| name | long-sword |
| description | Use Long Sword when the problem is visible locally but the fix must extend further — across file boundaries, into deeper call stacks, or through intermediary layers that a normal Sword cannot reach. |
Long Sword
Reach past the first layer and cut through to the real target.
Overview
Use Long Sword when the problem is visible locally but the fix must extend further — across file boundaries, into deeper call stacks, or through intermediary layers that a normal Sword cannot reach.
This is the secondary Codex compatibility rendering of a metaphorical battle-chip pattern with a shipping-now execution model.
Canonical chip family: Long Sword
Codex shelf: Direct Fire and Breach
Provider target: Codex compatibility surface.
When To Use
- The symptom is local but the root cause lives one or more layers deeper in the call chain.
- A refactor or fix requires coordinated edits across files that share a common interface or contract.
- You need to trace and sever a dependency that extends beyond the current module boundary.
Workflow
- Identify the local surface, then extend reach by tracing imports, callers, or shared types to the true target.
- Cut through each layer in order — edit the deepest root first, then propagate the fix outward.
- Verify that the extended strike did not leave orphaned references or broken contracts at any layer.
Deliverables
- A coordinated multi-file edit that resolves the root cause, not just the surface symptom.
- A map of the reach path: which layers were touched and why the fix could not stay local.
Guardrails
- Do not use Long Sword when a local Sword cut would suffice — extended reach is for depth, not convenience.
- If the fix requires changes across more than three files or modules, consider whether a broader chip is more appropriate.
- Never extend reach speculatively; trace the dependency chain first and confirm the true target.
Default Invocation
Use Long Sword to trace the problem past the local surface and cut through to the root cause: edit the deepest layer that needs to change, then propagate the fix outward, verifying each layer stays intact.
