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Virtus Tactical Allocation Series

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The Series has an investment objective of high total return over an extended period of time consistent with prudent investment risk.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

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The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Virtus Tactical Allocation Series. The table does not include any fees or sales charges imposed under the variable contracts for which the Series is an investment option. If they were included, your costs would be higher.

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Annual Series Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

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The Series pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Series Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Series’ performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 48% of the average value of its portfolio.

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Example

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Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

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Diversified across equity and fixed income securities, the Series’ tactical allocation approach seeks to generate a combination of capital appreciation and income. For the Series’ U.S. equity allocation, the subadviser invests in a select group of large market capitalization growth companies believed by the Series’ subadviser to be undervalued relative to their future growth potential. The investment strategy emphasizes companies the subadviser believes to have a sustainable competitive advantage, strong management and low financial risk, and to be able to grow over market cycles. For the Series’ non-U.S. equity exposure, the subadviser’s investment strategy emphasizes companies that the subadviser believes to have a sustainable competitive advantage, strong management and low financial risk and to be able to grow over market cycles. For the fixed income allocation, the subadviser employs a time-tested approach of active sector rotation, extensive credit research, and disciplined risk management designed to capitalize on opportunities across the fixed income markets.

The Series invests in U.S. equity, non-U.S. equity and fixed income securities using a tactical allocation approach. Generally, the following percentages apply: 25% to 60% invested in U.S. equity securities, 5% to 30% invested in non-U.S. equity securities and 35% to 60% invested in fixed income securities. The equity allocation is invested in common, preferred, and ADR securities. The fixed income allocation may be invested directly or indirectly in all sectors of fixed income investments, including high-yield (“junk bonds”), bank loans (which are generally floating rate and may include both secured loans and “covenant lite” loans which have few or no financial maintenance covenants that would require a borrower to maintain certain financial metrics), mortgage-backed and asset-backed, collateralized mortgage obligations, real estate mortgage

investment conduits, and other pass-through securities, government, corporate, and municipal debt obligations. Indirect investment for this purpose means investment in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest in one or more sectors of fixed income investments, which may include affiliated funds and ETFs that are also managed by the Series’ subadviser. The fixed income allocation may use derivative instruments to increase or hedge (decrease) investment exposure to various fixed income sectors and instruments, including, but not limited to, swaps, futures contracts and currency forwards. Under normal circumstances, the average duration of the fixed income portion of the Series is maintained at a level similar to that of its fixed income benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, which normally results in a dollar-weighted average duration of between two and eight years. As of December 31, 2025, the modified adjusted duration of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index was 5.98 years; the modified adjusted duration of the Series was 5.85 years. Typically, for a Series maintaining a modified adjusted duration of 5.85 years, a one percent increase in interest rates would cause a 5.85% decrease in the value of the Series’ fixed income assets. Similarly, a one percent decrease in interest rates typically would cause the value of the Series’ fixed income assets to increase by 5.85%. The Series may invest in both U.S. and foreign (non-U.S.) securities, including those of issuers in emerging market countries, and may invest in issuers of any size. Allocation percentages are measured at time of purchase.

Generally, the Series’ U.S. equity investments are in large market capitalization companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Series’ subadviser considers large market capitalization companies for this purpose to be those companies that, at the time of initial purchase, have market capitalizations within the range of the Russell 1000^® Index on a rolling three-year basis. On this basis, as of December 31, 2025, the market capitalization range of companies included in the Russell 1000^® Index was $125 million to $4.92 trillion. The Series’ non-U.S. equity investments are principally in small- and mid-capitalization companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Series’ equity subadviser considers small- and mid-capitalization companies to be those companies that, at the time of initial purchase, have market capitalizations generally within the range of companies included in the MSCI All Country World ex USA SMID Cap Index on a rolling three-year basis. On this basis, as of December 31, 2025, the total market capitalization range of companies included in the MSCI All Country World ex USA SMID Cap Index over the past three years was $0 to $93.2 billion.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

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The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Series. The bar chart shows changes in the Series’ performance from year to year over a 10-year period. The Series’ past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Series will perform in the future. The table shows how the Series’ average annual returns compare to those of two broad-based securities market indices (the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and the MSCI ACWI World Index (net)), two style-specific indexes that reflect the market sectors in which the fund invests (the MSCI ACWI ex USA SMID Cap Index (net) and the Russell 1000^® Growth Index) and a composite benchmark that reflects a hypothetical asset allocation among market sectors for the Series. The Series’ returns in the chart and table do not reflect the deduction of any separate account or variable contract charges. The returns would have been less than those shown if such charges were deducted. Updated performance information is available at virtus.com or by calling 800-367-5877.

Performance Additional Market Index [Text]

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The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index measures the U.S. investment grade fixed rate bond market. The index is calculated on a total return basis. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment.

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

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virtus.com

Bar Chart [Heading]

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Calendar year total returns for Class A Shares

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Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/2025)

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The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index measures the U.S. investment grade fixed rate bond market. The index is calculated on a total return basis. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment.

The MSCI All Country World Index (net) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that measures equity performance of developed and emerging markets. The MSCI All Country World Index (net) is calculated on a total return basis with net dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment.

The MSCI All Country World ex USA SMID Cap Index (net) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that measures mid- and small-cap performance across 22 of 23 Developed Market countries (excluding the U.S.) and 24 Emerging Markets countries. The index is calculated on a total return basis with net dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment.

The Russell 1000^® Growth Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index of growth-oriented stocks of the 1,000 largest companies in the Russell universe, which comprises the 3,000 largest U.S. companies. Effective March 24, 2025, the index applies a capping methodology. Index constituents are capped quarterly so that no more than 22.5% of the index weight may be allocated to a single constituent, and the sum of the weights of all constituents representing more than 4.5% of the index should not exceed 45% of the total index weight. For periods prior to March 24, 2025, the index was uncapped. The index is calculated on a total-return basis with dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment.

The Virtus Tactical Allocation Series Linked Benchmark consists of an allocation of 45% Russell 1000^® Growth Index, 15% MSCI ACWI ex USA SMID Cap Index, and 40% Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Performance of the Virtus Tactical Allocation Series Linked Benchmark from September 7, 2016, to June 3, 2019, consists of an allocation of 45% Russell 1000^® Growth Index, 15% MSCI EAFE^® Index, and 40% Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index; and performance of the Virtus Tactical Allocation Series Linked Benchmark prior to September 7, 2016, consists of an allocation of 60% S&P 500^® Index and 40% Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment.

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If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the Series’ investments decreases, you will lose money.

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> Foreign Investing Risk: Investing in foreign securities subjects the Series to additional risks such as increased volatility; currency fluctuations; less liquidity; less publicly available information about the foreign investment; and political, regulatory, economic, and market risk.

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> Sanctions Risk: The imposition of sanctions and other similar measures could cause a decline in the value and/or liquidity of securities issued by or tied to the sanctioned country and increase market volatility and disruption in the sanctioned country and throughout the world. Sanctions and other similar measures could limit or prevent the Series from buying and selling securities (in the sanctioned country and other markets), significantly delay or prevent the settlement of transactions, and negatively impact the Series’ liquidity and performance.

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> Interest Rate Risk: The values of debt instruments may rise or fall in response to changes in interest rates, and this risk may be enhanced for securities with longer maturities.

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> Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Changes in interest rates may cause both extension and prepayment risks for mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. These securities are also subject to risks associated with the non-repayment of underlying collateral, including losses to the Series.

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> Allocation Risk: The risk that the Series’ exposure to equities and fixed income securities, or to different asset classes, may vary from the intended allocation or may not be optimal for market conditions at a given time.

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> Bank Loan Risk: In addition to the risks typically associated with high-yield/high-risk fixed income securities, bank loans may be unsecured or not fully collateralized, may be subject to restrictions on resale, may be less liquid and may trade infrequently on the secondary market. Bank loans settle on a delayed basis; thus, sale proceeds may not be available to meet redemptions for a substantial period of time after the sale of the loan.

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> Currency Rate Risk: Fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies may negatively affect the value of the Series’ shares.

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> Derivatives Risk: Derivatives and other similar instruments (collectively referred to in this section as “derivatives”) may include, among other things, futures, options, forwards and swap agreements and may be used in order to hedge portfolio risks, create leverage or attempt to increase returns. Investments in derivatives may result in increased volatility and the Series may incur a loss greater than its principal investment.

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> Large Market Capitalization Companies Risk: The value of investments in larger companies may not rise as much as smaller companies, or larger companies may be unable to respond quickly to competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes.

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> Municipal Securities Risk: Events negatively impacting a municipality, municipal security, or the municipal bond market in general, may cause the Series to decrease in value, perhaps significantly.

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> Preferred Stocks Risk: Preferred stocks may decline in price, fail to pay dividends when expected, or be illiquid.

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> Small and Medium Market Capitalization Companies Risk: The Series’ investments in small and medium market capitalization companies may increase the volatility and risk of loss to the Series, as compared with investments in larger, more established companies.

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