diff --git a/packages/web/src/App.svelte b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
index 1e7c28e..9f177d1 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/App.svelte
+++ b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   import Card from "./Card.svelte";
   import Help from "./Help.svelte";
   import Replay from "./Replay.svelte";
+  import { fxForEvents, fxTtl, type BoardFx } from "./fx";
   import { local } from "./local.svelte";
   import { allCardDefs, cardDef, isNumberCard, SIDES, stepTarget, cellKey, isMovableObject, sightedCellsFor, type GameView, eligibleCellsFor } from "@wizwar/engine";
   import type { CardInstance, Side } from "@wizwar/engine";
@@ -27,6 +28,22 @@
   }
   /** Which pending attack the player has already acknowledged (modal dismissed). */
   let attackNoticeSeen = $state<string | null>(null);
+  /** Live spell flourishes on the board (cosmetic, self-expiring). */
+  let boardFx = $state<BoardFx[]>([]);
+  function playFx(events: Parameters<typeof fxForEvents>[0]) {
+    if (!view) return;
+    for (const { fx, delay } of fxForEvents(events, view)) {
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        boardFx = [...boardFx, fx];
+        setTimeout(() => (boardFx = boardFx.filter((f) => f.id !== fx.id)), fxTtl(fx.kind));
+      }, delay);
+    }
+  }
+  $effect(() => {
+    net.onFx = playFx;
+    local.onFx = playFx;
+    return () => { net.onFx = null; local.onFx = null; };
+  });
   const openingRolls = $derived(net.openingRolls ?? local.openingRolls);
   function dismissRolls() {
     net.openingRolls = null;
@@ -1251,6 +1268,7 @@
           onWarpClick={clickWarp}
           markedCell={tradeFrom ?? pendingTeleport}
           markedCells={trapCells.length > 0 ? trapCells : null}
+          effects={boardFx}
           markedSector={pendingSectorOrigin}
           ghostSlots={relocateGhosts}
           onGhostClick={clickGhostSlot}
diff --git a/packages/web/src/Board.svelte b/packages/web/src/Board.svelte
index 9dd67b6..345cfc2 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/Board.svelte
+++ b/packages/web/src/Board.svelte
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
     markedSector = null,
     ghostSlots = null,
     onGhostClick,
+    effects = null,
   }: {
     view: GameView;
     edgeSelectMode?: boolean;
@@ -46,8 +47,33 @@
      * beyond the maze, since an empty slot has no floor of its own to click. */
     ghostSlots?: { x: number; y: number }[] | null;
     onGhostClick?: (origin: { x: number; y: number }) => void;
+    /** Short-lived spell flourishes; purely cosmetic. */
+    effects?: import("./fx").BoardFx[] | null;
   } = $props();
 
+  const center = (c: { x: number; y: number }) => ({ x: c.x * CELL + CELL / 2, y: c.y * CELL + CELL / 2 });
+  /** A lightning bolt's jagged path between two squares. */
+  function boltPoints(from: { x: number; y: number }, to: { x: number; y: number }): string {
+    const a = center(from), b = center(to);
+    const segs = 6;
+    const pts: string[] = [`${a.x},${a.y}`];
+    for (let i = 1; i < segs; i++) {
+      const t = i / segs;
+      const nx = a.x + (b.x - a.x) * t + (Math.random() - 0.5) * 16;
+      const ny = a.y + (b.y - a.y) * t + (Math.random() - 0.5) * 16;
+      pts.push(`${nx.toFixed(1)},${ny.toFixed(1)}`);
+    }
+    pts.push(`${b.x},${b.y}`);
+    return pts.join(" ");
+  }
+  function edgeMid(cell: { x: number; y: number }, side: string): { x: number; y: number } {
+    const c = center(cell);
+    if (side === "N") return { x: c.x, y: cell.y * CELL };
+    if (side === "S") return { x: c.x, y: (cell.y + 1) * CELL };
+    if (side === "W") return { x: cell.x * CELL, y: c.y };
+    return { x: (cell.x + 1) * CELL, y: c.y };
+  }
+
   const SECTOR = 5;
   /** Ghost slots can lie beyond the assembled maze — on any side, including
    * negative coordinates (the maze renormalizes after the landing). The
@@ -566,6 +592,53 @@
       {/if}
     {/each}
   {/if}
+  <!-- spell flourishes: short-lived, purely cosmetic -->
+  <g class="fx-layer" aria-hidden="true">
+    {#each effects ?? [] as fx (fx.id)}
+      {#if fx.kind === "fireball" || fx.kind === "waterbolt"}
+        {@const a = center(fx.from)}
+        {@const b = center(fx.to)}
+        <circle r={fx.kind === "fireball" ? 7 : 6} class={`fx-${fx.kind}`} cx="0" cy="0">
+          <animateMotion dur="0.42s" fill="freeze" path={`M ${a.x} ${a.y} L ${b.x} ${b.y}`} />
+        </circle>
+      {:else if fx.kind === "bolt"}
+        <polyline points={boltPoints(fx.from, fx.to)} class="fx-bolt" />
+      {:else if fx.kind === "burst"}
+        {@const c = center(fx.at)}
+        <circle cx={c.x} cy={c.y} r="4" class="fx-burst" />
+        <circle cx={c.x} cy={c.y} r="4" class="fx-burst late" />
+      {:else if fx.kind === "splash"}
+        {@const c = center(fx.at)}
+        <circle cx={c.x} cy={c.y} r="4" class="fx-splash" />
+        <circle cx={c.x - 10} cy={c.y - 6} r="2.5" class="fx-droplet" />
+        <circle cx={c.x + 9} cy={c.y - 8} r="2" class="fx-droplet late" />
+        <circle cx={c.x + 3} cy={c.y - 12} r="1.8" class="fx-droplet later" />
+      {:else if fx.kind === "shimmer"}
+        {@const c = center(fx.at)}
+        <circle cx={c.x} cy={c.y} r="6" class="fx-shimmer" />
+        <circle cx={c.x} cy={c.y} r="6" class="fx-shimmer late" />
+      {:else if fx.kind === "shield"}
+        {@const c = center(fx.at)}
+        <circle cx={c.x} cy={c.y} r="16" class="fx-shield" />
+      {:else if fx.kind === "sparkle"}
+        {@const c = center(fx.at)}
+        <g class="fx-sparkle" style={`transform-origin: ${c.x}px ${c.y}px`}>
+          <path d={`M ${c.x} ${c.y - 12} l 3 9 9 3 -9 3 -3 9 -3 -9 -9 -3 9 -3 z`} />
+        </g>
+      {:else if fx.kind === "whiff"}
+        {@const c = center(fx.at)}
+        <circle cx={c.x} cy={c.y} r="8" class="fx-whiff" />
+      {:else if fx.kind === "hit"}
+        {@const c = center(fx.at)}
+        <circle cx={c.x} cy={c.y} r="10" class="fx-hit" />
+      {:else if fx.kind === "edge-dust"}
+        {@const m = edgeMid(fx.cell, fx.side)}
+        <circle cx={m.x - 6} cy={m.y} r="4" class="fx-dust" />
+        <circle cx={m.x + 5} cy={m.y - 3} r="3" class="fx-dust late" />
+        <circle cx={m.x} cy={m.y + 4} r="3.5" class="fx-dust later" />
+      {/if}
+    {/each}
+  </g>
 </svg>
 
 <style>
@@ -705,6 +778,127 @@
     animation: warp-pulse 1.6s ease-in-out infinite;
   }
   .ghost-slot:hover { fill: rgba(122, 162, 122, 0.22); }
+
+  /* --- spell flourishes ---------------------------------------------- */
+  .fx-layer { pointer-events: none; }
+  .fx-fireball {
+    fill: #ff8c1a;
+    stroke: #ffd27a;
+    stroke-width: 2;
+    filter: drop-shadow(0 0 6px rgba(255, 120, 20, 0.9));
+    animation: fx-fade 0.55s ease-in forwards;
+  }
+  .fx-waterbolt {
+    fill: #3b8dd6;
+    stroke: #b9e2ff;
+    stroke-width: 2;
+    filter: drop-shadow(0 0 5px rgba(80, 160, 230, 0.9));
+    animation: fx-fade 0.55s ease-in forwards;
+  }
+  .fx-bolt {
+    fill: none;
+    stroke: #ffe94d;
+    stroke-width: 3;
+    stroke-linejoin: round;
+    filter: drop-shadow(0 0 7px rgba(255, 233, 77, 0.95));
+    animation: fx-flicker 0.5s steps(2, jump-none) forwards;
+  }
+  .fx-burst {
+    transform-box: fill-box;
+    transform-origin: center;
+    fill: none;
+    stroke: #ff8c1a;
+    stroke-width: 4;
+    animation: fx-ring 0.5s ease-out 0.05s forwards;
+    opacity: 0;
+  }
+  .fx-burst.late { stroke: #ffd27a; animation-delay: 0.16s; }
+  .fx-splash {
+    transform-box: fill-box;
+    transform-origin: center;
+    fill: none;
+    stroke: #4fa3e3;
+    stroke-width: 3.5;
+    animation: fx-ring 0.55s ease-out forwards;
+  }
+  .fx-droplet { fill: #7cc0ee; animation: fx-drop 0.6s ease-out forwards; }
+  .fx-droplet.late { animation-delay: 0.08s; }
+  .fx-droplet.later { animation-delay: 0.15s; }
+  .fx-shimmer {
+    transform-box: fill-box;
+    transform-origin: center;
+    fill: none;
+    stroke: #b48ae0;
+    stroke-width: 2.5;
+    animation: fx-ring 0.6s ease-out forwards;
+  }
+  .fx-shimmer.late { stroke: #e2c8ff; animation-delay: 0.18s; opacity: 0; }
+  .fx-shield {
+    transform-box: fill-box;
+    transform-origin: center;
+    fill: none;
+    stroke: #c9a72a;
+    stroke-width: 3.5;
+    filter: drop-shadow(0 0 6px rgba(201, 167, 42, 0.8));
+    animation: fx-shield-pulse 0.7s ease-out forwards;
+  }
+  .fx-sparkle path {
+    fill: #e8dfc6;
+    stroke: #c9a72a;
+    stroke-width: 1;
+    animation: fx-fade 0.8s ease-in forwards;
+  }
+  .fx-sparkle { animation: fx-spin 0.8s linear forwards; }
+  .fx-whiff {
+    transform-box: fill-box;
+    transform-origin: center;
+    fill: rgba(180, 180, 180, 0.4);
+    animation: fx-drift 0.7s ease-out forwards;
+  }
+  .fx-hit {
+    transform-box: fill-box;
+    transform-origin: center;
+    fill: none;
+    stroke: #c0392b;
+    stroke-width: 3.5;
+    animation: fx-ring-small 0.45s ease-out forwards;
+  }
+  .fx-dust { fill: rgba(160, 150, 130, 0.75); animation: fx-drift 0.7s ease-out forwards; }
+  .fx-dust.late { animation-delay: 0.09s; }
+  .fx-dust.later { animation-delay: 0.17s; }
+
+  @keyframes fx-fade { 70% { opacity: 1; } 100% { opacity: 0; } }
+  @keyframes fx-flicker {
+    0% { opacity: 0; } 15% { opacity: 1; } 40% { opacity: 0.3; }
+    60% { opacity: 1; } 100% { opacity: 0; }
+  }
+  @keyframes fx-ring {
+    0% { opacity: 0.95; transform: scale(1); }
+    100% { opacity: 0; transform: scale(5); }
+  }
+  @keyframes fx-ring-small {
+    0% { opacity: 0.9; transform: scale(1); }
+    100% { opacity: 0; transform: scale(2.6); }
+  }
+  @keyframes fx-shield-pulse {
+    0% { opacity: 0; transform: scale(0.6); }
+    30% { opacity: 1; transform: scale(1.1); }
+    60% { transform: scale(0.95); }
+    100% { opacity: 0; transform: scale(1.15); }
+  }
+  @keyframes fx-drop {
+    0% { opacity: 0.9; transform: translateY(0); }
+    100% { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(-14px); }
+  }
+  @keyframes fx-drift {
+    0% { opacity: 0.8; transform: translateY(0) scale(1); }
+    100% { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(-10px) scale(1.8); }
+  }
+  @keyframes fx-spin {
+    0% { opacity: 0; transform: rotate(0deg) scale(0.5); }
+    30% { opacity: 1; }
+    100% { opacity: 0; transform: rotate(90deg) scale(1.1); }
+  }
   .warp-dest {
     fill: none;
     stroke: #2e7d32;
@@ -719,6 +913,7 @@
   }
   @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
     .marked-cell, .marked-sector, .ghost-slot, .warp-dest { animation: none; }
+    .fx-layer { display: none; }
   }
   .wizard { cursor: pointer; }
   .wizard-label {
diff --git a/packages/web/src/fx.ts b/packages/web/src/fx.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b9045cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/web/src/fx.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+// Whimsical flourishes: game events become short-lived board effects.
+// Purely cosmetic — nothing here touches game state, and reduced-motion
+// hides the whole layer.
+
+import type { GameEvent, GameView } from "@wizwar/engine";
+
+type Cell = { x: number; y: number };
+type Side = "N" | "E" | "S" | "W";
+
+type FxShape =
+  | { kind: "fireball" | "bolt" | "waterbolt"; from: Cell; to: Cell }
+  | { kind: "burst" | "splash" | "shimmer" | "shield" | "sparkle" | "whiff" | "hit"; at: Cell }
+  | { kind: "edge-dust"; cell: Cell; side: Side };
+export type BoardFx = FxShape & { id: number };
+
+let nextId = 1;
+
+/** How long each kind stays mounted (animation length + a little grace). */
+export function fxTtl(kind: BoardFx["kind"]): number {
+  switch (kind) {
+    case "fireball": case "waterbolt": return 700;
+    case "bolt": return 600;
+    default: return 900;
+  }
+}
+
+const PROJECTILES: Record<string, "fireball" | "bolt" | "waterbolt"> = {
+  fireball: "fireball",
+  "sudden-death": "fireball",
+  "blaster-wand": "fireball",
+  "lightning-blast": "bolt",
+  "power-drain": "bolt",
+  waterbolt: "waterbolt",
+};
+
+/** Map one command's events to effects, each with a start delay in ms. */
+export function fxForEvents(
+  events: GameEvent[], view: GameView,
+): { fx: BoardFx; delay: number }[] {
+  const out: { fx: BoardFx; delay: number }[] = [];
+  const posOf = (playerId: string | null): Cell | null => {
+    if (!playerId) return null;
+    const p = view.players.find((p) => p.id === playerId);
+    return p ? { ...p.position } : null;
+  };
+  let beat = 0; // successive visuals from one command stagger slightly
+  const push = (fx: FxShape, extraDelay = 0) => {
+    out.push({ fx: { ...fx, id: nextId++ }, delay: beat * 220 + extraDelay });
+  };
+
+  for (const e of events) {
+    switch (e.type) {
+      case "spellCast": {
+        const to = e.targetCell ?? posOf(e.target);
+        const projectile = PROJECTILES[e.cardId];
+        if (projectile && to) {
+          push({ kind: projectile, from: e.from, to });
+          if (projectile === "fireball") push({ kind: "burst", at: to }, 380);
+          if (projectile === "waterbolt") push({ kind: "splash", at: to }, 380);
+          beat++;
+        } else if (to && e.target) {
+          push({ kind: "sparkle", at: to });
+          beat++;
+        }
+        break;
+      }
+      case "punched":
+        push({ kind: "hit", at: e.at });
+        beat++;
+        break;
+      case "damaged": {
+        const at = posOf(e.player);
+        if (at) { push({ kind: "hit", at }); beat++; }
+        break;
+      }
+      case "attackMissed": {
+        const at = posOf(e.defender);
+        if (at) { push({ kind: "whiff", at }); beat++; }
+        break;
+      }
+      case "attackResolved": {
+        if (e.fullyStopped) {
+          const at = posOf(e.defender);
+          if (at) { push({ kind: "shield", at }); beat++; }
+        }
+        break;
+      }
+      case "teleported":
+        push({ kind: "shimmer", at: e.from });
+        push({ kind: "shimmer", at: e.to }, 200);
+        beat++;
+        break;
+      case "wallCreated":
+      case "wallDestroyed":
+        push({ kind: "edge-dust", cell: e.edge.cell, side: e.edge.side });
+        beat++;
+        break;
+      case "sectorRotated":
+      case "sectorRelocated":
+        // The whole maze moved; any effect would point at stale ground.
+        return out;
+      default:
+        break;
+    }
+  }
+  return out;
+}
diff --git a/packages/web/src/local.svelte.ts b/packages/web/src/local.svelte.ts
index 1567c09..011e24b 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/local.svelte.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/local.svelte.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ class LocalGame {
   /** The finished game as a reel, each step from its actor's own seat. */
   /** The opening roll-off, shown once as the boards flip. */
   openingRolls = $state<{ rolls: Record<string, number[]>; first: string; players: string[] } | null>(null);
+  /** Board flourishes: the app hooks in to animate command results. */
+  onFx: ((events: GameEvent[]) => void) | null = null;
   replaySteps = $state<{ seq: number; actor: PlayerId; events: GameEvent[]; view: GameView }[] | null>(null);
   view = $derived(
     this.gameState && this.viewerId ? viewFor(this.gameState, this.viewerId) : null,
@@ -220,6 +222,7 @@ class LocalGame {
       this.log = [...this.log, `— ${result.error} —`];
       return;
     }
+    this.onFx?.(result.events);
     this.gameState = result.state;
     this.commands = [...this.commands, { playerId: this.viewerId, command }];
     const now = Date.now();
diff --git a/packages/web/src/net.svelte.ts b/packages/web/src/net.svelte.ts
index fece490..800ded0 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/net.svelte.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/net.svelte.ts
@@ -253,6 +253,8 @@ class Net {
   /** A catch-up reel delivered by the server. */
   /** The opening roll-off, shown once as the boards flip. */
   openingRolls = $state<{ rolls: Record<string, number[]>; first: string; players: string[] } | null>(null);
+  /** Board flourishes: the app hooks in to animate live event batches. */
+  onFx: ((events: GameEvent[]) => void) | null = null;
   catchUp = $state<{ seq: number; actor: string; events: GameEvent[]; view: GameView; chat?: { player: string; text: string }[] }[] | null>(null);
   private seen: Record<string, number> = loadSeen();
   /** Room whose live stream this connection has already shown once: states
@@ -342,6 +344,7 @@ class Net {
           break;
         case "events": {
           let talk = 0;
+          if (!msg.replayed) this.onFx?.(msg.events as GameEvent[]);
           for (const e of msg.events as GameEvent[]) {
             if (e.type === "tableTalk") talk++;
             if (e.type === "gameStarted" && !msg.replayed) {