Feature Request: Allow subagents to access MCP tools
Problem
Subagents spawned via the Task tool cannot access MCP tools, even when:
- The
tools:field is omitted from the agent definition (should inherit all) - MCP tools are explicitly listed:
tools: Read, Write, mcp__ae-mcp__* - The MCP server is connected and working for the primary agent
Current Behavior
| Agent Type | MCP Access |
|-----------|------------|
| Primary agent | ✅ Yes |
| Foreground subagent | ❌ No |
| Background subagent | ❌ No |
Subagents only receive: Read, Write, Edit, Bash, WebFetch, Glob, Grep
Expected Behavior
Subagents should inherit MCP tools from the parent session, or allow explicit MCP tool listing in agent definitions:
---
name: my-agent
tools: Read, Write, mcp__my-server__*
---
Use Case
Specialized agents (e.g., After Effects automation) need MCP tool access to perform their tasks. Currently, only the primary agent can call MCP tools, forcing a suboptimal workflow where subagents create specs and the primary agent executes MCP commands.
Environment
- Claude Code CLI
- MCP server: ae-mcp (After Effects automation)
- Agent definition with various
tools:configurations tested
Workaround Attempted
None work - this appears to be a platform limitation in how the Task tool spawns subagents.
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