diff --git a/variants/esp32c3/diy/moonshine_ESP_C3/platformio.ini b/variants/esp32c3/diy/moonshine_ESP_C3/platformio.ini
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8a8bed730
--- /dev/null
+++ b/variants/esp32c3/diy/moonshine_ESP_C3/platformio.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+; Moonshine ESP-C3 - DIY variant based on ESP32-C3 + E22-400M33S (433MHz)
+[env:moonshine_ESP_C3]
+extends = esp32c3_base
+board = esp32-c3-devkitm-1
+board_level = extra
+build_flags =
+  ${esp32c3_base.build_flags}
+  -D PRIVATE_HW
+  -D ARDUINO_USB_MODE=1
+  -D ARDUINO_USB_CDC_ON_BOOT=1
+  -I variants/esp32c3/diy/moonshine_ESP_C3
diff --git a/variants/esp32c3/diy/moonshine_ESP_C3/readme.md b/variants/esp32c3/diy/moonshine_ESP_C3/readme.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e748ec5e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/variants/esp32c3/diy/moonshine_ESP_C3/readme.md
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+# Moonshine ESP-C3
+
+DIY Meshtastic node variant based on the ESP32-C3 + E22-400M33S LoRa module.
+
+## Hardware
+
+- **MCU**: ESP32-C3 with 4 MB external SPI flash
+- **LoRa**: E22-400M33S (SX1268 + 33 dBm PA, 2 W, 433 MHz)
+- **USB CDC**: enabled (`ARDUINO_USB_MODE=1`, `ARDUINO_USB_CDC_ON_BOOT=1`) -
+  serial console is exposed via the USB CDC port, no separate UART chip
+- **Battery ADC**: 0.5 voltage divider on GPIO1 (`ADC_MULTIPLIER = 2.0`)
+- **No screen, no GPS** on this board
+
+### E22-400M33S power note
+
+The E22-400M33S is a 33 dBm / 2 W module with ~25 dB PA gain. This variant
+uses the firmware's default SX126x output power (22 dBm), which the E22's PA
+amplifies to ~47 dBm. **This will overdrive the PA, cause large current spikes,
+and may reset the system** at higher `tx_power` settings.
+
+For safe operation on the E22-400M33S, add the following to `variant.h`:
+
+```cpp
+#define SX126X_MAX_POWER 8   // SX1268 outputs 8 dBm -> PA -> ~33 dBm
+#define TX_GAIN_LORA 25      // PA gain compensation
+```
+
+These are intentionally omitted here per the board designer's request; the
+operator is responsible for setting an appropriate `tx_power` in app config
+or patching the variant before flashing. See
+`variants/nrf52840/diy/moonshine_NRF52/variant.h` for the same module wired
+with the PA-safe power profile.
+
+## Pin map
+
+| Function      | GPIO | Notes                                  |
+| ------------- | ---- | -------------------------------------- |
+| BUTTON        | 9    | BOOT button                            |
+| LED           | 0    | Active high (`LED_STATE_ON = 1`)       |
+| BATTERY_ADC   | 1    | 0.5 divider (`ADC_MULTIPLIER = 2.0`)   |
+| LORA_RXEN     | 2    | RF switch RX enable                    |
+| LORA_DIO1     | 3    | IRQ                                    |
+| LORA_BUSY     | 4    |                                        |
+| LORA_RESET    | 5    |                                        |
+| LORA_MISO     | 6    |                                        |
+| LORA_MOSI     | 7    |                                        |
+| LORA_CS       | 8    |                                        |
+| LORA_SCK      | 10   |                                        |
+
+DIO2 drives the E22's TXEN pin internally (`SX126X_DIO2_AS_RF_SWITCH`), so
+`SX126X_TXEN` is left as `RADIOLIB_NC`. `SX126X_RXEN` is driven by GPIO2.
+
+## Build & Flash
+
+### Build
+
+```sh
+pio run -e moonshine_ESP_C3
+```
+
+Uses `PRIVATE_HW` (HardwareModel 255) - no protobuf or `architecture.h`
+changes required. Board level is `extra` (built only on full releases).
+
+### Flash
+
+```sh
+pio run -e moonshine_ESP_C3 -t upload --upload-port <port>
+```
+
+The board boots into USB CDC mode, so the serial console appears as a CDC
+ACM port (`/dev/ttyACM*` on Linux/macOS, `COMx` on Windows) at 115200 baud.
diff --git a/variants/esp32c3/diy/moonshine_ESP_C3/variant.h b/variants/esp32c3/diy/moonshine_ESP_C3/variant.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cc1993ccf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/variants/esp32c3/diy/moonshine_ESP_C3/variant.h
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#ifndef _VARIANT_MOONSHINE_ESP_C3_
+#define _VARIANT_MOONSHINE_ESP_C3_
+
+/*----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ *        Headers
+ *----------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif // __cplusplus
+
+// Button
+#define BUTTON_PIN 9 // BOOT button
+
+// LED
+#define LED_POWER 0    // LED
+#define LED_STATE_ON 1 // State when LED is lit
+
+// Battery ADC - GPIO1 = ADC1 channel 1 on ESP32-C3
+#define BATTERY_PIN 1
+#define ADC_CHANNEL ADC_CHANNEL_1
+#define ADC_MULTIPLIER 2.0f
+
+// No screen / no GPS
+#define HAS_SCREEN 0
+#define HAS_GPS 0
+#undef GPS_RX_PIN
+#undef GPS_TX_PIN
+
+// LoRa - E22-400M33S (SX1268, 433MHz, 33dBm/2W module with PA)
+#define USE_SX1268
+
+#define LORA_SCK 10
+#define LORA_MISO 6
+#define LORA_MOSI 7
+#define LORA_CS 8
+#define LORA_DIO0 RADIOLIB_NC
+#define LORA_RESET 5
+#define LORA_DIO1 3
+#define LORA_DIO2 RADIOLIB_NC
+#define LORA_BUSY 4
+
+#define SX126X_CS LORA_CS
+#define SX126X_DIO1 LORA_DIO1
+#define SX126X_BUSY LORA_BUSY
+#define SX126X_RESET LORA_RESET
+#define SX126X_RXEN 2
+#define SX126X_TXEN RADIOLIB_NC // DIO2 drives TXEN via SX126X_DIO2_AS_RF_SWITCH
+#define SX126X_DIO2_AS_RF_SWITCH
+#define SX126X_DIO3_TCXO_VOLTAGE 1.8
+
+#define TCXO_OPTIONAL // firmware can try both TCXO and XTAL
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+/*----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ *        Arduino objects - C++ only
+ *----------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#endif