> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://dataleap-469bb19d-docs-from-commits-2026-08-19-upload-limits.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Sub-agents & intelligence levels

> What sub-agents are (Dataleap handles them for you) — and how to pick the right model tier.

An agent isn't always just one agent — behind the scenes it can be a whole system: a main agent delegating parts of the job to **sub-agents**, running as one logical process.

The important part: **this happens automatically**. Dataleap decides when a workflow benefits from sub-agents and architects them for you. There's nothing to set up, nothing to manage — this page just explains the concept so you recognize it when you see it.

## What a sub-agent system looks like

<Frame caption="One logical process, many agents underneath.">
  <img className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/dataleap-469bb19d-docs-from-commits-2026-08-19-upload-limits/9b7WCSBKC0-1NVfb/images/subagents-light.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=9b7WCSBKC0-1NVfb&q=85&s=b39c2b804292ee21e98fd221129efeb5" alt="Diagram: a main agent delegating to three sub-agents — research, copywriting, and a scraper called fifty times" width="760" height="230" data-path="images/subagents-light.svg" />

  <img className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/dataleap-469bb19d-docs-from-commits-2026-08-19-upload-limits/9b7WCSBKC0-1NVfb/images/subagents-dark.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=9b7WCSBKC0-1NVfb&q=85&s=48ecd40aa6984fe623adee7da108171c" alt="Diagram: a main agent delegating to three sub-agents — research, copywriting, and a scraper called fifty times" width="760" height="230" data-path="images/subagents-dark.svg" />
</Frame>

The main agent breaks the goal apart, delegates to sub-agents, and merges the results. Dataleap typically reaches for this when a workflow involves **batch processing** (the same task run many times), **heavy intermediate data** (a sub-agent digs through it and returns just a summary, so the main agent stays lean), or **distinct phases** that each need their own focused instructions.

If your agent uses sub-agents, they appear under its **Tools** — you can look at each one, and that's all you ever need to do with them:

<Frame caption="Sub-agents live in the agent's Tools tab.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/dataleap-469bb19d-docs-from-commits-2026-08-19-upload-limits/9b7WCSBKC0-1NVfb/images/subagents-tools-tab.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=9b7WCSBKC0-1NVfb&q=85&s=1a5be545867527c0468878ab5652aa41" alt="The Tools tab of an agent showing one sub-agent, the Candidate Scorer" width="1211" height="394" data-path="images/subagents-tools-tab.png" />
</Frame>

A sub-agent belongs to its parent agent; for logic that several agents should share, that's what [skills](/scale/skills) are for.

## Model tiers

What you *can* adjust: the **intelligence level** — separately for the main workflow agent and for each sub-agent. Higher tiers are more capable and more expensive.

<Frame caption="The intelligence selector — Expert, Pro, or Standard.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/dataleap-469bb19d-docs-from-commits-2026-08-19-upload-limits/9b7WCSBKC0-1NVfb/images/intelligence-selector-chat.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=9b7WCSBKC0-1NVfb&q=85&s=d0a28fad16431950a2ade488651beee1" alt="The intelligence selector in the chat bar with Expert, Pro, and Standard options" width="1170" height="604" data-path="images/intelligence-selector-chat.png" />
</Frame>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Build on Expert">
    The setup conversation runs on the most capable model — building benefits from the best judgment while the agent takes shape.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run on Pro by default">
    Execution agents default to Pro. That's the right setting for \~90% of use cases — you rarely need to touch it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Adjust by evidence">
    Two paths, depending on what you observe:

    * **The agent runs perfectly fine?** Try lowering the execution agent's level — same output, cheaper runs.
    * **The agent doesn't work right** — information goes missing, or runs time out? Level it up toward Expert and test again.
  </Step>
</Steps>

You set the level with the intelligence selector: in the chat bar for the setup conversation, in the **Workflow** tab for the main agent, and in a sub-agent's **Tools** tab:

<Frame caption="Main agent: Intelligence selector in the Workflow tab.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/dataleap-469bb19d-docs-from-commits-2026-08-19-upload-limits/9b7WCSBKC0-1NVfb/images/intelligence-selector-workflow.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=9b7WCSBKC0-1NVfb&q=85&s=d3f99db5c0cd458b73d2db6b1f169f90" alt="An agent's Workflow tab showing its triggers and the Intelligence dropdown set to Pro" width="1242" height="1578" data-path="images/intelligence-selector-workflow.png" />
</Frame>

<Frame caption="Sub-agent: its own Intelligence selector in the Tools tab.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/dataleap-469bb19d-docs-from-commits-2026-08-19-upload-limits/9b7WCSBKC0-1NVfb/images/intelligence-selector-subagent.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=9b7WCSBKC0-1NVfb&q=85&s=cc151b2c0befd60a0ae48336afc91315" alt="The Candidate Scorer sub-agent with its own Intelligence dropdown set to Pro" width="1234" height="1392" data-path="images/intelligence-selector-subagent.png" />
</Frame>

<Note>
  Complex agents that pull from many sources may genuinely need a higher tier — a smaller context can't hold everything the workflow touches. And if the workflow is **data-heavy and deterministic**, the better fix is often [programmatic tool calling](/scale/programmatic-tool-calling) instead of a bigger model.
</Note>

<Card title="Watch: Sub-agents and intelligence levels" icon="clapperboard" href="/video-series/section-3#sub-agents-and-intelligence-levels" horizontal>
  See how sub-agents and model tiers work in the product.
</Card>

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Skills" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" href="/scale/skills">
    Next: share behavior across agents the right way.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Credits & usage" icon="chart-line" href="/admin/credits-and-usage">
    How tier choice fits into overall spend control.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>
