diff --git a/docs/filters.mdx b/docs/filters.mdx
index d3bc8732..7ed788d5 100644
--- a/docs/filters.mdx
+++ b/docs/filters.mdx
@@ -5,9 +5,21 @@ description: Learn more about all the package filtering flags in Melos.
 
 # Filtering Packages
 
-Each Melos command can be used alongside the following global filters:
+Each Melos command can be used alongside the following global filters.
 
-## --no-private
+The filters are divided into 2 priority groups. The priority determines the
+order of their application. The grouping has been introduced with backward
+compatibility in mind. It is possible to reverse the order of the priority
+groups to achive different filtering result.
+
+## --reversed-filter-group-priority
+Reverses the priority of filtering groups. Useful for applying diff-based
+filtering first, allowing the filters from the other group to further narrow
+down the packages.
+
+## 1st Priority Group
+
+### --no-private
 
 Exclude private packages (`publish_to: none`). They are included by default.
 
@@ -15,7 +27,7 @@ Exclude private packages (`publish_to: none`). They are included by default.
 melos bootstrap --no-private
 ```
 
-## --published
+### --published
 
 Filter packages where the current local package version exists on pub.dev.
 
@@ -26,7 +38,7 @@ melos bootstrap --published
 Use `--no-published` to filter packages that have not had their current version
 published yet.
 
-## --scope
+### --scope
 
 Include only packages with names matching the given glob. This option can be
 repeated.
@@ -36,7 +48,7 @@ repeated.
 melos exec --scope="*example*" -- flutter build ios
 ```
 
-## --ignore
+### --ignore
 
 Exclude packages with names matching the given glob. This option can be
 repeated.
@@ -46,25 +58,7 @@ repeated.
 melos exec --ignore="*internal*" -- flutter build ios
 ```
 
-## --diff
-
-Filter packages based on whether there were changes between a commit and the
-current HEAD or within a range of commits.
-
-A range of commits can be specified using the git short hand syntax
-`<start-commit>..<end-commit>` and `<start-commit>...<end-commit>`.
-
-```bash
-# Run `flutter build ios` on all packages that are different between current
-# branch and the specified commit hash.
-melos exec --diff=<commit hash> -- flutter build ios
-
-# Run `flutter build ios` on all packages that are different between remote
-# `main` branch and HEAD.
-melos exec --diff=origin/main...HEAD -- flutter build ios
-```
-
-## --dir-exists
+### --dir-exists
 
 Include only packages where a specific directory exists inside the package.
 
@@ -73,7 +67,7 @@ Include only packages where a specific directory exists inside the package.
 melos bootstrap --dir-exists="example"
 ```
 
-## --file-exists
+### --file-exists
 
 Include only packages where a specific file exists in the package.
 
@@ -82,7 +76,7 @@ Include only packages where a specific file exists in the package.
 melos bootstrap --file-exists="README.md"
 ```
 
-## --flutter
+### --flutter
 
 Filter packages where the package depends on the Flutter SDK.
 
@@ -92,7 +86,7 @@ melos exec --flutter -- flutter test
 
 Use `--no-flutter` to filter packages that do not depend on the Flutter SDK.
 
-## --depends-on
+### --depends-on
 
 Include only packages that depend on specific dependencies.
 
@@ -103,7 +97,32 @@ melos exec --depends-on="flutter" --depends-on="firebase_core" -- flutter test
 Use `--no-depends-on` to filter packages that do not depend on the given
 dependencies.
 
-## --include-dependencies
+## 2nd Priority Group
+
+### --diff
+
+Filter packages based on whether there were changes between a commit and the
+current HEAD or within a range of commits.
+
+A range of commits can be specified using the git short hand syntax
+`<start-commit>..<end-commit>` and `<start-commit>...<end-commit>`.
+
+```bash
+# Run `flutter build ios` on all packages that are different between current
+# branch and the specified commit hash.
+melos exec --diff=<commit hash> -- flutter build ios
+
+# Run `flutter build ios` on all packages that are different between remote
+# `main` branch and HEAD.
+melos exec --diff=origin/main...HEAD -- flutter build ios
+
+# Find all packages that are different between remote `main` branch and HEAD,
+# add their dependents to the list, filter out packages without `test`
+# directory and run `flutter test` on them.
+melos exec --diff=origin/main...HEAD --include-dependents --reversed-filter-group-priority --dir-exists="test" -- flutter test
+```
+
+### --include-dependencies
 
 Takes the filtered list of packages, and expands them to include those packages'
 transitive dependencies (ignoring filters).
@@ -112,7 +131,7 @@ transitive dependencies (ignoring filters).
 melos list --scope=some_package --include-dependencies
 ```
 
-## --include-dependents
+### --include-dependents
 Takes the filtered list of packages, and expands them to include those packages'
 transitive dependents (ignoring filters).
 
diff --git a/packages/melos/lib/src/command_runner/base.dart b/packages/melos/lib/src/command_runner/base.dart
index 9f604d84..179e2c77 100644
--- a/packages/melos/lib/src/command_runner/base.dart
+++ b/packages/melos/lib/src/command_runner/base.dart
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ abstract class MelosCommand extends Command<void> {
     argParser.addFlag(
       filterOptionPrivate,
       help: 'Whether to include or exclude packages with `publish_to: "none"`. '
-          'By default, the filter has no effect.',
+          'By default, the filter has no effect.'
+          ' ${FilterGroup.belongsToFirstPriorityGroupFilterDescription}',
       defaultsTo: null,
     );
 
@@ -51,7 +52,8 @@ abstract class MelosCommand extends Command<void> {
       defaultsTo: null,
       help: 'Filter packages where the current local package version exists on '
           'pub.dev. Or "-no-published" to filter packages that have not had '
-          'their current version published yet.',
+          'their current version published yet.'
+          ' ${FilterGroup.belongsToFirstPriorityGroupFilterDescription}',
     );
 
     argParser.addFlag(
@@ -60,7 +62,8 @@ abstract class MelosCommand extends Command<void> {
       help:
           'Filter packages where the current local version uses a "nullsafety" '
           'prerelease preid. Or "-no-nullsafety" to filter packages where '
-          'their current version does not have a "nullsafety" preid.',
+          'their current version does not have a "nullsafety" preid.'
+          ' ${FilterGroup.belongsToFirstPriorityGroupFilterDescription}',
     );
 
     argParser.addFlag(
@@ -68,44 +71,39 @@ abstract class MelosCommand extends Command<void> {
       defaultsTo: null,
       help: 'Filter packages where the package depends on the Flutter SDK. Or '
           '"-no-flutter" to filter packages that do not depend on the Flutter '
-          'SDK.',
+          'SDK.'
+          ' ${FilterGroup.belongsToFirstPriorityGroupFilterDescription}',
     );
 
     argParser.addMultiOption(
       filterOptionScope,
       valueHelp: 'glob',
       help: 'Include only packages with names matching the given glob. This '
-          'option can be repeated.',
+          'option can be repeated.'
+          ' ${FilterGroup.belongsToFirstPriorityGroupFilterDescription}',
     );
 
     argParser.addMultiOption(
       filterOptionIgnore,
       valueHelp: 'glob',
       help: 'Exclude packages with names matching the given glob. This option '
-          'can be repeated.',
-    );
-
-    argParser.addOption(
-      filterOptionDiff,
-      valueHelp: 'ref',
-      help: 'Filter packages based on whether there were changes between a '
-          'commit and the current HEAD or within a range of commits. A range '
-          'of commits can be specified using the git short hand syntax '
-          '`<start-commit>..<end-commit>` and `<start-commit>...<end-commit>`',
+          'can be repeated.'
+          ' ${FilterGroup.belongsToFirstPriorityGroupFilterDescription}',
     );
 
     argParser.addMultiOption(
       filterOptionDirExists,
       valueHelp: 'dirRelativeToPackageRoot',
       help: 'Include only packages where a specific directory exists inside '
-          'the package.',
+          'the package.'
+          ' ${FilterGroup.belongsToFirstPriorityGroupFilterDescription}',
     );
 
     argParser.addMultiOption(
       filterOptionFileExists,
       valueHelp: 'fileRelativeToPackageRoot',
-      help:
-          'Include only packages where a specific file exists in the package.',
+      help: 'Include only packages where a specific file exists in the package.'
+          ' ${FilterGroup.belongsToFirstPriorityGroupFilterDescription}',
     );
 
     argParser.addMultiOption(
@@ -122,20 +120,37 @@ abstract class MelosCommand extends Command<void> {
           'This option can be repeated.',
     );
 
+    argParser.addOption(
+      filterOptionDiff,
+      valueHelp: 'ref',
+      help: 'Filter packages based on whether there were changes between a '
+          'commit and the current HEAD or within a range of commits. A range '
+          'of commits can be specified using the git short hand syntax '
+          '`<start-commit>..<end-commit>` and `<start-commit>...<end-commit>`.'
+          ' ${FilterGroup.belongsToSecondPriorityGroupFilterDescription}',
+    );
+
     argParser.addFlag(
       filterOptionIncludeDependents,
       negatable: false,
       help: 'Include all transitive dependents for each package that matches '
-          'the other filters. The included packages skip --ignore and '
-          '--diff checks.',
+          'the other filters.'
+          ' ${FilterGroup.belongsToSecondPriorityGroupFilterDescription}',
     );
 
     argParser.addFlag(
       filterOptionIncludeDependencies,
       negatable: false,
       help: 'Include all transitive dependencies for each package that '
-          'matches the other filters. The included packages skip --ignore '
-          'and --diff checks.',
+          'matches the other filters.'
+          ' ${FilterGroup.belongsToSecondPriorityGroupFilterDescription}',
+    );
+
+    argParser.addFlag(
+      filterOptionReversedFilterGroupPriority,
+      negatable: false,
+      help: 'Filters are divided into several groups based on their priority '
+          'of execution. This flag reverses the priority of these groups.',
     );
   }
 
@@ -172,6 +187,8 @@ abstract class MelosCommand extends Command<void> {
       noDependsOn: argResults![filterOptionNoDependsOn] as List<String>? ?? [],
       includeDependents: argResults![filterOptionIncludeDependents] as bool,
       includeDependencies: argResults![filterOptionIncludeDependencies] as bool,
+      reversedFilterGroupPriority:
+          argResults![filterOptionReversedFilterGroupPriority] as bool,
     );
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/melos/lib/src/common/utils.dart b/packages/melos/lib/src/common/utils.dart
index bcc8a4ac..95b2b0b8 100644
--- a/packages/melos/lib/src/common/utils.dart
+++ b/packages/melos/lib/src/common/utils.dart
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ const filterOptionDependsOn = 'depends-on';
 const filterOptionNoDependsOn = 'no-depends-on';
 const filterOptionIncludeDependents = 'include-dependents';
 const filterOptionIncludeDependencies = 'include-dependencies';
+const filterOptionReversedFilterGroupPriority =
+    'reversed-filter-group-priority';
 
 const publishOptionDryRun = 'dry-run';
 const publishOptionNoDryRun = 'no-dry-run';
diff --git a/packages/melos/lib/src/package.dart b/packages/melos/lib/src/package.dart
index 2e0fc4de..4aa9c802 100644
--- a/packages/melos/lib/src/package.dart
+++ b/packages/melos/lib/src/package.dart
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ class PackageFilters {
     bool? flutter,
     this.includeDependencies = false,
     this.includeDependents = false,
+    this.reversedFilterGroupPriority = false,
   })  : dependsOn = [
           ...dependsOn,
           // ignore: use_if_null_to_convert_nulls_to_bools
@@ -230,6 +231,13 @@ class PackageFilters {
       path: path,
     );
 
+    final reversedFilterGroupPriority = assertKeyIsA<bool?>(
+          key: filterOptionFlutter.camelCased,
+          map: yaml,
+          path: path,
+        ) ??
+        false;
+
     Glob createPackageGlob(String pattern) =>
         createGlob(pattern, currentDirectoryPath: workspacePath);
 
@@ -247,6 +255,7 @@ class PackageFilters {
       published: published,
       nullSafe: nullSafe,
       flutter: flutter,
+      reversedFilterGroupPriority: reversedFilterGroupPriority,
     );
   }
 
@@ -265,6 +274,7 @@ class PackageFilters {
     required this.nullSafe,
     required this.includeDependencies,
     required this.includeDependents,
+    required this.reversedFilterGroupPriority,
   });
 
   /// Patterns for filtering packages by name.
@@ -311,6 +321,11 @@ class PackageFilters {
   /// This supersede other filters.
   final bool includeDependencies;
 
+  /// All the filters are divided into several groups, they applied sequentially
+  /// based on the priority of the group. This flag allows to reverse the order
+  /// of the groups, so that the filters from the last group are applied first.
+  final bool reversedFilterGroupPriority;
+
   Map<String, Object?> toJson() {
     return {
       if (scope.isNotEmpty)
@@ -329,6 +344,8 @@ class PackageFilters {
       if (nullSafe != null) filterOptionNullsafety.camelCased: nullSafe,
       if (includeDependents) filterOptionIncludeDependents.camelCased: true,
       if (includeDependencies) filterOptionIncludeDependencies.camelCased: true,
+      if (reversedFilterGroupPriority)
+        filterOptionReversedFilterGroupPriority.camelCased: true,
     };
   }
 
@@ -346,6 +363,7 @@ class PackageFilters {
       diff: diff,
       includeDependencies: includeDependencies,
       includeDependents: includeDependents,
+      reversedFilterGroupPriority: reversedFilterGroupPriority,
     );
   }
 
@@ -363,6 +381,7 @@ class PackageFilters {
       diff: diff,
       includeDependencies: includeDependencies,
       includeDependents: includeDependents,
+      reversedFilterGroupPriority: reversedFilterGroupPriority,
     );
   }
 
@@ -379,6 +398,7 @@ class PackageFilters {
     String? diff,
     bool? includeDependencies,
     bool? includeDependents,
+    bool? reversedFilterGroupPriority,
   }) {
     return PackageFilters._(
       dependsOn: dependsOn ?? this.dependsOn,
@@ -394,6 +414,8 @@ class PackageFilters {
       diff: diff ?? this.diff,
       includeDependencies: includeDependencies ?? this.includeDependencies,
       includeDependents: includeDependents ?? this.includeDependents,
+      reversedFilterGroupPriority:
+          reversedFilterGroupPriority ?? this.reversedFilterGroupPriority,
     );
   }
 
@@ -412,7 +434,8 @@ class PackageFilters {
       const DeepCollectionEquality().equals(other.fileExists, fileExists) &&
       const DeepCollectionEquality().equals(other.dependsOn, dependsOn) &&
       const DeepCollectionEquality().equals(other.noDependsOn, noDependsOn) &&
-      other.diff == diff;
+      other.diff == diff &&
+      other.reversedFilterGroupPriority == reversedFilterGroupPriority;
 
   @override
   int get hashCode =>
@@ -428,7 +451,8 @@ class PackageFilters {
       const DeepCollectionEquality().hash(fileExists) ^
       const DeepCollectionEquality().hash(dependsOn) ^
       const DeepCollectionEquality().hash(noDependsOn) ^
-      diff.hashCode;
+      diff.hashCode ^
+      reversedFilterGroupPriority.hashCode;
 
   @override
   String toString() {
@@ -446,6 +470,7 @@ PackageFilters(
   dependsOn: $dependsOn,
   noDependsOn: $noDependsOn,
   diff: $diff,
+  reversedFilterGroupPriority: $reversedFilterGroupPriority,
 )''';
   }
 }
@@ -596,30 +621,54 @@ The packages that caused the problem are:
   Future<PackageMap> applyFilters(PackageFilters? filters) async {
     if (filters == null) return this;
 
-    var packageList = await values
-        .applyIgnore(filters.ignore)
-        .applyDirExists(filters.dirExists)
-        .applyFileExists(filters.fileExists)
-        .filterPrivatePackages(include: filters.includePrivatePackages)
-        .applyScope(filters.scope)
-        .applyDependsOn(filters.dependsOn)
-        .applyNoDependsOn(filters.noDependsOn)
-        .filterNullSafe(nullSafe: filters.nullSafe)
-        .filterPublishedPackages(published: filters.published);
-
-    final diff = filters.diff;
-    if (diff != null) {
-      packageList = await packageList.applyDiff(diff, _logger);
-    }
+    final filterGroups = <FilterGroup>[
+      FilterGroup.firstPriority(
+        filters: [
+          (packages) => Future.value(packages.applyIgnore(filters.ignore)),
+          (packages) =>
+              Future.value(packages.applyDirExists(filters.dirExists)),
+          (packages) =>
+              Future.value(packages.applyFileExists(filters.fileExists)),
+          (packages) => Future.value(
+                packages.filterPrivatePackages(
+                  include: filters.includePrivatePackages,
+                ),
+              ),
+          (packages) => Future.value(packages.applyScope(filters.scope)),
+          (packages) =>
+              Future.value(packages.applyDependsOn(filters.dependsOn)),
+          (packages) =>
+              Future.value(packages.applyNoDependsOn(filters.noDependsOn)),
+          (packages) =>
+              Future.value(packages.filterNullSafe(nullSafe: filters.nullSafe)),
+          (packages) =>
+              packages.filterPublishedPackages(published: filters.published),
+        ],
+      ),
+      FilterGroup.secondPriority(
+        filters: [
+          (packages) => packages.applyDiff(filters.diff, _logger),
+          (packages) => Future.value(
+                packages.applyIncludeDependentsOrDependencies(
+                  includeDependents: filters.includeDependents,
+                  includeDependencies: filters.includeDependencies,
+                ),
+              ),
+        ],
+      ),
+    ];
 
-    packageList = packageList.applyIncludeDependentsOrDependencies(
-      includeDependents: filters.includeDependents,
-      includeDependencies: filters.includeDependencies,
-    );
+    var filteredPackages = values;
+
+    for (final filterGroup in (filters.reversedFilterGroupPriority
+        ? filterGroups.reversed
+        : filterGroups)) {
+      filteredPackages = await filterGroup.apply(filteredPackages);
+    }
 
     return PackageMap(
       {
-        for (final package in packageList) package.name: package,
+        for (final package in filteredPackages) package.name: package,
       },
       _logger,
     );
@@ -1134,3 +1183,47 @@ class Plugin {
   Map<Object?, Object?>? get platforms =>
       _plugin['platforms'] as Map<Object?, Object?>?;
 }
+
+enum FilterPriority {
+  first,
+  second,
+}
+
+typedef FilterFunction = Future<Iterable<Package>> Function(
+  Iterable<Package> packages,
+);
+
+class FilterGroup {
+  const FilterGroup.firstPriority({
+    required List<FilterFunction> filters,
+  }) : this._(priority: FilterPriority.first, filters: filters);
+
+  const FilterGroup.secondPriority({
+    required List<FilterFunction> filters,
+  }) : this._(priority: FilterPriority.second, filters: filters);
+
+  const FilterGroup._({
+    required this.priority,
+    required this.filters,
+  });
+
+  static const String belongsToFirstPriorityGroupFilterDescription =
+      'The filter belongs to 1st priority group.';
+
+  static const String belongsToSecondPriorityGroupFilterDescription =
+      'The filter belongs to 2nd priority group.';
+
+  final FilterPriority priority;
+  final List<FilterFunction> filters;
+
+  /// Sequentially applies all [filters] in this group to the given [packages].
+  Future<Iterable<Package>> apply(Iterable<Package> packages) async {
+    var filtered = packages;
+
+    for (final filter in filters) {
+      filtered = await filter(filtered);
+    }
+
+    return filtered;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/melos/test/package_test.dart b/packages/melos/test/package_test.dart
index ae8b6fd6..3b2ca94e 100644
--- a/packages/melos/test/package_test.dart
+++ b/packages/melos/test/package_test.dart
@@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ void main() {
       expect(filters.nullSafe, null);
       expect(filters.published, null);
       expect(filters.diff, null);
+      expect(filters.reversedFilterGroupPriority, false);
     });
 
     group('copyWithWithDiff', () {
@@ -281,6 +282,7 @@ void main() {
           nullSafe: true,
           published: true,
           diff: '123',
+          reversedFilterGroupPriority: true,
         );
 
         final copy = filters.copyWithDiff('456');
@@ -297,9 +299,93 @@ void main() {
         expect(copy.noDependsOn, filters.noDependsOn);
         expect(copy.nullSafe, filters.nullSafe);
         expect(copy.published, filters.published);
+        expect(
+          copy.reversedFilterGroupPriority,
+          filters.reversedFilterGroupPriority,
+        );
       });
     });
   });
+
+  group('PackageMap', () {
+    test('applyFilters works with original filter group priority', () async {
+      final workspaceBuilder = VirtualWorkspaceBuilder('name: test');
+      workspaceBuilder.addPackage('''
+            name: a
+          ''');
+      workspaceBuilder.addPackage('''
+            name: b
+            dependencies:
+              a: any
+          ''');
+      workspaceBuilder.addPackage('''
+            name: c
+            dependencies:
+              b: any
+          ''');
+      workspaceBuilder.addPackage('''
+            name: d
+          ''');
+      final workspace = workspaceBuilder.build();
+
+      final packageMap = workspace.allPackages;
+
+      final filters = PackageFilters(
+        dependsOn: const ['a'],
+        includeDependents: true,
+      );
+
+      final filteredPackages = await packageMap.applyFilters(filters);
+
+      expect(filteredPackages.length, 2);
+      expect(
+        filteredPackages.values,
+        [
+          isA<Package>().having((p) => p.name, 'name', 'b'),
+          isA<Package>().having((p) => p.name, 'name', 'c'),
+        ],
+      );
+    });
+
+    test('applyFilters works with reversed filter group priority', () async {
+      final workspaceBuilder = VirtualWorkspaceBuilder('name: test');
+      workspaceBuilder.addPackage('''
+            name: a
+          ''');
+      workspaceBuilder.addPackage('''
+            name: b
+            dependencies:
+              a: any
+          ''');
+      workspaceBuilder.addPackage('''
+            name: c
+            dependencies:
+              b: any
+          ''');
+      workspaceBuilder.addPackage('''
+            name: d
+          ''');
+      final workspace = workspaceBuilder.build();
+
+      final packageMap = workspace.allPackages;
+
+      final filters = PackageFilters(
+        dependsOn: const ['a'],
+        includeDependents: true,
+        reversedFilterGroupPriority: true,
+      );
+
+      final filteredPackages = await packageMap.applyFilters(filters);
+
+      expect(filteredPackages.length, 1);
+      expect(
+        filteredPackages.values,
+        [
+          isA<Package>().having((p) => p.name, 'name', 'b'),
+        ],
+      );
+    });
+  });
 }
 
 void testDependencyVersionReplaceRegex(String version) {