Knowledge Base

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

MCPUpdated October 8, 2026

What does the /formats-watchlist command do?

/formats-watchlist shows you which video formats are working among the creators you follow. Claude looks at analyzed videos from your watchlist, 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-watchlist Command

You run /formats-watchlist in Claude, not in the Sandcastles web app.

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

Which Videos /formats-watchlist Looks At

By default, /formats-watchlist uses up to 25 of the most-viewed videos that match all of these:

  • Analyzed in your current workspace. This includes videos from channels on your watchlist, plus any other videos you've analyzed in that workspace.
  • Posted in the last 30 days.
  • At least 25,000 views.
  • At least 2% engagement rate.
  • An outlier score of at least 1.0x.

Videos that haven't been analyzed yet are left out, even if they match.

Changing the Defaults

/formats-watchlist 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 an outlier score above 3x."
  • "Use up to 50 videos."

What You Get Back

By default, Claude gives you:

  • Formats grouped by category: each with a short summary of what's distinctive about it.
  • Dominant and rising formats: which formats show up most and which are gaining traction.
  • 2–3 example videos per format: each with a link to the video in Sandcastles.

If Claude can show visuals, it may lay the videos out as cards with thumbnails. Claude may also suggest analyzing more videos from your watchlist to get a fuller picture.

You can ask Claude for more, for example:

  • "Show me a chart of total views by format."
  • "Show me all the videos in the second format."
  • "Break this format into its sub-types."

To see top formats across all of Sandcastles instead of just your watchlist, use /formats-global. See How to use the /formats-global tool (Sandcastles MCP in Claude).

Credits

  • /formats-watchlist is free. It doesn't use credits.
  • If you ask Claude to analyze more videos, each new video uses 1 credit. Videos already analyzed in your current workspace don't use a credit again.

Troubleshooting

  • Claude says there are no channels in your watchlist: Add channels to your watchlist, or use /channels-add in Claude, then run /formats-watchlist again.
  • Claude finds few or no videos: Only analyzed videos count. Ask Claude to look further back or lower the minimum views, or analyze more videos from your watchlist.
  • The formats are from the wrong niche: /formats-watchlist uses the workspace you're currently in. Ask Claude "Which workspace am I in?" and switch if needed.
  • "Your Sandcastles plan doesn't include MCP access": Upgrade to Pro, Visionary or Titan.
  • The command doesn't appear: If /formats-watchlist 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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