diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 5dca67422d7..18a41d01feb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -1453,7 +1453,7 @@ jobs:
     name: ${{ matrix.check_name }}
     needs: [preflight]
     if: always() && needs.preflight.outputs.run_check == 'true'
-    runs-on: ${{ github.repository == 'openclaw/openclaw' && 'blacksmith-8vcpu-ubuntu-2404' || 'ubuntu-24.04' }}
+    runs-on: ${{ github.repository == 'openclaw/openclaw' && matrix.runner || 'ubuntu-24.04' }}
     timeout-minutes: 20
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
@@ -1461,16 +1461,22 @@ jobs:
         include:
           - check_name: check-preflight-guards
             task: preflight-guards
+            runner: blacksmith-8vcpu-ubuntu-2404
           - check_name: check-prod-types
             task: prod-types
+            runner: blacksmith-8vcpu-ubuntu-2404
           - check_name: check-lint
             task: lint
+            runner: blacksmith-16vcpu-ubuntu-2404
           - check_name: check-policy-guards
             task: policy-guards
+            runner: blacksmith-8vcpu-ubuntu-2404
           - check_name: check-test-types
             task: test-types
+            runner: blacksmith-8vcpu-ubuntu-2404
           - check_name: check-strict-smoke
             task: strict-smoke
+            runner: blacksmith-8vcpu-ubuntu-2404
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         shell: bash
@@ -1997,7 +2003,7 @@ jobs:
     name: ${{ matrix.check_name }}
     needs: [preflight]
     if: needs.preflight.outputs.run_checks_windows == 'true'
-    runs-on: ${{ github.repository == 'openclaw/openclaw' && 'blacksmith-8vcpu-windows-2025' || 'windows-2025' }}
+    runs-on: ${{ github.repository == 'openclaw/openclaw' && 'blacksmith-16vcpu-windows-2025' || 'windows-2025' }}
     timeout-minutes: 60
     env:
       NODE_OPTIONS: --max-old-space-size=6144
diff --git a/docs/ci.md b/docs/ci.md
index cd5e3f38afd..aa64dcc3ab0 100644
--- a/docs/ci.md
+++ b/docs/ci.md
@@ -60,8 +60,9 @@ GitHub may mark superseded jobs as `cancelled` when a newer push lands on the sa
 | Runner                           | Jobs                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
 | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
 | `ubuntu-24.04`                   | `preflight`, short aggregate verifier jobs (`security-fast`, `check`, `check-additional`, `checks-fast-contracts-channels`); install-smoke preflight also uses GitHub-hosted Ubuntu so the Blacksmith matrix can queue earlier |
-| `blacksmith-8vcpu-ubuntu-2404`   | `security-scm-fast`, `security-dependency-audit`, `build-artifacts`, Linux checks, long-matrix aggregate verifiers, docs checks, Python skills, `android`                                                                      |
-| `blacksmith-8vcpu-windows-2025`  | `checks-windows`                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `blacksmith-8vcpu-ubuntu-2404`   | `security-scm-fast`, `security-dependency-audit`, `build-artifacts`, Linux checks except `check-lint`, long-matrix aggregate verifiers, docs checks, Python skills, `android`                                                  |
+| `blacksmith-16vcpu-ubuntu-2404`  | `check-lint`, which remains CPU-sensitive enough that 8 vCPU cost more than it saved                                                                                                                                           |
+| `blacksmith-16vcpu-windows-2025` | `checks-windows`                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
 | `blacksmith-6vcpu-macos-latest`  | `macos-node` on `openclaw/openclaw`; forks fall back to `macos-latest`                                                                                                                                                         |
 | `blacksmith-12vcpu-macos-latest` | `macos-swift` on `openclaw/openclaw`; forks fall back to `macos-latest`                                                                                                                                                        |