diff --git a/src/queue/processors.ts b/src/queue/processors.ts
index c124aa770b..e20f04caa2 100644
--- a/src/queue/processors.ts
+++ b/src/queue/processors.ts
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ import type { CheckFailureDetail, MergeReadiness } from "../review/unified-comme
 import { buildIssueSlopAssessment, buildSlopAssessment, type SlopBand } from "../signals/slop";
 import { runGittensoryAiSlopAdvisory } from "../services/ai-slop";
 import { decidePublicSurface } from "../signals/settings-preview";
-import { buildFocusManifestGuidance, type ReviewProfile } from "../signals/focus-manifest";
+import { buildFocusManifestGuidance, resolveReviewPathInstructions, resolveReviewPromptOverrides, type ReviewPathInstruction, type ReviewProfile } from "../signals/focus-manifest";
 import { loadRepoFocusManifest } from "../signals/focus-manifest-loader";
 import { resolveRepositorySettings } from "../settings/repository-settings";
 import type { LocalBranchAnalysisInput } from "../signals/local-branch";
@@ -2026,6 +2026,10 @@ export async function runAiReviewForAdvisory(
     // manifest. Threaded in (not loaded here) so the AI review path makes no extra manifest fetch — absent ⇒
     // null ⇒ balanced ⇒ the reviewer prompt is byte-identical.
     reviewProfile?: ReviewProfile | null | undefined;
+    // `.gittensory.yml` review.path_instructions (#review-path-instructions), resolved by the caller from the
+    // cached manifest. The CONFIG (not a fetch) is threaded in; the per-PR glob match against `files` happens
+    // here (pure), so the AI path makes no extra manifest fetch. Absent/empty ⇒ byte-identical reviewer prompt.
+    reviewPathInstructions?: ReviewPathInstruction[] | undefined;
   },
 ): Promise<{ notes: string; reviewerCount: number } | undefined> {
   const packAllowsAnyAuthorBlockingReview = args.settings.gatePack === "oss-anti-slop" && args.settings.aiReviewMode === "block";
@@ -2092,6 +2096,10 @@ export async function runAiReviewForAdvisory(
       grounding,
       ragContext,
       profile: args.reviewProfile ?? null,
+      pathGuidance: resolveReviewPathInstructions(
+        args.reviewPathInstructions ?? [],
+        files.map((file) => file.path),
+      ),
     });
     if (result.status !== "ok") return undefined;
     if (result.consensusDefect) {
@@ -2520,10 +2528,11 @@ async function maybePublishPrPublicSurface(
     // to keep gate-only and advisory-sweep repos free of an extra file resolve.
     const aiReviewWillRun = !webhook.skipAiReview && settings.aiReviewMode !== "off" && Boolean(advisory.headSha);
     if (aiReviewWillRun) {
-      // `.gittensory.yml` review.profile (#review-profile): resolve from the manifest (cached from settings
-      // resolution, so a cheap cache hit — no extra fetch) and thread it into the AI review so chill/assertive
-      // shapes the write-up. Absent ⇒ null ⇒ balanced ⇒ byte-identical prompt. Fail-safe to null on any read error.
-      const reviewProfile = (await loadRepoFocusManifest(env, repoFullName).catch(() => null))?.review.profile ?? null;
+      // `.gittensory.yml` review.profile + review.path_instructions (#review-profile / #review-path-instructions):
+      // resolve from the manifest (cached from settings resolution, so a cheap cache hit — no extra fetch) and
+      // thread them into the AI review. Profile shapes nitpickiness; path-instructions add per-path guidance.
+      // Absent ⇒ byte-identical prompt. Fail-safe to defaults on any read error (resolveReviewPromptOverrides).
+      const { profile: reviewProfile, pathInstructions: reviewPathInstructions } = resolveReviewPromptOverrides(await loadRepoFocusManifest(env, repoFullName).catch(() => null));
       aiReview = await runAiReviewForAdvisory(env, {
         settings,
         advisory,
@@ -2533,6 +2542,7 @@ async function maybePublishPrPublicSurface(
         confirmedContributor,
         files: await getReviewFiles(),
         reviewProfile,
+        reviewPathInstructions,
       });
     }
 
diff --git a/src/services/ai-review.ts b/src/services/ai-review.ts
index f9cb391eb4..9d44a6874f 100644
--- a/src/services/ai-review.ts
+++ b/src/services/ai-review.ts
@@ -96,6 +96,13 @@ export type GittensoryAiReviewInput = {
    * consensus-defect pass still runs the same), just how much advisory detail the prose carries.
    */
   profile?: ReviewProfile | null | undefined;
+  /**
+   * `.gittensory.yml` `review.path_instructions` (#review-path-instructions), pre-resolved by the caller to the
+   * entries whose glob matched THIS PR's changed files (via `resolveReviewPathInstructions`) — a ready-to-append
+   * prompt section. Absent / empty ⇒ the reviewer prompt is byte-identical. Public-safe by construction (the
+   * instructions passed the manifest's public-safe filter at parse time).
+   */
+  pathGuidance?: string | null | undefined;
 };
 
 /** A consensus critical defect, already public-safe, ready to become a gate blocker finding. */
@@ -277,7 +284,10 @@ const REVIEW_PROFILE_SUFFIX: Record<"chill" | "assertive", string> = {
 function buildSystemPrompt(input: GittensoryAiReviewInput): string {
   const groundingSuffix = input.grounding?.systemSuffix ?? "";
   const profileSuffix = input.profile === "chill" || input.profile === "assertive" ? REVIEW_PROFILE_SUFFIX[input.profile] : "";
-  return `${REVIEW_SYSTEM_PROMPT}${groundingSuffix}${profileSuffix}`;
+  // `.gittensory.yml` review.path_instructions (#review-path-instructions): the caller pre-resolved the entries
+  // matching this PR's files into a prompt section; empty ⇒ nothing appended (byte-identical).
+  const pathSuffix = input.pathGuidance?.trim() ? input.pathGuidance : "";
+  return `${REVIEW_SYSTEM_PROMPT}${groundingSuffix}${profileSuffix}${pathSuffix}`;
 }
 
 /** One Workers-AI opinion with a per-slot reliable fallback and a 3× retry on the primary. */
diff --git a/src/signals/focus-manifest.ts b/src/signals/focus-manifest.ts
index b0e1f69b7c..b2a7f070aa 100644
--- a/src/signals/focus-manifest.ts
+++ b/src/signals/focus-manifest.ts
@@ -101,8 +101,18 @@ export type FocusManifestReviewConfig = {
   fields: Partial<Record<ReviewFieldKey, boolean>>;
   /** `review.profile`: chill / balanced / assertive. null (absent) = balanced = byte-identical reviewer prompt. */
   profile: ReviewProfile | null;
+  /** `review.path_instructions`: per-path natural-language guidance handed to the AI reviewer when the PR's
+   *  changed files match the glob. Empty (default) ⇒ byte-identical reviewer prompt. (#review-path-instructions) */
+  pathInstructions: ReviewPathInstruction[];
 };
 
+/** One `review.path_instructions[]` entry: a manifest path glob + the public-safe instructions to apply when a
+ *  changed file matches it. */
+export type ReviewPathInstruction = { path: string; instructions: string };
+
+// A hard cap so a hostile/huge manifest can't bloat the reviewer prompt (mirrors REVIEW_FIELD_KEYS discipline).
+const MAX_PATH_INSTRUCTIONS = 50;
+
 /**
  * Normalized maintainer focus manifest. Repo owners declare which work areas are wanted,
  * blocked, or preferred so Gittensory guidance can explain why a path is encouraged or
@@ -195,7 +205,7 @@ const EMPTY_MANIFEST: FocusManifest = {
   publicNotes: [],
   gate: { ...EMPTY_GATE_CONFIG },
   settings: {},
-  review: { present: false, footerText: null, note: null, fields: {}, profile: null },
+  review: { present: false, footerText: null, note: null, fields: {}, profile: null, pathInstructions: [] },
   warnings: [],
 };
 
@@ -208,7 +218,7 @@ export function isFocusManifestPublicSafe(text: string): boolean {
 }
 
 function emptyManifest(source: FocusManifestSource, warnings: string[] = []): FocusManifest {
-  return { ...EMPTY_MANIFEST, source, warnings, gate: { ...EMPTY_GATE_CONFIG }, settings: {}, review: { present: false, footerText: null, note: null, fields: {}, profile: null } };
+  return { ...EMPTY_MANIFEST, source, warnings, gate: { ...EMPTY_GATE_CONFIG }, settings: {}, review: { present: false, footerText: null, note: null, fields: {}, profile: null, pathInstructions: [] } };
 }
 
 function normalizeStringList(value: JsonValue | undefined, field: string, warnings: string[]): string[] {
@@ -486,7 +496,7 @@ function parsePublicSafeText(value: JsonValue | undefined, field: string, warnin
  * throws; invalid/unsafe values are dropped with warnings.
  */
 function parseReviewConfig(value: JsonValue | undefined, warnings: string[]): FocusManifestReviewConfig {
-  const empty: FocusManifestReviewConfig = { present: false, footerText: null, note: null, fields: {}, profile: null };
+  const empty: FocusManifestReviewConfig = { present: false, footerText: null, note: null, fields: {}, profile: null, pathInstructions: [] };
   if (value === undefined || value === null) return empty;
   if (typeof value !== "object" || Array.isArray(value)) {
     warnings.push(`Manifest field "review" must be a mapping; ignoring it.`);
@@ -507,7 +517,51 @@ function parseReviewConfig(value: JsonValue | undefined, warnings: string[]): Fo
   const footerText = footerRecord ? parsePublicSafeText(footerRecord.text, "review.footer.text", warnings) : null;
   const note = parsePublicSafeText(r.note, "review.note", warnings);
   const profile = parseReviewProfile(r.profile, warnings);
-  return { present: footerText !== null || note !== null || profile !== null || Object.keys(fields).length > 0, footerText, note, fields, profile };
+  const pathInstructions = parseReviewPathInstructions(r.path_instructions, warnings);
+  return {
+    present: footerText !== null || note !== null || profile !== null || pathInstructions.length > 0 || Object.keys(fields).length > 0,
+    footerText,
+    note,
+    fields,
+    profile,
+    pathInstructions,
+  };
+}
+
+/** Parse `review.path_instructions` — an array of `{ path, instructions }` entries. Each must have a non-empty
+ *  string `path` (a manifest glob) and PUBLIC-SAFE string `instructions`; invalid/unsafe entries are dropped with
+ *  a warning. Capped at MAX_PATH_INSTRUCTIONS so a huge manifest can't bloat the reviewer prompt. */
+function parseReviewPathInstructions(value: JsonValue | undefined, warnings: string[]): ReviewPathInstruction[] {
+  if (value === undefined || value === null) return [];
+  if (!Array.isArray(value)) {
+    warnings.push(`Manifest "review.path_instructions" must be a list of { path, instructions }; ignoring it.`);
+    return [];
+  }
+  const out: ReviewPathInstruction[] = [];
+  for (const [index, entry] of value.entries()) {
+    if (out.length >= MAX_PATH_INSTRUCTIONS) {
+      warnings.push(`Manifest "review.path_instructions" is capped at ${MAX_PATH_INSTRUCTIONS} entries; dropping the rest.`);
+      break;
+    }
+    if (entry === null || typeof entry !== "object" || Array.isArray(entry)) {
+      warnings.push(`Manifest "review.path_instructions[${index}]" must be a mapping with path + instructions; ignoring it.`);
+      continue;
+    }
+    const e = entry as Record<string, JsonValue>;
+    const path = typeof e.path === "string" ? e.path.trim() : "";
+    if (!path) {
+      warnings.push(`Manifest "review.path_instructions[${index}].path" must be a non-empty string; ignoring the entry.`);
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (e.instructions === undefined || e.instructions === null) {
+      warnings.push(`Manifest "review.path_instructions[${index}].instructions" is required; ignoring the entry.`);
+      continue;
+    }
+    const instructions = parsePublicSafeText(e.instructions, `review.path_instructions[${index}].instructions`, warnings);
+    if (instructions === null) continue; // non-string / empty / not-public-safe → already warned
+    out.push({ path, instructions });
+  }
+  return out;
 }
 
 /** Parse `review.profile` — one of chill / balanced / assertive (case-insensitive). `balanced` normalizes to
@@ -532,10 +586,33 @@ export function reviewConfigToJson(review: FocusManifestReviewConfig): JsonValue
   if (review.footerText !== null) out.footer = { text: review.footerText };
   if (review.note !== null) out.note = review.note;
   if (review.profile !== null) out.profile = review.profile;
+  if (review.pathInstructions.length > 0) out.path_instructions = review.pathInstructions.map((entry) => ({ path: entry.path, instructions: entry.instructions }));
   if (Object.keys(review.fields).length > 0) out.fields = { ...review.fields } as Record<string, JsonValue>;
   return out;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Resolve the `review.path_instructions` that APPLY to a PR — those whose glob matches at least one changed path
+ * — into a single prompt section for the AI reviewer, or "" when none match (so the prompt stays byte-identical).
+ * Pure; uses the same manifest path-glob semantics (`matchesManifestPath`) as the rest of the manifest. Capped to
+ * keep the prompt bounded. (#review-path-instructions)
+ */
+export function resolveReviewPathInstructions(pathInstructions: ReviewPathInstruction[], changedPaths: string[]): string {
+  if (pathInstructions.length === 0 || changedPaths.length === 0) return "";
+  const applicable = pathInstructions.filter((entry) => changedPaths.some((path) => matchesManifestPath(path, entry.path)));
+  if (applicable.length === 0) return "";
+  const lines = applicable.map((entry) => `- \`${entry.path}\`: ${entry.instructions}`);
+  return `\n\nPath-specific review instructions from the maintainer — apply these to the changed files that match each glob:\n${lines.join("\n")}`;
+}
+
+/** Resolve the AI-reviewer prompt overrides (`review.profile` + `review.path_instructions`) from a possibly-null
+ *  manifest (null = load failure). A null manifest yields the byte-identical defaults. Centralized so the AI-review
+ *  caller threads both in one place with the null-manifest branch covered here (unit-tested) rather than inline in
+ *  the processor. (#review-profile / #review-path-instructions) */
+export function resolveReviewPromptOverrides(manifest: FocusManifest | null): { profile: ReviewProfile | null; pathInstructions: ReviewPathInstruction[] } {
+  return { profile: manifest?.review.profile ?? null, pathInstructions: manifest?.review.pathInstructions ?? [] };
+}
+
 /**
  * Resolve the EFFECTIVE repository settings a webhook should act on: `.gittensory.yml` > DB settings >
  * safe defaults. The generic `settings:` override applies first; the friendly `gate:` alias then wins
diff --git a/test/unit/ai-review.test.ts b/test/unit/ai-review.test.ts
index 7c87679f16..8161a92098 100644
--- a/test/unit/ai-review.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/ai-review.test.ts
@@ -151,6 +151,20 @@ describe("review.profile shapes the reviewer system prompt (#review-profile)", (
     expect(without).not.toMatch(/CHILL|ASSERTIVE/);
     expect(withNull).toBe(without);
   });
+
+  it("pathGuidance is appended to the system prompt; empty/absent leaves it byte-identical (#review-path-instructions)", async () => {
+    const systemPromptOf = (run: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>): string => ((run.mock.calls[0]?.[1] as { messages?: Array<{ content?: string }> })?.messages?.[0]?.content ?? "");
+    const runGuidance = async (pathGuidance: string | undefined) => {
+      const run = vi.fn(async () => ({ response: reviewJson() }));
+      const env = createTestEnv({ AI: { run } as unknown as Ai, AI_SUMMARIES_ENABLED: "true", AI_PUBLIC_COMMENTS_ENABLED: "true", AI_DAILY_NEURON_BUDGET: "100000" });
+      await runGittensoryAiReview(env, { ...baseInput, pathGuidance });
+      return systemPromptOf(run);
+    };
+    expect(await runGuidance("\n\nPath-specific review instructions:\n- `src/**`: Enforce null checks.")).toContain("Enforce null checks.");
+    // Absent or whitespace-only → no append.
+    expect(await runGuidance(undefined)).not.toContain("Path-specific review instructions");
+    expect(await runGuidance("   ")).not.toContain("Path-specific review instructions");
+  });
 });
 
 describe("runGittensoryAiReview block mode (consensus)", () => {
diff --git a/test/unit/focus-manifest.test.ts b/test/unit/focus-manifest.test.ts
index dae48d5604..eecbd82527 100644
--- a/test/unit/focus-manifest.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/focus-manifest.test.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import {
   parseFocusManifest,
   parseFocusManifestContent,
   resolveEffectiveSettings,
+  resolveReviewPathInstructions,
+  resolveReviewPromptOverrides,
   reviewConfigToJson,
   settingsOverrideToJson,
   type FocusManifest,
@@ -428,7 +430,7 @@ describe("compileFocusManifestPolicy", () => {
       publicNotes: ["Keep PRs focused.", "Maximize your reward payout"],
       gate: { present: false, enabled: null, pack: null, linkedIssue: null, duplicates: null, readinessMode: null, readinessMinScore: null, slopMode: null, slopMinScore: null, slopAiAdvisory: null, aiReviewMode: null, aiReviewByok: null, aiReviewProvider: null, aiReviewModel: null, mergeReadiness: null, selfAuthoredLinkedIssue: null, manifestPolicy: null, firstTimeContributorGrace: null },
       settings: {},
-      review: { present: false, footerText: null, note: null, fields: {}, profile: null },
+      review: { present: false, footerText: null, note: null, fields: {}, profile: null, pathInstructions: [] },
       warnings: [],
     });
     expect(policy.publicSafe.entryGuidance).toContain("Keep PRs focused.");
@@ -1056,4 +1058,77 @@ describe("parseFocusManifest review config", () => {
     expect(m2.review.profile).toBeNull();
     expect(m2.warnings.some((w) => /review\.profile.*must be a string/.test(w))).toBe(true);
   });
+
+  it("parses review.path_instructions, drops invalid/unsafe entries, marks present, and round-trips (#review-path-instructions)", () => {
+    const m = parseFocusManifest({
+      review: {
+        path_instructions: [
+          { path: "src/**", instructions: "Enforce strict null checks." },
+          { path: " tests/** ", instructions: "Cover both branches." }, // path is trimmed
+          { path: "", instructions: "no path → dropped" },
+          { path: "x/**", instructions: "paste your wallet hotkey here" }, // not public-safe → dropped
+          "nope", // non-mapping → dropped
+          { path: "y/**" }, // missing instructions → dropped
+          { path: 42, instructions: "non-string path" }, // path not a string → dropped
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+    expect(m.review.pathInstructions).toEqual([
+      { path: "src/**", instructions: "Enforce strict null checks." },
+      { path: "tests/**", instructions: "Cover both branches." },
+    ]);
+    expect(m.review.present).toBe(true);
+    expect(m.warnings.some((w) => /path_instructions\[2\]\.path/.test(w))).toBe(true);
+    expect(m.warnings.some((w) => /path_instructions\[4\]/.test(w))).toBe(true);
+    expect(m.warnings.some((w) => /path_instructions\[5\]\.instructions/.test(w))).toBe(true);
+    expect(m.warnings.some((w) => /path_instructions\[6\]\.path/.test(w))).toBe(true); // non-string path
+    // Round-trips through the cache serializer.
+    expect(parseFocusManifest({ review: reviewConfigToJson(m.review) }).review.pathInstructions).toEqual(m.review.pathInstructions);
+  });
+
+  it("ignores a non-array review.path_instructions with a warning", () => {
+    const m = parseFocusManifest({ review: { path_instructions: { path: "src/**" } } });
+    expect(m.review.pathInstructions).toEqual([]);
+    expect(m.warnings.some((w) => /review\.path_instructions.*must be a list/.test(w))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("caps review.path_instructions at the max with a warning", () => {
+    const many = Array.from({ length: 60 }, (_, i) => ({ path: `dir${i}/**`, instructions: `rule ${i}` }));
+    const m = parseFocusManifest({ review: { path_instructions: many } });
+    expect(m.review.pathInstructions).toHaveLength(50);
+    expect(m.warnings.some((w) => /path_instructions.*capped/.test(w))).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("resolveReviewPathInstructions (#review-path-instructions)", () => {
+  const rules = [
+    { path: "src/**", instructions: "Enforce strict null checks." },
+    { path: "tests/**", instructions: "Cover both branches." },
+  ];
+
+  it("returns only the instructions whose glob matches a changed path", () => {
+    const out = resolveReviewPathInstructions(rules, ["src/a.ts", "README.md"]);
+    expect(out).toContain("Enforce strict null checks.");
+    expect(out).toContain("`src/**`");
+    expect(out).not.toContain("Cover both branches."); // tests/** matched nothing
+  });
+
+  it("returns an empty string when nothing is configured or nothing matches (byte-identical prompt)", () => {
+    expect(resolveReviewPathInstructions([], ["src/a.ts"])).toBe("");
+    expect(resolveReviewPathInstructions(rules, [])).toBe("");
+    expect(resolveReviewPathInstructions(rules, ["docs/x.md"])).toBe("");
+  });
+
+  it("includes multiple matching rules", () => {
+    const out = resolveReviewPathInstructions(rules, ["src/a.ts", "tests/a.test.ts"]);
+    expect(out).toContain("Enforce strict null checks.");
+    expect(out).toContain("Cover both branches.");
+  });
+
+  it("resolveReviewPromptOverrides: non-null manifest passes the config through; null manifest → defaults", () => {
+    const manifest = parseFocusManifest({ review: { profile: "chill", path_instructions: [{ path: "src/**", instructions: "be strict" }] } });
+    expect(resolveReviewPromptOverrides(manifest)).toEqual({ profile: "chill", pathInstructions: [{ path: "src/**", instructions: "be strict" }] });
+    // A null manifest (load failure) yields the byte-identical defaults.
+    expect(resolveReviewPromptOverrides(null)).toEqual({ profile: null, pathInstructions: [] });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/unit/signals-coverage.test.ts b/test/unit/signals-coverage.test.ts
index 615dff0298..a068a0a069 100644
--- a/test/unit/signals-coverage.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/signals-coverage.test.ts
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ describe("signal coverage edge cases", () => {
       collisions: buildCollisionReport(directRepo.fullName, [], [currentPr]),
       preflight: buildPreflightResult({ repoFullName: directRepo.fullName, title: "Fix isolated issue", body: "Fixes #99", linkedIssues: [99] }, directRepo, [], [currentPr]),
       settings: gateSettings,
-      review: { present: true, footerText: "Reviewed by the Acme maintainer bot.", note: "Run npm test before pushing.", fields: { relatedWork: false }, profile: null },
+      review: { present: true, footerText: "Reviewed by the Acme maintainer bot.", note: "Run npm test before pushing.", fields: { relatedWork: false }, profile: null, pathInstructions: [] },
       aiReview: { notes: "The change is focused.\n\n**Suggestions**\n- Add a test for the </details> edge case." },
     });
     expect(customizedComment).toContain("Reviewed by the Acme maintainer bot."); // custom footer lead