diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ActiveClue.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ActiveClue.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..887c5c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ActiveClue.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next'
+import { useStore } from '../store'
+import Tooltip from './ui/Tooltip'
+
+export default function ActiveClue() {
+  const { t } = useTranslation()
+  const puzzle = useStore((s) => s.puzzle)
+  const activeClue = useStore((s) => s.activeClue)
+  const direction = useStore((s) => s.direction)
+  const toggleDirection = useStore((s) => s.toggleDirection)
+  const [display, setDisplay] = useState<{ dir: string; text: string; num: number | null }>({
+    dir: '', text: '', num: null,
+  })
+  const [animating, setAnimating] = useState(false)
+  const prevKey = useRef('')
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!puzzle || !activeClue) {
+      if (display.num !== null) {
+        queueMicrotask(() => setAnimating(true))
+        setTimeout(() => {
+          setDisplay({ dir: '', text: '', num: null })
+          setAnimating(false)
+        }, 150)
+      }
+      return
+    }
+
+    const clues = direction === 'across' ? puzzle.clues_across : puzzle.clues_down
+    const clue = clues.find((c) => c.number === activeClue)
+    if (!clue) return
+
+    const key = `${activeClue}-${direction}`
+    if (key === prevKey.current) return
+    prevKey.current = key
+
+    queueMicrotask(() => setAnimating(true))
+    setTimeout(() => {
+      setDisplay({ dir: `${activeClue} ${direction}`, text: clue.text, num: activeClue })
+      setAnimating(false)
+    }, 150)
+  }, [puzzle, activeClue, direction])
+
+  if (!puzzle) return null
+
+  return (
+    <Tooltip text={t('game.clickToSwitchDirection')}>
+    <button
+      type="button"
+      className="active-clue-banner"
+      onClick={toggleDirection}
+    >
+      <div
+        className="clue-direction"
+        style={{
+          opacity: animating ? 0 : 1,
+          transform: animating ? 'translateY(-4px)' : 'translateY(0)',
+          transition: 'all 150ms ease',
+        }}
+      >
+        {display.dir || '\u00A0'}
+      </div>
+      <div
+        className="clue-text"
+        style={{
+          opacity: animating ? 0 : 1,
+          transform: animating ? 'translateY(4px)' : 'translateY(0)',
+          transition: 'all 150ms ease',
+        }}
+      >
+        {display.text || t('game.selectCellToBegin')}
+      </div>
+    </button>
+    </Tooltip>
+  )
+}