diff --git a/Wisp/Models/Claude/ClaudeModel.swift b/Wisp/Models/Claude/ClaudeModel.swift
index 5ad09a70..2a65fdaa 100644
--- a/Wisp/Models/Claude/ClaudeModel.swift
+++ b/Wisp/Models/Claude/ClaudeModel.swift
@@ -1,5 +1,25 @@
 import Foundation
 
+enum ClaudeEffortLevel: String, CaseIterable, Identifiable {
+    case low
+    case medium
+    case high
+    case max
+
+    var id: String { rawValue }
+
+    var displayName: String {
+        switch self {
+        case .low: "Low"
+        case .medium: "Medium"
+        case .high: "High"
+        case .max: "Max"
+        }
+    }
+
+    var isDefault: Bool { self == .medium }
+}
+
 enum ClaudeModel: String, CaseIterable, Identifiable {
     case sonnet = "sonnet[1m]"
     case opus = "opus[1m]"
diff --git a/Wisp/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift b/Wisp/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift
index edaec095..7e466de3 100644
--- a/Wisp/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift
+++ b/Wisp/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ final class ChatViewModel {
     var status: ChatStatus = .idle
     var modelName: String?
     var modelOverride: ClaudeModel?
+    var effortLevel: ClaudeEffortLevel = .medium
     var remoteSessions: [ClaudeSessionEntry] = []
     var hasAnyRemoteSessions = false
     var isLoadingRemoteSessions = false
@@ -756,6 +757,7 @@ final class ChatViewModel {
 
         let modelId = modelOverride?.rawValue ?? UserDefaults.standard.string(forKey: "claudeModel") ?? ClaudeModel.sonnet.rawValue
         claudeCmd += " --model \(modelId)"
+        claudeCmd += " --effort \(effortLevel.rawValue)"
 
         let maxTurns = UserDefaults.standard.integer(forKey: "maxTurns")
         if maxTurns > 0 {
diff --git a/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/Chat/ChatStatusBar.swift b/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/Chat/ChatStatusBar.swift
index e8f62187..a10fedf9 100644
--- a/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/Chat/ChatStatusBar.swift
+++ b/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/Chat/ChatStatusBar.swift
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ struct ChatStatusBar: View {
     let status: ChatStatus
     let modelName: String?
     @Binding var modelOverride: ClaudeModel?
+    @Binding var effortLevel: ClaudeEffortLevel
     var hasPendingWispAsk: Bool = false
 
     @AppStorage("claudeModel") private var globalModel: String = ClaudeModel.sonnet.rawValue
@@ -71,18 +72,37 @@ struct ChatStatusBar: View {
 
     private var modelPicker: some View {
         Menu {
-            ForEach(ClaudeModel.allCases) { model in
-                Button {
-                    if model.rawValue == globalModel {
-                        modelOverride = nil
-                    } else {
-                        modelOverride = model
+            Section("Model") {
+                ForEach(ClaudeModel.allCases) { model in
+                    Button {
+                        if model.rawValue == globalModel {
+                            modelOverride = nil
+                        } else {
+                            modelOverride = model
+                        }
+                        if model != .opus && effortLevel == .max {
+                            effortLevel = .high
+                        }
+                    } label: {
+                        HStack {
+                            Text(model.displayName)
+                            if model == effectiveModel {
+                                Image(systemName: "checkmark")
+                            }
+                        }
                     }
-                } label: {
-                    HStack {
-                        Text(model.displayName)
-                        if model == effectiveModel {
-                            Image(systemName: "checkmark")
+                }
+            }
+            Section("Effort") {
+                ForEach(ClaudeEffortLevel.allCases.filter { $0 != .max || effectiveModel == .opus }) { level in
+                    Button {
+                        effortLevel = level
+                    } label: {
+                        HStack {
+                            Text(level.displayName)
+                            if level == effortLevel {
+                                Image(systemName: "checkmark")
+                            }
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -92,9 +112,15 @@ struct ChatStatusBar: View {
                 Image(systemName: "sparkle")
                     .foregroundStyle(.primary)
                     .font(.system(size: 9))
-                Text(effectiveModel.displayName)
-                    .font(.caption2)
-                    .foregroundStyle(.primary)
+                if effortLevel.isDefault {
+                    Text(effectiveModel.displayName)
+                        .font(.caption2)
+                        .foregroundStyle(.primary)
+                } else {
+                    Text("\(effectiveModel.displayName) · \(effortLevel.displayName)")
+                        .font(.caption2)
+                        .foregroundStyle(.primary)
+                }
                 Image(systemName: "chevron.up.chevron.down")
                     .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
                     .font(.system(size: 8))
@@ -111,35 +137,48 @@ private let previewBackground = LinearGradient(
 
 #Preview("Idle - Model Picker") {
     @Previewable @State var modelOverride: ClaudeModel? = nil
-    ChatStatusBar(status: .idle, modelName: "claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929", modelOverride: $modelOverride)
+    @Previewable @State var effortLevel: ClaudeEffortLevel = .medium
+    ChatStatusBar(status: .idle, modelName: "claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929", modelOverride: $modelOverride, effortLevel: $effortLevel)
+        .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity)
+        .background(previewBackground)
+}
+
+#Preview("Idle - High Effort") {
+    @Previewable @State var modelOverride: ClaudeModel? = nil
+    @Previewable @State var effortLevel: ClaudeEffortLevel = .high
+    ChatStatusBar(status: .idle, modelName: "claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929", modelOverride: $modelOverride, effortLevel: $effortLevel)
         .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity)
         .background(previewBackground)
 }
 
 #Preview("Streaming") {
     @Previewable @State var modelOverride: ClaudeModel? = nil
-    ChatStatusBar(status: .streaming, modelName: nil, modelOverride: $modelOverride)
+    @Previewable @State var effortLevel: ClaudeEffortLevel = .medium
+    ChatStatusBar(status: .streaming, modelName: nil, modelOverride: $modelOverride, effortLevel: $effortLevel)
         .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity)
         .background(previewBackground)
 }
 
 #Preview("Connecting") {
     @Previewable @State var modelOverride: ClaudeModel? = nil
-    ChatStatusBar(status: .connecting, modelName: nil, modelOverride: $modelOverride)
+    @Previewable @State var effortLevel: ClaudeEffortLevel = .medium
+    ChatStatusBar(status: .connecting, modelName: nil, modelOverride: $modelOverride, effortLevel: $effortLevel)
         .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity)
         .background(previewBackground)
 }
 
 #Preview("Reconnecting") {
     @Previewable @State var modelOverride: ClaudeModel? = nil
-    ChatStatusBar(status: .reconnecting, modelName: nil, modelOverride: $modelOverride)
+    @Previewable @State var effortLevel: ClaudeEffortLevel = .medium
+    ChatStatusBar(status: .reconnecting, modelName: nil, modelOverride: $modelOverride, effortLevel: $effortLevel)
         .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity)
         .background(previewBackground)
 }
 
 #Preview("Error") {
     @Previewable @State var modelOverride: ClaudeModel? = nil
-    ChatStatusBar(status: .error("Connection lost"), modelName: nil, modelOverride: $modelOverride)
+    @Previewable @State var effortLevel: ClaudeEffortLevel = .medium
+    ChatStatusBar(status: .error("Connection lost"), modelName: nil, modelOverride: $modelOverride, effortLevel: $effortLevel)
         .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity)
         .background(previewBackground)
 }
@@ -147,6 +186,7 @@ private let previewBackground = LinearGradient(
 #Preview("All States") {
     @Previewable @State var stateIndex = 0
     @Previewable @State var modelOverride: ClaudeModel? = nil
+    @Previewable @State var effortLevel: ClaudeEffortLevel = .medium
 
     let states: [(ChatStatus, String?)] = [
         (.connecting, nil),
@@ -160,7 +200,8 @@ private let previewBackground = LinearGradient(
         ChatStatusBar(
             status: states[stateIndex].0,
             modelName: states[stateIndex].1,
-            modelOverride: $modelOverride
+            modelOverride: $modelOverride,
+            effortLevel: $effortLevel
         )
 
         Button("Next State") {
diff --git a/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/Chat/ChatSwitcherSheet.swift b/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/Chat/ChatSwitcherSheet.swift
index 41645c8f..45423c01 100644
--- a/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/Chat/ChatSwitcherSheet.swift
+++ b/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/Chat/ChatSwitcherSheet.swift
@@ -149,10 +149,17 @@ struct ChatSwitcherSheet: View {
 private struct ChatRowView: View {
     let chat: SpriteChat
     let isActive: Bool
+    @Environment(ChatSessionManager.self) private var chatSessionManager
+
+    private var isStreaming: Bool {
+        chatSessionManager.isStreaming(chatId: chat.id)
+    }
 
     var body: some View {
         HStack {
-            if chat.isUnread {
+            if isStreaming {
+                StreamingDot()
+            } else if chat.isUnread {
                 Circle()
                     .fill(Color.accentColor)
                     .frame(width: 8, height: 8)
@@ -199,6 +206,7 @@ private struct ChatRowView: View {
     NavigationStack {
         ChatSwitcherSheet(viewModel: viewModel)
             .environment(SpritesAPIClient())
+            .environment(ChatSessionManager())
             .modelContainer(for: [SpriteChat.self, SpriteSession.self], inMemory: true)
     }
 }
diff --git a/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/Chat/ChatView.swift b/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/Chat/ChatView.swift
index 9b5c2ce3..f4d74b83 100644
--- a/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/Chat/ChatView.swift
+++ b/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/Chat/ChatView.swift
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ struct ChatView: View {
                     status: viewModel.status,
                     modelName: viewModel.modelName,
                     modelOverride: Bindable(viewModel).modelOverride,
+                    effortLevel: Bindable(viewModel).effortLevel,
                     hasPendingWispAsk: viewModel.pendingWispAskCard != nil
                 )
             }
diff --git a/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/SpriteNavigationPanel.swift b/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/SpriteNavigationPanel.swift
index 36998e1a..4fa84655 100644
--- a/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/SpriteNavigationPanel.swift
+++ b/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/SpriteNavigationPanel.swift
@@ -84,7 +84,9 @@ struct SpriteNavigationPanel: View {
                 }
             }
             Spacer(minLength: 0)
-            if chat.isUnread {
+            if chatSessionManager.isStreaming(chatId: chat.id) {
+                StreamingDot()
+            } else if chat.isUnread {
                 Circle()
                     .fill(Color.accentColor)
                     .frame(width: 8, height: 8)
diff --git a/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/StreamingDot.swift b/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/StreamingDot.swift
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..28cfffe2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Wisp/Views/SpriteDetail/StreamingDot.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+import SwiftUI
+
+/// A slowly pulsing orange dot shown on chat rows while Claude is actively streaming.
+struct StreamingDot: View {
+    @State private var pulse = false
+
+    var body: some View {
+        Circle()
+            .fill(Color.orange)
+            .frame(width: 8, height: 8)
+            .opacity(pulse ? 0.3 : 1.0)
+            .animation(.easeInOut(duration: 1.0).repeatForever(autoreverses: true), value: pulse)
+            .onAppear { pulse = true }
+            .onDisappear { pulse = false }
+    }
+}
+
+#Preview {
+    HStack(spacing: 16) {
+        StreamingDot()
+        Text("Streaming…")
+            .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
+    }
+    .padding()
+}
diff --git a/WispTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift b/WispTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift
index cc9eef37..c8b21f48 100644
--- a/WispTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift
+++ b/WispTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift
@@ -53,6 +53,14 @@ struct ChatViewModelTests {
         }
     }
 
+    // MARK: - initial state
+
+    @Test func initialEffortLevelIsMedium() throws {
+        let ctx = try makeModelContext()
+        let (vm, _) = makeChatViewModel(modelContext: ctx)
+        #expect(vm.effortLevel == .medium)
+    }
+
     // MARK: - handleEvent: system
 
     @Test func handleEvent_systemSetsModelName() throws {
diff --git a/WispTests/ClaudeModelTests.swift b/WispTests/ClaudeModelTests.swift
index 895f3055..cd196d97 100644
--- a/WispTests/ClaudeModelTests.swift
+++ b/WispTests/ClaudeModelTests.swift
@@ -1,6 +1,36 @@
 import Testing
 @testable import Wisp
 
+@Suite("ClaudeEffortLevel")
+struct ClaudeEffortLevelTests {
+
+    @Test func onlyMediumIsDefault() {
+        for level in ClaudeEffortLevel.allCases {
+            #expect(level.isDefault == (level == .medium))
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func allCasesHaveDisplayNames() {
+        #expect(ClaudeEffortLevel.low.displayName == "Low")
+        #expect(ClaudeEffortLevel.medium.displayName == "Medium")
+        #expect(ClaudeEffortLevel.high.displayName == "High")
+        #expect(ClaudeEffortLevel.max.displayName == "Max")
+    }
+
+    @Test func rawValuesMatchCLIFlag() {
+        #expect(ClaudeEffortLevel.low.rawValue == "low")
+        #expect(ClaudeEffortLevel.medium.rawValue == "medium")
+        #expect(ClaudeEffortLevel.high.rawValue == "high")
+        #expect(ClaudeEffortLevel.max.rawValue == "max")
+    }
+
+    @Test func identifiableUsesRawValue() {
+        for level in ClaudeEffortLevel.allCases {
+            #expect(level.id == level.rawValue)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 @Suite("ClaudeModel")
 struct ClaudeModelTests {