diff --git a/decnet/bus/topics.py b/decnet/bus/topics.py
index 0ef3cba0..6fdfa03b 100644
--- a/decnet/bus/topics.py
+++ b/decnet/bus/topics.py
@@ -107,6 +107,11 @@ DECKY_SERVICE_REMOVED = "service_removed"
 # when the operator hit Apply (container was force-recreated to pick up
 # the new env), false when they only hit Save (DB-only).
 DECKY_SERVICE_CONFIG_CHANGED = "service_config_changed"
+# Async deploy/mutate operation transitions
+# (pending/running/succeeded/failed).  Payload: {lifecycle_id, operation,
+# status, error?}.  UI polling endpoint is the source of truth; this
+# fires for live subscribers (dashboard, mutator-side audit, etc).
+DECKY_LIFECYCLE = "lifecycle"
 
 # Attacker event types (second token under the ``attacker`` root).  First
 # sighting, session boundary transitions, and score-threshold crossings
@@ -391,6 +396,12 @@ def decky_mutation(decky_id: str) -> str:
     return f"{DECKY}.{decky_id}.{DECKY_MUTATION}"
 
 
+def decky_lifecycle(decky_id: str) -> str:
+    """Build ``decky.<id>.lifecycle``."""
+    _reject_tokens(decky_id)
+    return f"{DECKY}.{decky_id}.{DECKY_LIFECYCLE}"
+
+
 def system(event_type: str) -> str:
     """Build ``system.<event_type>``.
 
diff --git a/decnet/lifecycle/__init__.py b/decnet/lifecycle/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9e3ccd9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/lifecycle/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+"""Async deploy/mutate lifecycle runner.
+
+The runner is invoked by the master API handlers (deploy + mutate) after
+they write ``DeckyLifecycle`` rows and return 202 Accepted to the
+caller.  It executes the actual docker work off the request thread,
+flips lifecycle row status through ``running -> succeeded|failed``, and
+emits ``decky.<name>.lifecycle`` bus signals on every transition.
+
+Strategy classes encapsulate transport (local docker on master vs
+remote agent over mTLS).  ``runner.run_deploy`` / ``run_mutate`` pick
+the right strategy from the request context.
+"""
+from decnet.lifecycle.runner import run_deploy, run_mutate
+
+__all__ = ["run_deploy", "run_mutate"]
diff --git a/decnet/lifecycle/events.py b/decnet/lifecycle/events.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e5fcb754
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/lifecycle/events.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+"""Bus emit helper for DeckyLifecycle transitions.
+
+DB is the source of truth (wizard polls ``GET /deckies/lifecycle?ids=``).
+The bus is best-effort live notification — publish failures are logged
+and swallowed via ``publish_safely``, never propagated.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Optional
+
+from decnet.bus import topics as _topics
+from decnet.bus.base import BaseBus
+from decnet.bus.publish import publish_safely
+
+
+async def emit_lifecycle(
+    bus: BaseBus | None,
+    *,
+    lifecycle_id: str,
+    decky_name: str,
+    operation: str,
+    status: str,
+    error: Optional[str] = None,
+) -> None:
+    """Publish ``decky.<name>.lifecycle`` with the current transition.
+
+    Payload keys: ``lifecycle_id``, ``operation``, ``status`` and
+    optionally ``error``.  Documented in
+    ``wiki-checkout/Service-Bus.md``.
+    """
+    payload: dict = {
+        "lifecycle_id": lifecycle_id,
+        "operation": operation,
+        "status": status,
+    }
+    if error is not None:
+        payload["error"] = error
+    await publish_safely(
+        bus,
+        _topics.decky_lifecycle(decky_name),
+        payload,
+        event_type=_topics.DECKY_LIFECYCLE,
+    )
diff --git a/decnet/lifecycle/runner.py b/decnet/lifecycle/runner.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e64aa5b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/lifecycle/runner.py
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+"""Async deploy/mutate orchestration entry points.
+
+Called by the master API handlers right after they create the lifecycle
+rows.  Picks the right strategy (local vs swarm) and runs it off the
+HTTP request thread via ``asyncio.create_task`` at the caller.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from decnet.bus.base import BaseBus
+from decnet.config import DecnetConfig, DeckyConfig
+from decnet.lifecycle.strategies import (
+    LocalDeployStrategy,
+    SwarmDeployStrategy,
+    select_deploy_strategy,
+    select_mutate_strategy,
+)
+from decnet.logging import get_logger
+from decnet.web.db.repository import BaseRepository
+
+log = get_logger("lifecycle.runner")
+
+
+async def run_deploy(
+    repo: BaseRepository,
+    bus: BaseBus | None,
+    *,
+    lifecycle_ids: dict[str, str],
+    config: DecnetConfig,
+) -> None:
+    """Execute the deploy referenced by *lifecycle_ids* (decky_name ->
+    lifecycle_id).  Never raises — strategy turns errors into failed
+    rows.  Intended to be wrapped in ``asyncio.create_task``.
+
+    In swarm mode the config may contain BOTH worker-resident deckies
+    (host_uuid set) and master-resident ones (host_uuid is None); we
+    route each subset through its own strategy.
+    """
+    try:
+        if config.mode == "swarm":
+            remote_deckies = [d for d in config.deckies if d.host_uuid is not None]
+            local_deckies = [d for d in config.deckies if d.host_uuid is None]
+            if remote_deckies:
+                remote_ids = {
+                    d.name: lifecycle_ids[d.name]
+                    for d in remote_deckies if d.name in lifecycle_ids
+                }
+                remote_cfg = config.model_copy(update={"deckies": remote_deckies})
+                await SwarmDeployStrategy().execute(
+                    repo, bus,
+                    lifecycle_ids=remote_ids, config=remote_cfg,
+                )
+            if local_deckies:
+                local_ids = {
+                    d.name: lifecycle_ids[d.name]
+                    for d in local_deckies if d.name in lifecycle_ids
+                }
+                local_cfg = config.model_copy(update={"deckies": local_deckies})
+                await LocalDeployStrategy().execute(
+                    repo, bus,
+                    lifecycle_ids=local_ids, config=local_cfg,
+                )
+        else:
+            strategy = select_deploy_strategy(config)
+            await strategy.execute(
+                repo, bus, lifecycle_ids=lifecycle_ids, config=config,
+            )
+    except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001 — defense in depth: never crash task
+        log.exception("lifecycle.run_deploy crashed unexpectedly")
+
+
+async def run_mutate(
+    repo: BaseRepository,
+    bus: BaseBus | None,
+    *,
+    lifecycle_id: str,
+    decky: DeckyConfig,
+    services: list[str],
+    full_config: DecnetConfig,
+    compose_path: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """Execute a single-decky mutate.  Never raises."""
+    try:
+        strategy = select_mutate_strategy(full_config, decky)
+        await strategy.execute(
+            repo, bus,
+            lifecycle_id=lifecycle_id, decky=decky,
+            services=services, full_config=full_config,
+            compose_path=compose_path,
+        )
+    except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001
+        log.exception("lifecycle.run_mutate crashed unexpectedly")
+
+
+__all__ = ["run_deploy", "run_mutate"]
diff --git a/decnet/lifecycle/strategies.py b/decnet/lifecycle/strategies.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b950ead6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/lifecycle/strategies.py
@@ -0,0 +1,376 @@
+"""Lifecycle execution strategies.
+
+Each strategy owns the work for one (operation, transport) combo:
+
+* ``LocalDeployStrategy`` — master-resident deckies: writes a compose
+  file and runs ``docker compose up -d`` on the master via
+  ``engine.deployer.deploy`` off the request thread.
+* ``SwarmDeployStrategy`` — worker-resident deckies: fans the sharded
+  config to each worker via ``AgentClient.deploy``.  The worker returns
+  202 immediately; the worker's next heartbeat drives the terminal
+  transition (see ``master heartbeat handler accepts lifecycle deltas``).
+* ``LocalMutateStrategy`` / ``SwarmMutateStrategy`` — same split, for a
+  per-decky mutate of services list.
+
+The runner picks the right concrete class.  Strategies update the DB
+row + emit bus signals; they never raise back at the runner — they
+turn exceptions into ``failed`` rows and return.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import abc
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+
+import anyio
+
+from decnet.bus.base import BaseBus
+from decnet.config import DecnetConfig, DeckyConfig
+from decnet.lifecycle.events import emit_lifecycle
+from decnet.logging import get_logger
+from decnet.web.db.repository import BaseRepository
+
+log = get_logger("lifecycle.strategy")
+
+
+# --- base ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class _StrategyBase(abc.ABC):
+    """Shared helpers — DB row transitions + bus emit."""
+
+    async def _mark_running(
+        self,
+        repo: BaseRepository,
+        bus: BaseBus | None,
+        *,
+        lifecycle_id: str,
+        decky_name: str,
+        operation: str,
+    ) -> None:
+        await repo.update_lifecycle(lifecycle_id, {"status": "running"})
+        await emit_lifecycle(
+            bus,
+            lifecycle_id=lifecycle_id,
+            decky_name=decky_name,
+            operation=operation,
+            status="running",
+        )
+
+    async def _mark_succeeded(
+        self,
+        repo: BaseRepository,
+        bus: BaseBus | None,
+        *,
+        lifecycle_id: str,
+        decky_name: str,
+        operation: str,
+    ) -> None:
+        await repo.update_lifecycle(
+            lifecycle_id,
+            {
+                "status": "succeeded",
+                "completed_at": datetime.now(timezone.utc),
+            },
+        )
+        await emit_lifecycle(
+            bus,
+            lifecycle_id=lifecycle_id,
+            decky_name=decky_name,
+            operation=operation,
+            status="succeeded",
+        )
+
+    async def _mark_failed(
+        self,
+        repo: BaseRepository,
+        bus: BaseBus | None,
+        *,
+        lifecycle_id: str,
+        decky_name: str,
+        operation: str,
+        error: str,
+    ) -> None:
+        await repo.update_lifecycle(
+            lifecycle_id,
+            {
+                "status": "failed",
+                "error": error[:2000],
+                "completed_at": datetime.now(timezone.utc),
+            },
+        )
+        await emit_lifecycle(
+            bus,
+            lifecycle_id=lifecycle_id,
+            decky_name=decky_name,
+            operation=operation,
+            status="failed",
+            error=error[:2000],
+        )
+
+
+# --- deploy --------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class DeployStrategy(_StrategyBase):
+    """ABC for deploy strategies. Concrete implementations override
+    :meth:`execute`."""
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    async def execute(
+        self,
+        repo: BaseRepository,
+        bus: BaseBus | None,
+        *,
+        lifecycle_ids: dict[str, str],  # decky_name -> lifecycle_id
+        config: DecnetConfig,
+    ) -> None: ...
+
+
+class LocalDeployStrategy(DeployStrategy):
+    """Master-resident deploy via ``engine.deployer.deploy``.
+
+    Coalesces N decky lifecycle rows into one compose-up call (compose
+    is naturally batched), then flips all rows together.
+    """
+
+    async def execute(
+        self,
+        repo: BaseRepository,
+        bus: BaseBus | None,
+        *,
+        lifecycle_ids: dict[str, str],
+        config: DecnetConfig,
+    ) -> None:
+        from decnet.engine import deployer as _deployer
+
+        for decky_name, lid in lifecycle_ids.items():
+            await self._mark_running(
+                repo, bus, lifecycle_id=lid,
+                decky_name=decky_name, operation="deploy",
+            )
+        try:
+            await anyio.to_thread.run_sync(
+                _deployer.deploy, config, False, False, False,
+            )
+        except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001
+            err = f"{type(exc).__name__}: {exc}"
+            log.exception("local deploy failed")
+            for decky_name, lid in lifecycle_ids.items():
+                await self._mark_failed(
+                    repo, bus, lifecycle_id=lid,
+                    decky_name=decky_name, operation="deploy",
+                    error=err,
+                )
+            return
+        for decky_name, lid in lifecycle_ids.items():
+            await self._mark_succeeded(
+                repo, bus, lifecycle_id=lid,
+                decky_name=decky_name, operation="deploy",
+            )
+
+
+class SwarmDeployStrategy(DeployStrategy):
+    """Worker-resident deploy via ``AgentClient.deploy``.
+
+    Marks rows ``running`` on dispatch.  The worker's /deploy is async
+    (202); its next heartbeat carries lifecycle deltas that drive the
+    terminal transition via the master's heartbeat handler.  If the
+    dispatch itself raises (network / mTLS / 5xx), the row is marked
+    ``failed`` here.
+    """
+
+    async def execute(
+        self,
+        repo: BaseRepository,
+        bus: BaseBus | None,
+        *,
+        lifecycle_ids: dict[str, str],
+        config: DecnetConfig,
+    ) -> None:
+        from decnet.engine.deployer import _resolve_swarm_host
+        from decnet.swarm.client import AgentClient
+
+        # Shard deckies by host so we can fire one AgentClient.deploy
+        # per host carrying that host's slice of the config.
+        shards: dict[str, list[DeckyConfig]] = {}
+        for decky in config.deckies:
+            if decky.host_uuid is None:
+                # Master-resident decky in swarm mode: skip here; runner
+                # routes those through LocalDeployStrategy at the
+                # caller's discretion.  Defensive guard only.
+                continue
+            shards.setdefault(decky.host_uuid, []).append(decky)
+
+        for host_uuid, deckies in shards.items():
+            shard_lifecycle = {
+                d.name: lifecycle_ids[d.name]
+                for d in deckies if d.name in lifecycle_ids
+            }
+            for decky in deckies:
+                lid = shard_lifecycle.get(decky.name)
+                if lid is None:
+                    continue
+                await self._mark_running(
+                    repo, bus, lifecycle_id=lid,
+                    decky_name=decky.name, operation="deploy",
+                )
+            try:
+                host = await _resolve_swarm_host(repo, host_uuid)
+                shard_cfg = config.model_copy(update={"deckies": deckies})
+                async with AgentClient(host=host) as agent:
+                    await agent.deploy(shard_cfg)
+            except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001
+                err = f"{type(exc).__name__}: {exc}"
+                log.exception(
+                    "swarm deploy dispatch failed host_uuid=%s", host_uuid,
+                )
+                for decky_name, lid in shard_lifecycle.items():
+                    await self._mark_failed(
+                        repo, bus, lifecycle_id=lid,
+                        decky_name=decky_name, operation="deploy",
+                        error=err,
+                    )
+                continue
+            # Successful dispatch -> rows stay running; worker drives
+            # the terminal via heartbeat.
+
+
+# --- mutate --------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class MutateStrategy(_StrategyBase):
+    """ABC for mutate strategies."""
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    async def execute(
+        self,
+        repo: BaseRepository,
+        bus: BaseBus | None,
+        *,
+        lifecycle_id: str,
+        decky: DeckyConfig,
+        services: list[str],
+        full_config: DecnetConfig,
+        compose_path,
+    ) -> None: ...
+
+
+class LocalMutateStrategy(MutateStrategy):
+    """Master-local mutate: rewrites compose + ``compose up -d``."""
+
+    async def execute(
+        self,
+        repo: BaseRepository,
+        bus: BaseBus | None,
+        *,
+        lifecycle_id: str,
+        decky: DeckyConfig,
+        services: list[str],
+        full_config: DecnetConfig,
+        compose_path,
+    ) -> None:
+        from decnet.composer import write_compose
+        from decnet.engine import _compose_with_retry
+
+        await self._mark_running(
+            repo, bus, lifecycle_id=lifecycle_id,
+            decky_name=decky.name, operation="mutate",
+        )
+        try:
+            decky.services = list(services)
+            write_compose(full_config, compose_path)
+            await anyio.to_thread.run_sync(
+                lambda: _compose_with_retry(
+                    "up", "-d", "--remove-orphans",
+                    compose_file=compose_path,
+                ),
+            )
+        except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001
+            err = f"{type(exc).__name__}: {exc}"
+            log.exception("local mutate failed decky=%s", decky.name)
+            await self._mark_failed(
+                repo, bus, lifecycle_id=lifecycle_id,
+                decky_name=decky.name, operation="mutate",
+                error=err,
+            )
+            return
+        await self._mark_succeeded(
+            repo, bus, lifecycle_id=lifecycle_id,
+            decky_name=decky.name, operation="mutate",
+        )
+
+
+class SwarmMutateStrategy(MutateStrategy):
+    """Worker-resident mutate via ``AgentClient.mutate``.
+
+    Same shape as SwarmDeployStrategy: row -> running on dispatch,
+    worker drives terminal via heartbeat.
+    """
+
+    async def execute(
+        self,
+        repo: BaseRepository,
+        bus: BaseBus | None,
+        *,
+        lifecycle_id: str,
+        decky: DeckyConfig,
+        services: list[str],
+        full_config: DecnetConfig,
+        compose_path,
+    ) -> None:
+        from decnet.engine.deployer import _resolve_swarm_host
+        from decnet.swarm.client import AgentClient
+
+        await self._mark_running(
+            repo, bus, lifecycle_id=lifecycle_id,
+            decky_name=decky.name, operation="mutate",
+        )
+        if decky.host_uuid is None:
+            await self._mark_failed(
+                repo, bus, lifecycle_id=lifecycle_id,
+                decky_name=decky.name, operation="mutate",
+                error="swarm mutate strategy invoked for decky with no host_uuid",
+            )
+            return
+        try:
+            host = await _resolve_swarm_host(repo, decky.host_uuid)
+            async with AgentClient(host=host) as agent:
+                await agent.mutate(decky.name, list(services))
+        except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001
+            err = f"{type(exc).__name__}: {exc}"
+            log.exception("swarm mutate dispatch failed decky=%s", decky.name)
+            await self._mark_failed(
+                repo, bus, lifecycle_id=lifecycle_id,
+                decky_name=decky.name, operation="mutate",
+                error=err,
+            )
+            return
+        # Worker drives terminal via heartbeat.
+
+
+def select_deploy_strategy(config: DecnetConfig) -> DeployStrategy:
+    """Pick strategy by deployment mode.  In swarm mode deckies with
+    ``host_uuid`` go remote; the caller must route master-resident
+    swarm deckies (host_uuid=None) through the local strategy
+    separately."""
+    if config.mode == "swarm":
+        return SwarmDeployStrategy()
+    return LocalDeployStrategy()
+
+
+def select_mutate_strategy(
+    config: DecnetConfig, decky: DeckyConfig,
+) -> MutateStrategy:
+    """Pick strategy by decky placement."""
+    if config.mode == "swarm" and decky.host_uuid is not None:
+        return SwarmMutateStrategy()
+    return LocalMutateStrategy()
+
+
+__all__ = [
+    "DeployStrategy",
+    "LocalDeployStrategy",
+    "SwarmDeployStrategy",
+    "MutateStrategy",
+    "LocalMutateStrategy",
+    "SwarmMutateStrategy",
+    "select_deploy_strategy",
+    "select_mutate_strategy",
+]
diff --git a/tests/lifecycle/__init__.py b/tests/lifecycle/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/tests/lifecycle/test_runner.py b/tests/lifecycle/test_runner.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ad24f289
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/lifecycle/test_runner.py
@@ -0,0 +1,343 @@
+"""decnet.lifecycle: runner + strategy tests.
+
+All docker calls and AgentClient I/O are mocked; we exercise the
+state-machine transitions (pending -> running -> succeeded|failed) and
+the routing (swarm vs unihost; per-decky host_uuid).
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from decnet.config import DeckyConfig, DecnetConfig
+from decnet.lifecycle.runner import run_deploy, run_mutate
+from decnet.lifecycle.strategies import (
+    LocalDeployStrategy,
+    LocalMutateStrategy,
+    SwarmDeployStrategy,
+    SwarmMutateStrategy,
+    select_deploy_strategy,
+    select_mutate_strategy,
+)
+
+
+def _decky(name="decky-01", host_uuid=None) -> DeckyConfig:
+    return DeckyConfig(
+        name=name, ip="10.66.0.10",
+        services=["ssh"], distro="debian",
+        base_image="debian:bookworm-slim", hostname=name,
+        host_uuid=host_uuid,
+    )
+
+
+def _config(mode="unihost", deckies=None) -> DecnetConfig:
+    return DecnetConfig(
+        mode=mode, interface="eth0",
+        subnet="10.66.0.0/24", gateway="10.66.0.1",
+        deckies=deckies or [_decky()],
+    )
+
+
+class _RepoStub:
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.updates: list[tuple[str, dict]] = []
+
+    async def update_lifecycle(self, lid, fields):
+        self.updates.append((lid, fields))
+
+
+# --- strategy selection --------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_select_deploy_unihost_returns_local() -> None:
+    assert isinstance(select_deploy_strategy(_config()), LocalDeployStrategy)
+
+
+def test_select_deploy_swarm_returns_swarm() -> None:
+    cfg = _config(mode="swarm", deckies=[_decky(host_uuid="h1")])
+    assert isinstance(select_deploy_strategy(cfg), SwarmDeployStrategy)
+
+
+def test_select_mutate_master_resident_returns_local() -> None:
+    cfg = _config(mode="swarm", deckies=[_decky(host_uuid=None)])
+    assert isinstance(
+        select_mutate_strategy(cfg, cfg.deckies[0]), LocalMutateStrategy,
+    )
+
+
+def test_select_mutate_swarm_resident_returns_swarm() -> None:
+    cfg = _config(mode="swarm", deckies=[_decky(host_uuid="h1")])
+    assert isinstance(
+        select_mutate_strategy(cfg, cfg.deckies[0]), SwarmMutateStrategy,
+    )
+
+
+# --- LocalDeployStrategy -------------------------------------------------
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_local_deploy_success_flips_all_rows() -> None:
+    cfg = _config(deckies=[_decky("d1"), _decky("d2")])
+    repo = _RepoStub()
+    with patch("anyio.to_thread.run_sync", new_callable=AsyncMock):
+        await LocalDeployStrategy().execute(
+            repo, None,
+            lifecycle_ids={"d1": "lid-1", "d2": "lid-2"},
+            config=cfg,
+        )
+    statuses = [(lid, f["status"]) for lid, f in repo.updates]
+    # Each decky: running then succeeded
+    assert ("lid-1", "running") in statuses
+    assert ("lid-2", "running") in statuses
+    assert ("lid-1", "succeeded") in statuses
+    assert ("lid-2", "succeeded") in statuses
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_local_deploy_failure_flips_all_rows_failed() -> None:
+    cfg = _config(deckies=[_decky("d1"), _decky("d2")])
+    repo = _RepoStub()
+    with patch(
+        "anyio.to_thread.run_sync",
+        new_callable=AsyncMock,
+        side_effect=RuntimeError("compose boom"),
+    ):
+        await LocalDeployStrategy().execute(
+            repo, None,
+            lifecycle_ids={"d1": "lid-1", "d2": "lid-2"},
+            config=cfg,
+        )
+    failed = [(lid, f) for lid, f in repo.updates if f["status"] == "failed"]
+    assert len(failed) == 2
+    assert all("compose boom" in f["error"] for _, f in failed)
+
+
+# --- SwarmDeployStrategy -------------------------------------------------
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_swarm_deploy_dispatches_per_host_shard() -> None:
+    cfg = _config(
+        mode="swarm",
+        deckies=[
+            _decky("d1", host_uuid="h1"),
+            _decky("d2", host_uuid="h1"),
+            _decky("d3", host_uuid="h2"),
+        ],
+    )
+    repo = _RepoStub()
+    deploy_mock = AsyncMock(return_value={"status": "accepted"})
+    agent_ctx = MagicMock()
+    agent_ctx.__aenter__ = AsyncMock(
+        return_value=MagicMock(deploy=deploy_mock),
+    )
+    agent_ctx.__aexit__ = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+    with patch(
+        "decnet.engine.deployer._resolve_swarm_host",
+        new_callable=AsyncMock,
+        return_value={"uuid": "x", "address": "10.0.0.1"},
+    ), patch(
+        "decnet.swarm.client.AgentClient", return_value=agent_ctx,
+    ):
+        await SwarmDeployStrategy().execute(
+            repo, None,
+            lifecycle_ids={"d1": "lid-1", "d2": "lid-2", "d3": "lid-3"},
+            config=cfg,
+        )
+    # One AgentClient.deploy call per host.
+    assert deploy_mock.await_count == 2
+    # All rows transition to running; none reach terminal (worker drives).
+    statuses = {(lid, f["status"]) for lid, f in repo.updates}
+    assert ("lid-1", "running") in statuses
+    assert ("lid-2", "running") in statuses
+    assert ("lid-3", "running") in statuses
+    assert not any(s in ("succeeded", "failed") for _, s in statuses)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_swarm_deploy_dispatch_failure_marks_shard_failed() -> None:
+    cfg = _config(
+        mode="swarm",
+        deckies=[_decky("d1", host_uuid="h1"), _decky("d2", host_uuid="h1")],
+    )
+    repo = _RepoStub()
+    with patch(
+        "decnet.engine.deployer._resolve_swarm_host",
+        new_callable=AsyncMock,
+        side_effect=ValueError("unknown host"),
+    ):
+        await SwarmDeployStrategy().execute(
+            repo, None,
+            lifecycle_ids={"d1": "lid-1", "d2": "lid-2"},
+            config=cfg,
+        )
+    failed = [(lid, f) for lid, f in repo.updates if f["status"] == "failed"]
+    assert len(failed) == 2
+    assert all("unknown host" in f["error"] for _, f in failed)
+
+
+# --- LocalMutateStrategy / runner --------------------------------------
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_local_mutate_success(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    cfg = _config(deckies=[_decky("d1")])
+    decky = cfg.deckies[0]
+    repo = _RepoStub()
+    with patch("decnet.composer.write_compose"), \
+         patch("anyio.to_thread.run_sync", new_callable=AsyncMock):
+        await LocalMutateStrategy().execute(
+            repo, None,
+            lifecycle_id="lid-1",
+            decky=decky,
+            services=["http"],
+            full_config=cfg,
+            compose_path=tmp_path / "c.yml",
+        )
+    statuses = [f["status"] for _, f in repo.updates]
+    assert "running" in statuses
+    assert "succeeded" in statuses
+    # Side effect: decky.services was mutated in place.
+    assert decky.services == ["http"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_local_mutate_failure(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    cfg = _config(deckies=[_decky("d1")])
+    repo = _RepoStub()
+    with patch("decnet.composer.write_compose"), \
+         patch(
+             "anyio.to_thread.run_sync",
+             new_callable=AsyncMock,
+             side_effect=RuntimeError("docker fail"),
+         ):
+        await LocalMutateStrategy().execute(
+            repo, None,
+            lifecycle_id="lid-1",
+            decky=cfg.deckies[0],
+            services=["http"],
+            full_config=cfg,
+            compose_path=tmp_path / "c.yml",
+        )
+    statuses = [f["status"] for _, f in repo.updates]
+    assert "running" in statuses
+    assert "failed" in statuses
+
+
+# --- SwarmMutateStrategy -------------------------------------------------
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_swarm_mutate_dispatches_via_agent(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    cfg = _config(mode="swarm", deckies=[_decky("d1", host_uuid="h1")])
+    repo = _RepoStub()
+    mutate_mock = AsyncMock(return_value={"status": "accepted"})
+    agent_ctx = MagicMock()
+    agent_ctx.__aenter__ = AsyncMock(
+        return_value=MagicMock(mutate=mutate_mock),
+    )
+    agent_ctx.__aexit__ = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+    with patch(
+        "decnet.engine.deployer._resolve_swarm_host",
+        new_callable=AsyncMock,
+        return_value={"uuid": "h1", "address": "10.0.0.1"},
+    ), patch(
+        "decnet.swarm.client.AgentClient", return_value=agent_ctx,
+    ):
+        await SwarmMutateStrategy().execute(
+            repo, None,
+            lifecycle_id="lid-1",
+            decky=cfg.deckies[0],
+            services=["http"],
+            full_config=cfg,
+            compose_path=tmp_path / "c.yml",
+        )
+    mutate_mock.assert_awaited_once()
+    # Row was flipped to running; worker drives terminal.
+    statuses = [f["status"] for _, f in repo.updates]
+    assert "running" in statuses
+    assert "succeeded" not in statuses
+    assert "failed" not in statuses
+
+
+# --- runner orchestration ------------------------------------------------
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_run_deploy_unihost_uses_local_strategy() -> None:
+    cfg = _config(deckies=[_decky("d1")])
+    repo = _RepoStub()
+    with patch("anyio.to_thread.run_sync", new_callable=AsyncMock):
+        await run_deploy(repo, None, lifecycle_ids={"d1": "lid-1"}, config=cfg)
+    statuses = [f["status"] for _, f in repo.updates]
+    assert statuses == ["running", "succeeded"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_run_deploy_swarm_splits_routes() -> None:
+    """In swarm mode, mixed master-resident + worker-resident deckies
+    take both strategies."""
+    cfg = _config(
+        mode="swarm",
+        deckies=[
+            _decky("local-one", host_uuid=None),
+            _decky("remote-one", host_uuid="h1"),
+        ],
+    )
+    repo = _RepoStub()
+    deploy_mock = AsyncMock(return_value={"status": "accepted"})
+    agent_ctx = MagicMock()
+    agent_ctx.__aenter__ = AsyncMock(
+        return_value=MagicMock(deploy=deploy_mock),
+    )
+    agent_ctx.__aexit__ = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+    with patch(
+        "decnet.engine.deployer._resolve_swarm_host",
+        new_callable=AsyncMock,
+        return_value={"uuid": "h1", "address": "10.0.0.1"},
+    ), patch(
+        "decnet.swarm.client.AgentClient", return_value=agent_ctx,
+    ), patch(
+        "anyio.to_thread.run_sync", new_callable=AsyncMock,
+    ):
+        await run_deploy(
+            repo, None,
+            lifecycle_ids={"local-one": "lid-L", "remote-one": "lid-R"},
+            config=cfg,
+        )
+    # local-one ran end-to-end; remote-one ran -> running only.
+    by_lid: dict[str, list[str]] = {}
+    for lid, f in repo.updates:
+        by_lid.setdefault(lid, []).append(f["status"])
+    assert by_lid["lid-L"] == ["running", "succeeded"]
+    assert by_lid["lid-R"] == ["running"]
+    deploy_mock.assert_awaited_once()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_run_mutate_local(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    cfg = _config(deckies=[_decky("d1")])
+    repo = _RepoStub()
+    with patch("decnet.composer.write_compose"), \
+         patch("anyio.to_thread.run_sync", new_callable=AsyncMock):
+        await run_mutate(
+            repo, None,
+            lifecycle_id="lid-1",
+            decky=cfg.deckies[0],
+            services=["http"],
+            full_config=cfg,
+            compose_path=tmp_path / "c.yml",
+        )
+    statuses = [f["status"] for _, f in repo.updates]
+    assert statuses == ["running", "succeeded"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_run_deploy_never_raises_when_strategy_crashes() -> None:
+    """Defense in depth: a strategy bug must not crash the task and
+    leave rows wedged in pending."""
+    cfg = _config(deckies=[_decky("d1")])
+    repo = _RepoStub()
+    with patch(
+        "decnet.lifecycle.strategies.LocalDeployStrategy.execute",
+        new_callable=AsyncMock,
+        side_effect=RuntimeError("bug"),
+    ):
+        # Should not raise.
+        await run_deploy(repo, None, lifecycle_ids={"d1": "lid-1"}, config=cfg)