diff --git a/packages/web/src/App.svelte b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
index ddd82ea..d2af0f4 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/App.svelte
+++ b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
   let joinCode = $state("");
   let claimPhrase = $state("");
   let showHelp = $state(false);
+  /** Which pending attack the player has already acknowledged (modal dismissed). */
+  let attackNoticeSeen = $state<string | null>(null);
   let helpTab = $state<"play" | "rules" | "cards" | "about">("play");
   let hotseatCount = $state(2);
   let setupName = $state("");
@@ -70,6 +72,11 @@
   const view = $derived(local.active ? local.view : net.view);
   const isYourTurn = $derived(view !== null && view.activePlayerId === view.you && !view.stack);
   const youMustRespond = $derived(view?.stack != null && view.stack.waitingOn === view.you);
+  const attackNoticeKey = $derived(
+    youMustRespond && view?.stack
+      ? `${view.stack.attackerId}:${view.stack.attackCard?.instanceId ?? "punch"}:${view.stack.counters.length}`
+      : null,
+  );
   const youMustDiscard = $derived(view != null && view.pendingDiscard === view.you);
 
   const selectedDef = $derived(selectedCard ? cardDef(selectedCard.cardId) : null);
@@ -557,6 +564,31 @@
     <Help initialTab={helpTab} onclose={() => (showHelp = false)} />
   {/if}
 
+  {#if view?.stack && attackNoticeKey && attackNoticeSeen !== attackNoticeKey}
+    <div class="scrim attack-scrim" role="alertdialog" aria-label="you are under attack">
+      <div class="attack-notice">
+        <div class="attack-headline">
+          {#if view.stack.defenderId === view.you}
+            <strong>{view.stack.attackerId}</strong> attacks you!
+          {:else}
+            <strong>{view.stack.counters[view.stack.counters.length - 1]?.player}</strong> counters your spell!
+          {/if}
+        </div>
+        {#if view.stack.defenderId === view.you && view.stack.attackCard}
+          <div class="attack-card"><Card card={view.stack.attackCard} /></div>
+          {#if view.stack.numberValue != null}
+            <div class="attack-power">powered by a {view.stack.numberValue}</div>
+          {/if}
+        {:else if view.stack.defenderId === view.you}
+          <div class="attack-fist">👊 a bare-knuckled punch</div>
+        {:else if view.stack.counters.length > 0}
+          <div class="attack-card"><Card card={view.stack.counters[view.stack.counters.length - 1]!.card} /></div>
+        {/if}
+        <button class="stamp big" onclick={() => (attackNoticeSeen = attackNoticeKey)}>To arms!</button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  {/if}
+
   {#if net.catchUp && net.catchUp.length > 0}
     <Replay steps={net.catchUp} onclose={() => net.closeCatchUp()} />
   {/if}
@@ -790,13 +822,10 @@
         {:else if youMustRespond}
           <div class="slip urgent">
             {#if view.stack?.defenderId === view.you}
-              <strong>{view.stack.attackerId}</strong> attacks you
-              {#if view.stack.attackCard}with <strong>{cardDef(view.stack.attackCard.cardId).name}</strong>{:else}with a punch{/if}!
-              Play a counteraction, or
+              Under attack — respond by your hand.
             {:else}
-              Respond to the counteraction, or
+              Your spell is countered — respond by your hand.
             {/if}
-            <button class="stamp tiny" onclick={pass}>let it resolve</button>
           </div>
         {:else if view.stack}
           <div class="slip">Waiting on {view.stack.waitingOn}…</div>
@@ -864,8 +893,20 @@
           <button class="hint-cancel" onclick={clearSelection}>cancel</button>
         </div>
       {/if}
-      {#if selectedDef || youMustDiscard || discardMode || discardSelection.size > 0}
+      {#if youMustRespond || selectedDef || youMustDiscard || discardMode || discardSelection.size > 0}
         <div class="hint-strip">
+          {#if youMustRespond && view.stack}
+            <span class="hint-alert">
+              {#if view.stack.defenderId === view.you}
+                {view.stack.attackerId} attacks with
+                {view.stack.attackCard ? cardDef(view.stack.attackCard.cardId).name : "a punch"} —
+                tap a counteraction card, or
+              {:else}
+                {view.stack.waitingOn === view.you ? "They counter your spell — counter back, or" : ""}
+              {/if}
+            </span>
+            <button class="stamp tiny" onclick={pass}>let it resolve</button>
+          {/if}
           {#if youMustDiscard}
             <span class="hint-alert">Hand over the limit — mark cards and discard.</span>
           {:else if discardMode && discardSelection.size === 0}
@@ -1470,6 +1511,40 @@
   .actions { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.55rem; flex-wrap: wrap; min-height: 2rem; }
   .draw-pick { color: #a49c86; font-size: 0.9rem; }
 
+  .attack-scrim {
+    position: fixed;
+    inset: 0;
+    background: rgba(10, 12, 16, 0.72);
+    display: grid;
+    place-items: center;
+    z-index: 45;
+    padding: 1rem;
+  }
+  .attack-notice {
+    background: #efe8d4;
+    border: 2px solid #43331f;
+    border-radius: 8px;
+    box-shadow: 0 18px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);
+    padding: 1.2rem 1.6rem;
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 0.8rem;
+    max-width: min(22rem, 92vw);
+    text-align: center;
+  }
+  .attack-headline {
+    font-family: "Oswald", sans-serif;
+    font-size: 1.15rem;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+    color: #b3372b;
+  }
+  .attack-card :global(.card) { transform: scale(1.35); margin: 1.2rem 0; }
+  .attack-card :global(.card:hover) { transform: scale(1.35); }
+  .attack-power { font-family: "Courier Prime", monospace; color: #6b5a41; font-size: 0.9rem; }
+  .attack-fist { font-size: 1.1rem; color: #43331f; }
+
   .inspector {
     position: fixed;
     right: 0.9rem;
@@ -1503,7 +1578,41 @@
     cursor: pointer;
   }
   @media (max-width: 900px) {
-    .inspector { right: 0.5rem; bottom: 0.5rem; }
+    .attack-scrim {
+    position: fixed;
+    inset: 0;
+    background: rgba(10, 12, 16, 0.72);
+    display: grid;
+    place-items: center;
+    z-index: 45;
+    padding: 1rem;
+  }
+  .attack-notice {
+    background: #efe8d4;
+    border: 2px solid #43331f;
+    border-radius: 8px;
+    box-shadow: 0 18px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);
+    padding: 1.2rem 1.6rem;
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 0.8rem;
+    max-width: min(22rem, 92vw);
+    text-align: center;
+  }
+  .attack-headline {
+    font-family: "Oswald", sans-serif;
+    font-size: 1.15rem;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+    color: #b3372b;
+  }
+  .attack-card :global(.card) { transform: scale(1.35); margin: 1.2rem 0; }
+  .attack-card :global(.card:hover) { transform: scale(1.35); }
+  .attack-power { font-family: "Courier Prime", monospace; color: #6b5a41; font-size: 0.9rem; }
+  .attack-fist { font-size: 1.1rem; color: #43331f; }
+
+  .inspector { right: 0.5rem; bottom: 0.5rem; }
     .inspector-card { transform: scale(1.3); }
   }