mode deals are filtered through
     /// [`solitaire_core::game_state::GameState::solve_fresh_deal`] until one is provably
@@ -353,7 +382,9 @@ impl SettingsButton {
             // run before continuing to the picker rows.
             SettingsButton::ToggleHighContrast => 61,
             SettingsButton::ToggleReduceMotion => 62,
-            SettingsButton::ToggleTouchInputMode => 63,
+            SettingsButton::ToggleReduceTransparency => 63,
+            SettingsButton::ToggleTouchInputMode => 64,
+            SettingsButton::CycleUiScale => 65,
             // Picker rows — every swatch in a row shares the row's
             // priority so entity-index tiebreaking yields left → right.
             SettingsButton::SelectCardBack(_) => 70,
@@ -441,7 +472,12 @@ impl Plugin for SettingsPlugin {
                 Update,
                 SettingsMutation
                     .after(crate::layout::LayoutSystem::UpdateOnResize)
-                    .before(crate::game_plugin::GameMutation),
+                    .before(crate::game_plugin::GameMutation)
+                    // Nested in the club: members keep their chain, but
+                    // their pairs against other screen-plugin settings
+                    // accessors are declared irrelevant (#143).
+                    .in_set(SettingsAccess)
+                    .ambiguous_with(SettingsAccess),
             )
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
@@ -449,6 +485,11 @@ impl Plugin for SettingsPlugin {
                     handle_volume_keys,
                     record_window_geometry_changes,
                     persist_window_geometry_after_debounce,
+                    // State sync, not UI — runs even under `headless()`
+                    // so the live `bevy::ui::UiScale` always mirrors the
+                    // setting; rides the mutator spine so it is ordered
+                    // after every settings writer this frame.
+                    sync_ui_scale_resource,
                 )
                     .chain()
                     .in_set(SettingsMutation),
@@ -459,8 +500,12 @@ impl Plugin for SettingsPlugin {
                     toggle_settings_screen
                         .before(crate::ui_focus::FocusKeys)
                         .ambiguous_with(crate::hud_plugin::HudButtons),
-                    scroll_settings_panel,
-                    crate::ui_modal::touch_scroll_panel::<SettingsPanelScrollable>,
+                    scroll_settings_panel
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll),
+                    crate::ui_modal::touch_scroll_panel::<SettingsPanelScrollable>
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll),
                 )
                     .chain(),
             );
@@ -492,6 +537,7 @@ impl Plugin for SettingsPlugin {
                     update_high_contrast_backgrounds.run_if(resource_changed::<SettingsResource>),
                     update_reduce_motion_text,
                     update_touch_input_mode_text,
+                    update_ui_scale_text,
                     update_tooltip_delay_text,
                     update_time_bonus_multiplier_text,
                     update_replay_move_interval_text,
@@ -499,6 +545,16 @@ impl Plugin for SettingsPlugin {
                     update_smart_default_size_text,
                 ),
             );
+            app.add_systems(
+                Update,
+                (
+                    update_reduce_transparency_text,
+                    // Guards internally on settings-change / newly added
+                    // glass — `Added<GlassSurface>` can't be expressed as
+                    // a resource run condition.
+                    update_glass_surfaces,
+                ),
+            );
             app.add_systems(
                 Update,
                 (

solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/tests.rs

@@ -736,3 +736,60 @@ fn scroll_clamps_offset_to_zero_at_top() {
         "scrolling past top must clamp to 0, got {offset}"
     );
 }
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Phase K: UI scale
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#[test]
+fn ui_scale_steps_cycle_and_wrap() {
+    assert_eq!(next_ui_scale(0.9), 1.0);
+    assert_eq!(next_ui_scale(1.0), 1.15);
+    assert_eq!(next_ui_scale(1.15), 1.3);
+    assert_eq!(next_ui_scale(1.3), 0.9, "the cycle must wrap");
+    // A hand-edited in-between value advances to the next larger step.
+    assert_eq!(next_ui_scale(1.05), 1.15);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn ui_scale_label_formats_as_percent() {
+    assert_eq!(ui_scale_label(0.9), "90%");
+    assert_eq!(ui_scale_label(1.0), "100%");
+    assert_eq!(ui_scale_label(1.15), "115%");
+    assert_eq!(ui_scale_label(1.3), "130%");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn ui_scale_setting_syncs_the_bevy_resource() {
+    let mut app = headless_app();
+    app.insert_resource(UiScale(1.0));
+    app.world_mut()
+        .resource_mut::<SettingsResource>()
+        .0
+        .ui_scale = 1.3;
+    app.update();
+
+    assert!(
+        (app.world().resource::<UiScale>().0 - 1.3).abs() < f32::EPSILON,
+        "Settings::ui_scale must drive bevy::ui::UiScale"
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn ui_scale_out_of_range_sanitizes_on_load() {
+    use solitaire_data::settings::{UI_SCALE_MAX, UI_SCALE_MIN};
+
+    let wild = Settings {
+        ui_scale: 5.0,
+        ..Settings::default()
+    }
+    .sanitized();
+    assert_eq!(wild.ui_scale, UI_SCALE_MAX);
+
+    let tiny = Settings {
+        ui_scale: 0.1,
+        ..Settings::default()
+    }
+    .sanitized();
+    assert_eq!(tiny.ui_scale, UI_SCALE_MIN);
+}

solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/ui.rs

@@ -317,6 +317,15 @@ fn spawn_accessibility_tab(
         "Skips card-slide animations and other non-essential motion. Cards snap instantly to their target.",
         font_res,
     );
+    toggle_row(
+        body,
+        "Reduce Transparency",
+        ReduceTransparencyText,
+        on_off_label(settings.reduce_transparency_mode),
+        SettingsButton::ToggleReduceTransparency,
+        "Replaces the see-through glass toolbar with a solid panel so cards behind it never reduce readability.",
+        font_res,
+    );
     toggle_row(
         body,
         "Touch Input Mode",
@@ -326,6 +335,15 @@ fn spawn_accessibility_tab(
         "One-tap: tap a card to auto-move it. Tap to select: first tap selects a card, second tap on a pile moves it.",
         font_res,
     );
+    toggle_row(
+        body,
+        "UI Scale",
+        UiScaleText,
+        ui_scale_label(settings.ui_scale),
+        SettingsButton::CycleUiScale,
+        "Scales all menus, buttons, and HUD text. The table itself always fits the screen.",
+        font_res,
+    );
     tooltip_delay_row(body, settings.tooltip_delay_secs, font_res);
 }
 

solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/updates.rs

@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ use crate::font_plugin::FontResource;
 use crate::progress_plugin::ProgressResource;
 use crate::resources::{SettingsScrollPos, SyncStatus, SyncStatusResource};
 use crate::theme::ThemeThumbnailCache;
+use crate::ui_glass::{GlassSurface, glass_decorations};
 use crate::ui_modal::ModalScrim;
 use crate::ui_theme::{BORDER_SUBTLE_HC, HighContrastBackground, HighContrastBorder};
+use bevy::ui::{BackgroundGradient, BorderGradient};
 
 /// Spawns the Settings panel when `SettingsScreen` becomes `true`;
 /// despawns it when it becomes `false`.
@@ -330,6 +332,41 @@ pub(super) fn update_reduce_motion_text(
     }
 }
 
+pub(super) fn update_reduce_transparency_text(
+    settings: Res<SettingsResource>,
+    mut text_nodes: Query<&mut Text, With<ReduceTransparencyText>>,
+) {
+    if !settings.is_changed() {
+        return;
+    }
+    for mut text in &mut text_nodes {
+        **text = on_off_label(settings.0.reduce_transparency_mode);
+    }
+}
+
+/// Retargets every [`GlassSurface`]'s sheen + rim gradients when the
+/// reduce-transparency or high-contrast toggles change. Runs on
+/// `SettingsResource` change and on newly added surfaces (so glass
+/// spawned after startup picks up an already-active toggle). Parallel to
+/// [`update_high_contrast_borders`]: same trigger, different components.
+pub(super) fn update_glass_surfaces(
+    settings: Res<SettingsResource>,
+    mut surfaces: Query<(&mut BackgroundGradient, &mut BorderGradient), With<GlassSurface>>,
+    added: Query<(), Added<GlassSurface>>,
+) {
+    if !settings.is_changed() && added.is_empty() {
+        return;
+    }
+    let (sheen, rim) = glass_decorations(
+        settings.0.reduce_transparency_mode,
+        settings.0.high_contrast_mode,
+    );
+    for (mut s, mut r) in &mut surfaces {
+        *s = sheen.clone();
+        *r = rim.clone();
+    }
+}
+
 pub(super) fn update_touch_input_mode_text(
     settings: Res<SettingsResource>,
     mut text_nodes: Query<&mut Text, With<TouchInputModeText>>,
@@ -515,6 +552,58 @@ pub(super) fn touch_input_mode_label(mode: &solitaire_data::settings::TouchInput
     }
 }
 
+/// The four UI-scale steps the settings row cycles through (Phase K).
+pub(super) const UI_SCALE_STEPS: [f32; 4] = [0.9, 1.0, 1.15, 1.3];
+
+/// The next UI-scale step after `current`, wrapping 130 % → 90 %. A
+/// hand-edited value between steps advances to the first step larger
+/// than it, so the cycle always makes visible progress.
+pub(super) fn next_ui_scale(current: f32) -> f32 {
+    for step in UI_SCALE_STEPS {
+        if step > current + 0.001 {
+            return step;
+        }
+    }
+    UI_SCALE_STEPS[0]
+}
+
+/// Display string for the UI-scale row, e.g. `"115%"`.
+pub(super) fn ui_scale_label(scale: f32) -> String {
+    format!("{:.0}%", scale * 100.0)
+}
+
+/// Refreshes the live UI-scale value text whenever settings change.
+pub(super) fn update_ui_scale_text(
+    settings: Res<SettingsResource>,
+    mut text_nodes: Query<&mut Text, With<UiScaleText>>,
+) {
+    if !settings.is_changed() {
+        return;
+    }
+    for mut text in &mut text_nodes {
+        **text = ui_scale_label(settings.0.ui_scale);
+    }
+}
+
+/// Applies `Settings::ui_scale` to the live [`bevy::ui::UiScale`]
+/// resource — at startup (first change tick) and whenever the setting
+/// changes. Absent under `MinimalPlugins` (no `bevy_ui`), hence the
+/// `Option`; the table is unaffected either way (`compute_layout`
+/// owns world-space sizing, not UI scale).
+pub(super) fn sync_ui_scale_resource(
+    settings: Res<SettingsResource>,
+    ui_scale: Option<ResMut<UiScale>>,
+) {
+    let Some(mut ui_scale) = ui_scale else { return };
+    if !settings.is_changed() {
+        return;
+    }
+    let target = settings.0.ui_scale;
+    if (ui_scale.0 - target).abs() > f32::EPSILON {
+        ui_scale.0 = target;
+    }
+}
+
 /// Display string for the "Smart window size" toggle. The argument
 /// is the *enabled* state (i.e. the inverse of the underlying
 /// `disable_smart_default_size` field) so reading the label gives

solitaire_engine/src/splash_plugin.rs

@@ -99,7 +99,18 @@ impl Plugin for SplashPlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
         app.add_systems(Startup, spawn_splash).add_systems(
             Update,
-            (dismiss_splash_on_input, advance_splash, pulse_splash_cursor).chain(),
+            // Splash text/fade writers touch UI entities only — they join
+            // the UiTextFx club (disjoint from board/anim sets) and, for
+            // the reduce-motion read in the pulse, the screen-plugin
+            // settings club. Disjoint from the HUD button painters for the
+            // same entity-domain reason (#143).
+            (dismiss_splash_on_input, advance_splash, pulse_splash_cursor)
+                .chain()
+                .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                .ambiguous_with(crate::hud_plugin::HudButtons)
+                .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
         );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/stats_plugin.rs

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ use crate::ui_modal::{ButtonVariant, ModalButton, spawn_modal_button};
 use crate::ui_theme::{
     ACCENT_PRIMARY, BG_ELEVATED_HI, BORDER_SUBTLE, HighContrastBorder, RADIUS_SM, STATE_INFO,
     STATE_WARNING, STREAK_MILESTONES, TEXT_PRIMARY, TEXT_SECONDARY, TYPE_BODY, TYPE_BODY_LG,
-    TYPE_CAPTION, TYPE_HEADLINE, VAL_SPACE_1, VAL_SPACE_2, VAL_SPACE_3, VAL_SPACE_4,
+    TYPE_HEADLINE, VAL_SPACE_1, VAL_SPACE_2, VAL_SPACE_3, VAL_SPACE_4,
 };
 
 /// Bevy resource wrapping the current stats.
@@ -46,6 +46,14 @@ pub struct StatsStoragePath(pub Option<PathBuf>);
 #[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
 pub struct StatsUpdate;
 
+/// Set holding the abandon-recorder (`update_stats_on_new_game`). It must
+/// read the outgoing game's `move_count` before any mode-start handler or
+/// `GameMutation` clobbers the game state — mode plugins order their reset
+/// handlers `.after(AbandonRecord)` via `crate::game_plugin::ModeStart`
+/// (#143).
+#[derive(SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct AbandonRecord;
+
 /// Marker component on the stats overlay root node.
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
 pub struct StatsScreen;
@@ -205,10 +213,34 @@ impl Plugin for StatsPlugin {
             // constraints (win_summary_plugin: cache_win_data.before(StatsUpdate)),
             // and a system cannot be both inside a set and individually before a
             // set-level ordering constraint.
-            .add_systems(Update, update_stats_on_new_game.before(GameMutation))
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
-                update_stats_on_win.after(GameMutation).in_set(StatsUpdate),
+                update_stats_on_new_game
+                    .in_set(AbandonRecord)
+                    .before(GameMutation)
+                    // Reads the shared new-game request stream via its own
+                    // cursor — append order is irrelevant, so it joins the
+                    // self-ambiguous writer club (NewGameRequestWriters must
+                    // not carry set-level edges; see its doc). The explicit
+                    // edges pin it after the pause/settings/selection
+                    // mutators and the pre-mutation game-state spine it
+                    // reads `move_count` from (#143).
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                    .after(crate::game_plugin::PreMutation)
+                    .after(crate::pause_plugin::PauseMutation)
+                    .after(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsMutation)
+                    .after(crate::selection_plugin::SelectionKeySet),
+            )
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                update_stats_on_win
+                    .after(GameMutation)
+                    .in_set(StatsUpdate)
+                    // Also emits toasts (streak milestones) — join the
+                    // self-ambiguous writer club (#143).
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
             )
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
@@ -216,29 +248,69 @@ impl Plugin for StatsPlugin {
                 // the NewGameRequestEvent it emits is not visible to
                 // update_stats_on_new_game in the same frame — otherwise
                 // record_abandoned() fires twice on every forfeit (#21).
+                // It drains the ForfeitEvent the pause/forfeit modal chain
+                // emits, and shares the new-game request stream with the
+                // other writers (#143).
                 handle_forfeit
                     .before(GameMutation)
-                    .before(update_stats_on_new_game),
+                    .before(update_stats_on_new_game)
+                    .after(crate::pause_plugin::PauseMutation)
+                    .after(crate::selection_plugin::SelectionKeySet)
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters),
             )
             // Open/close/tab handling moved to `you_hub_plugin`
             // (Phase E) — this plugin now owns body content, replay
             // selector behavior, and scroll.
-            .add_systems(Update, refresh_replay_history_on_win.after(GameMutation))
-            .add_systems(Update, handle_watch_replay_button)
-            .add_systems(Update, handle_copy_share_link_button)
+            //
+            // Stats overlay UI: one deterministic chain — every member
+            // touches the replay-selector state or the overlay's nodes, and
+            // handle_watch_replay_button resets the live game, so the chain
+            // sits between GameMutation and the auto-complete driver on the
+            // game-state timeline (#143). The toast-emitting members join
+            // the self-ambiguous InfoToastWriters set so the toast pipeline
+            // (AnimFx) drains them this frame.
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
                 (
+                    refresh_replay_history_on_win,
                     handle_replay_selector_buttons,
-                    repaint_replay_selector_caption,
-                    repaint_replay_selector_detail,
+                    // Marker-filtered Text repaints — disjoint from the
+                    // HUD text painters (UiTextFx club, #143).
+                    repaint_replay_selector_caption
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    repaint_replay_selector_detail
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    handle_watch_replay_button
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
+                    handle_copy_share_link_button
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
                 )
-                    .chain(),
+                    .chain()
+                    .after(GameMutation)
+                    // The overlay repaints read this frame's settled stats,
+                    // progress, and achievement evaluation (level line,
+                    // streak).
+                    .after(StatsUpdate)
+                    .after(crate::progress_plugin::ProgressUpdate)
+                    .after(crate::achievement_plugin::AchievementEval)
+                    .before(crate::auto_complete_plugin::AutoComplete),
             )
-            .add_systems(Update, scroll_stats_panel)
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
-                crate::ui_modal::touch_scroll_panel::<StatsScrollable>,
+                scroll_stats_panel
+                    .in_set(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll),
+            )
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                crate::ui_modal::touch_scroll_panel::<StatsScrollable>
+                    .in_set(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_modal::PanelScroll),
             );
     }
 }
@@ -719,25 +791,17 @@ pub(crate) fn spawn_stats_body(
             },
         ))
         .with_children(|body| {
-            // First-launch caption — sits above the grid as gentle nudge so
+            // First-launch empty state (Phase L) — sits above the grid so
             // the wall of em-dashes reads as "nothing to track yet" rather
             // than as broken state.
             if is_first_launch {
-                body.spawn((
-                    Text::new("Play a game to start tracking stats."),
-                    TextFont {
-                        font_size: TYPE_CAPTION,
-                        ..default()
-                    },
-                    TextColor(TEXT_SECONDARY),
-                    Node {
-                        margin: UiRect {
-                            bottom: VAL_SPACE_2,
-                            ..default()
-                        },
-                        ..default()
-                    },
-                ));
+                crate::ui_modal::spawn_empty_state(
+                    body,
+                    "\u{2663}",
+                    "Play a game to start tracking stats.",
+                    None,
+                    font_res,
+                );
             }
 
             // --- primary stat cells grid ---
@@ -893,6 +957,20 @@ pub(crate) fn spawn_replays_body(
     selected_index: usize,
     font_res: Option<&FontResource>,
 ) {
+    // Standard empty state (Phase L) — the selector / Watch / Copy
+    // controls only spawn when there is something to select, so their
+    // handlers all no-op via their existing empty-query paths.
+    if replays.is_empty() {
+        crate::ui_modal::spawn_empty_state(
+            card,
+            "\u{2666}",
+            "No replays yet.",
+            Some("Every win records a replay here automatically."),
+            font_res,
+        );
+        return;
+    }
+
     let font_handle = font_res.map(|f| f.0.clone()).unwrap_or_default();
     let font_row = TextFont {
         font: font_handle,

solitaire_engine/src/table_plugin.rs

@@ -112,7 +112,12 @@ impl Plugin for TablePlugin {
                     // paint pipeline — markers and cards share Sprite/
                     // Transform access (#143).
                     (
-                        apply_theme_on_settings_change,
+                        // Drains SettingsChangedEvent via cursor — a home
+                        // deal-option edit (post-mutation SettingsAccess
+                        // writer) surfacing one frame later repaints one
+                        // frame later, which is invisible (#143).
+                        apply_theme_on_settings_change
+                            .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
                         apply_hint_pile_highlight,
                         tick_hint_pile_highlights,
                         sync_pile_marker_visibility.after(GameMutation),

solitaire_engine/src/theme_store_plugin.rs

@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ use crate::resources::TokioRuntimeResource;
 use crate::settings_plugin::{SettingsPanel, SettingsResource};
 use crate::theme::{ImportError, ThemeRegistry, import_theme, refresh_registry};
 use crate::ui_modal::{
-    ButtonVariant, ModalScrim, ScrimDismissible, spawn_modal, spawn_modal_actions,
-    spawn_modal_button, spawn_modal_header,
+    ButtonVariant, ModalScrim, ScrimDismissible, spawn_empty_state, spawn_modal,
+    spawn_modal_actions, spawn_modal_button, spawn_modal_header,
 };
 use crate::ui_theme::{
     BORDER_SUBTLE, TEXT_PRIMARY, TEXT_SECONDARY, TYPE_BODY, TYPE_CAPTION, VAL_SPACE_2, VAL_SPACE_3,
@@ -528,25 +528,31 @@ fn spawn_store_modal(
 
         match catalog_state {
             CatalogState::Idle | CatalogState::Loading => {
-                card.spawn((
-                    Text::new("Loading catalog…"),
-                    body_font.clone(),
-                    TextColor(TEXT_SECONDARY),
-                ));
+                spawn_empty_state(
+                    card,
+                    "\u{21BB}",
+                    "Loading the catalog\u{2026}",
+                    None,
+                    font_res,
+                );
             }
             CatalogState::Error(msg) => {
-                card.spawn((
-                    Text::new(format!("Could not load the catalog: {msg}")),
-                    body_font.clone(),
-                    TextColor(TEXT_SECONDARY),
-                ));
+                spawn_empty_state(
+                    card,
+                    "!",
+                    "Couldn't load the catalog.",
+                    Some(msg.as_str()),
+                    font_res,
+                );
             }
             CatalogState::Loaded(entries) if entries.is_empty() => {
-                card.spawn((
-                    Text::new("The server has no themes yet."),
-                    body_font.clone(),
-                    TextColor(TEXT_SECONDARY),
-                ));
+                spawn_empty_state(
+                    card,
+                    "#",
+                    "The server has no themes yet.",
+                    Some("Themes dropped into the server's theme_store folder appear here."),
+                    font_res,
+                );
             }
             CatalogState::Loaded(entries) => {
                 for entry in entries {

solitaire_engine/src/time_attack_plugin.rs

@@ -109,13 +109,41 @@ impl Plugin for TimeAttackPlugin {
             .add_message::<NewGameRequestEvent>()
             .add_message::<StartTimeAttackRequestEvent>()
             .add_message::<InfoToastEvent>()
+            // ModeStart places it between the stats abandon-recorder and
+            // GameMutation; it shares the new-game request/toast streams
+            // with the other writers (#143).
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
-                handle_start_time_attack_request.before(GameMutation),
+                handle_start_time_attack_request
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::ModeStart)
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
+            )
+            // One post-mutation chain for the TimeAttackResource writers:
+            // clock tick, win auto-deal, then the debounced disk save.
+            // The start handler (ModeStart, pre-mutation) is ordered
+            // against all three transitively. auto_deal's new-game request
+            // is drained wholesale next frame, so it joins the writer club
+            // (#143). PausedResource is settled: PauseMutation < GameMutation.
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                (
+                    advance_time_attack,
+                    auto_deal_on_time_attack_win
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters),
+                    auto_save_time_attack_session,
+                )
+                    .chain()
+                    .after(GameMutation)
+                    // The HUD clock (after AutoComplete) and the ended-toast
+                    // handler (AnimFx) read what this chain writes — settle
+                    // it before both (#143).
+                    .before(crate::auto_complete_plugin::AutoComplete)
+                    .before(crate::animation_plugin::AnimFx),
             )
-            .add_systems(Update, advance_time_attack)
-            .add_systems(Update, auto_deal_on_time_attack_win.after(GameMutation))
-            .add_systems(Update, auto_save_time_attack_session)
             .add_systems(Last, save_time_attack_session_on_exit);
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/touch_selection_plugin.rs

@@ -100,7 +100,11 @@ impl Plugin for TouchSelectionPlugin {
                 update_touch_selection_highlight,
             )
                 .chain()
-                .after(GameMutation),
+                .after(GameMutation)
+                // Selection cleanup and highlight placement settle before
+                // the board painters repaint (and before resync's synthetic
+                // StateChanged / fan-frac's layout write land) (#143).
+                .before(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals),
         );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/ui_glass.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,281 @@
+//! "Liquid glass" material for floating UI surfaces.
+//!
+//! Produces the translucent, light-catching treatment used by the floating
+//! touch tab bar (`hud_plugin::tab_bar`): a semi-transparent fill with a
+//! vertical sheen, a specular rim highlight around the border, and a soft
+//! drop shadow underneath. The table shows through the fill *sharp* — Bevy's
+//! UI pipeline has no backdrop-blur concept, so this module approximates
+//! frosted glass with layered gradients instead of sampling what's behind
+//! the node. That keeps it a plain `bevy_ui` bundle: no custom shaders, no
+//! extra render passes, and identical behaviour on desktop, Android, and
+//! WebGL2.
+//!
+//! # Swapping the treatment
+//!
+//! Layout code depends only on [`glass_surface`] and [`GLASS_BORDER_PX`].
+//! A future real-refraction material (e.g. a `UiMaterial` sampling a blurred
+//! render target) can replace this module's internals without touching any
+//! caller — that boundary is the reason this file exists separately from
+//! `hud_plugin/tab_bar.rs`.
+//!
+//! # Departure from the Terminal design system
+//!
+//! `ui_theme` documents HUD chrome as opaque "status-line" panels. The glass
+//! bar is a deliberate, user-approved exception for the floating touch tab
+//! bar only; do not reuse this material for modals or the top HUD band
+//! without a matching design decision.
+
+use bevy::prelude::*;
+use bevy::ui::{
+    BackgroundGradient, BorderGradient, BoxShadow, ColorStop, LinearGradient, ShadowStyle,
+};
+
+use crate::ui_theme::{BG_ELEVATED, BORDER_SUBTLE, BORDER_SUBTLE_HC};
+
+/// Border width every glass surface must reserve in its `Node::border` so
+/// the rim gradient has a strip to paint into.
+pub const GLASS_BORDER_PX: f32 = 1.0;
+
+/// Marker on every node that received [`glass_surface`]. The settings
+/// plugin's `update_glass_surfaces` retargets these when the player
+/// toggles reduce-transparency or high-contrast, swapping the gradients
+/// in place via [`glass_decorations`].
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+pub struct GlassSurface;
+
+/// Base fill at the *bottom* of the glass sheet — near-black at ~62%
+/// opacity so the felt and cards remain visible through the bar while
+/// keeping icon/label contrast comfortable.
+const GLASS_FILL_BOTTOM: Color = Color::srgba(0.055, 0.055, 0.063, 0.62);
+
+/// Fill at the *top* of the sheet — the same glass lifted towards white,
+/// reading as the curved surface catching overhead light.
+const GLASS_FILL_TOP: Color = Color::srgba(0.20, 0.21, 0.23, 0.66);
+
+/// Rim highlight at the top edge — the bright specular line where a real
+/// glass pill would catch the light source.
+const GLASS_RIM_TOP: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.38);
+
+/// Rim at the midpoint — almost gone, so the highlight reads as a glint
+/// rather than a drawn outline.
+const GLASS_RIM_MID: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.06);
+
+/// Rim at the bottom edge — a faint secondary catch-light, as on the
+/// underside of a curved surface above a bright table.
+const GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.16);
+
+/// Drop shadow under the floating surface.
+const GLASS_SHADOW: Color = Color::srgba(0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.35);
+
+/// High-contrast fill — same glass, far less see-through, so text and
+/// icons keep contrast over any card art. Per `design-system.md`
+/// §Accessibility the HC toggle trades aesthetics for legibility.
+const GLASS_FILL_TOP_HC: Color = Color::srgba(0.20, 0.21, 0.23, 0.90);
+/// High-contrast fill at the bottom of the sheet.
+const GLASS_FILL_BOTTOM_HC: Color = Color::srgba(0.055, 0.055, 0.063, 0.88);
+
+/// High-contrast rim at the top edge — matches the luminance of
+/// `BORDER_SUBTLE_HC` so the bar's outline reads as strongly as every
+/// other HC-boosted border.
+const GLASS_RIM_TOP_HC: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.75);
+/// High-contrast rim at the midpoint.
+const GLASS_RIM_MID_HC: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.35);
+/// High-contrast rim at the bottom edge.
+const GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM_HC: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.50);
+
+/// Visual components for a floating glass surface.
+///
+/// The caller owns the `Node` and must set two fields for the material to
+/// render correctly:
+/// - `border: UiRect::all(Val::Px(GLASS_BORDER_PX))` — the rim gradient
+///   paints into the border strip and is invisible without it.
+/// - `border_radius` — half the node height for a fully-round pill.
+///
+/// Everything here is fragment-shader work inside Bevy's stock UI pipeline,
+/// so it is safe on WebGL2 and adds no per-frame cost beyond ordinary nodes.
+pub fn glass_surface() -> impl Bundle {
+    let (sheen, rim) = glass_decorations(false, false);
+    (
+        GlassSurface,
+        sheen,
+        rim,
+        // Soft shadow underneath sells the "floating above the table" read.
+        BoxShadow(vec![ShadowStyle {
+            color: GLASS_SHADOW,
+            x_offset: Val::Px(0.0),
+            y_offset: Val::Px(6.0),
+            spread_radius: Val::Px(0.0),
+            blur_radius: Val::Px(16.0),
+        }]),
+    )
+}
+
+/// The sheen + rim pair for the requested accessibility state. The
+/// settings plugin overwrites every [`GlassSurface`]'s components with
+/// these when the relevant toggles change.
+///
+/// - Default: translucent fill with a top-lit sheen and a specular rim.
+/// - `high_contrast`: same shape, near-opaque fill, and a rim boosted to
+///   `BORDER_SUBTLE_HC` luminance so the outline stays legible.
+/// - `reduce_transparency`: flat opaque `BG_ELEVATED` fill and a flat
+///   border — no see-through at all. Combined with `high_contrast` the
+///   flat border brightens to `BORDER_SUBTLE_HC`.
+pub fn glass_decorations(
+    reduce_transparency: bool,
+    high_contrast: bool,
+) -> (BackgroundGradient, BorderGradient) {
+    if reduce_transparency {
+        // "Gradients" with a single stop render as flat fills — reusing the
+        // same component types means the settings toggle swaps values, not
+        // component sets.
+        let border = if high_contrast {
+            BORDER_SUBTLE_HC
+        } else {
+            BORDER_SUBTLE
+        };
+        return (
+            BackgroundGradient(vec![
+                LinearGradient::new(
+                    LinearGradient::TO_BOTTOM,
+                    vec![ColorStop::new(BG_ELEVATED, Val::Percent(0.0))],
+                )
+                .into(),
+            ]),
+            BorderGradient(vec![
+                LinearGradient::new(
+                    LinearGradient::TO_BOTTOM,
+                    vec![ColorStop::new(border, Val::Percent(0.0))],
+                )
+                .into(),
+            ]),
+        );
+    }
+
+    let (fill_top, fill_bottom, rim_top, rim_mid, rim_bottom) = if high_contrast {
+        (
+            GLASS_FILL_TOP_HC,
+            GLASS_FILL_BOTTOM_HC,
+            GLASS_RIM_TOP_HC,
+            GLASS_RIM_MID_HC,
+            GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM_HC,
+        )
+    } else {
+        (
+            GLASS_FILL_TOP,
+            GLASS_FILL_BOTTOM,
+            GLASS_RIM_TOP,
+            GLASS_RIM_MID,
+            GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM,
+        )
+    };
+    (
+        // Sheen: one top-to-bottom linear gradient carries both the fill and
+        // the lighting so there is a single source of truth for the surface
+        // colour (a separate `BackgroundColor` would just be painted over).
+        BackgroundGradient(vec![
+            LinearGradient::new(
+                LinearGradient::TO_BOTTOM,
+                vec![
+                    ColorStop::new(fill_top, Val::Percent(0.0)),
+                    ColorStop::new(fill_bottom, Val::Percent(60.0)),
+                ],
+            )
+            .into(),
+        ]),
+        // Specular rim: bright at the top edge, fading out through the
+        // sides, with a faint return at the bottom.
+        BorderGradient(vec![
+            LinearGradient::new(
+                LinearGradient::TO_BOTTOM,
+                vec![
+                    ColorStop::new(rim_top, Val::Percent(0.0)),
+                    ColorStop::new(rim_mid, Val::Percent(55.0)),
+                    ColorStop::new(rim_bottom, Val::Percent(100.0)),
+                ],
+            )
+            .into(),
+        ]),
+    )
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use bevy::ui::Gradient;
+
+    /// The bundle must insert all three visual components — a regression
+    /// here (e.g. a refactor dropping the rim) would silently flatten the
+    /// glass into a plain translucent box.
+    #[test]
+    fn glass_surface_inserts_sheen_rim_and_shadow() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let e = world.spawn(glass_surface()).id();
+        assert!(world.get::<BackgroundGradient>(e).is_some());
+        assert!(world.get::<BorderGradient>(e).is_some());
+        assert!(world.get::<BoxShadow>(e).is_some());
+    }
+
+    /// The fill must stay translucent (that is the whole point of glass) but
+    /// opaque enough that text keeps contrast over busy card art.
+    #[test]
+    fn glass_fill_alpha_stays_in_readable_band() {
+        for fill in [GLASS_FILL_TOP, GLASS_FILL_BOTTOM] {
+            let a = fill.alpha();
+            assert!(
+                (0.4..=0.85).contains(&a),
+                "glass fill alpha {a} outside readable 0.4–0.85 band"
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// The rim gradient must actually glint: strictly brightest at the top,
+    /// dimmest in the middle.
+    #[test]
+    fn rim_highlight_peaks_at_top() {
+        assert!(GLASS_RIM_TOP.alpha() > GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM.alpha());
+        assert!(GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM.alpha() > GLASS_RIM_MID.alpha());
+        assert!(GLASS_RIM_TOP_HC.alpha() > GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM_HC.alpha());
+        assert!(GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM_HC.alpha() > GLASS_RIM_MID_HC.alpha());
+    }
+
+    /// Reduce-transparency must produce fully opaque fills — the entire
+    /// point of the toggle is that nothing shows through.
+    #[test]
+    fn reduce_transparency_is_fully_opaque() {
+        for high_contrast in [false, true] {
+            let (sheen, _) = glass_decorations(true, high_contrast);
+            for gradient in &sheen.0 {
+                let Gradient::Linear(linear) = gradient else {
+                    panic!("reduce-transparency sheen must stay linear");
+                };
+                for stop in &linear.stops {
+                    assert_eq!(
+                        stop.color.alpha(),
+                        1.0,
+                        "opaque variant leaked translucency (hc={high_contrast})"
+                    );
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// High-contrast glass must be meaningfully less transparent than the
+    /// default, and its rim meaningfully brighter — otherwise the toggle
+    /// does nothing perceptible on this surface.
+    #[test]
+    fn high_contrast_boosts_fill_and_rim() {
+        assert!(GLASS_FILL_TOP_HC.alpha() >= GLASS_FILL_TOP.alpha() + 0.15);
+        assert!(GLASS_FILL_BOTTOM_HC.alpha() >= GLASS_FILL_BOTTOM.alpha() + 0.15);
+        assert!(GLASS_RIM_TOP_HC.alpha() >= GLASS_RIM_TOP.alpha() + 0.25);
+    }
+
+    /// `glass_surface()` must carry the marker the settings applier
+    /// retargets — without it the accessibility toggles silently skip
+    /// the bar.
+    #[test]
+    fn glass_surface_carries_retarget_marker() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let e = world.spawn(glass_surface()).id();
+        assert!(world.get::<GlassSurface>(e).is_some());
+    }
+}

solitaire_engine/src/ui_modal.rs

@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ use crate::settings_plugin::SettingsResource;
 use crate::ui_theme::{
     ACCENT_PRIMARY, ACCENT_PRIMARY_HOVER, ACCENT_SECONDARY, BG_BASE, BG_ELEVATED, BG_ELEVATED_HI,
     BG_ELEVATED_PRESSED, BG_ELEVATED_TOP, BORDER_STRONG, BORDER_SUBTLE, HighContrastBorder,
-    MOTION_MODAL_SECS, RADIUS_LG, RADIUS_MD, RADIUS_SM, SCRIM, STATE_SUCCESS, TEXT_PRIMARY,
-    TEXT_SECONDARY, TYPE_BODY_LG, TYPE_CAPTION, TYPE_HEADLINE, VAL_SPACE_2, VAL_SPACE_3,
-    VAL_SPACE_4, VAL_SPACE_5, scaled_duration,
+    MOTION_MODAL_SECS, RADIUS_LG, RADIUS_MD, RADIUS_SM, SCRIM, STATE_SUCCESS, TEXT_DISABLED,
+    TEXT_PRIMARY, TEXT_SECONDARY, TYPE_BODY, TYPE_BODY_LG, TYPE_CAPTION, TYPE_DISPLAY,
+    TYPE_HEADLINE, VAL_SPACE_2, VAL_SPACE_3, VAL_SPACE_4, VAL_SPACE_5, scaled_duration,
 };
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -328,6 +328,80 @@ pub fn spawn_modal_body_text(
     parent.spawn((ModalBody, Text::new(text.into()), font, TextColor(color)));
 }
 
+/// Standard empty / loading / error surface (Phase L): a large glyph,
+/// a headline, and an optional secondary detail line, centred in the
+/// available space. Every async or possibly-empty surface (leaderboard,
+/// replays, theme store, first-launch stats) renders through this so
+/// "nothing here yet" reads identically everywhere.
+///
+/// A next-step action is composition, not configuration: spawn a
+/// [`spawn_modal_button`] (or any control) in the same parent right
+/// after this call.
+///
+/// `glyph` MUST come from FiraMono-covered ranges — card suits
+/// (U+2660–2666), Arrows (U+2190–21FF), or ASCII. The Geometric Shapes
+/// block renders as tofu on Android (§10 / §11).
+pub fn spawn_empty_state(
+    parent: &mut ChildSpawnerCommands,
+    glyph: &str,
+    headline: &str,
+    detail: Option<&str>,
+    font_res: Option<&FontResource>,
+) {
+    let font_handle = font_res.map(|f| f.0.clone()).unwrap_or_default();
+    let font_glyph = TextFont {
+        font: font_handle.clone(),
+        font_size: TYPE_DISPLAY,
+        ..default()
+    };
+    let font_headline = TextFont {
+        font: font_handle.clone(),
+        font_size: TYPE_BODY_LG,
+        ..default()
+    };
+    let font_detail = TextFont {
+        font: font_handle,
+        font_size: TYPE_BODY,
+        ..default()
+    };
+
+    parent
+        .spawn((
+            EmptyStateBlock,
+            Node {
+                flex_direction: FlexDirection::Column,
+                align_items: AlignItems::Center,
+                row_gap: VAL_SPACE_2,
+                padding: UiRect::axes(VAL_SPACE_3, VAL_SPACE_5),
+                width: Val::Percent(100.0),
+                ..default()
+            },
+        ))
+        .with_children(|block| {
+            block.spawn((
+                Text::new(glyph.to_string()),
+                font_glyph,
+                TextColor(TEXT_DISABLED),
+            ));
+            block.spawn((
+                Text::new(headline.to_string()),
+                font_headline,
+                TextColor(TEXT_PRIMARY),
+            ));
+            if let Some(detail) = detail {
+                block.spawn((
+                    Text::new(detail.to_string()),
+                    font_detail,
+                    TextColor(TEXT_SECONDARY),
+                ));
+            }
+        });
+}
+
+/// Marker on every [`spawn_empty_state`] block, mostly for tests.
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+pub struct EmptyStateBlock;
+
 /// Spawns the bottom actions row — flex-row with primary right-aligned.
 /// The closure populates the row's buttons via `spawn_modal_button`.
 ///
@@ -472,6 +546,15 @@ pub fn spawn_tab_chip<M: Component>(
 // Generic touch-scroll helper
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+/// Self-ambiguous writer set for the per-modal scroll systems (mouse-wheel
+/// and touch variants). Every member writes `ScrollPosition`, but each
+/// targets only its own modal's scrollable body via a marker component, and
+/// the modal-stacking guard means at most one such panel exists at a time —
+/// the writes are disjoint by design, so members declare
+/// `.in_set(PanelScroll).ambiguous_with(PanelScroll)` (#143).
+#[derive(bevy::ecs::schedule::SystemSet, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct PanelScroll;
+
 /// Scrolls any `Overflow::scroll_y()` panel marked with `M` via single-finger
 /// touch pan. Add this as a system for each scrollable modal panel:
 ///
@@ -766,7 +849,11 @@ impl Plugin for UiModalPlugin {
                 .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
                 .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
                 .ambiguous_with(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals)
-                .ambiguous_with(crate::hud_plugin::HudButtons),
+                .ambiguous_with(crate::hud_plugin::HudButtons)
+                // Reads only the anim-speed settings field — disjoint from
+                // the screen-plugin club's writes (#143).
+                .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
         );
         // Click-outside-to-dismiss is independent of the open
         // animation chain — it reads `just_pressed(Left)` and runs
@@ -1184,4 +1271,62 @@ mod tests {
             "exactly one of the two stacked dismissible modals should remain"
         );
     }
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Phase L: standard empty state
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /// The helper spawns glyph + headline (+ detail when given) under one
+    /// marked block, so every empty surface renders identically.
+    #[test]
+    fn empty_state_spawns_expected_structure() {
+        let mut app = App::new();
+        app.add_plugins(MinimalPlugins);
+        {
+            let world = app.world_mut();
+            let mut commands = world.commands();
+            commands.spawn(Node::default()).with_children(|parent| {
+                spawn_empty_state(
+                    parent,
+                    "\u{2660}",
+                    "Nothing here.",
+                    Some("Do the thing."),
+                    None,
+                );
+                spawn_empty_state(parent, "!", "No detail variant.", None, None);
+            });
+        }
+        app.update();
+
+        let blocks = app
+            .world_mut()
+            .query_filtered::<Entity, With<EmptyStateBlock>>()
+            .iter(app.world())
+            .count();
+        assert_eq!(blocks, 2, "each call spawns exactly one marked block");
+
+        let texts: Vec<String> = app
+            .world_mut()
+            .query::<&Text>()
+            .iter(app.world())
+            .map(|t| t.0.clone())
+            .collect();
+        for expected in [
+            "\u{2660}",
+            "Nothing here.",
+            "Do the thing.",
+            "!",
+            "No detail variant.",
+        ] {
+            assert!(
+                texts.iter().any(|t| t == expected),
+                "missing text node {expected:?}; got {texts:?}"
+            );
+        }
+        assert_eq!(
+            texts.len(),
+            5,
+            "the detail-less variant must not spawn a detail node"
+        );
+    }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/ui_tooltip.rs

@@ -93,7 +93,23 @@ impl Plugin for UiTooltipPlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
         app.init_resource::<TooltipState>()
             .add_systems(Startup, spawn_tooltip_overlay)
-            .add_systems(Update, (track_tooltip_hover, show_or_hide_tooltip).chain());
+            // The tooltip pair only touches the tooltip overlay entity and
+            // reads settings for the enable flag — chrome-disjoint from the
+            // other UiTextFx members, and a settings read that may lag a
+            // frame joins the SettingsAccess club (#143).
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                (track_tooltip_hover, show_or_hide_tooltip)
+                    .chain()
+                    .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                    .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                    // The tooltip node is neither a board entity nor a pile
+                    // marker; the visibility writes can't collide (#143).
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::card_plugin::BoardVisuals)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::table_plugin::MarkerVisuals),
+            );
     }
 }
 

solitaire_engine/src/weekly_goals_plugin.rs

@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ use solitaire_data::{
 };
 
 use crate::events::{GameWonEvent, XpAwardedEvent};
-use crate::game_plugin::GameMutation;
-use crate::progress_plugin::{LevelUpEvent, ProgressResource, ProgressStoragePath, ProgressUpdate};
+
+use crate::progress_plugin::{LevelUpEvent, ProgressResource, ProgressStoragePath};
 use crate::resources::GameStateResource;
 
 /// Fired when the player has just completed a weekly goal.
@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@ impl Plugin for WeeklyGoalsPlugin {
             .add_systems(Startup, roll_weekly_goals_on_startup)
             // Run after GameMutation (so GameWonEvent is available) and
             // ProgressUpdate (so we don't fight ProgressPlugin's add_xp).
+            // Ordering comes from the mode-completion chain configured in
+            // progress_plugin (#143).
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
-                evaluate_weekly_goals
-                    .after(GameMutation)
-                    .after(ProgressUpdate),
+                evaluate_weekly_goals.in_set(crate::progress_plugin::WeeklyGoalsEval),
             );
     }
 }

solitaire_engine/src/whats_new_plugin.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,527 @@
+//! One-shot "What's new" card on the first launch after an update
+//! (Phase I of the 2026-07 UI redesign).
+//!
+//! ObtainX updates install silently, so shipped features go unnoticed —
+//! nobody found the theme store on their own. On the first launch where
+//! the running release differs from `Settings::last_seen_whats_new`,
+//! this plugin shows a single dismissible card summarising the latest
+//! changelog section, then records the version so the card never
+//! repeats. Fresh installs never see it: onboarding completion stamps
+//! the current version silently, so the card only ever describes an
+//! *upgrade*.
+//!
+//! # Launch beat
+//!
+//! Splash → (first run only: onboarding) → **what's new** → Home →
+//! table. `spawn_home_on_launch` waits on [`WhatsNewPending`] the same
+//! way it waits for the onboarding modal.
+//!
+//! # Version source
+//!
+//! The embedded `CHANGELOG.md`'s topmost release section provides both
+//! the card's content and the "current version" for change detection —
+//! one source of truth, no build-time version plumbing. (The APK
+//! `versionName` comes from the release tag at package time and never
+//! reaches Rust; the workspace `Cargo.toml` version is static.)
+
+use bevy::input::ButtonInput;
+use bevy::prelude::*;
+use solitaire_data::save_settings_to;
+
+use crate::font_plugin::FontResource;
+use crate::onboarding_plugin::OnboardingScreen;
+use crate::settings_plugin::{SettingsResource, SettingsStoragePath};
+use crate::ui_modal::{
+    ButtonVariant, ModalScrim, spawn_modal, spawn_modal_actions, spawn_modal_button,
+    spawn_modal_header,
+};
+use crate::ui_theme::{
+    TEXT_PRIMARY, TEXT_SECONDARY, TYPE_BODY, TYPE_CAPTION, VAL_SPACE_1, VAL_SPACE_2, Z_MODAL_PANEL,
+};
+
+/// The changelog ships inside the binary — small, changes only at
+/// release cadence, and the card must work offline (§4.2).
+const CHANGELOG: &str = include_str!("../../CHANGELOG.md");
+
+/// Most bullets shown on the card; a giant release stays skimmable.
+const MAX_CARD_BULLETS: usize = 8;
+
+/// Marker on the What's-new modal's scrim root.
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+pub struct WhatsNewScreen;
+
+/// Marker on the card's "Got it" button.
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+struct WhatsNewCloseButton;
+
+/// `true` until this plugin has made its launch-beat decision — either
+/// the card was shown and dismissed, or there was nothing to show.
+/// `spawn_home_on_launch` waits on this so the card gets the beat
+/// before Home.
+#[derive(Resource, Debug)]
+pub struct WhatsNewPending(pub bool);
+
+impl Default for WhatsNewPending {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self(true)
+    }
+}
+
+/// One display line of the card.
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+enum NoteLine {
+    /// A `###` section heading ("Added", "Fixed", …).
+    Heading(String),
+    /// The lead sentence of one changelog bullet.
+    Bullet(String),
+}
+
+/// The changelog's topmost release section, reduced to card content.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct ReleaseNotes {
+    /// Version string without the `v` prefix, e.g. `"0.46.0"`.
+    version: String,
+    lines: Vec<NoteLine>,
+}
+
+/// The version of the topmost changelog release — the engine's notion
+/// of "the running release". Empty only if the changelog is malformed.
+pub fn current_release_version() -> String {
+    parse_latest_release(CHANGELOG).map_or_else(String::new, |notes| notes.version)
+}
+
+/// Parses the first `## [x.y.z]` section of `changelog` into card
+/// content. `## [Unreleased]` is skipped; `### Internal` subsections
+/// are dropped (players don't care about CI); each bullet is reduced
+/// to its lead sentence with markdown emphasis stripped.
+fn parse_latest_release(changelog: &str) -> Option<ReleaseNotes> {
+    let mut lines_iter = changelog.lines();
+    let mut version = None;
+    for line in lines_iter.by_ref() {
+        if let Some(rest) = line.strip_prefix("## [") {
+            let (v, _) = rest.split_once(']')?;
+            if v.eq_ignore_ascii_case("Unreleased") {
+                continue;
+            }
+            version = Some(v.to_string());
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    let version = version?;
+
+    let mut lines = Vec::new();
+    let mut skipping_section = false;
+    let mut current_bullet: Option<String> = None;
+
+    let flush = |bullet: &mut Option<String>, lines: &mut Vec<NoteLine>| {
+        if let Some(text) = bullet.take() {
+            lines.push(NoteLine::Bullet(lead_sentence(&text)));
+        }
+    };
+
+    for line in lines_iter {
+        if line.starts_with("## [") {
+            break; // next (older) release section
+        }
+        if let Some(heading) = line.strip_prefix("### ") {
+            flush(&mut current_bullet, &mut lines);
+            skipping_section = heading.trim().eq_ignore_ascii_case("internal");
+            if !skipping_section {
+                lines.push(NoteLine::Heading(heading.trim().to_string()));
+            }
+            continue;
+        }
+        if skipping_section {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if let Some(rest) = line.strip_prefix("- ") {
+            flush(&mut current_bullet, &mut lines);
+            current_bullet = Some(rest.trim().to_string());
+        } else if current_bullet.is_some() && !line.trim().is_empty() {
+            // Wrapped continuation of the current bullet.
+            if let Some(bullet) = current_bullet.as_mut() {
+                bullet.push(' ');
+                bullet.push_str(line.trim());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    flush(&mut current_bullet, &mut lines);
+
+    Some(ReleaseNotes { version, lines })
+}
+
+/// Strips markdown emphasis / code ticks and truncates to the first
+/// sentence — changelog bullets lead with a bold summary sentence, and
+/// that is exactly the card-sized version.
+fn lead_sentence(bullet: &str) -> String {
+    let stripped: String = bullet.replace("**", "").replace('`', "");
+    // Trailing "(#123)" references never survive the sentence cut, but
+    // guard against a bullet that is only a reference.
+    let end = stripped.find(". ").map_or(stripped.len(), |i| i + 1);
+    stripped[..end].trim().trim_end_matches('.').to_string()
+}
+
+/// Registers the launch-gate spawn system and the dismiss handlers.
+pub struct WhatsNewPlugin;
+
+impl Plugin for WhatsNewPlugin {
+    fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
+        app.init_resource::<WhatsNewPending>()
+            .init_resource::<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>()
+            .add_systems(
+                Update,
+                (maybe_spawn_whats_new, handle_whats_new_close).chain(),
+            );
+    }
+}
+
+/// Shows the card once the launch surface is clear, or stands down when
+/// there is nothing to show. See the module docs for the exact beat.
+///
+/// The seen-version stamp persists on *spawn*, not dismissal — if the
+/// app dies with the card open the player has still seen it once, and
+/// the card must never nag.
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
+fn maybe_spawn_whats_new(
+    mut commands: Commands,
+    mut pending: ResMut<WhatsNewPending>,
+    splash: Query<(), With<crate::splash_plugin::SplashRoot>>,
+    onboarding: Query<(), With<OnboardingScreen>>,
+    restore_prompts: Query<(), With<crate::game_plugin::RestorePromptScreen>>,
+    pending_restore: Option<Res<crate::game_plugin::PendingRestoredGame>>,
+    other_scrims: Query<(), With<ModalScrim>>,
+    mut settings: Option<ResMut<SettingsResource>>,
+    storage_path: Option<Res<SettingsStoragePath>>,
+    font_res: Option<Res<FontResource>>,
+    screens: Query<(), With<WhatsNewScreen>>,
+) {
+    if !pending.0 {
+        return;
+    }
+    if !screens.is_empty() {
+        // Card already open — the seen-version stamp landed on spawn,
+        // so without this guard the next frame would read "already
+        // seen" and release the beat under the open card.
+        return;
+    }
+    if !splash.is_empty()
+        || !onboarding.is_empty()
+        || !restore_prompts.is_empty()
+        || pending_restore.as_ref().is_some_and(|p| p.0.is_some())
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+    let Some(settings) = settings.as_mut() else {
+        // Headless / no settings wired: nothing to compare against.
+        pending.0 = false;
+        return;
+    };
+    if !settings.0.first_run_complete {
+        // Fresh install mid-onboarding — completion stamps the version
+        // itself (see `complete_onboarding`), which resolves this gate
+        // on a later frame without ever showing the card.
+        return;
+    }
+    let Some(notes) = parse_latest_release(CHANGELOG) else {
+        pending.0 = false;
+        return;
+    };
+    if settings.0.last_seen_whats_new == notes.version {
+        pending.0 = false;
+        return;
+    }
+    if !other_scrims.is_empty() {
+        // Another modal owns the beat right now; try again next frame.
+        return;
+    }
+
+    spawn_whats_new_card(&mut commands, &notes, font_res.as_deref());
+
+    settings.0.last_seen_whats_new = notes.version.clone();
+    if let Some(p) = storage_path
+        && let Some(path) = p.0.as_deref()
+        && let Err(e) = save_settings_to(path, &settings.0)
+    {
+        warn!("whats-new: failed to persist seen version: {e}");
+    }
+    // `pending` stays true until dismissal so Home keeps waiting.
+}
+
+/// Dismisses the card on "Got it" or Esc and releases the launch beat.
+fn handle_whats_new_close(
+    mut commands: Commands,
+    keys: Option<Res<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>>,
+    buttons: Query<&Interaction, (With<WhatsNewCloseButton>, Changed<Interaction>)>,
+    screens: Query<Entity, With<WhatsNewScreen>>,
+    other_scrims: Query<(), (With<ModalScrim>, Without<WhatsNewScreen>)>,
+    mut pending: ResMut<WhatsNewPending>,
+) {
+    if screens.is_empty() {
+        return;
+    }
+    let click = buttons.iter().any(|i| *i == Interaction::Pressed);
+    let esc = keys.is_some_and(|k| k.just_pressed(KeyCode::Escape)) && other_scrims.is_empty();
+    if !click && !esc {
+        return;
+    }
+    for entity in &screens {
+        commands.entity(entity).despawn();
+    }
+    pending.0 = false;
+}
+
+/// Spawns the card: header with the version, the parsed changelog
+/// lines, and a "Got it" action.
+fn spawn_whats_new_card(
+    commands: &mut Commands,
+    notes: &ReleaseNotes,
+    font_res: Option<&FontResource>,
+) {
+    let font_handle = font_res.map(|f| f.0.clone()).unwrap_or_default();
+    let font_heading = TextFont {
+        font: font_handle.clone(),
+        font_size: TYPE_CAPTION,
+        ..default()
+    };
+    let font_bullet = TextFont {
+        font: font_handle,
+        font_size: TYPE_BODY,
+        ..default()
+    };
+
+    // Deliberately NOT ScrimDismissible: scrim-tap despawns without
+    // running the close handler, which would leave the launch beat
+    // held and Home never spawning. Esc and "Got it" both release it.
+    let title = format!("What's new in v{}", notes.version);
+    spawn_modal(commands, WhatsNewScreen, Z_MODAL_PANEL, |card| {
+        spawn_modal_header(card, &title, font_res);
+
+        card.spawn(Node {
+            flex_direction: FlexDirection::Column,
+            row_gap: VAL_SPACE_2,
+            width: Val::Percent(100.0),
+            max_height: Val::Vh(60.0),
+            overflow: Overflow::scroll_y(),
+            ..default()
+        })
+        .with_children(|body| {
+            let mut bullets_shown = 0usize;
+            for line in &notes.lines {
+                match line {
+                    NoteLine::Heading(heading) => {
+                        body.spawn((
+                            Text::new(heading.clone()),
+                            font_heading.clone(),
+                            TextColor(TEXT_SECONDARY),
+                            Node {
+                                margin: UiRect::top(VAL_SPACE_1),
+                                ..default()
+                            },
+                        ));
+                    }
+                    NoteLine::Bullet(text) => {
+                        if bullets_shown >= MAX_CARD_BULLETS {
+                            continue;
+                        }
+                        bullets_shown += 1;
+                        body.spawn((
+                            Text::new(format!("\u{2022} {text}")),
+                            font_bullet.clone(),
+                            TextColor(TEXT_PRIMARY),
+                        ));
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        });
+
+        spawn_modal_actions(card, |actions| {
+            spawn_modal_button(
+                actions,
+                WhatsNewCloseButton,
+                "Got it",
+                None,
+                ButtonVariant::Primary,
+                font_res,
+            );
+        });
+    });
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use solitaire_data::Settings;
+
+    const SAMPLE: &str = "# Changelog\n\n## [Unreleased]\n\n## [0.46.0] — 2026-07-13\n\n\
+### Added\n\n- **Theme-store previews.** The store modal now shows each theme's\n  \
+preview image next to its name. (#179)\n- **Hint ghost preview.** You see the move. (#179)\n\n\
+### Internal\n\n- **CI is faster.** Nobody cares in-game. (#176)\n\n\
+### Fixed\n\n- **Touch onboarding copy.** No more left-click. (#178)\n\n\
+## [0.45.0] — 2026-07-13\n\n### Added\n\n- Old stuff.\n";
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_top_section_version_and_skips_unreleased() {
+        let notes = parse_latest_release(SAMPLE).expect("sample must parse");
+        assert_eq!(notes.version, "0.46.0");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn drops_internal_sections_and_older_releases() {
+        let notes = parse_latest_release(SAMPLE).expect("sample must parse");
+        let headings: Vec<&str> = notes
+            .lines
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|l| match l {
+                NoteLine::Heading(h) => Some(h.as_str()),
+                _ => None,
+            })
+            .collect();
+        assert_eq!(headings, vec!["Added", "Fixed"]);
+        assert!(
+            !notes
+                .lines
+                .iter()
+                .any(|l| matches!(l, NoteLine::Bullet(b) if b.contains("CI is faster"))),
+            "Internal bullets must not reach the card"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !notes
+                .lines
+                .iter()
+                .any(|l| matches!(l, NoteLine::Bullet(b) if b.contains("Old stuff"))),
+            "older release sections must not bleed in"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn bullets_reduce_to_their_lead_sentence() {
+        let notes = parse_latest_release(SAMPLE).expect("sample must parse");
+        assert!(
+            notes
+                .lines
+                .contains(&NoteLine::Bullet("Theme-store previews".to_string()))
+        );
+        assert!(
+            notes
+                .lines
+                .contains(&NoteLine::Bullet("Hint ghost preview".to_string()))
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn embedded_changelog_parses_to_a_nonempty_version() {
+        let version = current_release_version();
+        assert!(
+            !version.is_empty(),
+            "the real CHANGELOG.md must yield a version"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            version.chars().next().is_some_and(|c| c.is_ascii_digit()),
+            "version must be bare (no v prefix): {version}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    fn app_with(settings: Settings) -> App {
+        let mut app = App::new();
+        app.add_plugins(MinimalPlugins).add_plugins(WhatsNewPlugin);
+        app.insert_resource(SettingsResource(settings));
+        app.update();
+        app
+    }
+
+    fn card_count(app: &mut App) -> usize {
+        app.world_mut()
+            .query::<&WhatsNewScreen>()
+            .iter(app.world())
+            .count()
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn upgrade_shows_card_and_stamps_version() {
+        let mut app = app_with(Settings {
+            first_run_complete: true,
+            last_seen_whats_new: "0.1.0".into(),
+            ..Settings::default()
+        });
+        app.update();
+
+        assert_eq!(card_count(&mut app), 1, "an upgrade must show the card");
+        assert_eq!(
+            app.world()
+                .resource::<SettingsResource>()
+                .0
+                .last_seen_whats_new,
+            current_release_version(),
+            "the seen version must stamp on spawn"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            app.world().resource::<WhatsNewPending>().0,
+            "the launch beat stays held until dismissal"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn seen_version_shows_nothing_and_releases_the_beat() {
+        let mut app = app_with(Settings {
+            first_run_complete: true,
+            last_seen_whats_new: current_release_version(),
+            ..Settings::default()
+        });
+        app.update();
+
+        assert_eq!(card_count(&mut app), 0);
+        assert!(
+            !app.world().resource::<WhatsNewPending>().0,
+            "nothing to show must release the launch beat"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn fresh_install_waits_for_onboarding_and_never_shows() {
+        let mut app = app_with(Settings {
+            first_run_complete: false,
+            ..Settings::default()
+        });
+        app.update();
+        assert_eq!(card_count(&mut app), 0);
+        assert!(
+            app.world().resource::<WhatsNewPending>().0,
+            "mid-onboarding the beat stays held"
+        );
+
+        // Onboarding completion stamps the version (mirrored from
+        // complete_onboarding) — afterwards the card must stand down.
+        {
+            let mut settings = app.world_mut().resource_mut::<SettingsResource>();
+            settings.0.first_run_complete = true;
+            settings.0.last_seen_whats_new = current_release_version();
+        }
+        app.update();
+        assert_eq!(card_count(&mut app), 0, "fresh installs never see the card");
+        assert!(!app.world().resource::<WhatsNewPending>().0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn got_it_dismisses_and_releases_the_beat() {
+        let mut app = app_with(Settings {
+            first_run_complete: true,
+            ..Settings::default()
+        });
+        app.update();
+        assert_eq!(card_count(&mut app), 1);
+
+        let button = app
+            .world_mut()
+            .query_filtered::<Entity, With<WhatsNewCloseButton>>()
+            .single(app.world())
+            .expect("Got it button must exist");
+        app.world_mut()
+            .entity_mut(button)
+            .insert(Interaction::Pressed);
+        app.update();
+        app.update();
+
+        assert_eq!(card_count(&mut app), 0, "Got it must dismiss the card");
+        assert!(!app.world().resource::<WhatsNewPending>().0);
+    }
+}

solitaire_engine/src/win_summary_plugin.rs

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 //! shake duration elapses.
 
 use bevy::prelude::*;
-use solitaire_core::game_state::GameMode;
+use solitaire_core::game_state::{GameMode, GameState};
 use solitaire_core::scoring::compute_time_bonus;
 use solitaire_data::AnimSpeed;
 
@@ -93,6 +93,40 @@ pub struct WinSummaryPending {
     /// score-breakdown reveal can format the mode-multiplier row
     /// (e.g. `Zen ×0.0`, `Classic ×1.0`).
     pub mode: GameMode,
+    /// Per-move-type recap of the winning game, e.g.
+    /// `"21 to foundation · 14 tableau moves · 9 flips · 1 recycle"`.
+    /// Built from the upstream session counters at win time; empty when
+    /// every counter is zero (synthesised test wins).
+    pub move_detail: String,
+}
+
+/// Formats the per-move-type recap line for the win modal from the
+/// upstream session counters. Zero-valued components are omitted so the
+/// line stays short; returns an empty string when nothing was counted
+/// (only possible for synthesised test wins).
+fn build_move_detail(game: &GameState) -> String {
+    let mut parts: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
+    let foundation = game.move_to_foundation_count();
+    if foundation > 0 {
+        parts.push(format!("{foundation} to foundation"));
+    }
+    let tableau = game.move_to_tableau_count();
+    if tableau > 0 {
+        parts.push(format!("{tableau} tableau moves"));
+    }
+    let flips = game.flip_up_count();
+    if flips > 0 {
+        parts.push(format!("{flips} flips"));
+    }
+    let recycles = game.recycle_count();
+    if recycles > 0 {
+        parts.push(format!("{recycles} recycles"));
+    }
+    let returns = game.move_from_foundation_count();
+    if returns > 0 {
+        parts.push(format!("{returns} foundation returns"));
+    }
+    parts.join(" \u{00B7} ")
 }
 
 /// Builds a human-readable XP breakdown string for the win modal.
@@ -232,20 +266,54 @@ impl Plugin for WinSummaryPlugin {
             // the player's old personal-best values before `StatsPlugin` overwrites them.
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
-                cache_win_data.after(GameMutation).before(StatsUpdate),
+                cache_win_data
+                    .after(GameMutation)
+                    .before(StatsUpdate)
+                    // Must also read pre-award progress (old level for the
+                    // level-up row) and emits the personal-best toast.
+                    .before(crate::progress_plugin::ProgressUpdate)
+                    .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                    .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
             )
             .add_systems(
                 Update,
+                // One deterministic chain, late on the frame: after AnimFx
+                // so the unlock/XP event streams it drains are settled by
+                // both achievement evaluators (win + replay-completion run
+                // before AnimFx). Members join the request/toast writer
+                // clubs they append to; the camera shake and the score
+                // reveal touch entity domains disjoint from the card/HUD
+                // painters (#143).
                 (
-                    collect_session_achievements,
-                    spawn_win_summary_after_delay,
-                    handle_win_summary_buttons,
+                    collect_session_achievements
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters),
+                    spawn_win_summary_after_delay
+                        .in_set(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::settings_plugin::SettingsAccess),
+                    handle_win_summary_buttons
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::InfoToastWriters),
                     close_overlay_on_watch_replay,
-                    handle_win_summary_keyboard,
-                    apply_screen_shake,
-                    reveal_score_breakdown,
+                    handle_win_summary_keyboard
+                        .in_set(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::game_plugin::NewGameRequestWriters)
+                        .before(crate::ui_focus::FocusKeys),
+                    apply_screen_shake
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::feedback_anim_plugin::FeedbackFx)
+                        // Shakes the camera; hint ghosts are their own
+                        // entity domain (#143).
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::feedback_anim_plugin::HintGhostFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
+                    reveal_score_breakdown
+                        .in_set(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx)
+                        .ambiguous_with(crate::ui_theme::UiTextFx),
                 )
-                    .after(GameMutation),
+                    .chain()
+                    .after(GameMutation)
+                    .after(crate::animation_plugin::AnimFx),
             );
     }
 }
@@ -492,6 +560,7 @@ fn cache_win_data(
         pending.challenge_level = challenge_level;
         pending.undo_count = game.0.undo_count();
         pending.mode = game.0.mode;
+        pending.move_detail = build_move_detail(&game.0);
 
         if is_new_record {
             toast.write(InfoToastEvent("New Record!".to_string()));
@@ -913,6 +982,18 @@ fn spawn_overlay(
                     ));
                 }
 
+                // Move-type recap (same quiet styling as the XP breakdown)
+                if !pending.move_detail.is_empty() {
+                    card.spawn((
+                        Text::new(pending.move_detail.clone()),
+                        TextFont {
+                            font_size: 15.0,
+                            ..default()
+                        },
+                        TextColor(TEXT_SECONDARY),
+                    ));
+                }
+
                 // Achievements unlocked this game — at most 3 shown explicitly;
                 // excess is summarised with "...and N more".
                 if !session.names.is_empty() {
@@ -1288,6 +1369,49 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(p.mode, GameMode::Classic);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn build_move_detail_fresh_game_is_empty() {
+        let game = GameState::new(42, solitaire_core::DrawStockConfig::DrawOne);
+        assert!(
+            build_move_detail(&game).is_empty(),
+            "no moves yet, so the recap line must be empty"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn build_move_detail_reports_played_move_types() {
+        use solitaire_core::KlondikeInstruction;
+        // Drive a real deal forward so the upstream counters accumulate:
+        // prefer foundation moves, then anything else, drawing as needed.
+        let mut game = GameState::new(42, solitaire_core::DrawStockConfig::DrawOne);
+        for _ in 0..80 {
+            let instructions = game.possible_instructions();
+            let next = instructions
+                .iter()
+                .copied()
+                .find(|i| matches!(i, KlondikeInstruction::DstFoundation(_)))
+                .or_else(|| instructions.into_iter().next());
+            match next {
+                Some(i) => {
+                    let _ = game.apply_instruction(i);
+                }
+                None => break,
+            }
+            if game.move_to_foundation_count() > 0 && game.move_to_tableau_count() > 0 {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        let detail = build_move_detail(&game);
+        assert!(
+            detail.contains("to foundation"),
+            "seed 42 reaches a foundation move within 80 plies; got: {detail}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !detail.contains("0 "),
+            "zero-valued components must be omitted; got: {detail}"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn build_xp_detail_slow_win_with_undo() {
         // 300s >= 120s → no speed bonus; undo used → no no-undo bonus.

solitaire_server/web/replay.js

@@ -315,10 +315,9 @@ btnPlay.addEventListener("click", () => {
     }, STEP_INTERVAL_MS);
 });
 
-/// Step the player back one move. Re-creates the ReplayPlayer and fast-
-/// forwards to (step_idx - 1) without rendering intermediate frames, then
-/// renders once so the CSS transition animates each card to its previous
-/// position.
+/// Step the player back one move via the wasm-side seek (rewinds to the
+/// recorded deal and fast-forwards internally), then renders once so the
+/// CSS transition animates each card to its previous position.
 function stepBack() {
     if (!player || player.step_idx() === 0) return;
     if (playInterval) {
@@ -326,12 +325,7 @@ function stepBack() {
         playInterval = null;
         btnPlay.textContent = "▶ Play";
     }
-    const target = player.step_idx() - 1;
-    player = new ReplayPlayer(replayJson);
-    for (let i = 0; i < target; i++) {
-        player.step();
-    }
-    render(player.state());
+    render(player.seek(player.step_idx() - 1));
     btnPrev.disabled = player.step_idx() === 0;
     btnRestart.disabled = player.step_idx() === 0;
     btnStep.disabled = false;

solitaire_wasm/src/lib.rs

@@ -110,6 +110,9 @@ impl From<&(Card, bool)> for CardSnapshot {
 #[wasm_bindgen]
 pub struct ReplayPlayer {
     game: GameState,
+    /// The recorded deal before any instruction, kept so [`Self::seek_native`]
+    /// can rewind without reparsing the replay JSON.
+    initial: GameState,
     moves: Vec<KlondikeInstruction>,
     step_idx: usize,
 }
@@ -144,12 +147,30 @@ impl ReplayPlayer {
         // the current build maps seeds to deals.
         let (game, moves) = GameState::from_recording(&replay.recording, replay.seed, replay.mode);
         Ok(Self {
+            initial: game.clone(),
             game,
             moves,
             step_idx: 0,
         })
     }
 
+    /// Jump to `step` (clamped to the move count): the board state after
+    /// `step` moves have been applied. Rewinds by resetting to the stored
+    /// initial deal, then fast-forwards — a few hundred instruction
+    /// applications, microseconds in practice.
+    pub fn seek_native(&mut self, step: usize) -> Result<StateSnapshot, MoveError> {
+        let target = step.min(self.moves.len());
+        if target < self.step_idx {
+            self.game = self.initial.clone();
+            self.step_idx = 0;
+        }
+        while self.step_idx < target {
+            self.game.apply_instruction(self.moves[self.step_idx])?;
+            self.step_idx += 1;
+        }
+        Ok(self.snapshot())
+    }
+
     /// Apply the next move. Returns `Ok(None)` once the list is exhausted.
     pub fn step_native(&mut self) -> Result<Option<StateSnapshot>, MoveError> {
         if self.step_idx >= self.moves.len() {
@@ -236,6 +257,25 @@ impl ReplayPlayer {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Jump directly to `step` moves applied (clamped to the move count)
+    /// and return the snapshot there. Backwards seeks rewind to the
+    /// recorded deal and fast-forward, so any position is O(replay length)
+    /// at worst — no JSON reparse, no intermediate renders.
+    ///
+    /// Throws `"replay_desync"` if a recorded move is illegal during the
+    /// fast-forward (corrupt recording).
+    pub fn seek(&mut self, step: usize) -> Result<JsValue, JsValue> {
+        match self.seek_native(step) {
+            Ok(snap) => {
+                serde_wasm_bindgen::to_value(&snap).map_err(|e| JsValue::from_str(&e.to_string()))
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                log_replay_move_error(&e);
+                Err(JsValue::from_str("replay_desync"))
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Total number of moves the replay contains.
     pub fn total_steps(&self) -> usize {
         self.moves.len()
@@ -1062,6 +1102,57 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(orig["stock"], repl["stock"], "stock deal must match");
     }
 
+    /// `seek` must land on exactly the state produced by stepping — both
+    /// forwards (fast-forward from the current position) and backwards
+    /// (rewind to the recorded deal, then fast-forward).
+    #[test]
+    fn seek_matches_stepping_in_both_directions() {
+        let mut game = SolitaireGame {
+            game: GameState::new_with_mode(51, DrawStockConfig::DrawOne, GameMode::Classic),
+        };
+        for _ in 0..24 {
+            let legal_moves = game.legal_moves_native();
+            if legal_moves.is_empty() {
+                break;
+            }
+            let idx = pick_move_index(&legal_moves).unwrap_or_default();
+            game.apply_legal_move_native(idx).expect("advance game");
+        }
+        let replay_json = game
+            .replay_export_native(60, "2026-07-10")
+            .expect("export replay");
+
+        let mut stepped = ReplayPlayer::from_json(&replay_json).expect("player A");
+        let mut seeker = ReplayPlayer::from_json(&replay_json).expect("player B");
+        let total = stepped.total_steps();
+        assert!(total >= 4, "test needs a few moves, got {total}");
+
+        // Forward: step A to k, seek B to k, compare snapshots.
+        let k = total / 2;
+        for _ in 0..k {
+            stepped.step_native().expect("step").expect("mid-replay");
+        }
+        let sought = seeker.seek_native(k).expect("seek forward");
+        assert_eq!(sought, stepped.snapshot(), "forward seek diverged at {k}");
+
+        // Backward: seek B to k - 2 and compare against a fresh stepper.
+        let back = k - 2;
+        let mut fresh = ReplayPlayer::from_json(&replay_json).expect("player C");
+        for _ in 0..back {
+            fresh.step_native().expect("step").expect("mid-replay");
+        }
+        let sought_back = seeker.seek_native(back).expect("seek backward");
+        assert_eq!(
+            sought_back,
+            fresh.snapshot(),
+            "backward seek diverged at {back}"
+        );
+
+        // Clamping: past-the-end seeks stop at the final state.
+        let end = seeker.seek_native(usize::MAX).expect("seek to end");
+        assert_eq!(end.step_idx, total);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn debug_api_autonomous_seed_batch_smoke() {
         for seed in 0_u64..128_u64 {