diff --git a/phpstan.neon b/phpstan.neon
index 5a90ac5203a..3114dd9d2a6 100644
--- a/phpstan.neon
+++ b/phpstan.neon
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ services:
         tags:
             - phpstan.rules.rule
 
+    -
+        class: Rector\Utils\PHPStan\Rule\CheaperGuardFirstRule
+        tags:
+            - phpstan.rules.rule
+
 parameters:
     level: 8
 
diff --git a/rules/Php73/Rector/FuncCall/StringifyStrNeedlesRector.php b/rules/Php73/Rector/FuncCall/StringifyStrNeedlesRector.php
index aa145b36db7..e4717ba1e3d 100644
--- a/rules/Php73/Rector/FuncCall/StringifyStrNeedlesRector.php
+++ b/rules/Php73/Rector/FuncCall/StringifyStrNeedlesRector.php
@@ -86,12 +86,12 @@ public function refactor(Node $node): ?Node
         // is argument string?
         $needleArgValue = $node->args[1]->value;
 
-        $needleType = $this->getType($needleArgValue);
-        if ($needleType->isString()->yes()) {
+        if ($needleArgValue instanceof InterpolatedString) {
             return null;
         }
 
-        if ($needleArgValue instanceof InterpolatedString) {
+        $needleType = $this->getType($needleArgValue);
+        if ($needleType->isString()->yes()) {
             return null;
         }
 
diff --git a/rules/TypeDeclaration/Rector/ClassMethod/AddReturnDocblockForScalarArrayFromAssignsRector.php b/rules/TypeDeclaration/Rector/ClassMethod/AddReturnDocblockForScalarArrayFromAssignsRector.php
index 3a965bff1ac..7bb7bf29d1a 100644
--- a/rules/TypeDeclaration/Rector/ClassMethod/AddReturnDocblockForScalarArrayFromAssignsRector.php
+++ b/rules/TypeDeclaration/Rector/ClassMethod/AddReturnDocblockForScalarArrayFromAssignsRector.php
@@ -110,6 +110,10 @@ public function getNodeTypes(): array
      */
     public function refactor(Node $node): ?Node
     {
+        if ($node->returnType instanceof Node && ! $this->isName($node->returnType, 'array')) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
         $phpDocInfo = $this->phpDocInfoFactory->createFromNodeOrEmpty($node);
         $returnType = $phpDocInfo->getReturnType();
 
@@ -117,10 +121,6 @@ public function refactor(Node $node): ?Node
             return null;
         }
 
-        if ($node->returnType instanceof Node && ! $this->isName($node->returnType, 'array')) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
         $returnsScoped = $this->betterNodeFinder->findReturnsScoped($node);
 
         if (! $this->returnAnalyzer->hasOnlyReturnWithExpr($node, $returnsScoped)) {
diff --git a/rules/TypeDeclaration/Rector/FunctionLike/AddClosureParamTypeFromIterableMethodCallRector.php b/rules/TypeDeclaration/Rector/FunctionLike/AddClosureParamTypeFromIterableMethodCallRector.php
index f014d56a3ae..9c944a80ac8 100644
--- a/rules/TypeDeclaration/Rector/FunctionLike/AddClosureParamTypeFromIterableMethodCallRector.php
+++ b/rules/TypeDeclaration/Rector/FunctionLike/AddClosureParamTypeFromIterableMethodCallRector.php
@@ -94,6 +94,10 @@ public function refactor(Node $node): ?Node
             return null;
         }
 
+        if (! $node->name instanceof Identifier) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
         $varType = $this->getType($node->var);
 
         if (! $varType instanceof IntersectionType || ! $varType->isIterable()->yes()) {
@@ -106,10 +110,6 @@ public function refactor(Node $node): ?Node
             return null;
         }
 
-        if (! $node->name instanceof Identifier) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
         $methodReflection = $this->methodReflectionResolver->resolveMethodReflection(
             $className,
             $node->name->name,
diff --git a/utils/phpstan/src/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule.php b/utils/phpstan/src/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..85c6252b68e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/phpstan/src/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule.php
@@ -0,0 +1,274 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Rector\Utils\PHPStan\Rule;
+
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\Else_;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr\MethodCall;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr\NullsafeMethodCall;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr\StaticCall;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr\FuncCall;
+use PhpParser\Node\Name;
+use PhpParser\Node;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr\Assign;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr\CallLike;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr\ConstFetch;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr\Variable;
+use PhpParser\Node\Identifier;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\ClassMethod;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\Continue_;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\Expression;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\If_;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\Return_;
+use PhpParser\NodeFinder;
+use PHPStan\Analyser\Scope;
+use PHPStan\Reflection\ClassReflection;
+use PHPStan\Rules\IdentifierRuleError;
+use PHPStan\Rules\Rule;
+use PHPStan\Rules\RuleErrorBuilder;
+
+/**
+ * Inside a Rector rule, a cheap early-return guard (isName(), instanceof, isset(), arg count)
+ * that does not depend on an expensive analysis call (getType(), isObjectType(),
+ * createFromNodeOrEmpty(), ...) should run BEFORE that call, so non-matching nodes bail out
+ * before paying for the costly analysis.
+ *
+ * @implements Rule<ClassMethod>
+ * @see \Rector\Utils\PHPStan\Tests\Rule\CheaperGuardFirstRule\CheaperGuardFirstRuleTest
+ */
+final class CheaperGuardFirstRule implements Rule
+{
+    private const string ERROR_MESSAGE = 'Cheap guard on line %d can run before the expensive call on line %d; move the early return up to bail before the costly analysis.';
+
+    /**
+     * Calls that trigger heavy analysis (type resolution, docblock parsing, file re-parsing).
+     *
+     * @var string[]
+     */
+    private const array EXPENSIVE_CALLS = [
+        'getType',
+        'getNativeType',
+        'isObjectType',
+        'isObjectTypes',
+        'createFromNode',
+        'createFromNodeOrEmpty',
+    ];
+
+    /**
+     * Calls cheap enough to evaluate as a pre-filter.
+     *
+     * @var string[]
+     */
+    private const array CHEAP_CALLS = ['isName', 'isNames', 'isFirstClassCallable', 'in_array', 'count'];
+
+    private const string ABSTRACT_RECTOR_CLASS = 'Rector\Rector\AbstractRector';
+
+    public function getNodeType(): string
+    {
+        return ClassMethod::class;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param ClassMethod $node
+     * @return list<IdentifierRuleError>
+     */
+    public function processNode(Node $node, Scope $scope): array
+    {
+        if ($node->stmts === null) {
+            return [];
+        }
+
+        $classReflection = $scope->getClassReflection();
+        if (! $classReflection instanceof ClassReflection) {
+            return [];
+        }
+
+        if (! in_array(self::ABSTRACT_RECTOR_CLASS, $classReflection->getParentClassesNames(), true)) {
+            return [];
+        }
+
+        $stmts = $node->stmts;
+        $anchorIndex = $this->findExpensiveAnchorIndex($stmts);
+        if ($anchorIndex === null) {
+            return [];
+        }
+
+        $assignedVariableNames = $this->resolveAssignedVariableNames($stmts[$anchorIndex]);
+        $counter = count($stmts);
+
+        for ($index = $anchorIndex + 1; $index < $counter; ++$index) {
+            $stmt = $stmts[$index];
+
+            if ($this->isPureBailGuard($stmt)) {
+                /** @var If_ $stmt */
+                if ($this->isCheapCondition($stmt->cond) && $this->isIndependent($stmt->cond, $assignedVariableNames)) {
+                    return [
+                        RuleErrorBuilder::message(
+                            sprintf(self::ERROR_MESSAGE, $stmt->getStartLine(), $stmts[$anchorIndex]->getStartLine())
+                        )
+                            ->identifier('rector.cheaperGuardFirst')
+                            ->line($stmt->getStartLine())
+                            ->build(),
+                    ];
+                }
+
+                // a dependent or non-cheap bail guard is legitimately here; keep scanning
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if ($stmt instanceof Expression && $stmt->expr instanceof Assign) {
+                $assignedVariableNames = [...$assignedVariableNames, ...$this->resolveAssignedVariableNames($stmt)];
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            // any other statement (value return, transformation, loop) makes hoisting unsafe
+            return [];
+        }
+
+        return [];
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param Stmt[] $stmts
+     */
+    private function findExpensiveAnchorIndex(array $stmts): ?int
+    {
+        foreach ($stmts as $index => $stmt) {
+            if (! $stmt instanceof Expression && ! $stmt instanceof If_) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if ($this->containsCall($stmt, self::EXPENSIVE_CALLS)) {
+                return $index;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    private function isPureBailGuard(Stmt $stmt): bool
+    {
+        if (! $stmt instanceof If_) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        if ($stmt->elseifs !== [] || $stmt->else instanceof Else_) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        if (count($stmt->stmts) !== 1) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        $onlyStmt = $stmt->stmts[0];
+        if ($onlyStmt instanceof Continue_) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        if (! $onlyStmt instanceof Return_) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        // bare "return;" or "return null;"
+        if (! $onlyStmt->expr instanceof Node) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        return $onlyStmt->expr instanceof ConstFetch && $onlyStmt->expr->name->toLowerString() === 'null';
+    }
+
+    private function isCheapCondition(Expr $expr): bool
+    {
+        $nodeFinder = new NodeFinder();
+        $callLikes = $nodeFinder->findInstanceOf($expr, CallLike::class);
+
+        foreach ($callLikes as $callLike) {
+            $name = $this->resolveCallName($callLike);
+            if ($name === null) {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            if (! in_array($name, self::CHEAP_CALLS, true)) {
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param string[] $assignedVariableNames
+     */
+    private function isIndependent(Expr $expr, array $assignedVariableNames): bool
+    {
+        if ($assignedVariableNames === []) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        $nodeFinder = new NodeFinder();
+        $variables = $nodeFinder->findInstanceOf($expr, Variable::class);
+
+        foreach ($variables as $variable) {
+            if (! is_string($variable->name)) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if (in_array($variable->name, $assignedVariableNames, true)) {
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param string[] $callNames
+     */
+    private function containsCall(Node $node, array $callNames): bool
+    {
+        $nodeFinder = new NodeFinder();
+        $callLikes = $nodeFinder->findInstanceOf($node, CallLike::class);
+
+        foreach ($callLikes as $callLike) {
+            $name = $this->resolveCallName($callLike);
+            if ($name !== null && in_array($name, $callNames, true)) {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    private function resolveCallName(CallLike $callLike): ?string
+    {
+        if ($callLike instanceof MethodCall || $callLike instanceof NullsafeMethodCall || $callLike instanceof StaticCall) {
+            return $callLike->name instanceof Identifier ? $callLike->name->toString() : null;
+        }
+
+        if ($callLike instanceof FuncCall) {
+            return $callLike->name instanceof Name ? $callLike->name->toString() : null;
+        }
+
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return string[]
+     */
+    private function resolveAssignedVariableNames(Stmt $stmt): array
+    {
+        if (! $stmt instanceof Expression || ! $stmt->expr instanceof Assign) {
+            return [];
+        }
+
+        $assign = $stmt->expr;
+        if ($assign->var instanceof Variable && is_string($assign->var->name)) {
+            return [$assign->var->name];
+        }
+
+        return [];
+    }
+}
diff --git a/utils/phpstan/tests/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule/CheaperGuardFirstRuleTest.php b/utils/phpstan/tests/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule/CheaperGuardFirstRuleTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b369aef9321
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/phpstan/tests/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule/CheaperGuardFirstRuleTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Rector\Utils\PHPStan\Tests\Rule\CheaperGuardFirstRule;
+
+use PHPStan\Rules\Rule;
+use PHPStan\Testing\RuleTestCase;
+use Rector\Utils\PHPStan\Rule\CheaperGuardFirstRule;
+
+/**
+ * @extends RuleTestCase<CheaperGuardFirstRule>
+ */
+final class CheaperGuardFirstRuleTest extends RuleTestCase
+{
+    public function testExpensiveBeforeCheapGuard(): void
+    {
+        $expectedErrorMessage = 'Cheap guard on line 32 can run before the expensive call on line 26; move the early return up to bail before the costly analysis.';
+
+        $this->analyse([__DIR__ . '/Source/ExpensiveBeforeCheapGuardRector.php'], [[$expectedErrorMessage, 32]]);
+    }
+
+    public function testCheapGuardFirst(): void
+    {
+        $this->analyse([__DIR__ . '/Source/CheapGuardFirstRector.php'], []);
+    }
+
+    public function testDependentGuard(): void
+    {
+        $this->analyse([__DIR__ . '/Source/DependentGuardRector.php'], []);
+    }
+
+    protected function getRule(): Rule
+    {
+        return new CheaperGuardFirstRule();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/utils/phpstan/tests/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule/Source/CheapGuardFirstRector.php b/utils/phpstan/tests/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule/Source/CheapGuardFirstRector.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..92d62231b5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/phpstan/tests/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule/Source/CheapGuardFirstRector.php
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Rector\Utils\PHPStan\Tests\Rule\CheaperGuardFirstRule\Source;
+
+use PhpParser\Node;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\ClassMethod;
+use Rector\Rector\AbstractRector;
+use Symplify\RuleDocGenerator\ValueObject\RuleDefinition;
+
+final class CheapGuardFirstRector extends AbstractRector
+{
+    public function getRuleDefinition(): RuleDefinition
+    {
+        throw new \RuntimeException('test stub');
+    }
+
+    public function getNodeTypes(): array
+    {
+        return [ClassMethod::class];
+    }
+
+    public function refactor(Node $node): ?Node
+    {
+        // already cheap-first: nothing to report
+        if (! $this->isName($node, 'array')) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        $type = $this->getType($node);
+        if ($type->isString()->yes()) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        return $node;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/utils/phpstan/tests/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule/Source/DependentGuardRector.php b/utils/phpstan/tests/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule/Source/DependentGuardRector.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..181e66cb5a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/phpstan/tests/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule/Source/DependentGuardRector.php
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Rector\Utils\PHPStan\Tests\Rule\CheaperGuardFirstRule\Source;
+
+use PhpParser\Node;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\ClassMethod;
+use Rector\Rector\AbstractRector;
+use Symplify\RuleDocGenerator\ValueObject\RuleDefinition;
+
+final class DependentGuardRector extends AbstractRector
+{
+    public function getRuleDefinition(): RuleDefinition
+    {
+        throw new \RuntimeException('test stub');
+    }
+
+    public function getNodeTypes(): array
+    {
+        return [ClassMethod::class];
+    }
+
+    public function refactor(Node $node): ?Node
+    {
+        $type = $this->getType($node);
+
+        // value-returning guard in between -> reordering is unsafe, must NOT report
+        if ($type->isString()->yes()) {
+            return $node;
+        }
+
+        // depends on $type -> must NOT report
+        if ($type->isInteger()->yes()) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        return $node;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/utils/phpstan/tests/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule/Source/ExpensiveBeforeCheapGuardRector.php b/utils/phpstan/tests/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule/Source/ExpensiveBeforeCheapGuardRector.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ad9af5a48b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/phpstan/tests/Rule/CheaperGuardFirstRule/Source/ExpensiveBeforeCheapGuardRector.php
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Rector\Utils\PHPStan\Tests\Rule\CheaperGuardFirstRule\Source;
+
+use PhpParser\Node;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\ClassMethod;
+use Rector\Rector\AbstractRector;
+use Symplify\RuleDocGenerator\ValueObject\RuleDefinition;
+
+final class ExpensiveBeforeCheapGuardRector extends AbstractRector
+{
+    public function getRuleDefinition(): RuleDefinition
+    {
+        throw new \RuntimeException('test stub');
+    }
+
+    public function getNodeTypes(): array
+    {
+        return [ClassMethod::class];
+    }
+
+    public function refactor(Node $node): ?Node
+    {
+        $type = $this->getType($node);
+        if ($type->isString()->yes()) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        // cheap, independent of $type, but runs after the expensive getType()
+        if (! $this->isName($node, 'array')) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        return $node;
+    }
+}