diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index b1682c16d..ec994a8da 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ class MyThing extends WebComponent {
 MyThing.register('my-thing');
 ```
 
-**Signals are the default state primitive.** Import `signal` / `computed` from `@webjsdev/core`, read with `signal.get()` inside `render()`, and the built-in `SignalWatcher` re-renders on change. Module-scope signals share state across components and survive navigations; instance signals (constructor) are component-local. `static properties` is reserved for values that ride an HTML attribute, reflect to one, or arrive via `.prop=${value}` SSR hydration. **Typed props in TS use the `declare` pattern** (a `student: Student = {…}` class-field initializer overwrites the reactive accessor after `super()` and breaks reactivity; instead declare the runtime in `static properties`, the type via `declare student: Student`, and set defaults in the constructor, enforced by `reactive-props-use-declare`). Property options: `type` (default `String`), `reflect`, `state`, `hasChanged`, `converter`.
+**Signals are the default state primitive.** Import `signal` / `computed` from `@webjsdev/core`, read with `signal.get()` inside `render()`, and the built-in `SignalWatcher` re-renders on change. Module-scope signals share state across components and survive navigations; instance signals (constructor) are component-local. `static properties` is reserved for values that ride an HTML attribute, reflect to one, or arrive via `.prop=${value}` SSR hydration. **Typed props in TS use the `declare` pattern** (a `student: Student = {…}` class-field initializer overwrites the reactive accessor after `super()` and breaks reactivity; instead declare the runtime in `static properties`, the type via `declare student: Student`, and set defaults via the `default` option or in the constructor, enforced by `reactive-props-use-declare`). Property options: `type` (default `String`), `reflect`, `state`, `hasChanged`, `converter`, `default` (declarative initial value, so the common case needs no constructor; a function `default` is called per instance for fresh object / array defaults, and an applied attribute overrides it).
 
 **Lifecycle (lit-aligned), in order:** `shouldUpdate`, `willUpdate`, controllers' `hostUpdate()`, `update` (calls `render()` + commits), controllers' `hostUpdated()`, `firstUpdated`, `updated`, `updateComplete`, each receiving a `changedProperties` Map. **SSR runs only the constructor, attribute application, the pre-render hooks (`willUpdate` / `hostUpdate`), `reflect: true` reflection, and `render()`; it does NOT call `connectedCallback`, `firstUpdated`, `updated`, or any browser-only hook.** So defaults for first paint go in the constructor; browser-only data (localStorage, viewport, `navigator.*`) goes in `connectedCallback` writing a signal; server-known data arrives via the page function. Never ship a placeholder first paint that fetches in `connectedCallback`. A browser-only global in the constructor/`render()` throws at SSR (flagged by `no-browser-globals-in-render`; attribute methods and `closest()` are shimmed).
 
diff --git a/agent-docs/components.md b/agent-docs/components.md
index abcd16f45..13e082dd7 100644
--- a/agent-docs/components.md
+++ b/agent-docs/components.md
@@ -9,11 +9,34 @@
 | `state` | `boolean` | `false` | Internal-only. No attribute, not in `observedAttributes` |
 | `hasChanged` | `(newVal, oldVal) => boolean` | strict `!==` | Custom change detection |
 | `converter` | `{ fromAttribute?, toAttribute? }` | type-based | Custom attribute ↔ property serialization |
+| `default` | `T \| (() => T)` | none | Declarative initial value, so the common case needs no constructor |
 
 Built-in constructors (`String`, `Number`, `Boolean`, `Array`, `Object`) feed
 the default attribute coercion. For anything the default can't parse correctly
 (Date, Map, Set, discriminated unions) supply a custom `converter`.
 
+The `default` option carries a property's initial value declaratively:
+
+```ts
+static properties = {
+  count: { type: Number, default: 0 },
+  items: { type: Array, default: () => [] },   // function default → fresh per instance
+};
+declare count: number;
+declare items: string[];
+```
+
+A function `default` is **called** to produce the value, so an object /
+array default is a separate instance per element. Always use the function
+form for an object or array: a LITERAL `default: {}` / `default: []` is
+evaluated once when `static properties` is created, so every element
+would share one reference and a mutation in one would leak into the rest.
+A primitive literal (`0`, `false`, `'x'`) is safe. To default a property
+to a function VALUE, wrap it as `default: () => theFn`. An applied
+attribute (it runs after construction) overrides the default. Set the
+default in the `constructor()` instead only when it must be computed from
+other constructor state.
+
 ## Why `declare` is required in TypeScript
 
 The framework installs reactive getter/setter on `this` inside the
@@ -27,6 +50,16 @@ The `.d.ts` overlay shipped with the framework makes every other class
 member fully typed, so only the reactive properties need the `declare`
 line, and only in TypeScript files.
 
+The `declare` line is irreducible: TypeScript has no decorator-free way
+to add a typed instance member from the static runtime `properties`
+value, and decorators (`@property()`) are banned because they are
+non-erasable and webjs strips types with no build step. What the
+`default` option removes is the *constructor*, bringing the common case
+to two lines (`static properties` + `declare`). See the
+"@property() decorator" entry in `lit-muscle-memory-gotchas.md` for the
+full divergence rationale (including why the `accessor` keyword and a
+`prop()` helper do not work either).
+
 ## Lifecycle hooks (lit-aligned)
 
 `WebComponent` ships lit's full reactive lifecycle. Every update cycle runs these hooks in order; each receives a `changedProperties` Map (`Map<string, oldValue>`, where keys are reactive-property names).
diff --git a/agent-docs/lit-muscle-memory-gotchas.md b/agent-docs/lit-muscle-memory-gotchas.md
index d3aa926c7..5f3feb6b6 100644
--- a/agent-docs/lit-muscle-memory-gotchas.md
+++ b/agent-docs/lit-muscle-memory-gotchas.md
@@ -288,7 +288,15 @@ class StudentCard extends WebComponent {
   student: Student = { name: '', email: '' };
 }
 
-// right
+// right (declarative default, no constructor needed)
+class StudentCard extends WebComponent {
+  static properties = {
+    student: { type: Object, default: () => ({ name: '', email: '' }) },
+  };
+  declare student: Student;
+}
+
+// also right (constructor default, when the default depends on other state)
 class StudentCard extends WebComponent {
   static properties = { student: { type: Object } };
   declare student: Student;
@@ -299,17 +307,56 @@ class StudentCard extends WebComponent {
 }
 ```
 
-`webjs check` flags this via the `reactive-props-use-declare` rule, but
-AI agents emit the broken form on autopilot. The convention check is
-the safety net, not the primary defense. Authoring code should use
-`declare` plus constructor defaults from the start.
-
-### 6. The `@property()` decorator
-
-Banned by framework invariant 10 (erasable TS). The replacement is
-`static properties = { ... }` plus a matching `declare` for the typed
-accessor, as shown above. Decorators are non-erasable, so they would
-force the framework to depend on a build step.
+`webjs check` flags the broken form via the `reactive-props-use-declare`
+rule, but AI agents emit it on autopilot. The convention check is the
+safety net, not the primary defense. Authoring code should use `declare`
+plus a default from the start.
+
+Use the `default` option for the default value whenever it does not
+depend on other instance state. One footgun to know: a LITERAL object or
+array default (`default: {}`, `default: []`) is evaluated once when the
+`static properties` object is created, so every instance shares the same
+reference and one element's mutation leaks into the others. For an object
+or array default, pass a FUNCTION (`default: () => ({})`), which the
+framework calls once per instance to produce a fresh value. A primitive
+default (`0`, `false`, `'x'`) has no such hazard, so a literal is fine
+there. Use a constructor default only when the value must be computed
+from other constructor state. Either way, the `declare` line stays (it is
+the only decorator-free way to type the accessor; see the next entry).
+
+### 6. The `@property()` decorator (the deliberate Lit divergence)
+
+Lit's one-liner `@property() name = 'x'` is **deliberately unavailable**
+in webjs, and the `static properties` + `declare` (+ `default`) pattern
+is the intended replacement, not a stopgap. The reasoning, since this is
+exactly the muscle-memory trap this file exists for:
+
+- **Decorators are non-erasable, and webjs strips types with no build
+  step** (invariant 10). Types are erased by Node 24+'s
+  `module.stripTypeScriptTypes` or amaro on Bun, both of which only
+  remove *type* syntax. A decorator emits runtime calls, so it is not
+  erased; supporting `@property()` would force a tsc / Babel build step,
+  which is the one thing webjs does not have.
+- **The TC39 `accessor` keyword does not rescue it.** `accessor name =
+  'x'` is tempting because auto-accessors are not legacy decorators, but
+  (1) it is a *runtime* syntax error on the engines webjs targets (V8 in
+  Node, JSC in Bun) when written without the decorators proposal, and
+  the stripper leaves it intact because it is not a type, so it crashes
+  at load with no build step; and (2) even where it parses, a bare
+  `accessor` does not register the property as reactive without a
+  decorator, which is the part that is banned.
+- **A `prop()` field helper cannot work either.** `name = prop('x')` is
+  a class-field initializer, so it is clobbered after `super()` by the
+  same class-field semantics that break `name = 'x'` (entry 5); it would
+  store the helper's return value as a plain field, not a reactive
+  accessor, and there is no decorator-free hook to convert it back at the
+  right time.
+- **So the `declare` line is irreducible.** TypeScript has no
+  decorator-free way to add a typed instance member from a static runtime
+  value, so the type must be stated once via `declare name: string`. What
+  webjs *can* remove is the constructor: the `default` option (entry 5)
+  carries the initial value declaratively, bringing the common case to
+  two lines (`static properties` + `declare`).
 
 ## Patterns that produce different visual output
 
@@ -463,8 +510,8 @@ must move with it, use `repeat()` with a stable key.
 | `Task` for client-time async | `Task` (no change, that's its job) |
 | `window.X` or `document.X` in constructor or `render()` | Move to `connectedCallback` |
 | Top-level `import` of browser-only library | Dynamic `import()` inside `connectedCallback` |
-| `student: Student = { ... }` field initializer | `declare student: Student` plus constructor default |
-| `@property()` decorator | `static properties = { ... }` plus `declare` |
+| `student: Student = { ... }` field initializer | `declare student: Student` plus a `default` option (or constructor default) |
+| `@property() name = 'x'` decorator one-liner | `static properties = { name: { default: 'x' } }` plus `declare name: string` (decorators are non-erasable, no build step) |
 | `static styles = css` / inline `<style>` with semantic class names in a light-DOM component | Tailwind utilities (the default); or `static shadow = true` for genuinely scoped CSS |
 | Plain `.map()` for an interactive/stateful list | Works (reconciles in place, keeps node identity); use `repeat(items, key, t)` only when the list **reorders** |
 | `willUpdate` for SSR-visible derived state | Works (runs at SSR); keep it a pure derivation |
diff --git a/docs/app/docs/components/page.ts b/docs/app/docs/components/page.ts
index fed051a48..f506225e2 100644
--- a/docs/app/docs/components/page.ts
+++ b/docs/app/docs/components/page.ts
@@ -59,30 +59,22 @@ UserCard.register('user-card');</pre>
     <pre>class UserCard extends WebComponent {
 
   static properties = {
-    name:     { type: String },
-    age:      { type: Number },
-    active:   { type: Boolean },
-    config:   { type: Object },
-    tags:     { type: Array },
+    name:     { type: String,  default: 'Anonymous' },
+    age:      { type: Number,  default: 0 },
+    active:   { type: Boolean, default: false },
+    config:   { type: Object,  default: () =&gt; ({}) },   // function default → fresh per instance
+    tags:     { type: Array,   default: () =&gt; [] },
   };
   // Compile-time types only. Never use class-field initializers for
-  // reactive props. They would clobber the framework's accessor under
-  // modern class-field semantics. Set defaults in the constructor.
+  // reactive props (\`name = 'x'\`). They would clobber the framework's
+  // accessor under modern class-field semantics. The \`declare\` line types
+  // the accessor; the \`default\` option above seeds the initial value.
   declare name: string;
   declare age: number;
   declare active: boolean;
   declare config: Record&lt;string, unknown&gt;;
   declare tags: string[];
 
-  constructor() {
-    super();
-    this.name = 'Anonymous';
-    this.age = 0;
-    this.active = false;
-    this.config = {};
-    this.tags = [];
-  }
-
   render() {
     return html\`
       &lt;p&gt;\${this.name} (age \${this.age})&lt;/p&gt;
@@ -93,6 +85,8 @@ UserCard.register('user-card');</pre>
 }
 UserCard.register('user-card');</pre>
 
+    <p>The <code>default</code> option carries a property's initial value, so the common case needs no constructor at all. A <strong>function</strong> default is called once per instance, so an object or array default is a fresh value rather than one shared across every element. An applied attribute overrides the default. Reach for a <code>constructor()</code> default only when the value must be computed from other constructor state.</p>
+
     <h3>Attribute-to-Property Coercion</h3>
     <p>When an attribute changes on the DOM element, webjs coerces the string value to the declared type:</p>
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/component.d.ts b/packages/core/src/component.d.ts
index 11bc9edd2..2e643db74 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/component.d.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/component.d.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,14 @@ export interface PropertyDeclaration<T = unknown> {
   };
   /** Custom dirty check. Return `true` to schedule an update. */
   hasChanged?: (newValue: T, oldValue: T) => boolean;
+  /**
+   * Declarative initial value, so the common case needs no constructor.
+   * A function `default` is CALLED to produce the value (a fresh object /
+   * array per instance, no shared reference); to default to a function
+   * value, wrap it as `default: () => theFn`. An applied attribute
+   * overrides it.
+   */
+  default?: T | (() => T);
 }
 
 /** Reactive controller protocol (Lit-compatible). */
diff --git a/packages/core/src/component.js b/packages/core/src/component.js
index 1c6645bac..3fe85cd4c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/component.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/component.js
@@ -584,6 +584,18 @@ export class WebComponent extends Base {
 
       if (initial !== undefined) {
         this.__propValues[propName] = initial;
+      } else if (d.default !== undefined) {
+        // Declarative default: lets a property carry its initial value in
+        // `static properties` so the common case needs no constructor at
+        // all. A function `default` is CALLED to produce the value, so an
+        // object / array default is a fresh instance per element (no shared
+        // reference across instances); to default to a function value, wrap
+        // it: `default: () => theFn`. Applied straight to the backing store
+        // (like `initial`), so it does not fire the setter; reflection still
+        // happens on connect via `_reflectDeclaredAttributes`, and an
+        // applied attribute (which runs after construction) overrides it.
+        this.__propValues[propName] =
+          typeof d.default === 'function' ? d.default() : d.default;
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/packages/core/test/lifecycle/component-lifecycle.test.js b/packages/core/test/lifecycle/component-lifecycle.test.js
index a805e6b9b..95f153ad3 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/lifecycle/component-lifecycle.test.js
+++ b/packages/core/test/lifecycle/component-lifecycle.test.js
@@ -194,6 +194,84 @@ test('custom hasChanged short-circuits updates when false', async () => {
   assert.equal(renders, 1, 'second assignment did not schedule a render');
 });
 
+/* -------------------- declarative default (#531) -------------------- */
+
+test('default option seeds the value with no constructor', () => {
+  class C extends WebComponent {
+    static properties = {
+      count: { type: Number, default: 0 },
+      label: { type: String, default: 'hi' },
+    };
+  }
+  C.register('default-literal');
+  const el = document.createElement('default-literal');
+  assert.equal(el.count, 0);
+  assert.equal(el.label, 'hi');
+});
+
+test('a falsy default (0, false, "") is applied, not skipped', () => {
+  class C extends WebComponent {
+    static properties = {
+      n: { type: Number, default: 0 },
+      b: { type: Boolean, default: false },
+      s: { type: String, default: '' },
+    };
+  }
+  C.register('default-falsy');
+  const el = document.createElement('default-falsy');
+  assert.equal(el.n, 0);
+  assert.equal(el.b, false);
+  assert.equal(el.s, '');
+});
+
+test('a function default is called to produce a FRESH value per instance', () => {
+  class C extends WebComponent {
+    static properties = { items: { type: Array, default: () => [] } };
+  }
+  C.register('default-factory');
+  const a = document.createElement('default-factory');
+  const b = document.createElement('default-factory');
+  assert.deepEqual(a.items, []);
+  a.items.push(1);
+  // b's default must be a separate array, not a shared reference.
+  assert.deepEqual(b.items, []);
+});
+
+test('a LITERAL object default is shared across instances (documented hazard)', () => {
+  // This locks the documented contract: a non-function default is the SAME
+  // reference for every element (evaluated once in `static properties`), so
+  // objects / arrays must use the function form. If this ever stops being
+  // true, the docs warning in lit-muscle-memory-gotchas.md must change.
+  class C extends WebComponent {
+    static properties = { bag: { type: Object, default: {} } };
+  }
+  C.register('default-literal-shared');
+  const a = document.createElement('default-literal-shared');
+  const b = document.createElement('default-literal-shared');
+  assert.equal(a.bag, b.bag, 'a literal default is shared by reference');
+});
+
+test('an applied attribute overrides the default', () => {
+  class C extends WebComponent {
+    static properties = { size: { type: Number, default: 7 } };
+  }
+  C.register('default-attr-override');
+  const el = document.createElement('default-attr-override');
+  assert.equal(el.size, 7);
+  el.attributeChangedCallback('size', null, '42');
+  assert.equal(el.size, 42);
+});
+
+test('a default with reflect: true reflects to the attribute on connect', () => {
+  class C extends WebComponent {
+    static properties = { mode: { type: String, reflect: true, default: 'dark' } };
+  }
+  C.register('default-reflect');
+  const el = document.createElement('default-reflect');
+  document.body.appendChild(el);
+  assert.equal(el.getAttribute('mode'), 'dark');
+});
+
 /* -------------------- lifecycle: connect / disconnect -------------------- */
 
 test('connectedCallback marks _connected true and schedules first render', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/core/test/rendering/render-server.test.js b/packages/core/test/rendering/render-server.test.js
index 17fafa790..6ca4c6795 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/rendering/render-server.test.js
+++ b/packages/core/test/rendering/render-server.test.js
@@ -87,6 +87,35 @@ test('custom element injects declarative shadow DOM', async () => {
   assert.match(out, /<\/template><\/g-reet>/);
 });
 
+test('declarative `default` prop value is baked into the SSR first paint (#531)', async () => {
+  class DefaultCard extends WebComponent {
+    static properties = {
+      count: { type: Number, default: 7 },
+      items: { type: Array, default: () => ['a', 'b'] },
+    };
+    render() {
+      return html`<p>count=${this.count} items=${this.items.join(',')}</p>`;
+    }
+  }
+  DefaultCard.register('default-card');
+  const out = await renderToString(html`<default-card></default-card>`);
+  // PE-critical: the default must be in the server HTML, not applied only
+  // on hydration (JS-off must read the real value).
+  assert.match(out, /count=7 items=a,b/);
+});
+
+test('a `reflect: true` default reflects to the attribute in the SSR markup (#531)', async () => {
+  class ReflectDefault extends WebComponent {
+    static properties = { mode: { type: String, reflect: true, default: 'dark' } };
+    render() {
+      return html`<p>${this.mode}</p>`;
+    }
+  }
+  ReflectDefault.register('ssr-reflect-default');
+  const out = await renderToString(html`<ssr-reflect-default></ssr-reflect-default>`);
+  assert.match(out, /mode="dark"/);
+});
+
 test('async component render is awaited', async () => {
   class AsyncGreet extends WebComponent {
     static shadow = true;
diff --git a/packages/server/src/check.js b/packages/server/src/check.js
index 084aa534c..920cee486 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/check.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/check.js
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export const RULES = [
   {
     name: 'reactive-props-use-declare',
     description:
-      'Reactive properties listed in `static properties = { … }` must be typed with `declare propName: Type` (no value), and have their default set in `constructor()`. Plain class-field initializers (`prop = value` or `prop: Type = value`) compile to Object.defineProperty *after* super() under modern class-field semantics, clobbering the framework\'s reactive accessor and silently breaking re-renders.',
+      'Reactive properties listed in `static properties = { … }` must be typed with `declare propName: Type` (no value), and have their default set via the `default:` option in the declaration (`{ type: Number, default: 0 }`) or in `constructor()`. Plain class-field initializers (`prop = value` or `prop: Type = value`) compile to Object.defineProperty *after* super() under modern class-field semantics, clobbering the framework\'s reactive accessor and silently breaking re-renders.',
   },
   {
     name: 'shell-in-non-root-layout',
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ export async function checkConventions(appDir) {
             rule: 'reactive-props-use-declare',
             file: rel,
             message: `Reactive prop \`${bad}\` uses a class-field initializer; this clobbers the framework's reactive accessor under modern class-field semantics.`,
-            fix: `Replace with \`declare ${bad}: <Type>;\` and set the default inside \`constructor()\` after \`super()\`.`,
+            fix: `Replace with \`declare ${bad}: <Type>;\` and set the default via the \`default:\` option in \`static properties\` (\`${bad}: { type: …, default: … }\`) or inside \`constructor()\` after \`super()\`.`,
           });
         }
       }