diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 586c3c863db..872228e006f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ jobs:
         if: matrix.runtime != 'bun' || github.event_name != 'push'
         run: ${{ matrix.command }}
 
-  # Types, lint, format, and targeted policy checks.
+  # Types, lint, and format check.
   check:
     name: "check"
     needs: [docs-scope, changed-scope]
@@ -207,37 +207,12 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check types and lint and oxfmt
         run: pnpm check
 
+      - name: Strict TS build smoke
+        run: pnpm build:strict-smoke
+
       - name: Enforce safe external URL opening policy
         run: pnpm lint:ui:no-raw-window-open
 
-  # Report-only dead-code scan. Runs after scope detection and stores the Knip
-  # report as an artifact so we can triage findings before enabling hard gates.
-  deadcode:
-    name: dead-code report
-    needs: [docs-scope, changed-scope]
-    if: needs.docs-scope.outputs.docs_only != 'true' && (github.event_name == 'push' || needs.changed-scope.outputs.run_node == 'true')
-    runs-on: blacksmith-16vcpu-ubuntu-2404
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          submodules: false
-
-      - name: Setup Node environment
-        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-node-env
-        with:
-          install-bun: "false"
-          use-sticky-disk: "true"
-
-      - name: Run Knip dead-code scan
-        run: pnpm deadcode:report:ci:knip
-
-      - name: Upload dead-code results
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: dead-code-knip-${{ github.run_id }}
-          path: .artifacts/deadcode
-
   # Validate docs (format, lint, broken links) only when docs files changed.
   check-docs:
     needs: [docs-scope]