diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Client/Presentation/HudSystem.cs b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Client/Presentation/HudSystem.cs
index 57797b3d7..5c001e733 100644
--- a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Client/Presentation/HudSystem.cs
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Client/Presentation/HudSystem.cs
@@ -139,18 +139,24 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
             // ---- Macro: phase + cycle + countdown (center-top banner) ----
             bool haveCycle = SystemAPI.TryGetSingleton<CycleState>(out var cyc);
             bool siege = haveCycle && cyc.Phase == CyclePhase.Siege;
+            bool goalFull = SystemAPI.TryGetSingleton<GoalProgress>(out var goalNow) && goalNow.Target > 0 && goalNow.Charge >= goalNow.Target;
+            bool finalSiege = siege && goalFull; // END-2: the climactic final siege (goal cap reached)
             if (haveCycle)
             {
                 var endTick = new NetworkTick(cyc.PhaseEndTick);
+                bool arming = haveTick && cyc.PhaseEndTick != 0 && endTick.IsValid && endTick.IsNewerThan(nt.ServerTick);
+                bool finalArming = !siege && goalFull && arming; // the cap-reached arming window before the final wave
+                int secs = arming ? (endTick.TicksSince(nt.ServerTick) / 60 + 1) : 0;
                 string detail;
                 if (siege)
-                    detail = "WAVE " + cyc.WaveNumber + "   -   " + huskCount + " HUSKS";
-                else if (haveTick && cyc.PhaseEndTick != 0 && endTick.IsValid && endTick.IsNewerThan(nt.ServerTick))
-                    detail = "INCURSION IN " + (endTick.TicksSince(nt.ServerTick) / 60 + 1) + "s";
+                    detail = (finalSiege ? "FINAL SIEGE" : "WAVE " + cyc.WaveNumber) + "   -   " + huskCount + " HUSKS";
+                else if (arming)
+                    detail = (finalArming ? "FINAL SIEGE INCOMING" : "INCURSION") + "   -   " + secs + "s";
                 else
                     detail = "";
-                var col = PhaseColor(cyc.Phase);
-                _phaseText.text = PhaseLabel(cyc.Phase) + (detail.Length > 0 ? "   -   " + detail : "");
+                // END-2: the climax reads distinct (intense red), not a normal incursion/wave.
+                var col = finalSiege || finalArming ? new Color(1f, 0.28f, 0.22f) : PhaseColor(cyc.Phase);
+                _phaseText.text = (finalSiege ? "HOLD THE ENGINE" : PhaseLabel(cyc.Phase)) + (detail.Length > 0 ? "   -   " + detail : "");
                 _phaseText.style.color = col;
                 _cycleText.text = "CYCLE " + cyc.CycleNumber;
                 _banner.style.borderBottomColor = col;
@@ -167,10 +173,13 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
             bool onExpedition = cam != null && cam.transform.position.x > ExpeditionRegionXMin;
             _locationText.text = onExpedition
                 ? "ON EXPEDITION   -   carve the frontier, then return"
-                : siege
-                    ? "DEFEND THE BASE   -   hold the line"
-                    : "MINE THE CRYSTALS   -   any attack harvests Ore, then BUILD";
+                : finalSiege
+                    ? "FINAL SIEGE   -   hold the Engine, this is the last stand"
+                    : siege
+                        ? "DEFEND THE BASE   -   hold the line"
+                        : "MINE THE CRYSTALS   -   any attack harvests Ore, then BUILD";
             _locationText.style.color = onExpedition ? new Color(1f, 0.8f, 0.4f)
+                : finalSiege ? new Color(1f, 0.3f, 0.25f)
                 : siege ? new Color(1f, 0.55f, 0.4f) : new Color(0.6f, 0.95f, 0.7f);
 
             // ---- Goal (hex-pip meter, or a continuous bar for large targets) ----