diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index a951543b..da1c684b 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ An opinionated list of Python frameworks, libraries, tools, and resources. Publi
 
 ## Key Rules
 
-- Ordering within a use case: obvious choices first (alphabetically), then challengers (alphabetically). See CONTRIBUTING.md.
+- Ordering within a use case: obvious choices first, then challengers, each tier by PyPI downloads/month descending; no-signal entries last in tier, alphabetically. See CONTRIBUTING.md.
 - A shortlist, not a catalog: per use case, up to 3 obvious choices plus up to 2 challengers, hard maximum 5.
 - One project per PR.
 - One entry per commit when adding or deleting entries. Exception: a prune sweep is one commit per section, its body listing each removal with its reason. Format, wording, or categorization changes across multiple entries may be bundled in a single commit.
diff --git a/CONTEXT.md b/CONTEXT.md
index d89804b3..cab584e1 100644
--- a/CONTEXT.md
+++ b/CONTEXT.md
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ The only admission path into a full Use Case: the PR names the entry it replaces
 _Avoid_: One-in-one-out (informal alias)
 
 **Challenger**:
-An entry (at most two per Use Case) that is not yet the Obvious Choice but is a credible successor to one. Marked by ordering, not description: within a Use Case, Obvious Choices are listed first (alphabetically), then Challengers (alphabetically). Admission requires adoption-trajectory evidence, not popularity alone.
+An entry (at most two per Use Case) that is not yet the Obvious Choice but is a credible successor to one. Marked by ordering, not description: within a Use Case, Obvious Choices are listed first, then Challengers, each tier by PyPI downloads/month descending (no-signal entries last in tier, alphabetically). Admission requires adoption-trajectory evidence, not popularity alone.
 _Avoid_: Rising Star (old lane name), Hidden Gem (old lane name — concept removed entirely)
 
 **Split**:
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 2367c766..c16c0a3b 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ Use the **PyPI package name** as the display name so developers can copy it dire
 
 ### Entry Ordering
 
-Within a use case, the obvious choices are listed first, alphabetically; challengers follow, alphabetically. There is no marker in the entry text — position is the marker, so the last entries of a use case may be its challengers.
+Within a use case, the obvious choices are listed first, ordered by PyPI downloads per month from high to low; challengers follow, in the same order. Entries without a download signal (standard-library modules, agent skill packs) sort last within their tier, alphabetically. There is no marker in the entry text — position is the marker, so the last entries of a use case may be its challengers.
 
 ## Changing the Structure