diff --git a/src/components/contacts/screens/ViewMatches.tsx b/src/components/contacts/screens/ViewMatches.tsx
index dab3a79c6b..0ef4711919 100644
--- a/src/components/contacts/screens/ViewMatches.tsx
+++ b/src/components/contacts/screens/ViewMatches.tsx
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import {
   optimisticRemoveMatch,
   useMatchesPassthroughQuery,
 } from '#/state/queries/find-contacts'
-import {useAgent, useAppviewClient, useSession} from '#/state/session'
+import {useAppviewClient, usePdsClient, useSession} from '#/state/session'
 import {List, type ListMethods} from '#/view/com/util/List'
 import {UserAvatar} from '#/view/com/util/UserAvatar'
 import {OnboardingPosition} from '#/screens/Onboarding/Layout'
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ export function ViewMatches({
   const gutter = useGutters([0, 'wide'])
   const moderationOpts = useModerationOpts()
   const queryClient = useQueryClient()
-  const agent = useAgent()
+  const pdsClient = usePdsClient()
   const client = useAppviewClient()
   const insets = useSafeAreaInsets()
   const listRef = useRef<ListMethods>(null)
@@ -127,7 +127,10 @@ export function ViewMatches({
         })
       }
 
-      const uris = await wait(500, bulkWriteFollows(agent, followableDids))
+      const uris = await wait(
+        500,
+        bulkWriteFollows(pdsClient, client, followableDids),
+      )
 
       for (const did of followableDids) {
         const uri = uris.get(did)
diff --git a/src/components/dialogs/lists/CreateListFromStarterPackDialog.tsx b/src/components/dialogs/lists/CreateListFromStarterPackDialog.tsx
index 3aabbec9ff..ceb07fb0e0 100644
--- a/src/components/dialogs/lists/CreateListFromStarterPackDialog.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dialogs/lists/CreateListFromStarterPackDialog.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 import {View} from 'react-native'
-import {
-  type $Typed,
-  type AppBskyGraphDefs,
-  type AppBskyGraphListitem,
-  type AppBskyGraphStarterpack,
-  AtUri,
-  type ComAtprotoRepoApplyWrites,
-} from '@atproto/api'
+import {type AppBskyGraphDefs, type AppBskyGraphStarterpack} from '@atproto/api'
 import {TID} from '@atproto/common-web'
+import {type $Typed} from '@atproto/lex'
+import {
+  type AtIdentifierString,
+  AtUri,
+  type AtUriString,
+  type DidString,
+  toDatetimeString,
+} from '@atproto/syntax'
 import {msg} from '@lingui/core/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 import {Trans} from '@lingui/react/macro'
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ import {wait} from '#/lib/async/wait'
 import {type NavigationProp} from '#/lib/routes/types'
 import {logger} from '#/logger'
 import {getAllListMembers} from '#/state/queries/list-members'
-import {useAgent, useAppviewClient, useSession} from '#/state/session'
+import {useAppviewClient, usePdsClient, useSession} from '#/state/session'
 import {atoms as a, platform, useTheme, web} from '#/alf'
 import {Admonition} from '#/components/Admonition'
 import {Button, ButtonText} from '#/components/Button'
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ import {Loader} from '#/components/Loader'
 import * as Toast from '#/components/Toast'
 import {Text} from '#/components/Typography'
 import {useAnalytics} from '#/analytics'
+import {app, com} from '#/lexicons'
 import {CreateOrEditListDialog} from './CreateOrEditListDialog'
 
 export function CreateListFromStarterPackDialog({
@@ -40,8 +42,8 @@ export function CreateListFromStarterPackDialog({
 }) {
   const {_} = useLingui()
   const t = useTheme()
-  const agent = useAgent()
   const appviewClient = useAppviewClient()
+  const pdsClient = usePdsClient()
   const ax = useAnalytics()
   const {currentAccount} = useSession()
   const navigation = useNavigation<NavigationProp>()
@@ -80,13 +82,14 @@ export function CreateListFromStarterPackDialog({
           )
 
           if (items.length > 0) {
-            const listitemWrites: $Typed<ComAtprotoRepoApplyWrites.Create>[] =
+            const listitemWrites: $Typed<com.atproto.repo.applyWrites.Create>[] =
               items.map(item => {
-                const listitemRecord: $Typed<AppBskyGraphListitem.Record> = {
+                const listitemRecord: $Typed<app.bsky.graph.listitem.Main> = {
                   $type: 'app.bsky.graph.listitem',
-                  subject: item.subject.did,
-                  list: listUri,
-                  createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+                  // the list view is still legacy-typed, so its strings are unbranded
+                  subject: item.subject.did as DidString,
+                  list: listUri as AtUriString,
+                  createdAt: toDatetimeString(new Date()),
                 }
                 return {
                   $type: 'com.atproto.repo.applyWrites#create',
@@ -98,8 +101,8 @@ export function CreateListFromStarterPackDialog({
 
             const chunks = chunk(listitemWrites, 50)
             for (const c of chunks) {
-              await agent.com.atproto.repo.applyWrites({
-                repo: currentAccount.did,
+              await pdsClient.call(com.atproto.repo.applyWrites, {
+                repo: currentAccount.did as AtIdentifierString,
                 writes: c,
               })
             }
@@ -107,10 +110,10 @@ export function CreateListFromStarterPackDialog({
             await until(
               5,
               1e3,
-              (res: {data: {items: unknown[]}}) => res.data.items.length > 0,
+              (res: {items: unknown[]}) => res.items.length > 0,
               () =>
-                agent.app.bsky.graph.getList({
-                  list: listUri,
+                appviewClient.call(app.bsky.graph.getList, {
+                  list: listUri as AtUriString,
                   limit: 1,
                 }),
             )
diff --git a/src/lib/generate-starterpack.ts b/src/lib/generate-starterpack.ts
index a53e95a6a3..a786fb47ad 100644
--- a/src/lib/generate-starterpack.ts
+++ b/src/lib/generate-starterpack.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,5 @@
-import {
-  type $Typed,
-  type AppBskyActorDefs,
-  type AppBskyGraphGetStarterPack,
-  type AtpAgent,
-  type ComAtprotoRepoApplyWrites,
-  type Facet,
-} from '@atproto/api'
+import {type Client} from '@atproto/lex'
+import {type AtUriString, toDatetimeString} from '@atproto/syntax'
 import {msg} from '@lingui/core/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 import {useMutation} from '@tanstack/react-query'
@@ -14,7 +8,8 @@ import {until} from '#/lib/async/until'
 import {sanitizeDisplayName} from '#/lib/strings/display-names'
 import {sanitizeHandle} from '#/lib/strings/handles'
 import {enforceLen} from '#/lib/strings/helpers'
-import {useAgent} from '#/state/session'
+import {useAppviewClient, usePdsClient} from '#/state/session'
+import {app, com} from '#/lexicons'
 import type * as bsky from '#/types/bsky'
 
 export const createStarterPackList = async ({
@@ -22,30 +17,27 @@ export const createStarterPackList = async ({
   description,
   descriptionFacets,
   profiles,
-  agent,
+  client,
 }: {
   name: string
   description?: string
-  descriptionFacets?: Facet[]
+  descriptionFacets?: app.bsky.richtext.facet.Main[]
   profiles: bsky.profile.AnyProfileView[]
-  agent: AtpAgent
+  client: Client
 }): Promise<{uri: string; cid: string}> => {
   if (profiles.length === 0) throw new Error('No profiles given')
 
-  const list = await agent.app.bsky.graph.list.create(
-    {repo: agent.session!.did},
-    {
-      name,
-      description,
-      descriptionFacets,
-      avatar: undefined,
-      createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
-      purpose: 'app.bsky.graph.defs#referencelist',
-    },
-  )
+  const list = await client.create(app.bsky.graph.list, {
+    name,
+    description,
+    descriptionFacets,
+    avatar: undefined,
+    createdAt: toDatetimeString(new Date()),
+    purpose: 'app.bsky.graph.defs#referencelist',
+  })
   if (!list) throw new Error('List creation failed')
-  await agent.com.atproto.repo.applyWrites({
-    repo: agent.session!.did,
+  await client.call(com.atproto.repo.applyWrites, {
+    repo: client.assertDid,
     writes: profiles.map(p => createListItem({did: p.did, listUri: list.uri})),
   })
 
@@ -60,28 +52,27 @@ export function useGenerateStarterPackMutation({
   onError: (e: Error) => void
 }) {
   const {_} = useLingui()
-  const agent = useAgent()
+  const appviewClient = useAppviewClient()
+  const pdsClient = usePdsClient()
 
   return useMutation<{uri: string; cid: string}, Error, void>({
     mutationFn: async () => {
-      let profile: AppBskyActorDefs.ProfileViewDetailed | undefined
-      let profiles: AppBskyActorDefs.ProfileView[] | undefined
+      let profile: app.bsky.actor.defs.ProfileViewDetailed | undefined
+      let profiles: app.bsky.actor.defs.ProfileView[] | undefined
 
       await Promise.all([
         (async () => {
-          profile = (
-            await agent.app.bsky.actor.getProfile({
-              actor: agent.session!.did,
-            })
-          ).data
+          profile = await appviewClient.call(app.bsky.actor.getProfile, {
+            actor: pdsClient.assertDid,
+          })
         })(),
         (async () => {
           profiles = (
-            await agent.app.bsky.actor.searchActors({
+            await appviewClient.call(app.bsky.actor.searchActors, {
               q: encodeURIComponent('*'),
               limit: 49,
             })
-          ).data.actors.filter(p => p.viewer?.following)
+          ).actors.filter(p => p.viewer?.following)
         })(),
       ])
 
@@ -106,23 +97,19 @@ export function useGenerateStarterPackMutation({
       const list = await createStarterPackList({
         name: starterPackName,
         profiles,
-        agent,
+        client: pdsClient,
       })
 
-      return await agent.app.bsky.graph.starterpack.create(
-        {
-          repo: agent.session!.did,
-        },
-        {
-          name: starterPackName,
-          list: list.uri,
-          createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
-        },
-      )
+      return await pdsClient.create(app.bsky.graph.starterpack, {
+        name: starterPackName,
+        // `create` returns a plain string uri
+        list: list.uri as AtUriString,
+        createdAt: toDatetimeString(new Date()),
+      })
     },
     onSuccess: async data => {
-      await whenAppViewReady(agent, data.uri, v => {
-        return typeof v?.data.starterPack.uri === 'string'
+      await whenAppViewReady(appviewClient, data.uri, v => {
+        return typeof v?.starterPack.uri === 'string'
       })
       onSuccess(data)
     },
@@ -138,7 +125,7 @@ function createListItem({
 }: {
   did: string
   listUri: string
-}): $Typed<ComAtprotoRepoApplyWrites.Create> {
+}): com.atproto.repo.applyWrites.$InputBody['writes'][number] {
   return {
     $type: 'com.atproto.repo.applyWrites#create',
     collection: 'app.bsky.graph.listitem',
@@ -152,14 +139,17 @@ function createListItem({
 }
 
 async function whenAppViewReady(
-  agent: AtpAgent,
+  client: Client,
   uri: string,
-  fn: (res?: AppBskyGraphGetStarterPack.Response) => boolean,
+  fn: (res?: app.bsky.graph.getStarterPack.$OutputBody) => boolean,
 ) {
   await until(
     5, // 5 tries
     1e3, // 1s delay between tries
     fn,
-    () => agent.app.bsky.graph.getStarterPack({starterPack: uri}),
+    () =>
+      client.call(app.bsky.graph.getStarterPack, {
+        starterPack: uri as AtUriString,
+      }),
   )
 }
diff --git a/src/screens/Onboarding/StepFinished/index.tsx b/src/screens/Onboarding/StepFinished/index.tsx
index 05f4ef8626..6f1dea3a4f 100644
--- a/src/screens/Onboarding/StepFinished/index.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Onboarding/StepFinished/index.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   type Un$Typed,
 } from '@atproto/api'
 import {TID} from '@atproto/common-web'
+import {type AtUriString} from '@atproto/syntax'
 import {msg} from '@lingui/core/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 import {Trans} from '@lingui/react/macro'
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ import {useSetHasCheckedForStarterPack} from '#/state/preferences/used-starter-p
 import {getAllListMembers} from '#/state/queries/list-members'
 import {preferencesQueryKey} from '#/state/queries/preferences'
 import {RQKEY as profileRQKey} from '#/state/queries/profile'
-import {useAgent, useAppviewClient} from '#/state/session'
+import {useAgent, useAppviewClient, usePdsClient} from '#/state/session'
 import {useOnboardingDispatch} from '#/state/shell'
 import {
   useActiveStarterPack,
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ export function StepFinished() {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient()
   const agent = useAgent()
   const appviewClient = useAppviewClient()
+  const pdsClient = usePdsClient()
   const requestNotificationsPermission = useRequestNotificationsPermission()
   const activeStarterPack = useActiveStarterPack()
   const setActiveStarterPack = useSetActiveStarterPack()
@@ -102,10 +104,15 @@ export function StepFinished() {
 
       await Promise.all([
         bulkWriteFollows(
-          agent,
+          pdsClient,
+          appviewClient,
           [BSKY_APP_ACCOUNT_DID, ...(listItems?.map(i => i.subject.did) ?? [])],
           starterPack
-            ? {uri: starterPack.uri, cid: starterPack.cid}
+            ? // the starter pack view is still legacy-typed
+              {
+                uri: starterPack.uri as AtUriString,
+                cid: starterPack.cid,
+              }
             : undefined,
         ),
         (async () => {
@@ -236,6 +243,7 @@ export function StepFinished() {
     queryClient,
     agent,
     appviewClient,
+    pdsClient,
     dispatch,
     onboardDispatch,
     activeStarterPack,
diff --git a/src/screens/Onboarding/StepSuggestedAccounts/index.tsx b/src/screens/Onboarding/StepSuggestedAccounts/index.tsx
index 514e892895..f43d06cdd4 100644
--- a/src/screens/Onboarding/StepSuggestedAccounts/index.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Onboarding/StepSuggestedAccounts/index.tsx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {logger} from '#/logger'
 import {updateProfileShadow} from '#/state/cache/profile-shadow'
 import {useLanguagePrefs} from '#/state/preferences'
 import {useModerationOpts} from '#/state/preferences/moderation-opts'
-import {useAgent, useSession} from '#/state/session'
+import {useAppviewClient, usePdsClient, useSession} from '#/state/session'
 import {
   OnboardingControls,
   OnboardingPosition,
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ export function StepSuggestedAccounts() {
   const t = useTheme()
   const {gtMobile} = useBreakpoints()
   const moderationOpts = useModerationOpts()
-  const agent = useAgent()
+  const appviewClient = useAppviewClient()
+  const pdsClient = usePdsClient()
   const {currentAccount} = useSession()
   const queryClient = useQueryClient()
 
@@ -119,7 +120,10 @@ export function StepSuggestedAccounts() {
           followingUri: 'pending',
         })
       }
-      const uris = await wait(1e3, bulkWriteFollows(agent, followableDids))
+      const uris = await wait(
+        1e3,
+        bulkWriteFollows(pdsClient, appviewClient, followableDids),
+      )
       for (const did of followableDids) {
         const uri = uris.get(did)
         updateProfileShadow(queryClient, did, {
diff --git a/src/screens/Onboarding/StepSuggestedStarterpacks/StarterPackCard.tsx b/src/screens/Onboarding/StepSuggestedStarterpacks/StarterPackCard.tsx
index fa296dfbd2..dc208917f5 100644
--- a/src/screens/Onboarding/StepSuggestedStarterpacks/StarterPackCard.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Onboarding/StepSuggestedStarterpacks/StarterPackCard.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import {useState} from 'react'
 import {View} from 'react-native'
 import {type AppBskyGraphDefs, AppBskyGraphStarterpack} from '@atproto/api'
+import {type AtUriString} from '@atproto/syntax'
 import {msg} from '@lingui/core/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 import {Trans} from '@lingui/react/macro'
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ import {isBlockedOrBlocking, isMuted} from '#/lib/moderation/blocked-and-muted'
 import {logger} from '#/logger'
 import {updateProfileShadow} from '#/state/cache/profile-shadow'
 import {getAllListMembers} from '#/state/queries/list-members'
-import {useAgent, useAppviewClient, useSession} from '#/state/session'
+import {useAppviewClient, usePdsClient, useSession} from '#/state/session'
 import {bulkWriteFollows} from '#/screens/Onboarding/util'
 import {AvatarStack} from '#/screens/Search/components/StarterPackCard'
 import {atoms as a, useBreakpoints, useTheme, web} from '#/alf'
@@ -35,8 +36,8 @@ export function StarterPackCard({
   const ax = useAnalytics()
   const {currentAccount} = useSession()
   const {gtPhone} = useBreakpoints()
-  const agent = useAgent()
   const appviewClient = useAppviewClient()
+  const pdsClient = usePdsClient()
   const queryClient = useQueryClient()
   const record = view.record
   const [isProcessing, setIsProcessing] = useState(false)
@@ -74,8 +75,9 @@ export function StarterPackCard({
 
     let followUris: Map<string, string>
     try {
-      followUris = await bulkWriteFollows(agent, dids, {
-        uri: view.uri,
+      followUris = await bulkWriteFollows(pdsClient, appviewClient, dids, {
+        // the starter pack view is still legacy-typed
+        uri: view.uri as AtUriString,
         cid: view.cid,
       })
     } catch (e) {
diff --git a/src/screens/Onboarding/util.ts b/src/screens/Onboarding/util.ts
index f4ecde3c5d..af8a40f092 100644
--- a/src/screens/Onboarding/util.ts
+++ b/src/screens/Onboarding/util.ts
@@ -1,37 +1,34 @@
-import {
-  type $Typed,
-  type AppBskyGraphFollow,
-  type AppBskyGraphGetFollows,
-  type AtpAgent,
-  type ComAtprotoRepoApplyWrites,
-  type ComAtprotoRepoStrongRef,
-} from '@atproto/api'
 import {TID} from '@atproto/common-web'
+import {type $Typed, type Client} from '@atproto/lex'
+import {
+  type AtIdentifierString,
+  type DidString,
+  toDatetimeString,
+} from '@atproto/syntax'
 import chunk from 'lodash.chunk'
 
 import {until} from '#/lib/async/until'
+import {app, com} from '#/lexicons'
 
 export async function bulkWriteFollows(
-  agent: AtpAgent,
+  pdsClient: Client,
+  appviewClient: Client,
   dids: string[],
-  via?: ComAtprotoRepoStrongRef.Main,
+  via?: com.atproto.repo.strongRef.Main,
 ) {
-  const session = agent.session
+  const did = pdsClient.assertDid
 
-  if (!session) {
-    throw new Error(`bulkWriteFollows failed: no session`)
-  }
-
-  const followRecords: $Typed<AppBskyGraphFollow.Record>[] = dids.map(did => {
+  const followRecords: $Typed<app.bsky.graph.follow.Main>[] = dids.map(did => {
     return {
       $type: 'app.bsky.graph.follow',
-      subject: did,
-      createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+      // callers hold plain dids read off legacy-typed views
+      subject: did as DidString,
+      createdAt: toDatetimeString(new Date()),
       via,
     }
   })
 
-  const followWrites: $Typed<ComAtprotoRepoApplyWrites.Create>[] =
+  const followWrites: $Typed<com.atproto.repo.applyWrites.Create>[] =
     followRecords.map(r => ({
       $type: 'com.atproto.repo.applyWrites#create',
       collection: 'app.bsky.graph.follow',
@@ -41,35 +38,35 @@ export async function bulkWriteFollows(
 
   const chunks = chunk(followWrites, 50)
   for (const chunk of chunks) {
-    await agent.com.atproto.repo.applyWrites({
-      repo: session.did,
+    await pdsClient.call(com.atproto.repo.applyWrites, {
+      repo: did,
       writes: chunk,
     })
   }
-  await whenFollowsIndexed(agent, session.did, res => !!res.data.follows.length)
+  await whenFollowsIndexed(appviewClient, did, res => !!res.follows.length)
 
   const followUris = new Map<string, string>()
   for (const r of followWrites) {
     followUris.set(
       r.value.subject as string,
-      `at://${session.did}/app.bsky.graph.follow/${r.rkey}`,
+      `at://${did}/app.bsky.graph.follow/${r.rkey}`,
     )
   }
   return followUris
 }
 
 async function whenFollowsIndexed(
-  agent: AtpAgent,
+  appviewClient: Client,
   actor: string,
-  fn: (res: AppBskyGraphGetFollows.Response) => boolean,
+  fn: (res: app.bsky.graph.getFollows.$OutputBody) => boolean,
 ) {
   await until(
     5, // 5 tries
     1e3, // 1s delay between tries
     fn,
     () =>
-      agent.app.bsky.graph.getFollows({
-        actor,
+      appviewClient.call(app.bsky.graph.getFollows, {
+        actor: actor as AtIdentifierString,
         limit: 1,
       }),
   )
diff --git a/src/screens/Settings/FindContactsSettings.tsx b/src/screens/Settings/FindContactsSettings.tsx
index 6104fd12b7..c8ecdf4102 100644
--- a/src/screens/Settings/FindContactsSettings.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Settings/FindContactsSettings.tsx
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import {
   useContactsMatchesQuery,
   useContactsSyncStatusQuery,
 } from '#/state/queries/find-contacts'
-import {useAgent, useAppviewClient, useSession} from '#/state/session'
+import {useAppviewClient, usePdsClient, useSession} from '#/state/session'
 import {ErrorScreen} from '#/view/com/util/error/ErrorScreen'
 import {List} from '#/view/com/util/List'
 import {atoms as a, tokens, useGutters, useTheme} from '#/alf'
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ function StatusHeader({
 }) {
   const {_} = useLingui()
   const ax = useAnalytics()
-  const agent = useAgent()
+  const pdsClient = usePdsClient()
   const client = useAppviewClient()
   const queryClient = useQueryClient()
   const {currentAccount} = useSession()
@@ -406,7 +406,10 @@ function StatusHeader({
         followCount: didsToFollow.length,
       })
 
-      const uris = await wait(500, bulkWriteFollows(agent, didsToFollow))
+      const uris = await wait(
+        500,
+        bulkWriteFollows(pdsClient, client, didsToFollow),
+      )
 
       for (const did of didsToFollow) {
         const uri = uris.get(did)
diff --git a/src/screens/StarterPack/StarterPackScreen.tsx b/src/screens/StarterPack/StarterPackScreen.tsx
index e7674c00b4..c79e39c190 100644
--- a/src/screens/StarterPack/StarterPackScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/StarterPack/StarterPackScreen.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   AtUri,
   type ModerationOpts,
 } from '@atproto/api'
+import {type AtUriString} from '@atproto/syntax'
 import {RichText as RichTextAPI} from '@bsky.app/sdk/richtext'
 import {msg} from '@lingui/core/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ import {
   useDeleteStarterPackMutation,
   useStarterPackQuery,
 } from '#/state/queries/starter-packs'
-import {useAgent, useAppviewClient, useSession} from '#/state/session'
+import {useAppviewClient, usePdsClient, useSession} from '#/state/session'
 import {useSetActiveStarterPack} from '#/state/shell/landing'
 import {useLoggedOutViewControls} from '#/state/shell/logged-out'
 import {
@@ -311,8 +312,8 @@ function Header({
   const {_} = useLingui()
   const t = useTheme()
   const {currentAccount, hasSession} = useSession()
-  const agent = useAgent()
   const appviewClient = useAppviewClient()
+  const pdsClient = usePdsClient()
   const queryClient = useQueryClient()
   const setActiveStarterPack = useSetActiveStarterPack()
   const {requestSwitchToAccount} = useLoggedOutViewControls()
@@ -379,8 +380,9 @@ function Header({
 
     let followUris: Map<string, string>
     try {
-      followUris = await bulkWriteFollows(agent, dids, {
-        uri: starterPack.uri,
+      followUris = await bulkWriteFollows(pdsClient, appviewClient, dids, {
+        // the starter pack view is still legacy-typed
+        uri: starterPack.uri as AtUriString,
         cid: starterPack.cid,
       })
     } catch (e) {
diff --git a/src/state/queries/starter-packs.ts b/src/state/queries/starter-packs.ts
index 6a1aecef0e..0c781bcfea 100644
--- a/src/state/queries/starter-packs.ts
+++ b/src/state/queries/starter-packs.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 import {
   AppBskyFeedDefs,
   AppBskyGraphDefs,
-  type AppBskyGraphGetStarterPack,
   AppBskyGraphStarterpack,
-  type AtpAgent,
-  AtUri,
 } from '@atproto/api'
+import {type Client, type LexValue} from '@atproto/lex'
+import {AtUri, type AtUriString, toDatetimeString} from '@atproto/syntax'
 import {RichText} from '@bsky.app/sdk/richtext'
 import {
   type QueryClient,
@@ -25,8 +24,8 @@ import {
 import {invalidateActorStarterPacksQuery} from '#/state/queries/actor-starter-packs'
 import {STALE} from '#/state/queries/index'
 import {invalidateListMembersQuery} from '#/state/queries/list-members'
-import {useAgent, useAppviewClient} from '#/state/session'
-import {type app} from '#/lexicons'
+import {useAppviewClient, usePdsClient} from '#/state/session'
+import {app, com} from '#/lexicons'
 import * as bsky from '#/types/bsky'
 
 const RQKEY_ROOT = 'starter-pack'
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ export function useStarterPackQuery({
   did?: string
   rkey?: string
 }) {
-  const agent = useAgent()
+  const client = useAppviewClient()
 
   return useQuery<AppBskyGraphDefs.StarterPackView>({
     queryKey: RQKEY(uri ? {uri} : {did, rkey}),
@@ -67,10 +66,10 @@ export function useStarterPackQuery({
         uri = httpStarterPackUriToAtUri(uri) as string
       }
 
-      const res = await agent.app.bsky.graph.getStarterPack({
-        starterPack: uri,
+      const res = await client.call(app.bsky.graph.getStarterPack, {
+        starterPack: uri as AtUriString,
       })
-      return res.data.starterPack
+      return res.starterPack
     },
     enabled: Boolean(uri) || Boolean(did && rkey),
     staleTime: STALE.MINUTES.FIVE,
@@ -104,12 +103,12 @@ export function useCreateStarterPackMutation({
   onError: (e: Error) => void
 }) {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient()
-  const agent = useAgent()
   /*
    * Facet/mention resolution is an appview job - it resolves handles through
    * the appview, and the public fallback keeps it working when logged out.
    */
   const appviewClient = useAppviewClient()
+  const pdsClient = usePdsClient()
 
   return useMutation<
     {uri: string; cid: string},
@@ -130,30 +129,26 @@ export function useCreateStarterPackMutation({
         description,
         profiles,
         descriptionFacets,
-        agent,
+        client: pdsClient,
       })
 
-      return await agent.app.bsky.graph.starterpack.create(
-        {
-          repo: agent.assertDid,
-        },
-        {
-          name,
-          description,
-          descriptionFacets,
-          list: listRes?.uri,
-          feeds: feeds?.map(f => ({uri: f.uri})),
-          createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
-        },
-      )
+      return await pdsClient.create(app.bsky.graph.starterpack, {
+        name,
+        description,
+        descriptionFacets,
+        // `createStarterPackList` returns a plain string uri
+        list: listRes?.uri as AtUriString,
+        feeds: feeds?.map(f => ({uri: f.uri as AtUriString})),
+        createdAt: toDatetimeString(new Date()),
+      })
     },
     onSuccess: async data => {
-      await whenAppViewReady(agent, data.uri, v => {
-        return typeof v?.data.starterPack.uri === 'string'
+      await whenAppViewReady(appviewClient, data.uri, v => {
+        return typeof v?.starterPack.uri === 'string'
       })
       await invalidateActorStarterPacksQuery({
         queryClient,
-        did: agent.session!.did,
+        did: pdsClient.assertDid,
       })
       onSuccess(data)
     },
@@ -171,8 +166,8 @@ export function useEditStarterPackMutation({
   onError: (error: Error) => void
 }) {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient()
-  const agent = useAgent()
   const appviewClient = useAppviewClient()
+  const pdsClient = usePdsClient()
 
   return useMutation<
     void,
@@ -197,25 +192,29 @@ export function useEditStarterPackMutation({
         descriptionFacets = rt.facets
       }
 
-      if (!AppBskyGraphStarterpack.isRecord(currentStarterPack.record)) {
+      if (!bsky.isType(app.bsky.graph.starterpack, currentStarterPack.record)) {
         throw new Error('Invalid starter pack')
       }
 
       const removedItems = currentListItems.filter(
         i =>
-          i.subject.did !== agent.session?.did &&
+          i.subject.did !== pdsClient.did &&
           !profiles.find(p => p.did === i.subject.did && p.did),
       )
       if (removedItems.length !== 0) {
         const chunks = chunk(removedItems, 50)
         for (const chunk of chunks) {
-          await agent.com.atproto.repo.applyWrites({
-            repo: agent.session!.did,
-            writes: chunk.map(i => ({
-              $type: 'com.atproto.repo.applyWrites#delete',
-              collection: 'app.bsky.graph.listitem',
-              rkey: new AtUri(i.uri).rkey,
-            })),
+          await pdsClient.call(com.atproto.repo.applyWrites, {
+            repo: pdsClient.assertDid,
+            writes: chunk.map(
+              (
+                i,
+              ): com.atproto.repo.applyWrites.$InputBody['writes'][number] => ({
+                $type: 'com.atproto.repo.applyWrites#delete',
+                collection: 'app.bsky.graph.listitem',
+                rkey: new AtUri(i.uri).rkeySafe,
+              }),
+            ),
           })
         }
       }
@@ -226,33 +225,44 @@ export function useEditStarterPackMutation({
       if (addedProfiles.length > 0) {
         const chunks = chunk(addedProfiles, 50)
         for (const chunk of chunks) {
-          await agent.com.atproto.repo.applyWrites({
-            repo: agent.session!.did,
-            writes: chunk.map(p => ({
-              $type: 'com.atproto.repo.applyWrites#create',
-              collection: 'app.bsky.graph.listitem',
-              value: {
-                $type: 'app.bsky.graph.listitem',
-                subject: p.did,
-                list: currentStarterPack.list?.uri,
-                createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
-              },
-            })),
+          await pdsClient.call(com.atproto.repo.applyWrites, {
+            repo: pdsClient.assertDid,
+            writes: chunk.map(
+              (
+                p,
+              ): com.atproto.repo.applyWrites.$InputBody['writes'][number] => ({
+                $type: 'com.atproto.repo.applyWrites#create',
+                collection: 'app.bsky.graph.listitem',
+                value: {
+                  $type: 'app.bsky.graph.listitem',
+                  subject: p.did,
+                  list: currentStarterPack.list?.uri,
+                  createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+                },
+              }),
+            ),
           })
         }
       }
 
       const rkey = parseStarterPackUri(currentStarterPack.uri)!.rkey
-      await agent.com.atproto.repo.putRecord({
-        repo: agent.session!.did,
+      await pdsClient.call(com.atproto.repo.putRecord, {
+        repo: pdsClient.assertDid,
         collection: 'app.bsky.graph.starterpack',
         rkey,
         record: {
+          $type: 'app.bsky.graph.starterpack',
           name,
           description,
           descriptionFacets,
           list: currentStarterPack.list?.uri,
-          feeds,
+          /*
+           * Pre-existing quirk preserved verbatim: the edit path writes whole
+           * `GeneratorView`s where the lexicon declares `feedItem` refs. lex
+           * types the raw `putRecord` body as a `LexValue`, which the legacy
+           * view interface does not structurally satisfy, hence the cast.
+           */
+          feeds: feeds as unknown as LexValue,
           createdAt: currentStarterPack.record.createdAt,
           updatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
         },
@@ -260,12 +270,12 @@ export function useEditStarterPackMutation({
     },
     onSuccess: async (_, {currentStarterPack}) => {
       const parsed = parseStarterPackUri(currentStarterPack.uri)
-      await whenAppViewReady(agent, currentStarterPack.uri, v => {
-        return currentStarterPack.cid !== v?.data.starterPack.cid
+      await whenAppViewReady(appviewClient, currentStarterPack.uri, v => {
+        return currentStarterPack.cid !== v?.starterPack.cid
       })
       await invalidateActorStarterPacksQuery({
         queryClient,
-        did: agent.session!.did,
+        did: pdsClient.assertDid,
       })
       if (currentStarterPack.list) {
         await invalidateListMembersQuery({
@@ -275,7 +285,7 @@ export function useEditStarterPackMutation({
       }
       await invalidateStarterPack({
         queryClient,
-        did: agent.session!.did,
+        did: pdsClient.assertDid,
         rkey: parsed!.rkey,
       })
       onSuccess()
@@ -293,35 +303,34 @@ export function useDeleteStarterPackMutation({
   onSuccess: () => void
   onError: (error: Error) => void
 }) {
-  const agent = useAgent()
+  const appviewClient = useAppviewClient()
+  const pdsClient = usePdsClient()
   const queryClient = useQueryClient()
 
   return useMutation({
     mutationFn: async ({listUri, rkey}: {listUri?: string; rkey: string}) => {
-      if (!agent.session) {
-        throw new Error(`Requires signed in user`)
-      }
+      const did = pdsClient.assertDid
 
       if (listUri) {
-        await agent.app.bsky.graph.list.delete({
-          repo: agent.session.did,
-          rkey: new AtUri(listUri).rkey,
+        await pdsClient.delete(app.bsky.graph.list, {
+          repo: did,
+          rkey: new AtUri(listUri).rkeySafe,
         })
       }
-      await agent.app.bsky.graph.starterpack.delete({
-        repo: agent.session.did,
+      await pdsClient.delete(app.bsky.graph.starterpack, {
+        repo: did,
         rkey,
       })
     },
     onSuccess: async (_, {listUri, rkey}) => {
       const uri = createStarterPackUri({
-        did: agent.session!.did,
+        did: pdsClient.assertDid,
         rkey,
       })
 
       if (uri) {
-        await whenAppViewReady(agent, uri, v => {
-          return Boolean(v?.data?.starterPack) === false
+        await whenAppViewReady(appviewClient, uri, v => {
+          return Boolean(v?.starterPack) === false
         })
       }
 
@@ -330,11 +339,11 @@ export function useDeleteStarterPackMutation({
       }
       await invalidateActorStarterPacksQuery({
         queryClient,
-        did: agent.session!.did,
+        did: pdsClient.assertDid,
       })
       await invalidateStarterPack({
         queryClient,
-        did: agent.session!.did,
+        did: pdsClient.assertDid,
         rkey,
       })
       onSuccess()
@@ -346,15 +355,18 @@ export function useDeleteStarterPackMutation({
 }
 
 async function whenAppViewReady(
-  agent: AtpAgent,
+  client: Client,
   uri: string,
-  fn: (res?: AppBskyGraphGetStarterPack.Response) => boolean,
+  fn: (res?: app.bsky.graph.getStarterPack.$OutputBody) => boolean,
 ) {
   await until(
     5, // 5 tries
     1e3, // 1s delay between tries
     fn,
-    () => agent.app.bsky.graph.getStarterPack({starterPack: uri}),
+    () =>
+      client.call(app.bsky.graph.getStarterPack, {
+        starterPack: uri as AtUriString,
+      }),
   )
 }