diff --git a/src/app/(app)/projects/[projectId]/deliverables/[deliverableId]/page.tsx b/src/app/(app)/projects/[projectId]/deliverables/[deliverableId]/page.tsx
index bf4896a..6b71a74 100644
--- a/src/app/(app)/projects/[projectId]/deliverables/[deliverableId]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(app)/projects/[projectId]/deliverables/[deliverableId]/page.tsx
@@ -351,7 +351,34 @@ export default function DeliverableDetailPage() {
         </h2>
         <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
           {stages.map((stage: any) => {
-            const available = TRANSITIONS[stage.status] ?? [];
+            // Per-stage approval type drives both the inline transition
+            // set AND whether the StageReviewPanel below the row owns
+            // the action buttons. NONE = open/close only (Start Work,
+            // Mark Complete, Reopen — nothing else). SIMPLE/FORMAL hand
+            // off to the review panel.
+            const stageApprovalType =
+              stage.stageDefinition?.approvalType ??
+              stage.template?.approvalType ??
+              "NONE";
+            const isNoneApproval = stageApprovalType === "NONE";
+
+            // For NONE stages, override the transition set with a minimal
+            // open/close shape so producers never see Submit-for-Review,
+            // Approve, Request-Changes, Mark-Delivered on a non-review row.
+            const NONE_TRANSITIONS: Record<string, string[]> = {
+              BLOCKED: [],
+              NOT_STARTED: ["IN_PROGRESS"],
+              IN_PROGRESS: ["APPROVED"],
+              IN_REVIEW: ["APPROVED"],
+              CHANGES_REQUESTED: ["IN_PROGRESS"],
+              APPROVED: ["IN_PROGRESS"],
+              DELIVERED: ["IN_PROGRESS"],
+              SKIPPED: ["NOT_STARTED"],
+            };
+            const available = isNoneApproval
+              ? NONE_TRANSITIONS[stage.status] ?? []
+              : TRANSITIONS[stage.status] ?? [];
+
             const assignments = stage.assignments ?? [];
             const isGate = stage.stageDefinition?.isCriticalGate ?? stage.template.isCriticalGate;
             const isOptional = stage.stageDefinition?.isOptional ?? stage.template.isOptional;
@@ -474,9 +501,15 @@ export default function DeliverableDetailPage() {
                                 stage.status === "DELIVERED")) ||
                             (nextStatus === "NOT_STARTED" &&
                               stage.status === "SKIPPED");
+                          // NONE-approval stages don't have the review
+                          // concept — relabel APPROVED to "Mark Complete"
+                          // so the affordance reads as a workflow close,
+                          // not a review approval.
                           const label = isReopen
                             ? "Reopen"
-                            : (TRANSITION_LABELS[nextStatus] ?? nextStatus);
+                            : isNoneApproval && nextStatus === "APPROVED"
+                              ? "Mark Complete"
+                              : (TRANSITION_LABELS[nextStatus] ?? nextStatus);
 
                           return (
                             <Button
diff --git a/src/lib/pipeline/dependency-engine.ts b/src/lib/pipeline/dependency-engine.ts
index 95daaec..cd2394f 100644
--- a/src/lib/pipeline/dependency-engine.ts
+++ b/src/lib/pipeline/dependency-engine.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import type { StageStatus } from "@/generated/prisma/client";
 interface StageWithDeps {
   id: string;
   status: StageStatus;
+  /** Pipeline order — used as a fallback when no explicit deps exist. */
+  order: number;
   template: {
     id: string;
     slug: string;
@@ -10,60 +12,98 @@ interface StageWithDeps {
     isOptional: boolean;
     dependsOn: { prerequisiteId: string }[];
   };
+  /**
+   * Dynamic pipeline edges (PipelineStageDependencyV2). When present these
+   * take precedence over `template.dependsOn` — that's the legacy seed
+   * graph and is almost always empty for dynamic pipelines.
+   */
+  stageDefinition?: {
+    id: string;
+    dependsOn: { prerequisiteId: string }[];
+  } | null;
+}
+
+const TERMINAL = new Set<StageStatus>(["APPROVED", "DELIVERED", "SKIPPED"]);
+
+/**
+ * Returns the IDs of stages that this stage depends on. Resolves against
+ * three sources in priority order:
+ *   1. stageDefinition.dependsOn (dynamic V2 edges, by stageDefinitionId)
+ *   2. template.dependsOn        (legacy template-level seed graph)
+ *   3. order fallback            (immediately previous-order stage)
+ *
+ * Returns the matching DeliverableStage IDs from `allStages` (not the
+ * prerequisite-table IDs) so callers can look up status directly.
+ */
+function resolvePrerequisiteStageIds(
+  stage: StageWithDeps,
+  allStages: StageWithDeps[]
+): string[] {
+  const defDeps = stage.stageDefinition?.dependsOn ?? [];
+  if (defDeps.length > 0) {
+    const prereqDefIds = defDeps.map((d) => d.prerequisiteId);
+    return allStages
+      .filter(
+        (s) => s.stageDefinition && prereqDefIds.includes(s.stageDefinition.id)
+      )
+      .map((s) => s.id);
+  }
+
+  const tmplDeps = stage.template.dependsOn ?? [];
+  if (tmplDeps.length > 0) {
+    const prereqTmplIds = tmplDeps.map((d) => d.prerequisiteId);
+    return allStages
+      .filter((s) => prereqTmplIds.includes(s.template.id))
+      .map((s) => s.id);
+  }
+
+  // Order-based fallback: depend on the stage with the immediately
+  // previous order on this deliverable. Producers building dynamic
+  // pipelines without drawing explicit forward arrows still get a
+  // sensible left-to-right cascade.
+  const ordered = [...allStages].sort((a, b) => a.order - b.order);
+  const idx = ordered.findIndex((s) => s.id === stage.id);
+  if (idx <= 0) return [];
+  return [ordered[idx - 1].id];
 }
 
 /**
- * Check if a stage can transition to IN_PROGRESS.
- * All prerequisite stages must be complete (APPROVED, DELIVERED, or SKIPPED).
- * Reopening from terminal states (APPROVED, DELIVERED, SKIPPED) is allowed
- * since the stage already passed its dependencies previously.
+ * Check if a stage can transition to IN_PROGRESS — all prerequisite
+ * stages must be in a terminal state. Reopening from terminal states
+ * is always allowed (the prereqs were already satisfied when we got
+ * there the first time).
  */
 export function canStageStart(
   stage: StageWithDeps,
   allStages: StageWithDeps[]
 ): { allowed: boolean; reason?: string } {
-  // Allow reopening from terminal states — dependencies were already satisfied
-  const reopenable = ["APPROVED", "DELIVERED", "SKIPPED"];
-  if (reopenable.includes(stage.status)) {
-    return { allowed: true };
-  }
+  if (TERMINAL.has(stage.status)) return { allowed: true };
 
   if (stage.status !== "BLOCKED" && stage.status !== "NOT_STARTED") {
     return { allowed: false, reason: `Stage is currently ${stage.status}` };
   }
 
-  const prerequisiteTemplateIds = stage.template.dependsOn.map(
-    (d) => d.prerequisiteId
-  );
-
-  for (const prereqTemplateId of prerequisiteTemplateIds) {
-    const prereqStage = allStages.find(
-      (s) => s.template.id === prereqTemplateId
-    );
-
-    if (!prereqStage) {
+  const prereqIds = resolvePrerequisiteStageIds(stage, allStages);
+  for (const prereqId of prereqIds) {
+    const prereq = allStages.find((s) => s.id === prereqId);
+    if (!prereq) {
       return { allowed: false, reason: "Missing prerequisite stage" };
     }
-
-    const isComplete =
-      prereqStage.status === "APPROVED" ||
-      prereqStage.status === "DELIVERED" ||
-      prereqStage.status === "SKIPPED";
-
-    if (!isComplete) {
+    if (!TERMINAL.has(prereq.status)) {
       return {
         allowed: false,
-        reason: `Prerequisite "${prereqStage.template.slug}" is not yet complete`,
+        reason: `Prerequisite "${prereq.template.slug}" is not yet complete`,
       };
     }
   }
-
   return { allowed: true };
 }
 
 /**
- * Get the list of stage IDs that should be unblocked
- * when a critical gate stage is approved.
+ * After a stage hits a terminal state, return every stage that should
+ * now auto-open. Includes both BLOCKED stages whose prereqs are now
+ * satisfied AND NOT_STARTED stages waiting on the same gate — both
+ * paths flip to IN_PROGRESS so producers don't have to click.
  */
 export function getStageIdsToUnblock(
   approvedStage: StageWithDeps,
@@ -72,33 +112,27 @@ export function getStageIdsToUnblock(
   const unblockIds: string[] = [];
 
   for (const stage of allStages) {
-    if (stage.status !== "BLOCKED") continue;
+    // Active stages stay where they are; only consider those still waiting.
+    if (stage.status !== "BLOCKED" && stage.status !== "NOT_STARTED") {
+      continue;
+    }
 
-    // Check if this stage depends on the just-approved stage
-    const dependsOnApproved = stage.template.dependsOn.some(
-      (d) => d.prerequisiteId === approvedStage.template.id
-    );
+    const prereqIds = resolvePrerequisiteStageIds(stage, allStages);
+    if (prereqIds.length === 0) continue; // No deps → user starts manually.
 
-    if (!dependsOnApproved) continue;
+    // Does this stage depend on the just-approved stage?
+    if (!prereqIds.includes(approvedStage.id)) continue;
 
-    // Check if ALL prerequisites are now met (not just the one we approved)
-    const allPrereqsMet = stage.template.dependsOn.every((dep) => {
-      const prereq = allStages.find((s) => s.template.id === dep.prerequisiteId);
+    // All prereqs satisfied? (Treat the just-approved stage as terminal
+    // even though its DB row hasn't been refreshed in this snapshot.)
+    const allPrereqsMet = prereqIds.every((prereqId) => {
+      if (prereqId === approvedStage.id) return true;
+      const prereq = allStages.find((s) => s.id === prereqId);
       if (!prereq) return false;
-
-      // The just-approved stage counts as approved
-      if (prereq.id === approvedStage.id) return true;
-
-      return (
-        prereq.status === "APPROVED" ||
-        prereq.status === "DELIVERED" ||
-        prereq.status === "SKIPPED"
-      );
+      return TERMINAL.has(prereq.status);
     });
 
-    if (allPrereqsMet) {
-      unblockIds.push(stage.id);
-    }
+    if (allPrereqsMet) unblockIds.push(stage.id);
   }
 
   return unblockIds;
diff --git a/src/lib/services/stage-service.ts b/src/lib/services/stage-service.ts
index 9bedc84..07dc796 100644
--- a/src/lib/services/stage-service.ts
+++ b/src/lib/services/stage-service.ts
@@ -139,12 +139,14 @@ export async function bulkUpdateStageStatuses(
     where: { AND: [{ id: { in: stageIds } }, visibility] },
     include: {
       template: { include: { dependsOn: true } },
+      stageDefinition: { include: { dependsOn: true } },
       deliverable: {
         include: {
           project: { select: { id: true, name: true, organizationId: true } },
           stages: {
             include: {
               template: { include: { dependsOn: true } },
+              stageDefinition: { include: { dependsOn: true } },
             },
           },
         },
@@ -184,6 +186,7 @@ export async function bulkUpdateStageStatuses(
       const allStages = stage.deliverable.stages.map((s) => ({
         id: s.id,
         status: s.status,
+        order: s.stageDefinition?.order ?? s.template.order ?? 0,
         template: {
           id: s.template.id,
           slug: s.template.slug,
@@ -191,6 +194,12 @@ export async function bulkUpdateStageStatuses(
           isOptional: s.template.isOptional,
           dependsOn: s.template.dependsOn,
         },
+        stageDefinition: s.stageDefinition
+          ? {
+              id: s.stageDefinition.id,
+              dependsOn: s.stageDefinition.dependsOn ?? [],
+            }
+          : null,
       }));
       const currentStage = allStages.find((s) => s.id === item.stageId)!;
       const depCheck = canStageStart(currentStage, allStages);
@@ -262,6 +271,7 @@ export async function bulkUpdateStageStatuses(
           const allStages = original.deliverable.stages.map((s) => ({
             id: s.id,
             status: s.id === item.stageId ? matchingInput.newStatus : s.status,
+            order: s.stageDefinition?.order ?? s.template.order ?? 0,
             template: {
               id: s.template.id,
               slug: s.template.slug,
@@ -269,13 +279,21 @@ export async function bulkUpdateStageStatuses(
               isOptional: s.template.isOptional,
               dependsOn: s.template.dependsOn,
             },
+            stageDefinition: s.stageDefinition
+              ? {
+                  id: s.stageDefinition.id,
+                  dependsOn: s.stageDefinition.dependsOn ?? [],
+                }
+              : null,
           }));
           const approvedStage = allStages.find((s) => s.id === item.stageId)!;
           const idsToUnblock = getStageIdsToUnblock(approvedStage, allStages);
           if (idsToUnblock.length > 0) {
+            // Match the singular-update path: auto-advance to IN_PROGRESS
+            // (not NOT_STARTED) so producers don't have to click Start.
             await tx.deliverableStage.updateMany({
               where: { id: { in: idsToUnblock } },
-              data: { status: "NOT_STARTED" },
+              data: { status: "IN_PROGRESS", startDate: new Date() },
             });
           }
         }
@@ -341,21 +359,22 @@ export async function updateStageStatus(
   if (!parentLookup) throw new VisibilityError("Stage not found");
   await assertProjectVisible(parentLookup.deliverable.projectId, ctx);
 
-  // Fetch the stage with its template, dependencies, and sibling stages
+  // Fetch the stage with its template (legacy seed) AND the dynamic
+  // stageDefinition (the V2 graph the user actually draws in the
+  // pipeline editor). The dependency-engine prefers V2 when present,
+  // falls back to template, then to plain pipeline `order`.
   const stage = await prisma.deliverableStage.findUnique({
     where: { id: stageId },
     include: {
-      template: {
-        include: { dependsOn: true },
-      },
+      template: { include: { dependsOn: true } },
+      stageDefinition: { include: { dependsOn: true } },
       deliverable: {
         include: {
           project: { select: { id: true, name: true, organizationId: true } },
           stages: {
             include: {
-              template: {
-                include: { dependsOn: true },
-              },
+              template: { include: { dependsOn: true } },
+              stageDefinition: { include: { dependsOn: true } },
             },
           },
         },
@@ -376,6 +395,7 @@ export async function updateStageStatus(
     const allStages = stage.deliverable.stages.map((s) => ({
       id: s.id,
       status: s.status,
+      order: s.stageDefinition?.order ?? s.template.order ?? 0,
       template: {
         id: s.template.id,
         slug: s.template.slug,
@@ -383,6 +403,12 @@ export async function updateStageStatus(
         isOptional: s.template.isOptional,
         dependsOn: s.template.dependsOn,
       },
+      stageDefinition: s.stageDefinition
+        ? {
+            id: s.stageDefinition.id,
+            dependsOn: s.stageDefinition.dependsOn ?? [],
+          }
+        : null,
     }));
 
     const currentStage = allStages.find((s) => s.id === stageId)!;
@@ -412,6 +438,7 @@ export async function updateStageStatus(
     const allStages = stage.deliverable.stages.map((s) => ({
       id: s.id,
       status: s.id === stageId ? newStatus : s.status,
+      order: s.stageDefinition?.order ?? s.template.order ?? 0,
       template: {
         id: s.template.id,
         slug: s.template.slug,
@@ -419,6 +446,12 @@ export async function updateStageStatus(
         isOptional: s.template.isOptional,
         dependsOn: s.template.dependsOn,
       },
+      stageDefinition: s.stageDefinition
+        ? {
+            id: s.stageDefinition.id,
+            dependsOn: s.stageDefinition.dependsOn ?? [],
+          }
+        : null,
     }));
     const approvedStage = allStages.find((s) => s.id === stageId)!;
     const idsToUnblock = getStageIdsToUnblock(approvedStage, allStages);
@@ -471,6 +504,7 @@ export async function updateStageStatus(
       const allStages = stage.deliverable.stages.map((s) => ({
         id: s.id,
         status: s.id === stageId ? newStatus : s.status,
+        order: s.stageDefinition?.order ?? s.template.order ?? 0,
         template: {
           id: s.template.id,
           slug: s.template.slug,
@@ -478,6 +512,12 @@ export async function updateStageStatus(
           isOptional: s.template.isOptional,
           dependsOn: s.template.dependsOn,
         },
+        stageDefinition: s.stageDefinition
+          ? {
+              id: s.stageDefinition.id,
+              dependsOn: s.stageDefinition.dependsOn ?? [],
+            }
+          : null,
       }));
 
       const approvedStage = allStages.find((s) => s.id === stageId)!;