Claude OS · No. 10

13 Claude codes.
One settings paste.
Free forever.

Custom Instructions for Claude.ai that turn it into a different assistant. Hard pushback. Honest answers. Multiple versions. Setup takes 90 seconds.

Most people use Claude like a fancy Google. They type a question. They get a polite answer. They move on.

That's 10% of what Claude can actually do. The other 90% is unlocked by Custom Instructions: a settings panel most users never open. You paste in rules once. Claude follows them forever.

Below: the 13 rules I installed in mine. Copy-paste ready.

Setup · 90 seconds

How to install the codes

1
Open Claude.ai → Settings → Profile Click your name in the bottom-left corner, then "Settings", then "Profile"
2
Find the "Custom Instructions" field It's the large text box where you tell Claude how you want it to respond
3
Paste the install file (below) and save The codes are now active in every conversation, forever
Important

Custom Instructions are scoped to your account, not your project. The codes work in every conversation, including new ones. They don't burn context window — they're invisible until you trigger one.

Copy-paste · The install file

Paste this into Custom Instructions

Hit copy. Open Settings. Paste. Save. Done.

claude-custom-instructions.txt 
When I type DEVIL: at the start of a message, play hard devil's advocate on whatever follows. Find every flaw, push back on every assumption, no agreeable hedging.  When I type HONEST: at the start of a message, drop all hedging and "it depends" cop-outs. Give me your real opinion with the reasoning behind it. State your confidence level.  When I type RANGE: at the start of a message, give me 3 versions of the answer: cautious, balanced, aggressive.  When I type STEELMAN: at the start of a message, give me the strongest version of the opposing argument — the one that would actually convince a smart skeptic. Don't soften it.  When I type GAPS: at the start of a message, tell me what I'm missing. What haven't I considered? What blind spots am I likely operating with? Be specific.  When I type CUT: at the start of a message, rewrite whatever follows in half the words, sharper.  When I type ASSUME: at the start of a message, list every assumption you're making before you answer. Then answer based on those. Flag the ones that are weakest.  When I type DECIDE: at the start of a message, stop listing options. Pick one. Defend it. Tell me why the others are wrong.  When I type SCORE: at the start of a message, rate your draft answer 1-10 honestly before showing it to me. If it's below 8, rewrite it and show me both versions.  When I type TLDR: at the start of a message, give me 3 lines max. No preamble. No "great question." Just the answer.  When I type HOOK: at the start of a message, write only the first line — the scroll-stopper. Nothing else. Give me 5 options.  When I type STRESS: at the start of a message, stress-test the idea. What breaks first? Under what conditions? What's the failure mode I'm not seeing?  When I type LEVER: at the start of a message, identify the highest-leverage move. The 20% that produces 80% of the result. Skip the obvious.
↑ select all · copy · paste into Claude settings
Reference · All 13

What each code does

The 5 in the carousel + 8 more. Every code with what it does and when to use it.

DEVIL:
Kills sycophancy. Hard pushback.
Use it before any decision you're emotionally invested in. Stops Claude from agreeing with bad ideas.
HONEST:
Drops the "it depends" hedging.
Use it when you need a clear call. Real opinion, confidence level, reasoning. No fluff.
RANGE:
3 versions: cautious, balanced, aggressive.
Use it on pricing, hiring, negotiations. Any strategic call with multiple right answers.
STEELMAN:
Strongest version of the opposing argument.
Use it before publicly committing to any strong belief. Surfaces the counter you missed.
GAPS:
What you're missing. Blindspots surfaced.
Use it on plans you've been working on too long. Reveals what you stopped seeing.
CUT:
Rewrites in half the words, sharper.
Use it on emails, copy, captions. Anything that's bloated or saying the obvious.
ASSUME:
Lists assumptions before answering.
Use it on complex questions. Catches errors before they compound. Surfaces hidden frames.
DECIDE:
Stops listing options. Picks one. Defends it.
Use it when you're stuck in analysis paralysis. Forces a clear call.
SCORE:
Rates the answer 1-10. Rewrites if below 8.
Use it on first drafts. The self-critique loop produces 2x better second drafts.
TLDR:
3 lines max. No preamble. No filler.
Use it when you don't have time. Forces Claude to compress to the answer only.
HOOK:
Writes only the first line. 5 options.
Use it on content. Carousel covers, email subjects, post openers, video hooks.
STRESS:
Stress-tests the idea. What breaks first?
Use it on plans, strategies, business models. Surfaces the failure mode you're not seeing.
LEVER:
The highest-leverage move. 20% that produces 80%.
Use it when you have too many options. Cuts through to the one move that matters most.
In action · 3 examples

What it looks like when they fire

Three of the codes used in real prompts. Same Claude. Different assistant.

DEVIL: kills the bad idea

> DEVIL: I'm raising my prices 50% next month.
Bad timing. Your last 3 client emails mention budget cuts. Here's where this breaks: 1) You'll lose the cheapest 30% of your list. 2) The remaining 70% will start shopping. 3) You haven't tested smaller hikes first. Try 15% on new clients only.

RANGE: gives you the spectrum

> RANGE: How should I price my new offer?
Cautious ($497): Underprice to build social proof. Volume covers margin. Lowest risk, slowest path.

Balanced ($1,500): Market rate for your niche. Conversion stays healthy, profit covers reinvestment.

Aggressive ($5,000): Premium positioning. Half the conversion, 3x the margin. Filters for serious buyers only.

GAPS: shows you the blindspot

> GAPS: I'm launching a coffee shop in 6 weeks.
1) You haven't validated foot traffic for the time slots you'll actually be open. The 9am crowd doesn't show up at 11am.

2) No contingency for equipment failure. A broken espresso machine in week 2 kills launch momentum permanently.

3) Your lease has no rent escalation cap. If you succeed, the landlord captures the upside.
Going further

Add your own codes

The format is open. Anything you find yourself typing repeatedly, turn into a code.

The pattern is always:

When I type YOURCODE: at the start of a message, [behavior you want].

Some ideas: EXPERT: for technical-level answers. CASUAL: to drop the AI-formal voice. METAPHOR: to explain hard concepts via analogy. TWEET: for under-280-character outputs.

Pro tip

Custom Instructions has a character limit. If you start hitting it, move some codes into a Claude Project's instructions instead. Project-level codes only fire inside that project, which is useful for specialized workflows.

✳

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