diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 09d41e9..a56f97b 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -63,11 +63,13 @@ cmake --build --preset windows-msvc-default --config Debug --target clean
 
 ## Code Navigation
 
-Codex has a repo-specific skill named `panopainter-code-navigation`. Use it when
+Codex has a repo-specific skill named `panopainter-code-navigation`. Agents must
+use it when necessary: follow this path before broad text search when a task is
+about C++ symbol identity, symbol families, declarations/definitions, override
+groups, or platform/backend boundaries. Use it when
 following C++ symbols, finding symbol families with regular expressions, tracing
 service/interface wiring, or checking platform/backend boundary usage.
-For C++ refactors, use the skill before broad `rg` searches when the question
-depends on symbol identity rather than plain text. Reach for `--name-regex`,
+Reach for `--name-regex`,
 `--detail-regex`, or `--path-regex` when looking for generated-style name
 families, override groups, command/service families, signatures, or
 platform/backend path slices. Use normal `rg` for docs, build files, comments,
diff --git a/docs/modernization/build-inventory.md b/docs/modernization/build-inventory.md
index 185845a..7e39651 100644
--- a/docs/modernization/build-inventory.md
+++ b/docs/modernization/build-inventory.md
@@ -109,10 +109,11 @@ Known local toolchain state:
   `python scripts/dev/clangd_nav.py self-test`, also registered as
   `panopainter_clangd_nav_regex_self_test`, so regex filter behavior can be
   validated without clangd or a compile database.
-  Use the repo skill `panopainter-code-navigation` before broad text searches
-  when a C++ refactor needs symbol-family lookup, generated-style names,
-  signatures, override groups, or platform/backend path slices. Keep `rg` for
-  docs, build files, string literals, comments, and exact non-symbol text.
+  Agents must use the repo skill `panopainter-code-navigation` before broad
+  text searches when a C++ refactor needs symbol identity, symbol-family lookup,
+  generated-style names, signatures, override groups, declarations/definitions,
+  or platform/backend path slices. Keep `rg` for docs, build files, string
+  literals, comments, and exact non-symbol text.
   Reference lookup is guarded because a one-shot clangd process may not have a
   complete project index: pass `--background-index` for broader best-effort
   results or `--allow-incomplete-references` for explicitly
diff --git a/docs/modernization/roadmap.md b/docs/modernization/roadmap.md
index 2a932cf..e82a786 100644
--- a/docs/modernization/roadmap.md
+++ b/docs/modernization/roadmap.md
@@ -320,7 +320,10 @@ XML; full document/app integration is debt-tracked as DEBT-0010 and full PPI
 body parsing is debt-tracked as DEBT-0013. Agent code navigation now includes
 `scripts/dev/clangd_nav.py` with symbol/detail/path regex filters and a
 `panopainter_clangd_nav_regex_self_test` CTest so broad symbol-family searches
-can be validated before they guide refactors.
+can be validated before they guide refactors. Agents must use the
+`panopainter-code-navigation` skill before broad text search whenever C++
+symbol identity, generated-style symbol families, declarations/definitions,
+override groups, or platform/backend path slices are the real question.
 
 Implementation tasks: