Claude Code 2.1.316 adds a subagent effort setting and starts retiring Opus 4.8 fast mode
New CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_EFFORT sets the effort level subagents use when nothing else names one, and CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_ULTRATHINK switches off the ultrathink keyword. Fast mode for Opus 4.8 is deprecated and will error from Nov 30, 2026 with no fallback, so move fast-mode work to Opus 5.5.
