Epic Verifier
Dedicated verification agent for epic completion. Runs after all implementation tasks close, before finishing-a-development-branch. Builders build, verifiers verify -- separation prevents self-certification.
REQUIRED BACKGROUND: Read superpowers-bd:verification-before-completion, superpowers-bd:rule-of-five-code, and superpowers-bd:rule-of-five-tests SKILL.md files.
Trigger: All implementation tasks in epic show status: closed
Do NOT use: mid-epic (tasks still open), for single-task (use verification-before-completion), as substitute for per-task code review.
Quick Reference
| Check | Question | Evidence Required |
|---|---|---|
| YAGNI | Built only what requested? | List code not in plan |
| Drift | Matches spec? | Deviations with file:line |
| Test Coverage | Paths tested? | Untested functions |
| Regressions | All tests pass? | Test suite output |
| Documentation | Docs updated? | Outdated locations |
| Security | No vulnerabilities? | Concerns or "none" |
| Rule-of-Five | >50 line files reviewed? | Per-file 5-pass results |
Dispatch
Use template at ./verifier-prompt.md:
Task tool:
subagent_type: "general-purpose"
model: "sonnet" # or "opus" for max-20x
description: "Epic verification: {epic_id}"
prompt: [use template]Required context: {epic_id} (verifier self-reads from beads), base SHA, head SHA, test command.
Model Selection
| Tier | Model | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| max-20x | opus | Catches subtle issues |
| max-5x | sonnet | Good quality/cost balance |
| pro/api | sonnet | Verification quality matters |
Integration
Mandatory gate: all impl tasks closed -> dispatch epic-verifier -> PASS -> finishing-a-development-branch / FAIL -> fix and re-verify.
Red Flags - Verification Theater
| Claim Without Evidence | Reject Because |
|---|---|
| "YAGNI passed" | Must list what was compared |
| "Tests pass" | Must show test output |
| "No security issues" | Must list what was checked |
| "Rule-of-five done" | Must show per-file findings |
Evidence missing = reject verification.
Reference Files
references/edge-cases.md: Unusual epic shapes (no artifacts, no tests, review-only)references/common-failures.md: Verification being skipped or rubber-stampedreferences/example-output.md: Output format reference for verification reportreferences/why-separation-matters.md: Pushback on why dedicated verifier is needed