using-superpowers Skill for Claude: Always Check for Skills First

using-superpowers makes your agent check for a relevant skill before every response, even before clarifying questions.

Installs: 276.8K; on skills.sh
Stars: 310.6K; on GitHub
Files: 7; besides SKILL.md
Updated: Oct 2026; last repo commit

using-superpowers is the skill meant for the start of any conversation. Its rule is to invoke any relevant or requested skill before any response or action, including clarifying questions, and to announce which skill it is using and why. Before plan mode it asks the agent to brainstorm first.

It puts process skills first: brainstorming for "let's build X" and systematic-debugging for "fix this bug". It points to a reference file for each supported agent and skips itself when dispatched as a subagent. It changes how your agent behaves from the first message, so expect more skill use.

Good for

Users of the Superpowers plugin who want its skills to trigger reliably
Developers who want brainstorming and debugging skills applied before work starts
Teams using Claude Code, Codex, Pi, Antigravity, Hermes Agent or Muse with the same skills

Install using-superpowers

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the using-superpowers skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

/plugin install superpowers@claude-plugins-official

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Install the plugin for the whole Superpowers set. This skill routes to brainstorming, systematic-debugging and other skills in the set.

From the project README. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

Use when starting any conversation - establishes how to find and use skills, requiring skill invocation before ANY response including clarifying questions

Sections in SKILL.md

The Rule
Skill Priority
Red Flags
Platform Adaptation
User Instructions

Key facts

Author: obra (obra/superpowers repo owner)
License: MIT
Installs on skills.sh: 276,812 as of 2026-11-02
GitHub stars: 310,635 for the whole obra/superpowers repo
skills.sh audits: Gen Agent Trust Hub warn, Socket pass, Snyk pass
What is inside: 7 files besides SKILL.md (7 in references/)
Needs: The rest of the Superpowers skills (brainstorming, systematic-debugging and others it routes to)
Part of plugin: superpowers
Last commit to the repo: 2026-10-29

What it includes

Invoke relevant skills before any response
Applies even if there is only a 1% chance a skill applies, and even before clarifying questions or exploring the code.
Read · The Rule
Says "Using [skill] to [purpose]"
Follows the skill exactly and creates a todo per checklist item.
Try: “Let's build a CSV export feature.”
Read · Announce and follow
Process skills before implementation skills
Brainstorming first for building, systematic-debugging first for bugs, then domain skills.
Read · Skill priority
Thoughts that mean stop and check for a skill
A list of rationalizations such as "This is just a simple question" with the reply for each.
Read · Red flags table
A reference file per agent
SKILL.md points to reference files for Claude Code, Codex, Pi, Antigravity, Hermes Agent and Muse.
Files · Platform adaptation
CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md and your requests come first
User instructions override skills, which override default behavior.
Read · User instructions win

From the official docs

Questions

What does using-superpowers do?

It makes your agent look for a relevant skill before it responds to anything. It also sets the order: process skills such as brainstorming and systematic-debugging come before implementation skills.

How do I install it?

Use the install box at the top of this page, which has tabs for Claude Code, the Claude app and Codex. The install box uses the Superpowers plugin, which includes this skill.

Why does my agent announce "Using [skill]" all the time?

That is this skill. SKILL.md requires the agent to announce which skill it is using and why before it follows it.

Does it work in Codex and other agents?

SKILL.md lists reference files for Claude Code, Codex, Pi, Antigravity, Hermes Agent and Muse. The folder also carries a Gemini file that SKILL.md does not list.

Can I override it?

Yes. SKILL.md says your CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md or direct requests take precedence over skills.

Is it safe?

Its folder holds only markdown files. The rule makes your agent invoke skills before every response, so it changes how the agent behaves in every conversation. See the audit results under key facts.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: obra/superpowers
Folder: skills/using-superpowers

obra/superpowers skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 2

obra/superpowers README · github.com
using-superpowers SKILL.md · github.com