diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index b619743..04a3eee 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ modifier routes to the composer), and `Alt+A`/`Alt+D`/`Alt+T`
   restore typed cards, argument previews, icons, summaries, or result schemas.
   Preserve `delegate_tasks`, all `bg_*` views, and supported individual `shell`,
   `patch`, `read_file`, `search_files`, and `http_request` rendering.
-- `TestTerminalWorkflowLayouts` checks real views across four themes at 40, 80,
+- `TestTerminalWorkflowLayouts` checks real views across five themes at 40, 80,
   and 120 columns. Set `BODEK_RENDER_PREVIEW_DIR` to write optional ANSI fixtures
   for visual review without an engine/provider; generated captures are not source.
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f53b2c6..c3b2100 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -150,8 +150,8 @@ own front-end settings are separate; see [Configuration](#configuration).
 ### Interface
 
 - **EMBER Terminal** — the WebUI's design language (electric amber on
-  blue-charcoal) as terminal tokens; four themes (`ember-dark` ·
-  `ember-light` · `high-contrast` · `classic`), switchable live with `/theme`
+  blue-charcoal) as terminal tokens; five themes (`ember-dark` ·
+  `ember-light` · `high-contrast` · `obsidian` · `classic`), switchable live with `/theme`
   and persisted to `~/.bodek/config.json`. Secondary labels and focused rows
   stay readable across dark, light, and high-contrast surfaces. The terminal
   controls the font; bodek does not replace it.
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ full command and press `⏎`.
 | `/export` | Save the session transcript next to you — `/export [md|json]` (markdown by default, never overwrites) |
 | `/retry` | Re-send the last prompt (queues it if a turn is running) |
 | `/queue` | Manage the prompt queue — priority, delete, send now (the full manager over the `^Q` strip) |
-| `/theme [name]` | Open a searchable theme selector with the current theme marked; arrows + Enter apply and save, Esc keeps the current theme. `/theme name` still switches directly (`ember-dark` · `ember-light` · `high-contrast` · `classic`) |
+| `/theme [name]` | Open a searchable theme selector with the current theme marked; arrows + Enter apply and save, Esc keeps the current theme. `/theme name` still switches directly (`ember-dark` · `ember-light` · `high-contrast` · `obsidian` · `classic`) |
 | `/verbosity [quiet\|normal\|detailed]` | One-dial noise policy (persisted): quiet hides engine traces, detailed switches on the `^E` expand-all view; bare `/verbosity` cycles |
 | `/stats` | Session metrics sheet (speed, TTFT, cost, cache, context gauge) |
 | `/server` | Cockpit — server, link, budget & session in one card (or click the header) |
diff --git a/cmd/bodek/main.go b/cmd/bodek/main.go
index aa45341..26bef0d 100644
--- a/cmd/bodek/main.go
+++ b/cmd/bodek/main.go
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func parseConfig(args []string, output io.Writer) (config, error) {
 	if os.Getenv("BODEK_THEME") != "" {
 		themeDefault = "" // the env override wins over the persisted file
 	}
-	fs.StringVar(&cfg.theme, "theme", themeDefault, "color theme: ember-dark, ember-light, high-contrast, classic (default: BODEK_THEME, then the settings file)")
+	fs.StringVar(&cfg.theme, "theme", themeDefault, "color theme: ember-dark, ember-light, high-contrast, obsidian, classic (default: BODEK_THEME, then the settings file)")
 	fs.BoolVar(&cfg.bel, "bel", st.Bool(st.Bell, true), "ring the terminal bell when a turn completes or an approval is waiting (--bel=false mutes)")
 	fs.BoolVar(&cfg.notify, "notify", st.Bool(st.Notify, false), "raise desktop notifications (OSC 9) on turn completion and approvals")
 	fs.BoolVar(&cfg.plain, "plain", st.Bool(st.Plain, false), "linear mode: no alt-screen, transcript printed to scrollback (screen readers, pipes, logs)")
diff --git a/docs/CONFIGURATION.md b/docs/CONFIGURATION.md
index 2e628ec..aa82c42 100644
--- a/docs/CONFIGURATION.md
+++ b/docs/CONFIGURATION.md
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ silently ignored.
 
 | Key | Type | Default | Flag | What it does |
 |-----|------|---------|------|--------------|
-| `theme` | string | `ember-dark` | `--theme` | Color palette: `ember-dark` · `ember-light` · `high-contrast` · `classic`. `/theme <name>` switches live **and persists it here**. |
+| `theme` | string | `ember-dark` | `--theme` | Color palette: `ember-dark` · `ember-light` · `high-contrast` · `obsidian` (true black) · `classic`. `/theme <name>` switches live **and persists it here**. |
 | `bel` | bool | `true` | `--bel` | Ring the terminal bell when a turn completes or an approval is waiting (`--bel=false` mutes; the title still updates). |
 | `notify` | bool | `false` | `--notify` | Raise desktop notifications (OSC 9) on turn completion and pending approvals. |
 | `plain` | bool | `false` | `--plain` | Linear mode: no alt-screen; agent events print to the terminal's native scrollback (screen readers, pipes, logs). |
diff --git a/internal/tui/canvas_test.go b/internal/tui/canvas_test.go
index 3dc75b8..cd91331 100644
--- a/internal/tui/canvas_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui/canvas_test.go
@@ -47,6 +47,28 @@ func TestLightCanvasCoversTerminalAndPreservesCardSurfaces(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestObsidianCanvasIsTrueBlack pins obsidian's own #000 canvas: a gray or
+// blue-tinted host terminal still renders pure black, and the graphite
+// answer card keeps its surface on top of it.
+func TestObsidianCanvasIsTrueBlack(t *testing.T) {
+	old := lipgloss.ColorProfile()
+	lipgloss.SetColorProfile(termenv.TrueColor)
+	defer lipgloss.SetColorProfile(old)
+	m := newTestModel()
+	m.th = themeFrom(obsidian)
+	m.width, m.height = 20, 3
+	out := m.paintCanvas("header\x1b[0m body\n" + m.th.answerCard.Render("answer"))
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(out, "\x1b[38;2;243;243;245m\x1b[48;2;0;0;0m") {
+		t.Fatalf("obsidian frame does not start on the black canvas: %q", out)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "\x1b[48;2;14;14;17m") {
+		t.Fatal("answer card lost its graphite surface")
+	}
+	if !strings.HasSuffix(out, "\x1b[0m") {
+		t.Fatal("canvas leaks into terminal after frame")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestLightThemeSwitchUpdatesComposerAndCanvas(t *testing.T) {
 	old := themeOverride
 	defer func() { themeOverride = old }()
diff --git a/internal/tui/commands.go b/internal/tui/commands.go
index c4e8ab5..e81f6a9 100644
--- a/internal/tui/commands.go
+++ b/internal/tui/commands.go
@@ -261,8 +261,8 @@ func (m *Model) openCmdAC(query string) {
 }
 
 // themeOptions lists the palettes /theme accepts (aliases included in
-// canonicalTheme: light, contrast, dark, default).
-const themeOptions = "ember-dark · ember-light · high-contrast · classic"
+// canonicalTheme: light, contrast, black, dark, default).
+const themeOptions = "ember-dark · ember-light · high-contrast · obsidian · classic"
 
 // runTheme handles /theme: no argument reports the active palette and the
 // options; a name switches at runtime and persists via OnThemeChange.
diff --git a/internal/tui/copyclean_test.go b/internal/tui/copyclean_test.go
index 966ef64..e2ae661 100644
--- a/internal/tui/copyclean_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui/copyclean_test.go
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ func TestAnswerCard(t *testing.T) {
 		"ember-dark":    "[48;2;11;13;18m",    // #0B0D12 (EMBER bg-1)
 		"ember-light":   "[48;2;239;236;229m", // #EFECE5
 		"classic":       "[48;2;22;22;30m",    // #16161E
+		"obsidian":      "[48;2;14;14;17m",    // #0E0E11
 		"high-contrast": "",
 	} {
 		var pal palette
@@ -138,6 +139,8 @@ func TestAnswerCard(t *testing.T) {
 			pal = emberLight
 		case "classic":
 			pal = classic
+		case "obsidian":
+			pal = obsidian
 		default:
 			pal = emberHighContrast
 		}
@@ -245,6 +248,7 @@ func TestAnswerTextIsThemeBright(t *testing.T) {
 		"ember-light":   "38;2;34;36;44",    // #22252C (glamour quantizes g−1)
 		"classic":       "38;2;229;231;235", // #E5E7EB
 		"high-contrast": "38;2;255;255;255", // #FFFFFF
+		"obsidian":      "38;2;243;243;245", // #F4F4F5 (quantizes r/g−1)
 	} {
 		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Setenv("BODEK_THEME", name)
diff --git a/internal/tui/model.go b/internal/tui/model.go
index 8485e3e..fca0528 100644
--- a/internal/tui/model.go
+++ b/internal/tui/model.go
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ type Options struct {
 	ReduceMotion bool
 
 	// Theme names the startup palette (ember-dark, ember-light,
-	// high-contrast, classic). Empty defers to BODEK_THEME, then the
+	// high-contrast, obsidian, classic). Empty defers to BODEK_THEME, then the
 	// settings file — the same order /theme persists into.
 	Theme string
 
diff --git a/internal/tui/palette.go b/internal/tui/palette.go
index fd87fa7..8cc2540 100644
--- a/internal/tui/palette.go
+++ b/internal/tui/palette.go
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ func themePaletteEntries() []palEntry {
 		{title: "ember-dark", kind: "theme", detail: "dark terminal", run: func(m *Model) tea.Cmd { return m.switchTheme("ember-dark") }},
 		{title: "ember-light", kind: "theme", detail: "light parchment", run: func(m *Model) tea.Cmd { return m.switchTheme("ember-light") }},
 		{title: "high-contrast", kind: "theme", detail: "high contrast", run: func(m *Model) tea.Cmd { return m.switchTheme("high-contrast") }},
+		{title: "obsidian", kind: "theme", detail: "true black", run: func(m *Model) tea.Cmd { return m.switchTheme("obsidian") }},
 		{title: "classic", kind: "theme", detail: "classic violet", run: func(m *Model) tea.Cmd { return m.switchTheme("classic") }},
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/tui/styles.go b/internal/tui/styles.go
index be1b6ab..0923697 100644
--- a/internal/tui/styles.go
+++ b/internal/tui/styles.go
@@ -109,6 +109,28 @@ var (
 		grad:     [2][3]int{{0xFF, 0xE0, 0x8A}, {0xFF, 0xB2, 0x24}},
 	}
 
+	// obsidian is a true-black theme for OLED panels and dark rooms: it
+	// paints its own #000 canvas (any terminal background becomes pure
+	// black), graphite cards, neutral zinc greys, and one champagne accent.
+	obsidian = palette{
+		canvas:   "#000000",
+		accent:   "#E2C08D",
+		accentHi: "#F3DDB3",
+		accentLo: "#C9A06A",
+		steel:    "#9BA3B4",
+		green:    "#4ADE80",
+		// Lemon, not gold: warnings must not read as the champagne accent.
+		yellow:   "#FDE047",
+		red:      "#F87171",
+		text:     "#F4F4F5",
+		muted:    "#A1A1AA",
+		faint:    "#71717A",
+		bodyText: "#B4B4BD",
+		hairline: "#232328",
+		surface:  "#0E0E11",
+		grad:     [2][3]int{{0xF3, 0xDD, 0xB3}, {0xC9, 0xA0, 0x6A}},
+	}
+
 	// classic is the pre-EMBER Charm-inspired palette, kept for muscle memory
 	// (BODEK_THEME=classic).
 	classic = palette{
@@ -154,6 +176,8 @@ func themeName() string {
 		return "ember-light"
 	case "high-contrast", "contrast":
 		return "high-contrast"
+	case "obsidian", "black":
+		return "obsidian"
 	default:
 		return "ember-dark"
 	}
@@ -172,6 +196,8 @@ func canonicalTheme(name string) (canonical string, ok bool) {
 		return "ember-light", true
 	case "high-contrast", "contrast":
 		return "high-contrast", true
+	case "obsidian", "black":
+		return "obsidian", true
 	default:
 		return "", false
 	}
@@ -185,6 +211,8 @@ func paletteByName(name string) palette {
 		return emberLight
 	case "high-contrast":
 		return emberHighContrast
+	case "obsidian":
+		return obsidian
 	default:
 		return emberDark
 	}
diff --git a/internal/tui/terminal_preview_test.go b/internal/tui/terminal_preview_test.go
index 32c9c87..c90a6f3 100644
--- a/internal/tui/terminal_preview_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui/terminal_preview_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ func TestTerminalWorkflowLayouts(t *testing.T) {
 	oldProfile := lipgloss.ColorProfile()
 	lipgloss.SetColorProfile(termenv.TrueColor)
 	defer lipgloss.SetColorProfile(oldProfile)
-	for _, themeName := range []string{"ember-dark", "ember-light", "high-contrast", "classic"} {
+	for _, themeName := range []string{"ember-dark", "ember-light", "high-contrast", "obsidian", "classic"} {
 		for _, width := range []int{40, 80, 120} {
 			for _, height := range []int{12, 16, 20, 32} {
 				for _, active := range []bool{false, true} {
diff --git a/internal/tui/theme_readability_test.go b/internal/tui/theme_readability_test.go
index e6c88bf..fad0268 100644
--- a/internal/tui/theme_readability_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui/theme_readability_test.go
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ func TestEmberThemeReadability(t *testing.T) {
 		{"ember-dark", emberDark, string(emberDark.surface)},
 		{"ember-light", emberLight, string(emberLight.surface)},
 		{"high-contrast", emberHighContrast, "#000000"},
+		{"obsidian", obsidian, string(obsidian.surface)},
+		{"obsidian canvas", obsidian, string(obsidian.canvas)},
 	}
 	for _, tc := range cases {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -61,6 +63,7 @@ func TestThemeSemanticStyles(t *testing.T) {
 		"ember-dark":    emberDark,
 		"ember-light":   emberLight,
 		"high-contrast": emberHighContrast,
+		"obsidian":      obsidian,
 	} {
 		th := themeFrom(p)
 		focused := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(p.accentHi).Bold(true).Render("focused")
diff --git a/internal/tui/theme_test.go b/internal/tui/theme_test.go
index be8e092..db68053 100644
--- a/internal/tui/theme_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui/theme_test.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ func TestThemeVariants(t *testing.T) {
 		"ember-light":   func() theme { return themeFrom(emberLight) },
 		"high-contrast": func() theme { return themeFrom(emberHighContrast) },
 		"classic":       func() theme { return themeFrom(classic) },
+		"obsidian":      func() theme { return themeFrom(obsidian) },
 	} {
 		th := p()
 		if got := plain(th.logo.Render("⬡ bodek")); !strings.Contains(got, "bodek") {
@@ -34,6 +35,8 @@ func TestThemeSelection(t *testing.T) {
 		"ember-light":   "ember-light",
 		"high-contrast": "high-contrast",
 		"CONTRAST":      "high-contrast",
+		"obsidian":      "obsidian",
+		"black":         "obsidian",
 	}
 	for env, want := range cases {
 		t.Setenv("BODEK_THEME", env)
diff --git a/internal/tui/top3_test.go b/internal/tui/top3_test.go
index d12dd91..ca096ce 100644
--- a/internal/tui/top3_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui/top3_test.go
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ func TestCanonicalTheme(t *testing.T) {
 		{"high-contrast", "high-contrast", true},
 		{"contrast", "high-contrast", true},
 		{"classic", "classic", true},
+		{"obsidian", "obsidian", true},
+		{"Black", "obsidian", true},
 		{"  Classic  ", "classic", true},
 		{"neon-night", "", false},
 		{"", "", false},
diff --git a/internal/tui/visual_polish_test.go b/internal/tui/visual_polish_test.go
index 08e6e9a..fe8834e 100644
--- a/internal/tui/visual_polish_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui/visual_polish_test.go
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ func TestWarningHueDistinctFromAccent(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		return math.Mod(h*60+360, 360)
 	}
-	for _, name := range []string{"ember-dark", "ember-light", "high-contrast", "classic"} {
+	for _, name := range []string{"ember-dark", "ember-light", "high-contrast", "obsidian", "classic"} {
 		p := paletteByName(name)
 		d := math.Abs(hue(p.yellow) - hue(p.accent))
 		if d > 180 {