diff --git a/packages/extension/scores/overture/SCORE.md b/packages/extension/scores/overture/SCORE.md
index a3695f5b..8cf36678 100644
--- a/packages/extension/scores/overture/SCORE.md
+++ b/packages/extension/scores/overture/SCORE.md
@@ -41,6 +41,35 @@ stages:
         prompt: "Want me to show you the full workflow end-to-end? (requires Julia)"
         choices: ["Yes, show me", "Skip the demo"]
         default: "Yes, show me"
+  - id: environment
+    questions:
+      - id: environment
+        prompt: "How will pulses eventually reach hardware — what are we patching into?"
+        choices:
+          [
+            "QICK lab (on-prem control code)",
+            "Cloud system with emulator (e.g. Pasqal)",
+            "Simulation only for now",
+            "Something else",
+          ]
+        default: "Simulation only for now"
+  - id: devices
+    optional: true
+    questions:
+      - id: devices
+        prompt: "Any specific device(s) you want me to remember? (name, platform, qubit count — or skip)"
+        default: "skip for now"
+  - id: goals
+    questions:
+      - id: goals
+        prompt: "What are you hoping to accomplish with Amico?"
+        kind: text
+  - id: handoff
+    questions:
+      - id: handoff
+        prompt: "Ready to get started?"
+        choices: ["Walk me through designing a pulse", "Open a normal session", "Show me around first"]
+        default: "Walk me through designing a pulse"
 ---
 
 You are running the **overture** — Amico's onboarding interview (session zero).
@@ -164,7 +193,50 @@ Per-stage guidance and the `amicode_profile` mapping:
    - The demo MUST NOT create vault artifacts (no problem card, no pulse bank entry).
    - If `isDemoCompleted()` is true (archive marker exists), skip — don't re-offer.
 
-   After the demo (or skipping), advance to the next stage. **Stages 5–8 are
-   defined in subsequent slices** — for now, after Stage 4 completes, record
-   the completion marker: `amicode_profile {entity:"onboarding_completed"}`
-   and hand off to a normal session.
+   After the demo (or skipping), advance to Stage 5.
+
+5. **environment** — ask how pulses will reach hardware. **Pre-fill from
+   seeds:** call `amicode_profile {entity:"status"}` and check if an
+   environment is already recorded from the context-seed (Stage 3). If so,
+   present it as a confirmation: "I found you use {archetype} — confirm, or
+   change?" via the `question` tool. If no seed, ask the standard choice
+   question with the options above.
+
+   Record: `amicode_profile {entity:"environment", payload:{slug, archetype}}`.
+   Follow up on details per archetype if confirmed (QICK: tProc version,
+   repo pointer; cloud-Pasqal: which provider, emulator access; etc.).
+
+6. **devices** _(optional)_ — same pre-fill pattern: if a device was seeded,
+   confirm it. Otherwise ask: "Any specific device(s) you want me to remember?"
+   This stage is ALWAYS skippable — "none" or "skip" is a valid answer.
+
+   Record: `amicode_profile {entity:"device", payload:{name, platform, qubits}}`.
+   If skipped, move on without recording.
+
+7. **goals** — free-text question via `question` tool with `kind: "text"`:
+   "What are you hoping to accomplish with Amico?" No pre-fill (goals are
+   personal, not inferrable from configs).
+
+   Record: `amicode_profile {entity:"profile", payload:{goals:"..."}}`.
+
+8. **handoff** — the terminal stage. FIRST, record the completion marker:
+   `amicode_profile {entity:"onboarding_completed"}` (exactly once — this is
+   what lets Amico remember them next time and triggers the distiller to
+   materialize the vault).
+
+   Then route by the user's intent selections (from Stage 2 — read from the
+   events stream, do NOT re-ask):
+
+   - **Research** selected (alone or combined) → "Let's design your first
+     pulse" → continue straight into the **pulse-designer interview** in this
+     same session. Use everything learned (platform, environment, device) to
+     skip pulse-design questions already answered.
+   - **Research + General coding** → same as above, but acknowledge: "I'm also
+     your general coding companion — you can switch modes any time."
+   - **General coding only** (no Research) → open a normal session: "You're all
+     set — I'll remember your context across sessions. Ask me anything."
+     Highlight memory + vault features briefly.
+   - **Exploring only** → "Welcome aboard — want a quick tour of what I can do,
+     or just dive in?" Offer a brief orientation tour.
+
+   The handoff does NOT re-ask intent — it reads what was recorded and routes.
diff --git a/packages/extension/src/handoff_routing.ts b/packages/extension/src/handoff_routing.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..274adff5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/extension/src/handoff_routing.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+// Handoff routing — Stage 8 intent-based routing (#438)
+//
+// Pure routing logic for the onboarding handoff: given the user's intent
+// selections from Stage 2, determines the correct next experience.
+
+// ─── Types ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export type IntentSlug = "research" | "general_coding" | "exploring";
+
+export type HandoffAction =
+  | "pulse-designer"     // Research selected → guided pulse-designer interview
+  | "normal-session"     // General coding only → open session, highlight memory + vault
+  | "tour-session"       // Exploring only → open session with brief tour offer
+  | "pulse-designer-plus"; // Research + General coding → pulse-designer with broader studio mention
+
+// ─── Routing table (pure, testable) ──────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/** Given the user's intent selections, determine the handoff action.
+ *  Research takes priority when combined with other selections. */
+export function resolveHandoffAction(intents: IntentSlug[]): HandoffAction {
+  const hasResearch = intents.includes("research");
+  const hasGeneral = intents.includes("general_coding");
+  const hasExploring = intents.includes("exploring");
+
+  // Research always routes to pulse-designer (possibly with broader mention)
+  if (hasResearch && hasGeneral) return "pulse-designer-plus";
+  if (hasResearch && hasExploring) return "pulse-designer";
+  if (hasResearch) return "pulse-designer";
+
+  // General coding only
+  if (hasGeneral && hasExploring) return "normal-session";
+  if (hasGeneral) return "normal-session";
+
+  // Exploring only
+  if (hasExploring) return "tour-session";
+
+  // Fallback (empty or unknown) — safe default
+  return "normal-session";
+}
+
+// ─── Pre-fill resolution ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export interface SeedState {
+  environment?: { slug?: string; archetype?: string };
+  device?: { name?: string; platform?: string };
+}
+
+export interface PreFillResult {
+  /** If non-null, show confirmation prompt with this value. If null, ask fresh. */
+  environmentSeed: string | null;
+  /** If non-null, show confirmation prompt. If null, ask fresh or skip. */
+  deviceSeed: string | null;
+}
+
+/** Given the current onboarding state (from readOnboardingState), determine
+ *  what pre-fill values to offer for Stages 5-6. */
+export function resolvePreFills(state: SeedState): PreFillResult {
+  let environmentSeed: string | null = null;
+  let deviceSeed: string | null = null;
+
+  if (state.environment?.archetype || state.environment?.slug) {
+    environmentSeed = state.environment.archetype ?? state.environment.slug ?? null;
+  }
+
+  if (state.device?.name) {
+    deviceSeed = state.device.name;
+    if (state.device.platform) {
+      deviceSeed += ` (${state.device.platform})`;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return { environmentSeed, deviceSeed };
+}
+
+// ─── Intent reading from events stream ───────────────────────────────────────
+
+/** Read the intent selections from the onboarding state's profile entity.
+ *  Returns the intent array or an empty array if not yet recorded. */
+export function readIntentFromState(
+  profileState: Record<string, unknown> | undefined,
+): IntentSlug[] {
+  if (!profileState) return [];
+  const intent = profileState.intent;
+  if (!Array.isArray(intent)) return [];
+  return intent.filter((i): i is IntentSlug =>
+    typeof i === "string" && ["research", "general_coding", "exploring"].includes(i),
+  );
+}
diff --git a/packages/extension/test/handoff_routing.test.ts b/packages/extension/test/handoff_routing.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bf5d2602
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/extension/test/handoff_routing.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+// Handoff routing tests — Stage 8 (#438)
+//
+// Table-driven tests for the intent-based handoff routing, pre-fill resolution,
+// and intent reading from the events stream.
+
+import { describe, it, expect } from "vitest";
+
+import {
+  resolveHandoffAction,
+  resolvePreFills,
+  readIntentFromState,
+  type IntentSlug,
+  type HandoffAction,
+  type SeedState,
+} from "../src/handoff_routing";
+
+// ─── AC6: Handoff routing table ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+describe("resolveHandoffAction — intent-based routing (AC6)", () => {
+  const cases: Array<{ intents: IntentSlug[]; expected: HandoffAction; name: string }> = [
+    { intents: ["research"], expected: "pulse-designer", name: "research only → pulse-designer" },
+    { intents: ["general_coding"], expected: "normal-session", name: "general coding only → normal-session" },
+    { intents: ["exploring"], expected: "tour-session", name: "exploring only → tour-session" },
+    { intents: ["research", "general_coding"], expected: "pulse-designer-plus", name: "research + general → pulse-designer-plus" },
+    { intents: ["research", "exploring"], expected: "pulse-designer", name: "research + exploring → pulse-designer" },
+    { intents: ["general_coding", "exploring"], expected: "normal-session", name: "general + exploring → normal-session" },
+    { intents: ["research", "general_coding", "exploring"], expected: "pulse-designer-plus", name: "all three → pulse-designer-plus" },
+  ];
+
+  for (const { intents, expected, name } of cases) {
+    it(name, () => {
+      expect(resolveHandoffAction(intents)).toBe(expected);
+    });
+  }
+
+  it("empty intents → normal-session (safe default)", () => {
+    expect(resolveHandoffAction([])).toBe("normal-session");
+  });
+});
+
+// ─── AC1-2: Pre-fill resolution ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+describe("resolvePreFills — seed-based confirmation prompts (AC1, AC2)", () => {
+  it("returns null seeds when no state exists", () => {
+    const result = resolvePreFills({});
+    expect(result.environmentSeed).toBeNull();
+    expect(result.deviceSeed).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("AC1: returns environment archetype as seed when available", () => {
+    const state: SeedState = {
+      environment: { slug: "stanford-qick-lab", archetype: "qick-lab" },
+    };
+    const result = resolvePreFills(state);
+    expect(result.environmentSeed).toBe("qick-lab");
+  });
+
+  it("AC1: falls back to slug when archetype is missing", () => {
+    const state: SeedState = {
+      environment: { slug: "my-lab" },
+    };
+    const result = resolvePreFills(state);
+    expect(result.environmentSeed).toBe("my-lab");
+  });
+
+  it("AC2: returns device name + platform as seed", () => {
+    const state: SeedState = {
+      device: { name: "Emerald-Q3", platform: "transmon" },
+    };
+    const result = resolvePreFills(state);
+    expect(result.deviceSeed).toBe("Emerald-Q3 (transmon)");
+  });
+
+  it("AC2: device name only (no platform) works", () => {
+    const state: SeedState = {
+      device: { name: "MyDevice" },
+    };
+    const result = resolvePreFills(state);
+    expect(result.deviceSeed).toBe("MyDevice");
+  });
+});
+
+// ─── Intent reading from state ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+describe("readIntentFromState — parse intent from profile (AC6)", () => {
+  it("returns intent array from profile state", () => {
+    const profile = { name: "JJ", intent: ["research", "general_coding"] };
+    expect(readIntentFromState(profile)).toEqual(["research", "general_coding"]);
+  });
+
+  it("filters out invalid intent values", () => {
+    const profile = { intent: ["research", "invalid_thing", "exploring"] };
+    expect(readIntentFromState(profile)).toEqual(["research", "exploring"]);
+  });
+
+  it("returns empty array when no profile state", () => {
+    expect(readIntentFromState(undefined)).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("returns empty array when intent is not an array", () => {
+    const profile = { intent: "research" };
+    expect(readIntentFromState(profile)).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("returns empty array when intent field is missing", () => {
+    const profile = { name: "JJ" };
+    expect(readIntentFromState(profile)).toEqual([]);
+  });
+});
+
+// ─── AC7: Seed rejection (last-write-wins) ───────────────────────────────────
+
+describe("seed rejection semantics (AC7)", () => {
+  it("resolvePreFills returns whatever is latest in state (last-write-wins)", () => {
+    // If the user overrides a seeded environment, the state will reflect the override
+    // because appendOnboardingEvent appends and readOnboardingState replays last-value-wins
+    const stateAfterOverride: SeedState = {
+      environment: { slug: "user-chosen-env", archetype: "local-sim" },
+    };
+    const result = resolvePreFills(stateAfterOverride);
+    expect(result.environmentSeed).toBe("local-sim");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/extension/test/scores/golden/compile-chained.md b/packages/extension/test/scores/golden/compile-chained.md
index 0fba9f69..844ca185 100644
--- a/packages/extension/test/scores/golden/compile-chained.md
+++ b/packages/extension/test/scores/golden/compile-chained.md
@@ -20,29 +20,37 @@ gate's checks pass.
    - Q `seed_optin`: "I can scan your existing AI-tool configs to bootstrap your workspace — want me to?" — options: Yes, scan my configs (recommended) | No thanks, skip
 4. **demo** (optional)
    - Q `demo_offer`: "Want me to show you the full workflow end-to-end? (requires Julia)" — options: Yes, show me (recommended) | Skip the demo
-5. **platform**
+5. **environment**
+   - Q `environment`: "How will pulses eventually reach hardware — what are we patching into?" — options: QICK lab (on-prem control code) | Cloud system with emulator (e.g. Pasqal) | Simulation only for now (recommended) | Something else
+6. **devices** (optional)
+   - Q `devices`: "Any specific device(s) you want me to remember? (name, platform, qubit count — or skip)" — default: skip for now
+7. **goals**
+   - Q `goals`: "What are you hoping to accomplish with Amico?"
+8. **handoff**
+   - Q `handoff`: "Ready to get started?" — options: Walk me through designing a pulse (recommended) | Open a normal session | Show me around first
+9. **platform**
    - Q `platform`: "What kind of system are you working with?" — options: transmon (recommended) | neutral-atom Rydberg | cavity / bosonic | other
-6. **model**
+10. **model**
    - emits: system — record via the matching `amicode_*` tool
    - Q `levels`: "How many levels should the model keep? (I'll recommend based on your system — see guidance)" — default: platform-dependent (transmon 3–4; a cavity/bosonic mode wants a Fock cutoff)
    - Q `drives`: "Drive parameterization and amplitude bound (drive_max)?" — default: two quadratures, drive_max = 0.2 GHz
-7. **mode**
+11. **mode**
    - Q `mode`: "Simulate first, or go straight to solve?" — options: solve (recommended) | simulate
    - Q `warm_start`: "Warm start from a previous pulse (pulse.jld2) — including one from your pulse bank — or cold start?" — options: cold start (recommended) | warm start
      - skip if: mode == simulate
-8. **problem**
+12. **problem**
    - Q `target`: "What is the target — a gate, or a state to prepare?" — default: a single-qubit gate
-9. **formulate**
+13. **formulate**
    - emits: formulation — record via the matching `amicode_*` tool
    - Q `formulation`: "The problem shape — trajectory type (gate / state-prep / open-system), fixed-time vs min-time, and any robustness or free-phase? (the infidelity objective is DERIVED from the type; constraints default to the amplitude bound)" — default: a fixed-time gate, free-phase on for entangling gates
      - [Why?] hooks: free-phase-objective-only, pin-globals-first-solve (read `scores/memory/<hook>.md` on request)
-10. **solve**
+14. **solve**
    - emits: run, pulse — record via the matching `amicode_*` tool
    - executor: `local`
    - vetted template (absolute): `<workspace>/extension/scores/pulse-designer/templates/solve.jl`
    - Q `solve_params`: "Pulse duration T (ns), timesteps N, and max_iter?" — default: T = 10 ns, N = 50, max_iter = 60
-11. **inspect**
-12. **hardware** (optional)
+15. **inspect**
+16. **hardware** (optional)
    - emits: device_session — record via the matching `amicode_*` tool
 
 ---
@@ -168,10 +176,53 @@ Per-stage guidance and the `amicode_profile` mapping:
    - The demo MUST NOT create vault artifacts (no problem card, no pulse bank entry).
    - If `isDemoCompleted()` is true (archive marker exists), skip — don't re-offer.
 
-   After the demo (or skipping), advance to the next stage. **Stages 5–8 are
-   defined in subsequent slices** — for now, after Stage 4 completes, record
-   the completion marker: `amicode_profile {entity:"onboarding_completed"}`
-   and hand off to a normal session.
+   After the demo (or skipping), advance to Stage 5.
+
+5. **environment** — ask how pulses will reach hardware. **Pre-fill from
+   seeds:** call `amicode_profile {entity:"status"}` and check if an
+   environment is already recorded from the context-seed (Stage 3). If so,
+   present it as a confirmation: "I found you use {archetype} — confirm, or
+   change?" via the `question` tool. If no seed, ask the standard choice
+   question with the options above.
+
+   Record: `amicode_profile {entity:"environment", payload:{slug, archetype}}`.
+   Follow up on details per archetype if confirmed (QICK: tProc version,
+   repo pointer; cloud-Pasqal: which provider, emulator access; etc.).
+
+6. **devices** _(optional)_ — same pre-fill pattern: if a device was seeded,
+   confirm it. Otherwise ask: "Any specific device(s) you want me to remember?"
+   This stage is ALWAYS skippable — "none" or "skip" is a valid answer.
+
+   Record: `amicode_profile {entity:"device", payload:{name, platform, qubits}}`.
+   If skipped, move on without recording.
+
+7. **goals** — free-text question via `question` tool with `kind: "text"`:
+   "What are you hoping to accomplish with Amico?" No pre-fill (goals are
+   personal, not inferrable from configs).
+
+   Record: `amicode_profile {entity:"profile", payload:{goals:"..."}}`.
+
+8. **handoff** — the terminal stage. FIRST, record the completion marker:
+   `amicode_profile {entity:"onboarding_completed"}` (exactly once — this is
+   what lets Amico remember them next time and triggers the distiller to
+   materialize the vault).
+
+   Then route by the user's intent selections (from Stage 2 — read from the
+   events stream, do NOT re-ask):
+
+   - **Research** selected (alone or combined) → "Let's design your first
+     pulse" → continue straight into the **pulse-designer interview** in this
+     same session. Use everything learned (platform, environment, device) to
+     skip pulse-design questions already answered.
+   - **Research + General coding** → same as above, but acknowledge: "I'm also
+     your general coding companion — you can switch modes any time."
+   - **General coding only** (no Research) → open a normal session: "You're all
+     set — I'll remember your context across sessions. Ask me anything."
+     Highlight memory + vault features briefly.
+   - **Exploring only** → "Welcome aboard — want a quick tour of what I can do,
+     or just dive in?" Offer a brief orientation tour.
+
+   The handoff does NOT re-ask intent — it reads what was recorded and routes.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/packages/extension/test/scores/overture_rewrite.test.ts b/packages/extension/test/scores/overture_rewrite.test.ts
index a61548f6..75725e05 100644
--- a/packages/extension/test/scores/overture_rewrite.test.ts
+++ b/packages/extension/test/scores/overture_rewrite.test.ts
@@ -36,17 +36,20 @@ describe("overture SCORE.md — loads and compiles (AC1)", () => {
     expect(ov.manifest.schema_version).toBe(1);
   });
 
-  it("has the new stage structure: orientation, intent", () => {
+  it("has the new stage structure: orientation, intent, context_seed, demo, environment, devices, goals, handoff", () => {
     const ov = overture();
     const stageIds = ov.manifest.stages.map((s: { id: string }) => s.id);
     expect(stageIds).toContain("orientation");
     expect(stageIds).toContain("intent");
-    // Old stages are gone
+    expect(stageIds).toContain("context_seed");
+    expect(stageIds).toContain("demo");
+    expect(stageIds).toContain("environment");
+    expect(stageIds).toContain("devices");
+    expect(stageIds).toContain("goals");
+    expect(stageIds).toContain("handoff");
+    // Old stage name is gone
     expect(stageIds).not.toContain("platforms");
-    expect(stageIds).not.toContain("environment");
-    expect(stageIds).not.toContain("devices");
-    expect(stageIds).not.toContain("goals");
-    expect(stageIds).not.toContain("handoff");
+    expect(stageIds).not.toContain("identity");
   });
 
   it("compiles to markdown without error (standalone)", () => {
@@ -140,13 +143,20 @@ describe("overture compiled content — resume (AC8)", () => {
   });
 });
 
-// ─── AC9: subsequent stages placeholder ──────────────────────────────────────
+// ─── AC9: complete stage flow ────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-describe("overture compiled content — stage boundary (AC9)", () => {
+describe("overture compiled content — complete flow (AC9)", () => {
   const md = compileScore(overture());
 
-  it("marks that stages 3+ come from subsequent slices", () => {
-    expect(md).toContain("subsequent");
+  it("the overture score is complete: all 8 stages defined end-to-end", () => {
+    expect(md).toContain("orientation");
+    expect(md).toContain("intent");
+    expect(md).toContain("context_seed");
+    expect(md).toContain("demo");
+    expect(md).toContain("environment");
+    expect(md).toContain("goals");
+    expect(md).toContain("handoff");
+    expect(md).toContain("onboarding_completed");
   });
 });