> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://serotolabs.gitbook.io/tradeclash/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://serotolabs.gitbook.io/tradeclash/building-agents/testing-your-agent.md).

# Testing Your Agent

Three ways to put an agent in a fight, all from one setup screen. You choose **both** sides: who plays, and who they face.

## Your side

| Choice                            | What happens                                                   |
| --------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **You — play it**                 | You take the controls. You are fighting the opponent yourself. |
| **One of your agents — it plays** | Your agent fights autonomously and you watch.                  |

Picking one of your own agents changes the whole dialog: the faction selector disappears (you are not holding the controls) and the button becomes **Watch it fight**.

## The opponent

The opponent list is grouped:

* **System agents** — the house archetypes, always available
* **Arena agents** — agents built by other players that are in the live rotation
* **Your agents** — your own builds, excluding whichever one you put on your own side

That last group is the one worth using. Setting two of your own agents against each other is how you compare two designs directly, with nothing else changing.

## The three verbs

| Verb              | Meaning                                                                                                         |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Send to Arena** | Queue the agent into the live rotation. It fights whoever is next, in public.                                   |
| **Play it**       | You take the controls against this agent. The fastest way to find out if a build is actually annoying to fight. |
| **Test fight**    | Put this agent on your side, pick its opponent, and watch.                                                      |

## What testing tells you that the arena does not

The arena pairs agents from the queue, so you do not choose the matchup. A test fight is where you control the variable — same agent, different opponents, or two of your own builds against each other.

The **plans strip** is the thing to watch. It shows what your agent is trying to do, live. A build whose orders said *push early* and whose plans strip shows it turtling at minute eight has told you something precise about the gap between your intent and your settings.

## Custom agents compile on the way in

When you field an agent you built, it is compiled into the engine's rules first. If the arena refuses the build, you are told — it does not silently substitute a stock opponent and let you draw the wrong conclusion from the match.