{"version":"2.1.307","anchor":"the-agent-tool-description-in-the-compaction-prompt-was-rewr","canonical_anchor":"the-agent-tool-description-in-the-compaction-prompt-was-rewr","heading":"Compaction instructions now ask Claude to weigh the cost of subagents","tier":"notice","area":"Subagents","scope":"individual","heads_up":false,"url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.307\/e\/the-agent-tool-description-in-the-compaction-prompt-was-rewr","release_url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.307","markdown":"### Compaction instructions now ask Claude to weigh the cost of subagents\n\nIn the compaction prompt, the Agent tool's description now tells Claude you pay for unneeded subagents and again for work redone after skipping one\n\n**What**\n\nCompaction is when Claude Code shrinks a long conversation by summarising it. The Agent tool lets Claude hand a task to a subagent, a separate helper that returns a summary. The tool's description in the compaction prompt has been rewritten.\n\nThe old text mainly listed when to delegate. The new text asks Claude to weigh what a subagent costs against the accuracy it adds. It points out that you pay for agents Claude did not need, and pay again for work Claude redoes because it skipped one.\n\nThe standard Agent tool description is unchanged.\n\n**Why**\n\nThese are instructions Claude follows, so they may change how often it starts subagents. That effect has not been measured.\n\n- Area: Subagents\n- Tier: You'll notice\n- Useful: 1\/5\n- Signal: 1\/5\n- Scope: individual\n- Heads-up: no"}