diff --git a/qa-only/sections/exploratory.md b/qa-only/sections/exploratory.md
index 0e8f32f3b..561ff0e4e 100644
--- a/qa-only/sections/exploratory.md
+++ b/qa-only/sections/exploratory.md
@@ -96,8 +96,7 @@ with their failing contract and expected assertion; never create tests or freeze
 ## 4. Final report
 
 Use the surface report template; link each checkpoint. Separate browser scores, functional outcomes and proposed/executed tests.
-Write R/annotations.json: {evidence: [{capture, command, contract, expected, classification}], limits}.
-Before Markdown, `bun Q materialize R annotations.json` builds evidence.json; Q fills observed, revision, runtime, cwd and learning and prints reportLinks; you classify. Retain all safe probes, including failures/replays; disclose withheld/incomplete evidence.
+With captures, write R/annotations.json {evidence: [{capture, command, contract, expected, classification}], limits} and before Markdown `bun Q materialize R annotations.json` (fills observed/metadata; prints reportLinks); you classify. No captures (browser): skip both. Retain all safe probes, including failures/replays; disclose withheld/incomplete evidence.
 Evidence is invocation-local.
 Missing prerequisites/expectations/observations, timeouts and refusal never pass.
 Pass requires all required current-input contracts to pass with no required remainder.
diff --git a/qa/sections/exploratory.md b/qa/sections/exploratory.md
index 5de4da4f1..9db170c3b 100644
--- a/qa/sections/exploratory.md
+++ b/qa/sections/exploratory.md
@@ -81,8 +81,7 @@ Never freeze buggy output, weaken tests or delete valid red tests.
 ## 4. Final report
 
 Use the surface report template; link each checkpoint. Separate browser scores, functional outcomes and proposed/executed tests.
-Write R/annotations.json: {evidence: [{capture, command, contract, expected, classification}], limits}.
-Before Markdown, `bun Q materialize R annotations.json` builds evidence.json; Q fills observed, revision, runtime, cwd and learning and prints reportLinks; you classify. Retain all safe probes, including failures/replays; disclose withheld/incomplete evidence.
+With captures, write R/annotations.json {evidence: [{capture, command, contract, expected, classification}], limits} and before Markdown `bun Q materialize R annotations.json` (fills observed/metadata; prints reportLinks); you classify. No captures (browser): skip both. Retain all safe probes, including failures/replays; disclose withheld/incomplete evidence.
 Evidence is invocation-local; /ship reruns once per invocation.
 Missing prerequisites/expectations/observations, timeouts and refusal never pass.
 Pass requires all required current-input contracts to pass with no required remainder.
diff --git a/scripts/resolvers/qa.ts b/scripts/resolvers/qa.ts
index ae71cdb90..813ecb8d7 100644
--- a/scripts/resolvers/qa.ts
+++ b/scripts/resolvers/qa.ts
@@ -143,8 +143,7 @@ Never freeze buggy output, weaken tests or delete valid red tests.`}
 ## 4. Final report
 
 Use the surface report template; link each checkpoint. Separate browser scores, functional outcomes and proposed/executed tests.
-Write R/annotations.json: {evidence: [{capture, command, contract, expected, classification}], limits}.
-Before Markdown, \`bun Q materialize R annotations.json\` builds evidence.json; Q fills observed, revision, runtime, cwd and learning and prints reportLinks; you classify. Retain all safe probes, including failures/replays; disclose withheld/incomplete evidence.
+With captures, write R/annotations.json {evidence: [{capture, command, contract, expected, classification}], limits} and before Markdown \`bun Q materialize R annotations.json\` (fills observed/metadata; prints reportLinks); you classify. No captures (browser): skip both. Retain all safe probes, including failures/replays; disclose withheld/incomplete evidence.
 Evidence is invocation-local${reportOnly ? '.' : '; /ship reruns once per invocation.'}
 Missing prerequisites/expectations/observations, timeouts and refusal never pass.
 Pass requires all required current-input contracts to pass with no required remainder.