Phase 3 of the Variance Collection is now underway, giving every owner of a Variant NFT a final window to shape their digital identity before the collection locks permanently. The customization phase runs from February 27 through March 27, 2026, and introduces two independent options that can each change the long-term value and utility of a Variant inside the upcoming web3 RPG.

Two Ways to Customize Your Variant

The first option is a free appearance reroll available to every Variant holder at no cost. Using Kodo AI, the same generative system that powered the original mint, players can change the colors of their Variant's skin, eyes, hair, baselayer, and outerwear, as well as its facial expression. The core look including hairstyle, accessories, and background stays intact. Changed elements highlight in green during the selection process so holders can see exactly what differs from the original before committing.

One key mechanic to understand: the free reroll is consumed the moment the generation button is clicked, regardless of whether the result is accepted or discarded. If a technical failure occurs, a retry is granted without using up the attempt. Image generation through Kodo AI can take up to 15 minutes and runs in the background, so holders can close the window and return later.

The second option carries economic weight. Relics, earned during Phase 2 by sacrificing Variants, can now be attached to remaining Variants. Each attachment does three things at once: it grants the Legend title with a fixed bonus of 1,000 Aura, adds a randomly generated relic trait worth between 500 and 1,500 Aura, and unlocks a 2x staking multiplier when staking launches on March 31. Variants that do not receive a Relic will stake at 50 percent of their Variant Aura. Legends stake at 100 percent, making the 2x bonus the most consequential mechanic in Phase 3 for anyone planning to hold long-term. Each Variant can receive only one Relic, and the hard cap is 10,000 Aura per Variant.

One ordering rule matters above everything else: use the free appearance reroll before attaching a Relic. Once a Variant receives a Relic and becomes a Legend, it permanently loses access to the free reroll. Holders who want both need to personalize first.

Any Relics left unused when Phase 3 closes on March 27 will automatically convert into 2,500 Aura each when the collection finalizes.

Aura, Beta Access, and What Comes Next

Aura is the non-tokenized rewards currency running across the Variance ecosystem. Free appearance rerolls have no effect on a Variant's Aura total since they are purely cosmetic. Relic attachments, however, add between 1,500 and 2,500 Aura per attachment through the combined Legend title bonus and the random relic trait. The 10,000 Aura threshold is particularly relevant right now: holders who reach that level without a Genesis Portal gain entry to the Closed Beta launching at the end of March.

Holders who sacrificed Variants during Phase 2 already accumulated between 2,000 and 10,000 Aura per sacrifice on top of the Relic they earned. Those sacrificed Variants also count as permanently staked at the 2x Legend rate, minus the title and relic trait bonuses, meaning that Aura is already compounding at full rate for Phase 2 participants.

The broader Variance roadmap following Phase 3 is structured around four milestones. Staking goes live on March 31, activating the 2x Legend bonus for all Relic-attached Variants. The Closed Beta opens at the end of March for Genesis Portal holders and anyone holding 10,000 or more Aura. The Open Beta, along with a mobile client and the start of Aura Season 1, follows at the end of April. In early May, the studio will publish an Economy Reveal covering the full litepaper and a detailed look at the game economy.

About Variance

Variance is a free-to-play anime roguelite RPG developed by Realm Studios on the Somnia blockchain. The game blends fast-paced platforming combat with metroidvania-style progression and roguelike replayability, placing players inside the Realmverse, a lore-driven universe built around themes of death, rebirth, and transcendence. Progression is fully skill-based with no pay-to-win elements. Cosmetic rewards tied to Aura tiers include exclusive skins, effects, titles, and profile customization, none of which affect gameplay balance.

The Variance Collection launched on September 2, 2025 as the first NFT mint on Somnia's mainnet. Each Variant was priced at $15 in $SOMI and sold out before the seven-day mint window closed. Variants function as customizable digital identities within the game and unlock early access benefits, staking rewards, and tier-based perks across the ecosystem. The collection is now heading into its final form, with March 27 marking the permanent close of all customization options.