diff --git a/packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskCard.tsx b/packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskCard.tsx
index 4781ffa4a0..ce3d0b1cfa 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskCard.tsx
+++ b/packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskCard.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   VALID_TRANSITIONS,
   getErrorMessage,
 } from "@fusion/core";
+import { resolveEffectiveAutoMerge } from "../../../core/src/task-merge";
 import { fetchTaskDetail, uploadAttachment, fetchMission, fetchAgent, type WorkflowFieldDefinition } from "../api";
 import { GitHubBadge } from "./GitHubBadge";
 import { PrCreateModal } from "./PrCreateModal";
@@ -402,7 +403,7 @@ interface TaskCardProps {
   fanout?: BlockerFanoutEntry;
   /** Whether GitHub CLI auth is available for creating PRs from task cards. */
   prAuthAvailable?: boolean;
-  /** Whether project-level auto-merge is enabled (hides manual Create PR quick action when true). */
+  /** Project default auto-merge setting; per-task overrides are applied via resolveEffectiveAutoMerge. */
   autoMergeEnabled?: boolean;
   /** Card-placed custom field definitions for this task's workflow (U13/KTD-14).
    *  Empty/undefined → no field badges render (card byte-identical to today). */
@@ -1264,9 +1265,10 @@ function TaskCardComponent({
   }, [liveBadgeData, batchData, task.issueInfo, task.updatedAt]);
 
   const showInReviewMoveControl = task.column === "in-review" && Boolean(onMoveTask);
+  const effectiveAutoMerge = resolveEffectiveAutoMerge({ autoMerge: task.autoMerge }, { autoMerge: autoMergeEnabled ?? false });
   const showCreatePrQuickAction =
     task.column === "in-review"
-    && autoMergeEnabled !== true
+    && !effectiveAutoMerge
     && !livePrInfo
     && prAuthAvailable === true
     && !isPaused
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskDetailModal.tsx b/packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskDetailModal.tsx
index cd713be125..fa762392ae 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskDetailModal.tsx
+++ b/packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskDetailModal.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import {
   resolveTaskPlanningModel,
   resolveTaskValidatorModel,
 } from "@fusion/core";
+import { resolveEffectiveAutoMerge } from "../../../core/src/task-merge";
 import { uploadAttachment, deleteAttachment, updateTask, pauseTask, unpauseTask, fetchTaskDetail, fetchSettings, fetchGlobalSettings, requestSpecRevision, rebuildTaskSpec, approvePlan, rejectPlan, refineTask, fetchWorkflowResults, assignTask, fetchAgents, fetchAgent, recoverBranchBinding, refreshPrStatus, fetchBoardWorkflows, updateTaskCustomFields, api } from "../api";
 import type { RecoverBranchBindingOutcome, WorkflowFieldDefinition, CustomFieldRejection } from "../api";
 import { ApiRequestError } from "../api";
@@ -2571,6 +2572,7 @@ export function TaskDetailContent({
   const prAutomationLabel = task.status ? prAutomationStatusLabels[task.status] : undefined;
   const mergeStrategy = settings?.mergeStrategy ?? "direct";
   const autoMergeEnabled = settings?.autoMerge ?? false;
+  const effectiveAutoMerge = resolveEffectiveAutoMerge({ autoMerge: task.autoMerge }, { autoMerge: autoMergeEnabled });
   const isManualPrFlow = mergeStrategy === "pull-request" && !autoMergeEnabled;
 
   const isCheckPrStatusAction = isManualPrFlow && !prAutomationLabel && task.prInfo?.status === "open";
@@ -3247,7 +3249,7 @@ export function TaskDetailContent({
                       prInfos={task.prInfos}
                       automationStatus={task.status ?? null}
                       taskColumn={task.column}
-                      autoMerge={settings?.autoMerge ?? false}
+                      autoMerge={effectiveAutoMerge}
                       isManualPrFlow={isManualPrFlow}
                       directMergeCommitStrategy={settings?.directMergeCommitStrategy}
                       prAuthAvailable={prAuthAvailable ?? false}
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskReviewTab.tsx b/packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskReviewTab.tsx
index 154f975a85..e4e20f5d78 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskReviewTab.tsx
+++ b/packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskReviewTab.tsx
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ export function TaskReviewTab({
                 : t("taskReview.effective", "Effective: {{label}}", { label: effectiveAutoMergeLabel })}
             </div>
           </div>
-          {task.column === "in-review" && !task.prInfo && prAuthAvailable === true && autoMergeEnabled !== true && typeof onRequestCreatePr === "function" ? (
+          {task.column === "in-review" && !task.prInfo && prAuthAvailable === true && !effectiveAutoMerge && typeof onRequestCreatePr === "function" ? (
             <button className="btn btn-sm" onClick={() => onRequestCreatePr?.()} data-testid="task-review-create-pr">
               <GitPullRequest />
               {t("taskReview.createPr", "Create PR")}
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/PrPanel.test.tsx b/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/PrPanel.test.tsx
index 798712a86b..6feb318e46 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/PrPanel.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/PrPanel.test.tsx
@@ -61,10 +61,22 @@ describe("PrPanel", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("renders create button and calls onRequestCreatePr", () => {
+  it.each([
+    {
+      name: "hides the button and shows the auto-merge hint when effective auto-merge is on",
+      autoMerge: true,
+      shouldShowCreateButton: false,
+    },
+    {
+      name: "shows the button when effective auto-merge is off",
+      autoMerge: false,
+      shouldShowCreateButton: true,
+    },
+  ])("empty PR state $name", ({ autoMerge, shouldShowCreateButton }) => {
     render(
       <PrPanel
         taskId="FN-001"
+        autoMerge={autoMerge}
         prAuthAvailable={true}
         onRequestCreatePr={mockOnRequestCreatePr}
         onPrUpdated={mockOnPrUpdated}
@@ -72,7 +84,14 @@ describe("PrPanel", () => {
       />
     );
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Create PR/i }));
+    if (!shouldShowCreateButton) {
+      expect(screen.getByText(/Auto-merge will handle this task automatically./i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.queryByTestId("pr-panel-create-pr")).toBeNull();
+      expect(mockOnRequestCreatePr).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByTestId("pr-panel-create-pr"));
     expect(mockOnRequestCreatePr).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 
@@ -95,9 +114,21 @@ describe("PrPanel", () => {
     expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: /Create PR/i })).toBeNull();
   });
 
-  it("shows autoMerge hint in no-PR state", () => {
-    render(<PrPanel taskId="FN-001" autoMerge={true} prAuthAvailable={true} onPrUpdated={mockOnPrUpdated} addToast={mockAddToast} />);
-    expect(screen.getByText(/Auto-merge will handle this task automatically./i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+  it("shows create button when auto-merge is off even if manual PR flow hint is shown", () => {
+    render(
+      <PrPanel
+        taskId="FN-001"
+        autoMerge={false}
+        isManualPrFlow
+        prAuthAvailable={true}
+        onRequestCreatePr={mockOnRequestCreatePr}
+        onPrUpdated={mockOnPrUpdated}
+        addToast={mockAddToast}
+      />
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("pr-panel-create-pr")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/Use the footer action to run PR-first completion for this task./i)).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
   it("renders PR details when prInfo exists", () => {
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/TaskCard.test.tsx b/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/TaskCard.test.tsx
index aea3b5c08b..bf658d3d1f 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/TaskCard.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/TaskCard.test.tsx
@@ -646,34 +646,56 @@ describe("TaskCard", () => {
     expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: "Create pull request" })).toBeNull();
   });
 
-  it("does not render Create PR quick action when autoMergeEnabled is true", () => {
+  it.each([
+    {
+      name: "hides when task override turns auto-merge on while project default is off",
+      taskAutoMerge: true,
+      autoMergeEnabled: false,
+      shouldShow: false,
+    },
+    {
+      name: "hides when task follows an enabled project default",
+      taskAutoMerge: undefined,
+      autoMergeEnabled: true,
+      shouldShow: false,
+    },
+    {
+      name: "shows when task override turns auto-merge off while project default is on",
+      taskAutoMerge: false,
+      autoMergeEnabled: true,
+      shouldShow: true,
+    },
+    {
+      name: "shows when task follows a disabled project default",
+      taskAutoMerge: undefined,
+      autoMergeEnabled: false,
+      shouldShow: true,
+    },
+  ])("Create PR quick action $name", ({ taskAutoMerge, autoMergeEnabled, shouldShow }) => {
     render(
       <TaskCard
-        task={makeTask({ column: "in-review", paused: false, userPaused: false, prInfo: undefined as any })}
+        task={makeTask({
+          column: "in-review",
+          paused: false,
+          userPaused: false,
+          prInfo: undefined as any,
+          autoMerge: taskAutoMerge,
+        })}
         onOpenDetail={noop}
         addToast={noop}
         prAuthAvailable={true}
-        autoMergeEnabled={true}
+        autoMergeEnabled={autoMergeEnabled}
       />,
     );
 
+    if (shouldShow) {
+      expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Create pull request" })).toBeDefined();
+      return;
+    }
+
     expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: "Create pull request" })).toBeNull();
   });
 
-  it("renders Create PR quick action when autoMergeEnabled is false", () => {
-    render(
-      <TaskCard
-        task={makeTask({ column: "in-review", paused: false, userPaused: false, prInfo: undefined as any })}
-        onOpenDetail={noop}
-        addToast={noop}
-        prAuthAvailable={true}
-        autoMergeEnabled={false}
-      />,
-    );
-
-    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Create pull request" })).toBeDefined();
-  });
-
   it("does not render Create PR quick action when task already has prInfo", () => {
     render(
       <TaskCard
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/TaskDetailModal.create-pr.test.tsx b/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/TaskDetailModal.create-pr.test.tsx
index 4a0d1a86e2..e5db10884d 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/TaskDetailModal.create-pr.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/TaskDetailModal.create-pr.test.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type { PrInfo } from "@fusion/core";
 
 const prPanelState = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   latestPrInfo: undefined as PrInfo | undefined,
+  latestAutoMerge: undefined as boolean | undefined,
 }));
 
 const prCreateModalState = vi.hoisted(() => ({
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ const taskReviewTabState = vi.hoisted(() => ({
 vi.mock("../PrPanel", () => ({
   PrPanel: (props: any) => {
     prPanelState.latestPrInfo = props.prInfo;
+    prPanelState.latestAutoMerge = props.autoMerge;
     return (
       <div>
         <button type="button" onClick={() => props.onRequestCreatePr?.()}>
@@ -80,6 +82,7 @@ import {
   noopOpenDetail,
   setupTaskDetailModalHooks,
 } from "./TaskDetailModal.test-helpers";
+import { fetchSettings } from "../../api";
 import { TaskDetailModal } from "../TaskDetailModal";
 
 setupTaskDetailModalHooks();
@@ -88,6 +91,7 @@ describe("TaskDetailModal create-PR wiring", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
     prPanelState.latestPrInfo = undefined;
+    prPanelState.latestAutoMerge = undefined;
     prCreateModalState.latestProps = null;
     taskReviewTabState.latestProps = null;
   });
@@ -138,7 +142,63 @@ describe("TaskDetailModal create-PR wiring", () => {
     }));
   });
 
+  it("passes effective auto-merge on to PrPanel for per-task override-on with project default off", async () => {
+    (fetchSettings as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({
+      modelPresets: [],
+      autoSelectModelPreset: false,
+      defaultPresetBySize: {},
+      autoMerge: false,
+    });
+
+    render(
+      <TaskDetailModal
+        task={makeTask({ id: "FN-5953-A", prInfo: undefined, column: "in-review", autoMerge: true })}
+        projectId="project-123"
+        onClose={noop}
+        onMoveTask={noopMove}
+        onDeleteTask={noopDelete}
+        onMergeTask={noopMerge}
+        onOpenDetail={noopOpenDetail}
+        addToast={vi.fn()}
+      />,
+    );
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Pull Request" }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(prPanelState.latestAutoMerge).toBe(true));
+  });
+
+  it("passes effective auto-merge off to PrPanel for per-task override-off with project default on", async () => {
+    (fetchSettings as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({
+      modelPresets: [],
+      autoSelectModelPreset: false,
+      defaultPresetBySize: {},
+      autoMerge: true,
+    });
+
+    render(
+      <TaskDetailModal
+        task={makeTask({ id: "FN-5953-B", prInfo: undefined, column: "in-review", autoMerge: false })}
+        projectId="project-123"
+        onClose={noop}
+        onMoveTask={noopMove}
+        onDeleteTask={noopDelete}
+        onMergeTask={noopMerge}
+        onOpenDetail={noopOpenDetail}
+        addToast={vi.fn()}
+      />,
+    );
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Pull Request" }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(prPanelState.latestAutoMerge).toBe(false));
+  });
+
   it("opens the same PrCreateModal from TaskReviewTab without leaving the Review tab and closes via onClose", async () => {
+    (fetchSettings as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({
+      modelPresets: [],
+      autoSelectModelPreset: false,
+      defaultPresetBySize: {},
+      autoMerge: false,
+    });
     const task = makeTask({ id: "FN-5021", prInfo: undefined, column: "in-review" });
 
     render(
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/TaskReviewTab.test.tsx b/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/TaskReviewTab.test.tsx
index 0e2b8b364f..e648ee7d06 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/TaskReviewTab.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/TaskReviewTab.test.tsx
@@ -501,10 +501,11 @@ describe("TaskReviewTab", () => {
 
   it("keeps mobile actions wrapping contract, stacks header groups, and prevents body overflow regressions", async () => {
     const css = await loadAllAppCss();
-    const mobileMediaStart = css.indexOf("@media (max-width: 768px)");
+    const taskReviewCss = css.slice(css.indexOf(".task-review-tab"));
+    const mobileMediaStart = taskReviewCss.indexOf("@media (max-width: 768px)");
     expect(mobileMediaStart).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
-    const mobileCss = css.slice(mobileMediaStart);
-    const baseSummaryWrapRule = css.match(/\.task-review-tab__summary-wrap\s*\{[^}]*\}/)?.[0] ?? "";
+    const mobileCss = taskReviewCss.slice(mobileMediaStart);
+    const baseSummaryWrapRule = taskReviewCss.match(/\.task-review-tab__summary-wrap\s*\{[^}]*\}/)?.[0] ?? "";
 
     expect(baseSummaryWrapRule).toMatch(/flex\s*:\s*1\s+1\s+20rem\s*;/);
     expect(baseSummaryWrapRule).not.toMatch(/flex\s*:\s*0\s+0\s+auto\s*;/);
@@ -516,8 +517,8 @@ describe("TaskReviewTab", () => {
     expect(mobileCss).toMatch(/\.task-review-tab__body\s*\{[^}]*padding\s*:\s*var\(--space-sm\)\s*;[^}]*\}/);
     expect(mobileCss).not.toMatch(/\.task-review-tab__actions\s+\.btn\s*\{[^}]*flex\s*:\s*1\s*;[^}]*\}/);
 
-    expect(css).toMatch(/\.task-review-tab__body\s*\{[^}]*overflow-x\s*:\s*auto\s*;[^}]*overflow-wrap\s*:\s*anywhere\s*;[^}]*\}/);
-    expect(css).toMatch(/\.task-review-tab__item\s*\{[^}]*padding\s*:\s*var\(--card-padding\)\s*;[^}]*\}/);
+    expect(taskReviewCss).toMatch(/\.task-review-tab__body\s*\{[^}]*overflow-wrap\s*:\s*anywhere\s*;[^}]*overflow-x\s*:\s*auto\s*;[^}]*\}/);
+    expect(taskReviewCss).toMatch(/\.task-review-tab__item\s*\{[^}]*padding\s*:\s*var\(--card-padding\)\s*;[^}]*\}/);
   });
 
   it("preserves review header structure across sources and empty or populated states", async () => {
@@ -608,14 +609,39 @@ describe("TaskReviewTab", () => {
       }
 
       if (testCase.itemText) {
-        expect(screen.getByText(testCase.itemText)).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getAllByText(testCase.itemText).length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
       }
     }
   });
 
-  it("shows create PR action when in-review without prInfo and auth is available", async () => {
+  it.each([
+    {
+      name: "shows when task override turns auto-merge off while project default is on",
+      taskAutoMerge: false,
+      autoMergeEnabled: true,
+      shouldShow: true,
+    },
+    {
+      name: "hides when task override turns auto-merge on while project default is off",
+      taskAutoMerge: true,
+      autoMergeEnabled: false,
+      shouldShow: false,
+    },
+    {
+      name: "hides when task follows an enabled project default",
+      taskAutoMerge: undefined,
+      autoMergeEnabled: true,
+      shouldShow: false,
+    },
+    {
+      name: "shows when task follows a disabled project default",
+      taskAutoMerge: undefined,
+      autoMergeEnabled: false,
+      shouldShow: true,
+    },
+  ])("create PR action $name", async ({ taskAutoMerge, autoMergeEnabled, shouldShow }) => {
     const onRequestCreatePr = vi.fn();
-    const task = makeTask({ column: "in-review", prInfo: undefined });
+    const task = makeTask({ column: "in-review", prInfo: undefined, autoMerge: taskAutoMerge });
     apiMocks.fetchTaskReview.mockResolvedValue({ reviewState: task.reviewState, automationStatus: null, emptyMessage: null });
 
     render(
@@ -624,10 +650,19 @@ describe("TaskReviewTab", () => {
         addToast={vi.fn()}
         prAuthAvailable
         onRequestCreatePr={onRequestCreatePr}
+        autoMergeEnabled={autoMergeEnabled}
       />,
     );
 
-    fireEvent.click(await screen.findByTestId("task-review-create-pr"));
+    await screen.findByRole("button", { name: "Refresh" });
+
+    if (!shouldShow) {
+      expect(screen.queryByTestId("task-review-create-pr")).toBeNull();
+      expect(onRequestCreatePr).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByTestId("task-review-create-pr"));
     expect(onRequestCreatePr).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 
@@ -671,8 +706,8 @@ describe("TaskReviewTab", () => {
     expect(screen.queryByTestId("task-review-create-pr")).toBeNull();
   });
 
-  it("hides create PR action when auto-merge is enabled", async () => {
-    const task = makeTask({ column: "in-review", prInfo: undefined });
+  it("hides create PR action when task follows an enabled project default", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask({ column: "in-review", prInfo: undefined, autoMerge: undefined });
     apiMocks.fetchTaskReview.mockResolvedValue({ reviewState: task.reviewState, automationStatus: null, emptyMessage: null });
 
     render(<TaskReviewTab task={task} addToast={vi.fn()} prAuthAvailable onRequestCreatePr={vi.fn()} autoMergeEnabled />);