diff --git a/ui-dioxus/src/components/pulsing_dot.rs b/ui-dioxus/src/components/pulsing_dot.rs
index 67bc988..2a727e4 100644
--- a/ui-dioxus/src/components/pulsing_dot.rs
+++ b/ui-dioxus/src/components/pulsing_dot.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
-/// PulsingDot — smooth pulse via background-color transition in Blitz.
+/// PulsingDot — smooth pulse via 6 manual color steps. Zero CSS animation overhead.
 ///
-/// Toggles between bright (green/peach) and dim (surface2) every 800ms.
-/// CSS `transition: background-color 0.4s ease` smooths the switch.
-/// The transition runs for 400ms (~24 repaints), then stops until next toggle.
-/// Net cost: ~24 repaints per second spread across two 400ms bursts = ~2% CPU.
+/// 6 pre-computed color classes cycled every 200ms = 1.2s full pulse.
+/// Each step: 1 class change → 1 Blitz repaint. No CSS transition engine.
+/// Cost: 5 repaints/sec × 1 element = unmeasurable CPU.
 
 use dioxus::prelude::*;
-use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU8, Ordering};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
@@ -19,27 +18,30 @@ pub enum DotState {
     Error,
 }
 
+const STEP_MS: u64 = 200;
+const STEPS: u8 = 6;
+
 #[component]
 pub fn PulsingDot(state: DotState, size: Option<String>) -> Element {
     let should_pulse = matches!(state, DotState::Running | DotState::Stalled);
-    let is_bright = use_hook(|| Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(true)));
+    let step = use_hook(|| Arc::new(AtomicU8::new(0)));
 
     if should_pulse {
-        let flag = is_bright.clone();
+        let s = step.clone();
         let updater = use_hook(|| dioxus::dioxus_core::schedule_update());
 
         use_hook(move || {
             std::thread::spawn(move || {
                 loop {
-                    std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(800));
-                    flag.fetch_xor(true, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                    std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(STEP_MS));
+                    s.store((s.load(Ordering::Relaxed) + 1) % STEPS, Ordering::Relaxed);
                     updater();
                 }
             });
         });
     }
 
-    let base_class = match state {
+    let base = match state {
         DotState::Running => "dot-running",
         DotState::Idle => "dot-idle",
         DotState::Stalled => "dot-stalled",
@@ -47,17 +49,20 @@ pub fn PulsingDot(state: DotState, size: Option<String>) -> Element {
         DotState::Error => "dot-error",
     };
 
-    let brightness = if should_pulse {
-        if is_bright.load(Ordering::Relaxed) { "dot-bright" } else { "dot-dim" }
+    let step_class = if should_pulse {
+        match step.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
+            0 => "dot-s0", 1 => "dot-s1", 2 => "dot-s2",
+            3 => "dot-s3", 4 => "dot-s4", _ => "dot-s5",
+        }
     } else {
-        "dot-bright"
+        "dot-s0"
     };
 
     let sz = size.unwrap_or_else(|| "8px".to_string());
 
     rsx! {
         span {
-            class: "pulsing-dot {base_class} {brightness}",
+            class: "pulsing-dot {base} {step_class}",
             style: "width: {sz}; height: {sz};",
         }
     }
diff --git a/ui-dioxus/src/theme.rs b/ui-dioxus/src/theme.rs
index ac8c816..175320b 100644
--- a/ui-dioxus/src/theme.rs
+++ b/ui-dioxus/src/theme.rs
@@ -282,17 +282,22 @@ body {{
     background: var(--ctp-red);
     box-shadow: 0 0 4px var(--ctp-red);
 }}
-/* PulsingDot: smooth pulse via background-color transition (bounded, not infinite) */
-.pulsing-dot {{
-    display: inline-block;
-    border-radius: 50%;
-    flex-shrink: 0;
-    transition: background-color 0.4s ease;
-}}
-.dot-bright.dot-running {{ background: var(--ctp-green); box-shadow: 0 0 6px var(--ctp-green); }}
-.dot-dim.dot-running {{ background: var(--ctp-surface2); box-shadow: none; }}
-.dot-bright.dot-stalled {{ background: var(--ctp-peach); box-shadow: 0 0 4px var(--ctp-peach); }}
-.dot-dim.dot-stalled {{ background: var(--ctp-surface2); box-shadow: none; }}
+/* PulsingDot: 6-step color fade, no CSS transition (zero animation engine overhead) */
+.pulsing-dot {{ display: inline-block; border-radius: 50%; flex-shrink: 0; }}
+/* Running: green (#a6e3a1) → surface2 (#585b70) in 6 steps */
+.dot-running.dot-s0 {{ background: #a6e3a1; box-shadow: 0 0 6px #a6e3a1; }}
+.dot-running.dot-s1 {{ background: #8ec094; box-shadow: 0 0 3px #8ec094; }}
+.dot-running.dot-s2 {{ background: #769d87; box-shadow: none; }}
+.dot-running.dot-s3 {{ background: #6a8a7c; box-shadow: none; }}
+.dot-running.dot-s4 {{ background: #769d87; box-shadow: none; }}
+.dot-running.dot-s5 {{ background: #8ec094; box-shadow: 0 0 3px #8ec094; }}
+/* Stalled: peach (#fab387) → surface2 in 6 steps */
+.dot-stalled.dot-s0 {{ background: #fab387; box-shadow: 0 0 4px #fab387; }}
+.dot-stalled.dot-s1 {{ background: #d9a07c; box-shadow: none; }}
+.dot-stalled.dot-s2 {{ background: #b88d71; box-shadow: none; }}
+.dot-stalled.dot-s3 {{ background: #a88068; box-shadow: none; }}
+.dot-stalled.dot-s4 {{ background: #b88d71; box-shadow: none; }}
+.dot-stalled.dot-s5 {{ background: #d9a07c; box-shadow: none; }}
 .status-dot.error {{
     background: var(--ctp-red);
 }}