| name | using-superpowers |
| description | Use when starting any conversation or before non-trivial work. Establishes how to find and invoke skills (Grok /skills injection or Read of SKILL.md) before ANY response, including clarifying questions. Pair with superpowers for session discipline.
|
| metadata | {"short-description":"How to invoke skills — mandatory check before acting"} |
Using Superpowers (Grok Native)
If you were dispatched as a subagent for a narrow task, skip this skill unless the parent asked you to follow the full harness.
The Rule (Non-Negotiable)
If there is even a 1% chance a skill applies, you must load it before any response, tool use, or clarifying question.
- Grok: Use
/skills <name> (injects full content) or Read the skill's SKILL.md from ~/.grok/skills/<name>/ or project .grok/skills/. Never rely on the one-line description alone.
- Codex / Claude Code: Use the native Skill tool when available.
- Announce: "Using [skill-name] for …"
Rationalizing ("simple question", "need context first", "quick grep first") means stop and load the skill.
Instruction Priority
- User explicit instructions (AGENTS.md, direct request) — highest
- Superpowers / process skills — override default agent behavior
- Default system prompt — lowest
Skill Priority (when multiple apply)
- Process skills —
using-superpowers, superpowers, brainstorming, systematic-debugging, writing-plans, verification-before-completion
- Domain / job skills — e.g.
hmrc-trade-tariff-workflow, rspec-testing
- Implementation references — under
skills/references/
Examples:
- "Build X" →
brainstorming → (approval) → writing-plans → implement
- "Fix bug" →
systematic-debugging → domain skill if needed
- "Done" / PR →
verification-before-completion
See AGENTS.md § Skill routing for the full table.
Session Bootstrap (Grok)
At the start of non-trivial work, the user may run:
/superpowers
/using-superpowers
You should treat that as mandatory harness activation for the session.
Red Flags
| Thought | Reality |
|---|
| "Just a simple question" | Questions are tasks — check skills |
| "I need context first" | Skills define how to gather context |
| "I remember this skill" | Re-read current SKILL.md |
| "Skill is overkill" | Use it anyway |
Full Reference
Expanded flowcharts, platform tool mappings, and upstream wording:
~/.grok/skills/references/superpowers/skills/using-superpowers/
