creating-subagents

Create a subagent by defining a .claude/agents/{name}.md file with YAML frontmatter (name, description, tools, model) and a tailored system prompt. Claude uses the description to autonomously invoke the right subagent for specific tasks, ensuring specialized handling without manual routing.

Structure your system prompt with standardized sections that define the agent's role, core responsibilities, tool permissions, and decision logic. The Skill enforces consistent formatting across agents to enable reliable task delegation and ensure each AI expert focuses on its specific competency.

Select Haiku for speed and cost efficiency, Sonnet for balanced performance, or Opus for complex reasoning. Match the model to the subagent's task complexity—faster models reduce latency for straightforward work, while Opus handles intricate analysis and orchestration.

Yes, subagents excel at specialized tasks like code review, documentation generation, and testing. Define each agent with precise tool permissions and role-specific prompts, then Claude delegates work automatically based on task fit, transforming complex projects into manageable workflows.

Required fields are name, description, tools, and model. The description must be crafted to enable Claude to recognize when the subagent should handle a task. Optional fields provide additional configuration; all frontmatter must comply with YAML structure standards.

Specialized agents reduce micro-management, improve task accuracy, and optimize resource use by matching model size and tools to specific jobs. Each subagent focuses on its core competency, enabling faster execution and cost efficiency across diverse workflow stages.