diff --git a/config/rector-rules.neon b/config/rector-rules.neon
index b3b601d7..b4a235b8 100644
--- a/config/rector-rules.neon
+++ b/config/rector-rules.neon
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ rules:
     - Symplify\PHPStanRules\Rules\Rector\NoOnlyNullReturnInRefactorRule
     - Symplify\PHPStanRules\Rules\Rector\NoIntegerRefactorReturnRule
     - Symplify\PHPStanRules\Rules\Rector\AvoidFeatureSetAttributeInRectorRule
+    - Symplify\PHPStanRules\Rules\Rector\RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule
 
 services:
     # $node->getAttribute($1) => Type|null by $1
diff --git a/src/Enum/RuleIdentifier/RectorRuleIdentifier.php b/src/Enum/RuleIdentifier/RectorRuleIdentifier.php
index db6bfc50..70465dda 100644
--- a/src/Enum/RuleIdentifier/RectorRuleIdentifier.php
+++ b/src/Enum/RuleIdentifier/RectorRuleIdentifier.php
@@ -23,4 +23,6 @@ final class RectorRuleIdentifier
     public const string NO_INTEGER_REFACTOR_RETURN = 'rector.noIntegerRefactorReturn';
 
     public const string AVOID_FEATURE_SET_ATTRIBUTE_IN_RECTOR = 'rector.avoidFeatureSetAttributeInRector';
+
+    public const string RECTOR_CHEAPER_GUARDS_FIRST = 'rector.rectorCheaperGuardsFirst';
 }
diff --git a/src/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule.php b/src/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..77197765
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule.php
@@ -0,0 +1,276 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Symplify\PHPStanRules\Rules\Rector;
+
+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\FuncCall;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr\MethodCall;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr\NullsafeMethodCall;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr\StaticCall;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr\Variable;
+use PhpParser\Node\Identifier;
+use PhpParser\Node\Name;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\ClassMethod;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\Continue_;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\Else_;
+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;
+use Rector\Rector\AbstractRector;
+use Symplify\PHPStanRules\Enum\RuleIdentifier\RectorRuleIdentifier;
+
+/**
+ * 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 \Symplify\PHPStanRules\Tests\Rules\Rector\RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule\RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRuleTest
+ */
+final class RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule implements Rule
+{
+    public 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 = AbstractRector::class;
+
+    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(RectorRuleIdentifier::RECTOR_CHEAPER_GUARDS_FIRST)
+                            ->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/tests/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule/Fixture/ExpensiveBeforeCheapGuard.php b/tests/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule/Fixture/ExpensiveBeforeCheapGuard.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c4d0de2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule/Fixture/ExpensiveBeforeCheapGuard.php
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Symplify\PHPStanRules\Tests\Rules\Rector\RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule\Fixture;
+
+use PhpParser\Node;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\ClassMethod;
+use Rector\Rector\AbstractRector;
+
+final class ExpensiveBeforeCheapGuard extends AbstractRector
+{
+    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;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule/Fixture/SkipCheapGuardFirst.php b/tests/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule/Fixture/SkipCheapGuardFirst.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..720bed11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule/Fixture/SkipCheapGuardFirst.php
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Symplify\PHPStanRules\Tests\Rules\Rector\RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule\Fixture;
+
+use PhpParser\Node;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\ClassMethod;
+use Rector\Rector\AbstractRector;
+
+final class SkipCheapGuardFirst extends AbstractRector
+{
+    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/tests/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule/Fixture/SkipDependentGuard.php b/tests/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule/Fixture/SkipDependentGuard.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..568ba5d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule/Fixture/SkipDependentGuard.php
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Symplify\PHPStanRules\Tests\Rules\Rector\RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule\Fixture;
+
+use PhpParser\Node;
+use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\ClassMethod;
+use Rector\Rector\AbstractRector;
+
+final class SkipDependentGuard extends AbstractRector
+{
+    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/tests/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRuleTest.php b/tests/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRuleTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eb1a1852
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Rules/Rector/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule/RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRuleTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Symplify\PHPStanRules\Tests\Rules\Rector\RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule;
+
+use Iterator;
+use PHPStan\Rules\Rule;
+use PHPStan\Testing\RuleTestCase;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\Attributes\DataProvider;
+use Symplify\PHPStanRules\Rules\Rector\RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule;
+
+final class RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRuleTest extends RuleTestCase
+{
+    /**
+     * @param array<int, array<string|int>> $expectedErrorsWithLines
+     */
+    #[DataProvider('provideData')]
+    public function testRule(string $filePath, array $expectedErrorsWithLines): void
+    {
+        $this->analyse([$filePath], $expectedErrorsWithLines);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return Iterator<array<array<int, mixed>, mixed>>
+     */
+    public static function provideData(): Iterator
+    {
+        yield [__DIR__ . '/Fixture/SkipCheapGuardFirst.php', []];
+
+        yield [__DIR__ . '/Fixture/SkipDependentGuard.php', []];
+
+        yield [__DIR__ . '/Fixture/ExpensiveBeforeCheapGuard.php', [
+            [
+                sprintf(RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule::ERROR_MESSAGE, 26, 20),
+                26,
+            ],
+        ]];
+    }
+
+    protected function getRule(): Rule
+    {
+        return new RectorCheaperGuardsFirstRule();
+    }
+}