# Save and assign agent roles

Reuse a named instruction block on an agent node or manage roles with the mao CLI.

A role is a reusable Markdown instruction block for an agent. Assign a role from the agent sheet or manage roles with the MAO command line.

## Save and assign a role

1. Open the agent’s instructions sheet and choose **Save as role**.
2. Give the role a name and save it.
3. Select the agent node and choose a role chip in its agent sheet. **Builder** and **Reviewer** are available built-in roles.
4. To manage roles from a connected terminal, use the `mao role list`, `mao role show`, `mao role create`, `mao role edit`, `mao role write`, or `mao role assign` commands.

> **Note:** Assigning a role does not restart the agent session.

> **Limit:** Custom role instructions are limited to 32 KiB. Built-in roles cannot be edited. MAO automatically adds role instructions to ACP prompts; PTY-only agents do not receive them automatically.

Source: https://trymao.dev/docs/agent-presets-accounts-roles/agent-roles