diff --git a/.lattice/requirements/cli/027-lattice-diff---raw-outputs-actual-git-di.yaml b/.lattice/requirements/cli/027-lattice-diff---raw-outputs-actual-git-di.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27d7785
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.lattice/requirements/cli/027-lattice-diff---raw-outputs-actual-git-di.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+id: REQ-CLI-027
+type: requirement
+title: lattice diff --raw outputs actual git diff
+body: lattice diff --raw should output the raw git diff of .lattice/ files since the base ref, suitable for piping into other tools or reviewing exact YAML changes. Output should be uncolored and machine-consumable.
+status: active
+version: 1.0.0
+created_at: 2026-03-15T21:35:43.916114+00:00
+created_by: agent:claude-2026-03-15
+requested_by: George Moon <george.moon@gmail.com>
+priority: P2
+category: cli
+edges:
+  derives_from:
+  - target: THX-AGENT-NATIVE-TOOLS
+    version: 1.0.0
+  depends_on:
+  - target: REQ-CLI-006
+    version: 1.0.0
diff --git a/src/diff.rs b/src/diff.rs
index e89ad42..9ef5bf8 100644
--- a/src/diff.rs
+++ b/src/diff.rs
@@ -210,21 +210,24 @@ fn was_resolved(old_yaml: &str, new_node: &LatticeNode) -> bool {
     false
 }
 
+/// Resolve the base git ref, falling back to merge-base with main/master.
+fn resolve_base_ref(since: Option<&str>) -> Result<String, DiffError> {
+    match since {
+        Some(r) => Ok(r.to_string()),
+        None => git_merge_base("main")
+            .or_else(|_| git_merge_base("master"))
+            .map_err(|_| {
+                DiffError::GitError("could not find merge-base with main or master".to_string())
+            }),
+    }
+}
+
 /// Compute lattice diff since a given git ref.
 ///
 /// If `since` is None, defaults to merge-base with `main`.
 pub fn lattice_diff(lattice_root: &Path, since: Option<&str>) -> Result<DiffResult, DiffError> {
     let lattice_dir = lattice_root.join(".lattice");
-
-    // Determine the base ref
-    let base_ref = match since {
-        Some(r) => r.to_string(),
-        None => git_merge_base("main")
-            .or_else(|_| git_merge_base("master"))
-            .map_err(|_| {
-                DiffError::GitError("could not find merge-base with main or master".to_string())
-            })?,
-    };
+    let base_ref = resolve_base_ref(since)?;
 
     let changes = git_diff_name_status(&base_ref, &lattice_dir)?;
 
@@ -352,6 +355,31 @@ pub fn format_entry_text(entry: &DiffEntry) -> String {
     format_entry(entry)
 }
 
+/// Produce a raw git diff of `.lattice/` files since a given ref.
+pub fn git_diff_raw(lattice_root: &Path, since: Option<&str>) -> Result<String, DiffError> {
+    let lattice_dir = lattice_root.join(".lattice");
+    let base_ref = resolve_base_ref(since)?;
+
+    let output = Command::new("git")
+        .arg("diff")
+        .arg(&base_ref)
+        .arg("--")
+        .arg(&lattice_dir)
+        .output()
+        .map_err(|e| DiffError::GitError(format!("failed to run git diff: {}", e)))?;
+
+    if !output.status.success() {
+        let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr);
+        return Err(DiffError::GitError(format!(
+            "git diff failed: {}",
+            stderr.trim()
+        )));
+    }
+
+    Ok(String::from_utf8(output.stdout)
+        .unwrap_or_else(|e| String::from_utf8_lossy(&e.into_bytes()).into_owned()))
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index f817776..a5b64b6 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -422,6 +422,10 @@ enum Commands {
         #[arg(long)]
         md: bool,
 
+        /// Show raw git diff of .lattice/ files
+        #[arg(long)]
+        raw: bool,
+
         /// Output format (text, json)
         #[arg(short, long, default_value = "text")]
         format: String,
@@ -3319,9 +3323,28 @@ fn run_command(command: Commands) {
             }
         }
 
-        Commands::Diff { since, md, format } => {
+        Commands::Diff {
+            since,
+            md,
+            raw,
+            format,
+        } => {
             let root = get_lattice_root();
 
+            if raw {
+                match lattice::diff::git_diff_raw(&root, since.as_deref()) {
+                    Ok(output) => {
+                        if output.is_empty() {
+                            println!("No lattice changes detected.");
+                        } else {
+                            print!("{}", output);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    Err(e) => emit_error(&format, "diff_error", &e.to_string()),
+                }
+                return;
+            }
+
             match lattice_diff(&root, since.as_deref()) {
                 Ok(result) => {
                     if md {