diff --git a/src/app/api/patches/[id]/applied/route.ts b/src/app/api/patches/[id]/applied/route.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dd754e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/api/patches/[id]/applied/route.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { NextRequest } from "next/server";
+import { createClient } from "@/utils/supabase/server";
+
+export async function POST(req: NextRequest, { params }: { params: Promise<{ id: string }> }) {
+  const { id } = await params;
+  const { deviceId } = await req.json().catch(() => ({ deviceId: undefined }));
+  if (!deviceId || typeof deviceId !== "string") {
+    return new Response("Missing deviceId", { status: 400 });
+  }
+
+  const supabase = await createClient();
+  const patchId = Number(id);
+  if (!Number.isFinite(patchId)) {
+    return new Response("Bad id", { status: 400 });
+  }
+
+  // Try insert; if unique constraint violation, treat as success (already counted)
+  const { error } = await supabase
+    .from("patch_downloads")
+    .insert({ patch: patchId, device_id: deviceId });
+
+  if (error) {
+    // PostgREST unique violation codes commonly surface as 409 or PGRST specific; best-effort accept duplicates
+    if ((error as any).code === "23505" || /duplicate|unique/i.test(error.message)) {
+      return new Response(null, { status: 200 });
+    }
+    return new Response(error.message || "Failed", { status: 500 });
+  }
+
+  return new Response(null, { status: 201 });
+}
diff --git a/src/app/api/patches/[id]/download/route.ts b/src/app/api/patches/[id]/download/route.ts
index 0c46504..7ca5a4b 100644
--- a/src/app/api/patches/[id]/download/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/patches/[id]/download/route.ts
@@ -15,11 +15,6 @@ export async function GET(_req: NextRequest, { params }: { params: Promise<{ id:
     return new Response("Not found", { status: 404 });
   }
 
-  // Log download attempt (fire-and-forget)
-  try {
-    await supabase.from("patch_downloads").insert({ patch: patch.id });
-  } catch {}
-
   const client = getMinioClient();
   const bucket = patch.bucket || PATCHES_BUCKET;
   const url = await client.presignedGetObject(bucket, patch.filename, 60 * 5);
diff --git a/src/app/hack/[slug]/page.tsx b/src/app/hack/[slug]/page.tsx
index 98316f1..f064022 100644
--- a/src/app/hack/[slug]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/hack/[slug]/page.tsx
@@ -2,15 +2,15 @@ import { baseRoms } from "@/data/baseRoms";
 import { notFound } from "next/navigation";
 import Gallery from "@/components/Hack/Gallery";
 import HackActions from "@/components/Hack/HackActions";
-import { formatCompactNumber } from "@/utils/format";
 import ReactMarkdown from "react-markdown";
 import remarkGfm from "remark-gfm";
 import Image from "next/image";
-import { FaDiscord, FaDownload, FaTwitter } from "react-icons/fa6";
+import { FaDiscord, FaTwitter } from "react-icons/fa6";
 import PokeCommunityIcon from "@/components/Icons/PokeCommunityIcon";
 import { createClient } from "@/utils/supabase/server";
 import { getMinioClient, PATCHES_BUCKET } from "@/utils/minio/server";
 import HackOptionsMenu from "@/components/Hack/HackOptionsMenu";
+import DownloadsBadge from "@/components/Hack/DownloadsBadge";
 
 interface HackDetailProps {
   params: Promise<{ slug: string }>;
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ export default async function HackDetail({ params }: HackDetailProps) {
   // Resolve a short-lived signed patch URL (if current_patch exists)
   let signedPatchUrl = "";
   let patchVersion = "";
+  let patchId: number | null = null;
   let lastUpdated: string | null = null;
   if (hack.current_patch != null) {
     const { data: patch } = await supabase
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ export default async function HackDetail({ params }: HackDetailProps) {
       const bucket = patch.bucket || PATCHES_BUCKET;
       signedPatchUrl = await client.presignedGetObject(bucket, patch.filename, 60 * 5);
       patchVersion = patch.version || "";
+      patchId = patch.id;
       lastUpdated = new Date(patch.created_at).toLocaleDateString();
     }
   }
@@ -88,6 +90,8 @@ export default async function HackDetail({ params }: HackDetailProps) {
         baseRomId={baseRom?.id || ""}
         platform={baseRom?.platform}
         patchUrl={signedPatchUrl}
+        patchId={patchId ?? undefined}
+        hackSlug={hack.slug}
       />
 
       <div className="pt-8 md:pt-10 px-6">
@@ -110,10 +114,7 @@ export default async function HackDetail({ params }: HackDetailProps) {
             </div>
           </div>
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2 self-end md:self-auto">
-            <div className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full ring-1 ring-[var(--border)] bg-[var(--surface-2)] px-3 py-1 text-sm text-foreground/85">
-              <FaDownload size={16} className="text-foreground/85" />
-              <span>{formatCompactNumber(hack.downloads)}</span>
-            </div>
+            <DownloadsBadge slug={hack.slug} initialCount={hack.downloads} />
             <HackOptionsMenu slug={hack.slug} canEdit={canEdit} />
           </div>
         </div>
diff --git a/src/components/Hack/DownloadsBadge.tsx b/src/components/Hack/DownloadsBadge.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a999a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/Hack/DownloadsBadge.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+"use client";
+
+import React from "react";
+import { FaDownload } from "react-icons/fa6";
+import { formatCompactNumber } from "@/utils/format";
+import type { DownloadEvent } from "@/types/util";
+
+export default function DownloadsBadge({ slug, initialCount }: { slug: string; initialCount: number }) {
+  const [count, setCount] = React.useState<number>(initialCount);
+  const [anim, setAnim] = React.useState<boolean>(false);
+
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    function onApplied(e: Event) {
+      const detail = (e as DownloadEvent).detail;
+      if (detail.slug !== slug) return;
+      setCount((c) => c + 1);
+      setAnim(true);
+      const t = setTimeout(() => setAnim(false), 600);
+      return () => clearTimeout(t);
+    }
+    window.addEventListener("hack:patch-applied", onApplied);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener("hack:patch-applied", onApplied);
+  }, [slug]);
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={`inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full ring-1 ring-[var(--border)] bg-[var(--surface-2)] px-3 py-1 text-sm text-foreground/85 transition-transform ${
+        anim ? "scale-110 shadow-md font-bold" : ""
+      }`}
+    >
+      <FaDownload size={16} className="text-foreground/85" />
+      <span>{formatCompactNumber(count)}</span>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+
diff --git a/src/components/Hack/HackActions.tsx b/src/components/Hack/HackActions.tsx
index 1f2b8f4..c88fec1 100644
--- a/src/components/Hack/HackActions.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Hack/HackActions.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { useBaseRoms } from "@/contexts/BaseRomContext";
 import { baseRoms } from "@/data/baseRoms";
 import BinFile from "rom-patcher-js/rom-patcher-js/modules/BinFile.js";
 import BPS from "rom-patcher-js/rom-patcher-js/modules/RomPatcher.format.bps.js";
+import type { DownloadEventDetail } from "@/types/util";
 
 interface HackActionsProps {
   title: string;
@@ -14,6 +15,8 @@ interface HackActionsProps {
   baseRomId: string;
   platform?: "GBA" | "GBC" | "GB" | "NDS";
   patchUrl: string;
+  patchId?: number;
+  hackSlug: string;
 }
 
 const HackActions: React.FC<HackActionsProps> = ({
@@ -23,6 +26,8 @@ const HackActions: React.FC<HackActionsProps> = ({
   baseRomId,
   platform,
   patchUrl,
+  patchId,
+  hackSlug,
 }) => {
   const { isLinked, hasPermission, hasCached, importUploadedBlob, ensurePermission, linkRom, getFileBlob, supported } = useBaseRoms();
   const [file, setFile] = React.useState<File | null>(null);
@@ -160,6 +165,29 @@ const HackActions: React.FC<HackActionsProps> = ({
       patchedRom.save();
 
       setStatus("done");
+
+      // Best-effort log applied event for counting and animate badge
+      try {
+        if (patchId != null) {
+          const key = "deviceId";
+          let deviceId = localStorage.getItem(key);
+          if (!deviceId) {
+            deviceId = crypto.randomUUID();
+            localStorage.setItem(key, deviceId);
+          }
+          await fetch(`/api/patches/${patchId}/applied`, {
+            method: "POST",
+            headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+            body: JSON.stringify({ deviceId }),
+          })
+            .then((res) => {
+              if (res.status === 201) {
+                window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent<DownloadEventDetail>("hack:patch-applied", { detail: { slug: hackSlug } }));
+              }
+            })
+            .catch(() => {});
+        }
+      } catch {}
     } catch (e: any) {
       setError(e?.message || "Failed to patch ROM");
       setStatus("idle");
diff --git a/src/types/db.ts b/src/types/db.ts
index 5f9733e..8b7551d 100644
--- a/src/types/db.ts
+++ b/src/types/db.ts
@@ -174,16 +174,19 @@ export type Database = {
       patch_downloads: {
         Row: {
           created_at: string
+          device_id: string
           id: number
           patch: number | null
         }
         Insert: {
           created_at?: string
+          device_id: string
           id?: number
           patch?: number | null
         }
         Update: {
           created_at?: string
+          device_id?: string
           id?: number
           patch?: number | null
         }
diff --git a/src/types/util.ts b/src/types/util.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96b8af7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/types/util.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+export interface DownloadEventDetail {
+  slug: string;
+}
+
+export type DownloadEvent = CustomEvent<DownloadEventDetail>;
diff --git a/supabase/migrations/20251024202142_downloads_counter.sql b/supabase/migrations/20251024202142_downloads_counter.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2262ac0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supabase/migrations/20251024202142_downloads_counter.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+-- Add device_id to patch_downloads and enforce uniqueness per patch/device
+alter table if exists public.patch_downloads
+  add column if not exists device_id text;
+
+-- Backfill existing rows with a deterministic legacy value
+update public.patch_downloads
+   set device_id = 'legacy-' || id
+ where device_id is null;
+
+-- Enforce NOT NULL after backfill
+alter table public.patch_downloads
+  alter column device_id set not null;
+
+-- Unique index to dedupe per device per patch
+create unique index if not exists patch_downloads_patch_device_id_key
+  on public.patch_downloads (patch, device_id);
+
+-- Ensure RLS enabled and allow anonymous inserts
+alter table public.patch_downloads enable row level security;
+
+do $$
+begin
+  if not exists (
+    select 1 from pg_policies
+    where schemaname = 'public'
+      and tablename = 'patch_downloads'
+      and policyname = 'Allow insert for everyone'
+  ) then
+    create policy "Allow insert for everyone" on public.patch_downloads
+      for insert
+      to public
+      with check (true);
+  end if;
+end $$;
+
+-- Trigger functions to keep hacks.downloads in sync
+create or replace function public.patch_downloads_inc_hack_downloads()
+returns trigger
+language plpgsql
+as $$
+declare
+  hack_slug text;
+begin
+  select p.parent_hack into hack_slug
+  from public.patches p
+  where p.id = NEW.patch;
+
+  if hack_slug is not null then
+    update public.hacks h
+       set downloads = h.downloads + 1
+     where h.slug = hack_slug;
+  end if;
+
+  return NEW;
+end;
+$$;
+
+create or replace function public.patch_downloads_dec_hack_downloads()
+returns trigger
+language plpgsql
+as $$
+declare
+  hack_slug text;
+begin
+  select p.parent_hack into hack_slug
+  from public.patches p
+  where p.id = OLD.patch;
+
+  if hack_slug is not null then
+    update public.hacks h
+       set downloads = greatest(h.downloads - 1, 0)
+     where h.slug = hack_slug;
+  end if;
+
+  return OLD;
+end;
+$$;
+
+drop trigger if exists patch_downloads_ai on public.patch_downloads;
+create trigger patch_downloads_ai
+after insert on public.patch_downloads
+for each row
+execute function public.patch_downloads_inc_hack_downloads();
+
+drop trigger if exists patch_downloads_ad on public.patch_downloads;
+create trigger patch_downloads_ad
+after delete on public.patch_downloads
+for each row
+execute function public.patch_downloads_dec_hack_downloads();
+
+-- Backfill hacks.downloads to exact counts
+update public.hacks h
+   set downloads = coalesce(sub.cnt, 0)
+from (
+  select h2.slug as slug, count(d.id) as cnt
+  from public.hacks h2
+  left join public.patches p on p.parent_hack = h2.slug
+  left join public.patch_downloads d on d.patch = p.id
+  group by h2.slug
+) sub
+where h.slug = sub.slug;
+
+
diff --git a/supabase/migrations/20251024231058_fix_hack_downloads_triggers.sql b/supabase/migrations/20251024231058_fix_hack_downloads_triggers.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ffb9276
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supabase/migrations/20251024231058_fix_hack_downloads_triggers.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+-- Trigger functions to keep hacks.downloads in sync
+create or replace function public.patch_downloads_inc_hack_downloads()
+returns trigger
+language plpgsql
+security definer
+as $$
+declare
+  hack_slug text;
+begin
+  select p.parent_hack into hack_slug
+  from public.patches p
+  where p.id = NEW.patch;
+
+  if hack_slug is not null then
+    update public.hacks h
+       set downloads = h.downloads + 1
+     where h.slug = hack_slug;
+  end if;
+
+  return NEW;
+end;
+$$;
+
+create or replace function public.patch_downloads_dec_hack_downloads()
+returns trigger
+language plpgsql
+security definer
+as $$
+declare
+  hack_slug text;
+begin
+  select p.parent_hack into hack_slug
+  from public.patches p
+  where p.id = OLD.patch;
+
+  if hack_slug is not null then
+    update public.hacks h
+       set downloads = greatest(h.downloads - 1, 0)
+     where h.slug = hack_slug;
+  end if;
+
+  return OLD;
+end;
+$$;
+
+drop trigger if exists patch_downloads_ai on public.patch_downloads;
+create trigger patch_downloads_ai
+after insert on public.patch_downloads
+for each row
+execute function public.patch_downloads_inc_hack_downloads();
+
+drop trigger if exists patch_downloads_ad on public.patch_downloads;
+create trigger patch_downloads_ad
+after delete on public.patch_downloads
+for each row
+execute function public.patch_downloads_dec_hack_downloads();