@@ -76,6 +76,13 @@ parameters:
             paths:
                 - src/Configuration/RectorConfigBuilder.php
 
+        # the deprecated SetList::PHP_* constants are still resolved internally by the level sets and their tests
+        -
+            identifier: classConstant.deprecated
+            paths:
+                - config/set/level
+                - tests/Bridge/SetRectorsResolverTest.php
+
         # the deprecated github/gitlab output formatters are still tested until removed in next minor version
         -
             identifier: new.deprecatedClass
 
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 use Rector\Contract\Rector\RectorInterface;
 use Rector\Enum\Config\Defaults;
 use Rector\Exception\ShouldNotHappenException;
+use Rector\Php\PhpVersionResolver\ComposerJsonPhpVersionResolver;
 use Rector\Skipper\SkipCriteriaResolver\SkippedClassResolver;
 use Rector\Validation\RectorConfigValidator;
 use Rector\ValueObject\Configuration\LevelOverflow;
@@ -277,6 +278,26 @@ public function ruleWithConfigurationComposerVersionBound(
         $this->ruleWithConfiguration($rectorClass, $configuration);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Register the rule configuration only if the target PHP version is at least $phpVersion.
+     * Useful for a configuration valid from a specific PHP version, e.g. a function renamed in PHP 8.0.
+     *
+     * @param class-string<ConfigurableRectorInterface> $rectorClass
+     * @param mixed[] $configuration
+     * @param PhpVersion::* $phpVersion
+     */
+    public function ruleWithConfigurationPhpVersionBound(
+        string $rectorClass,
+        array $configuration,
+        int $phpVersion
+    ): void {
+        if ($this->resolveTargetPhpVersion() < $phpVersion) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $this->ruleWithConfiguration($rectorClass, $configuration);
+    }
+
     /**
      * @param class-string<RectorInterface> $rectorClass
      */
@@ -626,4 +647,22 @@ private function resolveInstalledPackageVersion(string $packageName): ?string
 
         return $this->installedPackageResolver->resolvePackageVersion($packageName);
     }
+
+    private function resolveTargetPhpVersion(): int
+    {
+        // an explicitly picked withPhpSets(phpXX: true) version is the target for its sets,
+        // even when it is above the project composer.json PHP version
+        if (SimpleParameterProvider::hasParameter(Option::POLYFILL_CEILING_PHP_VERSION)) {
+            $ceilingPhpVersion = SimpleParameterProvider::provideIntParameter(Option::POLYFILL_CEILING_PHP_VERSION);
+            if ($ceilingPhpVersion > 0) {
+                return $ceilingPhpVersion;
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (SimpleParameterProvider::hasParameter(Option::PHP_VERSION_FEATURES)) {
+            return SimpleParameterProvider::provideIntParameter(Option::PHP_VERSION_FEATURES);
+        }
+
+        return ComposerJsonPhpVersionResolver::resolve(getcwd() . '/composer.json') ?? PHP_VERSION_ID;
+    }
 }
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 namespace Rector\Configuration;
 
 use Deprecated;
+use DrupalRector\Set\DrupalSetList;
+use Nette\Utils\Strings;
 use PhpParser\NodeVisitor;
 use Rector\Bridge\SetRectorsResolver;
 use Rector\Caching\Contract\ValueObject\Storage\CacheStorageInterface;
@@ -42,6 +44,11 @@ final class RectorConfigBuilder
 {
     private const int MAX_LEVEL_GAP = 10;
 
+    /**
+     * Matches the deprecated per-version PHP set files, e.g. .../config/set/php82.php
+     */
+    private const string DEPRECATED_PHP_SET_REGEX = '#/config/set/php\d+\.php$#';
+
     /**
      * A level method and the set that contains the very same rules,
      * so they are never enabled both at once
@@ -172,6 +179,12 @@ final class RectorConfigBuilder
 
     private ?int $pickedPhpSetsVersion = null;
 
+    /**
+     * Only an explicitly picked withPhpSets(phpXX) version acts as a ceiling; the composer.json
+     * fallback must not, so polyfilled rules can still be raised above the project PHP version
+     */
+    private bool $isPhpSetsVersionPicked = false;
+
     /**
      * @var LevelOverflow[]
      */
@@ -184,7 +197,7 @@ public function __invoke(RectorConfig $rectorConfig): void
             $this->sets[] = SetList::PHP_POLYFILLS;
         }
 
-        if ($this->pickedPhpSetsVersion !== null) {
+        if ($this->isPhpSetsVersionPicked && $this->pickedPhpSetsVersion !== null) {
             SimpleParameterProvider::setParameter(
                 Option::POLYFILL_CEILING_PHP_VERSION,
                 $this->pickedPhpSetsVersion
@@ -408,6 +421,14 @@ public function withRootFiles(): self
      */
     public function withSets(array $sets): self
     {
+        foreach ($sets as $set) {
+            if (Strings::match($set, self::DEPRECATED_PHP_SET_REGEX) === null) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            Notifier::notifyDeprecatedPhpSet($set);
+        }
+
         $this->sets = array_merge($this->sets, $sets);
 
         return $this;
@@ -551,13 +572,13 @@ public function withPhpSets(
             );
         }
 
-        // no version picked, resolve it from the project composer.json
+        // no version picked, target the project composer.json PHP version
         if ($pickedPhpVersions === []) {
             return $this->addPhpLevelSets(ComposerJsonPhpVersionResolver::resolveFromCwdOrFail());
         }
 
         // explicitly picked version is a ceiling, even for polyfilled rules
-        $this->pickedPhpSetsVersion = $pickedPhpVersions[0];
+        $this->isPhpSetsVersionPicked = true;
 
         return $this->addPhpLevelSets($pickedPhpVersions[0]);
     }
@@ -688,7 +709,7 @@ public function withComposerBased(
 
         if ($drupal && class_exists('DrupalRector\Set\DrupalSetList') && constant('DrupalRector\Set\DrupalSetList::COMPOSER_BASED')) {
             // waits on https://github.com/palantirnet/drupal-rector/pull/419/files#diff-c6bd4ee854830efc1363a7d99c1b6a2e7e64f2499a51e503174ab777de7e64e5
-            $this->sets[] = \DrupalRector\Set\DrupalSetList::COMPOSER_BASED;
+            $this->sets[] = DrupalSetList::COMPOSER_BASED;
         }
 
         if ($phpunit) {
@@ -962,12 +983,10 @@ public function withPhpLevel(int $level): self
 
         $this->isWithPhpLevelUsed = true;
 
-        $phpVersion = ComposerJsonPhpVersionResolver::resolveFromCwdOrFail();
-
         $setRectorsResolver = new SetRectorsResolver();
-        $setFilePaths = PhpLevelSetResolver::resolveFromPhpVersion($phpVersion);
-
-        $rectorRulesWithConfiguration = $setRectorsResolver->resolveFromFilePathsIncludingConfiguration($setFilePaths);
+        $rectorRulesWithConfiguration = $setRectorsResolver->resolveFromFilePathIncludingConfiguration(
+            SetList::PHP_VERSION_BASED_SET
+        );
 
         foreach ($rectorRulesWithConfiguration as $position => $rectorRuleWithConfiguration) {
             // add rules until level is reached
@@ -1143,8 +1162,9 @@ public function withSetProviders(): self
     private function addPhpLevelSets(int $phpVersion): self
     {
         $this->isWithPhpSetsUsed = true;
+        $this->pickedPhpSetsVersion = $phpVersion;
 
-        $this->sets = array_merge($this->sets, PhpLevelSetResolver::resolveFromPhpVersion($phpVersion));
+        $this->sets[] = SetList::PHP_VERSION_BASED_SET;
 
         return $this;
     }
 
@@ -28,6 +28,18 @@ public static function notifyNotSuitableMethodForPHP74(string $calledMethod): vo
         sleep(3);
     }
 
+    public static function notifyDeprecatedPhpSet(string $set): void
+    {
+        $message = sprintf(
+            'The per-version PHP set "%s" is deprecated. Use "withPhpSets()" or "withPhpLevel()" instead, '
+                . 'they pick the rules by your PHP version automatically.',
+            $set
+        );
+
+        $symfonyStyle = new SymfonyStyle(new ArgvInput(), new ConsoleOutput());
+        $symfonyStyle->warning($message);
+    }
+
     public static function errorWithPhpSetsNotSuitableForPHP74AndLower(): void
     {
         if (PHP_VERSION_ID >= 80000) {
 
@@ -35,38 +35,89 @@ final class SetList
      */
     public const string RECTOR_PRESET = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/rector-preset.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_52 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php52.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_53 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php53.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_54 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php54.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_55 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php55.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_56 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php56.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_70 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php70.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_71 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php71.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_72 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php72.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_73 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php73.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_74 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php74.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_80 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php80.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_81 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php81.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_82 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php82.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_83 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php83.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_84 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php84.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_85 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php85.php';
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated Use withPhpSets() or withPhpLevel() instead
+     */
     public const string PHP_86 = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php86.php';
 
     public const string PRIVATIZATION = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/privatization.php';
@@ -87,4 +138,9 @@ final class SetList
     public const string CARBON = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/datetime-to-carbon.php';
 
     public const string BEHAT_ANNOTATIONS_TO_ATTRIBUTES = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/behat-annotations-to-attributes.php';
+
+    /**
+     * All PHP version rules in one set; each rule gates itself by PHP version at runtime
+     */
+    public const string PHP_VERSION_BASED_SET = __DIR__ . '/../../../config/set/php-version-based.php';
 }
@@ -50,9 +50,15 @@ public function filter(array $rectors): array
                 continue;
             }
 
-            $maxPhpVersion = $rector instanceof RelatedPolyfillInterface && $ceilingPhpVersion !== null
-                ? $ceilingPhpVersion
-                : $minProjectPhpVersion;
+            // an explicitly picked withPhpSets() version caps the whole set:
+            // polyfilled rules up to the ceiling, the rest up to the lower of ceiling and project version
+            if ($ceilingPhpVersion !== null) {
+                $maxPhpVersion = $rector instanceof RelatedPolyfillInterface
+                    ? $ceilingPhpVersion
+                    : min($ceilingPhpVersion, $minProjectPhpVersion);
+            } else {
+                $maxPhpVersion = $minProjectPhpVersion;
+            }
 
             // does satisfy version? → include
             if ($rector->provideMinPhpVersion() <= $maxPhpVersion) {