diff --git a/src/mudlib/combat/moves.py b/src/mudlib/combat/moves.py
index 8491078..f75e338 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/combat/moves.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/combat/moves.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ class CombatMove:
     command: str = ""
     # variant key ("left", "right", "" for simple moves)
     variant: str = ""
+    description: str = ""
 
 
 def load_move(path: Path) -> list[CombatMove]:
@@ -83,6 +84,7 @@ def load_move(path: Path) -> list[CombatMove]:
                     handler=None,
                     command=base_name,
                     variant=variant_key,
+                    description=data.get("description", ""),
                 )
             )
         return moves
@@ -101,6 +103,7 @@ def load_move(path: Path) -> list[CombatMove]:
             handler=None,
             command=base_name,
             variant="",
+            description=data.get("description", ""),
         )
     ]
 
diff --git a/src/mudlib/commands/help.py b/src/mudlib/commands/help.py
index 5d2961d..b9b1d60 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/commands/help.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/commands/help.py
@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ async def _show_single_command(
 
     lines = [defn.name]
 
+    # Show description first for combat moves (most important context)
+    if move is not None and move.description:
+        lines.append(f"  {move.description}")
+
     # Always show aliases
     if defn.aliases:
         aliases_str = ", ".join(defn.aliases)
@@ -135,6 +139,10 @@ async def _show_variant_overview(
 
     lines = [defn.name]
 
+    # Show description from first variant (they all share the same one)
+    if variants and variants[0].description:
+        lines.append(f"  {variants[0].description}")
+
     # Show type from first variant
     if variants:
         lines.append(f"  type: {variants[0].move_type}")