using-superpowers Checked

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

<SUBAGENT-STOP>

If you were dispatched as a subagent to execute a specific task, ignore this skill.

</SUBAGENT-STOP>

<EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>

If you think there is even a 1% chance a skill might apply to what you are doing, you ABSOLUTELY MUST invoke the skill.

IF A SKILL APPLIES TO YOUR TASK, YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. YOU MUST USE IT.

This is not negotiable. You cannot rationalize your way out of this.

</EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>

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

<SUBAGENT-STOP>

If you were dispatched as a subagent to execute a specific task, ignore this skill.

</SUBAGENT-STOP>

<EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>

If you think there is even a 1% chance a skill might apply to what you are doing, you ABSOLUTELY MUST invoke the skill.

IF A SKILL APPLIES TO YOUR TASK, YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. YOU MUST USE IT.

This is not negotiable. You cannot rationalize your way out of this.

</EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>

The Rule

**Invoke relevant or requested skills BEFORE any response or action** — including clarifying questions, exploring the codebase, or checking files. If it turns out wrong for the situation, you don't have to use it.

**Before entering plan mode:** if you haven't already brainstormed, invoke the brainstorming skill first.

Then announce "Using [skill] to [purpose]" and follow the skill exactly. If it has a checklist, create a todo per item.

Skill Priority

When multiple skills apply, process skills come first — they set the approach, then implementation skills (frontend-design, etc.) carry it out. Brainstorming and systematic-debugging are Superpowers' most common process skills, but the rule holds for any of them.

• "Let's build X" → superpowers:brainstorming first, then implementation skills.
• "Fix this bug" → superpowers:systematic-debugging first, then domain skills.

Red Flags

These thoughts mean STOP—you're rationalizing:

| Thought | Reality |

|---------|---------|

| "This is just a simple question" | Questions are tasks. Check for skills. |

| "I need more context first" | Skill check comes BEFORE clarifying questions. |

| "Let me explore the codebase first" | Skills tell you HOW to explore. Check first. |

| "I can check git/files quickly" | Files lack conversation context. Check for skills. |

| "Let me gather information first" | Skills tell you HOW to gather information. |

| "This doesn't need a formal skill" | If a skill exists, use it. |

| "I remember this skill" | Skills evolve. Read current version. |

| "This doesn't count as a task" | Action = task. Check for skills. |

| "The skill is overkill" | Simple things become complex. Use it. |

| "I'll just do this one thing first" | Check BEFORE doing anything. |

| "This feels productive" | Undisciplined action wastes time. Skills prevent this. |

| "I know what that means" | Knowing the concept ≠ using the skill. Invoke it. |

Platform Adaptation

If your harness appears here, read its reference file for special instructions:

• Codex: references/codex-tools.md
• Pi: references/pi-tools.md
• Antigravity: references/antigravity-tools.md
• Hermes Agent: references/hermes-tools.md

User Instructions