Create custom subagents changedsub-agents
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219219The `--agents` flag accepts JSON with a `prompt` field plus these [frontmatter](#supported-frontmatter-fields) fields: `description`, `tools`, `disallowedTools`, `model`, `permissionMode`, `mcpServers`, `hooks`, `maxTurns`, `skills`, `initialPrompt`, `memory`, `effort`, `background`, and `isolation`. Use `prompt` for the system prompt, equivalent to the markdown body in file-based subagents.
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221**Managed subagents** are deployed by organization administrators. Place markdown files in `.claude/agents/` inside the [managed settings directory](/docs/en/settings#settings-files), using the same frontmatter format as project and user subagents. Managed definitions take precedence over project and user subagents with the same name.
221**Managed subagents** are deployed by organization administrators. Place markdown files in `.claude/agents/` inside the [managed settings directory](/docs/en/managed-settings#delivery-mechanisms), using the same frontmatter format as project and user subagents. Managed definitions take precedence over project and user subagents with the same name.
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223223**Plugin subagents** come from [plugins](/docs/en/plugins) you've installed. They load automatically alongside your custom subagents and appear in the @-mention typeahead under their scoped name. See the [plugin components reference](/docs/en/plugins-reference#agents) for details on creating plugin subagents.
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225225<Note>
226 For security reasons, plugin subagents don't support the `hooks`, `mcpServers`, or `permissionMode` frontmatter fields. These fields are ignored when loading agents from a plugin. If you need them, copy the agent file into `.claude/agents/` or `~/.claude/agents/`. You can also add rules to [`permissions.allow`](/docs/en/settings#permission-settings) in `settings.json` or `settings.local.json`, but these rules apply to the entire session, not only the plugin subagent.
226 For security reasons, plugin subagents don't support the `hooks`, `mcpServers`, or `permissionMode` frontmatter fields. These fields are ignored when loading agents from a plugin. If you need them, copy the agent file into `.claude/agents/` or `~/.claude/agents/`. You can also add rules to [`permissions.allow`](/docs/en/settings-reference#permissions-allow) in `settings.json` or `settings.local.json`, but these rules apply to the entire session, not only the plugin subagent.
227227</Note>
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229229Subagent definitions from any of these scopes are also available to [agent teams](/docs/en/agent-teams#use-subagent-definitions-for-teammates): when spawning a teammate, you can reference a subagent type and the teammate uses its `tools` and `model`, with the definition's body appended to the teammate's system prompt as additional instructions. See [agent teams](/docs/en/agent-teams#use-subagent-definitions-for-teammates) for which frontmatter fields apply on that path.
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630630#### Disable specific subagents
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632You can prevent Claude from using specific subagents by adding them to the `deny` array in your [settings](/docs/en/settings#permission-settings). Use the format `Agent(subagent-name)` where `subagent-name` matches the subagent's name field.
632You can prevent Claude from using specific subagents by adding them to the `deny` array in your [settings](/docs/en/settings-reference#permission-settings). Use the format `Agent(subagent-name)` where `subagent-name` matches the subagent's name field.
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634634```json theme={null}
635635{
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970970* **System prompt**: the agent's own prompt plus environment details that Claude Code appends, not the full Claude Code system prompt. Custom subagents define theirs in the [markdown body](#write-subagent-files) or `prompt` field. Built-in agents have predefined prompts.
971971* **Task message**: the delegation prompt Claude writes when it hands off the work.
972972* **CLAUDE.md files**: every level of the [CLAUDE.md hierarchy](/docs/en/memory#how-claude-md-files-load) the main conversation loads, including `~/.claude/CLAUDE.md`, project rules, `CLAUDE.local.md`, and managed policy files. The built-in Explore and Plan agents skip this.
973* **Git status**: a snapshot taken at the start of the parent session. Absent when the working directory isn't a Git repository or when [`includeGitInstructions`](/docs/en/settings#available-settings) is `false`. Explore and Plan skip it regardless.
973* **Git status**: a snapshot taken at the start of the parent session. Absent when the working directory isn't a Git repository or when [`includeGitInstructions`](/docs/en/settings-reference#includegitinstructions) is `false`. Explore and Plan skip it regardless.
974974* **Preloaded skills**: full content of any skill named in the agent's [`skills` field](#preload-skills-into-subagents). Built-in agents don't preload skills.
975975* **Sibling roster**: a system reminder listing `main` and every other named agent in the session, each a valid `to` value for [`SendMessage`](#resume-subagents). Requires Claude Code v2.1.206 or later. The roster appears only when the subagent's tools include `SendMessage` and at least one other agent has a name, whether Claude named it when spawning it or it runs as an [agent team](/docs/en/agent-teams) teammate. It is a snapshot taken when the subagent starts, so agents named later don't appear.
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