diff --git a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.command.tsx b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.command.tsx
index 0f4debb702..bbb53e47e1 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.command.tsx
+++ b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.command.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,12 @@ type PanelEntry = RunFooterMenuItem & {
   keywords?: string
 }
 
-type CommandEntry = PanelEntry & ({ action: "model" } | { action: "slash"; name: string } | { action: "exit" })
+type CommandEntry =
+  | (PanelEntry & { action: "model" })
+  | (PanelEntry & { action: "variant.cycle" })
+  | (PanelEntry & { action: "variant.list" })
+  | (PanelEntry & { action: "slash"; name: string })
+  | (PanelEntry & { action: "exit" })
 
 type ModelEntry = PanelEntry & {
   providerID: string
@@ -21,6 +26,11 @@ type ModelEntry = PanelEntry & {
   current: boolean
 }
 
+type VariantEntry = PanelEntry & {
+  variant: string | undefined
+  current: boolean
+}
+
 type MenuState = ReturnType<typeof createFooterMenuState>
 
 const PANEL_PAD = 2
@@ -265,8 +275,11 @@ function PanelShell(props: {
 export function RunCommandMenuBody(props: {
   theme: Accessor<RunFooterTheme>
   commands: Accessor<RunCommand[] | undefined>
+  variants: Accessor<string[]>
   onClose: () => void
   onModel: () => void
+  onVariant: () => void
+  onVariantCycle: () => void
   onSlash: (name: string) => void
   onExit: () => void
 }) {
@@ -281,6 +294,24 @@ export function RunCommandMenuBody(props: {
         display: "Switch model",
         description: "Choose model for future turns",
       },
+      {
+        action: "variant.cycle",
+        category: "Suggested",
+        display: "Variant cycle",
+        description: "Cycle reasoning effort for future turns",
+        keywords: "variant cycle",
+      },
+      ...(props.variants().length > 0
+        ? [
+            {
+              action: "variant.list" as const,
+              category: "Suggested",
+              display: "Switch model variant",
+              description: "Choose reasoning effort for future turns",
+              keywords: `variant variants ${props.variants().join(" ")}`,
+            },
+          ]
+        : []),
       {
         action: "slash",
         category: "Session",
@@ -314,6 +345,16 @@ export function RunCommandMenuBody(props: {
       return
     }
 
+    if (item.action === "variant.cycle") {
+      props.onVariantCycle()
+      return
+    }
+
+    if (item.action === "variant.list") {
+      props.onVariant()
+      return
+    }
+
     if (item.action === "exit") {
       props.onExit()
       return
@@ -375,6 +416,103 @@ export function RunCommandMenuBody(props: {
   )
 }
 
+export function RunVariantSelectBody(props: {
+  theme: Accessor<RunFooterTheme>
+  variants: Accessor<string[]>
+  current: Accessor<string | undefined>
+  onClose: () => void
+  onSelect: (variant: string | undefined) => void
+}) {
+  let field: InputRenderable | undefined
+  const [query, setQuery] = createSignal("")
+  const entries = createMemo<VariantEntry[]>(() => [
+    {
+      category: "",
+      display: "Default",
+      description: props.current() === undefined ? "current" : undefined,
+      keywords: "default",
+      variant: undefined,
+      current: props.current() === undefined,
+    },
+    ...props.variants().map((variant) => ({
+      category: "",
+      display: variant,
+      description: props.current() === variant ? "current" : undefined,
+      keywords: variant,
+      variant,
+      current: props.current() === variant,
+    })),
+  ])
+  const items = createMemo<VariantEntry[]>(() => match(query(), entries()))
+  const menu = createFooterMenuState({ count: () => items().length, limit: PANEL_LIST_ROWS })
+  const pick = (item: VariantEntry) => {
+    props.onSelect(item.variant)
+  }
+  const select = () => {
+    const item = items()[menu.selected()]
+    if (!item) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    pick(item)
+  }
+
+  createEffect(() => {
+    query()
+    menu.reset()
+  })
+
+  createEffect(() => {
+    if (query().trim()) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    const index = items().findIndex((item) => item.current)
+    if (index !== -1) {
+      menu.reveal(index)
+    }
+  })
+
+  useKeyboard((event) => {
+    if (event.defaultPrevented) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    handleKey({ event, menu, field: () => field, setQuery, select, close: props.onClose })
+  })
+
+  return (
+    <PanelShell
+      id="run-direct-footer-variant-panel"
+      title="Select variant"
+      query={query()}
+      count={items().length}
+      total={entries().length}
+      placeholder="Search"
+      theme={props.theme}
+      inputRef={(input) => {
+        field = input
+      }}
+      onQuery={setQuery}
+    >
+      <RunFooterMenu
+        id="run-direct-footer-variant-list"
+        theme={props.theme}
+        items={items}
+        selected={menu.selected}
+        offset={menu.offset}
+        rows={() => PANEL_LIST_ROWS}
+        limit={PANEL_LIST_ROWS}
+        empty="No results found"
+        border={false}
+        paddingLeft={PANEL_PAD}
+        paddingRight={PANEL_PAD}
+        grouped={false}
+      />
+    </PanelShell>
+  )
+}
+
 export function RunModelSelectBody(props: {
   theme: Accessor<RunFooterTheme>
   providers: Accessor<RunProvider[] | undefined>
diff --git a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.prompt.tsx b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.prompt.tsx
index ab3a64c9f1..c2ebebe8b3 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.prompt.tsx
+++ b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.prompt.tsx
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export const HINT_BREAKPOINTS = {
   send: 50,
   newline: 66,
   history: 80,
-  variant: 95,
+  command: 95,
 }
 
 type Mention = Extract<RunPromptPart, { type: "file" | "agent" }>
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ export function hintFlags(width: number) {
     send: width >= HINT_BREAKPOINTS.send,
     newline: width >= HINT_BREAKPOINTS.newline,
     history: width >= HINT_BREAKPOINTS.history,
-    variant: width >= HINT_BREAKPOINTS.variant,
+    command: width >= HINT_BREAKPOINTS.command,
   }
 }
 
@@ -964,7 +964,7 @@ export function createPromptState(input: PromptInput): PromptState {
       return
     }
 
-    if (input.view() === "command" || input.view() === "model") {
+    if (input.view() === "command" || input.view() === "model" || input.view() === "variant") {
       return
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.ts b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.ts
index 70720a579d..b98323385b 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.ts
+++ b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ import type {
 type CycleResult = {
   modelLabel?: string
   status?: string
+  variant?: string | undefined
+  variants?: string[]
 }
 
 type RunFooterOptions = {
@@ -74,6 +76,7 @@ type RunFooterOptions = {
   agentLabel: string
   modelLabel: string
   model: RunInput["model"]
+  variant: string | undefined
   first: boolean
   history?: RunPrompt[]
   theme: RunTheme
@@ -84,6 +87,7 @@ type RunFooterOptions = {
   onQuestionReject: (input: QuestionReject) => void | Promise<void>
   onCycleVariant?: () => CycleResult | void
   onModelSelect?: (model: NonNullable<RunInput["model"]>) => CycleResult | void | Promise<CycleResult | void>
+  onVariantSelect?: (variant: string | undefined) => CycleResult | void | Promise<CycleResult | void>
   onInterrupt?: () => void
   onExit?: () => void
   onSubagentSelect?: (sessionID: string | undefined) => void
@@ -94,6 +98,7 @@ const PERMISSION_ROWS = 12
 const QUESTION_ROWS = 14
 const COMMAND_ROWS = RUN_COMMAND_PANEL_ROWS
 const MODEL_ROWS = RUN_COMMAND_PANEL_ROWS
+const VARIANT_ROWS = RUN_COMMAND_PANEL_ROWS
 const AUTOCOMPLETE_COMPACT_ROWS = 2
 
 function createEmptySubagentState(): FooterSubagentState {
@@ -174,6 +179,10 @@ export class RunFooter implements FooterApi {
   private setProviders: Setter<RunProvider[] | undefined>
   private currentModel: Accessor<RunInput["model"]>
   private setCurrentModel: Setter<RunInput["model"]>
+  private variants: Accessor<string[]>
+  private setVariants: Setter<string[]>
+  private currentVariant: Accessor<string | undefined>
+  private setCurrentVariant: Setter<string | undefined>
   private state: Accessor<FooterState>
   private setState: Setter<FooterState>
   private view: Accessor<FooterView>
@@ -224,6 +233,12 @@ export class RunFooter implements FooterApi {
     const [currentModel, setCurrentModel] = createSignal<RunInput["model"]>(options.model)
     this.currentModel = currentModel
     this.setCurrentModel = setCurrentModel
+    const [variants, setVariants] = createSignal<string[]>([])
+    this.variants = variants
+    this.setVariants = setVariants
+    const [currentVariant, setCurrentVariant] = createSignal(options.variant)
+    this.currentVariant = currentVariant
+    this.setCurrentVariant = setCurrentVariant
     const [subagent, setSubagent] = createStore<FooterSubagentState>(createEmptySubagentState())
     this.subagent = () => subagent
     this.setSubagent = (next) => {
@@ -256,6 +271,8 @@ export class RunFooter implements FooterApi {
           commands: this.commands,
           providers: this.providers,
           currentModel: this.currentModel,
+          variants: this.variants,
+          currentVariant: this.currentVariant,
           theme: options.theme,
           diffStyle: options.diffStyle,
           keybinds: options.keybinds,
@@ -272,6 +289,7 @@ export class RunFooter implements FooterApi {
           onRequestExit: this.setRequestExitHandler,
           onExit: () => this.close(),
           onModelSelect: this.handleModelSelect,
+          onVariantSelect: this.handleVariantSelect,
           onRows: this.syncRows,
           onLayout: this.syncLayout,
           onStatus: this.setStatus,
@@ -335,6 +353,16 @@ export class RunFooter implements FooterApi {
       return
     }
 
+    if (next.type === "variants") {
+      if (this.isGone) {
+        return
+      }
+
+      this.setVariants(next.variants)
+      this.setCurrentVariant(next.current)
+      return
+    }
+
     const patch = eventPatch(next)
     if (patch) {
       this.patch(patch)
@@ -537,6 +565,8 @@ export class RunFooter implements FooterApi {
             ? 1 + tabs + COMMAND_ROWS
             : this.promptRoute.type === "model"
               ? 1 + tabs + MODEL_ROWS
+              : this.promptRoute.type === "variant"
+                ? 1 + tabs + VARIANT_ROWS
               : this.promptRoute.type === "subagent"
                 ? this.base + tabs + SUBAGENT_INSPECTOR_ROWS
                 : Math.max(base + TEXTAREA_MIN_ROWS, Math.min(base + PROMPT_MAX_ROWS, base + this.rows))
@@ -627,6 +657,14 @@ export class RunFooter implements FooterApi {
       status: result.status ?? "variant updated",
     }
 
+    if ("variants" in result) {
+      this.setVariants(result.variants ?? [])
+    }
+
+    if ("variant" in result) {
+      this.setCurrentVariant(result.variant)
+    }
+
     if (result.modelLabel) {
       patch.model = result.modelLabel
     }
@@ -654,6 +692,56 @@ export class RunFooter implements FooterApi {
           return
         }
 
+        if ("variants" in result) {
+          this.setVariants(result.variants ?? [])
+        }
+
+        if ("variant" in result) {
+          this.setCurrentVariant(result.variant)
+        }
+
+        const patch: FooterPatch = {}
+        if (result.modelLabel) {
+          patch.model = result.modelLabel
+        }
+
+        if (result.status) {
+          patch.status = result.status
+        }
+
+        if (patch.model || patch.status) {
+          this.patch(patch)
+        }
+      })
+      .catch(() => {})
+  }
+
+  private handleVariantSelect = (variant: string | undefined): void => {
+    if (this.isClosed) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    const model = this.currentModel()
+    void Promise.resolve()
+      .then(() => this.options.onVariantSelect?.(variant))
+      .then((result) => {
+        const current = this.currentModel()
+        if (
+          !result ||
+          this.isClosed ||
+          (model && (!current || current.providerID !== model.providerID || current.modelID !== model.modelID))
+        ) {
+          return
+        }
+
+        if ("variants" in result) {
+          this.setVariants(result.variants ?? [])
+        }
+
+        if ("variant" in result) {
+          this.setCurrentVariant(result.variant)
+        }
+
         const patch: FooterPatch = {}
         if (result.modelLabel) {
           patch.model = result.modelLabel
diff --git a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.view.tsx b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.view.tsx
index 765ee90caa..1044e0916e 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.view.tsx
+++ b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/footer.view.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import { Match, Show, Switch, createEffect, createMemo, createSignal, onCleanup
 import "opentui-spinner/solid"
 import { createColors, createFrames } from "../tui/ui/spinner"
 import * as Keybind from "@/util/keybind"
-import { RunCommandMenuBody, RunModelSelectBody } from "./footer.command"
+import { RunCommandMenuBody, RunModelSelectBody, RunVariantSelectBody } from "./footer.command"
 import { FOOTER_MENU_ROWS, RunFooterMenu } from "./footer.menu"
 import { RunFooterSubagentBody, RunFooterSubagentTabs } from "./footer.subagent"
 import { RunPromptBody, createPromptState, hintFlags } from "./footer.prompt"
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ type RunFooterViewProps = {
   commands: () => RunCommand[] | undefined
   providers: () => RunProvider[] | undefined
   currentModel: () => RunInput["model"]
+  variants: () => string[]
+  currentVariant: () => string | undefined
   state: () => FooterState
   view?: () => FooterView
   subagent?: () => FooterSubagentState
@@ -82,6 +84,7 @@ type RunFooterViewProps = {
   onRequestExit?: (fn: (() => boolean) | undefined) => void
   onExit: () => void
   onModelSelect: (model: NonNullable<RunInput["model"]>) => void
+  onVariantSelect: (variant: string | undefined) => void
   onRows: (rows: number) => void
   onLayout: (input: { route: FooterPromptRoute; tabs: boolean; autocomplete: boolean }) => void
   onStatus: (text: string) => void
@@ -127,7 +130,8 @@ export function RunFooterView(props: RunFooterViewProps) {
   const inspecting = createMemo(() => active().type === "prompt" && route().type === "subagent")
   const commanding = createMemo(() => active().type === "prompt" && route().type === "command")
   const modeling = createMemo(() => active().type === "prompt" && route().type === "model")
-  const panel = createMemo(() => commanding() || modeling())
+  const varianting = createMemo(() => active().type === "prompt" && route().type === "variant")
+  const panel = createMemo(() => commanding() || modeling() || varianting())
   const selected = createMemo(() => {
     const current = route()
     return current.type === "subagent" ? current.sessionID : undefined
@@ -138,7 +142,7 @@ export function RunFooterView(props: RunFooterViewProps) {
     const current = route()
     return current.type === "subagent" ? subagent().details[current.sessionID] : undefined
   })
-  const variant = createMemo(() => printableBinding(props.keybinds.variantCycle, props.keybinds.leader))
+  const command = createMemo(() => printableBinding(props.keybinds.commandList, props.keybinds.leader))
   const interrupt = createMemo(() => printableBinding(props.keybinds.interrupt, props.keybinds.leader))
   const commandKeys = createMemo(() => Keybind.parse(props.keybinds.commandList))
   const hints = createMemo(() => hintFlags(term().width))
@@ -195,6 +199,11 @@ export function RunFooterView(props: RunFooterViewProps) {
     props.onSubagentSelect?.(undefined)
   }
 
+  const openVariant = () => {
+    setRoute({ type: "variant" })
+    props.onSubagentSelect?.(undefined)
+  }
+
   const closePanel = () => {
     setRoute({ type: "composer" })
   }
@@ -328,7 +337,7 @@ export function RunFooterView(props: RunFooterViewProps) {
     }
 
     const current = route()
-    if (current.type !== "command" && current.type !== "model") {
+    if (current.type !== "command" && current.type !== "model" && current.type !== "variant") {
       return
     }
 
@@ -404,8 +413,14 @@ export function RunFooterView(props: RunFooterViewProps) {
                       <RunCommandMenuBody
                         theme={theme}
                         commands={props.commands}
+                        variants={props.variants}
                         onClose={closePanel}
                         onModel={openModel}
+                        onVariant={openVariant}
+                        onVariantCycle={() => {
+                          props.onCycle()
+                          closePanel()
+                        }}
                         onSlash={(name) => {
                           composer.replaceDraft(`/${name} `)
                           closePanel()
@@ -425,6 +440,18 @@ export function RunFooterView(props: RunFooterViewProps) {
                         }}
                       />
                     </Match>
+                    <Match when={varianting()}>
+                      <RunVariantSelectBody
+                        theme={theme}
+                        variants={props.variants}
+                        current={props.currentVariant}
+                        onClose={closePanel}
+                        onSelect={(variant) => {
+                          props.onVariantSelect(variant)
+                          closePanel()
+                        }}
+                      />
+                    </Match>
                     <Match when={active().type === "permission"}>
                       <RunPermissionBody
                         request={permission()!.request}
@@ -608,9 +635,9 @@ export function RunFooterView(props: RunFooterViewProps) {
                           {usage()}
                         </text>
                       </Show>
-                      <Show when={variant().length > 0 && hints().variant}>
-                        <text id="run-direct-footer-hint-variant" fg={theme().muted} wrapMode="none" truncate>
-                          {variant()} variant
+                      <Show when={command().length > 0 && hints().command}>
+                        <text id="run-direct-footer-hint-command" fg={theme().text} wrapMode="none" truncate>
+                          {command()} <span style={{ fg: theme().muted }}>commands</span>
                         </text>
                       </Show>
                     </box>
diff --git a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/runtime.boot.ts b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/runtime.boot.ts
index 6e9dc4618e..5109b8c0cd 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/runtime.boot.ts
+++ b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/runtime.boot.ts
@@ -113,32 +113,27 @@ function footerKeybinds(config: Config | undefined): FooterKeybinds {
 const layer = Layer.effect(
   Service,
   Effect.gen(function* () {
-    const config = Effect.fn("RunBoot.config")(() =>
-      Effect.tryPromise({
-        try: loadConfig,
-        catch: () => undefined,
-      }),
-    )
+    const config = Effect.fn("RunBoot.config")(() => Effect.promise(() => loadConfig().catch(() => undefined)))
 
     const resolveModelInfo = Effect.fn("RunBoot.resolveModelInfo")(function* (
       sdk: RunInput["sdk"],
       directory: string,
       model: RunInput["model"],
     ) {
-      const connected = yield* Effect.tryPromise({
-        try: () => sdk.config.providers({ directory }),
-        catch: () => undefined,
-      }).pipe(
-        Effect.map((item) => item?.data?.providers),
+      const connected = yield* Effect.promise(() =>
+        sdk.config
+          .providers({ directory })
+          .then((item) => item.data?.providers)
+          .catch(() => undefined),
+      )
+      const providers = yield* Effect.promise(() =>
+        connected
+          ? Promise.resolve(connected)
+          : sdk.provider
+              .list()
+              .then((item) => item.data?.all ?? [])
+              .catch(() => []),
       )
-      const providers = yield* (connected
-        ? Effect.succeed(connected)
-        : Effect.tryPromise({
-            try: () => sdk.provider.list(),
-            catch: () => undefined,
-          }).pipe(
-            Effect.map((item) => item?.data?.all ?? []),
-          ))
       const limits = Object.fromEntries(
         providers.flatMap((provider) =>
           Object.entries(provider.models ?? {}).flatMap(([modelID, info]) => {
@@ -173,10 +168,7 @@ const layer = Layer.effect(
       sessionID: string,
       model: RunInput["model"],
     ) {
-      const session = yield* Effect.tryPromise({
-        try: () => resolveSession(sdk, sessionID),
-        catch: () => undefined,
-      })
+      const session = yield* Effect.promise(() => resolveSession(sdk, sessionID).catch(() => undefined))
       if (!session) {
         return emptySessionInfo()
       }
diff --git a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/runtime.lifecycle.ts b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/runtime.lifecycle.ts
index 72b92908fe..c02f8fa5a5 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/runtime.lifecycle.ts
+++ b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/runtime.lifecycle.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ type SplashState = {
 type CycleResult = {
   modelLabel?: string
   status?: string
+  variant?: string | undefined
+  variants?: string[]
 }
 
 type FooterLabels = {
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@ export type LifecycleInput = {
   onQuestionReject: (input: QuestionReject) => void | Promise<void>
   onCycleVariant?: () => CycleResult | void
   onModelSelect?: (model: NonNullable<RunInput["model"]>) => CycleResult | void | Promise<CycleResult | void>
+  onVariantSelect?: (variant: string | undefined) => CycleResult | void | Promise<CycleResult | void>
   onInterrupt?: () => void
   onSubagentSelect?: (sessionID: string | undefined) => void
 }
@@ -222,6 +225,7 @@ export async function createRuntimeLifecycle(input: LifecycleInput): Promise<Lif
           sessionID: input.getSessionID ?? (() => input.sessionID),
           ...labels,
           model: input.model,
+          variant: input.variant,
           first: input.first,
           history: input.history,
           theme,
@@ -233,6 +237,7 @@ export async function createRuntimeLifecycle(input: LifecycleInput): Promise<Lif
           onQuestionReject: input.onQuestionReject,
           onCycleVariant: input.onCycleVariant,
           onModelSelect: input.onModelSelect,
+          onVariantSelect: input.onVariantSelect,
           onInterrupt: input.onInterrupt,
           onSubagentSelect: input.onSubagentSelect,
         })
diff --git a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/runtime.ts b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/runtime.ts
index fadb818d3a..1a67c5c77a 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/runtime.ts
+++ b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/runtime.ts
@@ -292,6 +292,7 @@ async function runInteractiveRuntime(input: RunRuntimeInput): Promise<void> {
           return {
             status: state.activeVariant ? `variant ${state.activeVariant}` : "variant default",
             modelLabel: formatModelLabel(state.model, state.activeVariant, state.providers),
+            variant: state.activeVariant,
           }
         },
         onModelSelect: async (model) => {
@@ -329,6 +330,33 @@ async function runInteractiveRuntime(input: RunRuntimeInput): Promise<void> {
           return {
             modelLabel: formatModelLabel(model, state.activeVariant, state.providers),
             status: `model ${model.modelID}`,
+            variant: state.activeVariant,
+            variants: state.variants,
+          }
+        },
+        onVariantSelect: async (variant) => {
+          if (!state.model || state.variants.length === 0) {
+            return {
+              status: "no variants available",
+            }
+          }
+
+          if (variant && !state.variants.includes(variant)) {
+            return {
+              status: `variant ${variant} unavailable`,
+            }
+          }
+
+          state.activeVariant = variant
+          saveVariant(state.model, state.activeVariant)
+          setRunSpanAttributes(span, {
+            "opencode.model.variant": state.activeVariant,
+          })
+          return {
+            status: state.activeVariant ? `variant ${state.activeVariant}` : "variant default",
+            modelLabel: formatModelLabel(state.model, state.activeVariant, state.providers),
+            variant: state.activeVariant,
+            variants: state.variants,
           }
         },
         onInterrupt: () => {
@@ -420,20 +448,22 @@ async function runInteractiveRuntime(input: RunRuntimeInput): Promise<void> {
         state.providers = info.providers
         state.variants = variantsFor(state.providers, state.model)
         state.limits = info.limits
-        if (!footer.isClosed) {
-          footer.event({ type: "models", providers: info.providers })
-        }
 
         const next = resolveVariant(ctx.variant, session.variant, savedVariant, state.variants)
-        if (next === state.activeVariant) {
+        if (next !== state.activeVariant) {
+          state.activeVariant = next
+          setRunSpanAttributes(span, {
+            "opencode.model.variant": state.activeVariant,
+          })
+        }
+
+        if (footer.isClosed) {
           return
         }
 
-        state.activeVariant = next
-        setRunSpanAttributes(span, {
-          "opencode.model.variant": state.activeVariant,
-        })
-        if (!state.model || footer.isClosed) {
+        footer.event({ type: "models", providers: info.providers })
+        footer.event({ type: "variants", variants: state.variants, current: state.activeVariant })
+        if (!state.model) {
           return
         }
 
diff --git a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/types.ts b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/types.ts
index 3560e444b2..022e0db3d7 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/types.ts
+++ b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/run/types.ts
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ export type FooterPromptRoute =
   | { type: "subagent"; sessionID: string }
   | { type: "command" }
   | { type: "model" }
+  | { type: "variant" }
 
 export type FooterSubagentTab = {
   sessionID: string
@@ -209,6 +210,11 @@ export type FooterEvent =
       type: "models"
       providers: RunProvider[]
     }
+  | {
+      type: "variants"
+      variants: string[]
+      current: string | undefined
+    }
   | {
       type: "queue"
       queue: number
diff --git a/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/footer.view.test.tsx b/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/footer.view.test.tsx
index 32f0ee5fe1..99602b71b5 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/footer.view.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/footer.view.test.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import { expect, test } from "bun:test"
 import { testRender } from "@opentui/solid"
 import { createSignal } from "solid-js"
-import { RUN_COMMAND_PANEL_ROWS, RunCommandMenuBody, RunModelSelectBody } from "@/cli/cmd/run/footer.command"
+import { RUN_COMMAND_PANEL_ROWS, RunCommandMenuBody, RunModelSelectBody, RunVariantSelectBody } from "@/cli/cmd/run/footer.command"
 import { RunEntryContent } from "@/cli/cmd/run/scrollback.writer"
 import { RUN_THEME_FALLBACK } from "@/cli/cmd/run/theme"
 import type { RunCommand, RunInput, RunProvider, StreamCommit } from "@/cli/cmd/run/types"
@@ -17,7 +17,13 @@ function command(input: { name: string; description: string; source?: "command"
   } satisfies RunCommand
 }
 
-function model(input: { id: string; name: string; status?: "active" | "deprecated"; cost?: number }) {
+function model(input: {
+  id: string
+  name: string
+  status?: "active" | "deprecated"
+  cost?: number
+  variants?: Record<string, Record<string, never>>
+}) {
   return {
     id: input.id,
     providerID: "opencode",
@@ -64,6 +70,7 @@ function model(input: { id: string; name: string; status?: "active" | "deprecate
     options: {},
     headers: {},
     release_date: "2026-01-01",
+    variants: input.variants,
   } satisfies RunProvider["models"][string]
 }
 
@@ -75,7 +82,7 @@ function provider() {
     env: [],
     options: {},
     models: {
-      "gpt-5": model({ id: "gpt-5", name: "GPT-5" }),
+      "gpt-5": model({ id: "gpt-5", name: "GPT-5", variants: { high: {}, minimal: {} } }),
       "gpt-free": model({ id: "gpt-free", name: "GPT Free", cost: 0 }),
       old: model({ id: "old", name: "Old Model", status: "deprecated" }),
     },
@@ -129,14 +136,18 @@ test("direct command panel renders grouped command palette", async () => {
     command({ name: "deploy", description: "Deploy prompt", source: "mcp" }),
     command({ name: "internal", description: "Skill command", source: "skill" }),
   ])
+  const [variants] = createSignal(["high", "minimal"])
 
   const app = await testRender(() => (
     <box width={100} height={RUN_COMMAND_PANEL_ROWS}>
       <RunCommandMenuBody
         theme={() => RUN_THEME_FALLBACK.footer}
         commands={commands}
+        variants={variants}
         onClose={() => {}}
         onModel={() => {}}
+        onVariant={() => {}}
+        onVariantCycle={() => {}}
         onSlash={() => {}}
         onExit={() => {}}
       />
@@ -154,6 +165,8 @@ test("direct command panel renders grouped command palette", async () => {
     expect(frame).toContain("Search")
     expect(frame).toContain("Suggested")
     expect(frame).toContain("Switch model")
+    expect(frame).toContain("Variant cycle")
+    expect(frame).toContain("Switch model variant")
     expect(frame).toContain("Session")
     expect(frame).toContain("/new")
     expect(frame).toContain("Project Commands")
@@ -199,3 +212,36 @@ test("direct model panel renders current model selector", async () => {
     app.renderer.destroy()
   }
 })
+
+test("direct variant panel renders current variant selector", async () => {
+  const [variants] = createSignal(["high", "minimal"])
+  const [current] = createSignal<string | undefined>("high")
+
+  const app = await testRender(() => (
+    <box width={100} height={RUN_COMMAND_PANEL_ROWS}>
+      <RunVariantSelectBody
+        theme={() => RUN_THEME_FALLBACK.footer}
+        variants={variants}
+        current={current}
+        onClose={() => {}}
+        onSelect={() => {}}
+      />
+    </box>
+  ), {
+    width: 100,
+    height: RUN_COMMAND_PANEL_ROWS,
+  })
+
+  try {
+    await app.renderOnce()
+    const frame = app.captureCharFrame()
+
+    expect(frame).toContain("Select variant")
+    expect(frame).toContain("Default")
+    expect(frame).toContain("high")
+    expect(frame).toContain("minimal")
+    expect(frame).toContain("current")
+  } finally {
+    app.renderer.destroy()
+  }
+})
diff --git a/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/runtime.boot.test.ts b/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/runtime.boot.test.ts
index 025fc20aa6..5fa67ce716 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/runtime.boot.test.ts
+++ b/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/runtime.boot.test.ts
@@ -208,14 +208,7 @@ describe("run runtime boot", () => {
       default: {},
       connected: [],
     }
-    spyOn(sdk.config, "providers").mockImplementation(() =>
-      Promise.resolve({
-        data: undefined,
-        error: undefined,
-        request: new Request("https://opencode.test"),
-        response: new Response(),
-      }),
-    )
+    spyOn(sdk.config, "providers").mockRejectedValue(new Error("boom"))
     spyOn(sdk.provider, "list").mockImplementation(() =>
       Promise.resolve({
         data,