Workaround for Claude Code filtering BMP PUA Unicode (U+E000-U+F8FF). Supplementary PUA Nerd Font icons like (U+F0000+, e.g. nf-md-github, nf-md-kubernetes, nf-md-battery) can be written directly. BMP PUA icons (Powerline, Font Awesome, Devicons) require placeholder syntax like {{ U+E0A0 }} or {{ nf-fa-star }} (without spaces), which hooks auto-convert.
SkillScore88Maintained
Automatic
◆Coding pack
Last verified 8/19/2026
What it changes
Passed 18 of 21 test cases with the skill, and 4 of 21 without it.
Without skill21%
With skill88%
Checks it passed that the model alone missed
Recommends using placeholder syntax for U+E0A0.
Specifies double curly braces formatting like {{U+E0A0}}.
Specifies using the -c flag with script identify-icons.py.
and 13 more in the full report
16 fixed5 passed either way3 still failing0 broke
Pass-rate lift
+67 pp
Tokens
-35%
Agent turns
0%
Response time
-67%
Model gemini-3.6-flashMeasured 8/19/2026v121 of 24 cases passed with skill · 21 comparable
Tokens, turns and time describe resource use, not a dollar price.
See it in action
One of 16 test cases the skill fixed. Same model, same prompt, with and without the skill.
1 of 16
Prompt
I am working with an icon whose codepoint is U+E210. Is this icon filtered or unfiltered by Claude Code?
What was checked, without and with the skill
Checked
Without skill
With skill
States that U+E210 is filtered because it lies in the BMP PUA range.
Missed
Passed
case-18 · gemini-3.6-flash · 8/19/2026 · answers are capped and redacted
What's inside
The instructions your model reads when the skill loads.
SKILL.md64 linessingle file
BMP PUA Unicode Workaround
Claude Code filters Unicode characters in the BMP Private Use Area (U+E000-U+F8FF), which includes most Nerd Font icons. This skill provides tools for working with these icons.
Quick Reference
Range
Status
Examples
U+E000-U+F8FF (BMP PUA)
Filtered - use placeholders
Powerline, Devicons, Font Awesome, Octicons
U+F0000+ (Supplementary PUA-A)
Works directly
Material Design Icons (nf-md-*)
Automatic Features
When reading files: A PostToolUse hook automatically identifies all PUA characters, showing icon names, codepoints, and whether they're filtered.
When writing files: A PostToolUse hook automatically converts placeholder syntax to actual Unicode characters.
Placeholder Syntax
When writing icons in the filtered BMP PUA range, use placeholder syntax:
This skill should be used when performing web research beyond a simple single search -- looking into topics, comparing options, investigating questions, finding recommendations, or any task where effective use of Exa, Firecrawl, and Reddit tools matters. Triggers on "research", "look into", "investigate", "compare", "find out about", "search for", "find information", "what do people think about", "what are the best", "look up", or multi-source search tasks. Also invocable explicitly by deep-rese