How to Ask the Agent What Tools It Has and How to Use Them
The idea
One of the biggest advantages of working with an agent inside a multimodal creative canvas is this:
You don’t have to memorize tools, models, workflows, or best practices.
You can simply ask.
And not just:
What tools do you have?
…but:
what each tool is best at
what it’s bad at
how to use it step-by-step
what common mistakes to avoid
and how to see a real example end-to-end
This article shows a simple, repeatable way to do that.
Why this matters
Most people lose time in two ways:
They don’t know what tools exist
They don’t know which tool to use when
The agent can solve both — but only if you ask the right kinds of questions.
The 3 Types of Questions You Should Ask
“What do you have access to?”
This is the inventory question, it gives you a map.
Prompt template
List the tools and models you have access to.
Group them into categories such as:
- image generation
- video generation
- motion control
- audio / voice
- editing / transformation
- analysis / planning
- consistency / reference tools
For each one:
- give a short description
- tell me what it is best for
“What are the strengths and weaknesses?”
This is the tradeoff question – this turns the map into decision-making.
Prompt template
For each tool/model you listed, explain:
Strengths:
- what it does best
Weaknesses:
- what it struggles with
Best Use Cases:
- when I should choose it
Avoid Using It When:
- when it is likely to disappoint
Keep it practical and beginner-friendly.
“How do I actually use it?”
This is the workflow question – it turns knowledge into action.
Prompt template
Pick the top [3] most important tools/models for:
[my use case]
For each one:
- write a short best practices guide
- list the most common mistakes
- give me a step-by-step workflow
Then:
create one real example using your own choice of assets (or ask me to upload what you need).
The Most Powerful Instructions
This is a reusable “deep dive” instruction that works for almost any tool category – It's the “make me an internal guide” direction.
It works extremely well.
Tool Deep Dive Instructions:
I want to learn how to use your tools effectively.
Topic:
[example: lip sync / cinematic video / character consistency / image refinement]
1) List all tools/models you have for this topic.
2) For each one, explain:
- strengths
- weaknesses
- best use cases
- what to avoid
3) Create a best practices document for each tool/model.
4) Create a step-by-step workflow for each tool/model.
5) Then create one complete real example end-to-end:
- choose assets yourself OR tell me exactly what to upload
- show the steps
- show the prompts
- explain the decisions
How to Ask for Tools Without Getting Overwhelmed
A common mistake is asking:
Tell me everything.
That can produce an answer that’s technically correct but too long to use.
A better approach is to ask in layers.
Ask for the shortlist
Prompt template
For my goal:
[describe goal]
What are the top 3 tools/models I should focus on first?
Do not list everything.
Just the most important ones for getting good results quickly.
Ask for the decision rules
Prompt template
Give me simple decision rules for choosing between these tools.
Example format:
- If I have [X], use [tool]
- If I want [Y], use [tool]
- If I need [Z], avoid [tool]
Ask for one workflow and one example
Prompt template
Give me one simple workflow that uses the best tool for this job.
Then show me one real example from start to finish.
The Best Way to Ask for Practical Examples
Your instinct here is exactly right.
A tool explanation without a real example often doesn’t stick.
So you should regularly ask for:
a full example
using real assets
with prompts you can reuse
Example: “show me a real project”
Pick a realistic example project.
Then:
- list the assets you would start with
- generate or describe them
- walk through the process step by step
- show the exact prompts you used
- show how you would refine based on feedback
Ask the Agent to Create Instruction Templates for You
This is one of the highest leverage moves in the whole system.
Instead of asking:
How do I prompt this?
Ask:
Write me reusable prompt templates.
Instruction template
Create a set of prompt templates for this task:
[task]
Each template should include placeholders like:
[STYLE], [CHARACTER], [SETTING], [CAMERA], [MOOD], [DURATION], [REFERENCES]
For each template:
- explain when to use it
- give one filled-in example
This gives you a “prompt toolkit” you can reuse forever.
Ask About Multi-Model Workflows
In a multi-model system, the best results often come from:
one model for exploration
one model for refinement
one model for video
one model for audio
You don’t need to know which is which.
Just ask the agent to design the pipeline.
Instruction template
My goal is:
[goal]
I don’t care which models you use.
I care about:
- consistency
- cinematic quality
- speed
Design a workflow using the tools/models you have access to.
Explain:
- what each step uses
- why that tool is chosen
- what I should provide as input
What to Ask When Something Isn’t Working
Instruction template
This result is not working.
Please diagnose the problem and classify it as:
- prompt issue
- missing context issue
- tool/model mismatch
- consistency issue
- motion issue (if video)
Then propose:
- [3] fixes in order of impact
- and which tool/model you would try next
Key takeaway
If you treat the agent like:
a documentation system
a trainer
a creative producer
and a tool router
…it becomes much more than “chat.”
And once you get into the habit of asking:
what tools exist for your task
what they’re good at
how to use them
and to show real examples
You stop guessing and start working with real leverage.