diff --git a/apps/server/agent/prompts/shared.ts b/apps/server/agent/prompts/shared.ts
index b678700..071483d 100644
--- a/apps/server/agent/prompts/shared.ts
+++ b/apps/server/agent/prompts/shared.ts
@@ -14,21 +14,23 @@ As your final action, write \`.cw/output/signal.json\`:
 
 export const INPUT_FILES = `
 <input_files>
-Read \`.cw/input/manifest.json\` first, then read listed files from \`.cw/input/\`.
+Read \`.cw/input/manifest.json\` first. It contains two arrays:
+- \`files\` — your **assignment**. Read every file in full.
+- \`contextFiles\` — **background reference**. Do NOT read these upfront. Only read a context file when you specifically need information from it.
 
-**Assignment Files**
+**Assignment Files** (read all of these)
 - \`initiative.md\` — frontmatter: id, name, status
 - \`phase.md\` — frontmatter: id, name, status; body: description
 - \`task.md\` — frontmatter: id, name, category, type, priority, status; body: description
 - \`pages/\` — one per page; frontmatter: title, parentPageId, sortOrder; body: markdown
 
-**Context Files (read-only)**
-Present when \`contextFiles\` exists in manifest:
+**Context Files** (read-only, read on-demand)
 - \`context/phases/\` — frontmatter: id, name, status, dependsOn; body: description
 - \`context/tasks/\` — frontmatter: id, name, phaseId, parentTaskId, category, type, priority, status, summary; body: description
   Completed tasks include a \`summary\` field with what the previous agent accomplished.
 
-Do not duplicate or contradict context file content in your output.
+Context files provide awareness of the broader initiative. There may be dozens — do NOT bulk-read them.
+When you need to check a specific phase or task, read that one file. Do not duplicate or contradict context file content in your output.
 </input_files>`;
 
 export const ID_GENERATION = `
@@ -99,7 +101,7 @@ export const SESSION_STARTUP = `
 1. \`pwd\` — confirm working directory
 2. \`git status\` — check for unexpected state
 3. Run test suite — establish green baseline. If already failing, signal "error". Don't build on a broken foundation.
-4. Read \`.cw/input/manifest.json\` and all listed input files
+4. Read \`.cw/input/manifest.json\` and all **assignment** files (the \`files\` array). Do not bulk-read context files.
 </session_startup>`;
 
 export const PROGRESS_TRACKING = `