diff --git a/internal/cli/run.go b/internal/cli/run.go
index 93b9d2125..37a4dbe12 100644
--- a/internal/cli/run.go
+++ b/internal/cli/run.go
@@ -780,7 +780,27 @@ func runAgent(ctx context.Context, agentName, fullsendDir, outputBase, targetRep
 		printer.StepDone(fmt.Sprintf("Agent-input files copied (%.1fs)", time.Since(inputStart).Seconds()))
 	}
 
-	// 8c. Host-side scan (Path A): scan the target repo's context files
+	// 8c. Make the target repo read-only if the harness opts in.
+	// Runs after all repo-directory writes (8a, 8a-2) are complete.
+	// Excludes .git/ so git operations (index.lock, etc.) still work.
+	if h.ReadonlyRepo {
+		// -prune skips .git traversal entirely; -not -type l prevents symlink traversal.
+		// chown ensures the sandbox user (run_as_user) owns .git/ after root-owned extraction.
+		chmodCmd := fmt.Sprintf(
+			"find %s -path '*/.git' -prune -o -not -type l -exec chmod a-w {} + && chown -R sandbox:sandbox %s/.git && chmod -R u+w %s/.git",
+			remoteRepositoryDir, remoteRepositoryDir, remoteRepositoryDir,
+		)
+		if _, stderr, exitCode, err := sandbox.Exec(sandboxName, chmodCmd, 30*time.Second); err != nil {
+			printer.StepFail("Could not make repo read-only: " + err.Error())
+			return fmt.Errorf("Read-only repo enforcement failed: %w", err)
+		} else if exitCode != 0 {
+			printer.StepFail("Could not make repo read-only (exit " + fmt.Sprintf("%d", exitCode) + "): " + stderr)
+			return fmt.Errorf("read-only repo enforcement failed: exit code %d", exitCode)
+		}
+		printer.StepDone("Target repo set to read-only")
+	}
+
+	// 8d. Host-side scan (Path A): scan the target repo's context files
 	// (CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md, SKILL.md, etc.) before the agent processes them.
 	// The target branch may contain attacker-controlled files from a PR.
 	if h.SecurityEnabled() {
diff --git a/internal/harness/harness.go b/internal/harness/harness.go
index 62af46f3d..06f9ca0ce 100644
--- a/internal/harness/harness.go
+++ b/internal/harness/harness.go
@@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ type Harness struct {
 	RunnerEnv              map[string]string       `yaml:"runner_env,omitempty"`
 	Env                    *EnvConfig              `yaml:"env,omitempty"`
 	TimeoutMinutes         int                     `yaml:"timeout_minutes,omitempty"`
+	ReadonlyRepo           bool                    `yaml:"readonly_repo,omitempty"`
 	SandboxTimeoutSeconds  int                     `yaml:"sandbox_timeout_seconds,omitempty"`
 	Security               *SecurityConfig         `yaml:"security,omitempty"`
 	AllowedRemoteResources []string                `yaml:"allowed_remote_resources,omitempty"`
diff --git a/internal/harness/harness_test.go b/internal/harness/harness_test.go
index 236db54c5..692f44cd8 100644
--- a/internal/harness/harness_test.go
+++ b/internal/harness/harness_test.go
@@ -1503,6 +1503,35 @@ role: test
 	assert.Nil(t, h.MaxRuntimeFetches)
 }
 
+func TestLoad_ReadonlyRepoField(t *testing.T) {
+	content := `
+agent: agents/review.md
+readonly_repo: true
+role: review
+`
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "test.yaml")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte(content), 0o644))
+
+	h, err := Load(path)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, h.ReadonlyRepo)
+}
+
+func TestLoad_ReadonlyRepoFieldOmitted(t *testing.T) {
+	content := `
+agent: agents/code.md
+role: code
+`
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "test.yaml")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte(content), 0o644))
+
+	h, err := Load(path)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, h.ReadonlyRepo)
+}
+
 // --- ValidForgePlatform tests ---
 
 func TestValidForgePlatform(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/agents/review.md b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/agents/review.md
index c30e683e0..8354b4c24 100644
--- a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/agents/review.md
+++ b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/agents/review.md
@@ -76,31 +76,15 @@ findings equally. If filtering removes all findings from a
 You **either**:
 
 - When invoked for local/pre-push review, evaluate sequentially via the
-`code-review` skill.
+  `code-review` skill.
 
 **or**
 
 - Otherwise orchestrate code reviews by dispatching specialized
-sub-agents in parallel across six review dimensions:
-
-1. **Correctness** — logic errors, edge cases, nil handling, API
-   contracts, test adequacy, test integrity (opus)
-2. **Security** — RBAC, authentication, data exposure, privilege
-   escalation, injection defense, content sandboxing (opus)
-3. **Intent & coherence** — whether the change matches authorized work,
-   is appropriately scoped, and fits the project's architectural
-   direction (sonnet)
-4. **Style/conventions** — naming, error handling idioms, API shape,
-   code organization (sonnet)
-5. **Documentation currency** — whether the PR's code changes have
-   made in-repo documentation stale, incomplete, or misleading (sonnet)
-6. **Cross-repo contracts** — whether the change breaks APIs, schemas,
-   or interfaces other repos depend on (sonnet, conditional)
-
-Sub-agent definitions live in `skills/pr-review/sub-agents/`. Each
-sub-agent is a markdown file with frontmatter specifying its `model`
-pin. The `pr-review` skill (orchestrator) handles triage, dispatch,
-and synthesis.
+  sub-agents in parallel across six review dimensions
+
+  The `pr-review` skill (orchestrator) handles triage, dispatch,
+  and synthesis.
 
 ## Skill routing
 
@@ -111,9 +95,7 @@ This agent has three skills. Select based on invocation context:
   dispatches specialized sub-agents in parallel, collects and
   synthesizes their findings, runs PR-specific checks (protected
   paths, scope authorization, PR body injection defense), and
-  produces a structured review result. Sub-agent definitions live in
-  `skills/pr-review/sub-agents/`. Each sub-agent is dispatched with
-  `model` from its frontmatter and `subagent_type: Explore`.
+  produces a structured review result.
 - **`code-review`** — the prompt is about a local branch diff with
   no PR, or another skill is delegating code evaluation. This skill
   evaluates the diff and source files directly across the original
diff --git a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/harness/review.yaml b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/harness/review.yaml
index 7a029c2da..ba51ecdd5 100644
--- a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/harness/review.yaml
+++ b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/harness/review.yaml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ doc: docs/agents/review.md
 model: opus
 image: ghcr.io/fullsend-ai/fullsend-code:latest
 policy: policies/review.yaml
+readonly_repo: true
 
 role: review
 slug: fullsend-ai-review
diff --git a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/policies/review.yaml b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/policies/review.yaml
index 00f10b630..3871b6d8b 100644
--- a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/policies/review.yaml
+++ b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/policies/review.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ version: 1
 # handles mutations on the runner with a separate write-scoped token.
 
 filesystem_policy:
-  include_workdir: true
+  include_workdir: false
   read_only: [/usr, /lib, /proc, /dev/urandom, /app, /etc, /var/log]
   read_write: [/sandbox, /tmp, /dev/null]
 landlock:
diff --git a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/SKILL.md b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/SKILL.md
index 7d3226834..32fd54790 100644
--- a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/SKILL.md
+++ b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/SKILL.md
@@ -33,23 +33,18 @@ post-script to post. In interactive mode, it posts directly via
 
 ## Sub-agent roster
 
-Sub-agent definitions live in `sub-agents/` relative to this file.
-Each is a markdown file with frontmatter specifying `name`, `model`,
-and `description`.
-
-| Sub-agent              | Model  | Dispatch   | Dimension                                                                      |
-|------------------------|--------|------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
-| `correctness`          | opus   | parallel   | Logic errors, edge cases, nil handling, API contracts, test adequacy/integrity |
-| `security`             | opus   | parallel   | Auth, data exposure, privilege escalation, injection defense, content security |
-| `intent-coherence`     | sonnet | parallel   | Authorization, scope, tier matching, architectural fit, design coherence       |
-| `style-conventions`    | sonnet | parallel   | Naming, error handling idioms, API shape, code organization                    |
-| `docs-currency`        | sonnet | parallel   | Documentation staleness (follows docs-review skill inline)                     |
-| `cross-repo-contracts` | sonnet | parallel   | API contract breakage affecting other repos (conditional)                      |
-| `challenger`           | opus   | sequential | Adversarial challenge of findings, false-positive removal, deduplication       |
-
-The Model column reflects each sub-agent's current frontmatter. Any
-value accepted by the Agent tool's `model` parameter is valid in
-sub-agent frontmatter.
+Sub-agent discovery: The sub-agents' definitions are in `sub-agents/`
+relative to this file.
+
+| Sub-agent              | Dispatch   | Dimensions                                                                                                              |
+|------------------------|------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
+| `correctness`          | parallel   | Logic errors, edge cases, nil handling, API contracts, test adequacy/integrity                                          |
+| `security`             | parallel   | Security vulnerabilities, auth/access control, data exposure, injection defense, privilege escalation, content security |
+| `intent-coherence`     | parallel   | Architectural coherence & fit, design coherence, intent alignment, PR scope, scope authorization, tier matching         |
+| `style-conventions`    | parallel   | Repo-specific naming, error-handling idioms, API shape, code organization                                               |
+| `docs-currency`        | parallel   | Documentation staleness (follows docs-review skill inline)                                                              |
+| `cross-repo-contracts` | parallel   | API contract breakage affecting other repos (conditional)                                                               |
+| `challenger`           | sequential | Adversarial challenge of findings, false-positive removal, deduplication                                                |
 
 ## Findings vs inline comments
 
@@ -255,7 +250,8 @@ dimensions are relevant:
 #### 3c. Select sub-agents
 
 Based on the domain classification, select sub-agents for dispatch.
-All selected sub-agents run in parallel.
+All selected sub-agents run in parallel (with the exception of the
+challenger, which runs by itself after all other sub-agents have finished).
 
 **Dispatch sub-agents based on the classification — typically 3-6.**
 The orchestrator should auto-select which sub-agents are relevant for
@@ -311,9 +307,7 @@ For each selected sub-agent, assemble a context package containing:
 
 For each selected sub-agent:
 
-1. Read the sub-agent definition from `sub-agents/{name}.md`
-2. Extract the `model` from frontmatter
-3. Compose the spawn prompt from three parts:
+1. Compose the spawn prompt from:
 
    **Part 1 — Sub-agent definition:** the full markdown body of the
    sub-agent file (everything after the frontmatter)
@@ -359,12 +353,8 @@ For each selected sub-agent:
    REVIEW_SUB_AGENT_TRUE
    ```
 
-4. Spawn via Agent tool with:
-   - `model`: from the sub-agent frontmatter (any value accepted by
-     the Agent tool's `model` parameter)
-   - `subagent_type`: `Explore` (read-only — sub-agents do not write)
-   - `run_in_background`: `true`
-   - `prompt`: composed from parts 1–5
+2. Spawn the subagents with their `prompt` argument composed from parts
+   1–5 above
 
 **All sub-agents MUST be dispatched simultaneously** — include all
 Agent calls in a single message so they run concurrently. This is the
@@ -459,8 +449,7 @@ fresh context. The challenger has not seen the orchestrator's synthesis
 — it receives only the raw findings and the diff, preserving context
 isolation.
 
-1. Read `sub-agents/challenger.md` for the sub-agent definition
-2. Compose the spawn prompt from:
+1. Compose the spawn prompt from:
 
    **Part 1 — Sub-agent definition:** the full markdown body of the
    challenger sub-agent file (everything after the frontmatter)
@@ -494,10 +483,8 @@ isolation.
    REVIEW_SUB_AGENT_TRUE
    ```
 
-3. Spawn via Agent tool with:
-   - `model`: from the challenger sub-agent frontmatter (`opus`)
-   - `subagent_type`: `Explore` (read-only)
-   - `prompt`: composed from parts 1–4
+2. Spawn the subagents with their `prompt` argument composed from parts
+   1–4 above
 
    **Prompt size guard:** If the combined context package (findings
    JSON + diff + file list + PR metadata) exceeds 80 000 tokens,
@@ -510,7 +497,7 @@ isolation.
    needs their findings as input), so it is dispatched sequentially,
    not in the parallel batch from step 4.
 
-4. Consume the challenger's output. The challenger returns a **different
+3. Consume the challenger's output. The challenger returns a **different
    format** from dimension sub-agents: an object with
    `adjudicated_findings` and `removed_findings` arrays (not a flat
    finding array). Parse accordingly:
@@ -522,15 +509,15 @@ isolation.
      part of the standard finding schema.
    - If `adjudicated_findings` is empty but the pre-challenger finding
      set was non-empty, treat this as a challenger failure (fall back
-     per step 5 below). A legitimate challenger pass that removes all
-     findings is unlikely — an empty result more likely indicates a
-     parsing error or context truncation.
+     per the immediate next step below). A legitimate challenger pass
+     that removes all findings is unlikely — an empty result more likely
+     indicates a parsing error or context truncation.
    - Otherwise, replace the merged finding set with the challenger's
      `adjudicated_findings`.
    - Log any `removed_findings` for transparency but do not include
      them in the final review.
 
-5. If the challenger sub-agent fails (timeout, error, empty
+4. If the challenger sub-agent fails (timeout, error, empty
    response), fall back to using the pre-challenger merged finding
    set from steps 6a–6c. Record an **info**-level finding:
 
diff --git a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/challenger.md b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/challenger.md
index 7375dba4e..b82a4bf70 100644
--- a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/challenger.md
+++ b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/challenger.md
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 ---
-name: review-challenger
-description: Adversarially challenges review findings, removes false positives, deduplicates across dimensions, and produces an adjudicated finding list.
+name: challenger
+description: >-
+  Adversarially challenges review findings, removes false positives,
+  deduplicates across dimensions, and produces an adjudicated finding list.
 model: opus
+tools: Read, Grep, Glob
+permissionMode: dontAsk
+background: false
 ---
 
 # Challenger
diff --git a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/correctness.md b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/correctness.md
index f8658f7d8..8fc422c29 100644
--- a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/correctness.md
+++ b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/correctness.md
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 ---
-name: review-correctness
-description: Evaluates logic correctness, edge cases, test adequacy, and test integrity.
+name: correctness
+description: >-
+  Evaluates logic correctness, edge cases, nil handling, API contracts,
+  test adequacy/integrity.
 model: opus
+tools: Read, Grep, Glob
+permissionMode: dontAsk
+background: true
 ---
 
 # Correctness
diff --git a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/cross-repo-contracts.md b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/cross-repo-contracts.md
index 463b4c0c1..ee15860a6 100644
--- a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/cross-repo-contracts.md
+++ b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/cross-repo-contracts.md
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 ---
-name: review-cross-repo-contracts
-description: Evaluates backward compatibility of exported interfaces and API contracts.
+name: cross-repo-contracts
+description: >-
+  Evaluates potential API contract breakage affecting other repos.
 model: claude-sonnet-4-6@default
+tools: Read, Grep, Glob
+permissionMode: dontAsk
+background: true
 ---
 
 # Cross-Repo Contracts
diff --git a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/docs-currency.md b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/docs-currency.md
index 71f47995e..16c2fa112 100644
--- a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/docs-currency.md
+++ b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/docs-currency.md
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 ---
-name: review-docs-currency
-description: Evaluates documentation staleness against code changes.
+name: docs-currency
+description: >-
+  Evaluates documentation staleness against code changes.
 model: claude-sonnet-4-6@default
+tools: Read, Grep, Glob
+permissionMode: dontAsk
+background: true
 ---
 
 # Docs Currency
diff --git a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/intent-coherence.md b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/intent-coherence.md
index 1e8f789d2..222db30b5 100644
--- a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/intent-coherence.md
+++ b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/intent-coherence.md
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 ---
-name: review-intent-coherence
-description: Evaluates intent alignment, scope authorization, and architectural coherence.
+name: intent-coherence
+description: >-
+  Evaluates architectural coherence & fit, design coherence,
+  intent alignment, PR scope, scope authorization, and tier matching
 model: claude-sonnet-4-6@default
+tools: Read, Grep, Glob
+permissionMode: dontAsk
+background: true
 ---
 
 # Intent & Coherence
diff --git a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/security.md b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/security.md
index 9191126ec..b60365058 100644
--- a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/security.md
+++ b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/security.md
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 ---
-name: review-security
-description: Evaluates security vulnerabilities, auth/access control, data exposure, and injection defense.
+name: security
+description: >-
+  Evaluates security vulnerabilities, auth/access control, data exposure,
+  injection defense, privilege escalation, and content security.
 model: opus
+tools: Read, Grep, Glob
+permissionMode: dontAsk
+background: true
 ---
 
 # Security
diff --git a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/style-conventions.md b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/style-conventions.md
index 1dcd0ecd2..7ef08ef79 100644
--- a/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/style-conventions.md
+++ b/internal/scaffold/fullsend-repo/skills/pr-review/sub-agents/style-conventions.md
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 ---
-name: review-style-conventions
-description: Evaluates repo-specific naming, error-handling idioms, API shape, and code organization.
+name: style-conventions
+description: >-
+  Evaluates repo-specific naming, error-handling idioms, API shape,
+  and code organization.
 model: claude-sonnet-4-6@default
+tools: Read, Grep, Glob
+permissionMode: dontAsk
+background: true
 ---
 
 # Style & Conventions