diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy-staging-live.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy-staging-live.yml
index d90f8f3..74ebfe2 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy-staging-live.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy-staging-live.yml
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ jobs:
 
           git log -1 --oneline
 
-      - name: Gate — decide HOTPATCH vs FULL rebuild
+      - name: Gate — decide SKIP vs HOTPATCH vs FULL rebuild
         env:
           INPUT_FORCE: ${{ inputs.force }}
         run: |
@@ -109,24 +109,49 @@ jobs:
           echo "== changed files =="
           echo "$CHANGED" | sed -n '1,260p'
 
+          # 0) Forçage manuel
           if [[ "$FORCE" == "1" ]]; then
-            echo "GO=1"   >> /tmp/deploy.env
+            echo "GO=1" >> /tmp/deploy.env
             echo "MODE='full'" >> /tmp/deploy.env
             echo "✅ force=1 -> MODE=full (rebuild+restart)"
             exit 0
           fi
 
-          # Auto mode: uniquement annotations/media => hotpatch only
+          # 1) Détection des classes de changements
+          HAS_FULL=0
+          HAS_HOTPATCH=0
+
+          # FULL si build-impacting (zéro surprise)
+          if echo "$CHANGED" | grep -qE '^(src/content/|src/anchors/|src/pages/|scripts/)'; then
+            HAS_FULL=1
+          fi
+
+          # HOTPATCH si annotations/media
           if echo "$CHANGED" | grep -qE '^(src/annotations/|public/media/)'; then
+            HAS_HOTPATCH=1
+          fi
+
+          echo "Gate flags: HAS_FULL=$HAS_FULL HAS_HOTPATCH=$HAS_HOTPATCH"
+
+          # 2) Décision (priorité au FULL)
+          if [[ "$HAS_FULL" == "1" ]]; then
+            echo "GO=1" >> /tmp/deploy.env
+            echo "MODE='full'" >> /tmp/deploy.env
+            echo "✅ build-impacting change -> MODE=full (rebuild+restart)"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          if [[ "$HAS_HOTPATCH" == "1" ]]; then
             echo "GO=1" >> /tmp/deploy.env
             echo "MODE='hotpatch'" >> /tmp/deploy.env
             echo "✅ annotations/media change -> MODE=hotpatch"
-          else
-            echo "GO=0" >> /tmp/deploy.env
-            echo "MODE='skip'" >> /tmp/deploy.env
-            echo "ℹ️ no annotations/media change -> skip deploy"
+            exit 0
           fi
 
+          echo "GO=0" >> /tmp/deploy.env
+          echo "MODE='skip'" >> /tmp/deploy.env
+          echo "ℹ️ no deploy-relevant change -> skip deploy"
+
       - name: Toolchain sanity + resolve COMPOSE_PROJECT_NAME
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail