diff --git a/hooks/session-start.sh b/hooks/session-start.sh
index 3ab0237..90ba97c 100644
--- a/hooks/session-start.sh
+++ b/hooks/session-start.sh
@@ -107,6 +107,12 @@ fi
 REPO_DIR="${_repo_dir:-}"
 unset _claude_real _repo_dir
 
+# Effort tiering (BDR-NEXT): this env var beats every skill/agent `effort:` pin.
+EFFORT_WARN=""
+if [ -n "${CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL:-}" ]; then
+  EFFORT_WARN="⚠️  CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL=${CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL} set: skill/agent effort pins ignored"
+fi
+
 # Detect plan and set passive token budget
 PLAN=$(detect_plan 2>/dev/null || echo "pro")
 case "$PLAN" in
@@ -253,5 +259,6 @@ unset _remote_ver REPO_DIR
 echo "│  💡 /plugin-check  before starting a new project  │"
 echo "│  🩺 make doctor  full diagnostic                  │"
 echo "└───────────────────────────────────────────────────┘"
+[ -n "$EFFORT_WARN" ] && printf '%s\n' "$EFFORT_WARN"
 echo ""
 unset TOKEN_WARN
diff --git a/hooks/statusline.sh b/hooks/statusline.sh
index 5e76c84..c9e2332 100755
--- a/hooks/statusline.sh
+++ b/hooks/statusline.sh
@@ -33,13 +33,14 @@ if [ -z "$PROFILE" ] || [ "$PROFILE" = "none" ]; then
   PROFILE="$DEFAULT_PROFILE"
 fi
 
-# Effort level from settings.json (.effortLevel — set by /effort or manual edit).
-# settings.json is the source-of-truth, symlinked into ~/.claude/settings.json.
-EFFORT="?"
-if [ -f "$REPO/settings.json" ]; then
+# Effort level: the live value when the harness exports it (skill/agent
+# `effort:` shifts included, BDR-NEXT), else the persisted settings.json key
+# (.effortLevel — set by /effort or manual edit; symlinked into ~/.claude).
+EFFORT="${CLAUDE_EFFORT:-}"
+if [ -z "$EFFORT" ] && [ -f "$REPO/settings.json" ]; then
   EFFORT=$(jq -r '.effortLevel // "?"' "$REPO/settings.json" 2>/dev/null)
-  [ -z "$EFFORT" ] && EFFORT="?"
 fi
+[ -z "$EFFORT" ] && EFFORT="?"
 
 # Session duration (from total_duration_ms)
 DURATION_MS=$(echo "$INPUT" | jq -r \
diff --git a/lib/tests/effort-routing.test.sh b/lib/tests/effort-routing.test.sh
index f3f5504..1de335f 100755
--- a/lib/tests/effort-routing.test.sh
+++ b/lib/tests/effort-routing.test.sh
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ printf -- '---\nname: bad\neffort: turbo\n---\n' > "$FIX/bad.md"
 # ── 1) session default (spec D1)
 has "settings.json" '"effortLevel": "high"'
 
+# ── 2) hooks: env-var warning + live effort in the statusline (spec D1, D5)
+has "hooks/session-start.sh" 'CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL'
+has "hooks/statusline.sh" 'CLAUDE_EFFORT'
+
 # ── summary (later tasks insert their locks ABOVE this line)
 printf 'effort-routing census: %d pass, %d fail\n' "$pass" "$fail"
 [ "$fail" -eq 0 ]
diff --git a/settings.json b/settings.json
index d34217e..a008190 100644
--- a/settings.json
+++ b/settings.json
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@
     }
   },
   "feedbackDrafts": "off",
-  "effortLevel": "xhigh",
+  "effortLevel": "high",
   "remoteControlAtStartup": true,
   "inputNeededNotifEnabled": true,
   "skipAutoPermissionPrompt": true,