diff --git a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/quantifier.rs b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/quantifier.rs
index 0389bf6..8548f3c 100644
--- a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/quantifier.rs
+++ b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/quantifier.rs
@@ -119,6 +119,25 @@ impl Compiler<'_> {
             QuantifierParse::Quantified { inner, kind } => (inner, kind),
         };
 
+        // When the inner returns a structured type (enum/struct) and this is a star/plus
+        // quantifier without explicit capture, we still need array scope (Arr/Push/EndArr)
+        // because the type system expects an array of these values.
+        let needs_implicit_array = matches!(kind, QuantifierKind::Star | QuantifierKind::Plus)
+            && self.is_ref_returning_structured(&inner);
+
+        if needs_implicit_array {
+            // Use array scope: Arr → quantifier with Push → EndArr → exit
+            // No capture effects on the array itself (no Set), just collect values
+            return self.compile_array_scope(
+                &Expr::QuantifiedExpr(quant.clone()),
+                exit,
+                nav_override,
+                vec![], // No capture effects (no @name to set)
+                capture,
+                false, // Not a string capture
+            );
+        }
+
         let config = QuantifierConfig {
             inner: &inner,
             kind,
@@ -216,6 +235,22 @@ impl Compiler<'_> {
             QuantifierParse::Quantified { inner, kind } => (inner, kind),
         };
 
+        // When the inner returns a structured type (enum/struct) and this is a star/plus
+        // quantifier without explicit capture, we still need array scope (Arr/Push/EndArr)
+        // with split exits for the skip/match paths.
+        let needs_implicit_array = matches!(kind, QuantifierKind::Star | QuantifierKind::Plus)
+            && self.is_ref_returning_structured(&inner);
+
+        if needs_implicit_array {
+            return self.compile_implicit_array_with_exits(
+                quant,
+                match_exit,
+                skip_exit,
+                nav_override,
+                capture,
+            );
+        }
+
         // Handle null injection for both passed captures and internal captures
         let skip_with_null = self.emit_null_for_skip_path(skip_exit, &capture);
         let skip_with_internal_null = self.emit_null_for_internal_captures(skip_with_null, &inner);
@@ -274,8 +309,42 @@ impl Compiler<'_> {
             push_effects,
         );
 
-        // Emit Arr step at entry
-        self.emit_arr_step(inner_entry)
+        // Emit Arr step at entry (with outer pre-effects like Enum)
+        self.emit_arr_step(inner_entry, outer_capture.pre)
+    }
+
+    /// Compile an implicit array (star/plus without @capture) returning structured type,
+    /// as first-child with separate exits.
+    ///
+    /// Like `compile_array_capture_with_exits` but without explicit capture effects.
+    /// Used when `(RefName)*` where RefName returns enum/struct.
+    fn compile_implicit_array_with_exits(
+        &mut self,
+        quant: &ast::QuantifiedExpr,
+        match_exit: Label,
+        skip_exit: Label,
+        nav_override: Option<Nav>,
+        outer_capture: CaptureEffects,
+    ) -> Label {
+        // No capture effects since there's no @name
+        let capture_effects = vec![];
+
+        // Create two EndArr steps with different continuations
+        let match_endarr = self.emit_endarr_step(&capture_effects, &outer_capture.post, match_exit);
+        let skip_endarr = self.emit_endarr_step(&capture_effects, &outer_capture.post, skip_exit);
+
+        // Inner returns structured type, so no Node effect needed - just Push
+        let push_effects = CaptureEffects::new_post(vec![EffectIR::push()]);
+        let inner_entry = self.compile_star_for_array_with_exits(
+            &Expr::QuantifiedExpr(quant.clone()),
+            match_endarr,
+            skip_endarr,
+            nav_override,
+            push_effects,
+        );
+
+        // Emit Arr step at entry (with outer pre-effects like Enum)
+        self.emit_arr_step(inner_entry, outer_capture.pre)
     }
 
     /// Compile a star quantifier for array context with separate exits.
diff --git a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/scope.rs b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/scope.rs
index 029195d..073ebc9 100644
--- a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/scope.rs
+++ b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/scope.rs
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ impl Compiler<'_> {
         let arr_step = self.fresh_label();
         self.instructions.push(
             MatchIR::epsilon(arr_step, inner_entry)
+                .pre_effects(outer_capture.pre)
                 .pre_effect(EffectIR::start_arr())
                 .into(),
         );
@@ -284,11 +285,12 @@ impl Compiler<'_> {
         label
     }
 
-    /// Emit an Arr epsilon step.
-    pub(super) fn emit_arr_step(&mut self, successor: Label) -> Label {
+    /// Emit an Arr epsilon step with optional pre-effects before start_arr.
+    pub(super) fn emit_arr_step(&mut self, successor: Label, pre_effects: Vec<EffectIR>) -> Label {
         let label = self.fresh_label();
         self.instructions.push(
             MatchIR::epsilon(label, successor)
+                .pre_effects(pre_effects)
                 .pre_effect(EffectIR::start_arr())
                 .into(),
         );
diff --git a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/engine/engine_tests.rs b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/engine/engine_tests.rs
index 7e66901..250bafd 100644
--- a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/engine/engine_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/engine/engine_tests.rs
@@ -672,3 +672,43 @@ fn regression_childless_node_with_inner_optional() {
         "foo; bar; baz"
     );
 }
+
+/// Regression test: recursive labeled alternation with uncaptured star quantifier
+/// should produce arrays, not nested tagged unions.
+///
+/// When `(RefName)*` is inside a labeled alternation variant (like Descend),
+/// and RefName returns an enum type, the quantifier needs to produce an array
+/// even without an explicit `@capture` annotation.
+#[test]
+fn regression_recursive_alternation_uncaptured_array() {
+    snap!(
+        indoc! {r#"
+            E = [
+                A: (identifier) @x
+                B: (_ (E)*)
+            ]
+            Test = (program (E)* @items)
+        "#},
+        "x; y;",
+        entry: "Test"
+    );
+}
+
+/// Regression test: labeled alternation variant with array capture payload.
+///
+/// When a labeled alternation variant has an array capture as its payload
+/// (e.g., `[First: (E)* @arr]`), the Enum effect must be emitted BEFORE the Arr
+/// effect. Previously, `compile_array_scope` forgot to emit `outer_capture.pre`,
+/// causing a stack mismatch panic in the materializer.
+#[test]
+fn regression_enum_variant_array_capture_payload() {
+    snap!(
+        indoc! {r#"
+            E = [A: (identifier) @x  B: (number) @y]
+            F = [First: (E)* @arr  Second: (E)+ @arr2]
+            Test = (program (expression_statement (F)))
+        "#},
+        "x",
+        entry: "Test"
+    );
+}
diff --git a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/engine/snapshots/plotnik_lib__engine__engine_tests__regression_enum_variant_array_capture_payload.snap b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/engine/snapshots/plotnik_lib__engine__engine_tests__regression_enum_variant_array_capture_payload.snap
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..623b007
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/engine/snapshots/plotnik_lib__engine__engine_tests__regression_enum_variant_array_capture_payload.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+---
+source: crates/plotnik-lib/src/engine/engine_tests.rs
+---
+E = [A: (identifier) @x  B: (number) @y]
+F = [First: (E)* @arr  Second: (E)+ @arr2]
+Test = (program (expression_statement (F)))
+---
+x
+---
+{
+  "$tag": "First",
+  "$data": {
+    "arr": [
+      {
+        "$tag": "A",
+        "$data": {
+          "x": {
+            "kind": "identifier",
+            "text": "x",
+            "span": [
+              0,
+              1
+            ]
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/engine/snapshots/plotnik_lib__engine__engine_tests__regression_recursive_alternation_uncaptured_array.snap b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/engine/snapshots/plotnik_lib__engine__engine_tests__regression_recursive_alternation_uncaptured_array.snap
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e29b43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/engine/snapshots/plotnik_lib__engine__engine_tests__regression_recursive_alternation_uncaptured_array.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+---
+source: crates/plotnik-lib/src/engine/engine_tests.rs
+---
+E = [
+    A: (identifier) @x
+    B: (_ (E)*)
+]
+Test = (program (E)* @items)
+---
+x; y;
+---
+{
+  "items": [
+    {
+      "$tag": "B",
+      "$data": [
+        {
+          "$tag": "A",
+          "$data": {
+            "x": {
+              "kind": "identifier",
+              "text": "x",
+              "span": [
+                0,
+                1
+              ]
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    {
+      "$tag": "B",
+      "$data": [
+        {
+          "$tag": "A",
+          "$data": {
+            "x": {
+              "kind": "identifier",
+              "text": "y",
+              "span": [
+                3,
+                4
+              ]
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  ]
+}