diff --git a/src/cli/__snapshots__/model-fallback.test.ts.snap b/src/cli/__snapshots__/model-fallback.test.ts.snap
index 65465161c..141fbf272 100644
--- a/src/cli/__snapshots__/model-fallback.test.ts.snap
+++ b/src/cli/__snapshots__/model-fallback.test.ts.snap
@@ -335,18 +335,18 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig single native provider uses Gemini models when only
     },
     "metis": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "momus": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "multimodal-looker": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-flash",
     },
     "oracle": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "prometheus": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
@@ -355,14 +355,14 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig single native provider uses Gemini models when only
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "quick": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-flash",
     },
     "ultrabrain": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "unspecified-high": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-flash",
@@ -395,18 +395,18 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig single native provider uses Gemini models with isMa
     },
     "metis": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "momus": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "multimodal-looker": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-flash",
     },
     "oracle": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "prometheus": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
@@ -415,14 +415,14 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig single native provider uses Gemini models with isMa
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "quick": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-flash",
     },
     "ultrabrain": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "unspecified-high": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig all native providers uses preferred models from fal
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "deep": {
       "model": "openai/gpt-5.2-codex",
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig all native providers uses preferred models with isM
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "deep": {
       "model": "openai/gpt-5.2-codex",
@@ -631,7 +631,7 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig fallback providers uses OpenCode Zen models when on
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "opencode/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "deep": {
       "model": "opencode/gpt-5.2-codex",
@@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig fallback providers uses OpenCode Zen models with is
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "opencode/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "deep": {
       "model": "opencode/gpt-5.2-codex",
@@ -778,7 +778,7 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig fallback providers uses GitHub Copilot models when
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "github-copilot/gemini-3-pro-preview",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "deep": {
       "model": "github-copilot/gpt-5.2-codex",
@@ -851,7 +851,7 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig fallback providers uses GitHub Copilot models with
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "github-copilot/gemini-3-pro-preview",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "deep": {
       "model": "github-copilot/gpt-5.2-codex",
@@ -1035,7 +1035,7 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig mixed provider scenarios uses Claude + OpenCode Zen
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "opencode/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "deep": {
       "model": "opencode/gpt-5.2-codex",
@@ -1108,7 +1108,7 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig mixed provider scenarios uses OpenAI + Copilot comb
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "github-copilot/gemini-3-pro-preview",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "deep": {
       "model": "openai/gpt-5.2-codex",
@@ -1225,7 +1225,7 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig mixed provider scenarios uses Gemini + Claude combi
     },
     "oracle": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "prometheus": {
       "model": "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
@@ -1239,14 +1239,14 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig mixed provider scenarios uses Gemini + Claude combi
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "quick": {
       "model": "anthropic/claude-haiku-4-5",
     },
     "ultrabrain": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "unspecified-high": {
       "model": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-5",
@@ -1308,7 +1308,7 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig mixed provider scenarios uses all fallback provider
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "github-copilot/gemini-3-pro-preview",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "deep": {
       "model": "github-copilot/gpt-5.2-codex",
@@ -1381,7 +1381,7 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig mixed provider scenarios uses all providers togethe
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "deep": {
       "model": "openai/gpt-5.2-codex",
@@ -1454,7 +1454,7 @@ exports[`generateModelConfig mixed provider scenarios uses all providers with is
   "categories": {
     "artistry": {
       "model": "google/gemini-3-pro",
-      "variant": "max",
+      "variant": "high",
     },
     "deep": {
       "model": "openai/gpt-5.2-codex",
diff --git a/src/shared/model-requirements.test.ts b/src/shared/model-requirements.test.ts
index 05d1d5568..d00285567 100644
--- a/src/shared/model-requirements.test.ts
+++ b/src/shared/model-requirements.test.ts
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ describe("CATEGORY_MODEL_REQUIREMENTS", () => {
 
     const primary = artistry.fallbackChain[0]
     expect(primary.model).toBe("gemini-3-pro")
-    expect(primary.variant).toBe("max")
+    expect(primary.variant).toBe("high")
     expect(primary.providers[0]).toBe("google")
   })
 
diff --git a/src/shared/model-requirements.ts b/src/shared/model-requirements.ts
index 8b5eabc11..066b3377e 100644
--- a/src/shared/model-requirements.ts
+++ b/src/shared/model-requirements.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export const AGENT_MODEL_REQUIREMENTS: Record<string, ModelRequirement> = {
   oracle: {
     fallbackChain: [
       { providers: ["openai", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gpt-5.2", variant: "high" },
-      { providers: ["google", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gemini-3-pro", variant: "max" },
+      { providers: ["google", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gemini-3-pro", variant: "high" },
       { providers: ["anthropic", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "claude-opus-4-5", variant: "max" },
     ],
   },
@@ -75,14 +75,14 @@ export const AGENT_MODEL_REQUIREMENTS: Record<string, ModelRequirement> = {
       { providers: ["kimi-for-coding"], model: "k2p5" },
       { providers: ["opencode"], model: "kimi-k2.5-free" },
       { providers: ["openai", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gpt-5.2", variant: "high" },
-      { providers: ["google", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gemini-3-pro", variant: "max" },
+      { providers: ["google", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gemini-3-pro", variant: "high" },
     ],
   },
   momus: {
     fallbackChain: [
       { providers: ["openai", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gpt-5.2", variant: "medium" },
       { providers: ["anthropic", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "claude-opus-4-5", variant: "max" },
-      { providers: ["google", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gemini-3-pro", variant: "max" },
+      { providers: ["google", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gemini-3-pro", variant: "high" },
     ],
   },
   atlas: {
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ export const CATEGORY_MODEL_REQUIREMENTS: Record<string, ModelRequirement> = {
   ultrabrain: {
     fallbackChain: [
       { providers: ["openai", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gpt-5.2-codex", variant: "xhigh" },
-      { providers: ["google", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gemini-3-pro", variant: "max" },
+      { providers: ["google", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gemini-3-pro", variant: "high" },
       { providers: ["anthropic", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "claude-opus-4-5", variant: "max" },
     ],
   },
@@ -115,18 +115,18 @@ export const CATEGORY_MODEL_REQUIREMENTS: Record<string, ModelRequirement> = {
      fallbackChain: [
        { providers: ["openai", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gpt-5.2-codex", variant: "medium" },
        { providers: ["anthropic", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "claude-opus-4-5", variant: "max" },
-       { providers: ["google", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gemini-3-pro", variant: "max" },
+       { providers: ["google", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gemini-3-pro", variant: "high" },
      ],
      requiresModel: "gpt-5.2-codex",
    },
-   artistry: {
-     fallbackChain: [
-       { providers: ["google", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gemini-3-pro", variant: "max" },
-       { providers: ["anthropic", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "claude-opus-4-5", variant: "max" },
-       { providers: ["openai", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gpt-5.2" },
-     ],
-     requiresModel: "gemini-3-pro",
-   },
+    artistry: {
+      fallbackChain: [
+        { providers: ["google", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gemini-3-pro", variant: "high" },
+        { providers: ["anthropic", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "claude-opus-4-5", variant: "max" },
+        { providers: ["openai", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "gpt-5.2" },
+      ],
+      requiresModel: "gemini-3-pro",
+    },
   quick: {
     fallbackChain: [
       { providers: ["anthropic", "github-copilot", "opencode"], model: "claude-haiku-4-5" },
diff --git a/src/tools/delegate-task/constants.ts b/src/tools/delegate-task/constants.ts
index 8c8c48eb3..ce0645736 100644
--- a/src/tools/delegate-task/constants.ts
+++ b/src/tools/delegate-task/constants.ts
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_CATEGORIES: Record<string, CategoryConfig> = {
   "visual-engineering": { model: "google/gemini-3-pro" },
   ultrabrain: { model: "openai/gpt-5.2-codex", variant: "xhigh" },
   deep: { model: "openai/gpt-5.2-codex", variant: "medium" },
-  artistry: { model: "google/gemini-3-pro", variant: "max" },
+  artistry: { model: "google/gemini-3-pro", variant: "high" },
   quick: { model: "anthropic/claude-haiku-4-5" },
   "unspecified-low": { model: "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-5" },
   "unspecified-high": { model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5", variant: "max" },
diff --git a/src/tools/delegate-task/tools.test.ts b/src/tools/delegate-task/tools.test.ts
index 22bf5d984..bfbe3e8cb 100644
--- a/src/tools/delegate-task/tools.test.ts
+++ b/src/tools/delegate-task/tools.test.ts
@@ -1492,7 +1492,7 @@ describe("sisyphus-task", () => {
         abort: new AbortController().signal,
       }
       
-      // when - artistry category (gemini-3-pro with max variant)
+      // when - artistry category (gemini-3-pro with high variant)
       const result = await tool.execute(
         {
           description: "Test artistry forced background",