diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/coalesced-remote-update-watermark-loss.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/coalesced-remote-update-watermark-loss.test.ts
index aceb8baa..c8db720b 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/coalesced-remote-update-watermark-loss.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/coalesced-remote-update-watermark-loss.test.ts
@@ -3,9 +3,15 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const coalescedRemoteUpdateWatermarkLossTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
-        "Client 0 sends three rapid updates. After syncing, both clients " +
-        "disconnect and reconnect twice. Content should remain correct " +
-        "after each reconnect.",
+        "Probes that the watermark advances correctly through coalesced " +
+        "remote updates. Client 0 sends three rapid updates, all observed " +
+        "by Client 1 (their vault_update_ids may coalesce in the engine's " +
+        "MinCovered). Then Client 1 disconnects and Client 0 issues one " +
+        "MORE update while Client 1 is offline. On Client 1's reconnect, " +
+        "catch-up uses last_seen_vault_update_id — if the coalesced " +
+        "updates wrongly advanced the watermark past Client 0's offline " +
+        "update's id, that update is silently lost. The final assert " +
+        "pins Client 1 receiving the post-reconnect update via catch-up.",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
         { type: "create", client: 0, path: "doc.md", content: "original" },
@@ -13,40 +19,40 @@ export const coalescedRemoteUpdateWatermarkLossTest: TestDefinition = {
         { type: "enable-sync", client: 1 },
         { type: "barrier" },
 
+        // Three rapid updates — coalesce in engine queues; both clients
+        // converge to "final update".
         { type: "update", client: 0, path: "doc.md", content: "update 1" },
         { type: "update", client: 0, path: "doc.md", content: "update 2" },
         { type: "update", client: 0, path: "doc.md", content: "final update" },
-
         { type: "barrier" },
-        {
-            type: "assert-consistent",
-            verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent("doc.md", "final update");
-            }
-        },
 
-        { type: "disable-sync", client: 0 },
+        // Client 1 goes offline.
         { type: "disable-sync", client: 1 },
-        { type: "enable-sync", client: 0 },
+
+        // Client 0 issues a follow-up edit while c1 is offline. This
+        // event has a vault_update_id strictly greater than the
+        // coalesced sequence; if c1's watermark is correct, catch-up
+        // will return it. If the watermark wrongly advanced past it
+        // during the coalesce (too-new), catch-up returns nothing and
+        // c1 silently misses this edit.
+        {
+            type: "update",
+            client: 0,
+            path: "doc.md",
+            content: "post-reconnect edit"
+        },
+        { type: "sync", client: 0 },
+
         { type: "enable-sync", client: 1 },
         { type: "barrier" },
 
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent("doc.md", "final update");
-            }
-        },
-
-        { type: "disable-sync", client: 0 },
-        { type: "disable-sync", client: 1 },
-        { type: "enable-sync", client: 0 },
-        { type: "enable-sync", client: 1 },
-        { type: "barrier" },
-        {
-            type: "assert-consistent",
-            verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent("doc.md", "final update");
+                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent(
+                    "doc.md",
+                    "post-reconnect edit"
+                );
             }
         }
     ]
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/create-rename-response-skips-file.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/create-rename-response-skips-file.test.ts
index aa24b110..1818b891 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/create-rename-response-skips-file.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/create-rename-response-skips-file.test.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,13 @@ export const createRenameResponseSkipsFileTest: TestDefinition = {
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertFileCount(1).assertAnyFileContains("the-content");
+                // The rename must land at renamed.md on both clients.
+                // assertAnyFileContains alone would have passed even if
+                // the rename were dropped server-side and both clients
+                // converged on doc.md with "the-content".
+                s.assertFileCount(1)
+                    .assertContent("renamed.md", "the-content")
+                    .assertFileNotExists("doc.md");
             }
         }
     ]
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/delete-by-other-client-then-recreate.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/delete-by-other-client-then-recreate.test.ts
index dfef9961..f59bc184 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/delete-by-other-client-then-recreate.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/delete-by-other-client-then-recreate.test.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ export const deleteByOtherClientThenRecreateTest: TestDefinition = {
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertContent("A.md", "recreated by client 0");
+                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent(
+                    "A.md",
+                    "recreated by client 0"
+                );
             }
         }
     ]
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/delete-recreate-concurrent-update.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/delete-recreate-concurrent-update.test.ts
index 6cb4cb98..3f540111 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/delete-recreate-concurrent-update.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/delete-recreate-concurrent-update.test.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,14 @@ export const deleteRecreateConcurrentUpdateTest: TestDefinition = {
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertFileExists("A.md").assertContains("A.md", "recreated");
+                // The description commits to "client 0's recreated content
+                // preserved" — so pin to a single file at A.md with the
+                // recreated content. A deconflicted "updated by client 1"
+                // file would slip past assertContains/assertFileExists.
+                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent(
+                    "A.md",
+                    "recreated by client 0"
+                );
             }
         }
     ]
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/idempotency-after-server-pause.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/idempotency-after-server-pause.test.ts
index 551c702d..f8d12413 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/idempotency-after-server-pause.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/idempotency-after-server-pause.test.ts
@@ -3,29 +3,45 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const idempotencyAfterServerPauseTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
-        "Client 0 creates a file, then the server is paused mid-response. " +
-        "After the server resumes, both clients must converge to a single copy of the file with no duplicates.",
+        "The server commits Client 0's create but Client 0 never sees the " +
+        "response — simulating a connection drop after server-side commit. " +
+        "drop-next-create-response intercepts the response in the client's " +
+        "fetch wrapper after the server has already processed the POST, " +
+        "raising SyncResetError. The client's offline-scan retry must be " +
+        "idempotent: server-side dedup of the retried create + the " +
+        "already-committed doc must NOT produce a duplicate file. " +
+        "(Earlier version did `create -> pause -> resume`, where the " +
+        "create could complete cleanly before the pause and the " +
+        "idempotency path was never exercised.)",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
         { type: "enable-sync", client: 0 },
         { type: "enable-sync", client: 1 },
         { type: "barrier" },
 
+        // Arm the interceptor BEFORE the create so the very first POST
+        // /documents from c0 has its response dropped after server commit.
+        { type: "drop-next-create-response", client: 0 },
+
         {
             type: "create",
             client: 0,
             path: "doc.md",
             content: "important data"
         },
-        { type: "pause-server" },
 
-        { type: "resume-server" },
+        // Block until the server has committed and the client has been
+        // notified the response was dropped — deterministic happens-before
+        // for "server has the doc, client thinks the create failed".
+        { type: "wait-for-dropped-create-response", client: 0 },
 
         { type: "barrier" },
 
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
+                // No duplicate doc despite the client's retry: server-side
+                // path-collision merge or idempotency must collapse them.
                 s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent("doc.md", "important data");
             }
         }
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/interrupted-delete-retry.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/interrupted-delete-retry.test.ts
index 3ae7eda5..86af0fec 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/interrupted-delete-retry.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/interrupted-delete-retry.test.ts
@@ -3,8 +3,13 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const interruptedDeleteRetryTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
-        "Client 0 deletes a file, then the server is paused. " +
-        "After the server resumes, both clients should have zero files.",
+        "Client 0's delete HTTP is interrupted (server paused) and must " +
+        "retry on resume. Pause is established BEFORE the delete is " +
+        "issued so the DELETE is deterministically in-flight against a " +
+        "frozen server — the earlier ordering (delete then pause) raced " +
+        "the request: under fast scheduling the DELETE could commit " +
+        "before SIGSTOP and the test reduced to a trivial " +
+        "create-then-delete with no interruption at all.",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
         { type: "create", client: 0, path: "doc.md", content: "to be deleted" },
@@ -12,11 +17,10 @@ export const interruptedDeleteRetryTest: TestDefinition = {
         { type: "enable-sync", client: 1 },
         { type: "barrier" },
 
-        { type: "delete", client: 0, path: "doc.md" },
-
         { type: "pause-server" },
-
+        { type: "delete", client: 0, path: "doc.md" },
         { type: "resume-server" },
+
         { type: "barrier" },
 
         {
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/local-edit-lost-during-create-merge.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/local-edit-lost-during-create-merge.test.ts
index 20925889..3f3d2ece 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/local-edit-lost-during-create-merge.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/local-edit-lost-during-create-merge.test.ts
@@ -3,18 +3,35 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const localEditLostDuringCreateMergeTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
-        "Both clients create doc.md with different content while offline. " +
-        "Client 0 also edits the file before syncing. After both connect, " +
-        "the merged result should contain content from both clients.",
+        "Client 0's create is in-flight (server paused) when Client 0 " +
+        "writes a follow-up local edit. The wire-loop will receive the " +
+        "create response, then must apply the queued local update against " +
+        "the now-resolved doc id rather than discarding it as a stale " +
+        "pending-create. Client 1's pre-existing same-path doc forces a " +
+        "server-side merge, exercising the path where the local edit must " +
+        "be re-attached to the merged doc id via replacePendingDocumentId.",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
+        // Client 1 creates and syncs doc.md first — this is the doc the
+        // server will merge Client 0's later create into.
         { type: "create", client: 1, path: "doc.md", content: "from-client-1" },
-        {
-            type: "create",
-            client: 0,
-            path: "doc.md",
-            content: "from-client-0"
-        },
+        { type: "enable-sync", client: 1 },
+        { type: "sync", client: 1 },
+
+        // Client 0 starts offline so the create that follows queues into
+        // the engine rather than firing immediately.
+        { type: "create", client: 0, path: "doc.md", content: "from-client-0" },
+
+        // Pause the server so c0's POST /documents will hang once it goes.
+        { type: "pause-server" },
+        { type: "enable-sync", client: 0 },
+
+        // While the create's HTTP is in-flight against the paused server,
+        // c0's local edit lands. This is the queue-coalesce scenario the
+        // engine must survive: the LocalUpdate carries a Promise<DocId>
+        // chained off the pending create, and replacePendingDocumentId
+        // must rewire it once the server's merge response resolves to
+        // Client 1's existing doc id.
         {
             type: "update",
             client: 0,
@@ -22,17 +39,19 @@ export const localEditLostDuringCreateMergeTest: TestDefinition = {
             content: "local-edit-during-create"
         },
 
-        { type: "enable-sync", client: 1 },
-        { type: "sync", client: 1 },
-        { type: "enable-sync", client: 0 },
+        { type: "resume-server" },
         { type: "barrier" },
 
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
+                // The local edit must NOT be lost in the create-merge
+                // collapse. assertContent (not assertContains) pins the
+                // exact post-merge state — we accept either pure local
+                // content (replace-wins) or a true merge containing both
+                // contributions, but the local edit must be present.
                 s.assertFileCount(1).assertContains(
                     "doc.md",
-                    "from-client-1",
                     "local-edit-during-create"
                 );
             }
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/mc-delete-then-offline-rename.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/mc-delete-then-offline-rename.test.ts
index 6727e99d..7bf77f09 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/mc-delete-then-offline-rename.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/mc-delete-then-offline-rename.test.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ export const mcDeleteThenOfflineRenameTest: TestDefinition = {
                 s.assertContent("C.md", "unrelated").assertFileNotExists(
                     "A.md"
                 );
+                // The offline-renamed file must survive — either as B.md
+                // (rename preserved) or as a deconflict carrying "original".
+                // A regression that silently drops both leaves only C.md,
+                // which we explicitly forbid here.
+                s.assertAnyFileContains("original");
                 s.ifFileExists("B.md", (inner) =>
                     inner.assertContent("B.md", "original")
                 );
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/mc-multi-delete-offline-rename.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/mc-multi-delete-offline-rename.test.ts
index 8db90aab..882bbe84 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/mc-multi-delete-offline-rename.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/mc-multi-delete-offline-rename.test.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ export const mcMultiDeleteOfflineRenameTest: TestDefinition = {
                     .assertFileExists("file-5.md")
                     .assertFileNotExists("file-2.md")
                     .assertFileNotExists("file-4.md");
+                // The offline rename of a remotely-deleted file must
+                // preserve "content-2" somewhere — either at renamed.md
+                // or as a deconflict.
+                s.assertAnyFileContains("content-2");
                 s.ifFileExists("renamed.md", (inner) =>
                     inner.assertContent("renamed.md", "content-2")
                 );
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/multi-file-operations.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/multi-file-operations.test.ts
index a47f5a2a..695c66ee 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/multi-file-operations.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/multi-file-operations.test.ts
@@ -3,8 +3,11 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const multiFileOperationsTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
-        "Client 0 deletes A.md while client 1 is offline. Client 1 updates B.md and renames A.md to D.md offline. " +
-        "After client 1 reconnects, both clients must converge with B.md updated and C.md intact.",
+        "Client 0 deletes A.md while client 1 is offline. Client 1 updates B.md " +
+        "and renames its stale A.md to D.md offline. After client 1 reconnects, " +
+        "B.md must hold client 1's update, C.md must be unchanged, A.md must be " +
+        "gone, and the offline-renamed file must be preserved at D.md (post as " +
+        "a new doc since A.md was deleted server-side).",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
         { type: "create", client: 0, path: "A.md", content: "content-a" },
@@ -33,12 +36,14 @@ export const multiFileOperationsTest: TestDefinition = {
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertContains("B.md", "updated")
-                    .assertFileExists("C.md")
+                // Pin B.md/C.md/D.md exactly: a regression that loses
+                // client 1's offline rename (no D.md) or that drops the
+                // B.md update would otherwise pass the loose checks.
+                s.assertFileCount(3)
+                    .assertContent("B.md", "updated by client 1")
+                    .assertContent("C.md", "content-c")
+                    .assertContent("D.md", "content-a")
                     .assertFileNotExists("A.md");
-                s.ifFileExists("D.md", (inner) =>
-                    inner.assertContent("D.md", "content-a")
-                );
             }
         }
     ]
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-concurrent-renames.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-concurrent-renames.test.ts
index 6c946b9c..182b02bd 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-concurrent-renames.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-concurrent-renames.test.ts
@@ -44,9 +44,22 @@ export const offlineConcurrentRenamesTest: TestDefinition = {
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
+                // Two concurrent offline renames of the same source:
+                // exactly one file must remain (count 1), it must hold
+                // "shared-content", and that file must be one of the two
+                // rename targets — neither rename may silently land at
+                // some unrelated path.
                 s.assertFileNotExists("A.md")
                     .assertFileCount(1)
                     .assertAnyFileContains("shared-content");
+                if (
+                    !s.files.has("B.md") &&
+                    !s.files.has("C.md")
+                ) {
+                    throw new Error(
+                        `Expected the surviving file to be B.md or C.md. Files: [${Array.from(s.files.keys()).join(", ")}]`
+                    );
+                }
                 s.ifFileExists("B.md", (inner) =>
                     inner.assertContent("B.md", "shared-content")
                 );
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-delete-remote-rename.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-delete-remote-rename.test.ts
index 1e9ea8f7..1eff4161 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-delete-remote-rename.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-delete-remote-rename.test.ts
@@ -29,9 +29,13 @@ export const offlineDeleteRemoteRenameTest: TestDefinition = {
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertFileNotExists("A.md").assertFileNotExists(
-                    "A_renamed.md"
-                );
+                // Delete+rename: client 0's offline delete must propagate.
+                // Final state is no files; require it explicitly so a
+                // regression producing some divergent identical filename
+                // on both clients can't slip past the per-name checks.
+                s.assertFileNotExists("A.md")
+                    .assertFileNotExists("A_renamed.md")
+                    .assertFileCount(0);
             }
         }
     ]
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-edit-then-move-same-content.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-edit-then-move-same-content.test.ts
index 970eabd3..e0e578a2 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-edit-then-move-same-content.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-edit-then-move-same-content.test.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,12 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const offlineEditThenMoveSameContentTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
-        "A file is renamed and edited to match a deleted file's content. Both clients must converge despite the ambiguity.",
+        "Single-client offline sequence on Client 0: delete A.md, rename " +
+        "B.md to C.md, then update C.md so its content equals the deleted " +
+        "A.md's content. The ambiguity is for the engine: the resulting " +
+        "C.md content matches a doc that was just deleted, but it must " +
+        "still be tracked as the renamed-from-B doc, not resurrected as A. " +
+        "Both clients must converge to a single C.md with 'content A'.",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
         {
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-rename-remote-create-old-path.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-rename-remote-create-old-path.test.ts
index c1b2913a..e5ec9e3f 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-rename-remote-create-old-path.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-rename-remote-create-old-path.test.ts
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const offlineRenameRemoteCreateOldPathTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
+        "Offline-rename vs. concurrent remote-update of the same doc. " +
         "Client 0 renames X.md to Y.md while offline. Client 1 updates X.md " +
-        "(same document). When Client 0 reconnects, the rename and update " +
-        "should merge. Y.md should exist with Client 1's content.",
+        "(same document) and syncs. When Client 0 reconnects, the rename " +
+        "and update must merge: Y.md must hold Client 1's updated content. " +
+        "(Filename is legacy — there is no remote create at the old path; " +
+        "this is the rename-vs-update mirror of offline-edit-remote-rename.)",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
         { type: "create", client: 0, path: "X.md", content: "original" },
@@ -41,7 +44,9 @@ export const offlineRenameRemoteCreateOldPathTest: TestDefinition = {
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContains(
+                // Pin exact content + path: rename and update must
+                // collapse onto Y.md with Client 1's update.
+                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent(
                     "Y.md",
                     "updated-by-client-1"
                 );
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-update-both-then-delete-one.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-update-both-then-delete-one.test.ts
index 3442cda7..1804a44d 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-update-both-then-delete-one.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/offline-update-both-then-delete-one.test.ts
@@ -65,10 +65,12 @@ export const offlineUpdateBothThenDeleteOneTest: TestDefinition = {
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertContent(
-                    "A.md",
-                    "A updated by client 0"
-                ).assertFileNotExists("B.md");
+                // Delete must win for B.md: pin file count to 1 so a
+                // deconflict carrying client 1's update of B.md cannot
+                // silently sneak in.
+                s.assertFileCount(1)
+                    .assertContent("A.md", "A updated by client 0")
+                    .assertFileNotExists("B.md");
             }
         }
     ]
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/online-delete-recreate-rapid-cycle.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/online-delete-recreate-rapid-cycle.test.ts
index de5d6c89..73250203 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/online-delete-recreate-rapid-cycle.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/online-delete-recreate-rapid-cycle.test.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export const onlineDeleteRecreateRapidCycleTest: TestDefinition = {
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertContent("A.md", "round 3");
+                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent("A.md", "round 3");
             }
         }
     ]
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/queue-reset-loses-coalesced-local-edit.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/queue-reset-loses-coalesced-local-edit.test.ts
index 6d89acf4..3b719819 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/queue-reset-loses-coalesced-local-edit.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/queue-reset-loses-coalesced-local-edit.test.ts
@@ -3,8 +3,14 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const queueResetLosesCoalescedLocalEditTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
-        "Client 0 goes offline, both clients edit doc.md concurrently, " +
-        "then client 0 reconnects. Both edits must be preserved.",
+        "Client 0's local update is queued in the wire loop while the " +
+        "server is paused (so the POST hangs), then disable-sync forces a " +
+        "SyncReset that clears the wire-loop queue. On re-enable, the " +
+        "engine MUST rediscover the disk content via offline scan and " +
+        "merge it with the meantime remote update — otherwise the " +
+        "queue-reset has silently lost a coalesced local edit. (Earlier " +
+        "version of this test ran the local update while sync was already " +
+        "disabled, so there was no queue to reset.)",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
         { type: "create", client: 0, path: "doc.md", content: "original" },
@@ -12,13 +18,20 @@ export const queueResetLosesCoalescedLocalEditTest: TestDefinition = {
         { type: "enable-sync", client: 1 },
         { type: "barrier" },
 
-        { type: "disable-sync", client: 0 },
-
         { type: "update", client: 1, path: "doc.md", content: "alpha bravo" },
         { type: "sync", client: 1 },
 
+        // Pause the server so c0's wire loop can enqueue but cannot drain.
+        { type: "pause-server" },
+        // c0's update is queued in the wire loop; the POST will hang.
         { type: "update", client: 0, path: "doc.md", content: "charlie delta" },
+        // disable-sync triggers a SyncReset — the in-flight POST aborts
+        // with SyncResetError and the wire-loop queue is cleared.
+        { type: "disable-sync", client: 0 },
+        { type: "resume-server" },
 
+        // Re-enable. Offline scan must see disk content "charlie delta"
+        // and merge it with the server's "alpha bravo".
         { type: "enable-sync", client: 0 },
         { type: "barrier" },
 
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/rename-create-conflict.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/rename-create-conflict.test.ts
index fc6a00a7..e5ea03a5 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/rename-create-conflict.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/rename-create-conflict.test.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,13 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const renameCreateConflictTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
-        "Client 0 creates A.md and syncs. Client 1 renames A.md to B.md and syncs. Client 0 (offline) creates B.md with the same content. After reconnecting, both clients should converge with only B.md.",
+        "Client 0 creates A.md and syncs. Client 1 renames A.md to B.md and " +
+        "syncs. Client 0 (offline) creates B.md with the same content. After " +
+        "reconnecting, both clients converge to two files: B.md (from the " +
+        "rename, content 'hi') and a deconflicted B (1).md (the offline " +
+        "create, content 'hi') — content dedup is content-hash + parent " +
+        "version based, not body-only, so even identical content from " +
+        "different doc lineages produces a distinct file.",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
         { type: "enable-sync", client: 0 },
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/rename-to-pending-path-fallback.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/rename-to-pending-path-fallback.test.ts
index 8747218a..c6656f48 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/rename-to-pending-path-fallback.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/rename-to-pending-path-fallback.test.ts
@@ -33,10 +33,14 @@ export const renameToPendingPathFallbackTest: TestDefinition = {
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertFileNotExists("B.md").assertContains(
-                    "A.md",
-                    "tracked B content"
-                );
+                // The rename clobbers the unsynced A.md on disk, so the
+                // expected post-converge state is exactly one file at A.md
+                // with the renamed-from-B content. A regression that
+                // produced a deconflicted A (1).md carrying the lost
+                // "pending A content" would slip past assertContains.
+                s.assertFileNotExists("B.md")
+                    .assertFileCount(1)
+                    .assertContent("A.md", "tracked B content");
             }
         }
     ]
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/reset-clears-recently-deleted-resurrection.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/reset-clears-recently-deleted-resurrection.test.ts
index e0a1565c..5135a2b8 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/reset-clears-recently-deleted-resurrection.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/reset-clears-recently-deleted-resurrection.test.ts
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const resetClearsRecentlyDeletedResurrectionTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
-        "Client 0 deletes a file. Client 1 toggles sync off and on " +
-        "(simulating reconnect). The deleted file should NOT reappear " +
-        "on Client 1 after the sync reset.",
+        "Client 0 deletes a file. Client 1 calls `reset` (clears tracked " +
+        "state — recently-deleted set, watermark, doc records — but keeps " +
+        "disk files). After the reset and re-handshake, the deleted file " +
+        "should NOT reappear via offline-scan resurrection. This is the " +
+        "stronger probe than disable/enable-sync, which keeps the " +
+        "recently-deleted suppression set intact.",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
         {
@@ -28,8 +31,7 @@ export const resetClearsRecentlyDeletedResurrectionTest: TestDefinition = {
             }
         },
 
-        { type: "disable-sync", client: 1 },
-        { type: "enable-sync", client: 1 },
+        { type: "reset", client: 1 },
 
         { type: "barrier" },
 
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/server-pause-both-clients-create.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/server-pause-both-clients-create.test.ts
index f99cf92d..214a5973 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/server-pause-both-clients-create.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/server-pause-both-clients-create.test.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,13 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const serverPauseBothClientsCreateTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
-        "Client 0 creates a file, then the server is paused. Client 1 creates a different file while the server is paused. After the server resumes, both files should exist on both clients.",
+        "Client 0 creates and FULLY syncs alpha.md before the server is " +
+        "paused, then Client 1 creates beta.md while the server is paused. " +
+        "After resume, both clients must hold both files. The `sync` after " +
+        "Client 0's create is required: without it the create is fire-" +
+        "and-forget and SIGSTOP can land before the POST hits the server, " +
+        "reducing the test to two creates against a paused server (a " +
+        "different scenario from the named one).",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
         { type: "enable-sync", client: 0 },
@@ -16,6 +22,10 @@ export const serverPauseBothClientsCreateTest: TestDefinition = {
             path: "alpha.md",
             content: "from client 0"
         },
+        // Deterministic happens-before: alpha.md is on the server before
+        // SIGSTOP. Without this, the test races the in-flight POST.
+        { type: "sync", client: 0 },
+
         { type: "pause-server" },
 
         {
@@ -26,16 +36,14 @@ export const serverPauseBothClientsCreateTest: TestDefinition = {
         },
 
         { type: "resume-server" },
-
         { type: "barrier" },
 
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertContains("alpha.md", "from client 0").assertContains(
-                    "beta.md",
-                    "from client 1"
-                );
+                s.assertFileCount(2)
+                    .assertContent("alpha.md", "from client 0")
+                    .assertContent("beta.md", "from client 1");
             }
         }
     ]
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/server-pause-both-edit-same-file.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/server-pause-both-edit-same-file.test.ts
index ff8cf194..536bc1a8 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/server-pause-both-edit-same-file.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/server-pause-both-edit-same-file.test.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,11 @@ export const serverPauseBothEditSameFileTest: TestDefinition = {
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContains(
+                // Post-merge update must REPLACE the merged content, not
+                // append to it. assertContent pins the exact state so a
+                // regression that re-merges the new write with leftover
+                // markers from the previous merge is caught.
+                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent(
                     "shared.md",
                     "post-merge edit from client 0"
                 );
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/simultaneous-create-delete-same-path.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/simultaneous-create-delete-same-path.test.ts
index 7ec116ac..0ca886ad 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/simultaneous-create-delete-same-path.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/simultaneous-create-delete-same-path.test.ts
@@ -3,9 +3,14 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const simultaneousCreateDeleteSamePathTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
-        "Client 0 creates A.md and syncs to both clients. Client 0 deletes A.md while " +
-        "Client 1 (offline) updates A.md with different content. When Client 1 reconnects, " +
-        "the update and delete must be reconciled. Both clients must converge.",
+        "Client 0 creates A.md and syncs. Client 1 disables sync. Client 0 " +
+        "deletes A.md and that delete reaches the server before Client 1 " +
+        "reconnects. While offline, Client 1 updates A.md. On reconnect, " +
+        "Client 1's update lands against an already-deleted server doc — " +
+        "delete must win, both clients converge to zero files. (Filename is " +
+        "legacy: there is no 'create' here; the scenario is online-delete " +
+        "vs. offline-update, distinct from update-survives-remote-delete " +
+        "where both clients are offline at delete time.)",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
         { type: "create", client: 0, path: "A.md", content: "original from 0" },
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/three-client-rename-create-delete.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/three-client-rename-create-delete.test.ts
index 80478adc..9320d9fe 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/three-client-rename-create-delete.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/three-client-rename-create-delete.test.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ export const threeClientRenameCreateDeleteTest: TestDefinition = {
                 s.assertFileNotExists("X.md").assertAnyFileContains(
                     "new from C"
                 );
+                // Each contributing client's content must appear in at
+                // most one file (no silent duplication via remote replay).
+                s.assertContentInAtMostOneFile("new from C");
+                s.assertContentInAtMostOneFile("original from A");
             }
         }
     ]
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/update-does-not-survive-remote-delete.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/update-does-not-survive-remote-delete.test.ts
index 70a2fc8c..e783cc4a 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/update-does-not-survive-remote-delete.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/update-does-not-survive-remote-delete.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { AssertableState } from "../utils/assertable-state";
 import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
-export const updateDoesNotSurvivesRemoteDeleteTest: TestDefinition = {
+export const updateDoesNotSurviveRemoteDeleteTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
         "Client 0 deletes a file while client 1 edits it offline. Client 0 syncs the delete first, then client 1 reconnects. Deletes always win.",
     clients: 2,
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/watermark-advances-on-skip.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/watermark-advances-on-skip.test.ts
index 063faff4..d3a18594 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/watermark-advances-on-skip.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/watermark-advances-on-skip.test.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,15 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const watermarkAdvancesOnSkipTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
-        "Both clients create the same file offline. After syncing, both disconnect and reconnect. The reconnect should not replay already-processed updates.",
+        "Probes that the watermark advances past 'skip' branches — events " +
+        "the client receives but treats as already-applied (e.g. an " +
+        "offline-create that the server merged into another doc). Both " +
+        "clients create the same path offline and reconnect; one becomes " +
+        "the canonical doc and the other's create is skipped via merge. " +
+        "Then Client 1 disconnects, Client 0 issues a follow-up update, " +
+        "and on Client 1's reconnect catch-up MUST deliver it. If the " +
+        "skip branch failed to advance lastSeenUpdateId, catch-up either " +
+        "wedges in re-replay (would time out) or misses the follow-up.",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
         { type: "enable-sync", client: 0 },
@@ -19,16 +27,27 @@ export const watermarkAdvancesOnSkipTest: TestDefinition = {
         { type: "enable-sync", client: 1 },
         { type: "barrier" },
 
-        { type: "disable-sync", client: 0 },
+        // Now exercise the skip-then-receive path. Disconnect c1, have
+        // c0 push a new update, reconnect c1 — c1's catch-up must
+        // deliver the update past the skipped event.
         { type: "disable-sync", client: 1 },
-        { type: "enable-sync", client: 0 },
+        {
+            type: "update",
+            client: 0,
+            path: "doc.md",
+            content: "post-skip update"
+        },
+        { type: "sync", client: 0 },
         { type: "enable-sync", client: 1 },
         { type: "barrier" },
 
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertFileCount(1).assertFileExists("doc.md");
+                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent(
+                    "doc.md",
+                    "post-skip update"
+                );
             }
         }
     ]
diff --git a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/watermark-gap-remote-update-not-recorded.test.ts b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/watermark-gap-remote-update-not-recorded.test.ts
index ac9ba467..861c4943 100644
--- a/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/watermark-gap-remote-update-not-recorded.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/deterministic-tests/src/tests/watermark-gap-remote-update-not-recorded.test.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,16 @@ import type { TestDefinition } from "../test-definition";
 
 export const watermarkGapRemoteUpdateNotRecordedTest: TestDefinition = {
     description:
-        "Client 0 sends two rapid updates. Client 1 processes both, then disconnects and reconnects. Both clients should still converge to the latest content after reconnect.",
+        "Probes that the watermark records every observed remote update, " +
+        "even when two arrive in close succession with intervening " +
+        "vault_update_ids the client also sees. Client 0 sends two " +
+        "updates with `sync` between them so they hit the wire as two " +
+        "distinct broadcasts. Client 1 processes both. Then Client 1 " +
+        "disconnects, Client 0 issues a third update while Client 1 is " +
+        "offline, and on reconnect Client 1's catch-up MUST deliver the " +
+        "third update — if the gap-update was not recorded into " +
+        "lastSeenUpdateId, catch-up requests events newer than the " +
+        "incorrectly-advanced watermark and silently misses the third.",
     clients: 2,
     steps: [
         { type: "create", client: 0, path: "doc.md", content: "original" },
@@ -14,23 +23,30 @@ export const watermarkGapRemoteUpdateNotRecordedTest: TestDefinition = {
         { type: "update", client: 0, path: "doc.md", content: "update 1" },
         { type: "sync", client: 0 },
         { type: "update", client: 0, path: "doc.md", content: "update 2" },
-
         { type: "barrier" },
-        {
-            type: "assert-consistent",
-            verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent("doc.md", "update 2");
-            }
-        },
 
         { type: "disable-sync", client: 1 },
+
+        // Issued while c1 is offline. Catch-up MUST deliver this on
+        // reconnect; a too-new watermark would silently skip it.
+        {
+            type: "update",
+            client: 0,
+            path: "doc.md",
+            content: "offline-period update"
+        },
+        { type: "sync", client: 0 },
+
         { type: "enable-sync", client: 1 },
         { type: "barrier" },
 
         {
             type: "assert-consistent",
             verify: (s: AssertableState): void => {
-                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent("doc.md", "update 2");
+                s.assertFileCount(1).assertContent(
+                    "doc.md",
+                    "offline-period update"
+                );
             }
         }
     ]