diff --git a/docs/constructive_editing_runtime_plan.md b/docs/constructive_editing_runtime_plan.md
index 2d41a19..5a91ac4 100644
--- a/docs/constructive_editing_runtime_plan.md
+++ b/docs/constructive_editing_runtime_plan.md
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ Parallel planning tranche (active):
   - `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_spec_planning_baseline_20260226/deterministic_spec_readiness.json`
 
 Planning runtime controls (active):
-- `sprint232_plan.md` to `sprint250_plan.md`
+- `sprint232_plan.md` to `sprint252_plan.md`
 - semantic bridge + intake augmentation + requirement injection + expansion gating are wired into:
   - `tools/mcp/run_sprint_taskitem_pipeline.sh`
 - current policy default is native-first semantic fallback:
@@ -204,3 +204,6 @@ Planning runtime controls (active):
   - `tools/mcp/score_native_tasks_profile_coverage.py`
 - closure ladder can select the minimal passing strategy automatically:
   - `tools/mcp/run_native_profile_closure_ladder.sh`
+- closure ladder can route around historically ineffective raw-only mode:
+  - `tools/mcp/analyze_raw_candidate_uplift_history.py`
+  - `WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_SKIP_RAW_WHEN_NO_UPLIFT`
diff --git a/docs/generator_readiness_gap_registry_2026-02-26.md b/docs/generator_readiness_gap_registry_2026-02-26.md
index cdac8a8..adc26c2 100644
--- a/docs/generator_readiness_gap_registry_2026-02-26.md
+++ b/docs/generator_readiness_gap_registry_2026-02-26.md
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ This is the canonical dated registry for "not production-ready" generator gaps.
 | GR-018 | Performance/security/rollout constrained refactor enforcement gap | `docs/gap_hunt_fullstack_multifile_2026-02-26.md`, `logs/taskitem_runs/challenging_fullstack_multifile_20260226_r5/results.jsonl` | `partial` | Hard checks now enforce migration rollback + data-loss policy, security deny-by-default, SLO p95 presence, and rollout staged+abort policy. Enforcement is contract-level; generator capability under these constraints is still weak in C++ AB path. | Constraint-aware generation follow-up |
 | GR-019 | Parity-blocked readiness load (gating without capability closure) | `logs/taskitem_runs/challenging_fullstack_multifile_20260226_r7/summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/challenging_subset_prod_20260226_r7/summary.json`, `docs/sprint225_227_execution_tracker_2026-02-26.md` | `partial` | Sprint 225-227 reduced blocked parity load from `6` to `0` on both tracked hard catalogs while keeping unresolved divergence at `0`. This closes immediate safety debt for current corpora, but robustness is still contingent on pattern-driven repair classes. | Generalize repairs beyond queue-shaped transpile outputs |
 | GR-020 | Semantic fallback overuse masks weak native decomposition | `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint236_semantic_fallback_audit_20260226/semantic_fallback_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint237_semantic_fallback_gate_fail_20260226/semantic_fallback_budget_gate.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint238_native_gate_fail_20260226.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint239_semantic_fallback_audit_20260226/semantic_fallback_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint240_retry_20260226_145631/00_summary.json`, `docs/sprint236_execution_tracker_2026-02-26.md`, `docs/sprint237_execution_tracker_2026-02-26.md`, `docs/sprint238_execution_tracker_2026-02-26.md`, `docs/sprint239_execution_tracker_2026-02-26.md`, `docs/sprint240_execution_tracker_2026-02-26.md` | `partial` | Sprint 236 added deterministic fallback-gap auditing with tool + constraint metadata. Sprint 237 added fallback-budget hard gate (`max-fallback-rate`) and produced expected fail/pass artifacts. Sprint 238 added native decomposition hard gate in pipeline (`min task count`, `min semantic signal count`) so weak native generation can be blocked before fallback masking. Sprint 239 added native reason enrichment and improved semantic signal density (`0 -> 6`). Sprint 240 added native decomposition retry with explicit minimum-task policy; on current sample retry attempted but did not improve depth (`2 -> 2`). | Native decomposition task-depth upgrade (increase native task granularity beyond 2) |
-| GR-021 | Impact-specific native decomposition coverage not enforced uniformly | `docs/native_decomposition_impact_list_2026-02-26.md`, `tools/mcp/profiles/native_decomposition_impact_profiles.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint241_fullstack_impact_20260226_150416/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint241_native_impact_aggregate_20260226/native_impact_coverage_aggregate.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint242_impact_remediation_loop_20260226/remediation_loop_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint243_impact_remediation_tasks_loop_20260226_r2/remediation_loop_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint244_autofill_20260226_151651/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint244_autofill_enforce_20260226_151709/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint245_intrinsic_20260226_151835/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint246_multishot_20260226_153033/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint246_multishot_enforce_20260226_153045/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint247_singleshot_20260226_153230/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint247_singleshot_enforce_20260226_153241/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint248_rawsearch_20260226_153903/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint249_rawguard_20260226_154028/02ae_raw_candidate_search.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint250_closure_ladder_20260226/closure_ladder_summary.json` | `partial` | Sprint 241 introduced impact profiles/gates; 242-243 remediation loops; 244 first-pass autofill; 245 intrinsic constraints only (no uplift); 246 multishot closes hard sample; 247 single-shot shaping closes with multishot+autofill disabled; 248 raw candidate search found no uplift; 249 added no-uplift guardrail; 250 added automatic closure ladder and selected `single_shot_shape` as minimal passing mode on hard sample. Residual gap remains in raw generator single-shot quality without overlays. | Improve raw single-shot generator output so profile closure does not rely on shaping/multishot/autofill overlays |
+| GR-021 | Impact-specific native decomposition coverage not enforced uniformly | `docs/native_decomposition_impact_list_2026-02-26.md`, `tools/mcp/profiles/native_decomposition_impact_profiles.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint241_fullstack_impact_20260226_150416/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint241_native_impact_aggregate_20260226/native_impact_coverage_aggregate.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint242_impact_remediation_loop_20260226/remediation_loop_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint243_impact_remediation_tasks_loop_20260226_r2/remediation_loop_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint244_autofill_20260226_151651/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint244_autofill_enforce_20260226_151709/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint245_intrinsic_20260226_151835/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint246_multishot_20260226_153033/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint246_multishot_enforce_20260226_153045/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint247_singleshot_20260226_153230/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint247_singleshot_enforce_20260226_153241/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint248_rawsearch_20260226_153903/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint249_rawguard_20260226_154028/02ae_raw_candidate_search.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint250_closure_ladder_20260226/closure_ladder_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint251_rawvariants_20260226_154355/00_summary.json`, `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint252_closure_ladder_policy_skip2_20260226/closure_ladder_summary.json` | `partial` | Sprint 241 introduced impact profiles/gates; 242-243 remediation loops; 244 first-pass autofill; 245 intrinsic constraints only (no uplift); 246 multishot closes hard sample; 247 single-shot shaping closes with multishot+autofill disabled; 248 raw candidate search found no uplift; 249 added no-uplift guardrail; 250 closure ladder selected minimal passing mode; 251 richer raw variants still no raw uplift (`selected_variant=0`); 252 added history-aware ladder routing to skip raw-only when historically ineffective. Residual gap remains in raw generator single-shot quality without overlays. | Improve raw single-shot generator output so profile closure does not rely on shaping/multishot/autofill overlays |
 
 ## What Was Covered Today (Sprints 175-184)
 
diff --git a/docs/progress_log_2026-02-26.md b/docs/progress_log_2026-02-26.md
index 03b3e3d..09297e2 100644
--- a/docs/progress_log_2026-02-26.md
+++ b/docs/progress_log_2026-02-26.md
@@ -334,3 +334,33 @@
 - Current measured result on hard fullstack sample:
   - selected mode: `single_shot_shape`
   - selected run passes impact coverage with `failing_profile_count=0`
+
+## Sprint 251 Added (Same Day)
+
+- Added richer raw-variant synthesis for raw-only candidate search:
+  - `tools/mcp/synthesize_raw_candidate_requirement_variants.py`
+  - raw search now consumes profile-bundle variants
+- Dated artifact:
+  - `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint251_rawvariants_20260226_154355/00_summary.json`
+- Current measured result:
+  - `available_variants=8`, `attempted_variants=8`
+  - `selected_variant=0`, `failing_profile_count 7 -> 7`
+  - no raw-only uplift on this hard sample.
+
+## Sprint 252 Added (Same Day)
+
+- Added raw uplift history analyzer:
+  - `tools/mcp/analyze_raw_candidate_uplift_history.py`
+- Added closure-ladder policy routing based on historical raw uplift:
+  - `tools/mcp/run_native_profile_closure_ladder.sh`
+  - controls:
+    - `WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_SKIP_RAW_WHEN_NO_UPLIFT`
+    - `WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_RAW_HISTORY_GLOB`
+    - `WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_RAW_HISTORY_MAX_RUNS`
+    - `WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_RAW_MIN_UPLIFT_RATE`
+    - `WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_RAW_MIN_RECORDS`
+- Dated artifacts:
+  - `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint252_closure_ladder_policy_20260226/closure_ladder_summary.json`
+  - `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint252_closure_ladder_policy_skip2_20260226/closure_ladder_summary.json`
+- Verified forced-skip behavior:
+  - attempted modes excluded `raw_only` and started at `single_shot_shape`.
diff --git a/docs/sprint251_execution_tracker_2026-02-26.md b/docs/sprint251_execution_tracker_2026-02-26.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0467a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/sprint251_execution_tracker_2026-02-26.md
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# Sprint 251 Execution Tracker - 2026-02-26
+
+## Scope
+- `sprint251_plan.md`
+
+## Implemented
+
+New tool:
+- `tools/mcp/synthesize_raw_candidate_requirement_variants.py`
+  - Builds profile-aware raw requirement bundles for candidate search.
+
+Pipeline integration in `tools/mcp/run_sprint_taskitem_pipeline.sh`:
+- Raw candidate search now consumes synthesized variant bundles.
+- Added telemetry field:
+  - `native_raw_candidate_search.available_variants`
+
+## Validation Artifact
+
+- `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint251_rawvariants_20260226_154355/00_summary.json`
+
+Observed result on hard fullstack sample:
+- `available_variants=8`
+- `attempted_variants=8`
+- selected variant remains baseline (`selected_variant=0`)
+- `failing_profile_count` unchanged at `7`
+
+## Explicit Completion Signal
+
+- Sprint 251: `DONE` (implemented + measured; no raw-only uplift)
diff --git a/docs/sprint252_execution_tracker_2026-02-26.md b/docs/sprint252_execution_tracker_2026-02-26.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..446301a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/sprint252_execution_tracker_2026-02-26.md
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# Sprint 252 Execution Tracker - 2026-02-26
+
+## Scope
+- `sprint252_plan.md`
+
+## Implemented
+
+New analyzer:
+- `tools/mcp/analyze_raw_candidate_uplift_history.py`
+  - Computes recent raw-search uplift rate from run summaries.
+
+Closure ladder policy routing in `tools/mcp/run_native_profile_closure_ladder.sh`:
+- Added controls:
+  - `WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_SKIP_RAW_WHEN_NO_UPLIFT` (default `1`)
+  - `WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_RAW_HISTORY_GLOB`
+  - `WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_RAW_HISTORY_MAX_RUNS`
+  - `WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_RAW_MIN_UPLIFT_RATE`
+  - `WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_RAW_MIN_RECORDS` (default `3`)
+- Emits policy artifact when enabled:
+  - `raw_uplift_history.json`
+- Dynamically removes `raw_only` from ladder modes when uplift evidence is below threshold.
+
+## Validation Artifacts
+
+- policy-enabled run:
+  - `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint252_closure_ladder_policy_20260226/closure_ladder_summary.json`
+- forced-skip run (demonstrates raw mode removed):
+  - `logs/taskitem_runs/TEST_ONLY_sprint252_closure_ladder_policy_skip2_20260226/closure_ladder_summary.json`
+
+Observed forced-skip signal:
+- `attempted_modes=[single_shot_shape,multishot,autofill]`
+- selected mode remained `single_shot_shape`.
+
+## Explicit Completion Signal
+
+- Sprint 252: `DONE` (implemented + policy skip behavior verified)
diff --git a/editor/src/Sprint251IntegrationSummary.h b/editor/src/Sprint251IntegrationSummary.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..575a793
--- /dev/null
+++ b/editor/src/Sprint251IntegrationSummary.h
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#pragma once
+
+// Sprint 251 integration summary:
+// - Added richer raw variant synthesis for candidate search.
+// - Raw candidate search now consumes profile-bundle variants rather than single requirement slices.
+// - Hard sample still shows no raw-only uplift; selected candidate remains baseline.
diff --git a/editor/src/Sprint252IntegrationSummary.h b/editor/src/Sprint252IntegrationSummary.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a9a96c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/editor/src/Sprint252IntegrationSummary.h
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#pragma once
+
+// Sprint 252 integration summary:
+// - Added raw uplift history analyzer for closure ladder policy routing.
+// - Closure ladder can skip raw-only mode when historical uplift is weak.
+// - Policy behavior is configurable via threshold and minimum-record controls.
diff --git a/sprint251_plan.md b/sprint251_plan.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..26cc0e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sprint251_plan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Sprint 251 Plan: Rich Raw Variant Synthesis for Candidate Search
+
+## Goal
+Increase raw-only search strength by synthesizing richer requirement bundles per active profile and testing if raw generator output improves without overlays.
+
+## Steps
+- Step 2300: Add raw candidate requirement variant synthesizer.
+- Step 2301: Integrate variant bundles into raw candidate search loop.
+- Step 2302: Surface available-variant telemetry in summary.
+- Step 2303: Re-test hard fullstack sample for raw-only uplift.
+- Step 2304: Add `Sprint251IntegrationSummary.h` and execution tracker.
diff --git a/sprint252_plan.md b/sprint252_plan.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bef106f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sprint252_plan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Sprint 252 Plan: Closure Ladder Policy Routing from Raw Uplift History
+
+## Goal
+Reduce wasted raw-only attempts by making closure ladder mode selection aware of recent raw candidate uplift performance.
+
+## Steps
+- Step 2305: Add raw uplift history analyzer.
+- Step 2306: Add ladder policy controls for skip conditions.
+- Step 2307: Skip `raw_only` when historical uplift rate is below threshold.
+- Step 2308: Emit policy evidence artifact in ladder output directory.
+- Step 2309: Add `Sprint252IntegrationSummary.h` and execution tracker.
diff --git a/tools/mcp/analyze_raw_candidate_uplift_history.py b/tools/mcp/analyze_raw_candidate_uplift_history.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..8d5aaf9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/mcp/analyze_raw_candidate_uplift_history.py
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import argparse
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Dict, List
+
+
+def load_json(path: Path):
+    with path.open("r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        return json.load(f)
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    p = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Analyze recent raw candidate search uplift history.")
+    p.add_argument("--runs-root", default="logs/taskitem_runs")
+    p.add_argument("--include-glob", default="*")
+    p.add_argument("--max-runs", type=int, default=20)
+    p.add_argument("--out", required=True)
+    args = p.parse_args()
+
+    root = Path(args.runs_root)
+    summaries: List[Path] = sorted(root.glob(f"{args.include_glob}/00_summary.json"), key=lambda x: x.stat().st_mtime, reverse=True)
+
+    rows = []
+    for path in summaries[: max(0, args.max_runs)]:
+        try:
+            s = load_json(path)
+        except Exception:
+            continue
+        raw = s.get("native_raw_candidate_search") or {}
+        if not isinstance(raw, dict) or not raw.get("enabled", False):
+            continue
+        baseline = int(raw.get("baseline_failing_profile_count", 999) or 999)
+        best = int(raw.get("best_failing_profile_count", 999) or 999)
+        rows.append({
+            "run_id": path.parent.name,
+            "baseline_failing_profile_count": baseline,
+            "best_failing_profile_count": best,
+            "uplift": int(best < baseline),
+        })
+
+    total = len(rows)
+    uplift_count = sum(int(r.get("uplift", 0)) for r in rows)
+    no_uplift_count = total - uplift_count
+
+    out = {
+        "status": "ok",
+        "record_count": total,
+        "uplift_count": uplift_count,
+        "no_uplift_count": no_uplift_count,
+        "uplift_rate": round((uplift_count / total), 4) if total else 0.0,
+        "records": rows,
+    }
+
+    with Path(args.out).open("w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        json.dump(out, f, indent=2, sort_keys=True)
+        f.write("\n")
+
+    print(json.dumps({"status": "ok", "record_count": total, "uplift_rate": out["uplift_rate"], "out": args.out}, sort_keys=True))
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main())
diff --git a/tools/mcp/run_native_profile_closure_ladder.sh b/tools/mcp/run_native_profile_closure_ladder.sh
index 07df4e0..187a6d5 100755
--- a/tools/mcp/run_native_profile_closure_ladder.sh
+++ b/tools/mcp/run_native_profile_closure_ladder.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,31 @@ if [[ ! -f "$SPEC_PATH" ]]; then
 fi
 mkdir -p "$OUT_DIR"
 
+SKIP_RAW_WHEN_NO_UPLIFT="${WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_SKIP_RAW_WHEN_NO_UPLIFT:-1}"
+RAW_HISTORY_GLOB="${WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_RAW_HISTORY_GLOB:-TEST_ONLY_sprint24*_raw*}"
+RAW_HISTORY_MAX_RUNS="${WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_RAW_HISTORY_MAX_RUNS:-20}"
+RAW_MIN_UPLIFT_RATE="${WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_RAW_MIN_UPLIFT_RATE:-0.05}"
+RAW_MIN_RECORDS="${WSTONE_CLOSURE_LADDER_RAW_MIN_RECORDS:-3}"
+
+effective_modes=(raw_only single_shot_shape multishot autofill)
+if [[ "$SKIP_RAW_WHEN_NO_UPLIFT" == "1" ]]; then
+  python3 "$ROOT_DIR/tools/mcp/analyze_raw_candidate_uplift_history.py" \
+    --runs-root "$ROOT_DIR/logs/taskitem_runs" \
+    --include-glob "$RAW_HISTORY_GLOB" \
+    --max-runs "$RAW_HISTORY_MAX_RUNS" \
+    --out "$OUT_DIR/raw_uplift_history.json" >/dev/null || true
+  if [[ -f "$OUT_DIR/raw_uplift_history.json" ]]; then
+    raw_record_count="$(jq '.record_count // 0' "$OUT_DIR/raw_uplift_history.json")"
+    raw_uplift_rate="$(jq '.uplift_rate // 0' "$OUT_DIR/raw_uplift_history.json")"
+    if [[ "$raw_record_count" -ge "$RAW_MIN_RECORDS" ]]; then
+      awk_cmp="$(awk -v a="$raw_uplift_rate" -v b="$RAW_MIN_UPLIFT_RATE" 'BEGIN{if (a < b) print 1; else print 0;}')"
+      if [[ "$awk_cmp" == "1" ]]; then
+        effective_modes=(single_shot_shape multishot autofill)
+      fi
+    fi
+  fi
+fi
+
 run_mode() {
   local mode="$1"
   local logfile="$OUT_DIR/${mode}.log"
@@ -65,12 +90,11 @@ run_mode() {
   return "$rc"
 }
 
-modes=(raw_only single_shot_shape multishot autofill)
 selected=""
 selected_run=""
 selected_rc=1
 
-for mode in "${modes[@]}"; do
+for mode in "${effective_modes[@]}"; do
   if run_mode "$mode"; then
     selected="$mode"
     selected_run="$(cat "$OUT_DIR/${mode}.run_dir")"
@@ -85,7 +109,7 @@ jq -n \
   --arg selected_mode "$selected" \
   --arg selected_run "$selected_run" \
   --argjson selected_rc "$selected_rc" \
-  --argjson attempted_modes "$(printf '%s\n' "${modes[@]}" | jq -R . | jq -s .)" \
+  --argjson attempted_modes "$(printf '%s\n' "${effective_modes[@]}" | jq -R . | jq -s .)" \
   '{
     status: (if $selected_rc == 0 then "ok" else "fail" end),
     spec:$spec,
diff --git a/tools/mcp/run_sprint_taskitem_pipeline.sh b/tools/mcp/run_sprint_taskitem_pipeline.sh
index 360abb9..65ff8d9 100755
--- a/tools/mcp/run_sprint_taskitem_pipeline.sh
+++ b/tools/mcp/run_sprint_taskitem_pipeline.sh
@@ -390,13 +390,12 @@ else
     '{attempted:$attempted, applied:$applied, initial_task_count:$initial_task_count, target_min_task_count:$target_min_task_count}')"
 fi
 if [[ "$NATIVE_RAW_CANDIDATE_SEARCH" == "1" ]]; then
-  if [[ "$(printf '%s' "$INTRINSIC_REQS_JSON" | jq 'length')" -eq 0 ]]; then
-    python3 "$ROOT_DIR/tools/mcp/synthesize_native_intrinsic_boost_requirements.py" \
-      --spec "$INPUT_FILE" \
-      --profiles "$NATIVE_IMPACT_COVERAGE_PROFILES" \
-      --out "$OUT_DIR/02ae_raw_candidate_requirements.json" >/dev/null
-    INTRINSIC_REQS_JSON="$(cat "$OUT_DIR/02ae_raw_candidate_requirements.json")"
-  fi
+  python3 "$ROOT_DIR/tools/mcp/synthesize_raw_candidate_requirement_variants.py" \
+    --spec "$INPUT_FILE" \
+    --profiles "$NATIVE_IMPACT_COVERAGE_PROFILES" \
+    --max-variants "$NATIVE_RAW_CANDIDATE_MAX_VARIANTS" \
+    --out "$OUT_DIR/02ae_raw_candidate_variants.json" >/dev/null
+  VARIANTS_JSON="$(cat "$OUT_DIR/02ae_raw_candidate_variants.json")"
 
   printf '%s\n' "$TASKS" > "$OUT_DIR/02ae_candidate_0_tasks.json"
   python3 "$ROOT_DIR/tools/mcp/score_native_tasks_profile_coverage.py" \
@@ -412,13 +411,13 @@ if [[ "$NATIVE_RAW_CANDIDATE_SEARCH" == "1" ]]; then
   attempted=1
   successful=1
 
-  req_total="$(printf '%s' "$INTRINSIC_REQS_JSON" | jq 'length')"
+  variant_total="$(printf '%s' "$VARIANTS_JSON" | jq '.variants | length')"
   max_variants="$NATIVE_RAW_CANDIDATE_MAX_VARIANTS"
   idx=0
   variant=1
-  while [[ "$variant" -lt "$max_variants" && "$idx" -lt "$req_total" ]]; do
-    req_i="$(printf '%s' "$INTRINSIC_REQS_JSON" | jq ".[$idx]")"
-    cand_reqs="$(jq -nc --argjson base "$NORMALIZED_REQS" --argjson req "$req_i" '$base + [$req]')"
+  while [[ "$variant" -lt "$max_variants" && "$idx" -lt "$variant_total" ]]; do
+    req_bundle="$(printf '%s' "$VARIANTS_JSON" | jq ".variants[$idx]")"
+    cand_reqs="$(jq -nc --argjson base "$NORMALIZED_REQS" --argjson bundle "$req_bundle" '$base + $bundle')"
     cand_args="$(jq -nc --argjson nr "$cand_reqs" --argjson cf "$CONFLICTS" --arg strict "$STRICT_EXECUTION_CONTRACT" \
       '{normalizedRequirements:$nr,conflicts:$cf,strictExecutionContract:($strict == "1")}')"
     cand_raw="$(call_tool "whetstone_generate_taskitems" "$cand_args")"
@@ -457,7 +456,8 @@ if [[ "$NATIVE_RAW_CANDIDATE_SEARCH" == "1" ]]; then
     --argjson baseline_task_count "$baseline_task_count" \
     --argjson best_failing_profile_count "$best_fail" \
     --argjson best_task_count "$best_task_count" \
-    '{enabled:$enabled, attempted_variants:$attempted, successful_variants:$successful, selected_variant:$best_variant, baseline_failing_profile_count:$baseline_failing_profile_count, baseline_task_count:$baseline_task_count, best_failing_profile_count:$best_failing_profile_count, best_task_count:$best_task_count}')"
+    --argjson available_variants "$variant_total" \
+    '{enabled:$enabled, attempted_variants:$attempted, successful_variants:$successful, available_variants:$available_variants, selected_variant:$best_variant, baseline_failing_profile_count:$baseline_failing_profile_count, baseline_task_count:$baseline_task_count, best_failing_profile_count:$best_failing_profile_count, best_task_count:$best_task_count}')"
   printf '%s\n' "$NATIVE_RAW_CANDIDATE_SEARCH_JSON" > "$OUT_DIR/02ae_raw_candidate_search.json"
   if [[ "$NATIVE_RAW_CANDIDATE_REQUIRE_UPLIFT" == "1" && "$best_fail" -ge "$baseline_fail" ]]; then
     echo "error: raw candidate search did not improve failing profile count" >&2
diff --git a/tools/mcp/synthesize_raw_candidate_requirement_variants.py b/tools/mcp/synthesize_raw_candidate_requirement_variants.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..9a984a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/mcp/synthesize_raw_candidate_requirement_variants.py
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import argparse
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Dict, List
+
+
+def load_json(path: Path):
+    with path.open("r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        return json.load(f)
+
+
+def write_json(path: Path, obj) -> None:
+    with path.open("w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        json.dump(obj, f, indent=2, sort_keys=True)
+        f.write("\n")
+
+
+def activate_profiles(profiles: List[Dict], spec_text: str) -> List[Dict]:
+    s = spec_text.lower()
+    out = []
+    for p in profiles:
+        keys = [str(k).lower() for k in (p.get("trigger_keywords") or [])]
+        if keys and any(k in s for k in keys):
+            out.append(p)
+    return out
+
+
+def req_from_profile(p: Dict, idx: int) -> Dict:
+    pid = str(p.get("id", f"profile_{idx}"))
+    min_tasks = int(p.get("min_native_task_count", 0) or 0)
+    reasons = [str(x) for x in (p.get("required_reason_keywords") or [])]
+    ops = [str(x) for x in (p.get("required_prerequisite_ops") or [])]
+    contract = [str(x) for x in (p.get("required_execution_contract") or [])]
+    text = (
+        f"raw candidate policy {pid}: produce >= {min_tasks} concrete taskitems; "
+        f"reasons include {', '.join(reasons) if reasons else 'none'}; "
+        f"ops include {', '.join(ops) if ops else 'none'}; "
+        f"execution contract include {', '.join(contract) if contract else 'none'}; "
+        "avoid generic or umbrella tasks."
+    )
+    return {
+        "requirementId": f"raw-variant-{pid}",
+        "kind": "constraint",
+        "normalizedText": text,
+        "anchor": "raw_candidate_variant",
+        "sourceLine": 0,
+        "ambiguous": False,
+    }
+
+
+def global_decomposition_req(active_count: int, min_target: int) -> Dict:
+    return {
+        "requirementId": "raw-variant-global-decomposition",
+        "kind": "constraint",
+        "normalizedText": (
+            f"raw decomposition hard policy: output at least {min_target} concrete taskitems "
+            f"for {active_count} active impact profiles; each task must have deterministic executionContract and explicit prerequisiteOps."
+        ),
+        "anchor": "raw_candidate_variant",
+        "sourceLine": 0,
+        "ambiguous": False,
+    }
+
+
+def build_variants(active: List[Dict], max_variants: int) -> List[List[Dict]]:
+    if max_variants <= 0:
+        return []
+
+    profile_reqs = [req_from_profile(p, i) for i, p in enumerate(active)]
+    min_target = max(5, len(active) + 2)
+    g = global_decomposition_req(len(active), min_target)
+
+    variants: List[List[Dict]] = []
+
+    # Variant 1: global only
+    variants.append([g])
+
+    # Variant 2: global + all profiles
+    variants.append([g] + profile_reqs)
+
+    # Variant 3+: one profile at a time + global
+    for r in profile_reqs:
+        variants.append([g, r])
+
+    # Variant: paired profile bundles
+    for i in range(0, len(profile_reqs), 2):
+        bundle = [g] + profile_reqs[i:i+2]
+        variants.append(bundle)
+
+    # Deduplicate by requirementId tuple ordering
+    seen = set()
+    out: List[List[Dict]] = []
+    for v in variants:
+        key = tuple(x.get("requirementId", "") for x in v)
+        if key in seen:
+            continue
+        seen.add(key)
+        out.append(v)
+        if len(out) >= max_variants:
+            break
+    return out
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    p = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Synthesize raw candidate requirement variants from active profiles.")
+    p.add_argument("--spec", required=True)
+    p.add_argument("--profiles", required=True)
+    p.add_argument("--max-variants", type=int, default=8)
+    p.add_argument("--out", required=True)
+    args = p.parse_args()
+
+    spec_text = Path(args.spec).read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore")
+    profiles_doc = load_json(Path(args.profiles))
+    profiles = list(profiles_doc.get("profiles") or [])
+    active = activate_profiles(profiles, spec_text)
+
+    variants = build_variants(active, args.max_variants)
+    payload = {
+        "status": "ok",
+        "active_profile_count": len(active),
+        "variant_count": len(variants),
+        "variants": variants,
+    }
+    write_json(Path(args.out), payload)
+    print(json.dumps({"status": "ok", "active_profile_count": len(active), "variant_count": len(variants), "out": args.out}, sort_keys=True))
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main())