diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index ac948bfd..9374013b 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 ## Linear issue
-<!-- REQUIRED. Link the issue: an issue key like V2-123, or a linear.app URL.
-     CI blocks PRs with no linked Linear issue. -->
+<!-- REQUIRED. Use a closing magic word + the issue key, one line per issue:
+
+         Closes V2-123
+
+     Any of Linear's closing words works, in any tense — close / fix / resolve /
+     complete / implement, plus their -s, -d and -ing forms, and the phrase
+     `linear issue`. The key may be a linear.app/<workspace>/issue/<key> URL.
+
+     The closing form is what makes Linear attach the PR to the issue and move
+     the issue to Merged when this lands on main. A bare `V2-123` does NOT link
+     the PR — Linear ignores it — so CI rejects it. Linear's linking-only words
+     (`ref`, `part of`, `towards`, `relates to`) do attach the PR but do not
+     drive the Merged transition, so CI does not accept those either. (An issue
+     key in the branch name or the PR title also links the PR, but write the
+     closing form here anyway.) -->
 
 ## Risk tier
 <!-- Check exactly one. Boundary question: does this change node behavior, the wire
diff --git a/.github/scripts/check_pr.py b/.github/scripts/check_pr.py
index c68f94c8..4c0ca0b7 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/check_pr.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/check_pr.py
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@
                          no-op that passes on rc-* so hotfix/regression PRs are
                          not forced to carry the full template).
 
+Linear only attaches a PR to an issue in three ways: the issue key in the branch
+name, the key in the PR title, or a closing magic word followed by the key in the
+PR description ("Closes V2-123"). A *bare* key in the description does not link
+the PR — Linear ignores it — so the linear check no longer accepts one (V2-1161).
+
 PR fields are read from the environment (set by the workflow from the event
 payload): PR_TITLE, PR_BODY, PR_BRANCH, PR_BASE.
 
@@ -28,14 +33,45 @@
 
 # Case-insensitive so it also matches Linear-generated branch names, which are
 # lower-cased (e.g. chrisoneil/v2-720-...).
-LINEAR_KEY = re.compile(
-    r"\b(?:" + "|".join(LINEAR_TEAM_PREFIXES) + r")-[0-9]+\b", re.IGNORECASE
-)
+LINEAR_KEY_PATTERN = r"\b(?:" + "|".join(LINEAR_TEAM_PREFIXES) + r")-[0-9]+\b"
+LINEAR_KEY = re.compile(LINEAR_KEY_PATTERN, re.IGNORECASE)
 # A real Linear issue URL: linear.app/<workspace>/issue/<KEY>[/<slug>]. Constrained
 # to the /issue/<key> path so generic pages (linear.app/changelog,
 # linear.app/not-an-issue) do not count as a linked issue.
-LINEAR_URL = re.compile(
-    r"linear\.app/[^/\s]+/issue/[A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9]*-[0-9]+", re.IGNORECASE
+LINEAR_URL_PATTERN = r"linear\.app/[^/\s]+/issue/[A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9]*-[0-9]+"
+LINEAR_URL = re.compile(LINEAR_URL_PATTERN, re.IGNORECASE)
+
+# Linear's *closing* magic words, verbatim from https://linear.app/docs/github.
+# Only these both attach the PR and drive the issue to Merged when it lands on
+# main. Linear's other families — "ref / refs / references", "part of /
+# contributes to / toward / towards", "relates to / related to" — attach the PR
+# without the status transition, so they are deliberately not accepted here.
+MAGIC_WORDS = (
+    "close", "closes", "closed", "closing",
+    "fix", "fixes", "fixed", "fixing",
+    "resolve", "resolves", "resolved", "resolving",
+    "complete", "completes", "completed", "completing",
+    "implement", "implements", "implemented", "implementing",
+    "linear issue",
+)
+# The five stems, for failure messages — spelling out all 21 forms is unreadable.
+MAGIC_WORD_STEMS = ("close", "fix", "resolve", "complete", "implement")
+# "<magic word> V2-123" or "<magic word> https://linear.app/<ws>/issue/V2-123/...".
+# This is the form the PR template asks for; a bare key does not match. The
+# separator is [ \t]+ rather than \s+ so the two halves must sit on the same
+# line — a paragraph that merely ends in "...closes." cannot pair up with a bare
+# key further down the body, and the template's own "## Linear issue" heading
+# cannot pair up with a bare key on the line beneath it. Longest alternative
+# first so "closes" is not shadowed by "close".
+LINEAR_CLOSES = re.compile(
+    r"\b(?:"
+    + "|".join(re.escape(w) for w in sorted(MAGIC_WORDS, key=len, reverse=True))
+    + r")[ \t]+(?:<)?(?:https?://)?(?:"
+    + LINEAR_URL_PATTERN
+    + r"|"
+    + LINEAR_KEY_PATTERN
+    + r")",
+    re.IGNORECASE,
 )
 
 # Canonical section headings, exactly as they appear in the template, keyed by
@@ -97,15 +133,35 @@ def sections(body):
 
 def check_linear():
     # Strip comments from the body so the template's own example does not count.
-    ref = linear_ref(env("PR_TITLE"), strip_comments(env("PR_BODY")), env("PR_BRANCH"))
+    closes = LINEAR_CLOSES.search(strip_comments(env("PR_BODY")))
+    if closes:
+        ok(f"✅ Linear link found in the PR body: {closes.group(0)}")
+    # A key in the branch name or the PR title also links the PR in Linear, so
+    # either is an accepted alternative to the closing form.
+    ref = linear_ref(env("PR_TITLE"), env("PR_BRANCH"))
     if ref:
-        ok(f"✅ Linear reference found: {ref}")
+        ok(f"✅ Linear link found in the PR title / branch name: {ref}")
     fail(
         "❌ No linked Linear issue found.\n\n"
-        "Every PR must reference a Linear issue — an issue key ("
-        + " / ".join(f"{p}-123" for p in LINEAR_TEAM_PREFIXES)
-        + "), or a linear.app/<workspace>/issue/<key> URL — in the PR title, body,\n"
-        "or branch name. Add it to the '## Linear issue' section and update the PR."
+        "Linear attaches a PR to an issue in exactly three ways. Use one:\n\n"
+        "  1. A closing magic word + the issue key in the PR body — preferred:\n\n"
+        "         Closes V2-123\n\n"
+        "     One line per issue if this PR closes several. Any of Linear's closing\n"
+        "     words works, in any tense — "
+        + " / ".join(MAGIC_WORD_STEMS)
+        + ", plus their -s, -d and -ing\n"
+        "     forms, and the phrase 'linear issue'. The key may be a\n"
+        "     linear.app/<workspace>/issue/<key> URL instead.\n"
+        "  2. The issue key in the branch name, e.g. chrisoneil/v2-123-short-slug.\n"
+        "  3. The issue key in the PR title.\n\n"
+        "A bare '"
+        + LINEAR_TEAM_PREFIXES[0]
+        + "-123' in the body does NOT link the PR — Linear ignores it, the PR never\n"
+        "appears on the issue, and the issue never moves to Merged when this lands.\n"
+        "Linear's linking-only words ('ref', 'part of', 'towards', 'relates to') do\n"
+        "attach the PR, but they do not drive the Merged transition, so this check\n"
+        "does not accept them either.\n"
+        "Put the closing form under the '## Linear issue' heading and update the PR."
     )
 
 
@@ -168,9 +224,15 @@ def check_template():
                 f"'## Compatibility': fill in {axis} (use 'none' if not applicable)"
             )
 
-    # Linear reference present in its own section (comments stripped).
-    if "linear issue" in secs and not linear_ref(strip_comments(secs["linear issue"])):
-        errors.append("'## Linear issue': add the issue key or a linear.app link")
+    # Linear reference present in its own section, in the closing form that
+    # actually links the PR (comments stripped so the template's example is inert).
+    if "linear issue" in secs and not LINEAR_CLOSES.search(
+        strip_comments(secs["linear issue"])
+    ):
+        errors.append(
+            "'## Linear issue': use the closing form, e.g. 'Closes V2-123' — a bare "
+            "key does not link the PR in Linear"
+        )
 
     # ADR must be filled explicitly: 'n/a' for T0/T1, a link for T2/T3.
     adr = strip_comments(secs.get("adr", "")).strip()
diff --git a/.github/scripts/test_check_pr.py b/.github/scripts/test_check_pr.py
index c41f323e..6069cf4a 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/test_check_pr.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/test_check_pr.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 VALID_BODY = """\
 ## Linear issue
-- https://linear.app/autonominetwork/issue/V2-719/add-the-standard-pr-template
+- Closes https://linear.app/autonominetwork/issue/V2-719/add-the-standard-pr-template
 
 ## Risk tier
 - [x] T0 — docs / tooling / CI.
@@ -52,13 +52,24 @@ def body_without(section_swap):
 # Unfilled template: the only Linear-looking token is the example in a comment.
 UNFILLED = """\
 ## Linear issue
-<!-- REQUIRED. Link the issue: an issue key like V2-123, or a linear.app URL. -->
+<!-- REQUIRED. Use the closing form, one line per issue: Closes V2-123 -->
 ## Risk tier
 - [ ] T0
 ## Semver impact
 - [ ] fix
 """
 
+# Linear's closing magic words, from https://linear.app/docs/github. Restated here
+# rather than imported from check_pr.py so the matrix is an independent assertion
+# about what the checker must accept, not a tautology.
+CLOSING_MAGIC_WORDS = (
+    "close", "closes", "closed", "closing",
+    "fix", "fixes", "fixed", "fixing",
+    "resolve", "resolves", "resolved", "resolving",
+    "complete", "completes", "completed", "completing",
+    "implement", "implements", "implemented", "implementing",
+)
+
 # (name, mode, env, expected_exit)
 CASES = [
     # --- linear-link: rejections ---
@@ -67,10 +78,35 @@ def body_without(section_swap):
     ("linear: linear.app/changelog", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "see https://linear.app/changelog", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 1),
     ("linear: linear.app/not-an-issue", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "https://linear.app/not-an-issue", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 1),
     ("linear: unfilled template (example in comment)", "linear", {"PR_BODY": UNFILLED, "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 1),
-    # --- linear-link: acceptances ---
-    ("linear: issue URL in body", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "https://linear.app/autonominetwork/issue/V2-719/foo"}, 0),
+    # A bare reference in the body does not link the PR in Linear (V2-1161).
+    ("linear: bare key in body only", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "V2-1161", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 1),
+    ("linear: bare issue URL in body only", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "https://linear.app/autonominetwork/issue/V2-719/foo", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 1),
+    ("linear: magic word without a key", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "Closes the gap", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 1),
+    ("linear: magic word on its own line from the key", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "Closes\n\nV2-1161", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 1),
+    # Linear's linking-only families attach the PR but do not drive the Merged
+    # transition, so they are not accepted as the closing form.
+    ("linear: 'part of' is linking-only", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "part of V2-1161", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 1),
+    ("linear: 'ref' is linking-only", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "ref V2-1161", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 1),
+    ("linear: 'towards' is linking-only", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "towards V2-1161", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 1),
+    ("linear: 'relates to' is linking-only", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "relates to V2-1161", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 1),
+    ("linear: magic word as a word prefix", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "prefix V2-1161", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 1),
+    ("linear: magic word as a word suffix", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "fixture V2-1161", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 1),
+    # --- linear-link: acceptances (Linear's full closing set, any tense) ---
+    ("linear: Closes + key in body", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "Closes V2-1161", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 0),
+    ("linear: lower-cased magic word", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "closes v2-1161", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 0),
+    ("linear: Closes + issue URL in body", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "Closes https://linear.app/autonominetwork/issue/V2-719/foo", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 0),
+    ("linear: closing form inside prose", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "This one closes V2-1161 at last.", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 0),
+    ("linear: 'linear issue' phrase", "linear", {"PR_BODY": "Linear issue V2-1161", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 0),
     ("linear: key in branch (lowercased)", "linear", {"PR_BRANCH": "chrisoneil/v2-720-ci-check"}, 0),
     ("linear: key in title", "linear", {"PR_TITLE": "AUTO-42 do the thing", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 0),
+] + [
+    # One case per closing magic word Linear documents, capitalised as an author
+    # would write it — e.g. "Fixed V2-1161" links and closes in Linear, so it must
+    # pass here too.
+    (f"linear: '{word}'", "linear",
+     {"PR_BODY": f"{word.capitalize()} V2-1161", "PR_BRANCH": "x"}, 0)
+    for word in CLOSING_MAGIC_WORDS
+] + [
     # --- pr-template: acceptances ---
     ("template: valid T0 body", "template", {"PR_BASE": "main", "PR_BODY": VALID_BODY}, 0),
     ("template: rc-* base is a no-op pass", "template", {"PR_BASE": "rc-2025.10", "PR_BODY": "anything"}, 0),
@@ -86,6 +122,9 @@ def body_without(section_swap):
         ("- [x] T0 — docs / tooling / CI.", "- [x] T2 — behavioural."))}, 1),
     ("template: no tier checked", "template", {"PR_BASE": "main", "PR_BODY": body_without(
         ("- [x] T0 — docs / tooling / CI.", "- [ ] T0 — docs / tooling / CI."))}, 1),
+    ("template: bare key under '## Linear issue'", "template", {"PR_BASE": "main", "PR_BODY": body_without(
+        ("- Closes https://linear.app/autonominetwork/issue/V2-719/add-the-standard-pr-template",
+         "- V2-719"))}, 1),
     ("template: two tiers checked", "template", {"PR_BASE": "main", "PR_BODY": body_without(
         ("- [x] T0 — docs / tooling / CI.", "- [x] T0 a\n- [x] T2 b"))}, 1),
 ]
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 5dcf95a6..a126dcf4 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -115,8 +115,15 @@ description.
 
 - **Fill every field.** Leave nothing blank; if a value isn't determinable, ask
   before opening the PR.
-- **Link the Linear issue** — an issue key like `V2-123` or a `linear.app` URL.
-  CI blocks PRs with no linked Linear issue.
+- **Link the Linear issue with a closing magic word** — write `Closes V2-123` in
+  the `## Linear issue` section, one line per issue. Any of Linear's closing
+  words works, in any tense (`close` / `fix` / `resolve` / `complete` /
+  `implement`, plus their `-s`, `-d` and `-ing` forms), and the key may be a
+  `linear.app` issue URL. A bare `V2-123` does **not** link the PR at all, and
+  the linking-only words (`ref`, `part of`, `towards`, `relates to`) attach it
+  without driving the Merged transition — CI rejects both. An issue key in the
+  branch name or PR title also links, but write the closing form anyway; it is
+  what moves the issue to Merged when the PR lands on `main`.
 - **Check exactly one Risk tier box and exactly one Semver impact box.** Propose
   them from the change; a human confirms them at review.
 - An **ADR link is required for Tier 2/3**.