Agent Skills for Claude Code
Claude Code doesn't need another prompt library. It needs files it can read at the moment a task starts. That's what an Agent Skill is: a folder with a SKILL.md (name, description, instructions) plus any templates or scripts the workflow needs. Claude Code scans the folders below at session start and pulls a skill in when your request matches its description.
Where Claude Code looks for skills
| Scope | Path | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Project | .claude/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md | Skills that ship with a repo and should be shared with the team |
| User | ~/.claude/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md | Skills you want in every project |
Project-level wins when both exist. The folder name is the skill's identity, so keep it lowercase and hyphenated.
Install a skill in 30 seconds
- Copy the skill folder into
.claude/skills/(or~/.claude/skills/). - Confirm the file is at
.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md— not one level deeper. - Restart Claude Code, then ask: "What skills do you have?"
- Trigger it with a task, not the skill name: "Make an OG image for this article."
The most common install mistake is unzipping into a folder that contains another folder, so Claude Code sees .claude/skills/<name>/<name>/SKILL.md and never loads it.
Six skills Claude Code users actually install
| Skill | What it produces | Installs |
|---|---|---|
| Device-Canvas Product Launch | A launch film built around your product UI | 489 |
| Hand-Drawn Visual Notes | Sketched notes and explainer frames | 383 |
| Cadence Marketing Landing | A complete marketing landing page | 299 |
| GrokBot Avatar | A stylised avatar set | 286 |
| Field Notes Deck | An editable presentation deck | 257 |
| Notion Style OG Image | 1200×630 social previews | 197 |
When a skill doesn't trigger
- Check the description, not the name. Claude Code matches on the description. If it says "helps with design", it won't fire on "make an OG image".
- Check depth.
SKILL.mdmust sit exactly one level under the skills folder. - Check scope. A project skill only exists inside that project.
- Check for a stale session. Skills are discovered at start; restart after adding one.
FAQ
Do skills cost extra tokens? Only the name and description are loaded up front; the body is read when the skill is activated. Long skills are cheaper than they look.
Can I edit a skill I bought? Yes. It's a text file. Keep your edits in a fork so updates don't overwrite them.
Skills or MCP? Skills teach a workflow; MCP connects a tool. Most production setups use both — see Skills vs MCP.
Where do I start? If you build pages, start with build a landing page. If you publish content, start with create an OG image.