diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index e8cceae..70b5559 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -94,3 +94,7 @@ KIT_MATTERMOST_HALLWAY=9sp18hgiaiybtj9p5nm8uw3sna
 KIT_IMAGINE_BASE=https://api.x.ai/v1
 KIT_IMAGINE_MODEL=grok-imagine-image-2.0
 KIT_IMAGINE_TIMEOUT=60
+SD_FORGE_URL=http://127.0.0.1:7860
+KIT_FORGE_URL=http://127.0.0.1:7860
+SD_FORGE_TIMEOUT=180
+KIT_FORGE_CHECKPOINT=juggernautXL_v9
diff --git a/app/Factory/VramOccupancy.php b/app/Factory/VramOccupancy.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fce14a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/Factory/VramOccupancy.php
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace App\Factory;
+
+class VramOccupancy
+{
+    /**
+     * Probe occupancy. Stub with config kit.gpu.fake_status in tests.
+     * Never stops Forge. No beforeCut.
+     *
+     * @return array{gpu: 'blender'|'forge'|'ollama'|'free'}
+     */
+    public function status(): array
+    {
+        $fake = config('kit.gpu.fake_status');
+        if (is_string($fake) && $fake !== '') {
+            return ['gpu' => $this->normalize($fake)];
+        }
+
+        if ($this->blenderRunning()) {
+            return ['gpu' => 'blender'];
+        }
+
+        if ($this->forgeListening()) {
+            return ['gpu' => 'forge'];
+        }
+
+        return ['gpu' => 'free'];
+    }
+
+    private function normalize(string $raw): string
+    {
+        $gpu = strtolower(trim($raw));
+
+        return in_array($gpu, ['blender', 'forge', 'ollama', 'free'], true) ? $gpu : 'free';
+    }
+
+    private function blenderRunning(): bool
+    {
+        exec('pgrep -x blender', $out, $code);
+
+        return $code === 0;
+    }
+
+    private function forgeListening(): bool
+    {
+        $url = (string) config('kit.forge.url', 'http://127.0.0.1:7860');
+        $host = (string) (parse_url($url, PHP_URL_HOST) ?: '127.0.0.1');
+        $port = (int) (parse_url($url, PHP_URL_PORT) ?: 7860);
+        $fp = @fsockopen($host, $port, $errno, $errstr, 0.15);
+        if (! is_resource($fp)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        fclose($fp);
+
+        return true;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/app/Imaging/ForgeClient.php b/app/Imaging/ForgeClient.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f408e3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/Imaging/ForgeClient.php
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace App\Imaging;
+
+use Illuminate\Http\Client\ConnectionException;
+use Illuminate\Http\Client\PendingRequest;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Http;
+use RuntimeException;
+use Throwable;
+
+class ForgeClient
+{
+    public const CHECKPOINT = 'juggernautXL_v9';
+
+    public const DENOISE_FACE = 0.2;
+
+    public const DENOISE_STYLE = 0.35;
+
+    public const DOWN = 'forge down (7860). Use backend=imagine.';
+
+    public function txt2img(string $prompt, string $aspect, string $negative = ''): string
+    {
+        return $this->post('/sdapi/v1/txt2img', $this->payload($prompt, $aspect, $negative));
+    }
+
+    public function img2img(string $prompt, string $initBytes, string $aspect, float $denoise, string $negative = ''): string
+    {
+        if ($initBytes === '') {
+            throw new RuntimeException('img2img needs an init image');
+        }
+
+        return $this->post('/sdapi/v1/img2img', [
+            ...$this->payload($prompt, $aspect, $negative),
+            'init_images' => [base64_encode($initBytes)],
+            'denoising_strength' => $denoise,
+        ]);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return list<array<string, mixed>>
+     */
+    public function listModels(): array
+    {
+        try {
+            $response = $this->http()->get($this->url('/sdapi/v1/sd-models'));
+            $json = $response->json();
+
+            return is_array($json) ? $json : [];
+        } catch (Throwable) {
+            return [];
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return array{width: int, height: int}
+     */
+    public function size(string $aspect): array
+    {
+        return match ($aspect) {
+            '16:9' => ['width' => 1344, 'height' => 768],
+            default => ['width' => 768, 'height' => 1024],
+        };
+    }
+
+    public function denoiseFor(string $path): float
+    {
+        return str_contains(strtolower(basename($path)), 'sheet')
+            ? self::DENOISE_FACE
+            : self::DENOISE_STYLE;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param  array<string, mixed>  $body
+     */
+    private function post(string $path, array $body): string
+    {
+        try {
+            $response = $this->http()->post($this->url($path), $body);
+        } catch (ConnectionException $e) {
+            throw new RuntimeException(self::DOWN, 0, $e);
+        }
+
+        if (! $response->successful()) {
+            throw new RuntimeException('forge '.$path.' '.$response->status());
+        }
+
+        $b64 = $response->json('images.0');
+        if (! is_string($b64) || $b64 === '') {
+            throw new RuntimeException('forge returned no images');
+        }
+
+        $bytes = base64_decode($b64, true);
+        if ($bytes === false || $bytes === '') {
+            throw new RuntimeException('forge b64 decode failed');
+        }
+
+        return $bytes;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return array<string, mixed>
+     */
+    private function payload(string $prompt, string $aspect, string $negative): array
+    {
+        $size = $this->size($aspect);
+
+        return [
+            'prompt' => $prompt,
+            'negative_prompt' => $negative,
+            'width' => $size['width'],
+            'height' => $size['height'],
+            'steps' => 28,
+            'cfg_scale' => 5.5,
+            'sampler_name' => 'DPM++ 2M Karras',
+            'seed' => -1,
+            'do_not_save_samples' => true,
+            'do_not_save_grid' => true,
+            'override_settings_restore_afterwards' => false,
+            'override_settings' => [
+                'sd_model_checkpoint' => self::CHECKPOINT,
+            ],
+        ];
+    }
+
+    private function http(): PendingRequest
+    {
+        $timeout = (int) config('kit.forge.timeout', 180);
+
+        return Http::timeout($timeout)->connectTimeout(5)->acceptJson()->asJson();
+    }
+
+    private function url(string $path): string
+    {
+        return rtrim((string) config('kit.forge.url', 'http://127.0.0.1:7860'), '/').$path;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/app/Tools/ImagineStill.php b/app/Tools/ImagineStill.php
index d3b8338..018d1ff 100644
--- a/app/Tools/ImagineStill.php
+++ b/app/Tools/ImagineStill.php
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 namespace App\Tools;
 
 use App\Factory\Board;
+use App\Factory\VramOccupancy;
+use App\Imaging\ForgeClient;
 use App\Imaging\ImagineClient;
 use App\Imaging\RefStore;
 use Illuminate\Contracts\JsonSchema\JsonSchema;
@@ -17,7 +19,7 @@ public function description(): Stringable|string
     {
         return 'Edit a rider factory still onto bikes-v2 disk (_wip only). '
             .'v1: catalog_id=rider, view=front|side|back|ride. '
-            .'Reference-first Imagine edit (Jordan photos). No VRAM. '
+            .'Default backend=imagine (Jordan photos, no VRAM). backend=forge is optional I4 (JuggernautXL_v9). '
             .'Does not cut a GLB, HTTP Lexi, touch board id=rider, or overwrite sheet/hero. '
             .'One stills call per turn. Do not pair with BlenderRun, LookCompare, or AskLexi.';
     }
@@ -29,12 +31,12 @@ public function schema(JsonSchema $schema): array
             'view' => $schema->string()->description('front|side|back|ride')->required(),
             'issue' => $schema->integer()->description('bikes-v2 SKU issue (12 for rider). Tool ticket is kit#5.')->required(),
             'prompt' => $schema->string()->description('Camera/lighting only. Body lock is injected.'),
-            'backend' => $schema->string()->description('imagine only in I2. forge is I4.'),
+            'backend' => $schema->string()->description('imagine (default) | forge. forge uses localhost:7860 JuggernautXL_v9.'),
             'mode' => $schema->string()->description('edit (default) | gen. gen on rider requires force_fresh.'),
             'ref_paths' => $schema->array()->description('Optional extra filenames under tools/models/rider/refs/. Max 3 with the canonical.'),
             'replace_canonical' => $schema->boolean()->description('v1 ignored / refuse. Always write _wip/.'),
-            'model' => $schema->string()->description('grok-imagine-image-2.0 (default) | grok-imagine-image | grok-imagine-image-quality.'),
-            'resolution' => $schema->string()->description('1k (default) | 2k. Lowercase tokens only.'),
+            'model' => $schema->string()->description('imagine: grok-imagine-image-2.0 (default). forge: always juggernautXL_v9.'),
+            'resolution' => $schema->string()->description('1k (default) | 2k. Lowercase tokens only. imagine only.'),
             'aspect_ratio' => $schema->string()->description('Override. Default 3:4 portraits / 16:9 ride.'),
             'force_fresh' => $schema->boolean()->description('Allow /generations on rider. Default false. Refuse unless true.'),
         ];
@@ -73,8 +75,11 @@ private function run(Request $request): string
         }
 
         $backend = strtolower(trim((string) ($request['backend'] ?? 'imagine')));
-        if ($backend !== '' && $backend !== 'imagine') {
-            return 'I2 backend=imagine only (forge is I4)';
+        if ($backend === '') {
+            $backend = 'imagine';
+        }
+        if (! in_array($backend, ['imagine', 'forge'], true)) {
+            return 'backend must be imagine or forge';
         }
 
         $mode = strtolower(trim((string) ($request['mode'] ?? 'edit')));
@@ -86,9 +91,18 @@ private function run(Request $request): string
             $mode = 'edit';
         }
 
-        $client = app(ImagineClient::class);
-        $model = trim((string) ($request['model'] ?? '')) ?: (string) config('kit.imagine.default_model', 'grok-imagine-image-2.0');
-        $resolution = $client->resolution((string) ($request['resolution'] ?? '1k'));
+        if ($backend === 'forge') {
+            $gpu = app(VramOccupancy::class)->status()['gpu'] ?? 'free';
+            if ($gpu === 'blender') {
+                return 'blender in flight — retry forge stills after the cut (no HTTP)';
+            }
+        }
+
+        $imagine = app(ImagineClient::class);
+        $model = $backend === 'forge'
+            ? ForgeClient::CHECKPOINT
+            : (trim((string) ($request['model'] ?? '')) ?: (string) config('kit.imagine.default_model', 'grok-imagine-image-2.0'));
+        $resolution = $imagine->resolution((string) ($request['resolution'] ?? '1k'));
         $aspect = trim((string) ($request['aspect_ratio'] ?? '')) ?: $map['aspect'];
         $camera = trim((string) ($request['prompt'] ?? ''));
         $extras = $this->names($request['ref_paths'] ?? []);
@@ -96,12 +110,14 @@ private function run(Request $request): string
         $prompt = $this->lockPrompt($view, count($paths), $camera);
         $before = $store->protectHashes();
 
-        $bytes = $mode === 'gen'
-            ? $client->generate($prompt, $aspect, $resolution, $model)
-            : $client->edit($prompt, $paths, $aspect, $resolution, $model);
+        $bytes = $backend === 'forge'
+            ? $this->forgeBytes($mode, $prompt, $aspect, $paths)
+            : ($mode === 'gen'
+                ? $imagine->generate($prompt, $aspect, $resolution, $model)
+                : $imagine->edit($prompt, $paths, $aspect, $resolution, $model));
 
         $written = $store->writeWip($view, $bytes, [
-            'backend' => 'imagine',
+            'backend' => $backend,
             'model' => $model,
             'issue' => $issue,
             'refs_used' => array_map('basename', $paths),
@@ -124,13 +140,28 @@ private function run(Request $request): string
             'path' => $written['path'],
             'sha256' => $written['sha256'],
             'bytes' => $written['bytes'],
-            'backend' => 'imagine',
+            'backend' => $backend,
             'model' => $model,
             'issue' => $issue,
             'refs_used' => array_map('basename', $paths),
         ], JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES) ?: 'wrote still';
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @param  list<string>  $paths
+     */
+    private function forgeBytes(string $mode, string $prompt, string $aspect, array $paths): string
+    {
+        $client = app(ForgeClient::class);
+        if ($mode === 'gen') {
+            return $client->txt2img($prompt, $aspect);
+        }
+
+        $init = (string) file_get_contents($paths[0]);
+
+        return $client->img2img($prompt, $init, $aspect, $client->denoiseFor($paths[0]));
+    }
+
     private function lockPrompt(string $view, int $n, string $camera): string
     {
         $lock = "Same man, 6'4 320, flip-flops, bare feet, shorts, tee, no socks, no helmet. "
diff --git a/config/kit.php b/config/kit.php
index 43e42bf..5f3e73a 100644
--- a/config/kit.php
+++ b/config/kit.php
@@ -24,6 +24,16 @@
         'timeout' => (int) env('KIT_IMAGINE_TIMEOUT', 60),
     ],
 
+    'forge' => [
+        'url' => env('SD_FORGE_URL', env('KIT_FORGE_URL', 'http://127.0.0.1:7860')),
+        'timeout' => (int) env('SD_FORGE_TIMEOUT', 180),
+        'checkpoint' => env('KIT_FORGE_CHECKPOINT', 'juggernautXL_v9'),
+    ],
+
+    'gpu' => [
+        'fake_status' => env('KIT_GPU_FAKE_STATUS'),
+    ],
+
     'mattermost' => [
         'url' => env('KIT_MATTERMOST_URL', 'http://100.68.122.24:8065'),
         'token' => env('KIT_MATTERMOST_TOKEN', ''),
diff --git a/phpunit.xml b/phpunit.xml
index 58cd924..a195870 100644
--- a/phpunit.xml
+++ b/phpunit.xml
@@ -34,5 +34,7 @@
         <env name="NIGHTWATCH_ENABLED" value="false"/>
         <env name="APP_KEY" value="base64:AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA="/>
         <env name="KIT_CATALOG_PATH" value="tests/fixtures/catalog.json"/>
+        <env name="KIT_GPU_POLICY" value="ignore"/>
+        <env name="KIT_GPU_FAKE_STATUS" value="free"/>
     </php>
 </phpunit>
diff --git a/tests/Feature/ForgeClientTest.php b/tests/Feature/ForgeClientTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..071df8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Feature/ForgeClientTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+<?php
+
+use App\Imaging\ForgeClient;
+use Illuminate\Http\Client\ConnectionException;
+use Illuminate\Http\Client\Request;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Http;
+
+beforeEach(function () {
+    config([
+        'kit.forge.url' => 'http://127.0.0.1:7860',
+        'kit.forge.timeout' => 180,
+        'kit.gpu.fake_status' => 'free',
+    ]);
+});
+
+test('txt2img decodes images0 and never sends another checkpoint', function () {
+    Http::fake([
+        'http://127.0.0.1:7860/sdapi/v1/txt2img' => function (Request $request) {
+            $body = $request->data();
+            expect($body['do_not_save_samples'])->toBeTrue()
+                ->and($body['do_not_save_grid'])->toBeTrue()
+                ->and($body['override_settings_restore_afterwards'])->toBeFalse()
+                ->and($body['override_settings']['sd_model_checkpoint'])->toBe('juggernautXL_v9')
+                ->and($body['override_settings'])->toHaveCount(1)
+                ->and($body['width'])->toBe(1344)
+                ->and($body['height'])->toBe(768)
+                ->and($body['steps'])->toBe(28)
+                ->and($body['cfg_scale'])->toBe(5.5)
+                ->and($body['sampler_name'])->toBe('DPM++ 2M Karras');
+
+            return Http::response([
+                'images' => [base64_encode('PNGBYTES')],
+            ], 200);
+        },
+    ]);
+
+    $bytes = app(ForgeClient::class)->txt2img('a rider', '16:9');
+
+    expect($bytes)->toBe('PNGBYTES');
+});
+
+test('img2img face sheet uses denoise 0.2', function () {
+    Http::fake([
+        'http://127.0.0.1:7860/sdapi/v1/img2img' => function (Request $request) {
+            expect($request->data()['denoising_strength'])->toBe(0.2);
+
+            return Http::response([
+                'images' => [base64_encode('FACE')],
+            ], 200);
+        },
+    ]);
+
+    $client = app(ForgeClient::class);
+    $denoise = $client->denoiseFor('/tmp/jordan-sheet.png');
+    $bytes = $client->img2img('same face', 'init', '3:4', $denoise);
+
+    expect($denoise)->toBe(0.2)->and($bytes)->toBe('FACE');
+});
+
+test('connection refused is the forge-down string', function () {
+    Http::fake(function () {
+        throw new ConnectionException('Connection refused');
+    });
+
+    expect(fn () => app(ForgeClient::class)->txt2img('x', '3:4'))
+        ->toThrow(RuntimeException::class, ForgeClient::DOWN);
+});
+
+test('listModels returns empty on failure', function () {
+    Http::fake(function () {
+        throw new ConnectionException('down');
+    });
+
+    expect(app(ForgeClient::class)->listModels())->toBe([]);
+});
diff --git a/tests/Feature/ImagineStillTest.php b/tests/Feature/ImagineStillTest.php
index 9103e1d..f39fdf1 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/ImagineStillTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/ImagineStillTest.php
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 use App\Factory\Board;
 use App\Tools\AskLexi;
 use App\Tools\ImagineStill;
+use Illuminate\Http\Client\ConnectionException;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Http;
 use Laravel\Ai\Tools\Request;
 
@@ -45,6 +46,8 @@ function kitRiderTree(): string
         'kit.board_path' => storage_path('framework/testing/board-'.uniqid('', true).'.json'),
         'ai.providers.xai.key' => 'test-xai',
         'kit.imagine.base' => 'https://api.x.ai/v1',
+        'kit.forge.url' => 'http://127.0.0.1:7860',
+        'kit.gpu.fake_status' => 'free',
     ]);
     app(Board::class)->upsert('rider', [
         'state' => 'm1',
@@ -131,3 +134,80 @@ function kitRiderTree(): string
     $rider = collect($board['items'])->firstWhere('id', 'rider');
     expect($rider['note'])->toContain('do not reopen clothes');
 });
+
+test('forge up img2img writes wip with juggernaut payload', function () {
+    config(['kit.gpu.fake_status' => 'forge']);
+
+    Http::fake([
+        'http://127.0.0.1:7860/*' => function (Illuminate\Http\Client\Request $request) {
+            expect($request->url())->toEndWith('/sdapi/v1/img2img');
+            $body = $request->data();
+            expect($body['do_not_save_samples'])->toBeTrue()
+                ->and($body['do_not_save_grid'])->toBeTrue()
+                ->and($body['override_settings_restore_afterwards'])->toBeFalse()
+                ->and($body['override_settings']['sd_model_checkpoint'])->toBe('juggernautXL_v9')
+                ->and($body['override_settings'])->toHaveCount(1)
+                ->and($body['denoising_strength'])->toBe(0.35)
+                ->and($body['width'])->toBe(768)
+                ->and($body['height'])->toBe(1024)
+                ->and($body['steps'])->toBe(28)
+                ->and($body['cfg_scale'])->toBe(5.5)
+                ->and($body['sampler_name'])->toBe('DPM++ 2M Karras');
+
+            return Http::response([
+                'images' => [base64_encode(kitTinyJpeg())],
+            ], 200);
+        },
+        'https://api.x.ai/v1/*' => Http::response(['nope' => true], 500),
+    ]);
+
+    $out = (string) (new ImagineStill)->handle(new Request([
+        'catalog_id' => 'rider',
+        'view' => 'front',
+        'issue' => 12,
+        'backend' => 'forge',
+    ]));
+
+    expect($out)->toContain('_wip/')
+        ->and($out)->toContain('"backend":"forge"')
+        ->and($out)->toContain('juggernautXL_v9');
+
+    $wip = $this->bikes.'/tools/models/rider/refs/_wip';
+    expect(glob($wip.'/*.jpg'))->not->toBeEmpty();
+    $sidecars = glob($wip.'/*.kit.json');
+    expect($sidecars)->not->toBeEmpty();
+    $meta = json_decode((string) file_get_contents($sidecars[0]), true);
+    expect($meta['backend'])->toBe('forge')
+        ->and($meta['model'])->toBe('juggernautXL_v9');
+});
+
+test('blender busy refuses forge without HTTP', function () {
+    config(['kit.gpu.fake_status' => 'blender']);
+    Http::fake();
+
+    $out = (string) (new ImagineStill)->handle(new Request([
+        'catalog_id' => 'rider',
+        'view' => 'front',
+        'issue' => 12,
+        'backend' => 'forge',
+    ]));
+
+    expect($out)->toBe('blender in flight — retry forge stills after the cut (no HTTP)');
+    Http::assertNothingSent();
+});
+
+test('forge down surfaces 7860 string', function () {
+    config(['kit.gpu.fake_status' => 'free']);
+    Http::fake(function () {
+        throw new ConnectionException('Connection refused');
+    });
+
+    $out = (string) (new ImagineStill)->handle(new Request([
+        'catalog_id' => 'rider',
+        'view' => 'front',
+        'issue' => 12,
+        'backend' => 'forge',
+    ]));
+
+    expect($out)->toContain('forge down (7860)');
+});
diff --git a/tests/Feature/VramOccupancyTest.php b/tests/Feature/VramOccupancyTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e78ec88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Feature/VramOccupancyTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+<?php
+
+use App\Factory\VramOccupancy;
+
+test('fake_status is stubbable without live blender or forge', function (string $gpu) {
+    config(['kit.gpu.fake_status' => $gpu]);
+
+    expect(app(VramOccupancy::class)->status())->toBe(['gpu' => $gpu]);
+})->with(['blender', 'forge', 'ollama', 'free']);
+
+test('unknown fake_status falls back to free', function () {
+    config(['kit.gpu.fake_status' => 'trellis']);
+
+    expect(app(VramOccupancy::class)->status())->toBe(['gpu' => 'free']);
+});
+
+test('class has status and no beforeCut', function () {
+    $methods = get_class_methods(VramOccupancy::class);
+
+    expect($methods)->toContain('status');
+    expect($methods)->not->toContain('beforeCut');
+});