diff --git a/server/src/agent_mode/loop_ops.rs b/server/src/agent_mode/loop_ops.rs
index b7595072..6e18e005 100644
--- a/server/src/agent_mode/loop_ops.rs
+++ b/server/src/agent_mode/loop_ops.rs
@@ -52,7 +52,16 @@ pub(super) async fn scan_and_claim(
         }
 
         // Skip blocked stories (story 945: `Stage::Blocked` is the source of truth).
-        if item.stage().is_blocked() {
+        if matches!(
+            item.stage(),
+            crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Blocked { .. }
+                | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
+                | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+                | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Archived {
+                    reason: crate::pipeline_state::ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
+                    ..
+                }
+        ) {
             continue;
         }
 
diff --git a/server/src/agents/lifecycle.rs b/server/src/agents/lifecycle.rs
index ca054704..93a08a49 100644
--- a/server/src/agents/lifecycle.rs
+++ b/server/src/agents/lifecycle.rs
@@ -679,7 +679,19 @@ mod tests {
             "blocked",
             "should be in blocked after transition_to_blocked"
         );
-        assert!(item.stage.is_blocked(), "is_blocked() should return true");
+        assert!(
+            matches!(
+                item.stage,
+                Stage::Blocked { .. }
+                    | Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
+                    | Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+                    | Stage::Archived {
+                        reason: ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
+                        ..
+                    }
+            ),
+            "stage should be a blocked variant"
+        );
         assert!(
             matches!(item.stage, Stage::Blocked { .. }),
             "stage should be Stage::Blocked variant"
diff --git a/server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/story_checks.rs b/server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/story_checks.rs
index 0b912b74..ed57afd8 100644
--- a/server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/story_checks.rs
+++ b/server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/story_checks.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ pub(super) fn read_story_front_matter_agent(story_id: &str) -> Option<String> {
 /// `tool_approve_qa`).
 pub(super) fn has_review_hold(story_id: &str) -> bool {
     crate::crdt_state::read_item(story_id)
-        .map(|w| w.stage().is_review_hold())
+        .map(|w| matches!(w.stage(), crate::pipeline_state::Stage::ReviewHold { .. }))
         .unwrap_or(false)
 }
 
@@ -35,7 +35,18 @@ pub(super) fn is_story_blocked(story_id: &str) -> bool {
     crate::pipeline_state::read_typed(story_id)
         .ok()
         .flatten()
-        .map(|item| item.stage.is_blocked())
+        .map(|item| {
+            matches!(
+                item.stage,
+                crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Blocked { .. }
+                    | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
+                    | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+                    | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Archived {
+                        reason: crate::pipeline_state::ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
+                        ..
+                    }
+            )
+        })
         .unwrap_or(false)
 }
 
@@ -70,7 +81,12 @@ pub(super) fn has_content_conflict_failure(story_id: &str) -> bool {
 /// the same story after a failed mergemaster session.
 pub(super) fn has_mergemaster_attempted(story_id: &str) -> bool {
     crate::crdt_state::read_item(story_id)
-        .map(|view| view.stage().is_mergemaster_attempted())
+        .map(|view| {
+            matches!(
+                view.stage(),
+                crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+            )
+        })
         .unwrap_or(false)
 }
 
@@ -95,7 +111,7 @@ pub(super) fn check_archived_dependencies(story_id: &str) -> Vec<u32> {
 /// `resume_to`.
 pub(super) fn is_story_frozen(story_id: &str) -> bool {
     crate::crdt_state::read_item(story_id)
-        .map(|view| view.stage().is_frozen())
+        .map(|view| matches!(view.stage(), crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Frozen { .. }))
         .unwrap_or(false)
 }
 
diff --git a/server/src/chat/commands/freeze.rs b/server/src/chat/commands/freeze.rs
index 0e561a43..02b801be 100644
--- a/server/src/chat/commands/freeze.rs
+++ b/server/src/chat/commands/freeze.rs
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ mod tests {
             .expect("read_typed should succeed")
             .expect("item should be present");
         assert!(
-            item.is_frozen(),
+            matches!(item.stage, crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Frozen { .. }),
             "stage should be Frozen after freeze: {:?}",
             item.stage
         );
diff --git a/server/src/chat/commands/status/render.rs b/server/src/chat/commands/status/render.rs
index 55ea8b77..1800b5a6 100644
--- a/server/src/chat/commands/status/render.rs
+++ b/server/src/chat/commands/status/render.rs
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ fn render_item_line(
         Some(item.name.as_str())
     };
     // Use the typed CRDT stage as the sole source of truth (story 945).
-    let frozen = item.stage.is_frozen();
+    let frozen = matches!(item.stage, Stage::Frozen { .. });
     let base_label = super::story_short_label(story_id, name_opt);
     let display = if frozen {
         format!("\u{2744}\u{FE0F} {base_label}") // ❄️ prefix
@@ -310,7 +310,16 @@ fn render_item_line(
         }
     }
 
-    let blocked = item.stage.is_blocked();
+    let blocked = matches!(
+        item.stage,
+        Stage::Blocked { .. }
+            | Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
+            | Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+            | Stage::Archived {
+                reason: ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
+                ..
+            }
+    );
     // Blocked items with a recovery agent get differentiated indicators.
     if blocked {
         return match agent.map(|a| &a.status) {
diff --git a/server/src/chat/commands/status/tests.rs b/server/src/chat/commands/status/tests.rs
index 285cdbfe..5b7632e6 100644
--- a/server/src/chat/commands/status/tests.rs
+++ b/server/src/chat/commands/status/tests.rs
@@ -362,12 +362,30 @@ fn stage_is_blocked_returns_true_for_archived_blocked() {
             reason: "too many retries".to_string(),
         },
     };
-    assert!(stage.is_blocked());
+    assert!(matches!(
+        stage,
+        Stage::Blocked { .. }
+            | Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
+            | Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+            | Stage::Archived {
+                reason: ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
+                ..
+            }
+    ));
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn stage_is_blocked_returns_false_for_coding() {
-    assert!(!Stage::Coding.is_blocked());
+    assert!(!matches!(
+        Stage::Coding,
+        Stage::Blocked { .. }
+            | Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
+            | Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+            | Stage::Archived {
+                reason: ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
+                ..
+            }
+    ));
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -376,7 +394,16 @@ fn stage_is_blocked_returns_false_for_archived_completed() {
         archived_at: Utc::now(),
         reason: ArchiveReason::Completed,
     };
-    assert!(!stage.is_blocked());
+    assert!(!matches!(
+        stage,
+        Stage::Blocked { .. }
+            | Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
+            | Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+            | Stage::Archived {
+                reason: ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
+                ..
+            }
+    ));
 }
 
 // -- status output shows idle dot for items with no active agent --------
diff --git a/server/src/chat/commands/triage.rs b/server/src/chat/commands/triage.rs
index 903cdb0e..52a6b124 100644
--- a/server/src/chat/commands/triage.rs
+++ b/server/src/chat/commands/triage.rs
@@ -86,7 +86,16 @@ fn build_triage_dump(
     if let Some(ref w) = crdt_item {
         let mut fields: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
         // Story 945: `Stage::Blocked` is the source of truth.
-        if w.stage().is_blocked() {
+        if matches!(
+            w.stage(),
+            crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Blocked { .. }
+                | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
+                | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+                | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Archived {
+                    reason: crate::pipeline_state::ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
+                    ..
+                }
+        ) {
             fields.push("**blocked:** true".to_string());
         }
         if let Some(agent) = w.agent() {
diff --git a/server/src/chat/commands/unblock.rs b/server/src/chat/commands/unblock.rs
index 0ad04796..b8940a4c 100644
--- a/server/src/chat/commands/unblock.rs
+++ b/server/src/chat/commands/unblock.rs
@@ -61,9 +61,18 @@ fn unblock_by_story_id(story_id: &str) -> String {
     // Story 945: `Stage::Blocked` / `Stage::MergeFailure` are the single
     // source of truth — the legacy `blocked` boolean flag is gone.
     let typed_item = crate::pipeline_state::read_typed(story_id).ok().flatten();
-    let typed_blocked = typed_item
-        .as_ref()
-        .is_some_and(|item| item.stage.is_blocked());
+    let typed_blocked = typed_item.as_ref().is_some_and(|item| {
+        matches!(
+            item.stage,
+            crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Blocked { .. }
+                | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
+                | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+                | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Archived {
+                    reason: crate::pipeline_state::ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
+                    ..
+                }
+        )
+    });
     let typed_merge_failure = matches!(
         typed_item.as_ref().map(|i| &i.stage),
         Some(crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailure { .. })
@@ -239,7 +248,16 @@ mod tests {
         // Story 945: `Stage::Blocked` was the source of truth; after unblock
         // the stage must have transitioned out of `Blocked`.
         assert!(
-            !item.stage().is_blocked(),
+            !matches!(
+                item.stage(),
+                crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Blocked { .. }
+                    | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
+                    | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+                    | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Archived {
+                        reason: crate::pipeline_state::ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
+                        ..
+                    }
+            ),
             "stage must no longer be Blocked after unblock"
         );
     }
@@ -307,7 +325,16 @@ mod tests {
         // Story 945: `Stage::Blocked` was the source of truth; after unblock
         // the stage must have transitioned out of `Blocked`.
         assert!(
-            !item.stage().is_blocked(),
+            !matches!(
+                item.stage(),
+                crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Blocked { .. }
+                    | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
+                    | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+                    | crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Archived {
+                        reason: crate::pipeline_state::ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
+                        ..
+                    }
+            ),
             "stage must no longer be Blocked after unblock"
         );
     }
diff --git a/server/src/http/mcp/story_tools/story/freeze.rs b/server/src/http/mcp/story_tools/story/freeze.rs
index db295f06..a7ef5eba 100644
--- a/server/src/http/mcp/story_tools/story/freeze.rs
+++ b/server/src/http/mcp/story_tools/story/freeze.rs
@@ -75,7 +75,10 @@ mod tests {
         let item = crate::pipeline_state::read_typed(story_id)
             .expect("read_typed should succeed")
             .expect("item should be present");
-        assert!(item.is_frozen(), "stage should be frozen after MCP freeze");
+        assert!(
+            matches!(item.stage, crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Frozen { .. }),
+            "stage should be frozen after MCP freeze"
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -106,7 +109,7 @@ mod tests {
             .expect("read_typed should succeed")
             .expect("item should be present");
         assert!(
-            !item.is_frozen(),
+            !matches!(item.stage, crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Frozen { .. }),
             "stage should not be frozen after MCP unfreeze"
         );
     }
diff --git a/server/src/http/workflow/pipeline.rs b/server/src/http/workflow/pipeline.rs
index fe8e2ab9..6a8c1ade 100644
--- a/server/src/http/workflow/pipeline.rs
+++ b/server/src/http/workflow/pipeline.rs
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ pub fn load_pipeline_state(ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<PipelineState, String> {
         // come from typed CRDT registers. merge_failure detail lives on the
         // MergeJob CRDT entry (same as status_tools.rs).
         let view = crate::crdt_state::read_item(sid);
-        let review_hold = if item.stage.is_review_hold() {
+        let review_hold = if matches!(item.stage, Stage::ReviewHold { .. }) {
             Some(true)
         } else {
             None
@@ -137,12 +137,21 @@ pub fn load_pipeline_state(ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<PipelineState, String> {
             } else {
                 None
             },
-            blocked: if item.stage.is_blocked() {
+            blocked: if matches!(
+                item.stage,
+                Stage::Blocked { .. }
+                    | Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
+                    | Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+                    | Stage::Archived {
+                        reason: crate::pipeline_state::ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
+                        ..
+                    }
+            ) {
                 Some(true)
             } else {
                 None
             },
-            frozen: if item.stage.is_frozen() {
+            frozen: if matches!(item.stage, Stage::Frozen { .. }) {
                 Some(true)
             } else {
                 None
@@ -262,12 +271,21 @@ pub fn load_upcoming_stories(_ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<Vec<UpcomingStory>, St
                 } else {
                     None
                 },
-                blocked: if item.stage.is_blocked() {
+                blocked: if matches!(
+                    item.stage,
+                    Stage::Blocked { .. }
+                        | Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
+                        | Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
+                        | Stage::Archived {
+                            reason: crate::pipeline_state::ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
+                            ..
+                        }
+                ) {
                     Some(true)
                 } else {
                     None
                 },
-                frozen: if item.stage.is_frozen() {
+                frozen: if matches!(item.stage, Stage::Frozen { .. }) {
                     Some(true)
                 } else {
                     None
diff --git a/server/src/io/story_metadata/parser.rs b/server/src/io/story_metadata/parser.rs
index e9bffa86..d3ec0b4b 100644
--- a/server/src/io/story_metadata/parser.rs
+++ b/server/src/io/story_metadata/parser.rs
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ pub fn is_story_frozen_in_store(story_id: &str) -> bool {
     crate::pipeline_state::read_typed(story_id)
         .ok()
         .flatten()
-        .map(|item| item.is_frozen())
+        .map(|item| matches!(item.stage, crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Frozen { .. }))
         .unwrap_or(false)
 }
 
diff --git a/server/src/pipeline_state/projection.rs b/server/src/pipeline_state/projection.rs
index 5264d5f8..d5b20dc1 100644
--- a/server/src/pipeline_state/projection.rs
+++ b/server/src/pipeline_state/projection.rs
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ mod tests {
             Some("Frozen Story"),
         );
         let item = PipelineItem::try_from(&view).unwrap();
-        assert!(item.is_frozen());
+        assert!(matches!(item.stage, Stage::Frozen { .. }));
     }
 
     // ── Event bus tests ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/server/src/pipeline_state/tests.rs b/server/src/pipeline_state/tests.rs
index 56e35a7d..956cb359 100644
--- a/server/src/pipeline_state/tests.rs
+++ b/server/src/pipeline_state/tests.rs
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ fn freeze_transitions_to_frozen_variant_with_resume_to() {
 
     let item = read_typed(story_id).unwrap().unwrap();
     assert!(matches!(item.stage, Stage::Coding));
-    assert!(!item.is_frozen());
+    assert!(!matches!(item.stage, Stage::Frozen { .. }));
 
     super::apply::transition_to_frozen(story_id).expect("freeze should succeed");
 
@@ -574,7 +574,10 @@ fn freeze_transitions_to_frozen_variant_with_resume_to() {
         ),
         other => panic!("stage should be Stage::Frozen after freeze; got {other:?}"),
     }
-    assert!(item.is_frozen(), "is_frozen() should be true after freeze");
+    assert!(
+        matches!(item.stage, Stage::Frozen { .. }),
+        "is_frozen() should be true after freeze"
+    );
 
     super::apply::transition_to_unfrozen(story_id).expect("unfreeze should succeed");
 
@@ -585,7 +588,7 @@ fn freeze_transitions_to_frozen_variant_with_resume_to() {
         item.stage
     );
     assert!(
-        !item.is_frozen(),
+        !matches!(item.stage, Stage::Frozen { .. }),
         "is_frozen() should be false after unfreeze"
     );
 }
diff --git a/server/src/pipeline_state/types.rs b/server/src/pipeline_state/types.rs
index a25ab058..b50ea0cb 100644
--- a/server/src/pipeline_state/types.rs
+++ b/server/src/pipeline_state/types.rs
@@ -262,43 +262,6 @@ impl Stage {
         stage_dir_name(self)
     }
 
-    /// Returns true if this is the `Blocked`, `MergeFailure`, or
-    /// `MergeFailureFinal` variant (or the legacy `Archived(Blocked)` for
-    /// backward-compatible reads).
-    pub fn is_blocked(&self) -> bool {
-        matches!(
-            self,
-            Stage::Blocked { .. }
-                | Stage::MergeFailure { .. }
-                | Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. }
-                | Stage::Archived {
-                    reason: ArchiveReason::Blocked { .. },
-                    ..
-                }
-        )
-    }
-
-    /// Returns true if this is the `Frozen` variant.  Story 945: replaces
-    /// the legacy `frozen: true` boolean flag.  The auto-assigner skips
-    /// frozen stories.
-    pub fn is_frozen(&self) -> bool {
-        matches!(self, Stage::Frozen { .. })
-    }
-
-    /// Returns true if this is the `ReviewHold` variant.  Story 945:
-    /// replaces the legacy `review_hold: true` boolean flag.  The
-    /// auto-assigner skips review-held stories.
-    pub fn is_review_hold(&self) -> bool {
-        matches!(self, Stage::ReviewHold { .. })
-    }
-
-    /// Returns true if mergemaster has already been auto-spawned for this
-    /// story (`MergeFailureFinal`).  Story 945: replaces the legacy
-    /// `mergemaster_attempted: true` boolean flag.
-    pub fn is_mergemaster_attempted(&self) -> bool {
-        matches!(self, Stage::MergeFailureFinal { .. })
-    }
-
     /// Parse a stage from its filesystem directory name.
     ///
     /// This is the single canonical conversion boundary for turning a loose
@@ -401,14 +364,6 @@ pub struct PipelineItem {
     pub retry_count: u32,
 }
 
-impl PipelineItem {
-    /// Whether the item is frozen — story 945: `Stage::Frozen` is now the
-    /// single source of truth, replacing the legacy boolean flag.
-    pub fn is_frozen(&self) -> bool {
-        self.stage.is_frozen()
-    }
-}
-
 // ── Transition errors ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 /// Error returned when a pipeline event is not valid for the current stage.
diff --git a/server/src/service/work_item/freeze.rs b/server/src/service/work_item/freeze.rs
index 8f13c697..a4aa9872 100644
--- a/server/src/service/work_item/freeze.rs
+++ b/server/src/service/work_item/freeze.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ pub fn freeze(story_id: &str) -> Result<FreezeStatus, String> {
     let already_frozen = crate::pipeline_state::read_typed(story_id)
         .ok()
         .flatten()
-        .map(|item| item.is_frozen())
+        .map(|item| matches!(item.stage, crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Frozen { .. }))
         .unwrap_or(false);
 
     if already_frozen {
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ pub fn unfreeze(story_id: &str) -> Result<UnfreezeStatus, String> {
     let is_frozen = crate::pipeline_state::read_typed(story_id)
         .ok()
         .flatten()
-        .map(|item| item.is_frozen())
+        .map(|item| matches!(item.stage, crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Frozen { .. }))
         .unwrap_or(false);
 
     if !is_frozen {
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ mod tests {
             .expect("read_typed should succeed")
             .expect("item should be present");
         assert!(
-            item.is_frozen(),
+            matches!(item.stage, crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Frozen { .. }),
             "stage should be Frozen after freeze: {:?}",
             item.stage
         );
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ mod tests {
             .expect("read_typed should succeed")
             .expect("item should be present");
         assert!(
-            !item.is_frozen(),
+            !matches!(item.stage, crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Frozen { .. }),
             "stage should not be Frozen after unfreeze: {:?}",
             item.stage
         );
@@ -212,12 +212,12 @@ mod tests {
             .expect("MCP-path item should be in CRDT");
 
         assert!(
-            state_a.is_frozen(),
+            matches!(state_a.stage, crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Frozen { .. }),
             "chat-path CRDT stage must be frozen: {:?}",
             state_a.stage
         );
         assert!(
-            state_b.is_frozen(),
+            matches!(state_b.stage, crate::pipeline_state::Stage::Frozen { .. }),
             "MCP-path CRDT stage must be frozen: {:?}",
             state_b.stage
         );