diff --git a/internal/cli/reference_contract_test.go b/internal/cli/reference_contract_test.go
index d3d8add..9d41e40 100644
--- a/internal/cli/reference_contract_test.go
+++ b/internal/cli/reference_contract_test.go
@@ -400,6 +400,9 @@ func (referenceContractCodecA) Encode(stateTestArtifact) ([]byte, error) {
 func (referenceContractCodecA) Decode([]byte) (stateTestArtifact, error) {
 	return stateTestArtifact{Value: "ok"}, nil
 }
+func (codec referenceContractCodecA) DecodeCandidate(content []byte) (stateTestArtifact, error) {
+	return codec.Decode(content)
+}
 
 func (referenceContractCodecB) Kind() contracts.ArtifactKind { return referenceContractKindBeta }
 func (referenceContractCodecB) Schema() contracts.ArtifactSchema {
@@ -415,6 +418,9 @@ func (referenceContractCodecB) Encode(stateTestArtifact) ([]byte, error) {
 func (referenceContractCodecB) Decode([]byte) (stateTestArtifact, error) {
 	return stateTestArtifact{Value: "ok"}, nil
 }
+func (codec referenceContractCodecB) DecodeCandidate(content []byte) (stateTestArtifact, error) {
+	return codec.Decode(content)
+}
 
 func referenceContractLane(t *testing.T, resolved pipeline.ResolvedPipeline, id string) pipeline.ResolvedArtifactLane {
 	t.Helper()
diff --git a/internal/cli/state_hardening_test.go b/internal/cli/state_hardening_test.go
index 7c2c242..b5dc531 100644
--- a/internal/cli/state_hardening_test.go
+++ b/internal/cli/state_hardening_test.go
@@ -955,6 +955,9 @@ func (stateTestCodec) Encode(v stateTestArtifact) ([]byte, error) {
 func (stateTestCodec) Decode([]byte) (stateTestArtifact, error) {
 	return stateTestArtifact{Value: "ok"}, nil
 }
+func (codec stateTestCodec) DecodeCandidate(content []byte) (stateTestArtifact, error) {
+	return codec.Decode(content)
+}
 
 type stateTestExtractor struct{ harness *stateTestHarness }
 
diff --git a/internal/core/config/effective_config_contract_test.go b/internal/core/config/effective_config_contract_test.go
index efcee44..fe6e4bd 100644
--- a/internal/core/config/effective_config_contract_test.go
+++ b/internal/core/config/effective_config_contract_test.go
@@ -427,6 +427,10 @@ func (effectiveCodec) Decode(content []byte) (effectiveArtifact, error) {
 	return value, err
 }
 
+func (codec effectiveCodec) DecodeCandidate(content []byte) (effectiveArtifact, error) {
+	return codec.Decode(content)
+}
+
 type effectiveInput struct{ key string }
 
 func (m effectiveInput) Key() string { return m.key }
diff --git a/internal/framework/pipeline/artifact_codec_registry.go b/internal/framework/pipeline/artifact_codec_registry.go
index ec67381..5321d41 100644
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/artifact_codec_registry.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/artifact_codec_registry.go
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ type artifactCodecEntry struct {
 	encodeCandidate func(any) ([]byte, error)
 	metadata        func(any) (map[string]any, error)
 	decode          func([]byte) (any, error)
+	decodeCandidate func([]byte) (any, error)
 }
 
 func NewArtifactCodecRegistry() *ArtifactCodecRegistry {
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ func NewArtifactCodecRegistry() *ArtifactCodecRegistry {
 
 // RegisterArtifactCodec registers one codec for T. The concrete type is kept
 // private and checked at every erased encode boundary.
-func RegisterArtifactCodec[T any](registry *ArtifactCodecRegistry, codec contracts.ArtifactCodec[T]) error {
+func RegisterArtifactCodec[T any](registry *ArtifactCodecRegistry, codec contracts.CandidateArtifactCodec[T]) error {
 	if registry == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("artifact codec registry must not be nil")
 	}
@@ -119,6 +120,13 @@ func RegisterArtifactCodec[T any](registry *ArtifactCodecRegistry, codec contrac
 			}
 			return decoded, nil
 		},
+		decodeCandidate: func(content []byte) (any, error) {
+			decoded, err := codec.DecodeCandidate(append([]byte(nil), content...))
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, &ArtifactCodecOperationError{Operation: "decode candidate", Kind: spec.Kind, Err: err}
+			}
+			return decoded, nil
+		},
 	}
 	entry.encodeCandidate = func(value any) ([]byte, error) {
 		typed, err := exactTypedValue[T]("encode candidate artifact", value)
diff --git a/internal/framework/pipeline/artifact_codec_registry_test.go b/internal/framework/pipeline/artifact_codec_registry_test.go
index ea75c0e..f3594b9 100644
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/artifact_codec_registry_test.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/artifact_codec_registry_test.go
@@ -24,12 +24,13 @@ type codecScore struct {
 type codecNotesAlias codecNotes
 
 type testArtifactCodec[T any] struct {
-	kind          contracts.ArtifactKind
-	schema        contracts.ArtifactSchema
-	mediaType     string
-	encodeFunc    func(T) ([]byte, error)
-	candidateFunc func(T) ([]byte, error)
-	decodeFunc    func([]byte) (T, error)
+	kind                contracts.ArtifactKind
+	schema              contracts.ArtifactSchema
+	mediaType           string
+	encodeFunc          func(T) ([]byte, error)
+	candidateFunc       func(T) ([]byte, error)
+	decodeFunc          func([]byte) (T, error)
+	candidateDecodeFunc func([]byte) (T, error)
 }
 
 func (c testArtifactCodec[T]) Kind() contracts.ArtifactKind     { return c.kind }
@@ -43,8 +44,15 @@ func (c testArtifactCodec[T]) EncodeCandidate(value T) ([]byte, error) {
 }
 func (c testArtifactCodec[T]) Encode(value T) ([]byte, error)   { return c.encodeFunc(value) }
 func (c testArtifactCodec[T]) Decode(content []byte) (T, error) { return c.decodeFunc(content) }
+func (c testArtifactCodec[T]) DecodeCandidate(content []byte) (T, error) {
+	if c.candidateDecodeFunc != nil {
+		return c.candidateDecodeFunc(content)
+	}
+	return c.decodeFunc(content)
+}
 
 var _ contracts.ArtifactCodec[codecNotes] = testArtifactCodec[codecNotes]{}
+var _ contracts.CandidateArtifactCodec[codecNotes] = testArtifactCodec[codecNotes]{}
 
 func TestArtifactCodecRegistryStoresHeterogeneousExactTypes(t *testing.T) {
 	registry := NewArtifactCodecRegistry()
@@ -138,6 +146,44 @@ func TestArtifactCodecRegistryKeepsCandidateAndFinalEncodingDistinct(t *testing.
 	}
 }
 
+func TestArtifactCodecRegistryKeepsCandidateAndFinalDecodingDistinct(t *testing.T) {
+	candidateCalls, finalCalls := 0, 0
+	codec := notesCodec()
+	codec.candidateDecodeFunc = func([]byte) (codecNotes, error) {
+		candidateCalls++
+		return codecNotes{Items: []string{"candidate"}}, nil
+	}
+	codec.decodeFunc = func([]byte) (codecNotes, error) {
+		finalCalls++
+		return codecNotes{Items: []string{"final"}}, nil
+	}
+	registry := NewArtifactCodecRegistry()
+	if err := RegisterArtifactCodec(registry, codec); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RegisterArtifactCodec() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+	entry, _, err := registry.entry(codec.kind)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("entry() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+
+	candidate, err := entry.decodeCandidate([]byte(`{"items":["one"]}`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("candidate decode error = %v", err)
+	}
+	candidateWant := codecNotes{Items: []string{"candidate"}}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(candidate, candidateWant) || candidateCalls != 1 || finalCalls != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("candidate decode = %#v, calls = candidate %d, final %d", candidate, candidateCalls, finalCalls)
+	}
+	decoded, err := entry.decode([]byte(`{"items":["one"]}`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("final decode error = %v", err)
+	}
+	finalWant := codecNotes{Items: []string{"final"}}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(decoded, finalWant) || candidateCalls != 1 || finalCalls != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("final decode = %#v, calls = candidate %d, final %d", decoded, candidateCalls, finalCalls)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestArtifactCodecRegistryStoresValidatedSchemaMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 	registry := NewArtifactCodecRegistry()
 	codec := notesCodec()
@@ -267,6 +313,28 @@ func TestArtifactCodecRegistryWrapsEncodeFailure(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestArtifactCodecRegistryWrapsCandidateDecodeFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	cause := errors.New("cannot decode candidate notes")
+	codec := notesCodec()
+	codec.candidateDecodeFunc = func([]byte) (codecNotes, error) {
+		return codecNotes{}, cause
+	}
+	registry := NewArtifactCodecRegistry()
+	if err := RegisterArtifactCodec(registry, codec); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RegisterArtifactCodec() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+	entry, _, err := registry.entry(codec.kind)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("entry() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = entry.decodeCandidate([]byte(`{"items":["one"]}`))
+	var operationErr *ArtifactCodecOperationError
+	if !errors.As(err, &operationErr) || operationErr.Operation != "decode candidate" || !errors.Is(err, cause) {
+		t.Fatalf("candidate decode error = %T %v, want typed wrapping error", err, err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestArtifactCodecRegistryClonesCodecBytes(t *testing.T) {
 	shared := []byte(`{"items":["one"]}`)
 	codec := notesCodec()
@@ -275,6 +343,10 @@ func TestArtifactCodecRegistryClonesCodecBytes(t *testing.T) {
 		content[0] = '['
 		return codecNotes{Items: []string{"one"}}, nil
 	}
+	codec.candidateDecodeFunc = func(content []byte) (codecNotes, error) {
+		content[0] = '['
+		return codecNotes{Items: []string{"candidate"}}, nil
+	}
 	registry := NewArtifactCodecRegistry()
 	if err := RegisterArtifactCodec(registry, codec); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("RegisterArtifactCodec() error = %v, want nil", err)
@@ -295,6 +367,18 @@ func TestArtifactCodecRegistryClonesCodecBytes(t *testing.T) {
 	if !bytes.Equal(artifact.Content, before) {
 		t.Fatalf("serialized content changed during decode: %q", artifact.Content)
 	}
+	candidateContent := []byte(`{"items":["candidate"]}`)
+	candidateBefore := append([]byte(nil), candidateContent...)
+	entry, _, err := registry.entry("test/notes")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("entry() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := entry.decodeCandidate(candidateContent); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("candidate decode error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+	if !bytes.Equal(candidateContent, candidateBefore) {
+		t.Fatalf("candidate content changed during decode: %q", candidateContent)
+	}
 }
 
 func notesCodec() testArtifactCodec[codecNotes] {
diff --git a/internal/framework/pipeline/runner_candidate_encoding_test.go b/internal/framework/pipeline/runner_candidate_encoding_test.go
index f8bebd8..803fda6 100644
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/runner_candidate_encoding_test.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/runner_candidate_encoding_test.go
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ func (*observedNotesCodec) Decode(content []byte) (codecNotes, error) {
 	return value, json.Unmarshal(content, &value)
 }
 
+func (c *observedNotesCodec) DecodeCandidate(content []byte) (codecNotes, error) {
+	return c.Decode(content)
+}
+
 func firstNote(value codecNotes) string {
 	if len(value.Items) == 0 {
 		return ""
diff --git a/internal/framework/pipeline/typed_resolution_test.go b/internal/framework/pipeline/typed_resolution_test.go
index fd9ced2..1637014 100644
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/typed_resolution_test.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/typed_resolution_test.go
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ func registriesFromModuleCatalog(catalog ModuleCatalog) Registries {
 	}
 }
 
-func mustRegisterArtifactCodec[T any](t *testing.T, registry *ArtifactCodecRegistry, codec contracts.ArtifactCodec[T]) {
+func mustRegisterArtifactCodec[T any](t *testing.T, registry *ArtifactCodecRegistry, codec contracts.CandidateArtifactCodec[T]) {
 	t.Helper()
 	if err := RegisterArtifactCodec(registry, codec); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("RegisterArtifactCodec() error = %v", err)
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/codec/combatturns/codec.go b/internal/modules/dnd/codec/combatturns/codec.go
index ba79bb7..c448a2a 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/codec/combatturns/codec.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/codec/combatturns/codec.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ const (
 var schemaAssets embed.FS
 
 var _ contracts.ArtifactCodec[dnd.CombatTurnList] = (*Codec)(nil)
+var _ contracts.CandidateArtifactCodec[dnd.CombatTurnList] = (*Codec)(nil)
 
 type Codec struct{}
 
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/codec/enemyevents/codec.go b/internal/modules/dnd/codec/enemyevents/codec.go
index 7d68ce5..a5e28bc 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/codec/enemyevents/codec.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/codec/enemyevents/codec.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ const (
 var schemaAssets embed.FS
 
 var _ contracts.ArtifactCodec[dnd.EnemyEventList] = (*Codec)(nil)
+var _ contracts.CandidateArtifactCodec[dnd.EnemyEventList] = (*Codec)(nil)
 
 type Codec struct{}
 
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/codec/enemyevents/codec_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/codec/enemyevents/codec_test.go
index 9890489..f0988e2 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/codec/enemyevents/codec_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/codec/enemyevents/codec_test.go
@@ -82,13 +82,16 @@ func TestCodecDefensivelyOwnsValuesAndDefersSemanticValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	decoded, err := codec.Decode(content)
+	decoded, err := codec.DecodeCandidate(content)
 	if err != nil || !reflect.DeepEqual(decoded, candidate) {
-		t.Fatalf("Decode() = %#v, %v; want semantic candidate preservation", decoded, err)
+		t.Fatalf("DecodeCandidate() = %#v, %v; want semantic candidate preservation", decoded, err)
 	}
 	decoded.Events[0].SourceRefs[0].SourceID = "changed"
 	if candidate.Events[0].SourceRefs[0].SourceID != "" {
-		t.Fatal("Decode() retained caller-owned source references")
+		t.Fatal("DecodeCandidate() retained caller-owned source references")
+	}
+	if decoded, err := codec.Decode(content); err != nil || !reflect.DeepEqual(decoded, candidate) {
+		t.Fatalf("Decode() = %#v, %v; want durable decode behavior", decoded, err)
 	}
 
 	first := codec.Schema()
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/codec/scenedescriptions/codec.go b/internal/modules/dnd/codec/scenedescriptions/codec.go
index a15f16f..4cc3ee5 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/codec/scenedescriptions/codec.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/codec/scenedescriptions/codec.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ const (
 var schemaAssets embed.FS
 
 var _ contracts.ArtifactCodec[dnd.SceneDescriptionList] = (*Codec)(nil)
+var _ contracts.CandidateArtifactCodec[dnd.SceneDescriptionList] = (*Codec)(nil)
 
 type Codec struct{}
 
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/codec/spells/codec.go b/internal/modules/dnd/codec/spells/codec.go
index f27735f..5c6a25c 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/codec/spells/codec.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/codec/spells/codec.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ const (
 var schemaAssets embed.FS
 
 var _ contracts.ArtifactCodec[dnd.SpellList] = (*Codec)(nil)
+var _ contracts.CandidateArtifactCodec[dnd.SpellList] = (*Codec)(nil)
 
 type Codec struct{}
 
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/codec/spells/codec_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/codec/spells/codec_test.go
index b6be18e..f6700c9 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/codec/spells/codec_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/codec/spells/codec_test.go
@@ -114,6 +114,10 @@ func TestCodecEncodesIncompleteCandidateWithoutWeakeningFinalEncoding(t *testing
 	if !json.Valid(content) {
 		t.Fatalf("EncodeCandidate() = %q, want JSON", content)
 	}
+	decoded, err := codec.DecodeCandidate(content)
+	if err != nil || !reflect.DeepEqual(decoded, candidate) {
+		t.Fatalf("DecodeCandidate() = %#v, %v; want %#v", decoded, err, candidate)
+	}
 	result, err := spellshape.New(spellshape.Options{}).Validate(context.Background(), contracts.TypedValidationRequest[dnd.SpellList]{Value: candidate})
 	if err != nil || result.Approved || result.ReasonCode != spellshape.ReasonCode {
 		t.Fatalf("shape validation = %#v, %v; want candidate rejection", result, err)
@@ -121,6 +125,9 @@ func TestCodecEncodesIncompleteCandidateWithoutWeakeningFinalEncoding(t *testing
 	if _, err := codec.Encode(candidate); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "spell_casts must be present") {
 		t.Fatalf("Encode() error = %v, want strict final shape error", err)
 	}
+	if _, err := codec.Decode(content); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "spell_casts must be present") {
+		t.Fatalf("Decode() error = %v, want strict final shape error", err)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestCodecSchemaIsMutationSafe(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/modules/seriatim/input/transcript/runner_helpers_test.go b/internal/modules/seriatim/input/transcript/runner_helpers_test.go
index 16134fd..2707be1 100644
--- a/internal/modules/seriatim/input/transcript/runner_helpers_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/seriatim/input/transcript/runner_helpers_test.go
@@ -164,3 +164,7 @@ func (seriatimArtifactCodec) Decode(content []byte) (seriatimArtifact, error) {
 	err := json.Unmarshal(content, &value)
 	return value, err
 }
+
+func (codec seriatimArtifactCodec) DecodeCandidate(content []byte) (seriatimArtifact, error) {
+	return codec.Decode(content)
+}