diff --git a/src/clayde/config.py b/src/clayde/config.py
index 72e7be3..60a2b66 100644
--- a/src/clayde/config.py
+++ b/src/clayde/config.py
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ def effective_git_name(self) -> str:
     fs_reviewer: str = "max-tet"
     fs_parallelism: int = 1
     fs_loop_interval_s: int = 120
+    fs_max_branch_commits: int = 20
 
     # Pebble webhook
     pebble_enabled: bool = False
diff --git a/src/clayde/freeshard/loop.py b/src/clayde/freeshard/loop.py
index 81ac2f8..e662453 100644
--- a/src/clayde/freeshard/loop.py
+++ b/src/clayde/freeshard/loop.py
@@ -15,11 +15,13 @@
 from clayde.freeshard.repos import is_non_core
 from clayde.freeshard.steps import (
     run_ci_fix,
+    run_escalate,
     run_handoff,
     run_implement,
     run_manual_verify,
 )
 from clayde.github import (
+    count_branch_commits,
     count_fix_commits,
     find_open_pr,
     get_assigned_issues,
@@ -67,6 +69,8 @@ def _route(
     ref = f"{owner}/{repo}#{number}"
     if phase is Phase.IMPLEMENT:
         run_implement(g, owner, repo, number, default_branch)
+    elif phase is Phase.ESCALATE:
+        run_escalate(g, owner, repo, number, settings.fs_reviewer)
     elif phase is Phase.CI_FIX:
         ci_log = _ci_failure_summary(g, owner, repo, head) if head else "CI failed"
         run_ci_fix(g, owner, repo, number, default_branch, ci_log)
@@ -117,6 +121,8 @@ def _process_issue(g, settings, issue) -> bool:
             is_rev = is_reviewer_assigned(g, owner, repo, pr_number, settings.fs_reviewer)
             fix_attempts = count_fix_commits(g, owner, repo, branch, default_branch)
 
+        attempts = count_branch_commits(g, owner, repo, branch, default_branch)
+
         try:
             ci_required = has_ci_workflows(g, owner, repo)
         except Exception:
@@ -131,6 +137,8 @@ def _process_issue(g, settings, issue) -> bool:
             max_is_reviewer=bool(is_rev),
             fix_attempts=fix_attempts,
             ci_required=ci_required,
+            attempts=attempts,
+            attempt_cap=settings.fs_max_branch_commits,
         )
         log.info("%s — phase=%s", ref, phase)
 
diff --git a/src/clayde/freeshard/phase.py b/src/clayde/freeshard/phase.py
index 7ae2be1..c6c3a45 100644
--- a/src/clayde/freeshard/phase.py
+++ b/src/clayde/freeshard/phase.py
@@ -18,19 +18,21 @@ class Phase(StrEnum):
     MANUAL_VERIFY = "manual_verify"   # PR open, CI failed, fix cap reached
     HANDOFF = "handoff"               # PR open, CI green, Max not yet reviewer
     AWAITING_MERGE = "awaiting_merge" # PR open, CI green, Max is reviewer
+    ESCALATE = "escalate"             # no open PR, branch-commit cap reached
 
 
 def derive_phase(*, pr_open: bool, ci_status: str | None,
                  max_is_reviewer: bool, fix_attempts: int, fix_cap: int = 2,
-                 ci_required: bool = True) -> Phase:
+                 ci_required: bool = True,
+                 attempts: int = 0, attempt_cap: int = 20) -> Phase:
     if not pr_open:
-        return Phase.IMPLEMENT
+        return Phase.ESCALATE if attempts >= attempt_cap else Phase.IMPLEMENT
     if not ci_required:
         return Phase.AWAITING_MERGE if max_is_reviewer else Phase.HANDOFF
     if ci_status in _CI_PENDING:
         return Phase.CI_WAIT
     if ci_status in _CI_FAILED:
-        return Phase.MANUAL_VERIFY if fix_attempts >= fix_cap else Phase.CI_FIX
+        return Phase.MANUAL_VERIFY if (fix_attempts >= fix_cap or attempts >= attempt_cap) else Phase.CI_FIX
     if ci_status in _CI_SUCCESS:
         return Phase.AWAITING_MERGE if max_is_reviewer else Phase.HANDOFF
     # Unrecognized status: never assume green. Treat as still pending — a
diff --git a/src/clayde/freeshard/steps.py b/src/clayde/freeshard/steps.py
index 73f7a39..1d7d5ae 100644
--- a/src/clayde/freeshard/steps.py
+++ b/src/clayde/freeshard/steps.py
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ def run_implement(g, owner: str, repo: str, number: int, default_branch: str) ->
             "Local verify failed for %s/%s#%d — leaving WIP on branch: %s",
             owner, repo, number, log_tail[-200:],
         )
+        _push_branch(worktree, branch)
         return
 
     _push_branch(worktree, branch)
@@ -121,6 +122,23 @@ def run_handoff(g, owner: str, repo: str, number: int, pr_number: int, reviewer:
     remove_worktree(owner, repo, number)
 
 
+def run_escalate(g, owner: str, repo: str, number: int, reviewer: str) -> None:
+    """Add manual-verify-required label on issue, assign reviewer, post comment, remove worktree.
+
+    Called when the branch-commit cap is reached with no open PR — auto-implement
+    gave up. Idempotent: if the label is already present, returns immediately.
+    """
+    repo_obj = g.get_repo(f"{owner}/{repo}")
+    issue_obj = repo_obj.get_issue(number)
+    existing_labels = {lbl.name for lbl in issue_obj.get_labels()}
+    if "manual-verify-required" in existing_labels:
+        return
+    issue_obj.add_to_labels("manual-verify-required")
+    issue_obj.add_to_assignees(reviewer)
+    post_comment(g, owner, repo, number, "Auto-implement gave up after repeated failed attempts — needs your hands")
+    remove_worktree(owner, repo, number)
+
+
 def run_manual_verify(g, owner: str, repo: str, number: int, pr_number: int, reviewer: str) -> None:
     """Add manual-verify label, assign reviewer, post comment, remove worktree.
 
diff --git a/src/clayde/github.py b/src/clayde/github.py
index 69c89b6..83e8e2f 100644
--- a/src/clayde/github.py
+++ b/src/clayde/github.py
@@ -211,11 +211,18 @@ def get_ci_status(g: Github, owner: str, repo: str, ref: str) -> str | None:
     commit = _get_repo(g, owner, repo).get_commit(ref)
     states: list[str] = []
 
-    combined = commit.get_combined_status().state  # success|failure|pending|error
-    if combined and combined != "pending":
-        states.append("failure" if combined in ("failure", "error") else "success")
-    elif combined == "pending":
-        states.append("pending")
+    # Legacy commit-status API defaults state to "pending" when a repo has zero
+    # statuses (modern repos use check-runs only). Only trust it when statuses
+    # actually exist — otherwise it poisons a green check-runs result to pending.
+    combined_status = commit.get_combined_status()
+    if combined_status.total_count > 0:
+        combined = combined_status.state  # success|failure|pending|error
+        if combined in ("failure", "error"):
+            states.append("failure")
+        elif combined == "pending":
+            states.append("pending")
+        else:
+            states.append("success")
 
     for run in commit.get_check_runs():
         if run.status != "completed":
@@ -251,6 +258,18 @@ def count_fix_commits(g: Github, owner: str, repo: str, branch: str, default_bra
     return sum(1 for c in commits if c.commit.message.startswith("fix(ci):"))
 
 
+def count_branch_commits(g: Github, owner: str, repo: str, branch: str, default_branch: str) -> int:
+    """Return total number of commits unique to branch vs default_branch.
+
+    Uses the compare API so only branch-unique commits are counted. Returns 0
+    on GithubException (branch missing, branch equal to base, etc.).
+    """
+    try:
+        return len(_get_repo(g, owner, repo).compare(default_branch, branch).commits)
+    except GithubException:
+        return 0
+
+
 def has_ci_workflows(g: Github, owner: str, repo: str) -> bool:
     """Return True if the repo has any file under .github/workflows/.
 
diff --git a/tests/freeshard/test_github_obs.py b/tests/freeshard/test_github_obs.py
index 53ad77f..3ae9a13 100644
--- a/tests/freeshard/test_github_obs.py
+++ b/tests/freeshard/test_github_obs.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ def test_get_ci_status_maps_combined_state():
     g = MagicMock()
     commit = g.get_repo.return_value.get_commit.return_value
     commit.get_combined_status.return_value.state = "success"
+    commit.get_combined_status.return_value.total_count = 1
     commit.get_check_runs.return_value = []
     assert get_ci_status(g, "o", "r", "abc") == "success"
 
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ def test_get_ci_status_failure_dominates_success():
     g = MagicMock()
     commit = g.get_repo.return_value.get_commit.return_value
     commit.get_combined_status.return_value.state = "success"
+    commit.get_combined_status.return_value.total_count = 1
     run = MagicMock()
     run.status = "completed"
     run.conclusion = "failure"
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@ def test_get_ci_status_error_normalized_to_failure():
     g = MagicMock()
     commit = g.get_repo.return_value.get_commit.return_value
     commit.get_combined_status.return_value.state = "error"
+    commit.get_combined_status.return_value.total_count = 1
     commit.get_check_runs.return_value = []
     assert get_ci_status(g, "o", "r", "abc") == "failure"
 
@@ -63,6 +66,7 @@ def test_get_ci_status_pending_when_incomplete_check_run():
     g = MagicMock()
     commit = g.get_repo.return_value.get_commit.return_value
     commit.get_combined_status.return_value.state = "success"
+    commit.get_combined_status.return_value.total_count = 1
     run = MagicMock()
     run.status = "in_progress"
     run.conclusion = None
@@ -94,3 +98,32 @@ def test_is_reviewer_assigned_false_neither_request_nor_review():
     rev.user.login = "another"
     pr.get_reviews.return_value = [rev]
     assert not is_reviewer_assigned(g, "o", "r", 5, "maxtepkasper")
+
+
+def test_get_ci_status_ignores_empty_combined_status():
+    """A repo with zero legacy commit-statuses (total_count=0) reports combined
+    state 'pending' by default; green check-runs must NOT be poisoned to pending."""
+    from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+    from clayde.github import get_ci_status
+    g = MagicMock()
+    commit = g.get_repo.return_value.get_commit.return_value
+    cs = commit.get_combined_status.return_value
+    cs.total_count = 0
+    cs.state = "pending"
+    build = MagicMock(); build.status = "completed"; build.conclusion = "success"
+    deploy = MagicMock(); deploy.status = "completed"; deploy.conclusion = "skipped"
+    commit.get_check_runs.return_value = [build, deploy]
+    assert get_ci_status(g, "o", "r", "sha") == "success"
+
+
+def test_get_ci_status_respects_real_combined_pending():
+    """When commit-statuses DO exist and are pending, still report pending."""
+    from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+    from clayde.github import get_ci_status
+    g = MagicMock()
+    commit = g.get_repo.return_value.get_commit.return_value
+    cs = commit.get_combined_status.return_value
+    cs.total_count = 2
+    cs.state = "pending"
+    commit.get_check_runs.return_value = []
+    assert get_ci_status(g, "o", "r", "sha") == "pending"
diff --git a/tests/freeshard/test_loop.py b/tests/freeshard/test_loop.py
index 842130d..45127e1 100644
--- a/tests/freeshard/test_loop.py
+++ b/tests/freeshard/test_loop.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ def _issue(url, number=7):
 def _settings(reviewer="max"):
     s = MagicMock()
     s.fs_reviewer = reviewer
+    s.fs_max_branch_commits = 20
     return s
 
 
@@ -76,8 +77,10 @@ def _patched_tick(phase, *, pr_url=None):
         "clayde.freeshard.loop.get_ci_status": MagicMock(return_value="failure"),
         "clayde.freeshard.loop.is_reviewer_assigned": MagicMock(return_value=False),
         "clayde.freeshard.loop.count_fix_commits": MagicMock(return_value=0),
+        "clayde.freeshard.loop.count_branch_commits": MagicMock(return_value=0),
         "clayde.freeshard.loop.derive_phase": MagicMock(return_value=phase),
         "clayde.freeshard.loop.run_implement": MagicMock(),
+        "clayde.freeshard.loop.run_escalate": MagicMock(),
         "clayde.freeshard.loop.run_ci_fix": MagicMock(),
         "clayde.freeshard.loop.run_handoff": MagicMock(),
         "clayde.freeshard.loop.run_manual_verify": MagicMock(),
@@ -106,6 +109,24 @@ def test_phase_routes_to_correct_handler(phase, handler_key, pr_url, call_args):
     patches[handler_key].assert_called_once_with(g, *call_args)
 
 
+@patch("clayde.freeshard.loop.run_escalate")
+@patch("clayde.freeshard.loop.count_branch_commits", return_value=20)
+@patch("clayde.freeshard.loop.derive_phase", return_value=Phase.ESCALATE)
+@patch("clayde.freeshard.loop.is_blocked", return_value=False)
+@patch("clayde.freeshard.loop.find_open_pr", return_value=None)
+@patch("clayde.freeshard.loop.get_default_branch", return_value="main")
+@patch("clayde.freeshard.loop.get_assigned_issues")
+def test_tick_routes_escalate(mock_assigned, _gdb, _fop, _ib, _dp, _cbc, mock_escalate):
+    """No-PR card with attempts >= cap routes to run_escalate."""
+    mock_assigned.return_value = [_issue(APP_ISSUE_URL)]
+    s = _settings()
+    s.fs_max_branch_commits = 20
+    g = MagicMock()
+    n = loop.tick(g, s)
+    assert n == 1
+    mock_escalate.assert_called_once_with(g, "FreeshardBase", "app-repository", 7, "max")
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("phase", [Phase.CI_WAIT, Phase.AWAITING_MERGE])
 def test_noop_phases_do_not_call_handlers(phase):
     n, patches, _g = _patched_tick(phase, pr_url=APP_PR_URL)
diff --git a/tests/freeshard/test_phase.py b/tests/freeshard/test_phase.py
index 7715322..ab65a69 100644
--- a/tests/freeshard/test_phase.py
+++ b/tests/freeshard/test_phase.py
@@ -65,3 +65,58 @@ def test_no_ci_required_no_pr_still_implement():
         pr_open=False, ci_status=None, max_is_reviewer=False, fix_attempts=0,
         ci_required=False,
     ) == Phase.IMPLEMENT
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Attempt cap: ESCALATE when branch-commit count hits the cap
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_no_pr_attempts_at_cap_means_escalate():
+    assert derive_phase(
+        pr_open=False, ci_status=None, max_is_reviewer=False, fix_attempts=0,
+        attempts=20, attempt_cap=20,
+    ) == Phase.ESCALATE
+
+
+def test_no_pr_attempts_below_cap_means_implement():
+    assert derive_phase(
+        pr_open=False, ci_status=None, max_is_reviewer=False, fix_attempts=0,
+        attempts=19, attempt_cap=20,
+    ) == Phase.IMPLEMENT
+
+
+def test_pr_ci_failed_attempts_at_cap_means_manual_verify():
+    """Backstop: attempt cap overrides fix_cap for CI_FIX → MANUAL_VERIFY."""
+    assert derive_phase(
+        pr_open=True, ci_status="failure", max_is_reviewer=False,
+        fix_attempts=0, fix_cap=2,
+        attempts=20, attempt_cap=20,
+    ) == Phase.MANUAL_VERIFY
+
+
+def test_ci_success_at_cap_still_handoff():
+    """Cap must not override terminal/waiting phases — CI green → HANDOFF regardless."""
+    assert derive_phase(
+        pr_open=True, ci_status="success", max_is_reviewer=False,
+        fix_attempts=0, attempts=20, attempt_cap=20,
+    ) == Phase.HANDOFF
+
+
+def test_ci_success_at_cap_with_reviewer_still_awaiting_merge():
+    assert derive_phase(
+        pr_open=True, ci_status="success", max_is_reviewer=True,
+        fix_attempts=0, attempts=20, attempt_cap=20,
+    ) == Phase.AWAITING_MERGE
+
+
+def test_ci_pending_at_cap_still_ci_wait():
+    """attempts cap must NOT override a pending CI — still wait."""
+    assert derive_phase(pr_open=True, ci_status="queued", max_is_reviewer=False,
+                        fix_attempts=0, attempts=20, attempt_cap=20) == Phase.CI_WAIT
+
+
+def test_ci_not_required_at_cap_still_handoff():
+    """attempts cap must NOT override the no-CI early handoff."""
+    assert derive_phase(pr_open=True, ci_status=None, max_is_reviewer=False,
+                        fix_attempts=0, ci_required=False,
+                        attempts=20, attempt_cap=20) == Phase.HANDOFF
diff --git a/tests/freeshard/test_steps.py b/tests/freeshard/test_steps.py
index 1dfe0d7..636f1fb 100644
--- a/tests/freeshard/test_steps.py
+++ b/tests/freeshard/test_steps.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ def test_implement_no_pr_when_verify_red(
     mock_wt.return_value = Path("/tmp/wt")
     steps.run_implement(MagicMock(), "o", "r", 7, "main")
     mock_pr.assert_not_called()
-    mock_push.assert_not_called()
+    mock_push.assert_called_once()
 
 
 @patch("clayde.freeshard.steps.local_verify", return_value=(True, ""))
@@ -248,3 +248,44 @@ def test_manual_verify_is_idempotent(mock_apr, mock_pc, mock_rw):
     mock_pc.assert_not_called()
     mock_apr.assert_not_called()
     issue_obj.add_to_labels.assert_not_called()
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# run_escalate
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+@patch("clayde.freeshard.steps.remove_worktree")
+@patch("clayde.freeshard.steps.post_comment")
+def test_escalate_adds_label_assignee_comment_removes_worktree(mock_pc, mock_rw):
+    g = MagicMock()
+    issue_obj = MagicMock()
+    issue_obj.get_labels.return_value = []
+    g.get_repo.return_value.get_issue.return_value = issue_obj
+
+    steps.run_escalate(g, "o", "r", 7, "reviewer")
+
+    issue_obj.add_to_labels.assert_called_once_with("manual-verify-required")
+    issue_obj.add_to_assignees.assert_called_once_with("reviewer")
+    mock_pc.assert_called_once()
+    comment_body = mock_pc.call_args[0][4]
+    assert "needs your hands" in comment_body
+    mock_rw.assert_called_once()
+
+
+@patch("clayde.freeshard.steps.remove_worktree")
+@patch("clayde.freeshard.steps.post_comment")
+def test_escalate_is_idempotent(mock_pc, mock_rw):
+    """Second call when label already present must be a no-op."""
+    g = MagicMock()
+    existing_label = MagicMock()
+    existing_label.name = "manual-verify-required"
+    issue_obj = MagicMock()
+    issue_obj.get_labels.return_value = [existing_label]
+    g.get_repo.return_value.get_issue.return_value = issue_obj
+
+    steps.run_escalate(g, "o", "r", 7, "reviewer")
+
+    issue_obj.add_to_labels.assert_not_called()
+    issue_obj.add_to_assignees.assert_not_called()
+    mock_pc.assert_not_called()
+    mock_rw.assert_not_called()
diff --git a/tests/test_github.py b/tests/test_github.py
index d08069a..53c7361 100644
--- a/tests/test_github.py
+++ b/tests/test_github.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 from clayde.github import (
     _has_open_parent_issue,
     add_pr_reviewer,
+    count_branch_commits,
     create_pull_request,
     edit_comment,
     fetch_comment,
@@ -293,6 +294,22 @@ def test_returns_pull_request_object(self):
         assert result is mock_pr
 
 
+class TestCountBranchCommits:
+    def test_returns_commit_count(self):
+        g = MagicMock()
+        mock_commits = [MagicMock(), MagicMock(), MagicMock()]
+        g.get_repo.return_value.compare.return_value.commits = mock_commits
+        result = count_branch_commits(g, "alice", "repo", "clayde/issue-5", "main")
+        g.get_repo.return_value.compare.assert_called_once_with("main", "clayde/issue-5")
+        assert result == 3
+
+    def test_returns_zero_on_github_exception(self):
+        g = MagicMock()
+        g.get_repo.return_value.compare.side_effect = GithubException(404, "Not Found", None)
+        result = count_branch_commits(g, "alice", "repo", "clayde/issue-5", "main")
+        assert result == 0
+
+
 class TestHasCiWorkflows:
     def test_returns_true_when_workflows_present(self):
         g = MagicMock()