diff --git a/packages/cli/src/mini/footer.ts b/packages/cli/src/mini/footer.ts
index 0a2510f167..fd758caf29 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/mini/footer.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/mini/footer.ts
@@ -627,7 +627,6 @@ export class RunFooter implements FooterApi {
 
     this.themes.splice(index, 1)
     theme.block.syntax?.destroy()
-    theme.block.subtleSyntax?.destroy()
   }
 
   public close(): void {
@@ -1023,7 +1022,6 @@ export class RunFooter implements FooterApi {
     void resolveRunTheme(this.renderer).then((theme) => {
       if (this.isGone) {
         theme.block.syntax?.destroy()
-        theme.block.subtleSyntax?.destroy()
         return
       }
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/mini/scrollback.shared.ts b/packages/cli/src/mini/scrollback.shared.ts
index fc040536e9..447d260c09 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/mini/scrollback.shared.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/mini/scrollback.shared.ts
@@ -6,11 +6,7 @@ function syntax(style?: SyntaxStyle): SyntaxStyle {
   return style ?? SyntaxStyle.fromTheme([])
 }
 
-export function entrySyntax(commit: StreamCommit, theme: RunTheme): SyntaxStyle {
-  if (commit.kind === "reasoning") {
-    return syntax(theme.block.subtleSyntax ?? theme.block.syntax)
-  }
-
+export function entrySyntax(theme: RunTheme): SyntaxStyle {
   return syntax(theme.block.syntax)
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/mini/scrollback.surface.ts b/packages/cli/src/mini/scrollback.surface.ts
index c5e5c6dd7d..d9182219d2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/mini/scrollback.surface.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/mini/scrollback.surface.ts
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ export class RunScrollbackStream {
     }
 
     active.renderable.fg = entryColor(active.commit, theme)
-    active.renderable.syntaxStyle = entrySyntax(active.commit, theme)
+    active.renderable.syntaxStyle = entrySyntax(theme)
   }
 
   private createEntry(commit: StreamCommit, body: ActiveBody): ActiveEntry {
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ export class RunScrollbackStream {
           ? new CodeRenderable(surface.renderContext, {
               content: "",
               filetype: body.filetype,
-              syntaxStyle: entrySyntax(commit, this.theme),
+              syntaxStyle: entrySyntax(this.theme),
               width: "100%",
               wrapMode: "word",
               drawUnstyledText: false,
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ export class RunScrollbackStream {
             })
           : new MarkdownRenderable(surface.renderContext, {
               content: "",
-              syntaxStyle: entrySyntax(commit, this.theme),
+              syntaxStyle: entrySyntax(this.theme),
               width: "100%",
               streaming: true,
               internalBlockMode: "top-level",
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/mini/scrollback.writer.tsx b/packages/cli/src/mini/scrollback.writer.tsx
index 74f4a97adf..e6ab9bb408 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/mini/scrollback.writer.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/mini/scrollback.writer.tsx
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export function RunEntryContent(props: {
   const theme = createMemo(() => props.theme ?? RUN_THEME_FALLBACK)
   const body = createMemo(() => props.body ?? entryBody(props.commit))
   const style = createMemo(() => entryLook(props.commit, theme().entry))
-  const syntax = createMemo(() => entrySyntax(props.commit, theme()))
+  const syntax = createMemo(() => entrySyntax(theme()))
   const color = createMemo(() => entryColor(props.commit, theme()))
   const suppressBackgrounds = createMemo(() => props.opts?.suppressBackgrounds === true)
   const diffBg = (color: ColorInput) => (suppressBackgrounds() ? transparent : color)
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/mini/theme.ts b/packages/cli/src/mini/theme.ts
index e4fb315426..6fe36883d1 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/mini/theme.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/mini/theme.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ export type RunBlockTheme = {
   text: ColorInput
   muted: ColorInput
   syntax?: SyntaxStyle
-  subtleSyntax?: SyntaxStyle
   diffAdded: ColorInput
   diffRemoved: ColorInput
   diffAddedBg: ColorInput
@@ -172,42 +171,10 @@ function tint(base: RGBA, overlay: RGBA, value: number): RGBA {
   )
 }
 
-function blend(color: RGBA, bg: RGBA): RGBA {
-  if (color.a >= 1) {
-    return color
-  }
-
-  return RGBA.fromValues(
-    bg.r + (color.r - bg.r) * color.a,
-    bg.g + (color.g - bg.g) * color.a,
-    bg.b + (color.b - bg.b) * color.a,
-    1,
-  )
-}
-
 function chroma(color: RGBA) {
   return Math.max(color.r, color.g, color.b) - Math.min(color.r, color.g, color.b)
 }
 
-function opaqueSyntaxStyle(style: SyntaxStyle | undefined, bg: RGBA): SyntaxStyle | undefined {
-  if (!style) {
-    return undefined
-  }
-
-  return SyntaxStyle.fromStyles(
-    Object.fromEntries(
-      [...style.getAllStyles()].map(([name, value]) => [
-        name,
-        {
-          ...value,
-          fg: value.fg ? blend(value.fg, bg) : value.fg,
-          bg: value.bg ? blend(value.bg, bg) : value.bg,
-        },
-      ]),
-    ),
-  )
-}
-
 function indexedPalette(colors: TerminalColors, size: number = Math.max(colors.palette.length, 16)): RGBA[] {
   return Array.from({ length: size }, (_, index) => {
     const value = colors.palette[index]
@@ -502,10 +469,7 @@ function map(
   scrollbackTheme: TuiThemeCurrent,
   splash: RunSplashTheme,
   syntax?: SyntaxStyle,
-  subtleSyntax?: SyntaxStyle,
 ): RunTheme {
-  const opaqueSubtleSyntax = opaqueSyntaxStyle(subtleSyntax, scrollbackTheme.background)
-  subtleSyntax?.destroy()
   const footerBackground = alpha(footerTheme.background, 1)
   const footerMode = mode(footerBackground)
   const shade = fade(footerTheme.backgroundMenu, footerTheme.background, 0.12, 0.56, 0.72)
@@ -566,7 +530,6 @@ function map(
       text: scrollbackTheme.text,
       muted: scrollbackTheme.textMuted,
       syntax,
-      subtleSyntax: opaqueSubtleSyntax,
       diffAdded: scrollbackTheme.diffAdded,
       diffRemoved: scrollbackTheme.diffRemoved,
       diffAddedBg: transparent,
@@ -677,13 +640,7 @@ export async function resolveRunTheme(renderer: CliRenderer): Promise<RunTheme>
       _hasSelectedListItemText: true,
     }
     const syntax = shared.generateSyntax(syntaxTheme)
-    return map(
-      footerTheme,
-      scrollbackTheme,
-      splashTheme(scrollbackTheme, indexed),
-      syntax,
-      shared.generateSubtleSyntax(syntaxTheme),
-    )
+    return map(footerTheme, scrollbackTheme, splashTheme(scrollbackTheme, indexed), syntax)
   } catch {
     return RUN_THEME_FALLBACK
   }
diff --git a/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/scrollback.surface.test.ts b/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/scrollback.surface.test.ts
index 039ab156fd..a4923bd0b3 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/scrollback.surface.test.ts
+++ b/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/scrollback.surface.test.ts
@@ -136,14 +136,14 @@ test("theme swaps restyle active reasoning without resetting the stream", async
     ...RUN_THEME_FALLBACK,
     block: {
       ...RUN_THEME_FALLBACK.block,
-      subtleSyntax: previousSyntax,
+      syntax: previousSyntax,
     },
   }
   const next = {
     ...RUN_THEME_FALLBACK,
     block: {
       ...RUN_THEME_FALLBACK.block,
-      subtleSyntax: nextSyntax,
+      syntax: nextSyntax,
     },
   }
   const out = await setup({ theme: previous, onThemeRelease: (theme) => released.push(theme) })
diff --git a/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/theme.test.ts b/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/theme.test.ts
index 52b8fc6439..d62a6e9f7f 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/theme.test.ts
+++ b/packages/opencode/test/cli/run/theme.test.ts
@@ -67,9 +67,7 @@ test("returns syntax styles and indexed splash colors", async () => {
 
   try {
     expect(theme.block.syntax).toBeDefined()
-    expect(theme.block.subtleSyntax).toBeDefined()
     expect([...theme.block.syntax!.getAllStyles()].length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
-    expect([...theme.block.subtleSyntax!.getAllStyles()].length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
     expectIndexed(theme.splash.left)
     expectIndexed(theme.splash.right)
     expectIndexed(theme.splash.leftShadow)
@@ -82,7 +80,6 @@ test("returns syntax styles and indexed splash colors", async () => {
     expect(expectRgba(theme.footer.statusAccent).toInts()).not.toEqual(expectRgba(theme.footer.status).toInts())
   } finally {
     theme.block.syntax?.destroy()
-    theme.block.subtleSyntax?.destroy()
   }
 })
 
@@ -103,7 +100,6 @@ test("keeps footer surfaces exact while scrollback stays palette matched", async
     expectIndexed(theme.block.warning)
   } finally {
     theme.block.syntax?.destroy()
-    theme.block.subtleSyntax?.destroy()
   }
 })
 
@@ -119,9 +115,7 @@ test("uses refreshed background brightness when cached renderer mode is stale",
     expect(expectRgba(stale.footer.surface).toInts()).toEqual(expectRgba(light.footer.surface).toInts())
   } finally {
     stale.block.syntax?.destroy()
-    stale.block.subtleSyntax?.destroy()
     light.block.syntax?.destroy()
-    light.block.subtleSyntax?.destroy()
   }
 })
 
@@ -138,9 +132,7 @@ test("keeps renderer mode when refreshed default background is unavailable", asy
     expect(expectRgba(light.footer.surface).toInts()).not.toEqual(expectRgba(dark.footer.surface).toInts())
   } finally {
     light.block.syntax?.destroy()
-    light.block.subtleSyntax?.destroy()
     dark.block.syntax?.destroy()
-    dark.block.subtleSyntax?.destroy()
   }
 })
 
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/context/theme.tsx b/packages/tui/src/context/theme.tsx
index 8c4ab4de9f..62ab31792e 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/context/theme.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/src/context/theme.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import {
   DEFAULT_THEMES,
   addTheme,
   allThemes,
-  generateSubtleSyntax,
   generateSyntax,
   generateSystem,
   hasTheme,
@@ -63,7 +62,6 @@ export {
   DEFAULT_THEMES,
   addTheme,
   allThemes,
-  generateSubtleSyntax,
   generateSyntax,
   generateSystem,
   hasTheme,
@@ -75,7 +73,6 @@ export {
   upsertTheme,
   type Theme,
   type ThemeJson,
-  type SyntaxStyleOverrides,
 } from "../theme"
 
 const THEME_REFRESH_DELAYS = [250, 1000] as const
@@ -277,7 +274,6 @@ export const { use: useTheme, provider: ThemeProvider } = createSimpleContext({
     createEffect(() => renderer.setBackgroundColor(values().background))
 
     const syntax = createSyntaxStyleMemo(() => generateSyntax(values()))
-    const subtleSyntax = createSyntaxStyleMemo(() => generateSubtleSyntax(values()))
 
     return {
       theme: new Proxy(values(), {
@@ -292,7 +288,6 @@ export const { use: useTheme, provider: ThemeProvider } = createSimpleContext({
       all: allThemes,
       has: hasTheme,
       syntax,
-      subtleSyntax,
       mode: () => store.mode,
       locked: () => store.lock !== undefined,
       lock: () => pin(store.mode),
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/routes/session/index.tsx b/packages/tui/src/routes/session/index.tsx
index 45fdded0ad..788bbbe8e1 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/routes/session/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui/src/routes/session/index.tsx
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import { useData } from "../../context/data"
 import { SplitBorder } from "../../ui/border"
 import { useTuiPaths, useTuiTerminalEnvironment } from "../../context/runtime"
 import { Spinner, SPINNER_FRAMES } from "../../component/spinner"
-import { createSyntaxStyleMemo, generateSubtleSyntax, useTheme } from "../../context/theme"
+import { useTheme } from "../../context/theme"
 import { BoxRenderable, ScrollBoxRenderable, addDefaultParsers, TextAttributes, RGBA } from "@opentui/core"
 import { Prompt, type PromptRef } from "../../component/prompt"
 import type {
@@ -1716,7 +1716,7 @@ function ReasoningPart(props: {
   part: SessionMessageAssistantReasoning
   message: SessionMessageAssistant
 }) {
-  const { theme } = useTheme()
+  const { theme, syntax } = useTheme()
   const ctx = use()
   // Collapsed by default in hide mode: a single line throughout, so the
   // layout never shifts. Click to open the full markdown block, click to close.
@@ -1736,8 +1736,6 @@ function ReasoningPart(props: {
     return end === undefined ? 0 : Math.max(0, end - start)
   })
   const summary = createMemo(() => reasoningSummary(content()))
-  const syntax = createSyntaxStyleMemo(() => generateSubtleSyntax(theme))
-
   const toggle = () => {
     if (!inMinimal()) return
     setExpanded((prev) => !prev)
diff --git a/packages/tui/src/theme/index.ts b/packages/tui/src/theme/index.ts
index efdf02357a..27ac47bf0b 100644
--- a/packages/tui/src/theme/index.ts
+++ b/packages/tui/src/theme/index.ts
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ export type Theme = {
   _hasSelectedListItemText: boolean
 }
 type ThemeColor = Exclude<keyof Theme, "thinkingOpacity" | "_hasSelectedListItemText">
-export type SyntaxStyleOverrides = Record<string, { italic?: boolean }>
 
 export function selectedForeground(theme: Theme, bg?: RGBA): RGBA {
   // If theme explicitly defines selectedListItemText, use it
@@ -557,32 +556,6 @@ export function generateSyntax(theme: Theme) {
   return SyntaxStyle.fromTheme(getSyntaxRules(theme))
 }
 
-export function generateSubtleSyntax(theme: Theme, overrides?: SyntaxStyleOverrides) {
-  const rules = getSyntaxRules(theme)
-  return SyntaxStyle.fromTheme(
-    rules.map((rule) => {
-      const override = rule.scope.reduce((acc, scope) => ({ ...acc, ...overrides?.[scope] }), {})
-      if (rule.style.foreground) {
-        const fg = rule.style.foreground
-        return {
-          ...rule,
-          style: {
-            ...rule.style,
-            ...override,
-            foreground: RGBA.fromInts(
-              Math.round(fg.r * 255),
-              Math.round(fg.g * 255),
-              Math.round(fg.b * 255),
-              Math.round(theme.thinkingOpacity * 255),
-            ),
-          },
-        }
-      }
-      return rule
-    }),
-  )
-}
-
 function getSyntaxRules(theme: Theme) {
   return [
     {