diff --git a/src/app/globals.css b/src/app/globals.css
index fa26812305..043ff29eae 100644
--- a/src/app/globals.css
+++ b/src/app/globals.css
@@ -163,8 +163,13 @@
   --danger: var(--danger-text);
   --danger-soft: var(--danger-bg);
 
-  /* Categorical dot accent with no semantic triad (e.g. Youth service pathway). */
+  /* Categorical tone scale — taxonomy/pathway dots only. NEVER semantic: kept
+     visually distinct from the role tokens (success/danger/warning/info) and
+     the brand accent so green/blue/teal keep their meanings. */
   --tone-purple: #7c3aed;
+  --tone-indigo: #4338ca;
+  --tone-rose: #a21caf;
+  --tone-slate: #475569;
 
   --disabled: #98a2b3;
   --focus: var(--clinical-accent);
@@ -302,8 +307,11 @@
   --danger: var(--danger-text);
   --danger-soft: var(--danger-bg);
 
-  /* Categorical dot accent, brightened for dark surfaces. */
+  /* Categorical tone scale, brightened for dark surfaces (categorical only). */
   --tone-purple: #a78bfa;
+  --tone-indigo: #818cf8;
+  --tone-rose: #e879f9;
+  --tone-slate: #94a3b8;
 
   --disabled: #555e6b;
   --focus: var(--clinical-accent);
@@ -1037,6 +1045,9 @@ summary::-webkit-details-marker {
     --danger: Mark;
     --danger-soft: Canvas;
     --tone-purple: CanvasText;
+    --tone-indigo: CanvasText;
+    --tone-rose: CanvasText;
+    --tone-slate: CanvasText;
     --focus: Highlight;
     --surface-lux: Canvas;
     --surface-wash: Canvas;
diff --git a/src/components/clinical-dashboard/mode-action-popup.tsx b/src/components/clinical-dashboard/mode-action-popup.tsx
index 4673becc3f..257f55e45d 100644
--- a/src/components/clinical-dashboard/mode-action-popup.tsx
+++ b/src/components/clinical-dashboard/mode-action-popup.tsx
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ export function ModeActionPopup({
             )}
           >
             <div className="grid min-h-[4.1rem] grid-cols-[minmax(8.5rem,0.38fr)_minmax(0,1fr)_3.75rem] overflow-hidden border-b border-[color:var(--border)]/70 bg-[linear-gradient(90deg,color-mix(in_srgb,var(--clinical-accent-soft)_42%,var(--surface)_58%)_0%,color-mix(in_srgb,var(--surface-raised)_92%,var(--clinical-accent-soft)_8%)_100%)]">
-              <div className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-3 bg-[linear-gradient(135deg,color-mix(in_srgb,var(--clinical-accent)_82%,#ffffff_18%)_0%,color-mix(in_srgb,var(--clinical-accent)_68%,var(--primary-strong)_32%)_100%)] px-3.5 text-[color:var(--primary-contrast)] shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_rgb(255_255_255_/_22%)] sm:px-4">
+              <div className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-3 bg-[color:var(--clinical-accent)] px-3.5 text-[color:var(--primary-contrast)] sm:px-4">
                 <span className="grid h-9 w-9 shrink-0 place-items-center rounded-lg border border-white/25 bg-white/10 text-white shadow-[var(--shadow-inset)]">
                   <TitleIcon className="h-4.5 w-4.5" />
                 </span>
diff --git a/src/components/mode-home-template.tsx b/src/components/mode-home-template.tsx
index 52c4750c3d..489f90eab3 100644
--- a/src/components/mode-home-template.tsx
+++ b/src/components/mode-home-template.tsx
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export type ModeHomePill = {
   href?: string;
   onClick?: () => void;
   icon?: LucideIcon;
-  tone?: "teal" | "primary" | "danger" | "info" | "success" | "neutral" | "purple";
+  tone?: "danger" | "info" | "success" | "neutral" | "primary" | "purple" | "indigo" | "rose" | "slate";
 };
 
 type ModeHomeTemplateProps = {
@@ -39,13 +39,18 @@ type ModeHomeTemplateProps = {
 };
 
 const pillToneClass: Record<NonNullable<ModeHomePill["tone"]>, string> = {
+  // Semantic roles — genuine status pills only.
   danger: "bg-[color:var(--danger)]",
   info: "bg-[color:var(--info)]",
+  success: "bg-[color:var(--success)]",
   neutral: "bg-[color:var(--text-soft)]",
+  // Brand accent — featured emphasis, not a taxonomy colour.
   primary: "bg-[color:var(--clinical-accent)]",
+  // Categorical scale — taxonomy/pathway dots, role-pure.
   purple: "bg-[color:var(--tone-purple)]",
-  success: "bg-[color:var(--success)]",
-  teal: "bg-[color:var(--clinical-accent)]",
+  indigo: "bg-[color:var(--tone-indigo)]",
+  rose: "bg-[color:var(--tone-rose)]",
+  slate: "bg-[color:var(--tone-slate)]",
 };
 
 export function ModeHomeHero({
diff --git a/src/components/services/services-home-page.tsx b/src/components/services/services-home-page.tsx
index 657a488175..132432f578 100644
--- a/src/components/services/services-home-page.tsx
+++ b/src/components/services/services-home-page.tsx
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ const commonPathways: ModeHomePill[] = [
   },
   {
     label: "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander",
-    tone: "info",
+    tone: "rose",
     href: appModeHomeHref("services", {
       query: "Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander services",
       focus: true,
@@ -62,12 +62,12 @@ const commonPathways: ModeHomePill[] = [
   },
   {
     label: "Telehealth",
-    tone: "primary",
+    tone: "indigo",
     href: appModeHomeHref("services", { query: "telehealth services", focus: true, run: true }),
   },
   {
     label: "Free",
-    tone: "success",
+    tone: "slate",
     href: appModeHomeHref("services", { query: "free services", focus: true, run: true }),
   },
   {