diff --git a/docs/plans/2026-06-04-085-feat-operator-handoff-kotor-hint-plan.md b/docs/plans/2026-06-04-085-feat-operator-handoff-kotor-hint-plan.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0fc1670d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/plans/2026-06-04-085-feat-operator-handoff-kotor-hint-plan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+---
+title: "feat: operator-handoff KotOR catch-up hint"
+type: feat
+status: complete
+date: 2026-06-04
+origin: /lfg — plan 084 synced docs; handoff still omits KotOR wrapper from post-complete next steps
+---
+
+# feat: operator-handoff KotOR catch-up hint
+
+## Summary
+
+When `KotOR_discord_msgs` is enabled in scrape config, `operator-handoff.sh` prints a post-complete hint pointing at `run-kotor-yes-general-catchup.sh`. Refresh merge-readiness HEAD and PR #1538 Latest for plans 070–085.
+
+## Problem Frame
+
+Operators run `operator-handoff.sh` before first scrape or cron install. After plan 083, the KotOR yes_general path lives in a dedicated wrapper, but handoff only suggests generic `run-documents-scrape.sh`.
+
+## Requirements
+
+| ID | Requirement |
+|----|-------------|
+| R1 | After successful handoff (dry-run or salvage-only), if `KotOR_discord_msgs` is enabled, print KotOR wrapper hint |
+| R2 | Hint includes `run-kotor-yes-general-catchup.sh` and summary inspect line |
+| R3 | No hint when KotOR target disabled or absent |
+| R4 | `operator-handoff-smoke.sh` covers hint with KotOR fixture config |
+| R5 | Merge-readiness HEAD + plan 085 bullet |
+| R6 | PR #1538 Latest → plans 070–085 |
+| R7 | `DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 ./scripts/run-all-smokes.sh` → 24/24 |
+
+## Implementation Units
+
+### U1. Handoff hint + smoke
+
+**Files:** `scripts/operator-handoff.sh`, `scripts/tests/operator-handoff-smoke.sh`
+
+### U2. Docs + PR
+
+**Files:** `docs/recurring-scrape-merge-readiness.md`, PR #1538 body via `gh pr edit`
+
+## Verification
+
+```bash
+DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 ./scripts/run-all-smokes.sh
+```
+
+## Scope Boundaries
+
+### Deferred
+
+- Live KotOR catch-up on operator host
+- Auto-sync GUI zip `RECURRING-SCRAPE.md` (operator runs `sync-gui-bridge-doc.sh`)
diff --git a/docs/recurring-scrape-merge-readiness.md b/docs/recurring-scrape-merge-readiness.md
index 9c52bdba..9a8b1071 100644
--- a/docs/recurring-scrape-merge-readiness.md
+++ b/docs/recurring-scrape-merge-readiness.md
@@ -206,6 +206,8 @@ DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 ./scripts/run-operator-validation.sh \
 
 **Plan 084 (2026-06-04):** GUI bridge + troubleshooting cite KotOR wrapper; merge-readiness HEAD synced; bridge sync smoke asserts wrapper + 24/24.
 
+**Plan 085 (2026-06-04):** `operator-handoff.sh` prints KotOR catch-up hint when `KotOR_discord_msgs` is enabled.
+
 **Disk:** ~65 GiB free on `/home` (2026-05-30); large channel merges still need headroom.
 
 ## CI note (fork PRs)
diff --git a/scripts/operator-handoff.sh b/scripts/operator-handoff.sh
index 6f9b81ca..ef78fcd5 100755
--- a/scripts/operator-handoff.sh
+++ b/scripts/operator-handoff.sh
@@ -60,6 +60,19 @@ require_command() {
   command -v "$1" >/dev/null 2>&1 || die "Required command '$1' is missing."
 }
 
+kotor_catchup_enabled() {
+  require_command jq
+  jq -e '.targets[] | select(.name == "KotOR_discord_msgs" and (.enabled // true) == true)' \
+    "$CONFIG_PATH" >/dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
+print_kotor_catchup_hint() {
+  kotor_catchup_enabled || return 0
+  printf '\nKotOR yes_general catch-up (channel 221726893064454144):\n'
+  printf '  ./scripts/run-kotor-yes-general-catchup.sh\n'
+  printf '  ./scripts/print-scrape-summary.sh logs/kotor-yes-general.summary.json\n'
+}
+
 main() {
   while (($#)); do
     case "$1" in
@@ -141,6 +154,7 @@ main() {
   if (( ! SALVAGE_ONLY )); then
     printf '  ./scripts/setup-cron.sh --dry-run\n'
   fi
+  print_kotor_catchup_hint
 }
 
 main "$@"
diff --git a/scripts/tests/operator-handoff-smoke.sh b/scripts/tests/operator-handoff-smoke.sh
index 9abef5bd..ac95ebe7 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/operator-handoff-smoke.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/operator-handoff-smoke.sh
@@ -91,4 +91,43 @@ grep -q 'salvage completed' <<<"$salvage_output" || {
   exit 1
 }
 
+KOTOR_CONFIG="$TMP_DIR/kotor-config.json"
+KOTOR_ARCHIVE="$TMP_DIR/archive/kotor"
+mkdir -p "$KOTOR_ARCHIVE"
+printf '{"messages":[{"id":"1"}],"channel":{"id":"221726893064454144"}}\n' \
+  >"$KOTOR_ARCHIVE/Guild - yes_general [221726893064454144].json"
+cat >"$KOTOR_CONFIG" <<JSON
+{
+  "archive_root": "$TMP_DIR/archive",
+  "targets": [
+    {
+      "name": "KotOR_discord_msgs",
+      "kind": "guild",
+      "output_dir": "$KOTOR_ARCHIVE",
+      "enabled": true
+    }
+  ]
+}
+JSON
+
+set +e
+kotor_output=$(
+  DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 \
+    DCE_CONFIG_FILE="$KOTOR_CONFIG" \
+    DCE_ENV_FILE="$ENV_PATH" \
+    "$HANDOFF" --config "$KOTOR_CONFIG" --skip-df 2>&1
+)
+kotor_status=$?
+set -e
+
+if [[ "$kotor_status" -ne 0 ]] || ! grep -q 'Handoff complete' <<<"$kotor_output"; then
+  printf 'operator-handoff KotOR hint failed (status=%s)\n' "$kotor_status" >&2
+  printf '%s\n' "$kotor_output" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+grep -q 'run-kotor-yes-general-catchup.sh' <<<"$kotor_output" || {
+  printf 'operator-handoff missing KotOR catch-up hint\n' >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+
 printf 'operator-handoff-smoke: ok\n'