diff --git a/app/components/Package/List.vue b/app/components/Package/List.vue
index bf9e1c2ee..4e8f75536 100644
--- a/app/components/Package/List.vue
+++ b/app/components/Package/List.vue
@@ -112,6 +112,12 @@ watch(
   { immediate: true },
 )
 
+// Tracks how many items came from the last new-search batch.
+// Items at index < newSearchBatchSize are from the new search → no animation.
+// Items at index >= newSearchBatchSize were loaded via scroll → animate with stagger.
+// Using an index threshold avoids any timing dependency on nextTick / virtual list paint.
+const newSearchBatchSize = shallowRef(Infinity)
+
 // Reset scroll state when results change significantly (new search)
 watch(
   () => props.results,
@@ -123,6 +129,7 @@ watch(
       (oldResults.length > 0 && newResults[0]?.package.name !== oldResults[0]?.package.name)
     ) {
       hasScrolledToInitial.value = false
+      newSearchBatchSize.value = newResults.length
     }
   },
 )
@@ -172,9 +179,16 @@ defineExpose({
                 :show-publisher="showPublisher"
                 :index="index"
                 :search-query="searchQuery"
-                class="motion-safe:animate-fade-in motion-safe:animate-fill-both"
+                :class="
+                  index >= newSearchBatchSize &&
+                  'motion-safe:animate-fade-in motion-safe:animate-fill-both'
+                "
+                :style="
+                  index >= newSearchBatchSize
+                    ? { animationDelay: `${Math.min((index - newSearchBatchSize) * 0.02, 0.3)}s` }
+                    : {}
+                "
                 :filters="filters"
-                :style="{ animationDelay: `${Math.min(index * 0.02, 0.3)}s` }"
                 @click-keyword="emit('clickKeyword', $event)"
               />
             </div>
@@ -224,8 +238,15 @@ defineExpose({
             :show-publisher="showPublisher"
             :index="index"
             :search-query="searchQuery"
-            class="motion-safe:animate-fade-in motion-safe:animate-fill-both"
-            :style="{ animationDelay: `${Math.min(index * 0.02, 0.3)}s` }"
+            :class="
+              index >= newSearchBatchSize &&
+              'motion-safe:animate-fade-in motion-safe:animate-fill-both'
+            "
+            :style="
+              index >= newSearchBatchSize
+                ? { animationDelay: `${Math.min((index - newSearchBatchSize) * 0.02, 0.3)}s` }
+                : {}
+            "
             :filters="filters"
             @click-keyword="emit('clickKeyword', $event)"
           />
diff --git a/app/composables/useGlobalSearch.ts b/app/composables/useGlobalSearch.ts
index 77367a049..45bb47848 100644
--- a/app/composables/useGlobalSearch.ts
+++ b/app/composables/useGlobalSearch.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import { debounce } from 'perfect-debounce'
 // Pages that have their own local filter using ?q
 const pagesWithLocalFilter = new Set(['~username', 'org'])
 
+const SEARCH_DEBOUNCE_MS = 100
+
 export function useGlobalSearch(place: 'header' | 'content' = 'content') {
   const { settings } = useSettings()
   const { searchProvider } = useSearchProvider()
@@ -27,10 +29,14 @@ export function useGlobalSearch(place: 'header' | 'content' = 'content') {
   // Syncs instantly when instantSearch is on, but only on Enter press when off
   const committedSearchQuery = useState<string>('committed-search-query', () => searchQuery.value)
 
+  const commitSearchQuery = debounce((val: string) => {
+    committedSearchQuery.value = val
+  }, SEARCH_DEBOUNCE_MS)
+
   // This is basically doing instant search as user types
   watch(searchQuery, val => {
     if (settings.value.instantSearch) {
-      committedSearchQuery.value = val
+      commitSearchQuery(val)
     }
   })
 
@@ -71,10 +77,11 @@ export function useGlobalSearch(place: 'header' | 'content' = 'content') {
     })
   }
 
-  const updateUrlQuery = debounce(updateUrlQueryImpl, 250)
+  const updateUrlQuery = debounce(updateUrlQueryImpl, SEARCH_DEBOUNCE_MS)
 
   function flushUpdateUrlQuery() {
     // Commit the current query when explicitly submitted (Enter pressed)
+    commitSearchQuery.cancel()
     committedSearchQuery.value = searchQuery.value
     // When instant search is off the debounce queue is empty, so call directly
     if (!settings.value.instantSearch) {
diff --git a/app/pages/search.vue b/app/pages/search.vue
index eb424d7dd..89b2165ba 100644
--- a/app/pages/search.vue
+++ b/app/pages/search.vue
@@ -354,13 +354,19 @@ const canPublishToScope = computed(() => {
 
 // Show claim prompt when valid name, available, either not connected or connected and has permission
 const showClaimPrompt = computed(() => {
-  return (
-    isValidPackageName.value &&
-    packageAvailability.value?.available === true &&
-    packageAvailability.value.name === query.value.trim() &&
-    (!isConnected.value || (isConnected.value && canPublishToScope.value)) &&
-    status.value !== 'pending'
-  )
+  if (!isValidPackageName.value) return false
+  if (isConnected.value && !canPublishToScope.value) return false
+
+  const avail = packageAvailability.value
+
+  // Confirmed: availability result matches current committed query
+  if (avail?.available === true && avail.name === committedQuery.value.trim()) return true
+
+  // Pending: a new fetch is in flight — keep the claim visible if the last known
+  // result was "available" so it doesn't flicker until new data arrives
+  if (status.value === 'pending' && avail?.available === true) return true
+
+  return false
 })
 
 const claimPackageModalRef = useTemplateRef('claimPackageModalRef')
@@ -711,22 +717,28 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
             status === 'success'
           "
         >
-          <div
-            v-if="validatedSuggestions.length > 0 && displayResults.length > 0"
-            class="mb-6 space-y-3"
+          <Transition
+            enter-active-class="motion-safe:animate-slide-up motion-safe:animate-fill-both"
+            leave-active-class="motion-safe:transition-[opacity,transform] motion-safe:duration-200 motion-safe:ease-out"
+            leave-to-class="opacity-0 motion-safe:-translate-y-1.5"
           >
-            <SearchSuggestionCard
-              v-for="(suggestion, idx) in validatedSuggestions"
-              :key="`${suggestion.type}-${suggestion.name}`"
-              :type="suggestion.type"
-              :name="suggestion.name"
-              :index="idx"
-              :is-exact-match="
-                (exactMatchType === 'org' && suggestion.type === 'org') ||
-                (exactMatchType === 'user' && suggestion.type === 'user')
-              "
-            />
-          </div>
+            <div
+              v-if="validatedSuggestions.length > 0 && displayResults.length > 0"
+              class="mb-6 space-y-3"
+            >
+              <SearchSuggestionCard
+                v-for="(suggestion, idx) in validatedSuggestions"
+                :key="`${suggestion.type}-${suggestion.name}`"
+                :type="suggestion.type"
+                :name="suggestion.name"
+                :index="idx"
+                :is-exact-match="
+                  (exactMatchType === 'org' && suggestion.type === 'org') ||
+                  (exactMatchType === 'user' && suggestion.type === 'user')
+                "
+              />
+            </div>
+          </Transition>
 
           <div
             v-if="showClaimPrompt && visibleResults && displayResults.length > 0"
@@ -740,7 +752,8 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
             </div>
             <button
               type="button"
-              class="shrink-0 px-4 py-2 font-mono text-sm text-bg bg-fg rounded-md motion-safe:transition-colors motion-safe:duration-200 hover:bg-fg/90 focus-visible:outline-accent/70"
+              class="shrink-0 px-4 py-2 font-mono text-sm text-bg bg-fg rounded-md motion-safe:transition-[color,background-color,opacity] motion-safe:duration-200 hover:bg-fg/90 focus-visible:outline-accent/70 disabled:opacity-85 disabled:cursor-not-allowed"
+              :disabled="status === 'pending'"
               @click="claimPackageModalRef?.open()"
             >
               {{ $t('search.claim_button', { name: query }) }}
@@ -823,19 +836,25 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
               {{ $t('search.no_results', { query }) }}
             </p>
 
-            <div v-if="validatedSuggestions.length > 0" class="max-w-md mx-auto mb-6 space-y-3">
-              <SearchSuggestionCard
-                v-for="(suggestion, idx) in validatedSuggestions"
-                :key="`${suggestion.type}-${suggestion.name}`"
-                :type="suggestion.type"
-                :name="suggestion.name"
-                :index="idx"
-                :is-exact-match="
-                  (exactMatchType === 'org' && suggestion.type === 'org') ||
-                  (exactMatchType === 'user' && suggestion.type === 'user')
-                "
-              />
-            </div>
+            <Transition
+              enter-active-class="motion-safe:animate-slide-up motion-safe:animate-fill-both"
+              leave-active-class="motion-safe:transition-[opacity,transform] motion-safe:duration-200 motion-safe:ease-out"
+              leave-to-class="opacity-0 motion-safe:-translate-y-1.5"
+            >
+              <div v-if="validatedSuggestions.length > 0" class="max-w-md mx-auto mb-6 space-y-3">
+                <SearchSuggestionCard
+                  v-for="(suggestion, idx) in validatedSuggestions"
+                  :key="`${suggestion.type}-${suggestion.name}`"
+                  :type="suggestion.type"
+                  :name="suggestion.name"
+                  :index="idx"
+                  :is-exact-match="
+                    (exactMatchType === 'org' && suggestion.type === 'org') ||
+                    (exactMatchType === 'user' && suggestion.type === 'user')
+                  "
+                />
+              </div>
+            </Transition>
 
             <div v-if="showClaimPrompt" class="max-w-md mx-auto text-center hidden sm:block">
               <div class="p-4 bg-bg-subtle border border-border rounded-lg">