diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7125e2b..5a6279e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,16 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+
+- Exception conditions: `raises ExceptionClass` in Then blocks wraps the preceding When block in an exception assertion.
+- Exception capture: `e = raises ExceptionClass` captures the exception for further assertions in the same Then block.
+- Exception conditions work with data-driven `Where` blocks.
+
+### Changed
+
+- Renamed interaction outcome nodes from `rspock_returns` / `rspock_raises` to `rspock_stub_returns` / `rspock_stub_raises` to distinguish them from the new exception condition `rspock_raises`.
+
 ## [2.4.0] - 2026-02-28
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 349b626..399d799 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Note: RSpock is heavily inspired by Spock for the Groovy programming language.
 * Spock-style implicit assertions: every statement in Then/Expect blocks is an assertion (no assertion API needed)
 * Binary operator assertions: `==`, `!=`, `=~`, `!~`, `>`, `<`, `>=`, `<=` with clear error messages
 * General statement assertions: bare boolean expressions (e.g. `obj.valid?`, `list.include?(x)`) and negation (`!obj.empty?`) with source-text error messages
+* [Exception conditions](#exception-conditions): `raises ExceptionClass` in Then blocks wraps the When block in an exception assertion, with optional capture for property assertions
 * [Interaction-based testing](#mocking-with-interactions), i.e. `1 * object.receive("message")` in Then blocks, with optional [return value stubbing](#stubbing-return-values) via `>>`, [exception stubbing](#stubbing-exceptions) via `>> raises(...)`, and [block forwarding verification](#block-forwarding-verification) via `&block`
 * (Planned) BDD-style custom reporter that outputs information from Code Blocks
 * (Planned) Capture all Then block violations
@@ -166,6 +167,46 @@ The Then block describes the response from the stimulus. Following Spock's core
 
 **Variable assignments** pass through unchanged and execute in source order after the stimulus.
 
+##### Exception Conditions
+
+Use `raises` in a Then block to assert that the preceding When block raises a specific exception:
+
+```ruby
+When "Dividing by zero"
+1 / 0
+
+Then "An error is raised"
+raises ZeroDivisionError
+```
+
+To inspect the exception, capture it into a variable:
+
+```ruby
+When "Parsing bad input"
+JSON.parse("not json")
+
+Then "A parse error is raised with a message"
+e = raises JSON::ParserError
+e.message.include?("unexpected token")
+```
+
+The captured variable is available for further assertions in the same Then block. Exception conditions work with data-driven `Where` blocks as well:
+
+```ruby
+When "Parsing invalid input"
+JSON.parse(input)
+
+Then "The expected error is raised"
+raises expected_error
+
+Where
+input          | expected_error
+"not json"     | JSON::ParserError
+"{invalid"     | JSON::ParserError
+```
+
+Only **one** `raises` condition is allowed per Then block, and `raises` is **not supported** in Expect blocks (use a When + Then block instead).
+
 #### Expect Block
 
 The Expect block is useful when expressing the stimulus and the response in one statement is more natural. The same assertion rules apply as in Then blocks — every statement is an assertion unless it's a variable assignment.
diff --git a/lib/rspock/ast/interaction_to_mocha_mock_transformation.rb b/lib/rspock/ast/interaction_to_mocha_mock_transformation.rb
index 3f5aae1..d00f37d 100644
--- a/lib/rspock/ast/interaction_to_mocha_mock_transformation.rb
+++ b/lib/rspock/ast/interaction_to_mocha_mock_transformation.rb
@@ -10,14 +10,14 @@ module AST
     # Output: receiver.expects(:message).with(*args).times(n).returns(value)
     #
     # The outcome node type maps directly to the Mocha chain method:
-    #   :rspock_returns -> .returns(value)
-    #   :rspock_raises  -> .raises(exception_class, ...)
+    #   :rspock_stub_returns -> .returns(value)
+    #   :rspock_stub_raises  -> .raises(exception_class, ...)
     #
     # When block_pass is present, wraps the expects chain with a BlockCapture.capture call.
     class InteractionToMochaMockTransformation < ASTTransform::AbstractTransformation
       OUTCOME_METHODS = {
-        rspock_returns: :returns,
-        rspock_raises: :raises,
+        rspock_stub_returns: :returns,
+        rspock_stub_raises: :raises,
       }.freeze
 
       def initialize(index = 0)
diff --git a/lib/rspock/ast/node.rb b/lib/rspock/ast/node.rb
index c9e6893..6c48881 100644
--- a/lib/rspock/ast/node.rb
+++ b/lib/rspock/ast/node.rb
@@ -73,12 +73,20 @@ def data_rows
     class OutcomeNode < Node
     end
 
-    class ReturnsNode < OutcomeNode
-      register :rspock_returns
+    class StubReturnsNode < OutcomeNode
+      register :rspock_stub_returns
     end
 
-    class RaisesNode < OutcomeNode
+    class StubRaisesNode < OutcomeNode
+      register :rspock_stub_raises
+    end
+
+    class RaisesNode < Node
       register :rspock_raises
+
+      def exception_class = children[0]
+      def capture_var     = children[1]
+      def capture_name    = capture_var&.children&.[](0)
     end
 
     class InteractionNode < Node
diff --git a/lib/rspock/ast/parser/expect_block.rb b/lib/rspock/ast/parser/expect_block.rb
index 3eb4e0f..a4c10ed 100644
--- a/lib/rspock/ast/parser/expect_block.rb
+++ b/lib/rspock/ast/parser/expect_block.rb
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ def successors
         def to_rspock_node
           statement_parser = StatementParser.new
           spock_children = @children.map { |child| statement_parser.parse(child) }
+
+          if spock_children.any? { |c| c.type == :rspock_raises }
+            raise BlockError, "raises() is not supported in Expect blocks @ #{range}. Use a When + Then block instead."
+          end
+
           s(:rspock_expect, *spock_children)
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/rspock/ast/parser/interaction_parser.rb b/lib/rspock/ast/parser/interaction_parser.rb
index 9dab10d..e768551 100644
--- a/lib/rspock/ast/parser/interaction_parser.rb
+++ b/lib/rspock/ast/parser/interaction_parser.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ module Parser
       #   [1] receiver     - e.g. s(:send, nil, :subscriber)
       #   [2] message      - e.g. s(:sym, :receive)
       #   [3] args         - nil if no args, s(:array, *arg_nodes) otherwise
-      #   [4] outcome      - nil if no >>, otherwise s(:rspock_returns, value) or s(:rspock_raises, *args)
+      #   [4] outcome      - nil if no >>, otherwise s(:rspock_stub_returns, value) or s(:rspock_stub_raises, *args)
       #   [5] block_pass   - nil if no &, otherwise s(:block_pass, ...)
       class InteractionParser
         include RSpock::AST::NodeBuilder
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ def return_value_node?(node)
 
         def parse_outcome(node)
           if node.type == :send && node.children[0].nil? && node.children[1] == :raises
-            s(:rspock_raises, *node.children[2..])
+            s(:rspock_stub_raises, *node.children[2..])
           else
-            s(:rspock_returns, node)
+            s(:rspock_stub_returns, node)
           end
         end
 
diff --git a/lib/rspock/ast/parser/statement_parser.rb b/lib/rspock/ast/parser/statement_parser.rb
index a512040..df6035f 100644
--- a/lib/rspock/ast/parser/statement_parser.rb
+++ b/lib/rspock/ast/parser/statement_parser.rb
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class StatementParser
         ASSIGNMENT_TYPES = %i[lvasgn masgn op_asgn or_asgn and_asgn].freeze
 
         def parse(node)
+          return build_raises(node) if raises_condition?(node)
           return node if assignment?(node)
           return build_binary_statement(node) if binary_statement?(node)
 
@@ -24,6 +25,32 @@ def parse(node)
 
         private
 
+        def raises_condition?(node)
+          direct_raises?(node) || assigned_raises?(node)
+        end
+
+        def direct_raises?(node)
+          node.type == :send && node.children[0].nil? && node.children[1] == :raises
+        end
+
+        def assigned_raises?(node)
+          node.type == :lvasgn &&
+            node.children[1]&.type == :send &&
+            node.children[1].children[0].nil? &&
+            node.children[1].children[1] == :raises
+        end
+
+        def build_raises(node)
+          if node.type == :lvasgn
+            variable = s(:sym, node.children[0])
+            exception_class = node.children[1].children[2]
+            s(:rspock_raises, exception_class, variable)
+          else
+            exception_class = node.children[2]
+            s(:rspock_raises, exception_class)
+          end
+        end
+
         def assignment?(node)
           ASSIGNMENT_TYPES.include?(node.type)
         end
diff --git a/lib/rspock/ast/parser/then_block.rb b/lib/rspock/ast/parser/then_block.rb
index 2b3b9be..648c232 100644
--- a/lib/rspock/ast/parser/then_block.rb
+++ b/lib/rspock/ast/parser/then_block.rb
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ def to_rspock_node
             statement_parser.parse(child)
           end
 
+          raises_count = spock_children.count { |c| c.type == :rspock_raises }
+          if raises_count > 1
+            raise BlockError, "Then block @ #{range} may contain at most one raises() condition"
+          end
+
           s(:rspock_then, *spock_children)
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/rspock/ast/test_method_transformation.rb b/lib/rspock/ast/test_method_transformation.rb
index 3564938..79cb75c 100644
--- a/lib/rspock/ast/test_method_transformation.rb
+++ b/lib/rspock/ast/test_method_transformation.rb
@@ -117,16 +117,25 @@ def build_ruby_ast(method_call, method_args, body_node, where, hoisted_setups)
 
       def build_test_body(body_node, hoisted_setups)
         body_children = []
+        blocks = body_node.children
 
-        body_node.children.each do |block_node|
+        blocks.each_with_index do |block_node, i|
           case block_node.type
           when :rspock_given
             body_children.concat(block_node.children)
           when :rspock_when
             body_children.concat(hoisted_setups)
-            body_children.concat(block_node.children)
+            raises_node = find_raises_in_next_then(blocks, i)
+
+            if raises_node
+              body_children << build_assert_raises(block_node, raises_node)
+            else
+              body_children.concat(block_node.children)
+            end
           when :rspock_then, :rspock_expect
-            body_children.concat(block_node.children)
+            block_node.children.each do |child|
+              body_children << child unless child.type == :rspock_raises
+            end
           when :rspock_cleanup
             # handled below as ensure
           end
@@ -143,6 +152,31 @@ def build_test_body(body_node, hoisted_setups)
         MethodCallToLVarTransformation.new(:_test_index_, :_line_number_).run(ast)
       end
 
+      # --- Raises condition helpers ---
+
+      def find_raises_in_next_then(blocks, current_index)
+        next_block = blocks[current_index + 1]
+        return nil unless next_block&.type == :rspock_then
+
+        next_block.children.find { |c| c.type == :rspock_raises }
+      end
+
+      def build_assert_raises(when_node, raises_node)
+        when_body = when_node.children.length == 1 ? when_node.children[0] : s(:begin, *when_node.children)
+
+        assert_raises_call = s(:block,
+          s(:send, nil, :assert_raises, raises_node.exception_class),
+          s(:args),
+          when_body
+        )
+
+        if raises_node.capture_name
+          s(:lvasgn, raises_node.capture_name, assert_raises_call)
+        else
+          assert_raises_call
+        end
+      end
+
       # --- Where block helpers ---
 
       def build_where_iterator(data_rows)
diff --git a/test/example_rspock_test.rb b/test/example_rspock_test.rb
index 3ba951e..044ab38 100644
--- a/test/example_rspock_test.rb
+++ b/test/example_rspock_test.rb
@@ -123,6 +123,44 @@ def mul(a, b)
     result == "item"
   end
 
+  # --- Raises conditions ---
+
+  test "raises catches expected exception" do
+    Given
+    stack = []
+
+    When
+    stack.fetch(99)
+
+    Then
+    raises IndexError
+  end
+
+  test "raises with capture allows property assertions" do
+    Given
+    stack = []
+
+    When
+    stack.fetch(99)
+
+    Then
+    e = raises IndexError
+    e.message =~ /index 99/
+  end
+
+  test "raises with Where block for #{error_class}" do
+    When
+    Integer(input)
+
+    Then
+    raises error_class
+
+    Where
+    input   | error_class
+    "abc"   | ArgumentError
+    "hello" | ArgumentError
+  end
+
   test "interactions" do
     Given
     dep = mock
diff --git a/test/rspock/ast/parser/expect_block_test.rb b/test/rspock/ast/parser/expect_block_test.rb
index 14f70fc..db254d5 100644
--- a/test/rspock/ast/parser/expect_block_test.rb
+++ b/test/rspock/ast/parser/expect_block_test.rb
@@ -41,6 +41,15 @@ def setup
           assert_equal [comparison], actual
         end
 
+        test "#to_rspock_node raises error when raises() is used" do
+          @transformer = ASTTransform::Transformer.new
+          @block << @transformer.build_ast('raises EmptyStackError')
+
+          assert_raises BlockError do
+            @block.to_rspock_node
+          end
+        end
+
         test "#to_rspock_node returns :rspock_expect node with statement children" do
           @block << s(:send, 1, :==, 2)
           @block << s(:send, 1, :!=, 2)
diff --git a/test/rspock/ast/parser/interaction_parser_test.rb b/test/rspock/ast/parser/interaction_parser_test.rb
index 1aa160c..93a40dc 100644
--- a/test/rspock/ast/parser/interaction_parser_test.rb
+++ b/test/rspock/ast/parser/interaction_parser_test.rb
@@ -122,21 +122,21 @@ def setup
           assert_nil ir.outcome
         end
 
-        test "#parse wraps >> value in :rspock_returns" do
+        test "#parse wraps >> value in :rspock_stub_returns" do
           ir = parse('1 * receiver.message >> "result"')
-          assert_equal :rspock_returns, ir.outcome.type
+          assert_equal :rspock_stub_returns, ir.outcome.type
           assert_equal s(:str, "result"), ir.outcome.children[0]
         end
 
-        test "#parse wraps >> raises(ExClass) in :rspock_raises" do
+        test "#parse wraps >> raises(ExClass) in :rspock_stub_raises" do
           ir = parse('1 * receiver.message >> raises(SomeError)')
-          assert_equal :rspock_raises, ir.outcome.type
+          assert_equal :rspock_stub_raises, ir.outcome.type
           assert_equal :const, ir.outcome.children[0].type
         end
 
-        test "#parse wraps >> raises(ExClass, msg) in :rspock_raises with two children" do
+        test "#parse wraps >> raises(ExClass, msg) in :rspock_stub_raises with two children" do
           ir = parse('1 * receiver.message >> raises(SomeError, "oops")')
-          assert_equal :rspock_raises, ir.outcome.type
+          assert_equal :rspock_stub_raises, ir.outcome.type
           assert_equal 2, ir.outcome.children.length
           assert_equal :const, ir.outcome.children[0].type
           assert_equal s(:str, "oops"), ir.outcome.children[1]
diff --git a/test/rspock/ast/parser/statement_parser_test.rb b/test/rspock/ast/parser/statement_parser_test.rb
index baec9ed..14a20f7 100644
--- a/test/rspock/ast/parser/statement_parser_test.rb
+++ b/test/rspock/ast/parser/statement_parser_test.rb
@@ -171,6 +171,41 @@ def setup
           assert_equal :rspock_statement, result.type
         end
 
+        # --- Raises condition ---
+
+        test "#parse wraps raises(ExClass) in :rspock_raises" do
+          ast = build_ast('raises EmptyStackError')
+          result = @parser.parse(ast)
+
+          assert_equal :rspock_raises, result.type
+          assert_equal s(:const, nil, :EmptyStackError), result.exception_class
+          assert_nil result.capture_var
+        end
+
+        test "#parse wraps e = raises(ExClass) in :rspock_raises with capture_var" do
+          ast = build_ast('e = raises EmptyStackError')
+          result = @parser.parse(ast)
+
+          assert_equal :rspock_raises, result.type
+          assert_equal s(:const, nil, :EmptyStackError), result.exception_class
+          assert_equal s(:sym, :e), result.capture_var
+          assert_equal :e, result.capture_name
+        end
+
+        test "#parse does not treat regular assignment as raises condition" do
+          ast = build_ast('x = 1')
+          result = @parser.parse(ast)
+
+          assert_equal :lvasgn, result.type
+        end
+
+        test "#parse does not treat receiver.raises as raises condition" do
+          ast = build_ast('obj.raises')
+          result = @parser.parse(ast)
+
+          assert_equal :rspock_statement, result.type
+        end
+
         # --- Does not classify non-binary sends as binary ---
 
         test "#parse does not treat method call with args as binary statement" do
diff --git a/test/rspock/ast/parser/then_block_test.rb b/test/rspock/ast/parser/then_block_test.rb
index 3140a23..15cd2ff 100644
--- a/test/rspock/ast/parser/then_block_test.rb
+++ b/test/rspock/ast/parser/then_block_test.rb
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ def setup
 
           outcome = interaction.outcome
           refute_nil outcome
-          assert_equal :rspock_returns, outcome.type
+          assert_equal :rspock_stub_returns, outcome.type
         end
 
         test "#to_rspock_node handles mixed interaction and comparison nodes" do
@@ -136,6 +136,25 @@ def setup
           assert_equal :rspock_interaction, ir.children[1].type
         end
 
+        test "#to_rspock_node converts raises() to :rspock_raises" do
+          node = @transformer.build_ast('raises EmptyStackError')
+          @block << node
+
+          ir = @block.to_rspock_node
+          assert_equal :rspock_then, ir.type
+          assert_equal 1, ir.children.length
+          assert_equal :rspock_raises, ir.children[0].type
+        end
+
+        test "#to_rspock_node raises on multiple raises() conditions" do
+          @block << @transformer.build_ast('raises EmptyStackError')
+          @block << @transformer.build_ast('raises AnotherError')
+
+          assert_raises BlockError do
+            @block.to_rspock_node
+          end
+        end
+
         test "#to_rspock_node with multiple interactions has correct indices" do
           node0 = @transformer.build_ast('1 * receiver.method1(&proc1)')
           node1 = @transformer.build_ast('1 * receiver.method2(&proc2)')