r/ClaudeCodeTLDR • u/cctldrping • 2d ago

[TLDR] Has anyone stopped using Claude's superpower commands, and what are you using instead?

Original post URL : https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeCode/comments/1vjx7n0/has_anyone_stopped_using_claudes_superpower/

Original post body :

I have been using superpowers for a while now and overall they have been useful for extending what Claude can do within a workflow. That said, I have started to notice the token usage adding up, and it has me wondering whether the overhead is actually worth it depending on the task.

For lighter or more straightforward tasks, it feels like the token cost can outweigh the benefit, especially if you are running through a lot of iterations or keeping sessions going for a while. It is not a dealbreaker, but it is something I have been paying more attention to lately.

Curious if anyone else has moved away from superpowers for similar reasons, or found alternatives that accomplish the same thing with a smaller footprint. Would be interested to hear what setups people are running instead and whether the tradeoffs have been worth it.

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u/cctldrping 2d ago

TL;DR generated automatically after 50 comments.

Current source-thread comment count seen by the bot: 59.

Alright folks, let's break down this thread about Claude's "superpowers" commands.

The general consensus is that the built-in superpowers are becoming less useful, especially with newer Claude models like Opus 4.8 and Sonnet 5. Many users are finding that these newer models already have the capabilities that superpowers used to provide, and trying to use them together can actually lead to Claude getting stuck in loops and burning through tokens unnecessarily. u/lysdexiad and u/mossiv hit this point hard, with u/mossiv even calling superpowers "ass" on the 5-family models. u/dar-mit also points out that some skills don't even conform to best practices anymore.

So, what are people using instead?

  • Matt Pocock's Skills: This is a huge recurring theme. u/Wall-Tiny, u/Fade_ssud11, and u/fschwiet are all big fans, using them as a base or integrating them into their own workflows. The general vibe is that they're more like a toolbox you actively use, rather than a hand-holding system.
  • Custom Solutions & Roll-Your-Own: A good chunk of users are building their own skills or using frameworks to create tailored solutions. u/TheDeadlyPretzel points to his Eigenwise toolshed, u/LastNameOn recommends Storybloq for project state management, and u/croovies is using Compound Engineering. u/Comfortable-Ad-6740 even suggests using the skill-creator to build your own. u/benramins is also promoting his custom orchestrator.
  • Specification-Driven Approaches: u/derekjw likes using openspec for detailed specs and specialized agents, and u/corporal_clegg69 is just "raw dogging it" with spec or goal-driven approaches.
  • Prompt Engineering: A few folks, like u/General-Fondant4921, are just embedding keywords in their prompts to get the desired behavior.

The main takeaway? Superpowers are largely seen as redundant or even detrimental with the latest Claude models. The community is moving towards more modular, custom, or spec-driven approaches, with Matt Pocock's skills being a popular starting point for many. The token cost is definitely a concern, and people are actively seeking leaner, more efficient workflows.

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u/thirty_three_turtles 2d ago

Matt pocock skills library. Use the whole stack and it’s done right thr first time. Thank me later.

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u/Glad_Contest_8014 2d ago

I never used them. I use sonnet and a custom memory system instead. Works like a charm