diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b4fe5f0..eaa9184 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -403,10 +403,9 @@ bootloader:
 
 ```yaml
 plymouth:
-  theme: spinner                 # passed to plymouth-set-default-theme
+  theme: spinner                 # a built-in archinstall theme (see below)
 
 grub:
-  cmdline_extra: "quiet splash"  # appended to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT
   theme:
     source: vinceliuice          # vinceliuice | url | none
     name: tela                   # vinceliuice theme: tela|stylish|vimix|whitesur|slaze
@@ -415,6 +414,13 @@ grub:
     # url: https://example.com/theme.tar.gz   # used when source: url
 ```
 
+Plymouth is installed and configured by **archinstall in Phase A**: it adds the initramfs hook,
+appends `quiet splash` to the kernel cmdline, sets the theme and regenerates the initramfs. `theme`
+must be one of archinstall's built-in themes — `bgrt`, `fade-in`, `glow`, `script`, `solar`,
+`spinner`, `spinfinity`, `tribar`, `text`, `details` — because archinstall aborts the install on an
+unknown value; **custom Plymouth themes are not supported** via this path. Leave `plymouth` unset for
+no boot splash.
+
 For `source: vinceliuice`, `screen` maps to the installer's `-s` flag and `background` supplies a
 custom image (the installer uses a `background.jpg` in its checkout). `background` may be a local
 path or an `http(s)` URL. **Heads-up on ordering:** the `grub-theme` stage (60) runs *before*
@@ -650,14 +656,13 @@ name **or** number.
 | # | Stage | Phase | What it does |
 |---|-------|-------|--------------|
 | 0  | `preflight`   | A | UEFI + config + archinstall version checks (warns, doesn't block) |
-| 10 | `archinstall` | A | reflector → probe geometry → render JSON → `archinstall --silent` → chroot: repos + kernels → stage the binary for Phase B |
+| 10 | `archinstall` | A | reflector → probe geometry → render JSON (incl. `plymouth` boot splash) → `archinstall --silent` → chroot: repos + kernels → stage the binary for Phase B |
 | 10 | `yay`         | B | install the AUR helper (`aur_helper`) |
 | 20 | `packages`    | B | `pacman -S --needed` the official/custom-repo packages |
 | 25 | `snapper`     | B | provision Snapper (only when btrfs + `snapshots: snapper`) |
 | 30 | `flatpak`     | B | register `flatpak_remotes`, install `flatpaks` |
 | 40 | `aur`         | B | build/install the `aur` list via the helper |
-| 50 | `plymouth`    | B | set the boot splash theme |
-| 60 | `grub-theme`  | B | apply the GRUB theme + cmdline extras |
+| 60 | `grub-theme`  | B | apply the GRUB theme |
 | 70 | `kde`         | B | KDE global theme via `LookAndFeelPackage` in kdeglobals (no-op for other DEs) |
 | 80 | `dotfiles`    | B | apply dotfiles via the configured manager |
 | 85 | `setup`       | B | run the ordered `setup.steps` (clones/commands) |
diff --git a/config.example.yaml b/config.example.yaml
index b14392d..b877093 100644
--- a/config.example.yaml
+++ b/config.example.yaml
@@ -213,11 +213,14 @@ bootloader:
   kind: grub                     # grub | systemd-boot
 
 # --- boot splash / theming --------------------------------------------------
+# Plymouth is installed and configured by archinstall in Phase A: it adds the
+# initramfs hook, appends "quiet splash" to the kernel cmdline and sets the theme.
+# theme must be one of archinstall's built-in themes (custom themes unsupported):
+#   bgrt | fade-in | glow | script | solar | spinner | spinfinity | tribar | text | details
 plymouth:
-  theme: spinner                    # name passed to plymouth-set-default-theme
+  theme: spinner
 
 grub:
-  cmdline_extra: "quiet splash"  # appended to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT
   theme:
     source: vinceliuice          # vinceliuice | url | none
     name: tela                   # vinceliuice theme name (tela|stylish|vimix|whitesur|slaze)
diff --git a/docs/bugs/plymouth-bootctl-update-fails-systemd-boot.md b/docs/bugs/plymouth-bootctl-update-fails-systemd-boot.md
index a6c9538..13e8d1a 100644
--- a/docs/bugs/plymouth-bootctl-update-fails-systemd-boot.md
+++ b/docs/bugs/plymouth-bootctl-update-fails-systemd-boot.md
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 # Bug: Phase B `regenerateBootConfig` runs `bootctl update` on systemd-boot and fails, aborting bootstrap (via the always-on plymouth stage)
 
-**Status:** open — found by the automated VM e2e harness (`test/e2e/vm/`, descriptor `sdboot-lvm`), 2026-06-23
+**Status:** resolved 2026-06-30 — Plymouth moved to archinstall (Phase A) on the 4.4 bump.
+The Phase B `plymouth` stage, `regenerateBootConfig`/`ensureKernelParam` helpers, and the
+`bootctl update --graceful` workaround described below were all removed; archinstall now installs
+and configures Plymouth (hook, `quiet splash`, theme) during the install, so no Phase B step ever
+runs `bootctl update`. The failure path no longer exists. (Originally found by the automated VM e2e
+harness `test/e2e/vm/`, descriptor `sdboot-lvm`, 2026-06-23.)
 **Area:** `internal/stages/helpers.go` (`regenerateBootConfig`); surfaced via `internal/stages/plymouth.go`
 **Severity:** high — Phase B `bootstrap` **fails on any systemd-boot system** at the plymouth
 stage (and any other stage that regenerates boot config), even with a default config.
diff --git a/docs/vm-validation.md b/docs/vm-validation.md
index 681cbb6..ad70615 100644
--- a/docs/vm-validation.md
+++ b/docs/vm-validation.md
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ Each shape was reverse-engineered; the harness has now exercised them all.
 | Snapper | timer-unit + `set-config` key names | ✅ confirmed — `btrfs-snapper` installs snapper + green |
 | Btrfs | subvolume JSON `{name, mountpoint}` | ❌ **bug** — shape parses, but archinstall installs to the **top-level** subvolume; the configured `@` is created but unused as root → [`btrfs-subvolume-not-used-as-root.md`](bugs/btrfs-subvolume-not-used-as-root.md) |
 | LVM | multi-volume "rest of VG" sizing (fixed root + remainder `/home`) | ❌ **bug** — the PV partition renders with an empty `fs_type`; archinstall aborts Phase A before sizing is reached → [`lvm-multivolume-pv-fstype-empty.md`](bugs/lvm-multivolume-pv-fstype-empty.md) |
-| systemd-boot | loader-entry default + `bootctl update` cmdline-refresh path | ⚠️ install + boot **work**; the Phase-B `bootctl update` refresh path **fails** (nonzero when already current), reached via the always-on plymouth stage → [`plymouth-bootctl-update-fails-systemd-boot.md`](bugs/plymouth-bootctl-update-fails-systemd-boot.md) |
+| systemd-boot | loader-entry default | ⚠️ install + boot **work**. The Phase-B `bootctl update` refresh path that previously failed is **gone**: the always-on plymouth stage that triggered it was removed when Plymouth moved to archinstall (Phase A) — see [`plymouth-bootctl-update-fails-systemd-boot.md`](bugs/plymouth-bootctl-update-fails-systemd-boot.md) (resolved). |
+| Plymouth | `bootloader_config.plymouth` (archinstall 4.4 built-in theme) | ⚠️ **not yet VM-validated** — archinstall installs/configures the splash in Phase A; confirm the `spinner` theme is set and quiet/splash reach the kernel cmdline on a real run. |
 
 (A fourth bug unrelated to a disk shape — the flatpak stage hangs on a polkit prompt — is in
 [`flatpak-system-remote-add-polkit-hang.md`](bugs/flatpak-system-remote-add-polkit-hang.md).)
diff --git a/internal/archinstall/archinstall.go b/internal/archinstall/archinstall.go
index c40afe3..233a0bd 100644
--- a/internal/archinstall/archinstall.go
+++ b/internal/archinstall/archinstall.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 // Version is the archinstall release this schema was modelled against.
-const Version = "4.3"
+const Version = "4.4"
 
 // newObjID generates the unique obj_id values archinstall uses to cross-reference
 // partitions from lvm_pvs. It is a package var solely so golden render tests can
@@ -167,10 +167,19 @@ type DiskConfig struct {
 // (args.py BootloaderConfiguration). It replaces the deprecated bare
 // `bootloader: "Grub"` string. Bootloader is one of "Grub", "Systemd-boot",
 // "Efistub", "Limine", "Refind", "No bootloader"; uki/removable default false.
+//
+// Plymouth, added in archinstall 4.4, is one of archinstall's built-in
+// PlymouthTheme values (e.g. "spinner", "bgrt"). When set, archinstall installs
+// plymouth, inserts the initramfs hook, appends "quiet splash" to the kernel
+// cmdline, runs plymouth-set-default-theme and regenerates the initramfs — all in
+// Phase A. omitempty keeps the unconfigured render byte-identical to before, and a
+// non-built-in value is rejected (archinstall sys.exit(1)s on unknown themes, so
+// config validation restricts Plymouth.Theme to the same built-in set).
 type BootloaderConfig struct {
 	Bootloader string `json:"bootloader"`
 	UKI        bool   `json:"uki"`
 	Removable  bool   `json:"removable"`
+	Plymouth   string `json:"plymouth,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // archBootloader maps our config bootloader kind ("grub"/"systemd-boot") to
@@ -293,7 +302,7 @@ func Build(cfg *config.Config, geom Geometry, password string) (*Config, *Creds,
 	pkgs := append([]string(nil), cfg.Pacstrap...)
 	c := &Config{
 		Lang:             "English",
-		BootloaderConfig: BootloaderConfig{Bootloader: archBootloader(cfg.Bootloader.EffectiveKind()), UKI: false, Removable: false},
+		BootloaderConfig: BootloaderConfig{Bootloader: archBootloader(cfg.Bootloader.EffectiveKind()), UKI: false, Removable: false, Plymouth: cfg.Plymouth.Theme},
 		Kernels:          kernelBase(cfg),
 		Hostname:         cfg.System.Hostname,
 		Packages:         pkgs,
diff --git a/internal/archinstall/bootloader_render_test.go b/internal/archinstall/bootloader_render_test.go
index c51a422..af43d3f 100644
--- a/internal/archinstall/bootloader_render_test.go
+++ b/internal/archinstall/bootloader_render_test.go
@@ -70,3 +70,22 @@ func TestBuild_BootloaderSystemdBoot(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("systemd-boot bootloader = %q, want %q", got, "Systemd-boot")
 	}
 }
+
+// A configured plymouth theme is rendered into bootloader_config.plymouth so
+// archinstall installs and configures the splash in Phase A (replacing the old
+// Phase B plymouth stage). The theme string passes through verbatim.
+func TestBuild_PlymouthThemeRendered(t *testing.T) {
+	out := buildForBootloader(t, "plymouth:\n  theme: spinner\n")
+	if got := out.BootloaderConfig.Plymouth; got != "spinner" {
+		t.Errorf("plymouth theme = %q, want %q", got, "spinner")
+	}
+}
+
+// With no plymouth theme the field is omitted (omitempty), keeping the rendered
+// bootloader_config byte-identical to the pre-4.4 output the golden files assert.
+func TestBuild_PlymouthOmittedWhenUnset(t *testing.T) {
+	out := buildForBootloader(t, "")
+	if got := out.BootloaderConfig.Plymouth; got != "" {
+		t.Errorf("plymouth theme = %q, want empty", got)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/btrfs-subvols.config.json b/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/btrfs-subvols.config.json
index fed8f37..5d157fd 100644
--- a/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/btrfs-subvols.config.json
+++ b/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/btrfs-subvols.config.json
@@ -114,6 +114,6 @@
     "lvm_config": null,
     "disk_encryption": null
   },
-  "version": "4.3",
-  "config_version": "4.3"
+  "version": "4.4",
+  "config_version": "4.4"
 }
diff --git a/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/ext4-sata.config.json b/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/ext4-sata.config.json
index 9ab97a5..3a42f6a 100644
--- a/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/ext4-sata.config.json
+++ b/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/ext4-sata.config.json
@@ -128,6 +128,6 @@
     },
     "disk_encryption": null
   },
-  "version": "4.3",
-  "config_version": "4.3"
+  "version": "4.4",
+  "config_version": "4.4"
 }
diff --git a/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/lvm-volumes.config.json b/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/lvm-volumes.config.json
index 1eed940..bd3e55f 100644
--- a/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/lvm-volumes.config.json
+++ b/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/lvm-volumes.config.json
@@ -145,6 +145,6 @@
     },
     "disk_encryption": null
   },
-  "version": "4.3",
-  "config_version": "4.3"
+  "version": "4.4",
+  "config_version": "4.4"
 }
diff --git a/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/lvm-zram.config.json b/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/lvm-zram.config.json
index 430a54f..df60122 100644
--- a/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/lvm-zram.config.json
+++ b/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/lvm-zram.config.json
@@ -128,6 +128,6 @@
     },
     "disk_encryption": null
   },
-  "version": "4.3",
-  "config_version": "4.3"
+  "version": "4.4",
+  "config_version": "4.4"
 }
diff --git a/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/multi-disk-lvm.config.json b/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/multi-disk-lvm.config.json
index d4168f4..ac01bee 100644
--- a/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/multi-disk-lvm.config.json
+++ b/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/multi-disk-lvm.config.json
@@ -196,6 +196,6 @@
     },
     "disk_encryption": null
   },
-  "version": "4.3",
-  "config_version": "4.3"
+  "version": "4.4",
+  "config_version": "4.4"
 }
diff --git a/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/single-disk-lvm.config.json b/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/single-disk-lvm.config.json
index ed36980..4d4b716 100644
--- a/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/single-disk-lvm.config.json
+++ b/internal/archinstall/testdata/golden/single-disk-lvm.config.json
@@ -128,6 +128,6 @@
     },
     "disk_encryption": null
   },
-  "version": "4.3",
-  "config_version": "4.3"
+  "version": "4.4",
+  "config_version": "4.4"
 }
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 3e6a4fa..95f899c 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -77,13 +77,17 @@ type Config struct {
 		Multilib bool `yaml:"multilib"`
 	} `yaml:"pacman"`
 
+	// Plymouth selects the boot splash theme. Theme must be one of archinstall's
+	// built-in PlymouthTheme values: archinstall installs and configures plymouth
+	// in Phase A (it appends "quiet splash" to the kernel cmdline itself), and it
+	// sys.exit(1)s on a theme outside this set, so the enum is enforced here too.
+	// Custom (non-built-in) themes are unsupported by this path. Empty = no splash.
 	Plymouth struct {
-		Theme string `yaml:"theme"`
+		Theme string `yaml:"theme" validate:"omitempty,oneof=bgrt fade-in glow script solar spinner spinfinity tribar text details"`
 	} `yaml:"plymouth"`
 
 	GRUB struct {
-		CmdlineExtra string `yaml:"cmdline_extra"`
-		Theme        struct {
+		Theme struct {
 			Source string `yaml:"source" validate:"omitempty,oneof=vinceliuice url none"`
 			Name   string `yaml:"name"`
 			URL    string `yaml:"url" validate:"omitempty,url"`
diff --git a/internal/config/config_test.go b/internal/config/config_test.go
index f467d51..7de1d4e 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_test.go
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ aur: [1password]
 plymouth:
   theme: bgrt
 grub:
-  cmdline_extra: "quiet splash"
   theme:
     source: vinceliuice
     name: tela
@@ -203,6 +202,11 @@ func TestValidate_Errors(t *testing.T) {
 			yaml: strings.Replace(validYAML, "pvs: [/dev/nvme0n1p3, /dev/sda]", "pvs: []", 1),
 			want: []string{"disks.lvm.pvs must have at least 1 item(s)"},
 		},
+		{
+			name: "non-built-in plymouth theme",
+			yaml: strings.Replace(validYAML, "theme: bgrt", "theme: my-custom-theme", 1),
+			want: []string{"plymouth.theme must be one of: bgrt fade-in glow script solar spinner spinfinity tribar text details"},
+		},
 		{
 			name: "bad grub theme source",
 			yaml: strings.Replace(validYAML, "source: vinceliuice", "source: bananas", 1),
diff --git a/internal/stages/bootloader_test.go b/internal/stages/bootloader_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index d29545a..0000000
--- a/internal/stages/bootloader_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-package stages
-
-import "testing"
-
-// TestPlan_PlymouthBootConfig proves the C3 refactor is behaviour-preserving: the
-// plymouth stage still emits the kernel-param sed (now via the shared, bootloader-
-// aware ensureKernelParam helper) and the GRUB regeneration (now via
-// regenerateBootConfig) into the recorded .Plan. Self-contained config so it does
-// not depend on the shared testYAML fixture.
-func TestPlan_PlymouthBootConfig(t *testing.T) {
-	plan := planForCfg(t, Bootstrap, "plymouth", `
-plymouth:
-  theme: bgrt
-grub:
-  cmdline_extra: "quiet splash"
-`)
-	mustContain(t, plan,
-		// each cmdline token appended to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT, idempotently
-		`grep -qE 'GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="[^"]*\bquiet\b' /etc/default/grub || `+
-			`sed -i -E 's/(GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=")/\1quiet /' /etc/default/grub`,
-		`grep -qE 'GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="[^"]*\bsplash\b' /etc/default/grub || `+
-			`sed -i -E 's/(GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=")/\1splash /' /etc/default/grub`,
-		// bootloader config regenerated after the cmdline/theme change
-		"grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg",
-	)
-}
diff --git a/internal/stages/fromto_test.go b/internal/stages/fromto_test.go
index 3329eed..4742244 100644
--- a/internal/stages/fromto_test.go
+++ b/internal/stages/fromto_test.go
@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@ func TestWithin(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name: "from only by name is inclusive lower bound",
 			from: "flatpak", to: "",
-			want: []string{"flatpak", "aur", "plymouth", "grub-theme", "kde", "dotfiles", "setup", "services"},
+			want: []string{"flatpak", "aur", "grub-theme", "kde", "dotfiles", "setup", "services"},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "from only by number resolves same as name",
 			from: "30", to: "",
-			want: []string{"flatpak", "aur", "plymouth", "grub-theme", "kde", "dotfiles", "setup", "services"},
+			want: []string{"flatpak", "aur", "grub-theme", "kde", "dotfiles", "setup", "services"},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "to only by name is inclusive upper bound",
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ func TestWithin(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			name: "both bounds inclusive on each end",
-			from: "packages", to: "plymouth",
-			want: []string{"packages", "snapper", "flatpak", "aur", "plymouth"},
+			from: "packages", to: "aur",
+			want: []string{"packages", "snapper", "flatpak", "aur"},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "both bounds mixing name and number",
 			from: "20", to: "kde",
-			want: []string{"packages", "snapper", "flatpak", "aur", "plymouth", "grub-theme", "kde"},
+			want: []string{"packages", "snapper", "flatpak", "aur", "grub-theme", "kde"},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "single-stage window when from equals to",
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func TestWithin(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			name:    "inverted bounds is an error",
-			from:    "plymouth",
+			from:    "aur",
 			to:      "packages",
 			wantErr: "from",
 		},
@@ -105,12 +105,12 @@ func TestWithin(t *testing.T) {
 // TestWithin_ComposesWithSkip confirms the filter operates on whatever Select
 // already produced: a skipped stage stays absent even when inside the window.
 func TestWithin_ComposesWithSkip(t *testing.T) {
-	in := Select(Bootstrap, "", []string{"aur"}, nil)
-	got, err := Within(in, "packages", "plymouth")
+	in := Select(Bootstrap, "", []string{"snapper"}, nil)
+	got, err := Within(in, "packages", "aur")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
-	want := []string{"packages", "snapper", "flatpak", "plymouth"} // aur removed by --skip
+	want := []string{"packages", "flatpak", "aur"} // snapper removed by --skip
 	if g := names(got); !equalStrings(g, want) {
 		t.Fatalf("Within over skipped input = %v, want %v", g, want)
 	}
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func TestWithin_ComposesWithSkip(t *testing.T) {
 
 // TestWithin_EmptyInput is a no-op pass-through, never a panic.
 func TestWithin_EmptyInput(t *testing.T) {
-	got, err := Within(nil, "packages", "plymouth")
+	got, err := Within(nil, "packages", "aur")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/stages/helpers.go b/internal/stages/helpers.go
index db1f423..2c0c167 100644
--- a/internal/stages/helpers.go
+++ b/internal/stages/helpers.go
@@ -20,54 +20,6 @@ func ensureTool(ctx *Context, bin, pkg string) error {
 	return ctx.R.Root("pacman", "-S", "--needed", "--noconfirm", pkg)
 }
 
-// ensureKernelParam adds a single kernel command-line token, idempotently. It is
-// the bootloader-aware seam for kernel-cmdline edits, keyed off the configured
-// bootloader:
-//   - grub: appends tok to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT in /etc/default/grub
-//     (grep-guarded sed) — UNCHANGED from before, byte-identical command.
-//   - systemd-boot: appends tok to /etc/kernel/cmdline (the single-line cmdline
-//     consumed by kernel-install when generating loader entries), grep-guarded so
-//     re-runs don't duplicate the token. The file is created if missing.
-func ensureKernelParam(ctx *Context, tok string) error {
-	if ctx.Cfg.Bootloader.EffectiveKind() == "systemd-boot" {
-		// /etc/kernel/cmdline is a single space-separated line. Add tok only if its
-		// word boundary isn't already present; create the file if it doesn't exist.
-		// The whole pipeline runs as root via RootShell, so no inner per-command sudo.
-		return ctx.R.RootShell(fmt.Sprintf(
-			`grep -qE '\b%[1]s\b' /etc/kernel/cmdline 2>/dev/null || `+
-				`{ touch /etc/kernel/cmdline && `+
-				`sed -i -E '$ s/$/ %[1]s/' /etc/kernel/cmdline; }`,
-			tok))
-	}
-	return ctx.R.RootShell(fmt.Sprintf(
-		`grep -qE 'GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="[^"]*\b%[1]s\b' /etc/default/grub || `+
-			`sed -i -E 's/(GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=")/\1%[1]s /' /etc/default/grub`,
-		tok))
-}
-
-// regenerateBootConfig regenerates the bootloader's generated configuration after a
-// kernel-cmdline or theme change. It is the bootloader-aware seam for the
-// "apply the config" step, keyed off the configured bootloader:
-//   - grub: runs grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg through Root — UNCHANGED from
-//     before, byte-identical command.
-//   - systemd-boot: there is no grub.cfg to regenerate. We refresh the installed
-//     boot loader binary on the ESP with `bootctl update --graceful`; loader entries
-//     are regenerated separately by kernel-install when the cmdline changes. The
-//     `--graceful` flag makes bootctl exit 0 when there is nothing to do (the loader
-//     archinstall just installed is already current) instead of failing, and the
-//     whole step is best-effort via TryRoot so a nonzero exit can never abort the
-//     stage — the loader was already installed by archinstall and our cmdline edits
-//     live in /etc/kernel/cmdline, which systemd-boot reads directly. (See
-//     docs/bugs/plymouth-bootctl-update-fails-systemd-boot.md.)
-func regenerateBootConfig(ctx *Context) error {
-	if ctx.Cfg.Bootloader.EffectiveKind() == "systemd-boot" {
-		// Best-effort + graceful: never fail the stage on "already current".
-		ctx.R.TryRoot("bootctl", "update", "--graceful")
-		return nil
-	}
-	return ctx.R.Root("grub-mkconfig", "-o", "/boot/grub/grub.cfg")
-}
-
 // cloneBuild git-clones a repo into a temp dir, runs inCheckout from within it,
 // and removes the temp dir — the shared "clone, build, clean" idiom. cloneArgs is
 // the git-clone argument string (any flags plus the URL); inCheckout is the shell
diff --git a/internal/stages/plymouth.go b/internal/stages/plymouth.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 58887e1..0000000
--- a/internal/stages/plymouth.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,65 +0,0 @@
-package stages
-
-import (
-	"strings"
-
-	"github.com/AdamJHall/archwright/internal/ui"
-)
-
-// plymouth is the Phase B 50-plymouth equivalent: install Plymouth, wire its
-// initramfs hook, set the 'quiet splash' kernel params, set the theme, and
-// regenerate grub.cfg.
-type plymouth struct{}
-
-func init() { register(plymouth{}) }
-
-func (plymouth) Order() int   { return 50 }
-func (plymouth) Name() string { return "plymouth" }
-func (plymouth) Phase() Phase { return Bootstrap }
-
-func (plymouth) Run(ctx *Context) error {
-	// Gate off when unconfigured: with no plymouth.theme set the stage is a clean
-	// no-op so a default config never installs plymouth or touches the bootloader
-	// (see docs/bugs/plymouth-bootctl-update-fails-systemd-boot.md).
-	theme := ctx.Cfg.Plymouth.Theme
-	if theme == "" {
-		ui.Warn("no plymouth theme in config — skipping")
-		return nil
-	}
-	cmdline := ctx.Cfg.GRUB.CmdlineExtra
-	if cmdline == "" {
-		cmdline = "quiet splash"
-	}
-
-	if err := ensureTool(ctx, "plymouth", "plymouth"); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	// Add the plymouth hook after 'udev' (fallback 'systemd'), idempotently.
-	if err := ctx.R.Shell(
-		`grep -qE '^HOOKS=.*\bplymouth\b' /etc/mkinitcpio.conf || ` +
-			`sudo sed -i -E 's/^(HOOKS=.*)\budev\b/\1udev plymouth/; t; s/^(HOOKS=.*)\bsystemd\b/\1systemd plymouth/' /etc/mkinitcpio.conf`,
-	); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	// Ensure each kernel param is present in GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT.
-	for _, tok := range strings.Fields(cmdline) {
-		if err := ensureKernelParam(ctx, tok); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-
-	// -R rebuilds the initramfs, picking up the new HOOKS line too.
-	if err := ctx.R.Root("plymouth-set-default-theme", "-R", theme); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	// Regenerating the bootloader config is GRUB's concern, not Plymouth's: route
-	// it through the shared bootloader-aware helper (same emitted command).
-	if err := regenerateBootConfig(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	ui.OK("plymouth configured")
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/internal/stages/plymouth_test.go b/internal/stages/plymouth_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index f122411..0000000
--- a/internal/stages/plymouth_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,73 +0,0 @@
-package stages
-
-import "testing"
-
-// Regression coverage for docs/bugs/plymouth-bootctl-update-fails-systemd-boot.md:
-// the plymouth stage must (a) be a clean no-op when no plymouth theme is configured
-// and (b) refresh systemd-boot via the graceful, best-effort `bootctl update
-// --graceful` rather than a plain `bootctl update` that aborts bootstrap when the
-// loader is already current. The grub path stays byte-identical. Self-contained
-// inline configs — no shared fixtures touched.
-
-// With no plymouth: block the stage installs nothing and never touches the
-// bootloader, even on a systemd-boot config (the default-config case that broke
-// every systemd-boot bootstrap).
-func TestPlan_PlymouthUnconfiguredIsNoop(t *testing.T) {
-	plan := planForCfg(t, Bootstrap, "plymouth", `
-bootloader:
-  kind: systemd-boot
-`)
-	if len(plan) != 0 {
-		t.Errorf("plymouth stage should be a no-op when unconfigured, got plan:\n%v", plan)
-	}
-	mustNotContain(t, plan,
-		"plymouth",
-		"bootctl",
-		"grub-mkconfig",
-		"/etc/kernel/cmdline",
-		"plymouth-set-default-theme",
-	)
-}
-
-// A configured theme on systemd-boot regenerates boot config via the graceful,
-// best-effort invocation and never the plain failing form.
-func TestPlan_PlymouthSystemdBootGraceful(t *testing.T) {
-	plan := planForCfg(t, Bootstrap, "plymouth", `
-bootloader:
-  kind: systemd-boot
-plymouth:
-  theme: bgrt
-`)
-	// best-effort step still goes through Root semantics (sudo in Phase B).
-	mustContain(t, plan,
-		"sudo bootctl update --graceful",
-	)
-	// the plain, non-graceful form (which exits non-zero when already current and
-	// aborted bootstrap) must be gone, as must any grub regeneration.
-	if hasExact(plan, "sudo bootctl update") || hasExact(plan, "bootctl update") {
-		t.Errorf("plan must not contain a plain `bootctl update`; plan:\n%v", plan)
-	}
-	mustNotContain(t, plan, "grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg")
-}
-
-// A configured theme on a grub config regenerates grub.cfg unchanged.
-func TestPlan_PlymouthGrubUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
-	plan := planForCfg(t, Bootstrap, "plymouth", `
-plymouth:
-  theme: bgrt
-`)
-	mustContain(t, plan, "grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg")
-	mustNotContain(t, plan, "bootctl")
-}
-
-// hasExact reports whether any recorded plan line equals line exactly (as opposed
-// to mustContain's substring match, which `bootctl update --graceful` would
-// satisfy for the substring `bootctl update`).
-func hasExact(plan []string, line string) bool {
-	for _, p := range plan {
-		if p == line {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-	return false
-}
diff --git a/internal/stages/stages_test.go b/internal/stages/stages_test.go
index 83f7f06..eda2175 100644
--- a/internal/stages/stages_test.go
+++ b/internal/stages/stages_test.go
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ aur: [1password, 1password-cli]
 plymouth:
   theme: bgrt
 grub:
-  cmdline_extra: "quiet splash"
   theme:
     source: vinceliuice
     name: tela
@@ -148,8 +147,8 @@ func TestRegistry(t *testing.T) {
 		[]string{"preflight", "archinstall"},
 		[]int{0, 10})
 	check(Bootstrap,
-		[]string{"yay", "packages", "snapper", "flatpak", "aur", "plymouth", "grub-theme", "kde", "dotfiles", "setup", "services"},
-		[]int{10, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 85, 90})
+		[]string{"yay", "packages", "snapper", "flatpak", "aur", "grub-theme", "kde", "dotfiles", "setup", "services"},
+		[]int{10, 20, 25, 30, 40, 60, 70, 80, 85, 90})
 }
 
 func TestPlan_Archinstall(t *testing.T) {
@@ -213,13 +212,6 @@ func TestPlan_Flatpak(t *testing.T) {
 	)
 }
 
-func TestPlan_Plymouth(t *testing.T) {
-	mustContain(t, planFor(t, Bootstrap, "plymouth"),
-		"plymouth-set-default-theme -R bgrt",
-		"grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg",
-	)
-}
-
 func TestPlan_GrubTheme(t *testing.T) {
 	mustContain(t, planFor(t, Bootstrap, "grub-theme"),
 		"git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/vinceliuice/grub2-themes",
diff --git a/internal/stages/systemd_boot_test.go b/internal/stages/systemd_boot_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 62a98af..0000000
--- a/internal/stages/systemd_boot_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,56 +0,0 @@
-package stages
-
-import "testing"
-
-// TestPlan_PlymouthSystemdBoot proves the A4 systemd-boot branch: with
-// bootloader.kind: systemd-boot, the plymouth stage's ensureKernelParam edits
-// /etc/kernel/cmdline (not /etc/default/grub) and regenerateBootConfig runs
-// `bootctl update` (not grub-mkconfig). Self-contained inline config.
-func TestPlan_PlymouthSystemdBoot(t *testing.T) {
-	plan := planForCfg(t, Bootstrap, "plymouth", `
-bootloader:
-  kind: systemd-boot
-plymouth:
-  theme: bgrt
-grub:
-  cmdline_extra: "quiet splash"
-`)
-	mustContain(t, plan,
-		// each cmdline token appended to /etc/kernel/cmdline, idempotently. The
-		// whole pipeline runs as root via RootShell, so no inner per-command sudo.
-		`grep -qE '\bquiet\b' /etc/kernel/cmdline 2>/dev/null || `+
-			`{ touch /etc/kernel/cmdline && `+
-			`sed -i -E '$ s/$/ quiet/' /etc/kernel/cmdline; }`,
-		`grep -qE '\bsplash\b' /etc/kernel/cmdline 2>/dev/null || `+
-			`{ touch /etc/kernel/cmdline && `+
-			`sed -i -E '$ s/$/ splash/' /etc/kernel/cmdline; }`,
-		// systemd-boot refresh, no grub.cfg regeneration
-		"bootctl update",
-	)
-	mustNotContain(t, plan,
-		"grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg",
-		`GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT`,
-	)
-}
-
-// TestPlan_PlymouthGrubDefault proves the default (empty bootloader) path still
-// emits the GRUB sed + grub-mkconfig, byte-identical to today.
-func TestPlan_PlymouthGrubDefault(t *testing.T) {
-	plan := planForCfg(t, Bootstrap, "plymouth", `
-plymouth:
-  theme: bgrt
-grub:
-  cmdline_extra: "quiet splash"
-`)
-	mustContain(t, plan,
-		`grep -qE 'GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="[^"]*\bquiet\b' /etc/default/grub || `+
-			`sed -i -E 's/(GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=")/\1quiet /' /etc/default/grub`,
-		`grep -qE 'GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="[^"]*\bsplash\b' /etc/default/grub || `+
-			`sed -i -E 's/(GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=")/\1splash /' /etc/default/grub`,
-		"grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg",
-	)
-	mustNotContain(t, plan,
-		"bootctl update",
-		"/etc/kernel/cmdline",
-	)
-}