diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d510250..674f054 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+- `--reply-to-message-id <id>` flag for `mail drafts create`. Creates the draft as a threaded reply (`createReply`, keeping the quoted original) and leaves it in the Drafts folder for review instead of sending. `--to`/`--subject` become optional — recipients default to the original sender and are only overridden when supplied. `--cc`/`--bcc` are honoured; if setting recipients fails, the half-built draft is deleted and the deletion outcome is reported. Also adds `--cc`/`--bcc` to `mail drafts create` for the non-reply case.
+
 ## [0.3.1] - 2026-01-26
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 25e08f5..174a3d9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@ mog mail folders                     # List folders
 # Drafts
 mog mail drafts list
 mog mail drafts create --to X --subject Y --body Z
+mog mail drafts create --reply-to-message-id <id> --body Z   # Threaded reply draft (review, then send); --to defaults to the original sender
 mog mail drafts send <draftId>
 
 # Attachments
diff --git a/internal/cli/ai_help.go b/internal/cli/ai_help.go
index be9cd83..804c7d5 100644
--- a/internal/cli/ai_help.go
+++ b/internal/cli/ai_help.go
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ mog mail send [flags]
 mog mail folders                     # List mail folders
 
 mog mail drafts list
-mog mail drafts create [flags]       # Same flags as send
+mog mail drafts create [flags]       # To/Subject/Body/Cc/Bcc/BodyFile
+  --reply-to-message-id <id>         # Make a threaded reply DRAFT (kept for review, not sent)
 mog mail drafts send <draftId>
 mog mail drafts delete <draftId>
 
diff --git a/internal/cli/mail.go b/internal/cli/mail.go
index 1c4a253..a4e4d47 100644
--- a/internal/cli/mail.go
+++ b/internal/cli/mail.go
@@ -308,10 +308,13 @@ func (c *MailDraftsListCmd) Run(root *Root) error {
 
 // MailDraftsCreateCmd creates a draft.
 type MailDraftsCreateCmd struct {
-	To       []string `help:"Recipient(s)"`
-	Subject  string   `help:"Subject line"`
-	Body     string   `help:"Message body"`
-	BodyFile string   `help:"Read body from file" name:"body-file"`
+	To               []string `help:"Recipient(s)"`
+	Cc               []string `help:"CC recipient(s)"`
+	Bcc              []string `help:"BCC recipient(s)"`
+	Subject          string   `help:"Subject line"`
+	Body             string   `help:"Message body"`
+	BodyFile         string   `help:"Read body from file" name:"body-file"`
+	ReplyToMessageID string   `help:"Create the draft as a threaded reply to this message ID (keeps the quoted original); --to/--subject become optional" name:"reply-to-message-id"`
 }
 
 // Run executes drafts create.
@@ -325,11 +328,24 @@ func (c *MailDraftsCreateCmd) Run(root *Root) error {
 	if c.BodyFile != "" {
 		data, err := os.ReadFile(c.BodyFile)
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to read body file: %w", err)
 		}
 		body = string(data)
 	}
 
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// Threaded reply draft: keep the quoted original and conversation threading,
+	// but leave it in Drafts for review instead of sending.
+	if c.ReplyToMessageID != "" {
+		draftID, err := c.createReplyDraft(ctx, client, graph.ResolveID(c.ReplyToMessageID), body)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		fmt.Printf("✓ Reply draft created: %s\n", graph.FormatID(draftID))
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	msg := map[string]interface{}{
 		"subject": c.Subject,
 		"body": map[string]string{
@@ -338,8 +354,8 @@ func (c *MailDraftsCreateCmd) Run(root *Root) error {
 		},
 		"toRecipients": formatRecipients(c.To),
 	}
+	addRecipientsIfPresent(msg, c.Cc, c.Bcc)
 
-	ctx := context.Background()
 	data, err := client.Post(ctx, "/me/messages", msg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -354,6 +370,54 @@ func (c *MailDraftsCreateCmd) Run(root *Root) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// createReplyDraft builds a threaded reply draft and returns its ID WITHOUT
+// sending it. Graph's createReply pre-fills the recipients from the original
+// message and keeps the quoted original; the user's text is passed as the
+// comment so it lands above the quote. Supplied --to/--cc/--bcc override or
+// extend the pre-filled recipients. The draft is left in the Drafts folder for
+// review. If setting recipients fails, deletion of the half-built draft is
+// attempted and its outcome is reported in the error so the message never
+// claims the draft was removed when it actually remains.
+func (c *MailDraftsCreateCmd) createReplyDraft(ctx context.Context, client graph.Client, messageID, body string) (string, error) {
+	createBody := map[string]interface{}{}
+	if body != "" {
+		createBody["comment"] = body
+	}
+	data, err := client.Post(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("/me/messages/%s/createReply", messageID), createBody)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to create reply draft for message %s: %w", graph.FormatID(messageID), err)
+	}
+	var draft Message
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &draft); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	if draft.ID == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("createReply returned no draft message id")
+	}
+	draftID := draft.ID
+
+	// Only override recipients the user actually supplied; otherwise keep the
+	// original sender that createReply already filled in.
+	update := map[string]interface{}{}
+	if len(c.To) > 0 {
+		update["toRecipients"] = formatRecipients(c.To)
+	}
+	addRecipientsIfPresent(update, c.Cc, c.Bcc)
+	if len(update) > 0 {
+		if _, err := client.Patch(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("/me/messages/%s", draftID), update); err != nil {
+			// cleanup deletes the half-built draft and describes the outcome, so a
+			// failed deletion is never reported as a successful removal.
+			cleanup := fmt.Sprintf("orphaned draft %s removed", graph.FormatID(draftID))
+			if delErr := client.Delete(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("/me/messages/%s", draftID)); delErr != nil {
+				cleanup = fmt.Sprintf("orphaned draft %s could NOT be removed (%v)", graph.FormatID(draftID), delErr)
+			}
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to set recipients on reply draft (%s): %w", cleanup, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return draftID, nil
+}
+
 // MailDraftsSendCmd sends a draft.
 type MailDraftsSendCmd struct {
 	ID string `arg:"" help:"Draft ID"`
diff --git a/internal/cli/mail_test.go b/internal/cli/mail_test.go
index d1fe2df..d93d9f2 100644
--- a/internal/cli/mail_test.go
+++ b/internal/cli/mail_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -553,6 +554,133 @@ func TestMailDraftsCreateCmd_Run(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestMailDraftsCreateCmd_Reply(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("with explicit recipient patches and does not send", func(t *testing.T) {
+		var postPaths []string
+		var createReplyBody interface{}
+		patchCalled := false
+		mock := &testutil.MockClient{
+			PostFunc: func(ctx context.Context, path string, body interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
+				postPaths = append(postPaths, path)
+				if strings.Contains(path, "/createReply") {
+					createReplyBody = body
+					return mustJSON(map[string]interface{}{"id": "reply-draft-123"}), nil
+				}
+				return []byte(`{}`), nil
+			},
+			PatchFunc: func(ctx context.Context, path string, body interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
+				patchCalled = true
+				return []byte(`{}`), nil
+			},
+		}
+		cmd := &MailDraftsCreateCmd{
+			To:               []string{"to@example.com"},
+			Body:             "My reply",
+			ReplyToMessageID: "orig-msg-123",
+		}
+		root := &Root{ClientFactory: mockClientFactory(mock)}
+
+		var err error
+		output := captureOutput(func() { err = cmd.Run(root) })
+
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, output, "Reply draft created")
+
+		foundCreateReply := false
+		for _, p := range postPaths {
+			assert.NotContains(t, p, "/send", "a reply DRAFT must never be sent")
+			if strings.Contains(p, "/createReply") {
+				foundCreateReply = true
+			}
+		}
+		assert.True(t, foundCreateReply, "expected a createReply POST")
+		assert.True(t, patchCalled, "expected recipients PATCH when --to is supplied")
+		if m, ok := createReplyBody.(map[string]interface{}); assert.True(t, ok, "createReply body should be a map") {
+			assert.Equal(t, "My reply", m["comment"])
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("without recipient keeps original and skips patch", func(t *testing.T) {
+		patchCalled := false
+		mock := &testutil.MockClient{
+			PostFunc: func(ctx context.Context, path string, body interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
+				if strings.Contains(path, "/createReply") {
+					return mustJSON(map[string]interface{}{"id": "reply-draft-456"}), nil
+				}
+				return []byte(`{}`), nil
+			},
+			PatchFunc: func(ctx context.Context, path string, body interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
+				patchCalled = true
+				return []byte(`{}`), nil
+			},
+		}
+		cmd := &MailDraftsCreateCmd{
+			Body:             "My reply",
+			ReplyToMessageID: "orig-msg-123",
+		}
+		root := &Root{ClientFactory: mockClientFactory(mock)}
+
+		var err error
+		output := captureOutput(func() { err = cmd.Run(root) })
+
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, output, "Reply draft created")
+		assert.False(t, patchCalled, "no recipients supplied: must keep createReply's original recipients")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("createReply API error surfaces", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mock := &testutil.MockClient{
+			PostFunc: func(ctx context.Context, path string, body interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
+				return nil, errors.New("API error")
+			},
+		}
+		cmd := &MailDraftsCreateCmd{Body: "x", ReplyToMessageID: "orig-msg-123"}
+		root := &Root{ClientFactory: mockClientFactory(mock)}
+		err := cmd.Run(root)
+		assert.Error(t, err)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("createReply without an id is an error", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mock := &testutil.MockClient{
+			PostFunc: func(ctx context.Context, path string, body interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
+				return []byte(`{}`), nil // no "id"
+			},
+		}
+		cmd := &MailDraftsCreateCmd{Body: "x", ReplyToMessageID: "orig-msg-123"}
+		root := &Root{ClientFactory: mockClientFactory(mock)}
+		err := cmd.Run(root)
+		require.Error(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "no draft message id")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("recipient patch failure removes the orphaned draft", func(t *testing.T) {
+		deletedPath := ""
+		mock := &testutil.MockClient{
+			PostFunc: func(ctx context.Context, path string, body interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
+				return mustJSON(map[string]interface{}{"id": "reply-draft-789"}), nil
+			},
+			PatchFunc: func(ctx context.Context, path string, body interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
+				return nil, errors.New("patch boom")
+			},
+			DeleteFunc: func(ctx context.Context, path string) error {
+				deletedPath = path
+				return nil
+			},
+		}
+		cmd := &MailDraftsCreateCmd{
+			To:               []string{"to@example.com"},
+			Body:             "x",
+			ReplyToMessageID: "orig-msg-123",
+		}
+		root := &Root{ClientFactory: mockClientFactory(mock)}
+		err := cmd.Run(root)
+		require.Error(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "recipients")
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "removed", "should report the orphan was cleaned up")
+		assert.NotEmpty(t, deletedPath, "the orphaned draft must be deleted on patch failure")
+	})
+}
+
 func TestMailDraftsSendCmd_Run(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name      string