diff --git a/src/tui.rs b/src/tui.rs
index b2cb439..191deb9 100644
--- a/src/tui.rs
+++ b/src/tui.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use crossterm::terminal::{
 };
 use ratatui::backend::CrosstermBackend;
 use ratatui::layout::{Constraint, Direction, Layout, Rect};
+use ratatui::style::{Color, Style};
 use ratatui::widgets::{Block, Borders, Paragraph, Wrap};
 use ratatui::{Frame, Terminal};
 use std::io::{stdout, Stdout};
@@ -605,11 +606,18 @@ fn render(
     log: &HistoryLog,
     typewriter: Option<&Typewriter>,
 ) {
-    let area = frame.size();
+    // Outer layout: two-column area on top, 1-row status bar across the
+    // full width below.
+    let outer = Layout::default()
+        .direction(Direction::Vertical)
+        .constraints([Constraint::Min(0), Constraint::Length(1)].as_ref())
+        .split(frame.size());
+    let (top, status) = (outer[0], outer[1]);
+
     let chunks = Layout::default()
         .direction(Direction::Horizontal)
         .constraints([Constraint::Percentage(50), Constraint::Percentage(50)].as_ref())
-        .split(area);
+        .split(top);
     let (left, right) = (chunks[0], chunks[1]);
 
     match screen {
@@ -632,6 +640,35 @@ fn render(
     } else {
         render_editor_inactive(frame, right);
     }
+
+    render_status_bar(frame, status, screen, focus);
+}
+
+fn render_status_bar(frame: &mut Frame, area: Rect, screen: &Screen, focus: Focus) {
+    let style = Style::default().fg(Color::White).bg(Color::DarkGray);
+    let p = Paragraph::new(status_text(screen, focus)).style(style);
+    frame.render_widget(p, area);
+}
+
+fn status_text(screen: &Screen, focus: Focus) -> String {
+    match (screen, focus) {
+        (Screen::Welcome, _) => {
+            " [Enter] begin · [↑/↓] scroll · [PgUp/PgDn] page · [q] quit".into()
+        }
+        (Screen::TierSelect { .. }, _) => {
+            " [↑/↓] choose · [Enter] confirm · [PgUp/PgDn] scroll · [q] quit".into()
+        }
+        (Screen::Game, Focus::Editor) => {
+            " [Ctrl-S] grade · [Tab] focus log · [Esc] focus log · [Ctrl-Q] quit".into()
+        }
+        (Screen::Game, Focus::Game) => {
+            " [Ctrl-S] grade · [Tab] focus editor · [↑/↓] scroll · [r] reset · [q] quit".into()
+        }
+        (Screen::ResetConfirm, _) => " [y] confirm wipe · any other key cancels".into(),
+        (Screen::Completed, _) => {
+            " [↑/↓] scroll · [PgUp/PgDn] page · [r] reset · [q] quit".into()
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 fn screen_widget<'a>(title: String, body: String) -> Paragraph<'a> {
@@ -642,8 +679,7 @@ fn screen_widget<'a>(title: String, body: String) -> Paragraph<'a> {
 
 fn welcome_prompt_lines() -> Vec<String> {
     vec![
-        "🏰 You stand at the entrance.".to_string(),
-        "   [Enter] begin · [q] flee · [PgUp/PgDn] scroll the log".to_string(),
+        "🏰 You stand at the entrance, brave explorer. Press [Enter] to enter the dungeon.".to_string(),
     ]
 }
 
@@ -775,11 +811,6 @@ fn entry_lines(entry: &LogEntry) -> Vec<String> {
             for line in description.lines() {
                 v.push(line.to_string());
             }
-            v.push(String::new());
-            v.push(
-                "  ⌨ [Ctrl-S] grade · [Tab] swap · [↑/↓] scroll · [r] reset · [q] quit"
-                    .to_string(),
-            );
             v
         }
         LogEntry::ResultPass {