diff --git a/dshell/plugins/quic/_helpers.py b/dshell/plugins/quic/_helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f28cd0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dshell/plugins/quic/_helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+"""
+Minimal QUIC long-header helpers (pure-Python, CI-friendly).
+
+We only parse the QUIC *long header* preamble:
+- header form (always "long" here)
+- version (uint32)
+- DCID (Destination Connection ID)
+- SCID (Source Connection ID)
+
+RFC 9000 §17.2 layout (prefix):
+[first byte][version(4)][dcid_len(1)][dcid][scid_len(1)][scid]...
+We intentionally stop after SCID; fields after that vary by packet type.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import Optional
+
+
+@dataclass
+class QuicLongHeaderMeta:
+    header_form: str   # "long"
+    version: int       # 32-bit version (0 for version negotiation)
+    dcid: bytes        # Destination Connection ID
+    scid: bytes        # Source Connection ID
+
+
+def is_quic_long_header(data: bytes) -> bool:
+    """
+    True if the buffer looks like a QUIC *long header* (MSB set) and is long enough
+    for [first byte][version][dcid_len] (>= 6 bytes).
+    """
+    return len(data) >= 6 and (data[0] & 0x80) == 0x80
+
+
+def parse_quic_long_header(data: bytes) -> Optional[QuicLongHeaderMeta]:
+    """
+    Parse the QUIC long header preamble and return QuicLongHeaderMeta, or None if invalid.
+    Safe to call on arbitrary UDP payloads.
+    """
+    try:
+        if not is_quic_long_header(data):
+            return None
+
+        # version: 4 bytes after first byte
+        version = int.from_bytes(data[1:5], "big")
+
+        p = 5
+        # DCID length + DCID
+        dcid_len = data[p]
+        p += 1
+        if p + dcid_len > len(data):
+            return None
+        dcid = data[p : p + dcid_len]
+        p += dcid_len
+
+        # SCID length + SCID
+        if p >= len(data):
+            return None
+        scid_len = data[p]
+        p += 1
+        if p + scid_len > len(data):
+            return None
+        scid = data[p : p + scid_len]
+
+        return QuicLongHeaderMeta(
+            header_form="long",
+            version=version,
+            dcid=dcid,
+            scid=scid,
+        )
+    except Exception:
+        # Be defensive: never raise from helpers
+        return None
+
+
+__all__ = [
+    "QuicLongHeaderMeta",
+    "is_quic_long_header",
+    "parse_quic_long_header",
+]
diff --git a/dshell/plugins/quic/quic.py b/dshell/plugins/quic/quic.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d924128
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dshell/plugins/quic/quic.py
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+"""
+QUIC (RFC 9000) decoder (long-header metadata)
+
+Parses QUIC *long header* preamble from UDP payloads to extract:
+- version (uint32)
+- DCID (Destination Connection ID)
+- SCID (Source Connection ID)
+
+Defaults to UDP/443 but --ports can be used to add/override.
+Never throws on malformed inputs; logs at debug and skips.
+
+Example (table):
+    decode -r traffic.pcap -p quic --ports 443,8443
+
+Columns:
+    ts, src, sport, dst, dport, version, dcid, scid, cid_len
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+# Framework import (kept only here so helpers remain importable without Dshell deps)
+from dshell.decoder import Decoder  # type: ignore
+
+# Import pure-Python helpers (no Dshell/pcap deps)
+from ._helpers import (
+    QuicLongHeaderMeta,
+    is_quic_long_header as _is_quic_long_header,
+    parse_quic_long_header as _parse_quic_long_header,
+)
+
+
+class quic(Decoder):  # Dshell convention: class name == plugin name
+    """
+    QUIC long-header metadata extractor.
+    Uses pure-Python helpers for safe parsing.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        # Human-facing metadata shown by `decode -p quic -h`
+        Decoder.__init__(
+            self,
+            name="quic",
+            description="Extract QUIC long-header metadata (version, DCID, SCID)",
+            author="Akindotcome",
+            filter="udp",  # BPF-level; we'll further filter by port(s)
+        )
+        # Default port(s); allow override via --ports
+        self.ports = {443}
+
+        # Output columns for table/CSV reporters
+        self.columns = (
+            "ts",
+            "src",
+            "sport",
+            "dst",
+            "dport",
+            "version",
+            "dcid",
+            "scid",
+            "cid_len",
+        )
+
+    def options(self, opts):
+        """
+        Add CLI options: --ports 443,8443
+        """
+        opts.add_option(
+            "ports",
+            "comma-separated UDP ports to consider as QUIC",
+            default="443",
+        )
+
+    def preparse(self, opts):
+        """
+        Process CLI options before decoding starts.
+        """
+        ports = set()
+        for tok in str(opts.ports).split(","):
+            tok = tok.strip()
+            if not tok:
+                continue
+            try:
+                ports.add(int(tok))
+            except ValueError:
+                self.warn(f"Invalid port '{tok}', skipping")
+        if ports:
+            self.ports = ports
+
+    def packet(self, pkt):
+        """
+        Per-packet hook. `pkt` is Dshell’s packet object with helpers like:
+          - pkt.time
+          - pkt.ip, pkt.udp
+          - pkt.src, pkt.dst, pkt.sport, pkt.dport
+          - pkt.data (payload bytes)
+        If your Dshell version differs, map these accordingly.
+        """
+        try:
+            # Only targeted UDP ports
+            if pkt.dport not in self.ports and pkt.sport not in self.ports:
+                return
+
+            data = bytes(pkt.data or b"")
+            meta = _parse_quic_long_header(data)
+            if not meta:
+                return  # not a QUIC long header
+
+            # Render CIDs in hex for readability
+            dcid_hex = meta.dcid.hex()
+            scid_hex = meta.scid.hex()
+            cid_len = f"{len(meta.dcid)}/{len(meta.scid)}"
+
+            # Emit a row (works with table/CSV/JSON reporters)
+            self.write(
+                ts=pkt.time,
+                src=pkt.src,
+                sport=pkt.sport,
+                dst=pkt.dst,
+                dport=pkt.dport,
+                version=meta.version,
+                dcid=dcid_hex,
+                scid=scid_hex,
+                cid_len=cid_len,
+            )
+        except Exception as e:
+            # Be defensive; never take down the decode loop
+            self.debug(f"quic: decode error: {e!r}")
+            return
diff --git a/tests/test_quic_helpers.py b/tests/test_quic_helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d170e88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_quic_helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import importlib.util
+import pathlib
+import sys
+
+HELPERS = pathlib.Path(__file__).parents[1] / "dshell" / "plugins" / "quic" / "_helpers.py"
+spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("dshell_quic_helpers", str(HELPERS))
+mod = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+
+# IMPORTANT: register the module before executing so dataclasses/typing can resolve it
+sys.modules[spec.name] = mod
+spec.loader.exec_module(mod)
+
+# Pull symbols under test
+is_quic_long_header = mod.is_quic_long_header
+parse_quic_long_header = mod.parse_quic_long_header
+QuicLongHeaderMeta = mod.QuicLongHeaderMeta
+
+
+def test_quic_long_header_parsing_basic():
+    first = bytes([0xC3])           # long-header bit set
+    version = (1).to_bytes(4, "big")
+    dcid = b"\x01\x02\x03\x04\x05\x06\x07\x08"
+    scid = b"\xAA\xBB\xCC\xDD"
+    blob = first + version + bytes([len(dcid)]) + dcid + bytes([len(scid)]) + scid
+
+    assert is_quic_long_header(blob) is True
+
+    meta = parse_quic_long_header(blob)
+    assert isinstance(meta, QuicLongHeaderMeta)
+    assert meta.header_form == "long"
+    assert meta.version == 1
+    assert meta.dcid == dcid
+    assert meta.scid == scid
+
+
+def test_not_quic_or_too_short():
+    assert is_quic_long_header(b"\x10\x00") is False
+    assert parse_quic_long_header(b"\x10\x00") is None
+
+
+def test_malformed_lengths():
+    bad = bytes([0x80]) + b"\x00\x00\x00\x01" + bytes([50])  # dcid_len=50, exceeds buffer
+    assert is_quic_long_header(bad) is True
+    assert parse_quic_long_header(bad) is None