[BUG] Claude Desktop: Skills consistently fail with No such tool available: skill despite plugins being installed and MCP tools working

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Claude Code is unable to execute installed plugin skills.

The plugins install correctly and are listed by claude plugin list. Their skills are also visible via claude plugin details.

However, whenever Claude attempts to invoke a skill (for example Desktop Commander or Superpowers), the invocation fails with:

Error: No such tool available: skill

The model repeatedly retries but never succeeds.

This happens even though:

• Plugins are installed and enabled.
• MCP servers are connected.
• MCP tools execute successfully.
• Skills are discoverable.

Only skill execution fails.

What Should Happen?

Claude should successfully invoke installed plugin skills.

For example, when instructed to use the Desktop Commander overview or Superpowers skills, the skill should execute and provide its instructions instead of failing with "No such tool available: skill".

Error Messages/Logs

1. Failed to run skill

skill: desktop-commander:desktop-commander-overview

Error: No such tool available: skill;

2. Failed to run skill

skill: desktop-commander:ai-tools-setup

Error: No such tool available: skill

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Desktop Commander.

``bash
claude plugin install desktop-commander
``

1. Verify the plugin is installed.

``bash
claude plugin list
``

1. Verify skills exist.

``bash
claude plugin details desktop-commander
``

1. Open Claude Code.

1. Ask Claude to invoke one of the installed skills, for example:

"Use the Desktop Commander overview skill."

1. Claude attempts to execute the skill.

1. The invocation fails with:

Error: No such tool available: skill

The issue reproduces consistently with multiple installed plugins including Desktop Commander and Superpowers.

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Claude 1.24012.9

Platform

Other

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

Relevant observations:

• claude plugin list shows the plugins are enabled.
• claude plugin details correctly lists the available skills.
• claude mcp list shows Desktop Commander connected.
• MCP tools execute successfully.
• Only skill execution fails.

Example:

desktop-commander ✔ enabled
superpowers ✔ enabled

desktop-commander ✔ Connected

The failure appears isolated to skill invocation rather than plugin installation or MCP connectivity.

If this is expected behavior, clarification on the correct method for invoking installed plugin skills would also be appreciated.