diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/classes.test.ts b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/classes.test.ts
index be1c58941..8a2a4659a 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/classes.test.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/classes.test.ts
@@ -75,17 +75,25 @@ test("releases split into an inlinable fast path and an out-of-line remainder",
   const llvm = emitLlvmModule(mod, { pointerBits: 64 });
   const body = (name: string): string =>
     new RegExp(`^define internal void @${name}(?:\\.i32)?\\([^]*?^}`, "m").exec(llvm)?.[0] ?? "";
-  // A hierarchy rooted in the program: a surviving release decrements and
-  // takes the possible-root step without loading the vtable.
+  // A hierarchy rooted in the program: a surviving release decrements the
+  // count (the low half of the rc word, which keeps the class id in its high
+  // half) and takes the possible-root step without loading the vtable.
   const fast = body(mangleClassRelease("Node"));
-  expect(fast).toContain("%shared = icmp ult i64 %rcm2, -3");
+  expect(fast).toContain("%shared = icmp ult i32 %rcm2, -3");
   expect(fast).toContain("load i32, ptr %bufp");
   expect(fast).toContain(`call void @${mangleClassRelease("Node")}_slow(ptr %o)`);
   expect(fast).not.toContain("%ScrVt");
   // Only the last reference dispatches, from a noinline remainder.
   const slow = body(`${mangleClassRelease("Node")}_slow`);
   expect(slow).toMatch(/noinline/);
+  // The class id indexes the hierarchy's vtable array.
+  expect(slow).toContain("%vt.id = load i32, ptr %vt.idp");
+  expect(slow).toContain("ptr @sc_vta_Node, i64 0, i64 %vt.ix64");
   expect(slow).toContain("getelementptr inbounds %ScrVt, ptr %vt, i64 0, i32 2");
+  // 32-bit targets keep the vtable word.
+  const wasm = emitLlvmModule(mod, { pointerBits: 32 });
+  expect(wasm).toContain("; class Node (vt at 1)");
+  expect(wasm).not.toContain("@sc_vta_Node");
 });
 
 test("ProgramLifetime hierarchies are never freed and take no reference counts", () => {
@@ -121,9 +129,11 @@ test("ProgramLifetime hierarchies are never freed and take no reference counts",
     expect(body(mangleClassRetain(cls)), cls).toMatch(/entry:\n {2}ret ptr %o\n}/);
     expect(body(mangleClassRelease(cls)), cls).toMatch(/entry:\n {2}ret void\n}/);
     // new: no collector header (no descriptor, no scr_cyc_alloc) and the
-    // program-lifetime count 2^63, not SIZE_MAX (which means published).
+    // program-lifetime count 2^31 under the class id (Node's preorder number
+    // 0 + 1, Leaf's 1 + 1), not SIZE_MAX (which means published).
     const nw = body(mangleClassNew(cls));
-    expect(nw, cls).toContain("store i64 -9223372036854775808, ptr %o");
+    const id = cls === "Node" ? 1 : 2;
+    expect(nw, cls).toContain(`store i64 ${id * 2 ** 32 + 2 ** 31}, ptr %o.vt`);
     expect(nw, cls).not.toContain("store i64 -1, ptr %o");
     expect(nw, cls).not.toContain("scr_cyc_alloc");
     expect(llvm, cls).not.toContain(`@${mangleClassTrace(cls)}.cyctype`);
@@ -206,13 +216,15 @@ test("published ProgramLifetime instances use the published mark every other obj
   // a refusal restores the program-lifetime count); untraced, so it never
   // leaves a collector buffer.
   expect(llvm).toContain("call void @scr_publish(ptr");
-  expect(llvm).toMatch(/@scr_pub_mark\(ptr %ctx, ptr %o, i1 false, i32 4\)/);
-  // The frozen-object guard of the store tests the count against SIZE_MAX:
-  // an unpublished instance (2^63) stays writable.
+  // Kind 4 (an object) | 0x100 (the rc word keeps a class id: the mark
+  // writes only the count).
+  expect(llvm).toMatch(/@scr_pub_mark\(ptr %ctx, ptr %o, i1 false, i32 260\)/);
+  // The frozen-object guard of the store tests the count against UINT32_MAX:
+  // an unpublished instance (2^31) stays writable.
   const store =
     llvm.split(/^define /m).find((fn) => fn.includes("call void @scr_throw_published_field(")) ??
     "";
-  expect(store).toMatch(/icmp eq i64 %\S+, -1/);
+  expect(store).toMatch(/icmp eq i32 %\S+, -1/);
   expect(store).toContain("call void @scr_publish(ptr");
   // 32-bit targets use 2^31.
   const llvm32 = emitLlvmModule(mod, { pointerBits: 32 });
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/classes.ts b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/classes.ts
index f5a882bbf..5ad29430d 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/classes.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/classes.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
   mangleCtorThunk,
   mangleFunction,
   mangleGlobal,
+  mangleVtArray,
   mangleVtInstance,
   mangleVtStruct,
 } from "../mangle.js";
@@ -81,6 +82,12 @@ export class LlClassMeta {
    * member's struct carries the i32 slot word before its fields
    * (classSlotWordIndex). */
   threadSlot = false;
+  /** A member of a program-rooted hierarchy on a 64-bit target: instead of
+   * a vtable word, the rc word holds the class id (classIdRcWord) in its
+   * high 32 bits (CLASS_ID_OFFSET) and the reference count in its low 32
+   * bits, and the hierarchy's vtables are one array indexed by the id
+   * (mangleVtArray). */
+  idInRc = false;
 
   constructor(readonly def: IrClassDef) {
     this.root = this;
@@ -96,6 +103,7 @@ export class LlClassMeta {
 export function buildClassGraph(
   mod: IrModule,
   fnByName: Map<string, IrFunction>,
+  sizeType: "i32" | "i64" = "i64",
 ): Map<string, LlClassMeta> {
   const metaMap = new Map<string, LlClassMeta>();
   for (const cls of mod.classes ?? []) {
@@ -122,6 +130,11 @@ export function buildClassGraph(
     if (meta.base === null) number(meta, meta);
     meta.hierarchy = meta.base !== null || meta.children.length > 0;
   }
+  // The runtime reads the vtable word of runtime-rooted hierarchies (Error,
+  // EventEmitter, EventTarget, Event and the streams) and 32-bit targets
+  // have no spare half in the rc word: those keep the vtable word.
+  for (const meta of metaMap.values())
+    meta.idInRc = sizeType === "i64" && meta.hierarchy && meta.root.def.runtime !== true;
   const slotRoots = new Set<LlClassMeta>();
   for (const key of mod.threadSlotKeys ?? []) {
     const meta = metaMap.get(key);
@@ -336,11 +349,12 @@ function runtimePrefixOf(meta: LlClassMeta): RuntimePrefix | null {
 }
 
 /** The GEP index after a class's header words: rc at 0, the vtable word
- * at 1 on hierarchy members, then a runtime prefix (state + display name)
+ * at 1 on hierarchy members that do not keep their class id in the rc
+ * word (LlClassMeta.idInRc), then a runtime prefix (state + display name)
  * on classes rooted at a runtime base, then the stream-state slot on
  * stream-rooted ones. */
 function headerEnd(meta: LlClassMeta): number {
-  if (!meta.hierarchy) return 1;
+  if (!meta.hierarchy || meta.idInRc) return 1;
   if (streamRooted(meta)) return 5;
   return runtimePrefixOf(meta) ? 4 : 2;
 }
@@ -445,6 +459,69 @@ export function programLifetimeRc(sizeType: "i32" | "i64"): string {
   return sizeType === "i32" ? "-2147483648" : "-9223372036854775808";
 }
 
+/** Lines that load the preorder number of the dynamic class of `obj`, an
+ * instance of `meta`'s hierarchy whose struct is `struct`, into `pre` (a
+ * `sizeType`): from the high half of the rc word (LlClassMeta.idInRc), or
+ * from the vtable its vtable word points at. */
+export function classPreLines(
+  meta: LlClassMeta,
+  struct: string,
+  obj: string,
+  pre: string,
+  sizeType: "i32" | "i64",
+): string[] {
+  if (meta.idInRc)
+    return [
+      `  ${pre}.idp = getelementptr inbounds i8, ptr ${obj}, i64 ${CLASS_ID_OFFSET}`,
+      `  ${pre}.id = load i32, ptr ${pre}.idp`,
+      `  ${pre}.n = add i32 ${pre}.id, -1 ; the class id is the preorder number + 1`,
+      `  ${pre} = zext i32 ${pre}.n to ${sizeType}`,
+    ];
+  return [
+    `  ${pre}.vtp = getelementptr inbounds %${struct}, ptr ${obj}, i64 0, i32 1`,
+    `  ${pre}.vt = load ptr, ptr ${pre}.vtp`,
+    `  ${pre}.prep = getelementptr inbounds %ScrVt, ptr ${pre}.vt, i64 0, i32 0`,
+    `  ${pre} = load ${sizeType}, ptr ${pre}.prep`,
+  ];
+}
+
+/** Lines that load the class id of the LlClassMeta.idInRc instance `obj`
+ * (`group` adds !invariant.group to the load) and point `vt` at its class's
+ * element of the hierarchy's vtable array. */
+export function classIdVtLines(
+  meta: LlClassMeta,
+  obj: string,
+  vt: string,
+  group: string,
+): string[] {
+  const t = `${vt}.`;
+  const root = meta.root;
+  const vtt = `%${mangleVtStruct(root.def.name)}`;
+  const n = root.post - root.pre + 1;
+  return [
+    `  ${t}idp = getelementptr inbounds i8, ptr ${obj}, i64 ${CLASS_ID_OFFSET}`,
+    `  ${t}id = load i32, ptr ${t}idp${group}`,
+    `  ${t}ix = sub i32 ${t}id, ${root.pre + 1}`,
+    `  ${t}ix64 = zext i32 ${t}ix to i64`,
+    `  ${vt} = getelementptr inbounds [${n} x ${vtt}], ptr @${mangleVtArray(root.def.name)}, i64 0, i64 ${t}ix64`,
+  ];
+}
+
+/** The byte offset of the class id in the rc word of an instance that
+ * keeps it there (LlClassMeta.idInRc): the high half of the little-endian
+ * 64-bit word. The count is the i32 at offset 0. */
+export const CLASS_ID_OFFSET = 4;
+
+/** The rc word an LlClassMeta.idInRc instance is created with: the class
+ * id, its preorder number plus 1, in the high 32 bits, and in the low 32 bits
+ * a count of 1, or for a program-lifetime instance the midpoint of the 32-bit
+ * count (as programLifetimeRc is of the 32-bit word). The id is never 0,
+ * 0x80000000 or 0xffffffff, the high halves of other objects' rc words, so
+ * the runtime can tell an object with a class id (scr_rc.h scr_rc_class_id). */
+export function classIdRcWord(meta: LlClassMeta, lifetime: boolean): string {
+  return (BigInt(meta.pre + 1) * 2n ** 32n + (lifetime ? 2n ** 31n : 1n)).toString();
+}
+
 function undefFieldInits(
   host: ClassHost,
   meta: LlClassMeta,
@@ -524,17 +601,18 @@ export function emitClassShapes(
     // ScrEmitter* / ScrStream* / ScrEventTargetObj* / ScrEventObj* are the
     // usual pointer reinterprets.
     const runtimePrefix = runtimePrefixOf(meta);
-    const prefix = meta.hierarchy
-      ? streamRooted(meta)
-        ? ["ptr", "ptr", "ptr", "ptr"]
-        : runtimePrefix
-          ? ["ptr", "ptr", "ptr"]
-          : ["ptr"]
-      : [];
+    const prefix =
+      meta.hierarchy && !meta.idInRc
+        ? streamRooted(meta)
+          ? ["ptr", "ptr", "ptr", "ptr"]
+          : runtimePrefix
+            ? ["ptr", "ptr", "ptr"]
+            : ["ptr"]
+        : [];
     const members = [...prefix, ...(meta.threadSlot ? ["i32"] : []), ...fieldTys];
     typeDefs.push(
       `%${mangleClassStruct(cls.name)} = type { ${host.sizeType}${members.length ? ", " + members.join(", ") : ""} } ` +
-        `; class ${cls.name}${meta.hierarchy ? " (vt at 1)" : ""}${streamRooted(meta) ? " (ScrStream prefix at 2)" : runtimePrefix ? ` (${runtimePrefix.struct} prefix at 2)` : ""} { ${cls.fields.map((f) => llvmCommentText(f.name)).join("; ")} }`,
+        `; class ${cls.name}${meta.idInRc ? " (class id in rc)" : meta.hierarchy ? " (vt at 1)" : ""}${streamRooted(meta) ? " (ScrStream prefix at 2)" : runtimePrefix ? ` (${runtimePrefix.struct} prefix at 2)` : ""} { ${cls.fields.map((f) => llvmCommentText(f.name)).join("; ")} }`,
     );
   }
 
@@ -559,18 +637,40 @@ export function emitClassShapes(
   // One constant vtable instance per emitted hierarchy class: interval,
   // direct release, and the class's dispatch entry for every slot — the
   // method functions THEMSELVES (no adapters; see the header comment).
-  for (const cls of emitted) {
-    const meta = metaMap.get(cls.name)!;
-    if (!meta.hierarchy) continue;
+  const vtInit = (meta: LlClassMeta): string => {
     const entries = vtEntriesFor(meta).map(({ slot, impl }) =>
       impl === null
         ? `ptr null` // outside the declaring subtree / fully-abstract chain
         : `ptr @${host.virtualEntry?.(`%${impl.def.name}.${slot.method}`) ?? mangleFunction(`%${impl.def.name}.${slot.method}`)}`,
     );
-    const head = `%ScrVt { ${host.sizeType} ${meta.pre}, ${host.sizeType} ${meta.post}, ptr @${mangleClassReleaseDirect(cls.name)} }`;
+    const head = `%ScrVt { ${host.sizeType} ${meta.pre}, ${host.sizeType} ${meta.post}, ptr @${mangleClassReleaseDirect(meta.def.name)} }`;
+    return `{ ${[head, ...entries].join(", ")} }`;
+  };
+  for (const cls of emitted) {
+    const meta = metaMap.get(cls.name)!;
+    if (!meta.hierarchy || meta.idInRc) continue;
     defs.push(
       `@${mangleVtInstance(cls.name)} = internal constant %${mangleVtStruct(meta.root.def.name)} ` +
-        `{ ${[head, ...entries].join(", ")} } ; class ${cls.name}`,
+        `${vtInit(meta)} ; class ${cls.name}`,
+      ``,
+    );
+  }
+  // A hierarchy whose instances keep their class id in the rc word has
+  // one array of its classes' vtables, in preorder: the vtable of an
+  // instance is the element at its number minus the root's.
+  for (const name of roots) {
+    const root = metaMap.get(name)!;
+    if (!root.idInRc) continue;
+    const members = [...metaMap.values()]
+      .filter((m) => m.root === root)
+      .sort((a, b) => a.pre - b.pre);
+    const vtt = `%${mangleVtStruct(root.def.name)}`;
+    defs.push(
+      `@${mangleVtArray(root.def.name)} = internal constant [${members.length} x ${vtt}] [`,
+      ...members.map(
+        (m, i) => `  ${vtt} ${vtInit(m)}${i + 1 < members.length ? "," : ""} ; class ${m.def.name}`,
+      ),
+      `]`,
       ``,
     );
   }
@@ -605,6 +705,7 @@ export function emitClassShapes(
         release: `@${release}`,
         destroy: `${teardown}_destroy`,
         traced: host.tracedShapes.has(`object:${cls.name}`),
+        ...(meta.idInRc ? { count: "i32" as const } : {}),
       },
     ]);
   }
@@ -658,7 +759,13 @@ export function emitClassShapes(
 
     // retain: NULL-tolerant, immortal-skip — layout-generic (rc at 0), so
     // hierarchy members need no dispatch.
-    defs.push(...retainBody(host, mangleClassRetain(cls.name), `retain ${cls.name}`, lifetime), ``);
+    // An instance that keeps its class id in the rc word counts in the
+    // low half (CLASS_ID_OFFSET).
+    const count = meta.idInRc ? "i32" : host.sizeType;
+    defs.push(
+      ...retainBody(host, mangleClassRetain(cls.name), `retain ${cls.name}`, lifetime, count),
+      ``,
+    );
 
     // An out-of-line teardown tears typed children down directly
     // (directChildReleaseLines). It takes the chain length when it has such
@@ -714,6 +821,7 @@ export function emitClassShapes(
             traced,
             `release ${cls.name}`,
             lifetime,
+            count,
           ),
           ``,
         );
@@ -723,12 +831,16 @@ export function emitClassShapes(
         `  %isnull = icmp eq ptr %o, null`,
         `  br i1 %isnull, label %done, label %check`,
         `check:`,
-        `  %rc = load ${host.sizeType}, ptr %o`,
-        `  %imm = icmp eq ${host.sizeType} %rc, -1`,
+        `  %rc = load ${count}, ptr %o`,
+        `  %imm = icmp eq ${count} %rc, -1`,
         `  br i1 %imm, label %done, label %disp`,
         `disp:`,
-        `  %vtp = getelementptr inbounds %${struct}, ptr %o, i64 0, i32 1`,
-        `  %vt = load ptr, ptr %vtp`,
+        ...(meta.idInRc
+          ? classIdVtLines(meta, "%o", "%vt", "")
+          : [
+              `  %vtp = getelementptr inbounds %${struct}, ptr %o, i64 0, i32 1`,
+              `  %vt = load ptr, ptr %vtp`,
+            ]),
         `  %relp = getelementptr inbounds %ScrVt, ptr %vt, i64 0, i32 2`,
         `  %rel = load ptr, ptr %relp`,
         `  call void %rel(ptr %o) ; the DYNAMIC class's teardown`,
@@ -743,10 +855,10 @@ export function emitClassShapes(
       const reld: string[] = [
         `define internal void @${mangleClassReleaseDirect(cls.name)}(ptr %o) ${FN_ATTRS} { ; direct release ${cls.name}`,
         `entry:`,
-        `  %rc = load ${host.sizeType}, ptr %o`,
-        `  %n = sub ${host.sizeType} %rc, 1`,
-        `  store ${host.sizeType} %n, ptr %o`,
-        `  %dead = icmp eq ${host.sizeType} %n, 0`,
+        `  %rc = load ${count}, ptr %o`,
+        `  %n = sub ${count} %rc, 1`,
+        `  store ${count} %n, ptr %o`,
+        `  %dead = icmp eq ${count} %n, 0`,
         `  br i1 %dead, label %free, label %${traced ? "root" : "done"}`,
         `free:`,
       ];
@@ -815,10 +927,22 @@ export function emitClassShapes(
           host,
           sizeOf,
           traced && !lifetime ? { type: cycType } : null,
-          meta.hierarchy ? 16 : 8,
+          meta.hierarchy && !meta.idInRc ? 16 : 8,
         ),
       );
-    nw.push(`  store ${host.sizeType} ${lifetime ? programLifetimeRc(host.sizeType) : 1}, ptr %o`);
+    if (meta.idInRc) {
+      // The class id in the high half of the rc word, the count in the low
+      // half (classIdRcWord). It never changes while the object lives:
+      // retains, releases and the runtime write only the low half.
+      host.declare(`declare ptr @llvm.launder.invariant.group.p0(ptr)`);
+      nw.push(
+        `  %o.vt = call ptr @llvm.launder.invariant.group.p0(ptr %o)`,
+        `  store i64 ${classIdRcWord(meta, lifetime)}, ptr %o.vt ; class ${llvmCommentText(cls.name)} is ${meta.pre}`,
+      );
+    } else
+      nw.push(
+        `  store ${host.sizeType} ${lifetime ? programLifetimeRc(host.sizeType) : 1}, ptr %o`,
+      );
     if (lifetime && audit) {
       // --sanitize builds: the RC audit skips its leak report when the
       // program keeps program-lifetime objects (scr_console.c), and
@@ -826,7 +950,7 @@ export function emitClassShapes(
       host.declare(`declare void @scr_obj_lifetime_note(ptr)`);
       nw.push(`  call void @scr_obj_lifetime_note(ptr %o)`);
     }
-    if (meta.hierarchy) {
+    if (meta.hierarchy && !meta.idInRc) {
       // The vtable word is written once, here, and never changes while the
       // object lives: its store and the virtual-call loads carry
       // !invariant.group. A recycled block may have held an object of
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/emitter.ts b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/emitter.ts
index 3c0ab2378..00b4c59a8 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/emitter.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/emitter.ts
@@ -266,6 +266,7 @@ import {
   buildClassGraph,
   classMembershipIntervals,
   classFieldIndex,
+  classPreLines,
   classStructSym,
   programLifetimeClass,
   type LlClassMeta,
@@ -1471,7 +1472,7 @@ export class LlEmitter {
     // The class graph: base/children links, hierarchy membership, the
     // whole-program preorder numbering for instanceof over runtime and
     // compiled error objects, and the per-hierarchy virtual slot lists.
-    this.classMeta = buildClassGraph(mod, this.fnByName);
+    this.classMeta = buildClassGraph(mod, this.fnByName, this.sizeType);
     if (mod.lifetimeRegions === true) {
       this.regions = new LifetimeRegions(
         this.shapeHost,
@@ -2822,10 +2823,16 @@ export class LlEmitter {
     } else if (t.kind === "string") {
       this.declare(`declare void @scr_throw_str(ptr)`);
       B.line(`call void @scr_throw_str(ptr ${v.name})`);
-    } else if (t.kind === "object" && this.classMeta.get(t.className)?.hierarchy === true) {
+    } else if (
+      t.kind === "object" &&
+      this.classMeta.get(t.className)?.hierarchy === true &&
+      this.classMeta.get(t.className)?.idInRc !== true
+    ) {
       // Hierarchy instances carry a vtable word: the OBJ kind keeps the
       // dynamic class inspectable (catch-binding instanceof, the uncaught
-      // printer's "name: message" for Error instances).
+      // printer's "name: message" for Error instances). Instances that keep
+      // their class id in the rc word are never Errors and are thrown as
+      // REF payloads (narrow-guards.ts emitCaughtClassIdInstanceof).
       const rc = vAdapters(this.shapeHost, t);
       this.declare(`declare void @scr_throw_obj(ptr, ptr, ptr, ptr)`);
       B.line(
@@ -3158,20 +3165,20 @@ export class LlEmitter {
     return { ptr: p, type, inline: this.inlineUnions.classField(className, field) };
   }
 
-  /** `o->vt->pre` — the dynamic class's preorder number (borrowed object;
-   * the static class names which struct spelling carries the vt word). */
+  /** The dynamic class's preorder number (borrowed object; the static class
+   * names the struct spelling and where the number is, classPreLines). */
   loadVtPre(objName: string, staticClassName: string): string {
     const B = this.B;
-    const vtp = B.tmp();
-    const vt = B.tmp();
-    const prep = B.tmp();
     const pre = B.tmp();
-    B.line(
-      `${vtp} = getelementptr inbounds %${classStructSym(staticClassName)}, ptr ${objName}, i64 0, i32 1`,
-    );
-    B.line(`${vt} = load ptr, ptr ${vtp}`);
-    B.line(`${prep} = getelementptr inbounds %ScrVt, ptr ${vt}, i64 0, i32 0`);
-    B.line(`${pre} = load ${this.sizeType}, ptr ${prep}`);
+    const meta = this.classMetaOf(staticClassName);
+    for (const line of classPreLines(
+      meta,
+      classStructSym(staticClassName),
+      objName,
+      pre,
+      this.sizeType,
+    ))
+      B.line(line.trimStart());
     return pre;
   }
 
@@ -5103,6 +5110,7 @@ export class LlEmitter {
           pre: meta.pre,
           post: meta.post,
           runtimeRooted: meta.root.def.runtime === true,
+          idInRc: meta.idInRc,
           // Inline scalar-union fields are plain bits: nothing to push.
           fields: meta.def.fields.flatMap((f) =>
             this.inlineUnions.classField(className, f.name)
@@ -5141,15 +5149,17 @@ export class LlEmitter {
     return this.own({ name: value.name, type: e.type });
   }
 
-  /** Branches on "`obj` is published" (rc == SIZE_MAX); leaves the builder
-   * in the cold block and answers the continuation label. */
-  private emitPublishedTest(obj: string): string {
+  /** Branches on "`obj` is published" (rc == SIZE_MAX, or a count of
+   * UINT32_MAX in the low half for `count` i32: classes.ts
+   * LlClassMeta.idInRc); leaves the builder in the cold block and answers
+   * the continuation label. */
+  private emitPublishedTest(obj: string, count: "i32" | "i64" = this.sizeType): string {
     const B = this.B;
     const rc = B.tmp(),
       frozen = B.tmp(),
       expected = B.tmp();
-    B.line(`${rc} = load ${this.sizeType}, ptr ${obj}`);
-    B.line(`${frozen} = icmp eq ${this.sizeType} ${rc}, -1`);
+    B.line(`${rc} = load ${count}, ptr ${obj}`);
+    B.line(`${frozen} = icmp eq ${count} ${rc}, -1`);
     this.declare(`declare i1 @llvm.expect.i1(i1, i1)`);
     B.line(`${expected} = call i1 @llvm.expect.i1(i1 ${frozen}, i1 false)`);
     const cold = B.newLabel("pub.frozen"),
@@ -5189,22 +5199,17 @@ export class LlEmitter {
     if (published === null) return;
     if (className !== null && !published.classGuarded(className)) return;
     const B = this.B;
-    const ok = this.emitPublishedTest(obj);
-    let owner: string;
     const meta = className === null ? undefined : this.classMeta.get(className);
+    const ok = this.emitPublishedTest(obj, meta?.idInRc === true ? "i32" : this.sizeType);
+    let owner: string;
     if (meta === undefined) owner = this.cstr("Object");
     else if (!meta.hierarchy) owner = this.cstr(meta.def.jsName ?? meta.def.name);
     else {
       // The DYNAMIC class names the object, as in Node.
       this.publishedNamesSym ??= "@sc_pub_class_names";
-      const vtp = B.tmp(),
-        vt = B.tmp(),
-        pre = B.tmp(),
+      const pre = this.loadVtPre(obj, meta.def.name),
         slot = B.tmp(),
         name = B.tmp();
-      B.line(`${vtp} = getelementptr inbounds ptr, ptr ${obj}, i64 1`);
-      B.line(`${vt} = load ptr, ptr ${vtp}`);
-      B.line(`${pre} = load ${this.sizeType}, ptr ${vt}`);
       B.line(
         `${slot} = getelementptr inbounds ptr, ptr ${this.publishedNamesSym}, ${this.sizeType} ${pre}`,
       );
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/expr-calls.ts b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/expr-calls.ts
index b49c8895e..43dfce459 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/expr-calls.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/expr-calls.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import {
 } from "../mangle.js";
 import {
   classEnvironmentIndex,
+  classIdVtLines,
   classStructSym,
   vtEntriesFor,
   type LlClassMeta,
@@ -1193,15 +1194,20 @@ export function emitCallExpr(
         if (!borrowed.has(index)) host.toFrame(a);
       });
       const recv = args[0]!.name;
-      const vtp = B.tmp();
       const vt = B.tmp();
       const fnp = B.tmp();
       const fn = B.tmp();
-      B.line(
-        `${vtp} = getelementptr inbounds %${classStructSym(e.className)}, ptr ${recv}, i64 0, i32 1`,
-      );
       // Set once at allocation (classes.ts launders each new object).
-      B.line(`${vt} = load ptr, ptr ${vtp}, !invariant.group !{}`);
+      if (meta.idInRc)
+        for (const line of classIdVtLines(meta, recv, vt, ", !invariant.group !{}"))
+          B.line(line.trimStart());
+      else {
+        const vtp = B.tmp();
+        B.line(
+          `${vtp} = getelementptr inbounds %${classStructSym(e.className)}, ptr ${recv}, i64 0, i32 1`,
+        );
+        B.line(`${vt} = load ptr, ptr ${vtp}, !invariant.group !{}`);
+      }
       B.line(
         `${fnp} = getelementptr inbounds %${mangleVtStruct(meta.root.def.name)}, ptr ${vt}, i64 0, i32 ${slotIdx + 1}`,
       );
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/expr-dynamic.ts b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/expr-dynamic.ts
index 575d8c195..da3e1bfa4 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/expr-dynamic.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/expr-dynamic.ts
@@ -1062,6 +1062,42 @@ export function emitDynamicExpr(
       host.declare(
         `declare ptr @scr_caught_check_obj(ptr, ${host.sizeType}, ${host.sizeType}, ptr)`,
       );
+      if (target.idInRc) {
+        // A REF payload (emitCaughtInstanceof): a match retains it through
+        // its adapter; anything else gets the runtime's TypeError from the
+        // check against an empty interval.
+        const ok = emitCaughtInstanceof(host, c.name, e.className);
+        const yes = B.newLabel("caught.cast"),
+          no = B.newLabel("caught.cast.fail"),
+          join = B.newLabel("caught.cast.done");
+        B.condBr(ok, yes, no);
+        B.startBlock(yes);
+        const payloadSlot = B.tmp(),
+          payload = B.tmp(),
+          retainSlot = B.tmp(),
+          retain = B.tmp(),
+          retained = B.tmp();
+        B.line(`${payloadSlot} = getelementptr inbounds %ScrCaught, ptr ${c.name}, i64 0, i32 4`);
+        B.line(`${payload} = load ptr, ptr ${payloadSlot}`);
+        B.line(`${retainSlot} = getelementptr inbounds %ScrCaught, ptr ${c.name}, i64 0, i32 5`);
+        B.line(`${retain} = load ptr, ptr ${retainSlot}`);
+        B.line(`${retained} = call ptr ${retain}(ptr ${payload})`);
+        const fromYes = B.currentLabel();
+        B.br(join);
+        B.startBlock(no);
+        const failed = B.tmp();
+        B.line(
+          `${failed} = call ptr @scr_caught_check_obj(ptr ${c.name}, ${host.sizeType} 1, ${host.sizeType} 0, ptr ${host.cstr(display)})`,
+        );
+        const fromNo = B.currentLabel();
+        B.br(join);
+        B.startBlock(join);
+        const t = B.tmp();
+        B.line(`${t} = phi ptr [ ${retained}, %${fromYes} ], [ ${failed}, %${fromNo} ]`);
+        const out = host.own({ name: t, type: e.type });
+        host.emitPendingCheck();
+        return out;
+      }
       let pre = String(target.pre);
       let post = String(target.post);
       const intervals = classMembershipIntervals(host.classMeta, target.def.name);
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/expr-stream-bridges.ts b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/expr-stream-bridges.ts
index bbd0226fb..0952ea993 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/expr-stream-bridges.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/expr-stream-bridges.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import {
 } from "../../ir/ir.js";
 import { mangleFunction, mangleGlobal, mangleRecordStruct } from "../mangle.js";
 import { BlockBuilder } from "./blocks.js";
-import { type LlClassMeta, classFieldIndex, classStructSym } from "./classes.js";
+import { type LlClassMeta, classFieldIndex, classPreLines, classStructSym } from "./classes.js";
 import { SCR_ARR_FIELD, llvmCommentText } from "./common.js";
 import {
   FN_ATTRS,
@@ -232,10 +232,13 @@ export function streamTypedRefCommitAdapter(
     ];
     if (meta.hierarchy && meta.children.length) {
       lines.push(
-        `  %derived_vt_slot = getelementptr inbounds %${classStructSym(t.className)}, ptr %target, i64 0, i32 1`,
-        `  %derived_vt = load ptr, ptr %derived_vt_slot`,
-        `  %derived_pre_slot = getelementptr inbounds %ScrVt, ptr %derived_vt, i64 0, i32 0`,
-        `  %derived_pre = load ${host.sizeType}, ptr %derived_pre_slot`,
+        ...classPreLines(
+          meta,
+          classStructSym(t.className),
+          "%target",
+          "%derived_pre",
+          host.sizeType,
+        ),
       );
       const descendants = (current: typeof meta): (typeof meta)[] =>
         current.children.flatMap((child) => [child, ...descendants(child)]);
@@ -728,16 +731,9 @@ export function streamTypedRefMaterializeAdapter(
     }
     if (adapter.classOps !== undefined) liveClassOps(host, snapshot, meta);
     if (meta.hierarchy && meta.children.length) {
-      const vtSlot = B.tmp(),
-        vt = B.tmp(),
-        preSlot = B.tmp(),
-        pre = B.tmp();
-      B.line(
-        `${vtSlot} = getelementptr inbounds %${classStructSym(t.className)}, ptr %p, i64 0, i32 1`,
-      );
-      B.line(`${vt} = load ptr, ptr ${vtSlot}`);
-      B.line(`${preSlot} = getelementptr inbounds %ScrVt, ptr ${vt}, i64 0, i32 0`);
-      B.line(`${pre} = load ${host.sizeType}, ptr ${preSlot}`);
+      const pre = B.tmp();
+      for (const line of classPreLines(meta, classStructSym(t.className), "%p", pre, host.sizeType))
+        B.line(line.trimStart());
       const descendants = (current: typeof meta): (typeof meta)[] =>
         current.children.flatMap((child) => [child, ...descendants(child)]);
       for (const child of descendants(meta).reverse()) {
@@ -1364,16 +1360,9 @@ function liveClassOps(host: LlvmEmitterContext, snapshot: string, meta: LlClassM
   if (subclasses.length > 0) {
     exact = `@${snapshot}_cexact`;
     const B = new BlockBuilder();
-    const vtSlot = B.tmp(),
-      vt = B.tmp(),
-      preSlot = B.tmp(),
-      pre = B.tmp();
-    B.line(
-      `${vtSlot} = getelementptr inbounds %${classStructSym(meta.def.name)}, ptr %p, i64 0, i32 1`,
-    );
-    B.line(`${vt} = load ptr, ptr ${vtSlot}`);
-    B.line(`${preSlot} = getelementptr inbounds %ScrVt, ptr ${vt}, i64 0, i32 0`);
-    B.line(`${pre} = load ${host.sizeType}, ptr ${preSlot}`);
+    const pre = B.tmp();
+    for (const line of classPreLines(meta, classStructSym(meta.def.name), "%p", pre, host.sizeType))
+      B.line(line.trimStart());
     for (const child of subclasses.reverse()) {
       const childAdapter = host.liveDynRefAdapter({ kind: "object", className: child.def.name });
       const match = B.tmp(),
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/narrow-guards.ts b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/narrow-guards.ts
index 910af6f79..4744bed7c 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/narrow-guards.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/narrow-guards.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * throw. The guards are cheap: one load and compare per site, which LLVM
  * folds where an identical test already dominates. */
 import { InternalCompilerError } from "../../errors.js";
-import { classMembershipIntervals } from "./classes.js";
+import { classMembershipIntervals, type LlClassMeta } from "./classes.js";
 import type { LlvmEmitterContext } from "./expr-context.js";
 import { vAdapters } from "./shapes.js";
 
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ export function emitCaughtInstanceof(
   const B = host.B;
   const target = host.classMetaOf(className);
   const intervals = classMembershipIntervals(host.classMeta, target.def.name);
+  if (target.idInRc) return emitCaughtClassIdInstanceof(host, caught, target, intervals);
   if (!target.hierarchy) {
     const adapterSlot = B.tmp();
     const adapter = B.tmp();
@@ -169,6 +170,80 @@ export function emitCaughtInstanceof(
   return result;
 }
 
+/** `e instanceof C` for a class whose instances keep their class id in
+ * the rc word (classes.ts LlClassMeta.idInRc). They are thrown as REF
+ * payloads, like standalone class instances: the retain adapter names the
+ * hierarchy (the adapter of whichever static class threw), and the payload's
+ * class id is tested against the intervals. */
+function emitCaughtClassIdInstanceof(
+  host: LlvmEmitterContext,
+  caught: string,
+  target: LlClassMeta,
+  intervals: { pre: number; post: number }[],
+): string {
+  const B = host.B;
+  const kp = B.tmp(),
+    kind = B.tmp(),
+    isRef = B.tmp(),
+    adapterSlot = B.tmp(),
+    adapter = B.tmp();
+  B.line(`${kp} = getelementptr inbounds %ScrCaught, ptr ${caught}, i64 0, i32 1`);
+  B.line(`${kind} = load i32, ptr ${kp}`);
+  B.line(`${isRef} = icmp eq i32 ${kind}, ${CAUGHT_REF_KIND}`);
+  B.line(`${adapterSlot} = getelementptr inbounds %ScrCaught, ptr ${caught}, i64 0, i32 5`);
+  B.line(`${adapter} = load ptr, ptr ${adapterSlot}`);
+  let anyAdapter: string | undefined;
+  for (const m of host.classMeta.values()) {
+    if (m.root !== target.root) continue;
+    const rc = vAdapters(host.shapeHost, { kind: "object", className: m.def.name });
+    const matches = B.tmp();
+    B.line(`${matches} = icmp eq ptr ${adapter}, ${rc.retain}`);
+    if (anyAdapter === undefined) anyAdapter = matches;
+    else {
+      const joined = B.tmp();
+      B.line(`${joined} = or i1 ${anyAdapter}, ${matches}`);
+      anyAdapter = joined;
+    }
+  }
+  const inHierarchy = B.tmp();
+  B.line(`${inHierarchy} = and i1 ${isRef}, ${anyAdapter!}`);
+  const test = B.newLabel("caught.class"),
+    join = B.newLabel("caught.class.done"),
+    from = B.currentLabel();
+  B.condBr(inHierarchy, test, join);
+  B.startBlock(test);
+  const payloadSlot = B.tmp(),
+    payload = B.tmp();
+  B.line(`${payloadSlot} = getelementptr inbounds %ScrCaught, ptr ${caught}, i64 0, i32 4`);
+  B.line(`${payload} = load ptr, ptr ${payloadSlot}`);
+  const pre = host.loadVtPre(payload, target.def.name);
+  let result: string | undefined;
+  for (const interval of intervals) {
+    const ge = B.tmp(),
+      le = B.tmp(),
+      t = B.tmp();
+    B.line(`${ge} = icmp uge ${host.sizeType} ${pre}, ${interval.pre}`);
+    B.line(`${le} = icmp ule ${host.sizeType} ${pre}, ${interval.post}`);
+    B.line(`${t} = and i1 ${ge}, ${le}`);
+    if (result === undefined) result = t;
+    else {
+      const combined = B.tmp();
+      B.line(`${combined} = or i1 ${result}, ${t}`);
+      result = combined;
+    }
+  }
+  if (result === undefined) throw new InternalCompilerError("empty class membership");
+  const tested = B.currentLabel();
+  B.br(join);
+  B.startBlock(join);
+  const out = B.tmp();
+  B.line(`${out} = phi i1 [ false, %${from} ], [ ${result}, %${tested} ]`);
+  return out;
+}
+
+/** SCR_EXC_REF (scr_exception.h). */
+const CAUGHT_REF_KIND = 4;
+
 /** SCR_EXC_F64 = 1, SCR_EXC_BOOL = 2, SCR_EXC_STR = 3 (scr_exception.h). */
 export const CAUGHT_SCALAR_KINDS = { f64: 1, bool: 2, string: 3 } as const;
 
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/publish.ts b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/publish.ts
index 4f807424b..15221bbc3 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/publish.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/publish.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ export interface PublishClassInfo {
   post: number;
   /** A runtime-provided root class (errors, emitters, streams). */
   runtimeRooted: boolean;
+  /** Instances keep their class id in the rc word (classes.ts
+   * LlClassMeta.idInRc). */
+  idInRc: boolean;
   /** The class's own and inherited fields: GEP index and storage type. */
   fields: { name: string; index: number; type: IrType }[];
 }
@@ -70,6 +73,12 @@ export interface PublishClassInfo {
 /** scr_pub_mark's object kinds (SCR_PUB_KIND_* in scr_runtime.h), for the RC audit. */
 const PUB_KIND_OBJECT = 4;
 const PUB_KIND_UNION = 5;
+/** SCR_PUB_CLASS_ID, or'ed into a kind: the object keeps its class id
+ * in the high half of its rc word (classes.ts LlClassMeta.idInRc). */
+const PUB_CLASS_ID = 0x100;
+/** SCR_PUB_LOG_COUNT (scr_publish.c), in a log entry's `buf`: `rc` is the
+ * count of the low half. */
+const PUB_LOG_COUNT = "-2147483648";
 
 const RUNTIME_WALKERS = {
   string: "@scr_pub_str_fn",
@@ -307,9 +316,18 @@ export class PublishWalkers {
     const lines = [
       head,
       `entry:`,
-      `  %vtp = getelementptr inbounds ptr, ptr %o, i64 1`,
-      `  %vt = load ptr, ptr %vtp`,
-      `  %pre = load ${this.host.sizeType}, ptr %vt`,
+      ...(info.idInRc
+        ? [
+            `  %idp = getelementptr inbounds i8, ptr %o, i64 4 ; the class id (classes.ts classIdRcWord)`,
+            `  %id = load i32, ptr %idp`,
+            `  %idpre = add i32 %id, -1`,
+            `  %pre = zext i32 %idpre to ${this.host.sizeType}`,
+          ]
+        : [
+            `  %vtp = getelementptr inbounds ptr, ptr %o, i64 1`,
+            `  %vt = load ptr, ptr %vtp`,
+            `  %pre = load ${this.host.sizeType}, ptr %vt`,
+          ]),
       `  switch ${this.host.sizeType} %pre, label %other [ ${cases.map((c) => `${this.host.sizeType} ${c.pre}, label %c${c.pre}`).join(" ")} ]`,
     ];
     for (const c of cases)
@@ -344,6 +362,7 @@ export class PublishWalkers {
       info.fields,
       path,
       loc,
+      info.idInRc,
     );
   }
 
@@ -355,20 +374,23 @@ export class PublishWalkers {
    * targets), and an object with a collector header leaves its candidate
    * buffer through scr_cyc_pub_take. Anything else calls scr_pub_mark, as
    * does every mark of an RC-audit build. */
-  private markLines(cyc: boolean, kind: number): string[] {
+  private markLines(cyc: boolean, kind: number, classId = false): string[] {
     const call = (name: string): string[] => [
-      `  %${name} = call zeroext i1 @scr_pub_mark(ptr %ctx, ptr %o, i1 ${cyc ? "true" : "false"}, i32 ${kind})`,
+      `  %${name} = call zeroext i1 @scr_pub_mark(ptr %ctx, ptr %o, i1 ${cyc ? "true" : "false"}, i32 ${classId ? kind | PUB_CLASS_ID : kind})`,
       `  br i1 %${name}, label %walk, label %done`,
     ];
     if (this.host.rcAudit === true) return call("m");
     const S = this.host.sizeType;
+    // An object that keeps its class id in the rc word is marked and
+    // logged through its count, the low half.
+    const C = classId ? "i32" : S;
     const field = (name: string, slot: number): string[] => [
       `  %${name}p = getelementptr inbounds ptr, ptr %ctx, i32 ${slot}`,
       `  %${name} = load ${S === "i64" ? "i64" : "i32"}, ptr %${name}p`,
     ];
     const lines = [
-      `  %mrc = load ${S}, ptr %o`,
-      `  %mimm = icmp eq ${S} %mrc, -1`,
+      `  %mrc = load ${C}, ptr %o`,
+      `  %mimm = icmp eq ${C} %mrc, -1`,
       `  br i1 %mimm, label %done, label %mtest`,
       `mtest:`,
       `  %mrefp = getelementptr inbounds ptr, ptr %ctx, i32 6`,
@@ -380,13 +402,13 @@ export class PublishWalkers {
       `  %mok1 = and i1 %mok0, %mroom`,
     ];
     let ok = "%mok1";
-    if (S === "i64") {
+    if (C === "i64") {
       // 0xfffffffe and up are the log's escapes (SCR_PUB_RC_LIFETIME, _BIG).
       lines.push(`  %msmall = icmp ult i64 %mrc, 4294967294`, `  %mok2 = and i1 %mok1, %msmall`);
       ok = "%mok2";
     }
     lines.push(`  br i1 ${ok}, label %mfast, label %mslow`, `mslow:`, ...call("ms"), `mfast:`);
-    let buf = "0";
+    let buf = classId ? String(PUB_LOG_COUNT) : "0";
     if (cyc) {
       // ScrCycHdr.buf, the word before the object: its top bit while the
       // object is a buffered candidate.
@@ -402,9 +424,10 @@ export class PublishWalkers {
         ...field("mtaken", 7),
         `  %mtaken1 = add ${S} %mtaken, 1`,
         `  store ${S} %mtaken1, ptr %mtakenp`,
+        ...(classId ? [`  %mix2 = or i32 %mix1, ${PUB_LOG_COUNT}`] : []),
         `  br label %mput`,
         `mput:`,
-        `  %mbuf = phi i32 [ 0, %mfast ], [ %mix1, %mtake ]`,
+        `  %mbuf = phi i32 [ ${buf}, %mfast ], [ %mix${classId ? 2 : 1}, %mtake ]`,
       );
       buf = "%mbuf";
     }
@@ -414,13 +437,13 @@ export class PublishWalkers {
       `  %me = getelementptr inbounds { ptr, i32, i32 }, ptr %mlog, ${S} %mlogged`,
       `  store ptr %o, ptr %me`,
       `  %merc = getelementptr inbounds { ptr, i32, i32 }, ptr %me, i32 0, i32 1`,
-      S === "i64" ? `  %mrc32 = trunc i64 %mrc to i32` : `  %mrc32 = add i32 %mrc, 0`,
+      C === "i64" ? `  %mrc32 = trunc i64 %mrc to i32` : `  %mrc32 = add i32 %mrc, 0`,
       `  store i32 %mrc32, ptr %merc`,
       `  %mebuf = getelementptr inbounds { ptr, i32, i32 }, ptr %me, i32 0, i32 2`,
       `  store i32 ${buf}, ptr %mebuf`,
       `  %mlogged1 = add ${S} %mlogged, 1`,
       `  store ${S} %mlogged1, ptr %mloggedp`,
-      `  store ${S} -1, ptr %o`,
+      `  store ${C} -1, ptr %o`,
       `  br label %walk`,
     );
     return lines;
@@ -431,13 +454,14 @@ export class PublishWalkers {
    * before) are the ones scr_pub_push skips: they are tested here, without
    * the call. The lines end in a fresh block labelled `pushed${id}`. */
   private push(v: string, fn: string, id: string): string[] {
-    const size = this.host.sizeType;
     return [
       `  %null${id} = icmp eq ptr ${v}, null`,
       `  br i1 %null${id}, label %pushed${id}, label %live${id}`,
       `live${id}:`,
-      `  %rc${id} = load ${size}, ptr ${v}`,
-      `  %immortal${id} = icmp eq ${size} %rc${id}, -1`,
+      // The count (the low half of a 64-bit rc word) is UINT32_MAX for an
+      // immortal object of every kind (scr_rc.h SCR_RC_COUNT).
+      `  %rc${id} = load i32, ptr ${v}`,
+      `  %immortal${id} = icmp eq i32 %rc${id}, -1`,
       `  br i1 %immortal${id}, label %pushed${id}, label %push${id}`,
       `push${id}:`,
       ...this.pushLines(v, fn, id),
@@ -480,8 +504,9 @@ export class PublishWalkers {
     members: { name: string; index: number; type: IrType }[],
     path: string,
     loc: SrcLoc,
+    classId = false,
   ): string[] {
-    const lines = [head, `entry:`, ...this.markLines(traced, PUB_KIND_OBJECT), `walk:`];
+    const lines = [head, `entry:`, ...this.markLines(traced, PUB_KIND_OBJECT, classId), `walk:`];
     let n = 0;
     for (const member of members) {
       const fn = this.walker(member.type, `${path}.${member.name}`, loc);
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/regions.test.ts b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/regions.test.ts
index 51ceb21c8..f2fed6b8e 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/regions.test.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/regions.test.ts
@@ -117,7 +117,13 @@ test("ProgramLifetime instances live in the current region and count in their ch
     );
     // The first reference is implied: allocation leaves the chunk count alone.
     expect(nw, cls).not.toContain("2097151");
-    expect(nw, cls).toContain("store i64 -9223372036854775808, ptr %o");
+    // The rc word: the class id in the high half (the hierarchy keeps it
+    // there instead of a vtable word) over the program-lifetime count, the
+    // midpoint of the 32-bit count in the low half.
+    const word = /store i64 (\d+), ptr %o\.vt/.exec(nw)?.[1];
+    expect(word, cls).toBeDefined();
+    expect(BigInt(word!) % 2n ** 32n, cls).toBe(2n ** 31n);
+    expect(BigInt(word!) / 2n ** 32n > 0n, cls).toBe(true);
     expect(nw, cls).not.toContain("scr_rt_calloc");
     // retain/release: the chunk count, NULL-tolerant, once a region
     // exists, and only in chunks that have an owner (freeable regions).
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/regions.ts b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/regions.ts
index 1ec46a5b1..e7ad39f7c 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/regions.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/regions.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ import {
   mangleRecordStruct,
 } from "../mangle.js";
 import { threadHotAddressLines } from "./alloc.js";
-import { classFieldBase, type LlClassMeta } from "./classes.js";
+import { classFieldBase, classPreLines, type LlClassMeta } from "./classes.js";
 import { llvmCommentText } from "./common.js";
 import type { NullableRefFields } from "./nullable-fields.js";
 import { FN_ATTRS, rcMembers, releaseSym, vAdapters, type ShapeHost } from "./shapes.js";
@@ -389,9 +389,7 @@ export class LifetimeRegions {
         out.push(
           `define internal void ${walk}(ptr %o, ptr %w) ${FN_ATTRS} { ; region walk ${llvmCommentText(cls.name)} and its subclasses`,
           `entry:`,
-          `  %vtp = getelementptr inbounds ptr, ptr %o, i64 1`,
-          `  %vt = load ptr, ptr %vtp`,
-          `  %pre = load ${S}, ptr %vt`,
+          ...classPreLines(meta, mangleClassStruct(cls.name), "%o", "%pre", S),
           `  switch ${S} %pre, label %done [ ${members.map((m) => `${S} ${m.pre}, label %c${m.pre}`).join(" ")} ]`,
           ...members.flatMap((m) => [
             `c${m.pre}: ; ${llvmCommentText(m.def.name)}`,
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/shapes.ts b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/shapes.ts
index 9cceaa443..40803a5ff 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/shapes.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/shapes.ts
@@ -1249,6 +1249,11 @@ export function rcMembers(
   ];
 }
 
+/** The integer type a release or retain loads and stores the count as:
+ * the rc word, or its low half (an i32 at offset 0) for class instances that
+ * keep their class number in the high half (classes.ts LlClassMeta.idInRc). */
+export type RcCount = "i32" | "i64";
+
 /** The NULL- and immortal-skipping retain body shared by every shape. A
  * retain never touches the cycle header: a buffered candidate that is
  * retained again stays a candidate (scr_cycle.c, markRoots). */
@@ -1257,8 +1262,9 @@ export function retainBody(
   fnName: string,
   comment = "",
   immortal = false,
+  count: RcCount = host.sizeType,
 ): string[] {
-  const S = host.sizeType;
+  const S = count;
   if (immortal) return immortalRcBody(host, fnName, "ptr", comment);
   return [
     `define internal ptr @${fnName}(ptr %o) ${FN_ATTRS} {${comment ? ` ; ${comment}` : ""}`,
@@ -1325,6 +1331,8 @@ export interface DirectDestroy {
   readonly destroy: string;
   /** The child carries a collector header. */
   readonly traced: boolean;
+  /** The child's count type, when it is not the rc word (RcCount). */
+  readonly count?: RcCount;
 }
 
 /** The release of child `value` (a loaded field, possibly NULL) inside a
@@ -1339,19 +1347,20 @@ export function directChildReleaseLines(
   comment: string,
 ): string[] {
   const S = host.sizeType;
+  const C = target.count ?? S;
   host.declare(`declare void @scr_rc_destroy(ptr, ptr)`);
   const lines = [
     `  %${tag}.nn = icmp ne ptr ${value}, null`,
     `  br i1 %${tag}.nn, label %${tag}.chk, label %${tag}.next`,
     `${tag}.chk:`,
-    `  %${tag}.rc = load ${S}, ptr ${value}`,
-    `  %${tag}.last = icmp eq ${S} %${tag}.rc, 1`,
+    `  %${tag}.rc = load ${C}, ptr ${value}`,
+    `  %${tag}.last = icmp eq ${C} %${tag}.rc, 1`,
     `  br i1 %${tag}.last, label %${tag}.dead, label %${tag}.shared`,
     `${tag}.shared:`,
     `  call void ${target.release}(ptr ${value}) ; ${comment}`,
     `  br label %${tag}.next`,
     `${tag}.dead: ; ${comment}: the last reference`,
-    `  store ${S} 0, ptr ${value}`,
+    `  store ${C} 0, ptr ${value}`,
   ];
   if (target.traced) {
     host.declare(`declare void @scr_cyc_on_dead(ptr)`);
@@ -1514,8 +1523,9 @@ export function releaseFastPath(
   traced: boolean,
   comment = "",
   immortal = false,
+  count: RcCount = host.sizeType,
 ): string[] {
-  const S = host.sizeType;
+  const S = count;
   if (immortal) return immortalRcBody(host, fnName, "void", comment);
   return [
     `define internal void @${fnName}(ptr %o) ${FN_ATTRS} {${comment ? ` ; ${comment} (fast path)` : ""}`,
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/thread-slots.test.ts b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/thread-slots.test.ts
index dba4453b3..b8d8dccf9 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/thread-slots.test.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/backend/llvm/thread-slots.test.ts
@@ -85,12 +85,11 @@ test("slots.get reads the slot word, the page and the entry inline", () => {
   ];
   expect(validateModule(module(calls))).toEqual([]);
   const llvm = emitLlvmModule(module(calls), { pointerBits: 64 });
-  // The slot word sits after the header words of every hierarchy member.
+  // The slot word sits after the rc word of every hierarchy member, which
+  // keeps its class id in the rc word instead of a vtable word.
+  expect(llvm).toMatch(new RegExp(`%${mangleClassStruct("Node")} = type \\{ i64, i32, ptr \\}`));
   expect(llvm).toMatch(
-    new RegExp(`%${mangleClassStruct("Node")} = type \\{ i64, ptr, i32, ptr \\}`),
-  );
-  expect(llvm).toMatch(
-    new RegExp(`%${mangleClassStruct("Leaf")} = type \\{ i64, ptr, i32, ptr, (i32|double) \\}`),
+    new RegExp(`%${mangleClassStruct("Leaf")} = type \\{ i64, i32, ptr, (i32|double) \\}`),
   );
   expect(llvm).toMatch(new RegExp(`%${mangleClassStruct("Plain")} = type \\{ i64, ptr \\}`));
   // One block per family name.
@@ -102,7 +101,7 @@ test("slots.get reads the slot word, the page and the entry inline", () => {
   );
   const main = body(llvm, "sc_f_main");
   expect(main).toMatch(
-    /getelementptr inbounds %\S+, ptr %\S+, i64 0, i32 2\n {2}(%\S+) = load atomic i32, ptr %\S+ monotonic, align 4\n {2}%\S+ = lshr i32 \1, 10/,
+    /getelementptr inbounds %\S+, ptr %\S+, i64 0, i32 1\n {2}(%\S+) = load atomic i32, ptr %\S+ monotonic, align 4\n {2}%\S+ = lshr i32 \1, 10/,
   );
   expect(main).not.toMatch(/call ptr @scr_slots_get/);
   expect(main).toMatch(
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/backend/mangle.ts b/packages/compiler/src/backend/mangle.ts
index 43c9cea71..da6cbe0f5 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/backend/mangle.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/backend/mangle.ts
@@ -109,6 +109,13 @@ export function mangleVtStruct(rootClassName: string): string {
 export function mangleVtInstance(className: string): string {
   return `sc_vtable_${sanitize(className)}`;
 }
+/** The per-HIERARCHY array of the vtables of its classes in preorder, for
+ * hierarchies whose instances keep their class id in the rc word
+ * (classes.ts LlClassMeta.idInRc). `sc_vta_` differs from `sc_vtable_` and
+ * `sc_vtt_` before any user-controlled text. */
+export function mangleVtArray(rootClassName: string): string {
+  return `sc_vta_${sanitize(rootClassName)}`;
+}
 /** A virtual slot's member name inside the vtable struct. Sibling
  * branches of one hierarchy can each declare a slot for the SAME method
  * name (root-most in their own subtree, overridden below — mixin layers
diff --git a/packages/compiler/test/ts7/baselines/order-parity/tests/corpus/class-id-instances-as-streams.ts.json b/packages/compiler/test/ts7/baselines/order-parity/tests/corpus/class-id-instances-as-streams.ts.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..01d871cb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/compiler/test/ts7/baselines/order-parity/tests/corpus/class-id-instances-as-streams.ts.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+ "order": [
+  "<repo>/tests/corpus/class-id-instances-as-streams.ts"
+ ],
+ "diags": []
+}
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/scr_cycle.c b/packages/runtime/src/scr_cycle.c
index fd5d64c81..bed185097 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/scr_cycle.c
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/scr_cycle.c
@@ -165,8 +165,9 @@ void scr_weak_dispose(void *object) {
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
-/* Every heap object's first member is `size_t rc`. */
-#define SCR_RC(obj) (*(size_t *)(obj))
+/* Every heap object's first member is `size_t rc`; the collector works on
+ * its count (SCR_RC_COUNT). */
+#define SCR_RC(obj) SCR_RC_COUNT(obj)
 
 static void scr_cyc_oom(void) {
   scr_trap("scriptc: out of memory\n");
@@ -1171,7 +1172,7 @@ void scr_cyc_on_release(void *obj) {
 #define SCR_CYC_WALK_GEN(h) scr_cyc_gen(h)
 #endif
 #define SCR_CYC_SKIP(child)                     \
-  ((child) == NULL || SCR_RC(child) == SIZE_MAX \
+  ((child) == NULL || SCR_RC(child) == SCR_RC_IMMORTAL \
    || SCR_CYC_WALK_GEN(scr_cyc_hdr(child)) > scr_gen_limit)
 
 /* The walks are depth-first and recursive up to SCR_CYC_WALK_DEPTH, where
@@ -1213,7 +1214,7 @@ SCR_CYC_ARRAY_WALK(scr_scan_array, scr_scan_visit)
 
 static inline __attribute__((always_inline)) void scr_mark_gray(void *obj, uintptr_t depth);
 static void scr_mg_visit(void *child, void *ctx) {
-  if (child == NULL || SCR_RC(child) == SIZE_MAX) return;
+  if (child == NULL || SCR_RC(child) == SCR_RC_IMMORTAL) return;
   ScrCycHdr *h = scr_cyc_hdr(child);
   if (SCR_CYC_WALK_GEN(h) > scr_gen_limit) {
     scr_cyc_push_work(&scr_xgen_edges, scr_gray_holder);
@@ -1372,7 +1373,7 @@ static SCR_TL size_t scr_xg_freed = 0;
 static void scr_xg_release(void *obj);
 static void scr_xg_child_visit(void *child, void *ctx) {
   (void)ctx;
-  if (child == NULL || SCR_RC(child) == SIZE_MAX) return;
+  if (child == NULL || SCR_RC(child) == SCR_RC_IMMORTAL) return;
   scr_xg_release(child);
 }
 
@@ -1597,7 +1598,7 @@ static void scr_yin_leave(ScrCycHdr *h, void *obj) {
 
 static void scr_yin_count_visit(void *child, void *ctx) {
   (void)ctx;
-  if (child == NULL || SCR_RC(child) == SIZE_MAX) return;
+  if (child == NULL || SCR_RC(child) == SCR_RC_IMMORTAL) return;
   ScrCycHdr *h = scr_cyc_hdr(child);
   if (scr_cyc_gen(h) == SCR_CYC_YOUNG) scr_yin_counts[scr_cyc_buf_index(h)]++;
 }
@@ -1605,7 +1606,7 @@ static void scr_yin_count_visit(void *child, void *ctx) {
 /* Marked young objects are GRAY (young objects are otherwise BLACK). */
 static void scr_yin_mark_visit(void *child, void *ctx) {
   (void)ctx;
-  if (child == NULL || SCR_RC(child) == SIZE_MAX) return;
+  if (child == NULL || SCR_RC(child) == SCR_RC_IMMORTAL) return;
   ScrCycHdr *h = scr_cyc_hdr(child);
   if (scr_cyc_gen(h) != SCR_CYC_YOUNG || scr_cyc_color(h) == SCR_CYC_GRAY) return;
   scr_cyc_set_color(h, SCR_CYC_GRAY);
@@ -1617,7 +1618,7 @@ static void scr_yin_mark_visit(void *child, void *ctx) {
  * the count until every teardown has run. */
 static void scr_yin_dead_visit(void *child, void *ctx) {
   (void)ctx;
-  if (child == NULL || SCR_RC(child) == SIZE_MAX) return;
+  if (child == NULL || SCR_RC(child) == SCR_RC_IMMORTAL) return;
   ScrCycHdr *h = scr_cyc_hdr(child);
   if (scr_cyc_gen(h) == SCR_CYC_YOUNG && scr_cyc_color(h) != SCR_CYC_GRAY) return;
   scr_yin_push(&scr_yin_xrel, child);
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/scr_dyn_builtin_stream.c b/packages/runtime/src/scr_dyn_builtin_stream.c
index b7295f59a..209c8c39a 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/scr_dyn_builtin_stream.c
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/scr_dyn_builtin_stream.c
@@ -140,9 +140,11 @@ static void *bcs_capsule_retain(void *p) { return scr_stream_retain(p); }
 /* Also the capsule's tag. */
 static void bcs_capsule_release(void *p) { scr_stream_release(p); }
 
-static bool bcs_stream_vt(const ScrVt *vt) {
-  return (vt->pre >= scr_readable_vt.pre && vt->pre <= scr_readable_vt.post) ||
-         (vt->pre >= scr_writable_vt.pre && vt->pre <= scr_writable_vt.post);
+/* Whether `stream`, boxed as an "object:" typed ref, is a runtime stream. */
+static bool bcs_stream_vt(const ScrStream *stream) {
+  const ScrVt *vt = scr_stream_vt_of(stream);
+  return vt != NULL && ((vt->pre >= scr_readable_vt.pre && vt->pre <= scr_readable_vt.post) ||
+                        (vt->pre >= scr_writable_vt.pre && vt->pre <= scr_writable_vt.post));
 }
 
 static void bcs_rec_release(void *p);
@@ -154,7 +156,7 @@ static ScrStream *bcs_of(const ScrDyn *value) {
   if (value != NULL && value->kind == SCR_DYN_TYPED_REF && value->v.typed_ref.type_key_len > 7 &&
       memcmp(value->v.typed_ref.type_key, "object:", 7) == 0) {
     ScrStream *stream = value->v.typed_ref.ptr;
-    return bcs_stream_vt(stream->vt) && scr_stream_native(stream, bcs_rec_release) ? stream : NULL;
+    return bcs_stream_vt(stream) && scr_stream_native(stream, bcs_rec_release) ? stream : NULL;
   }
   if (value == NULL || value->kind != SCR_DYN_OBJ || value->symbol_properties == NULL) return NULL;
   ScrDyn *capsule = scr_dyn_obj_get(value->symbol_properties, bcs_hidden_key, BCS_HIDDEN_LEN);
@@ -184,7 +186,7 @@ static ScrStream *bcs_native_of(const ScrDyn *value) {
       memcmp(value->v.typed_ref.type_key, "object:", 7) != 0)
     return NULL;
   ScrStream *stream = scr_dyn_typed_ref_unbox(value);
-  if (bcs_stream_vt(stream->vt)) return stream;
+  if (bcs_stream_vt(stream)) return stream;
   value->v.typed_ref.release(stream);
   return NULL;
 }
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/scr_message.c b/packages/runtime/src/scr_message.c
index 374b5469a..cb9bd8a23 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/scr_message.c
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/scr_message.c
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ static size_t scr_message_value(ScrMessageEncoder *encoder, const ScrDyn *input)
   /* Published values (immortal) travel by pointer: a typed value as a
    * capsule over the same object, a dyn graph as itself. */
   if (input->kind == SCR_DYN_TYPED_REF && input->v.typed_ref.ptr &&
-      *(const size_t *)input->v.typed_ref.ptr == SIZE_MAX) {
+      SCR_RC_COUNT(input->v.typed_ref.ptr) == SCR_RC_IMMORTAL) {
     scr_sa_thread_shares();
     encoder->visits[id].view = (ScrDyn *)input;
     ScrMessageNode *node = &encoder->message->nodes[id];
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/scr_publish.c b/packages/runtime/src/scr_publish.c
index 9dedc6844..b3ff2814d 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/scr_publish.c
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/scr_publish.c
@@ -37,9 +37,14 @@
 typedef struct {
   uintptr_t obj;
   uint32_t rc;
-  uint32_t buf; /* a candidate taken out of its buffer: its index + 1, else 0 */
+  uint32_t buf; /* a candidate taken out of its buffer: its index + 1, else 0;
+                 * SCR_PUB_LOG_COUNT: `rc` is the count of the low half */
 } ScrPubLog;
 
+/* In ScrPubLog.buf: the object keeps its class id in the high half of
+ * its rc word (SCR_PUB_CLASS_ID), and `rc` is the count of the low half. */
+#define SCR_PUB_LOG_COUNT UINT32_C(0x80000000)
+
 #define SCR_PUB_DYN ((uintptr_t)1)
 #define SCR_PUB_RC_LIFETIME UINT32_C(0xfffffffe)
 #define SCR_PUB_RC_BIG UINT32_C(0xffffffff)
@@ -103,7 +108,7 @@ static void *scr_pub_grow(void *p, size_t *cap, size_t size, void *inline_buf) {
 void scr_pub_str_fn(void *v, ScrPub *ctx);
 
 void scr_pub_push(ScrPub *ctx, void *v, ScrPubFn fn) {
-  if (!v || *(size_t *)v == SIZE_MAX || ctx->refusal) return;
+  if (!v || SCR_RC_COUNT(v) == SCR_RC_IMMORTAL || ctx->refusal) return;
   if (fn == scr_pub_str_fn) { /* a leaf: mark it now */
     scr_pub_str_fn(v, ctx);
     return;
@@ -120,7 +125,9 @@ void scr_pub_push(ScrPub *ctx, void *v, ScrPubFn fn) {
  * touch the objects again. */
 bool scr_pub_mark(ScrPub *ctx, void *obj, bool cyc, int kind) {
   size_t *rc = obj;
-  if (*rc == SIZE_MAX || ctx->refusal) return false;
+  if (SCR_RC_COUNT(obj) == SCR_RC_IMMORTAL || ctx->refusal) return false;
+  bool class_id = (kind & SCR_PUB_CLASS_ID) != 0;
+  kind &= ~SCR_PUB_CLASS_ID;
   if (ctx->logged == ctx->log_cap)
     ctx->log = scr_pub_grow(ctx->log, &ctx->log_cap, sizeof *ctx->log, ctx->log_inline);
 #ifdef SCR_RC_AUDIT
@@ -135,10 +142,11 @@ bool scr_pub_mark(ScrPub *ctx, void *obj, bool cyc, int kind) {
     buf = scr_cyc_pub_take(obj) + 1;
     ctx->taken++;
   }
-  size_t count = *rc;
+  size_t count = class_id ? SCR_RC_COUNT(obj) : *rc;
   uint32_t logged = (uint32_t)count;
+  if (class_id) buf |= SCR_PUB_LOG_COUNT;
 #if SIZE_MAX > UINT32_MAX
-  if (count >= SCR_PUB_RC_LIFETIME) {
+  if (!class_id && count >= SCR_PUB_RC_LIFETIME) {
     if (count == (size_t)1 << 63) logged = SCR_PUB_RC_LIFETIME;
     else {
       if (ctx->nbig == ctx->big_cap) ctx->big = scr_pub_grow(ctx->big, &ctx->big_cap, sizeof *ctx->big, NULL);
@@ -148,7 +156,8 @@ bool scr_pub_mark(ScrPub *ctx, void *obj, bool cyc, int kind) {
   }
 #endif
   *e = (ScrPubLog){(uintptr_t)obj, logged, buf};
-  *rc = SIZE_MAX;
+  if (class_id) SCR_RC_COUNT(obj) = SCR_RC_IMMORTAL;
+  else *rc = SIZE_MAX;
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -372,7 +381,7 @@ static bool scr_pub_keep_ok(size_t bytes) {
 }
 
 void scr_publish(void *root, ScrPubFn fn) {
-  if (!root || *(size_t *)root == SIZE_MAX) return;
+  if (!root || SCR_RC_COUNT(root) == SCR_RC_IMMORTAL) return;
   ScrPub ctx;
   if (scr_pub_keep.stack) {
     ctx.stack = scr_pub_keep.stack;
@@ -417,13 +426,18 @@ void scr_publish(void *root, ScrPubFn fn) {
     for (size_t i = ctx.logged; i-- > 0;) {
       const ScrPubLog *e = &ctx.log[i];
       void *obj = scr_pub_log_obj(e);
-      size_t rc = e->rc;
+      uint32_t buf = e->buf & ~SCR_PUB_LOG_COUNT;
+      if (e->buf & SCR_PUB_LOG_COUNT) {
+        SCR_RC_COUNT(obj) = (ScrRcCount)e->rc;
+      } else {
+        size_t rc = e->rc;
 #if SIZE_MAX > UINT32_MAX
-      if (e->rc == SCR_PUB_RC_LIFETIME) rc = (size_t)1 << 63;
-      else if (e->rc == SCR_PUB_RC_BIG) rc = ctx.big[--ctx.nbig];
+        if (e->rc == SCR_PUB_RC_LIFETIME) rc = (size_t)1 << 63;
+        else if (e->rc == SCR_PUB_RC_BIG) rc = ctx.big[--ctx.nbig];
 #endif
-      *(size_t *)obj = rc;
-      if (e->buf) scr_cyc_pub_restore(obj, e->buf - 1);
+        *(size_t *)obj = rc;
+      }
+      if (buf) scr_cyc_pub_restore(obj, buf - 1);
     }
     if (ctx.taken) scr_cyc_pub_fill();
     scr_throw_error_msg(SCR_ERR_TYPE, ctx.refusal, strlen(ctx.refusal));
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/scr_rc.h b/packages/runtime/src/scr_rc.h
index 8611741da..10eb96d18 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/scr_rc.h
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/scr_rc.h
@@ -6,6 +6,41 @@
 
 #include "scr_core.h"
 
+/* ── reference counts ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+ * Every heap object's first member is its `size_t rc` word. On 64-bit
+ * targets the reference count is the word's low 32 bits: an emitted
+ * instance of a class in a program-rooted hierarchy keeps its class id (its
+ * class's preorder number + 1) in the high 32 bits (llvm/classes.ts
+ * classIdRcWord), and no other object's count reaches 2^32. A count of SCR_RC_IMMORTAL marks
+ * an immortal object; for every object but those class instances the whole
+ * word is then SIZE_MAX. Code that reads or writes the count of an object of
+ * any kind goes through SCR_RC_COUNT. */
+#if SIZE_MAX > UINT32_MAX
+typedef uint32_t ScrRcCount;
+#ifdef __BYTE_ORDER__
+_Static_assert(__BYTE_ORDER__ == __ORDER_LITTLE_ENDIAN__,
+               "the reference count is the low half of the rc word, at offset 0");
+#endif
+#else
+typedef size_t ScrRcCount;
+#endif
+#define SCR_RC_IMMORTAL ((ScrRcCount)-1)
+#define SCR_RC_COUNT(obj) (*(ScrRcCount *)(obj))
+
+/* The class id in the high half of `obj`'s rc word, or 0 for an object
+ * without one: the high half of any other object's word is 0, or 0xffffffff
+ * (immortal) or 0x80000000 (program-lifetime), and a class id is never one of
+ * these. */
+static inline uint32_t scr_rc_class_id(const void *obj) {
+#if SIZE_MAX > UINT32_MAX
+  uint32_t high = (uint32_t)(*(const size_t *)obj >> 32);
+  return high == UINT32_MAX || high == UINT32_C(0x80000000) ? 0 : high;
+#else
+  (void)obj;
+  return 0;
+#endif
+}
+
 /* ── cycle collection (scr_cycle.c) ───────────────────────────────────
  * Reference counting alone cannot free cycles, so every object that can
  * participate in one — capture boxes, heap closures, unions, promises, and
@@ -591,6 +626,10 @@ enum {
   SCR_PUB_KIND_OBJECT = 4,
   SCR_PUB_KIND_UNION = 5,
   SCR_PUB_KIND_DYN = 6,
+  /* Or'ed into a kind: an object whose rc word keeps its class id in
+   * the high half (SCR_RC_COUNT). The mark, and a refusal's restore, write
+   * only the count. */
+  SCR_PUB_CLASS_ID = 0x100,
 };
 void scr_publish(void *root, ScrPubFn fn);
 void scr_pub_push(ScrPub *ctx, void *v, ScrPubFn fn);
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/scr_region.c b/packages/runtime/src/scr_region.c
index cc094ef0b..a4025610c 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/scr_region.c
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/scr_region.c
@@ -666,11 +666,11 @@ static void scr_rgn_queue(ScrRgnWalk *w, size_t entry, void *p, int kind, void (
  * region counted as explained. RC-audit builds still enter it, and stop if
  * the walk reaches it twice. */
 static void scr_rgn_enter(ScrRgnWalk *w, void *p, int kind, void (*walk)(void *, ScrRgnWalk *)) {
-  if (!p || *(size_t *)p == SIZE_MAX) return; /* immortal: never freed, not walked */
+  if (!p || SCR_RC_COUNT(p) == SCR_RC_IMMORTAL) return; /* immortal: never freed, not walked */
 #ifdef SCR_RGN_DEBUG
-  bool single = w->src == 0 && *(size_t *)p == 1 && !w->debug;
+  bool single = w->src == 0 && SCR_RC_COUNT(p) == 1 && !w->debug;
 #else
-  bool single = w->src == 0 && *(size_t *)p == 1;
+  bool single = w->src == 0 && SCR_RC_COUNT(p) == 1;
 #endif
 #ifndef SCR_RC_AUDIT
   if (single) {
@@ -922,7 +922,7 @@ static int64_t scr_rgn_settle(ScrRgnWalk *w, size_t *black_out) {
   size_t top = 0;
   for (size_t i = 0; i < n; i++) {
     ScrRgnEntry *x = &w->ents[i];
-    if (*(size_t *)x->obj != (size_t)x->found) {
+    if (SCR_RC_COUNT(x->obj) != (ScrRcCount)x->found) {
       x->black = true;
       stack[top++] = i;
     }
@@ -1041,7 +1041,7 @@ static void scr_rgn_report(const ScrRegion *r, const ScrRgnWalk *w, int64_t unex
   }
   for (size_t i = 0; i < w->nents; i++) {
     const ScrRgnEntry *x = &w->ents[i];
-    if (*(size_t *)x->obj == (size_t)x->found) continue; /* not referenced from outside itself */
+    if (SCR_RC_COUNT(x->obj) == (ScrRcCount)x->found) continue; /* not referenced from outside itself */
     if (printed == lines) {
       more++;
       continue;
@@ -1055,7 +1055,7 @@ static void scr_rgn_report(const ScrRegion *r, const ScrRgnWalk *w, int64_t unex
     }
     const ScrRgnFrom *f = &w->from[at];
     fprintf(stderr, " held by %s.%s, with %zu references, %lld of them from what the region owns\n",
-            f->cls ? f->cls->name : "?", f->cls ? scr_rgn_field_name(f->cls, f->field) : "?", *(size_t *)x->obj,
+            f->cls ? f->cls->name : "?", f->cls ? scr_rgn_field_name(f->cls, f->field) : "?", (size_t)SCR_RC_COUNT(x->obj),
             (long long)x->found);
   }
   if (more) fprintf(stderr, "  %zu more\n", more);
@@ -1111,7 +1111,7 @@ static bool scr_rgn_try_free(ScrRgnThread *t, ScrRegion *r, bool tentative) {
   for (ScrRgnChunk *c = r->chunks; c; c = c->next) c->found = 0;
   size_t objects = 0;
   SCR_RGN_EACH(r, s, o) {
-    if (*(size_t *)o == SIZE_MAX) {
+    if (SCR_RC_COUNT(o) == SCR_RC_IMMORTAL) {
       /* Published: other threads may hold it, uncounted. */
       r->state = SCR_RGN_PINNED;
       t->stats.pinned++;
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/scr_slots.c b/packages/runtime/src/scr_slots.c
index 7c5bc7f88..84236c0d5 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/scr_slots.c
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/scr_slots.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ static uint32_t scr_slots_index(void *obj, uint32_t *word) {
   if (index != 0) return index;
   index = atomic_fetch_add_explicit(&scr_slots_next, 1, memory_order_relaxed);
   if (index == 0) scr_trap("scriptc: ThreadSlots ran out of slot indices\n");
-  if (*(size_t *)obj != SIZE_MAX) {
+  if (SCR_RC_COUNT(obj) != SCR_RC_IMMORTAL) {
     __atomic_store_n(word, index, __ATOMIC_RELAXED);
     return index;
   }
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/scr_stream.c b/packages/runtime/src/scr_stream.c
index 7c501f20c..7d7ec04ed 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/scr_stream.c
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/scr_stream.c
@@ -4740,12 +4740,14 @@ ScrStream *scr_stream_rl_from_dyn(const ScrDyn *value, bool output) {
   if (value->kind == SCR_DYN_TYPED_REF && value->v.typed_ref.type_key_len > 7 &&
       !memcmp(value->v.typed_ref.type_key, "object:", 7)) {
     ScrStream *stream = scr_dyn_typed_ref_unbox(value);
-    const ScrVt *vt = stream->vt;
-    bool duplex = vt == &scr_duplex_vt || vt == &scr_transform_vt || vt == &scr_passthrough_vt ||
-                  scr_vt_within(vt, &scr_duplex_vt);
-    bool ok = duplex || (output ? vt == &scr_writable_vt || scr_vt_within(vt, &scr_writable_vt)
-                                : vt == &scr_readable_vt || scr_vt_within(vt, &scr_readable_vt));
-    if (ok) return stream;
+    const ScrVt *vt = scr_stream_vt_of(stream);
+    if (vt) {
+      bool duplex = vt == &scr_duplex_vt || vt == &scr_transform_vt || vt == &scr_passthrough_vt ||
+                    scr_vt_within(vt, &scr_duplex_vt);
+      bool ok = duplex || (output ? vt == &scr_writable_vt || scr_vt_within(vt, &scr_writable_vt)
+                                  : vt == &scr_readable_vt || scr_vt_within(vt, &scr_readable_vt));
+      if (ok) return stream;
+    }
     value->v.typed_ref.release(stream);
   }
   static const char in_m[] = "createInterface with an input that is not a readable stream has no lowering";
@@ -6411,9 +6413,9 @@ static ScrStream *scr_stream_view_receiver(const ScrDyn *value) {
   if (value->kind == SCR_DYN_TYPED_REF && value->v.typed_ref.type_key_len > 7 &&
       !memcmp(value->v.typed_ref.type_key, "object:", 7)) {
     ScrStream *stream = scr_dyn_typed_ref_unbox(value);
-    const ScrVt *vt = stream->vt;
-    if ((vt->pre >= scr_readable_vt.pre && vt->pre <= scr_readable_vt.post) ||
-        (vt->pre >= scr_writable_vt.pre && vt->pre <= scr_writable_vt.post)) return stream;
+    const ScrVt *vt = scr_stream_vt_of(stream);
+    if (vt && ((vt->pre >= scr_readable_vt.pre && vt->pre <= scr_readable_vt.post) ||
+               (vt->pre >= scr_writable_vt.pre && vt->pre <= scr_writable_vt.post))) return stream;
     value->v.typed_ref.release(stream);
   }
   scr_dyn_arg_type_fail("destination", "an instance of Stream", value);
@@ -6716,9 +6718,9 @@ ScrStream *scr_stream_unbox_dyn(const ScrDyn *value, const ScrStr *message) {
   if (value->kind == SCR_DYN_TYPED_REF && value->v.typed_ref.type_key_len > 7 &&
       !memcmp(value->v.typed_ref.type_key, "object:", 7)) {
     ScrStream *stream = scr_dyn_typed_ref_unbox(value);
-    const ScrVt *vt = stream->vt;
-    if ((vt->pre >= scr_readable_vt.pre && vt->pre <= scr_readable_vt.post) ||
-        (vt->pre >= scr_writable_vt.pre && vt->pre <= scr_writable_vt.post)) return stream;
+    const ScrVt *vt = scr_stream_vt_of(stream);
+    if (vt && ((vt->pre >= scr_readable_vt.pre && vt->pre <= scr_readable_vt.post) ||
+               (vt->pre >= scr_writable_vt.pre && vt->pre <= scr_writable_vt.post))) return stream;
     value->v.typed_ref.release(stream);
   }
   scr_throw_error_msg_code(SCR_ERR_ERROR, message->data, message->len, "SC2020");
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/scr_stream.h b/packages/runtime/src/scr_stream.h
index 78290d8c4..99f58331c 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/scr_stream.h
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/scr_stream.h
@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ typedef struct ScrStream {
   ScrStreamState *st;
 } ScrStream;
 
+/* The vtable of an object boxed as an "object:" typed ref, which may be any
+ * program class instance: NULL for one with a class id in its rc word
+ * (scr_rc.h), which has no vtable word and is no stream. */
+static inline const ScrVt *scr_stream_vt_of(const ScrStream *s) {
+  return scr_rc_class_id(s) == 0 ? s->vt : NULL;
+}
+
 extern SCR_TL ScrVt scr_readable_vt, scr_writable_vt, scr_duplex_vt,
     scr_transform_vt, scr_passthrough_vt; /* main() stamps pre/post */
 
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/scr_stream_dyn.c b/packages/runtime/src/scr_stream_dyn.c
index 0859c4e07..11dcf6ee2 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/scr_stream_dyn.c
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/scr_stream_dyn.c
@@ -23,7 +23,11 @@ ScrStream *scr_stream_dyn_native(const ScrDyn *value, double side) {
       memcmp(value->v.typed_ref.type_key, "object:", 7) != 0)
     return NULL;
   ScrStream *stream = scr_dyn_typed_ref_unbox(value);
-  const ScrVt *vt = stream->vt;
+  const ScrVt *vt = scr_stream_vt_of(stream);
+  if (vt == NULL) {
+    value->v.typed_ref.release(stream);
+    return NULL;
+  }
   bool duplex = scr_stream_dyn_within(vt, &scr_duplex_vt) ||
                 scr_stream_dyn_within(vt, &scr_transform_vt) ||
                 scr_stream_dyn_within(vt, &scr_passthrough_vt);
diff --git a/tests/corpus/class-id-instances-as-streams.ts b/tests/corpus/class-id-instances-as-streams.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..813e54ed2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/corpus/class-id-instances-as-streams.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+// Instances of a class hierarchy, held as untyped values, where the stream
+// adapters probe for a native stream: pipe, pipeline, readline, and
+// instanceof checks against the stream classes. Their first field is a
+// number, which sits where a stream's vtable word would be.
+import { Duplex, PassThrough, Readable, Transform, Writable, pipeline } from "node:stream";
+import { createInterface } from "node:readline";
+
+class Shape {
+  size = 3.5;
+  area(): number {
+    return 0;
+  }
+}
+class Square extends Shape {
+  override area(): number {
+    return this.size * this.size;
+  }
+}
+
+function attempt(label: string, run: () => unknown): void {
+  try {
+    run();
+    console.log(label, "ok");
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.log(label, "throws", error instanceof Error);
+  }
+}
+
+const shape: any = new Square();
+try {
+  Readable.from(["a"]).pipe(shape);
+} catch (error) {
+  console.log("pipe", (error as Error).name);
+}
+attempt("pipeline", () => pipeline(shape, new PassThrough(), () => {}));
+attempt("readline-input", () => createInterface({ input: shape }));
+console.log("instanceof", shape instanceof Readable, shape instanceof Writable, shape instanceof Duplex);
+console.log("instanceof-transform", shape instanceof Transform, shape instanceof PassThrough);
+console.log("area", (shape as Square).area());
diff --git a/tests/harness/corpus-costs/class-id-instances-as-streams.ts.json b/tests/harness/corpus-costs/class-id-instances-as-streams.ts.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..07189e390
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/harness/corpus-costs/class-id-instances-as-streams.ts.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{ "plain": 4000, "san": 4500 }
diff --git a/tests/harness/inheritance.test.ts b/tests/harness/inheritance.test.ts
index 27a176764..df79a6235 100644
--- a/tests/harness/inheritance.test.ts
+++ b/tests/harness/inheritance.test.ts
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ console.log(a.id(), a.speak(), b.speak());
     // base-typed call site dispatches through it: both classes are
     // constructed, so the loaded slot selects a direct call of each.
     expect(llvm).toMatch(/%sc_vtt_Animal = type \{ %ScrVt, ptr \}/);
-    expect(llvm).toMatch(/@sc_vtable_Dog = [^\n]*ptr @sc_b?f__x25_Dog_speak\b/);
+    expect(llvm).toMatch(/%sc_vtt_Animal \{[^\n]*ptr @sc_b?f__x25_Dog_speak\b[^\n]*; class Dog\n/);
     expect(llvm).toMatch(
       /getelementptr inbounds %sc_vtt_Animal, ptr %\w+, i64 0, i32 1[\s\S]*icmp eq ptr %\w+, @sc_b?f__x25_(?:Animal|Dog)_speak\n/,
     );
@@ -168,7 +168,9 @@ console.log(c.v, c.label, plain.label);
     );
     // The overridden getter dispatches through its slot...
     expect(llvm).toMatch(/%sc_vtt_Cell = type \{ %ScrVt, ptr \}/);
-    expect(llvm).toMatch(/@sc_vtable_UpperCell = [^\n]*ptr @sc_b?f__x25_UpperCell_get_x3a_label\b/);
+    expect(llvm).toMatch(
+      /%sc_vtt_Cell \{[^\n]*ptr @sc_b?f__x25_UpperCell_get_x3a_label\b[^\n]*; class UpperCell\n/,
+    );
     expect(llvm).toMatch(
       /getelementptr inbounds %sc_vtt_Cell, ptr %\w+, i64 0, i32 1[\s\S]*icmp eq ptr %\w+, @sc_b?f__x25_(?:Cell|UpperCell)_get_x3a_label\n/,
     );
@@ -265,7 +267,7 @@ console.log(b.v, plain.v);
     // dispatch dynamically here.
     expect(llvm).toMatch(/%sc_vtt_Box = type \{ %ScrVt, ptr, ptr \}/);
     expect(llvm).toMatch(
-      /@sc_vtable_SealedBox = [^\n]*ptr @sc_b?f__x25_SealedBox_get_x3a_v(\.virtual)?, ptr @sc_b?f__x25_SealedBox_set_x3a_v\b/,
+      /%sc_vtt_Box \{[^\n]*ptr @sc_b?f__x25_SealedBox_get_x3a_v(\.virtual)?, ptr @sc_b?f__x25_SealedBox_set_x3a_v\b[^\n]*; class SealedBox\n/,
     );
     expect(llvm).toMatch(/getelementptr inbounds %sc_vtt_Box, ptr %\w+, i64 0, i32 2/);
     expect(llvm).toMatch(/sc_f__x25_SealedBox_set_x3a_v/);
diff --git a/tests/harness/self-hosting-emission-cases.ts b/tests/harness/self-hosting-emission-cases.ts
index cf3babf6f..efba5e019 100644
--- a/tests/harness/self-hosting-emission-cases.ts
+++ b/tests/harness/self-hosting-emission-cases.ts
@@ -243,7 +243,11 @@ export function emissionCases(): EmissionCase[] {
   const forest = structuredClone(hierarchy);
   forest.classes!.push(cls("Unrelated"), cls("Leaf", "Child"));
   forest.classes![3]!.fields = [...child.fields];
-  add("class forest numbering", forest, ["class Leaf (vt at 1)", "class Unrelated { value }"]);
+  add("class forest numbering", forest, [
+    "class Leaf (class id in rc)",
+    "class Unrelated { value }",
+    "@sc_vta_Base",
+  ]);
 
   const abstract = emissionModule();
   const abstractRoot = cls("Abstract");