Tip: Configure Claude Code Fallback Models to Survive Primary-Model Overloads

Releasebot·medium signal

Claude Code 2.1.166's new fallback-models setting lets you list up to three models tried in order when the primary is overloaded or unavailable — a concrete reliability win for long autonomous runs and cron-driven pipelines that previously stalled on a single overloaded model. Pair a frontier primary (e.g., Opus) with cheaper fallbacks to keep background sessions progressing during peak load. Combine with the new glob-pattern deny rules to tighten permissions in the same config.