diff --git a/scripts/Deploy-Brass.ps1 b/scripts/Deploy-Brass.ps1
index b3508ea..640b9b8 100644
--- a/scripts/Deploy-Brass.ps1
+++ b/scripts/Deploy-Brass.ps1
@@ -198,11 +198,20 @@ if ($shouldRunPack -and (Test-Path $overridesLocal)) {
     }
 }
 
-# ─── Stage 5: deploy launcher exe + manifest to share ──────────────────────
+# ─── Stage 5: publish launcher exe (only when Stage includes Launcher) ─────
 if ($shouldRunLauncher) {
-    Step "Copy launcher.exe + manifest to $DeployShare" {
+    Step "Copy launcher.exe -> $DeployShare" {
         Copy-Item $launcherExe (Join-Path $DeployShare $LauncherDeployedAs) -Force
-        Copy-Item $manifestPath (Join-Path $DeployShare 'manifest.json')   -Force
+    }
+}
+
+# ─── Stage 6: publish manifest (any time pack content changed) ─────────────
+# Manifest is a pack artifact, not a launcher artifact -- a Pack-only deploy
+# (e.g. tweak jar or pack version bump) still needs the new manifest to land
+# on the share so clients see the updated SHA-1 list and pack version.
+if ($shouldRunPack) {
+    Step "Copy manifest.json -> $DeployShare" {
+        Copy-Item $manifestPath (Join-Path $DeployShare 'manifest.json') -Force
     }
 }