Knowledge Base

How to use the /formats-global tool (Sandcastles MCP in Claude)

MCPUpdated October 8, 2026

What does the /formats-global command do?

/formats-global shows you which video formats are working across all of Sandcastles, not just your watchlist. Claude looks at high-performing short-form videos on your topic, groups them by format, explains what makes each format distinctive, points out which formats are dominant or rising and links 2–3 example videos for each one.

Before You Start

You need:

Using the /formats-global Command

You run /formats-global in Claude, either in a regular chat or in Cowork. You don't run it in the Sandcastles web app.

  1. Open a chat or a Cowork task in Claude.
  2. Type /formats-global and send it.
  3. Read the formats Claude returns.
  4. Reply with follow-up questions to dig into a format or change the settings.

Which Videos /formats-global Looks At

By default, /formats-global uses up to 25 analyzed videos on your topic from across Sandcastles, highest outlier score first, that match all of these:

  • Posted in the last 30 days.
  • At least 25,000 views.
  • At least 2% engagement rate.
  • An outlier score of at least 1.0x.

/formats-global can't narrow the search to a specific channel. To see formats from the channels you follow, use How to use the /formats-watchlist tool (Sandcastles MCP in Claude).

Searching by Topic

By default, /formats-global looks at videos about what you make content about, using the Content description on your Persona tab. See How to use the Persona tab.

To see the formats working for any other topic, name the topic, either as a follow-up or as a question on its own:

  • "Do the same for home workouts."
  • "What formats are working for personal finance across Sandcastles?"

Claude turns your topic into a few search terms and finds the top analyzed videos on that topic from across Sandcastles. If your workspace has no Content description and you don't name a topic, Claude looks across all topics.

Changing the Defaults

/formats-global always starts with the default settings. To change them, ask Claude in your next message. You can change the time window, the platform (YouTube Shorts, TikTok or Instagram), the minimum views, engagement rate and outlier score, and the number of videos (up to 50). For example:

  • "Do the same for the last 60 days."
  • "Only look at Instagram."
  • "Only include videos with over 1M views."
  • "Use up to 50 videos."

What You Get Back

By default, Claude gives you:

  • Format groups: each with a short summary of what makes it distinctive.
  • Dominant and rising formats: which formats stand out in the results.
  • 2–3 example videos per format: each with a link to the video in Sandcastles.

Claude may also suggest analyzing more videos to get a fuller picture. You can ask Claude for more, for example:

  • "Rank these formats by total views."
  • "Show me all the videos in the first format."
  • "Which of these formats would work for my channel?"

Credits

  • /formats-global is free. It doesn't use credits.
  • If you ask Claude to analyze more videos, each new video uses 1 credit.

Troubleshooting

  • Claude finds few or no videos: Try a broader topic, ask Claude to look further back, or lower the minimum views, engagement rate or outlier score.
  • "Your Sandcastles plan doesn't include MCP access.": Upgrade to Pro, Visionary or Titan.
  • The command doesn't appear: If /formats-global isn't listed when you type /, update your plugin by adding Sandcastles from the Claude directory at https://claude.ai/directory/sandcastles. See How to update the Sandcastles MCP plugin in Claude.

If you have any questions, please reach out to support@sandcastles.ai.

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