diff --git a/workflow/envs/varlociraptor.yaml b/workflow/envs/varlociraptor.yaml
index 39ff1651..50d1bbee 100644
--- a/workflow/envs/varlociraptor.yaml
+++ b/workflow/envs/varlociraptor.yaml
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@ channels:
   - bioconda
   - nodefaults
 dependencies:
-  - varlociraptor =4.9
+  - varlociraptor =5.3
diff --git a/workflow/rules/common.smk b/workflow/rules/common.smk
index d2958121..fe79af15 100644
--- a/workflow/rules/common.smk
+++ b/workflow/rules/common.smk
@@ -805,6 +805,16 @@ def get_list_of_amplicon_states_assembler(samples):
 
 
 def get_varlociraptor_bias_flags(wildcards):
+    if wildcards.varrange == "lineage-variants":
+        # Known variants, we don't want to use bias detection at all.
+        # Rationale: the determined biases are hints for artifacts, which are particularly
+        # important to maintain a high precision with denovo calls. When there is prior knowledge
+        # about a variant like here, they are too conservative. E.g., when I see a typical omicron
+        # variant in a sample, I tend to believe it even if it happens to have a strand bias.
+        return (
+            "--omit-strand-bias --omit-read-orientation-bias --omit-read-position-bias "
+            "--omit-softclip-bias --omit-homopolymer-artifact-detection --omit-alt-locus-bias"
+        )
     if is_amplicon_data(wildcards.sample):
         # no bias detection possible
         return (