tools-only Multi-Agent Patterns
Patterns for coordinating multiple Claude instances for parallel and complex work.
Agent Teams — 3 Orchestration Topologies
Three proven topologies for multi-agent coordination. Choose based on task independence, ordering requirements, and specialization needs.
flowchart TD
subgraph ORCH["Pattern 1: Orchestrator + Workers"]
OL[Lead Orchestrator] --> OW1[Worker 1<br/>Frontend]
OL --> OW2[Worker 2<br/>Backend]
OL --> OW3[Worker 3<br/>Tests]
OW1 & OW2 & OW3 --> OR([Results aggregated])
end
subgraph PIPE["Pattern 2: Pipeline"]
PA[Agent A<br/>Requirements] --> PB[Agent B<br/>Implementation]
PB --> PC[Agent C<br/>Review]
PC --> PD([Final output])
end
subgraph ROUTE["Pattern 3: Specialist Router"]
RR{Router Agent<br/>analyzes task} --> RC[Code Agent]
RR --> RT[Test Agent]
RR --> RD[Docs Agent]
RC & RT & RD --> RO([Specialized result])
end
style OL fill:#E87E2F,color:#fff
style OW1 fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
style OW2 fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
style OW3 fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
style OR fill:#7BC47F,color:#333
style PA fill:#F5E6D3,color:#333
style PB fill:#F5E6D3,color:#333
style PC fill:#F5E6D3,color:#333
style PD fill:#7BC47F,color:#333
style RR fill:#E87E2F,color:#fff
style RC fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
style RT fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
style RD fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
style RO fill:#7BC47F,color:#333
click OL href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Lead Orchestrator"
click OW1 href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Worker: Frontend"
click OW2 href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Worker: Backend"
click OW3 href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Worker: Tests"
click OR href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Results aggregated"
click PA href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Agent A: Requirements"
click PB href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Agent B: Implementation"
click PC href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Agent C: Review"
click PD href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Final output"
click RR href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Router Agent"
click RC href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Code Agent"
click RT href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Test Agent"
click RD href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Docs Agent"
click RO href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Specialized result"
ORCHESTRATOR + WORKERS: PIPELINE: ROUTER:
Lead Agent Agent A (requirements) Router
/ | \ │ / | \
W1 W2 W3 Agent B (implement) Code Test Docs
\ | / │ \ | /
Aggregate Agent C (review) Result
│
Final output
Source: Agent Teams — Line ~59
Git Worktree Multi-Instance Pattern
Git worktrees enable true parallel development: each Claude instance works in an isolated branch with its own working tree. No conflicts, no context mixing.
flowchart LR
MB[(Main Branch<br/>git repository)] --> WA[git worktree add<br/>feature-A]
MB --> WB[git worktree add<br/>feature-B]
MB --> WC[git worktree add<br/>bugfix-C]
WA --> CA[Claude Instance 1<br/>/worktrees/feature-A]
WB --> CB[Claude Instance 2<br/>/worktrees/feature-B]
WC --> CC[Claude Instance 3<br/>/worktrees/bugfix-C]
CA --> CA1([Commits to feature-A])
CB --> CB1([Commits to feature-B])
CC --> CC1([Commits to bugfix-C])
CA1 & CB1 & CC1 --> MERGE([Merge to main<br/>when ready])
style MB fill:#E87E2F,color:#fff
style CA fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
style CB fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
style CC fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
style CA1 fill:#7BC47F,color:#333
style CB1 fill:#7BC47F,color:#333
style CC1 fill:#7BC47F,color:#333
style MERGE fill:#7BC47F,color:#333
style WA fill:#F5E6D3,color:#333
style WB fill:#F5E6D3,color:#333
style WC fill:#F5E6D3,color:#333
click MB href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#912-git-best-practices--workflows" "Main Branch"
click WA href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#912-git-best-practices--workflows" "Worktree: feature-A"
click WB href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#912-git-best-practices--workflows" "Worktree: feature-B"
click WC href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#912-git-best-practices--workflows" "Worktree: bugfix-C"
click CA href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#912-git-best-practices--workflows" "Claude Instance 1"
click CB href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#912-git-best-practices--workflows" "Claude Instance 2"
click CC href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#912-git-best-practices--workflows" "Claude Instance 3"
click CA1 href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#912-git-best-practices--workflows" "Commits to feature-A"
click CB1 href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#912-git-best-practices--workflows" "Commits to feature-B"
click CC1 href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#912-git-best-practices--workflows" "Commits to bugfix-C"
click MERGE href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#912-git-best-practices--workflows" "Merge to main"
Main repo
├── git worktree add feature-A → Claude 1 → commits to feature-A
├── git worktree add feature-B → Claude 2 → commits to feature-B
└── git worktree add bugfix-C → Claude 3 → commits to bugfix-C
No conflicts: separate working trees, separate branches
All merge back to main when done
Source: Git Worktrees — Line ~10634
Dual-Instance Planning Pattern (Jon Williams)
Separating planning from execution using two Claude instances prevents costly mistakes: the planner Claude has no tools, so it can't accidentally execute anything during analysis.
sequenceDiagram
participant U as User
participant PL as Planner Claude<br/>(no tools)
participant EX as Executor Claude<br/>(full tools)
U->>PL: "Plan how to refactor auth module"
Note over PL: Reads docs, analyzes requirements<br/>No execution risk — no tools
PL->>U: Detailed plan:<br/>1. Files to change<br/>2. Order of operations<br/>3. Risk points<br/>4. Rollback strategy
U->>U: Review plan carefully
Note over U: Human checkpoint:<br/>approve or adjust
U->>EX: "Execute this plan: [plan text]"
EX->>EX: Implements step by step
EX->>U: Progress updates + results
Note over PL,EX: Key insight: planner can be<br/>more thorough without execution anxiety
User → Planner (no tools): "Plan X"
│
[safe analysis, no execution risk]
│
Planner → User: detailed plan
│
User reviews + approves
│
User → Executor (full tools): "Execute: [plan]"
│
[implements with full context]
│
Executor → User: results
Source: Dual-Instance Planning
Boris Cherny Horizontal Scaling Pattern
When tasks can be parallelized, spawn N Claude instances simultaneously instead of running them sequentially. The speedup is proportional to task independence.
flowchart LR
BT([Large Task:<br/>Refactor 50 files]) --> DEC{Decompose<br/>into N subtasks}
DEC --> T1["Subtask 1<br/>Files 1-10"]
DEC --> T2["Subtask 2<br/>Files 11-20"]
DEC --> T3["Subtask 3<br/>Files 21-30"]
DEC --> TN["Subtask N<br/>..."]
T1 --> CI1[Claude<br/>Instance 1]
T2 --> CI2[Claude<br/>Instance 2]
T3 --> CI3[Claude<br/>Instance 3]
TN --> CIN[Claude<br/>Instance N]
CI1 & CI2 & CI3 & CIN --> AGG(Aggregate<br/>results)
AGG --> REV([Integration review<br/>~10x faster than sequential])
style BT fill:#F5E6D3,color:#333
style DEC fill:#E87E2F,color:#fff
style CI1 fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
style CI2 fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
style CI3 fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
style CIN fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
style AGG fill:#B8B8B8,color:#333
style REV fill:#7BC47F,color:#333
click BT href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Large Task"
click DEC href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Decompose into subtasks"
click T1 href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Subtask 1"
click T2 href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Subtask 2"
click T3 href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Subtask 3"
click TN href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Subtask N"
click CI1 href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Claude Instance 1"
click CI2 href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Claude Instance 2"
click CI3 href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Claude Instance 3"
click CIN href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Claude Instance N"
click AGG href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Aggregate results"
click REV href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Integration review"
Large task
│
Decompose into N independent subtasks
│
┌────┼────┐
│ │ │
I1 I2 I3... (parallel)
│ │ │
└────┼────┘
│
Aggregate → Integration review
(~10x faster than sequential)
Source: Horizontal Scaling — Line ~9617
Multi-Instance Decision Matrix
Not every task needs multiple instances. This decision tree guides you to the right pattern based on task characteristics.
flowchart TD
A([Task to complete]) --> B{Need multiple<br/>Claude instances?}
B -->|No| C([Single session<br/>Standard usage])
B -->|Yes| D{How many<br/>instances?}
D -->|2-3| E{Need branch<br/>isolation?}
E -->|Yes| F([Git worktrees<br/>Separate branches])
E -->|No| G([Multiple terminals<br/>Same repo])
D -->|4+| H{Task structure?}
H -->|Independent tasks| I([Task tool<br/>Sub-agents in parallel])
H -->|Sequential pipeline| J([Agent pipeline<br/>A → B → C])
H -->|Mixed expertise| K([Specialist router<br/>Route by task type])
B2{Need planning<br/>separation?} --> L([Dual-instance<br/>Planner + Executor])
style A fill:#F5E6D3,color:#333
style B fill:#E87E2F,color:#fff
style D fill:#E87E2F,color:#fff
style E fill:#E87E2F,color:#fff
style H fill:#E87E2F,color:#fff
style B2 fill:#E87E2F,color:#fff
style C fill:#B8B8B8,color:#333
style F fill:#7BC47F,color:#333
style G fill:#7BC47F,color:#333
style I fill:#7BC47F,color:#333
style J fill:#7BC47F,color:#333
style K fill:#7BC47F,color:#333
style L fill:#6DB3F2,color:#fff
click A href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Task to complete"
click B href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Need multiple instances?"
click C href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Single session"
click D href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "How many instances?"
click E href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#912-git-best-practices--workflows" "Need branch isolation?"
click F href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#912-git-best-practices--workflows" "Git worktrees"
click G href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Multiple terminals"
click H href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/ultimate-guide.md#917-scaling-patterns-multi-instance-workflows" "Task structure?"
click I href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Task tool sub-agents"
click J href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Agent pipeline"
click K href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/agent-teams.md" "Specialist router"
click B2 href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/dual-instance-planning.md" "Need planning separation?"
click L href "https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide/blob/main/guide/workflows/dual-instance-planning.md" "Dual-instance: Planner + Executor"
Need multiple instances?
├─ No → Single session
└─ Yes → How many?
├─ 2-3 → Need branch isolation?
│ ├─ Yes → Git worktrees
│ └─ No → Multiple terminals
└─ 4+ → Task structure?
├─ Independent → Task tool (parallel sub-agents)
├─ Sequential → Agent pipeline A→B→C
└─ Mixed → Specialist router
Special case: Need planning separation? → Dual-instance (Planner + Executor)
Source: Multi-Instance Patterns — Line ~11176