One read of Claude Code CLIclaude-code-20260928T173701Z
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612612Each level trades token spend against capability. The default suits most coding tasks; adjust when you want a different balance.
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614| Level | When to use it |
615| :---------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
616| `low` | Reserve for short, scoped, latency-sensitive tasks that are not intelligence-sensitive |
617| `medium` | Reduces token usage for cost-sensitive work that can trade off some intelligence. The default on Opus 5.5 |
618| `high` | Balances token usage and intelligence. The default on every model except Opus 5.5 and Opus 4.7 |
619| `xhigh` | Deeper reasoning at higher token spend. The default on Opus 4.7 |
620| `max` | Can improve performance on demanding tasks but may show diminishing returns and is prone to overthinking. Test before adopting broadly |
621| `ultracode` | A Claude Code setting that plans a [dynamic workflow](/docs/en/workflows) for each substantive task with `xhigh` per-message reasoning |
614| Level | When to use it |
615| :---------- | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
616| `low` | Quick exchanges where you review each result, such as brainstorming, a first sketch, or a small change like a rename |
617| `medium` | The default on Opus 5.5, where it fits day-to-day engineering work with a clear scope, such as implementing a new feature. On other models, reduces token usage for cost-sensitive work that can trade off some intelligence |
618| `high` | Work where verification matters or edge cases are likely, such as fixing a bug in an existing codebase. The default on every model except Opus 5.5 and Opus 4.7 |
619| `xhigh` | Deeper reasoning at higher token spend. The default on Opus 4.7 |
620| `max` | Hard problems you want Claude to work through without you, such as finding security vulnerabilities. `max` may show diminishing returns and is prone to overthinking, so test before adopting it broadly |
621| `ultracode` | A Claude Code setting that plans a [dynamic workflow](/docs/en/workflows) for each substantive task with `xhigh` per-message reasoning |
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623In tests on Opus 5.5 and Fable 5.1, Claude at a higher level tested more edge cases and verified more of its work before answering. It also made more choices on its own. At a lower level, Claude returned a starting point sooner, which fits work where you review each result and steer the next step. To see the same tasks run at each level, read [Using Claude Code: Spending your effort](https://claude.dev/blog/spending-your-effort/) on the blog.
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623625The effort scale is calibrated per model, so the same level name does not represent the same underlying value across models.
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