Awesome Claude Skills
A curated list of awesome Claude Skills, resources, and tools for customizing Claude AI workflows
Claude Skills teach Claude how to perform tasks in a repeatable way
They are specialized folders containing instructions, scripts, and resources that Claude dynamically discovers and loads when relevant to tasks.
How Skills Work
Skills employ a progressive disclosure architecture for efficiency:
- Metadata loading (~100 tokens): Claude scans available Skills to identify relevant matches
- Full instructions (<5k tokens): Load when Claude determines the Skill applies
- Bundled resources: Files and executable code load only as needed
This design allows multiple Skills to remain available without overwhelming Claude's context window.
🚀 Getting Started
Claude.ai Web Interface
- Go to Settings > Capabilities
- Enable Skills toggle
- Browse available skills or upload custom skills
- For Team/Enterprise: Admin must enable Skills organization-wide first
Claude Code CLI
# Install skills from marketplace
/plugin marketplace add anthropics/skills
# Or install from local directory
/plugin add /path/to/skill-directory
Claude API
Skills are accessible via the /v1/skills API endpoint. See the Skills API documentation for detailed integration examples.
import anthropic
client = anthropic.Client(api_key="your-api-key")
# See API docs for full implementation details
🎯 Official Skills
Document Skills
Skills for working with complex file formats:
- docx - Create, edit, and analyze Word documents with support for tracked changes, comments, formatting preservation, and text extraction
- pdf - Comprehensive PDF manipulation toolkit for extracting text and tables, creating new PDFs, merging/splitting documents, and handling forms
- pptx - Create, edit, and analyze PowerPoint presentations with support for layouts, templates, charts, and automated slide generation
- xlsx - Create, edit, and analyze Excel spreadsheets with support for formulas, formatting, data analysis, and visualization
Design & Creative
- algorithmic-art - Create generative art using p5.js with seeded randomness, flow fields, and particle systems
- canvas-design - Design beautiful visual art in .png and .pdf formats using design philosophies
- slack-gif-creator - Create animated GIFs optimized for Slack's size constraints
Development
- frontend-design - Instructs Claude to avoid "AI slop" or generic aesthetics and to make bold design decisions. Works very well for React & Tailwind.
- web-artifacts-builder - Build complex claude.ai HTML artifacts using React, Tailwind CSS, and shadcn/ui components
- mcp-builder - Guide for creating high-quality MCP servers to integrate external APIs and services
- webapp-testing - Test local web applications using Playwright for UI verification and debugging
Communication
- brand-guidelines - Apply Anthropic's official brand colors and typography to artifacts
- internal-comms - Write internal communications like status reports, newsletters, and FAQs
Skill Creation
- skill-creator - Interactive skill creation tool that guides you through building new skills with Q&A
[!Warning]
Skills can execute arbitrary code in Claude's environment.
See Security & Best Practices for more information
Collections & Libraries
obra/superpowers - Core skills library for Claude Code with 20+ battle-tested skills including TDD, debugging, and collaboration patterns
- Features
/brainstorm, /write-plan, /execute-plan commands and skills-search tool
- superpowers-skills - Community-editable skills repository
- Blog: Superpowers - Author's overview by Jesse Vincent
- Installation:
/plugin marketplace add obra/superpowers-marketplace
obra/superpowers-lab - Experimental skills for Claude Code Superpowers (see above)
- Uses new techniques that are still being refined and tested (i.e. skills here may change over time)
- Blog post about its development
- Install from
superpowers-marketplace plugin
Individual Skills
These will be broken down into categories once there are enough community skills available to list
| Skill |
Description |
| ios-simulator-skill |
iOS app building, navigation, and testing through automation |
| ffuf-web-fuzzing |
Expert guidance for ffuf web fuzzing during penetration testing, including authenticated fuzzing with raw requests, auto-calibration, and result analysis |
| playwright-skill |
General-purpose browser automation using Playwright |
| claude-d3js-skill |
Visualizations in d3.js |
| claude-scientific-skills |
Comprehensive collection of ready-to-use scientific skills, including working with specialized scientific libraries and databases |
| web-asset-generator |
Generates web assets like favicons, app icons, and social media images |
| loki-mode |
Multi-agent autonomous startup system - orchestrates 37 AI agents across 6 swarms to build, deploy, and operate a complete startup from PRD to revenue |
| Trail of Bits Security Skills |
Security skills for static analysis with CodeQL/Semgrep, variant analysis, code auditing, and vulnerability detection |
| frontend-slides |
Create animation-rich HTML presentations — from scratch or by converting PowerPoint files |
| Expo Skills |
Official skills by the Expo team for developing Expo apps |
| shadcn/ui |
Give Claude Code context on shadcn components as well as pattern enforcement |
| get-shit-done |
Lightweight meta-prompting, context engineering, and spec-driven development system for Claude Code by TÂCHES |
More community skills coming soon! Submit a PR to add your skill.
✏️ Creating Your First Skill
Step-by-Step Guide
Method 1: Use skill-creator (Recommended)
The easiest way to create a skill is to use the built-in skill-creator:
- Enable the skill-creator skill in Claude
- Ask Claude: "Use the skill-creator to help me build a skill for [your task]"
- Answer the interactive questions about your workflow
- Claude generates the complete skill structure for you
Method 2: Manual Creation
Create folder structure:
my-skill/
├── SKILL.md # Main skill file with frontmatter
├── scripts/ # Optional executable scripts
│ └── helper.py
└── resources/ # Optional supporting files
└── template.json
Create SKILL.md with frontmatter:
---
name: my-skill
description: Brief description for skill discovery (keep concise)
---
# Detailed Instructions
Claude will read these instructions when the skill is activated.
## Usage
Explain how to use this skill...
## Examples
Provide clear examples...
Add executable scripts (optional):
- Python, JavaScript, or other scripts Claude can execute
- Reference them in your SKILL.md instructions
Test locally:
- Install the skill in Claude Code or Claude Desktop
- Test with relevant tasks
- Iterate and refine
Share:
- Publish to GitHub
- Submit to this awesome list via PR
- Share with your team via git repos or internal distribution
Best Practices
- Keep descriptions concise - The frontmatter description is used for skill discovery
- Use clear, actionable instructions - Write instructions as if for a human collaborator
- Include examples - Show specific examples in your SKILL.md
- Version your skills - Use git tags for version management
- Document dependencies - List any prerequisites or required packages
- Test thoroughly - Verify your skill works across different scenarios
📚 Official Documentation & Resources
Getting Started
Documentation
Repositories & Examples
📅 Recent Updates
November 2025
- Nov 13: Anthropic publishes Skills Explained - Comprehensive guide covering progressive disclosure architecture, decision matrices for Skills vs Prompts/Subagents/Projects, and best practices
October 2025
- Oct 18: Major community repositories emerge: obra/superpowers skills library
- Oct 17: Community publishes practical tutorials on DEV.to and Medium
- Oct 16: 🎉 Claude Skills officially announced - Available across Claude.ai, Code, and API
- Oct 16: Initial skills released including docx, pdf, pptx, xlsx, algorithmic-art, canvas-design, and more
💡 Skills vs Other Approaches
Quick Reference: When to Use What
| Tool |
Best For |
| Skills |
Reusable procedural knowledge across conversations |
| Prompts |
One-time instructions and immediate context |
| Projects |
Persistent background knowledge within workspaces |
| Subagents |
Independent task execution with specific permissions |
| MCP |
Connecting Claude to external data sources |
Use Skills when: Capabilities should be accessible to any Claude instance. They're portable expertise.
Use Subagents when: You need self-contained agents designed for specific purposes with independent workflows and restricted tool access.
Combined approach: Subagents can leverage Skills for specialized expertise, merging independence with portable knowledge.
Key insight: If you find yourself typing the same prompt repeatedly across multiple conversations, it's time to create a Skill.
Skills vs MCP (Model Context Protocol)
| Feature |
Skills |
MCP |
| Purpose |
Task-specific expertise and workflows |
External data/API integration |
| Portability |
Same format everywhere (Claude.ai, Code, API) |
Requires server configuration |
| Code Execution |
Can include executable scripts |
Provides tools/resources |
| Token Efficiency |
30-50 tokens until loaded |
Varies by implementation |
| Best For |
Repeatable tasks, document workflows |
Database access, API integrations |
Use Together: Skills can create MCP servers! The mcp-builder skill helps build high-quality MCP integrations.
Skills vs System Prompts
| Feature |
Skills |
System Prompts |
| Structure |
Folder with YAML frontmatter, instructions, scripts |
Plain text instructions |
| Reusability |
Version-controlled, shareable, composable |
Copy-paste, conversation-specific |
| Loading |
On-demand (only when relevant) |
Always in context |
| Maintenance |
Centralized updates |
Manual updates per conversation |
| Composability |
Multiple skills stack automatically |
Manual combination |
📖 Tutorials & Guides
Written Tutorials
Video Tutorials
Video tutorials coming soon! Have a good video about Claude Skills? Submit a PR!
Example topics we'd love to see
- Getting started with Claude Skills
- Building your first custom skill
- Skills vs MCP comparison
- Enterprise deployment strategies
📰 Articles & Blog Posts
🔒 Security & Best Practices
⚠️ Important: Skills can execute arbitrary code in Claude's environment. Only install skills from trusted sources.
Security Guidelines & Best Practices
Vetting Skills
- Only install skills from trusted sources
- Review SKILL.md and all scripts before enabling a skill
- Be cautious of skills that request sensitive data access
- Audit carefully before deploying to production or enterprise environments
Security Concerns
- Malicious skills may introduce vulnerabilities or enable data exfiltration
- Prompt injection attacks could be amplified through compromised skills
- Sandboxing limitations - Understand the security model before enterprise deployment
- Security research: Weaponizing Claude Code Skills - Analysis of potential security risks
Best Practices
- Version control - Track all skills in git with proper version tags
- Code review - Peer review custom skills before team distribution
- Least privilege - Only grant necessary permissions and access
- Regular audits - Periodically review installed skills
- Documentation - Maintain clear documentation for custom skills
- Testing - Thoroughly test skills in non-production environments first
Enterprise Considerations
- As of October 2025, Claude.ai does not support centralized admin management for custom skills
- Use version control and internal repositories for team skill distribution
- Establish clear policies for skill vetting and approval
- Monitor skill usage and performance
🛠️ Troubleshooting
Known Issues & Common Problems
Known Issues
Linux path bug (Oct 18, 2025): Agent SDK uses hardcoded macOS paths instead of environment home directory
- Issue #268
- Workaround: Manually specify skill paths
Enterprise distribution: No centralized admin management yet for custom skills on claude.ai
- Use git repositories for team distribution
- API integration provides more control
Common Problems
Skills not appearing in Claude
- Check Settings > Capabilities to ensure Skills are enabled
- For Team/Enterprise: Verify admin has enabled Skills organization-wide
- Restart Claude after installing new skills
Skills not loading/activating
- Verify SKILL.md has proper YAML frontmatter format
- Check that
name and description fields are present
- Ensure file structure matches expected format
Permission errors
- Review admin settings for Team/Enterprise accounts
- Check file permissions in skill directories
- Verify API key has appropriate permissions
Skill execution failures
- Check script dependencies are installed
- Review error logs for specific issues
- Test scripts independently outside of Claude
Getting Help
❓ FAQ
Common Questions
Q: How much do skills impact token usage?
A: Skills are highly efficient thanks to progressive disclosure. Each skill uses only ~100 tokens during metadata scanning to determine relevance. When activated, the full skill content loads at <5k tokens. Bundled resources only load as needed.
Q: What's the difference between Claude Skills and Agent Skills?
A: They are the same thing.
Q: Can I share skills with my team?
A: Yes! Skills can be shared via:
- Git repositories (recommended)
- Internal file sharing
- Claude API for programmatic distribution
- Enterprise-
A curated list (awesome-list) of Claude Skills, resources, and tools for customizing Claude AI workflows, especially Claude Code.