diff --git a/src/signals/engine.ts b/src/signals/engine.ts
index 967ff1ef31..e28cc261f8 100644
--- a/src/signals/engine.ts
+++ b/src/signals/engine.ts
@@ -4261,9 +4261,22 @@ function reviewContextBody(args: PublicSafeCollapsibleArgs): string[] {
   ];
 }
 
-/** "Contributor next steps" body — the deduped actionable steps (or a fallback when none). */
-function contributorNextStepsBody(nextSteps: string[]): string[] {
-  return nextSteps.length > 0 ? [...new Set(nextSteps)].map((step) => `- ${step}`) : ["- Keep the PR focused and include validation evidence before maintainer review."];
+/** "Contributor next steps" body (#5097). The Signals table's own Action column already lists every one of these
+ *  actions verbatim, so a flat re-listing here added nothing a reader hadn't already seen — which is why it read
+ *  as low-value. Instead this leads with the single highest-priority step as a "Start here" synthesis (the one
+ *  thing the flat table does not say) and points back to the table for the remainder, so the underlying signal
+ *  (`publicSafeNextSteps`: the maintainer-lane note, the readiness actions, the finding actions) is preserved in
+ *  full above while this collapsible finally earns its place. Falls back to the generic line when there are no
+ *  steps at all. */
+export function contributorNextStepsBody(nextSteps: string[]): string[] {
+  const deduped = [...new Set(nextSteps)];
+  if (deduped.length === 0) return ["- Keep the PR focused and include validation evidence before maintainer review."];
+  const [first, ...rest] = deduped;
+  if (rest.length === 0) return [`- **Start here:** ${first}`];
+  return [
+    `- **Start here:** ${first}`,
+    `- Then work through the remaining ${rest.length} step${rest.length === 1 ? "" : "s"} in the Signals table above.`,
+  ];
 }
 
 /** #5096: one reusable convention for EXPERIMENTAL ("beta") collapsibles in the public PR comment, so a reader
@@ -4590,7 +4603,7 @@ export function buildPublicPrIntelligenceComment(args: {
     "<details>",
     "<summary>Contributor next steps</summary>",
     "",
-    ...(nextSteps.length > 0 ? [...new Set(nextSteps)].map((step) => `- ${step}`) : ["- Keep the PR focused and include validation evidence before maintainer review."]),
+    ...contributorNextStepsBody(nextSteps),
     "",
     "</details>",
     "",
diff --git a/test/unit/unified-comment-parity.test.ts b/test/unit/unified-comment-parity.test.ts
index bcc5ed9d42..f04907d0e2 100644
--- a/test/unit/unified-comment-parity.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/unified-comment-parity.test.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   buildPublicPrPanelSignalRows,
   buildPublicSafeCollapsibles,
   buildQueueHealth,
+  contributorNextStepsBody,
   detectGittensorContributor,
 } from "../../src/signals/engine";
 import { buildUnifiedCommentBody } from "../../src/review/unified-comment-bridge";
@@ -170,6 +171,39 @@ describe("converged comment ↔ legacy panel parity (#unified-comment)", () => {
     expect(nextSteps.body.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
   });
 
+  describe("contributorNextStepsBody redesign (#5097)", () => {
+    it("leads with a prioritized 'Start here' step and points to the table for the rest", () => {
+      expect(contributorNextStepsBody(["Add a linked issue.", "Fix the failing check.", "Add tests."])).toEqual([
+        "- **Start here:** Add a linked issue.",
+        "- Then work through the remaining 2 steps in the Signals table above.",
+      ]);
+    });
+
+    it("uses the singular 'step' when exactly one remains", () => {
+      expect(contributorNextStepsBody(["Add a linked issue.", "Fix the failing check."])).toEqual([
+        "- **Start here:** Add a linked issue.",
+        "- Then work through the remaining 1 step in the Signals table above.",
+      ]);
+    });
+
+    it("shows only the single step when there is exactly one", () => {
+      expect(contributorNextStepsBody(["Add a linked issue."])).toEqual(["- **Start here:** Add a linked issue."]);
+    });
+
+    it("dedupes repeated steps before prioritizing", () => {
+      expect(contributorNextStepsBody(["Add tests.", "Add tests.", "Fix the check."])).toEqual([
+        "- **Start here:** Add tests.",
+        "- Then work through the remaining 1 step in the Signals table above.",
+      ]);
+    });
+
+    it("falls back to the generic line when there are no steps at all", () => {
+      expect(contributorNextStepsBody([])).toEqual([
+        "- Keep the PR focused and include validation evidence before maintainer review.",
+      ]);
+    });
+  });
+
   it("the legacy panel still renders 'Maintainer notes' inline (private section is unchanged, just not shared)", () => {
     const { currentPr, detection, collisions, queueHealth, preflight, profile } = buildFixtures();
     const legacy = buildPublicPrIntelligenceComment({env: {}, repo, pr: currentPr, profile, detection, queueHealth, collisions, preflight, settings });