diff --git a/web/src/components/EmailCardStack.test.ts b/web/src/components/EmailCardStack.test.ts
index 6bb0aaa..ed8f614 100644
--- a/web/src/components/EmailCardStack.test.ts
+++ b/web/src/components/EmailCardStack.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils'
 import EmailCardStack from './EmailCardStack.vue'
-import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest'
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest'
 
 const item = {
   id: 'abc',
@@ -45,15 +45,70 @@ describe('EmailCardStack', () => {
     expect(wrapperClasses).not.toContain('dismiss-skip')
   })
 
-  it('emits drag-start on dragstart event', async () => {
+  // JSDOM doesn't implement setPointerCapture — mock it on the element.
+  // Also use dispatchEvent(new PointerEvent) directly because @vue/test-utils
+  // .trigger() tries to assign clientX on a MouseEvent (read-only in JSDOM).
+  function mockPointerCapture(element: Element) {
+    ;(element as any).setPointerCapture = vi.fn()
+    ;(element as any).releasePointerCapture = vi.fn()
+  }
+
+  function fire(element: Element, type: string, init: PointerEventInit) {
+    element.dispatchEvent(new PointerEvent(type, { bubbles: true, ...init }))
+  }
+
+  it('emits drag-start on pointerdown', async () => {
     const w = mount(EmailCardStack, { props: { item, isBucketMode: false } })
-    await w.find('.card-stack').trigger('dragstart')
+    const el = w.find('.card-wrapper').element
+    mockPointerCapture(el)
+    fire(el, 'pointerdown', { pointerId: 1, clientX: 200, clientY: 300 })
+    await w.vm.$nextTick()
     expect(w.emitted('drag-start')).toBeTruthy()
   })
 
-  it('emits drag-end on dragend event', async () => {
+  it('emits drag-end on pointerup', async () => {
     const w = mount(EmailCardStack, { props: { item, isBucketMode: false } })
-    await w.find('.card-stack').trigger('dragend')
+    const el = w.find('.card-wrapper').element
+    mockPointerCapture(el)
+    fire(el, 'pointerdown', { pointerId: 1, clientX: 200, clientY: 300 })
+    fire(el, 'pointerup',   { pointerId: 1, clientX: 200, clientY: 300 })
+    await w.vm.$nextTick()
     expect(w.emitted('drag-end')).toBeTruthy()
   })
+
+  it('emits discard when released in left zone (x < 7% viewport)', async () => {
+    const w = mount(EmailCardStack, { props: { item, isBucketMode: false } })
+    const el = w.find('.card-wrapper').element
+    mockPointerCapture(el)
+    // JSDOM window.innerWidth defaults to 1024; 7% = 71.7px
+    fire(el, 'pointerdown', { pointerId: 1, clientX: 512, clientY: 300 })
+    fire(el, 'pointermove', { pointerId: 1, clientX: 30,  clientY: 300 })
+    fire(el, 'pointerup',   { pointerId: 1, clientX: 30,  clientY: 300 })
+    await w.vm.$nextTick()
+    expect(w.emitted('discard')).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+
+  it('emits skip when released in right zone (x > 93% viewport)', async () => {
+    const w = mount(EmailCardStack, { props: { item, isBucketMode: false } })
+    const el = w.find('.card-wrapper').element
+    mockPointerCapture(el)
+    // JSDOM window.innerWidth defaults to 1024; 93% = 952px
+    fire(el, 'pointerdown', { pointerId: 1, clientX: 512,  clientY: 300 })
+    fire(el, 'pointermove', { pointerId: 1, clientX: 1000, clientY: 300 })
+    fire(el, 'pointerup',   { pointerId: 1, clientX: 1000, clientY: 300 })
+    await w.vm.$nextTick()
+    expect(w.emitted('skip')).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+
+  it('does not emit action on pointerup without movement past zone', async () => {
+    const w = mount(EmailCardStack, { props: { item, isBucketMode: false } })
+    const el = w.find('.card-wrapper').element
+    mockPointerCapture(el)
+    fire(el, 'pointerdown', { pointerId: 1, clientX: 512, clientY: 300 })
+    fire(el, 'pointerup',   { pointerId: 1, clientX: 512, clientY: 300 })
+    await w.vm.$nextTick()
+    expect(w.emitted('discard')).toBeFalsy()
+    expect(w.emitted('skip')).toBeFalsy()
+    expect(w.emitted('label')).toBeFalsy()
+  })
 })
diff --git a/web/src/components/EmailCardStack.vue b/web/src/components/EmailCardStack.vue
index 1ef5b5f..3f6a5a6 100644
--- a/web/src/components/EmailCardStack.vue
+++ b/web/src/components/EmailCardStack.vue
@@ -2,10 +2,6 @@
   <div
     class="card-stack"
     :class="{ 'bucket-mode': isBucketMode && motion.rich.value }"
-    ref="stackEl"
-    :draggable="motion.rich.value"
-    @dragstart="onDragStart"
-    @dragend="onDragEnd"
   >
     <!-- Depth shadow cards (visual stack effect) -->
     <div class="card-shadow card-shadow-2" aria-hidden="true" />
@@ -15,8 +11,12 @@
     <div
       class="card-wrapper"
       ref="cardEl"
-      :class="dismissClass"
+      :class="[dismissClass, { 'is-held': isHeld }]"
       :style="cardStyle"
+      @pointerdown="onPointerDown"
+      @pointermove="onPointerMove"
+      @pointerup="onPointerUp"
+      @pointercancel="onPointerCancel"
     >
       <EmailCard
         :item="item"
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { ref, computed } from 'vue'
-import { useSwipe } from '@vueuse/core'
 import { useMotion } from '../composables/useMotion'
 import EmailCard from './EmailCard.vue'
 import type { QueueItem } from '../stores/label'
@@ -42,30 +41,112 @@ const props = defineProps<{
 }>()
 
 const emit = defineEmits<{
-  label:     [name: string]
-  skip:      []
-  discard:   []
-  'drag-start': []
-  'drag-end':   []
+  label:          [name: string]
+  skip:           []
+  discard:        []
+  'drag-start':   []
+  'drag-end':     []
+  'zone-hover':   ['discard' | 'skip' | null]
+  'bucket-hover': [string | null]
 }>()
 
-const motion    = useMotion()
-const cardEl    = ref<HTMLElement | null>(null)
-const stackEl   = ref<HTMLElement | null>(null)
+const motion     = useMotion()
+const cardEl     = ref<HTMLElement | null>(null)
 const isExpanded = ref(false)
-const dragX     = ref(0)
 
-const { isSwiping, lengthX } = useSwipe(cardEl, {
-  threshold: 60,
-  onSwipeEnd(_, dir) {
-    if (dir === 'left')  emit('discard')
-    if (dir === 'right') emit('skip')
-    dragX.value = 0
-  },
-  onSwipe() {
-    if (motion.rich.value) dragX.value = lengthX.value * -1
-  },
-})
+// Toss gesture state
+const isHeld            = ref(false)
+const pickupX           = ref(0)
+const pickupY           = ref(0)
+const deltaX            = ref(0)
+const deltaY            = ref(0)
+const hoveredZone       = ref<'discard' | 'skip' | null>(null)
+const hoveredBucketName = ref<string | null>(null)
+
+// Zone threshold: 7% of viewport width on each side
+const ZONE_PCT = 0.07
+
+function onPointerDown(e: PointerEvent) {
+  if (!motion.rich.value) return
+  ;(e.currentTarget as HTMLElement).setPointerCapture(e.pointerId)
+  pickupX.value = e.clientX
+  pickupY.value = e.clientY
+  deltaX.value = 0
+  deltaY.value = 0
+  isHeld.value = true
+  hoveredZone.value = null
+  hoveredBucketName.value = null
+  emit('drag-start')
+}
+
+function onPointerMove(e: PointerEvent) {
+  if (!isHeld.value) return
+  deltaX.value = e.clientX - pickupX.value
+  deltaY.value = e.clientY - pickupY.value
+
+  const vw = window.innerWidth
+  const zone: 'discard' | 'skip' | null =
+    e.clientX < vw * ZONE_PCT          ? 'discard' :
+    e.clientX > vw * (1 - ZONE_PCT)   ? 'skip' :
+    null
+  if (zone !== hoveredZone.value) {
+    hoveredZone.value = zone
+    emit('zone-hover', zone)
+  }
+
+  // Bucket detection via hit-test (works through overlapping elements).
+  // Optional chain guards against JSDOM in tests (doesn't implement elementsFromPoint).
+  const els = document.elementsFromPoint?.(e.clientX, e.clientY) ?? []
+  const bucket = els.find(el => el.hasAttribute('data-label-key'))
+  const bucketName = bucket?.getAttribute('data-label-key') ?? null
+  if (bucketName !== hoveredBucketName.value) {
+    hoveredBucketName.value = bucketName
+    emit('bucket-hover', bucketName)
+  }
+}
+
+function onPointerUp(e: PointerEvent) {
+  if (!isHeld.value) return
+  ;(e.currentTarget as HTMLElement).releasePointerCapture(e.pointerId)
+  isHeld.value = false
+  emit('drag-end')
+  emit('zone-hover', null)
+  emit('bucket-hover', null)
+
+  if (hoveredZone.value === 'discard') {
+    hoveredZone.value = null
+    hoveredBucketName.value = null
+    emit('discard')
+  } else if (hoveredZone.value === 'skip') {
+    hoveredZone.value = null
+    hoveredBucketName.value = null
+    emit('skip')
+  } else if (hoveredBucketName.value) {
+    const name = hoveredBucketName.value
+    hoveredZone.value = null
+    hoveredBucketName.value = null
+    emit('label', name)
+  } else {
+    // Snap back — reset deltas
+    deltaX.value = 0
+    deltaY.value = 0
+    hoveredZone.value = null
+    hoveredBucketName.value = null
+  }
+}
+
+function onPointerCancel(e: PointerEvent) {
+  if (!isHeld.value) return
+  ;(e.currentTarget as HTMLElement).releasePointerCapture(e.pointerId)
+  isHeld.value = false
+  deltaX.value = 0
+  deltaY.value = 0
+  hoveredZone.value = null
+  hoveredBucketName.value = null
+  emit('drag-end')
+  emit('zone-hover', null)
+  emit('bucket-hover', null)
+}
 
 const dismissClass = computed(() => {
   if (!props.dismissType) return null
@@ -73,52 +154,25 @@ const dismissClass = computed(() => {
 })
 
 const cardStyle = computed(() => {
-  if (!motion.rich.value || !isSwiping.value) return {}
-  const tilt    = dragX.value * 0.05
-  const opacity = Math.abs(dragX.value) > 20 ? 0.9 : 1
-  const color   = dragX.value < -20 ? 'rgba(244,67,54,0.15)'
-                : dragX.value >  20 ? 'rgba(255,152,0,0.15)'
-                : 'transparent'
+  if (!motion.rich.value || !isHeld.value) return {}
+
+  // Aura color: zone > bucket > neutral
+  const aura =
+    hoveredZone.value === 'discard'  ? 'rgba(244,67,54,0.25)'  :
+    hoveredZone.value === 'skip'     ? 'rgba(255,152,0,0.25)'  :
+    hoveredBucketName.value          ? 'rgba(42,96,128,0.20)'  :
+    'transparent'
+
   return {
-    transform: `translateX(${dragX.value}px) rotate(${tilt}deg)`,
-    opacity,
-    background: color,
-    transition: isSwiping.value ? 'none' : 'all 0.3s ease',
+    transform:    `translate(${deltaX.value}px, ${deltaY.value}px) scale(0.35)`,
+    borderRadius: '50%',
+    background:   aura,
+    transition:   'border-radius 150ms ease, background 150ms ease',
+    cursor:       'grabbing',
+    zIndex:       100,
+    userSelect:   'none',
   }
 })
-
-function onDragStart(e: DragEvent) {
-  if (motion.rich.value && e.dataTransfer) {
-    // Custom drag ghost: small crumpled-paper ball
-    const ghost = document.createElement('div')
-    ghost.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true')
-    Object.assign(ghost.style, {
-      position: 'fixed',
-      top: '-200px',
-      left: '0',
-      width: '80px',
-      height: '80px',
-      borderRadius: '50%',
-      background: '#e4ebf5',
-      border: '3px solid #2A6080',
-      display: 'flex',
-      alignItems: 'center',
-      justifyContent: 'center',
-      fontSize: '1.75rem',
-      boxShadow: '0 4px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.25)',
-      transform: 'rotate(-5deg)',
-    })
-    ghost.textContent = '✉️'
-    document.body.appendChild(ghost)
-    e.dataTransfer.setDragImage(ghost, 40, 40)
-    // Remove after browser captures — RAF is too fast, 0ms timeout works
-    setTimeout(() => {
-      if (document.body.contains(ghost)) document.body.removeChild(ghost)
-    }, 0)
-  }
-  emit('drag-start')
-}
-function onDragEnd()   { emit('drag-end')   }
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
@@ -147,9 +201,8 @@ function onDragEnd()   { emit('drag-end')   }
 }
 
 .card-stack.bucket-mode .card-wrapper {
-  transform: scale(0.25) rotate(-4deg);
-  transform-origin: top center;
-  border-radius: 50% !important;
+  clip-path: inset(35% 15% round 0.75rem);
+  opacity: 0.35;
   pointer-events: none;
 }
 
@@ -169,11 +222,16 @@ function onDragEnd()   { emit('drag-end')   }
   z-index: 1;
   border-radius: var(--radius-card, 1rem);
   background: var(--color-surface-raised, #fff);
-  will-change: transform, opacity;
+  will-change: clip-path, opacity;
+  clip-path: inset(0% 0% round 1rem);
+  touch-action: none;   /* prevent scroll from stealing the gesture */
+  cursor: grab;
   transition:
-    transform 280ms cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1),
-    border-radius 280ms cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1),
-    opacity 280ms ease;
+    clip-path 260ms cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1),
+    opacity 220ms ease;
+}
+.card-wrapper.is-held {
+  cursor: grabbing;
 }
 
 /* Dismissal animations — dismiss class is only applied during the motion.rich await window,
@@ -202,7 +260,7 @@ function onDragEnd()   { emit('drag-end')   }
 
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
   .card-stack,
-  .card-stack.bucket-mode .card-wrapper {
+  .card-wrapper {
     transition: none;
   }
 }