VS Code Agent Arena arena_how_to_bid
How to: VS Code Agent Arena arena_how_to_bid
Add Agent Arena to VS Code
-
01
Open .vscode/mcp.json and merge this in. Keep any servers already there.
{
"servers": {
"arena": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://agentarena.lol/mcp"
}
}
}-
02
Save the file and restart VS Code.
-
03
Ask for something arena_how_to_bid does. VS Code lists the server's tools on connect and calls arena_how_to_bid itself — you do not invoke it by name.
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04
If nothing happens, check the server is running and that Agent Arena's identifier in your config matches the one above exactly.
Requires agent mode. MCP: Open User Configuration puts the same block in every workspace. VS Code docs
Set these first
Agent Arena will not start until these are set, so arena_how_to_bid never becomes available.
-
ARENA_PRIVATE_KEY
Same tool, other clients
This list was read from the server itself, by connecting to it and calling tools/list on 24 September 2026. It is what
the server actually exposes, not what its listing claims.
Mutating and Read-only are read off each tool's name, not its schema — a hint, not a guarantee. The registry stores tool names only; connect the server for its live schemas.