diff --git a/src/mudlib/combat/stamina.py b/src/mudlib/combat/stamina.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..82e1319
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mudlib/combat/stamina.py
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+"""Stamina cue broadcasts for combat strain visibility."""
+
+from mudlib.commands.movement import send_nearby_message
+from mudlib.entity import Entity
+
+
+async def check_stamina_cues(entity: Entity) -> None:
+    """Broadcast stamina strain messages when thresholds are crossed.
+
+    Thresholds (escalating severity):
+    - Below 75%: breathing heavily
+    - Below 50%: drenched in sweat
+    - Below 25%: visibly shaking from exhaustion
+    - Below 10%: can barely stand
+
+    Each threshold triggers only ONCE per descent. Track the last triggered
+    threshold to prevent spam.
+
+    Args:
+        entity: The entity to check stamina for
+    """
+    if entity.max_stamina == 0:
+        return
+
+    stamina_pct = entity.stamina / entity.max_stamina
+
+    # Define thresholds from lowest to highest (check in reverse order)
+    thresholds = [
+        (
+            0.10,
+            "You can barely stand.",
+            f"{entity.name} can barely stand.",
+        ),
+        (
+            0.25,
+            "You're visibly shaking from exhaustion.",
+            f"{entity.name} is visibly shaking from exhaustion.",
+        ),
+        (
+            0.50,
+            "You're drenched in sweat.",
+            f"{entity.name} is drenched in sweat.",
+        ),
+        (
+            0.75,
+            "You're breathing heavily.",
+            f"{entity.name} is breathing heavily.",
+        ),
+    ]
+
+    # Find the current threshold (highest threshold we're below)
+    current_threshold = None
+    self_msg = None
+    nearby_msg = None
+
+    for threshold, self_text, nearby_text in thresholds:
+        if stamina_pct < threshold:
+            current_threshold = threshold
+            self_msg = self_text
+            nearby_msg = nearby_text
+            break
+
+    # If we found a threshold and it's lower than the last triggered one
+    if current_threshold is not None and current_threshold < entity._last_stamina_cue:
+        # Send self-directed message
+        await entity.send(f"{self_msg}\r\n")
+
+        # Broadcast to nearby players
+        await send_nearby_message(entity, entity.x, entity.y, f"{nearby_msg}\r\n")
+
+        # Update tracking
+        entity._last_stamina_cue = current_threshold
diff --git a/src/mudlib/entity.py b/src/mudlib/entity.py
index 43aa27e..f0bf12e 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/entity.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/entity.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ class Entity(Object):
     max_stamina: float = 100.0  # stamina ceiling
     defense_locked_until: float = 0.0  # monotonic time when defense recovery ends
     resting: bool = False  # whether this entity is currently resting
+    _last_stamina_cue: float = 1.0  # Last stamina percentage that triggered a cue
 
     @property
     def posture(self) -> str:
diff --git a/tests/test_stamina_cues.py b/tests/test_stamina_cues.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f721c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_stamina_cues.py
@@ -0,0 +1,237 @@
+"""Tests for stamina cue broadcasts."""
+
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from mudlib.player import Player
+from mudlib.zone import Zone
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_writer():
+    writer = MagicMock()
+    writer.write = MagicMock()
+    writer.drain = AsyncMock()
+    return writer
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def test_zone():
+    return Zone(name="test", width=10, height=10)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def player(mock_writer, test_zone):
+    p = Player(
+        name="Goku",
+        x=5,
+        y=5,
+        pl=100.0,
+        stamina=100.0,
+        max_stamina=100.0,
+        writer=mock_writer,
+    )
+    p.move_to(test_zone, x=5, y=5)
+    return p
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def nearby_player(test_zone):
+    """A nearby player to receive broadcasts."""
+    w = MagicMock()
+    w.write = MagicMock()
+    w.drain = AsyncMock()
+    p = Player(
+        name="Vegeta",
+        x=5,
+        y=5,
+        pl=100.0,
+        stamina=100.0,
+        max_stamina=100.0,
+        writer=w,
+    )
+    p.move_to(test_zone, x=5, y=5)
+    return p
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_no_cue_above_75_percent(player):
+    """No cue when stamina is above 75%."""
+    from mudlib.combat.stamina import check_stamina_cues
+
+    player.stamina = 80.0
+    player.max_stamina = 100.0
+
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+
+    # No message sent to player
+    player.writer.write.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_breathing_heavily_below_75_percent(player):
+    """'Breathing heavily' cue when stamina drops below 75%."""
+    from mudlib.combat.stamina import check_stamina_cues
+
+    player.stamina = 70.0
+    player.max_stamina = 100.0
+
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+
+    # Check self-directed message
+    calls = [call[0][0] for call in player.writer.write.call_args_list]
+    assert any("You're breathing heavily." in msg for msg in calls)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_drenched_in_sweat_below_50_percent(player):
+    """'Drenched in sweat' cue when below 50%."""
+    from mudlib.combat.stamina import check_stamina_cues
+
+    player.stamina = 45.0
+    player.max_stamina = 100.0
+
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+
+    calls = [call[0][0] for call in player.writer.write.call_args_list]
+    assert any("You're drenched in sweat." in msg for msg in calls)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_visibly_shaking_below_25_percent(player):
+    """'Visibly shaking' cue when below 25%."""
+    from mudlib.combat.stamina import check_stamina_cues
+
+    player.stamina = 20.0
+    player.max_stamina = 100.0
+
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+
+    calls = [call[0][0] for call in player.writer.write.call_args_list]
+    assert any("You're visibly shaking from exhaustion." in msg for msg in calls)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_can_barely_stand_below_10_percent(player):
+    """'Can barely stand' cue when below 10%."""
+    from mudlib.combat.stamina import check_stamina_cues
+
+    player.stamina = 8.0
+    player.max_stamina = 100.0
+
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+
+    calls = [call[0][0] for call in player.writer.write.call_args_list]
+    assert any("You can barely stand." in msg for msg in calls)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_same_threshold_not_triggered_twice(player):
+    """Same threshold doesn't trigger twice (spam prevention)."""
+    from mudlib.combat.stamina import check_stamina_cues
+
+    # First trigger at 70%
+    player.stamina = 70.0
+    player.max_stamina = 100.0
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+    first_call_count = player.writer.write.call_count
+
+    # Second trigger at same threshold (still 70%)
+    player.stamina = 70.0
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+    second_call_count = player.writer.write.call_count
+
+    # No new messages should have been sent
+    assert second_call_count == first_call_count
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_higher_threshold_doesnt_retrigger(player):
+    """Higher threshold doesn't trigger if already at lower."""
+    from mudlib.combat.stamina import check_stamina_cues
+
+    # Drop to 20% first
+    player.stamina = 20.0
+    player.max_stamina = 100.0
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+    player.writer.write.reset_mock()
+
+    # Recover to 30% (back into 25-50% range)
+    player.stamina = 30.0
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+
+    # No new cue should trigger
+    player.writer.write.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_self_directed_message_sent(player):
+    """Self-directed message sent to the entity."""
+    from mudlib.combat.stamina import check_stamina_cues
+
+    player.stamina = 70.0
+    player.max_stamina = 100.0
+
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+
+    # Verify self message was sent
+    calls = [call[0][0] for call in player.writer.write.call_args_list]
+    assert any("You're breathing heavily." in msg for msg in calls)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_nearby_broadcast_sent(player, nearby_player):
+    """Nearby broadcast sent to other players."""
+    from mudlib.combat.stamina import check_stamina_cues
+
+    player.stamina = 70.0
+    player.max_stamina = 100.0
+
+    with patch("mudlib.combat.stamina.send_nearby_message") as mock_nearby:
+        await check_stamina_cues(player)
+
+        # Verify send_nearby_message was called
+        mock_nearby.assert_called_once()
+        args = mock_nearby.call_args[0]
+        assert args[0] is player
+        assert args[1] == 5  # x coordinate
+        assert args[2] == 5  # y coordinate
+        assert "Goku is breathing heavily." in args[3]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_descending_thresholds_trigger_each_once(player):
+    """Descending through thresholds triggers each once."""
+    from mudlib.combat.stamina import check_stamina_cues
+
+    player.max_stamina = 100.0
+
+    # Start at 80%, no cue
+    player.stamina = 80.0
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+    count_80 = player.writer.write.call_count
+
+    # Drop to 70%, should trigger 75% threshold
+    player.stamina = 70.0
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+    count_70 = player.writer.write.call_count
+    assert count_70 > count_80
+
+    # Drop to 40%, should trigger 50% threshold
+    player.stamina = 40.0
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+    count_40 = player.writer.write.call_count
+    assert count_40 > count_70
+
+    # Drop to 20%, should trigger 25% threshold
+    player.stamina = 20.0
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+    count_20 = player.writer.write.call_count
+    assert count_20 > count_40
+
+    # Drop to 5%, should trigger 10% threshold
+    player.stamina = 5.0
+    await check_stamina_cues(player)
+    count_5 = player.writer.write.call_count
+    assert count_5 > count_20