Get the most from Claude Opus 4.6
What's new in Opus 4.6 and how to work with it
- CategoryProfessional
- ProductClaude.ai
- Reading timeWatch time5minmin
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Claude Opus 4.6 is a meaningful upgrade. It gathers context for complex tasks, stays with hard work longer, and better judges when to work independently versus check in with you.
Opus 4.6 still has Claude’s characteristic personality and values, but you may also notice some slightly behavioral shifts. A few are worth understanding so you can work with them effectively.
Follows instructions more precisely
Earlier models sometimes needed repeated instructions or heavy prompting to stay on track. Opus 4.6 follows instructions more carefully the first time.
What this means for you
- You don’t need to repeat yourself. Instructions carry through longer sessions without drifting.
- Opus 4.6 picks up on patterns from fewer examples and applies them more effectively going forward.
To work with this
- Say it once. State your requirements clearly. Opus 4.6 is less likely to need reinforcement throughout a session.
- A few clear examples is enough. Opus 4.6 can generalize from them.
- Explain the intent behind your instruction, not just the rule. This gives Opus 4.6 the context to apply your guidance broadly rather than follow it narrowly.
- Trust that instructions landed. “And remember to...” reminders aren’t necessary.
Gathers context before acting
Before making changes, Opus 4.6 reads the full picture: file structures, existing patterns, dependencies, how things connect. Opus 4.6 invests upfront in understanding what it’s working with so the work itself is more accurate.
What this means for you
- You don’t need to pre-organize complex tasks as carefully. Opus 4.6 orients itself.
- Opus 4.6 can scan across large files, datasets, codebases, and long documents to build understanding before responding. This makes Claude more reliable on tasks that span a lot of material.
- You may notice sessions starting slower as Opus 4.6 reads before acting.
To work with this
- Front-load your context. Opus 4.6 invests in understanding before acting, so the quality of what you share upfront directly shapes the quality of the output. Share relevant files, link related documents, and describe the broader system.
- Skip the role setting. You don’t need to tell Opus 4.6 to “act as a [professional]” or “be an expert in…”. Opus 4.6 infers the appropriate level of expertise from the task and context you provide.
- Narrow the scope on simple tasks. Not every task needs the full picture. For quick asks, tell Opus 4.6 exactly where to look. “Just look at this file” or “Here’s exactly what I need, skip the broader context.”
- Ask Opus 4.6 to show its understanding first. “Walk me through how this is structured, then update X.” This helps catch blind spots early.
Stays persistent on difficult tasks
Opus 4.6 stays with a problem longer and works through alternatives independently. Opus 4.6 pushes through difficult work rather than settling for an easy answer.
What this means for you
- Complex, multi-step tasks are more likely to succeed on the first attempt.
- Complex tasks may take longer. Claude tries multiple approaches before checking in with you.
- Opus 4.6 can occasionally go beyond what was requested, like providing a more detailed response than needed or creating additional files you didn’t explicitly ask for. Clear scope and explicit constraints help keep output focused.
To work with this
- Set check-in points. If you prefer working in smaller steps, tell Opus 4.6 when to pause. “Check with me after each major step” or “Ask me before trying more than two or three approaches.”
- Recognize looping. If Claude is trying variations of the same approach without making real progress, step in with a specific alternative.
- Ask for collaboration. For tasks where you want to stay involved, set that expectation upfront. “Let’s work on this interactively. Talk to me step by step.”
Weighs in more readily
Opus 4.6 commits to a direction more readily and is more willing to offer alternatives when it sees a different path. Earlier models tended to defer to your framing, even when a different approach might have worked better.
What this means for you
- Opus 4.6 may act on a task rather than asking for confirmation first. This can be efficient, but may mean changes you didn’t expect. If you want to review actions before it proceeds, set that expectation upfront. When using Claude Code or agentic tools, Opus 4.6 may be more likely to commit to an implementation rather than presenting options first.
- Opus 4.6 is less susceptible to leading questions and less likely to immediately confirm what you’ve given it. That said, how you frame a problem can still influence the response, so it’s worth being mindful of framing when objectivity matters.
- This is most valuable on architectural decisions, strategy, and anything where catching a bad assumption early saves real time.
To work with this
- Ask to explore alternatives. “What are three ways we could approach this?”
- Set expectations for when to pause. If you want Opus 4.6 to share its plan before acting, say so. “Walk me through your approach before making changes.”
- Be direct when your mind is made up. “I’ve considered the alternatives. Please proceed with this approach.”
- Stress-test deliberately. “What’s wrong with this plan?” or “What am I missing?”
Delivers stronger writing
Opus 4.6 is better at matching styles, maintaining voice across long pieces, and keeping complex documents coherent and well-structured.
What this means for you
- Writing quality is noticeably higher.
- Opus 4.6 can match styles from previous work.
- Unguided output may still have recognizable AI patterns. Setting clear voice and tone preferences helps.
To work with this
- Lead with an example. Share a sample of the style you want. Opus 4.6 can match it.
- Name what to avoid. Opus 4.6 will follow style constraints.
- Use Claude as a writing partner for co-authoring and continuing existing work.
- Trust Claude with longer and more ambitious creative projects.
See what these shifts look like on real work
Opus 4.6 handles more so you can think bigger:
Evaluate a company from the science to the balance sheet
Claude reads across SEC filings, clinical trials, and patents before surfacing what contradicts the narrative.
Source insights from your tools to build a deck
Claude chases leads across your connected tools, finds what no single source shows, and builds a presentation around it.
Stress-test your financial plan across scenarios
Claude tests your plan against a full range of outcomes and tracks how each risk cascades through the rest.
Map your understanding and build lessons from the gaps
Claude traces your confusion to its source, maps what you already understand, and builds lessons around the gap.