// MCP TOKEN COST

The Meta Council MCP server costs 62,866 tokens before the first call.

Every request your agent makes carries every tool definition this server exposes — context your code, documents and conversation can't use, mostly for tools the agent never calls. You don't need them all in the window, and you don't have to pay for them.

QUICK ANSWER The Meta Council MCP server's 280 tool definitions consume 62,866 tokens — 31% of a 200k context window, and 34× the median MCP server (1,866 tokens). A scoped grant exposing only the tools you use cuts that roughly in proportion.

MEASURED FROM SCHEMAS tiktoken o200k_base · rank #49 of 12,801 measured servers · refreshed every build Method →

// CONTEXT WINDOW SHARE

What that costs before your agent starts working.

Tool definitions are overhead: they occupy context on every request and compete with your code, documents and conversation history for the same window.

200K WINDOW 31%

1M WINDOW 6.3%

Corpus context: Meta Council ranks #49 of 12,801 measured MCP servers by definition cost. The median is 1,866 tokens, p90 is 13,646, and the heaviest (Ainumbers Mcp Apps) is 442,891 — 221% of a 200k window on its own. New to this? See MCP token cost and context window in the glossary.

Token cost is one axis. See the risk picture across your whole stack →

// PER-TOOL BREAKDOWN

Where the 62,866 tokens go.

Each row is one tool definition as a tools/list entry — name, description and input schema — counted with o200k_base. Average: 225 tokens per tool.

Tool	Category	Tokens	% of server
save_project_attention_policy	Write	4,400	7.0%
save_ticket_attention_policy	Write	2,290	3.6%
create_accounting_run	Write	2,285	3.6%
update_workflow_template	Write	1,513	2.4%
create_workflow_template	Write	1,386	2.2%
save_attention_notification_rule	Write	1,024	1.6%
preview_attention_notification_rule	Write	999	1.6%
update_saved_view	Write	959	1.5%
create_saved_view	Write	907	1.4%
ticket_plan	Write	900	1.4%
ticket_batch_create	Write	743	1.2%
ask_legal	Read	672	1.1%
ticket_update	Write	571	0.9%
record_outreach_evidence	Write	557	0.9%
ticket_list	Read	547	0.9%
commit_ticket_integration_import	Write	519	0.8%
create_monitor	Write	491	0.8%
ticket_create	Write	488	0.8%
update_portfolio_schedule	Write	463	0.7%
locus_determine_from_scores	Read	458	0.7%
preview_scheduling_action	Destructive	445	0.7%
run_workflow	Execute	412	0.7%
create_portfolio_schedule	Write	412	0.7%
ticket_transition	Write	405	0.6%
preview_ticket_integration_import	Write	398	0.6%
get_site_analytics	Read	393	0.6%
save_ticket_attention_review	Write	388	0.6%
execute_saved_view	Execute	373	0.6%
ticket_validation_finalize	Write	367	0.6%
confirm_ticket_integration_create	Write	352	0.6%
create_invoice	Write	342	0.5%
audit_export	Write	340	0.5%
ticket_scenario_create	Write	336	0.5%
account_export	Destructive	327	0.5%
test_workflow_step	Read	326	0.5%
record_ticket_attention_resolution	Write	319	0.5%
ticket_scenario_revise	Execute	315	0.5%
plan_workflow	Write	314	0.5%
create_deal	Write	307	0.5%
create_portfolio_report_share	Write	306	0.5%
link_ticket_provider_fields	Write	304	0.5%
get_ticket_attention_queue	Read	298	0.5%
supersede_portfolio_report	Write	295	0.5%
list_ticket_integration_effects_v2	Read	293	0.5%
create_portfolio_snapshot_note	Write	288	0.5%
share_saved_view	Read	282	0.4%
submit_meta_council_feedback	Write	270	0.4%
list_saved_views	Read	264	0.4%
get_workspace_metrics	Read	262	0.4%
save_ticket_delivery_plan	Write	262	0.4%
list_portfolio_snapshot_notes	Read	261	0.4%
update_deal	Write	259	0.4%
score_locus_case	Read	254	0.4%
get_ticket_burndown	Read	253	0.4%
project_document_revise	Read	253	0.4%
convert_lead_to_deal	Write	245	0.4%
list_ticket_integration_effects	Read	242	0.4%
diff_portfolio_snapshots	Read	241	0.4%
estimate_cost	Read	241	0.4%
mint_child_api_key	Read	239	0.4%
create_portfolio_snapshot	Write	236	0.4%
decide_approval	Destructive	232	0.4%
approve_outreach_draft	Write	232	0.4%
dismiss_ticket_integration_effect	Execute	230	0.4%
run_council	Execute	230	0.4%
create_comparison_verdict	Write	228	0.4%
delete_workflow_template	Destructive	223	0.4%
enable_attention_notification_rule	Write	222	0.4%
confirm_ticket_integration_status	Read	220	0.3%
log_deal_activity	Write	220	0.3%
update_outreach_lead_status	Write	216	0.3%
project_document_create	Write	214	0.3%
preview_accounting_ticket_sync	Execute	213	0.3%
get_ticket_attention_review	Read	213	0.3%
get_meta_council_platform_metrics	Read	212	0.3%
sync_accounting_tickets	Write	211	0.3%
archive_saved_view	Write	210	0.3%
project_update	Write	209	0.3%
ticket_dependency_add	Write	209	0.3%
update_invoice	Write	207	0.3%
browse_ticket_integration_import	Read	206	0.3%
list_reviewed_attention	Read	205	0.3%
delete_saved_view	Destructive	196	0.3%
ticket_readiness	Write	196	0.3%
update_marketing_campaign	Write	195	0.3%
advance_workflow	Read	193	0.3%
ticket_comment	Write	192	0.3%
ticket_archive	Write	191	0.3%
export_ticket_to_provider	Write	187	0.3%
restore_saved_view	Write	186	0.3%
submit_external_workflow_result	Write	186	0.3%
get_ticket_label_cohort	Read	185	0.3%
project_create	Write	184	0.3%
reconcile_attention_notification_delivery	Destructive	183	0.3%
create_outreach_pitch	Write	183	0.3%
initialize_consulting_milestones	Write	182	0.3%
retry_workflow	Execute	179	0.3%
create_marketing_campaign	Write	179	0.3%
create_report_review_envelope	Write	179	0.3%
ticket_comments	Read	177	0.3%
retry_attention_notification_delivery	Write	177	0.3%
list_portfolio_report_history	Read	176	0.3%
search_outreach_leads	Read	176	0.3%
create_consulting_engagement	Write	176	0.3%
check_ticket_provider_fields	Read	175	0.3%
unshare_saved_view	Read	175	0.3%
ticket_authority_export	Write	175	0.3%
list_portfolio_snapshots	Read	174	0.3%
ticket_dependency_remove	Destructive	171	0.3%
update_consulting_engagement	Write	171	0.3%
get_ticket_label_history	Read	170	0.3%
add_outreach_lead	Write	168	0.3%
convert_deal_to_invoice	Write	168	0.3%
pause_attention_notification_rule	Write	165	0.3%
get_ticket_integration_import_receipt	Read	160	0.3%
ticket_authority	Read	159	0.3%
create_content_asset	Write	158	0.3%
update_content_asset	Write	158	0.3%
get_delivery_timeline	Read	157	0.2%
list_meta_council_feedback	Read	157	0.2%
create_content_asset_revision	Write	157	0.2%
run_comparison	Execute	154	0.2%
reconcile_ticket_provider_effect	Write	154	0.2%
start_external_workflow	Execute	152	0.2%
ticket_label_update	Write	152	0.2%
review_external_workflow	Execute	151	0.2%
get_ticket_projects	Read	151	0.2%
get_deal_health	Read	150	0.2%
list_portfolio_report_shares	Read	150	0.2%
preview_ticket_export	Write	150	0.2%
get_attention_notification_delivery	Read	148	0.2%
triage_meta_council_feedback	Write	148	0.2%
update_consulting_milestone	Write	148	0.2%
get_portfolio_snapshot	Read	147	0.2%
list_ticket_provider_observations	Read	147	0.2%
ticket_claim	Write	147	0.2%
archive_ticket_provider_fields	Write	147	0.2%
create_outreach_campaign	Write	147	0.2%
get_portfolio_report_lineage	Read	146	0.2%
export_portfolio_snapshot	Write	145	0.2%
reschedule_booking	Write	145	0.2%
book_meeting	Write	144	0.2%
cancel_booking	Destructive	143	0.2%
get_saved_view	Read	143	0.2%
list_ticket_provider_effects	Read	143	0.2%
create_consulting_deliverable	Write	143	0.2%
get_visualization	Read	142	0.2%
rotate_api_key	Read	142	0.2%
set_outreach_sender_state	Write	142	0.2%
list_attention_notification_deliveries	Read	141	0.2%
list_report_review_declarations	Read	141	0.2%
ticket_label_upsert	Write	141	0.2%
capture_feature_forecast	Write	140	0.2%
get_ticket_attention_resolution	Read	138	0.2%
list_portfolio_schedule_captures	Read	138	0.2%
get_feature_delivery_summary	Read	137	0.2%
list_ticket_provider_fields	Read	135	0.2%
delete_accounting_run	Destructive	133	0.2%
check_ticket_provider_status	Read	133	0.2%
list_report_review_envelopes	Read	133	0.2%
get_business_suite_overview	Read	132	0.2%
create_consulting_client	Write	132	0.2%
export_report_review_envelope	Write	132	0.2%
get_availability	Read	130	0.2%
get_ticket_external_links	Read	130	0.2%
list_booking_followups	Read	130	0.2%
list_campaign_replies	Read	130	0.2%
update_consulting_client	Write	130	0.2%
update_marketing_audience	Write	130	0.2%
get_sales_recommendations	Read	127	0.2%
create_consulting_document_revision	Write	127	0.2%
add_invoice_line_item	Financial	126	0.2%
list_portfolio_schedules	Read	123	0.2%
assign_leads_to_campaign	Write	123	0.2%
draft_outreach_email	Write	123	0.2%
compare_feature_forecasts	Read	121	0.2%
list_deals	Read	121	0.2%
list_portfolio_schedule_revisions	Read	121	0.2%
restore_accounting_run	Write	120	0.2%
update_marketing_brand	Write	119	0.2%
revoke_portfolio_report_share	Destructive	118	0.2%
list_feature_forecasts	Read	118	0.2%
get_project_attention_policy	Read	117	0.2%
list_attention_notification_rules	Read	116	0.2%
list_attention_notification_revisions	Read	115	0.2%
create_comparison_artifact	Write	115	0.2%
list_integrations	Read	114	0.2%
update_consulting_deliverable	Write	114	0.2%
create_scope_baseline	Write	113	0.2%
get_workflow_session	Read	112	0.2%
add_comparison_runs	Write	112	0.2%
get_accounting_run	Read	111	0.2%
get_ticket_attention_policy	Read	110	0.2%
plan_council	Write	110	0.2%
list_ticket_integration_connections	Read	109	0.2%
approve_consulting_deliverable	Write	109	0.2%
project_unlink_feature	Destructive	107	0.2%
ticket_dependency_list	Read	107	0.2%
approve_consulting_document_revision	Write	107	0.2%
preview_portfolio_report_share	Read	106	0.2%
ticket_scenario_list	Read	106	0.2%
list_approvals	Read	103	0.2%
get_portfolio_snapshot_inputs	Read	102	0.2%
list_content_assets	Read	102	0.2%
create_marketing_audience	Write	102	0.2%
list_ticket_delivery_plan_history	Read	101	0.2%
project_link_feature	Execute	100	0.2%
recommend_panel	Read	100	0.2%
get_portfolio_report_share_receipt	Read	98	0.2%
list_accounting_runs	Read	98	0.2%
create_marketing_brand	Write	98	0.2%
project_document_get	Read	96	0.2%
list_scope_baselines	Read	94	0.1%
delete_monitor	Destructive	91	0.1%
get_ticket_provider_field_options	Read	91	0.1%
get_ticket_provider_field_request	Read	91	0.1%
update_consulting_document_revision	Write	91	0.1%
get_portfolio_schedule	Read	90	0.1%
get_feature_forecast	Read	89	0.1%
get_sales_analytics	Read	89	0.1%
list_workflows	Read	89	0.1%
create_comparison_set	Write	89	0.1%
get_invoice_aging	Read	88	0.1%
complete_sales_task	Write	88	0.1%
get_comparison_eligibility	Read	87	0.1%
project_list	Read	87	0.1%
get_comparison_verdict	Read	85	0.1%
list_consulting_engagements	Read	85	0.1%
get_report_review_envelope	Read	83	0.1%
list_bookings	Read	83	0.1%
approve_content_asset	Write	83	0.1%
campaign_pipeline_stats	Read	82	0.1%
get_attention_notification_receipt	Read	82	0.1%
get_external_workflow	Read	81	0.1%
void_invoice	Destructive	80	0.1%
get_settings	Read	80	0.1%
get_agent_detail	Read	79	0.1%
list_invoices	Read	79	0.1%
ticket_label_list	Read	78	0.1%
get_booking	Read	75	0.1%
ticket_get	Read	75	0.1%
reject_content_asset	Write	75	0.1%
ticket_label_archive	Write	75	0.1%
get_comparison_artifact	Read	74	0.1%
list_campaign_triggers	Read	74	0.1%
get_api_key_info	Read	73	0.1%
get_attention_notification_rule	Read	73	0.1%
get_deal	Read	73	0.1%
get_portfolio_report_share	Read	73	0.1%
project_get	Read	73	0.1%
compare_scope_baseline	Read	72	0.1%
get_ticket_delivery_plan	Read	71	0.1%
list_marketing_campaigns	Read	70	0.1%
get_consulting_engagement	Read	69	0.1%
get_scope_baseline	Read	69	0.1%
list_sales_tasks	Read	69	0.1%
send_invoice	Write	67	0.1%
get_content_calendar	Read	67	0.1%
ticket_integration_catalog	Read	66	0.1%
get_marketing_campaign	Read	65	0.1%
get_marketing_brand	Read	64	0.1%
list_agents	Read	64	0.1%
mark_invoice_paid	Financial	64	0.1%
get_content_asset	Read	63	0.1%
get_marketing_audience	Read	63	0.1%
get_session	Read	63	0.1%
list_consulting_clients	Read	63	0.1%
submit_content_asset	Write	63	0.1%
list_monitors	Read	61	0.1%
reopen_consulting_deliverable	Write	60	0.1%
submit_consulting_deliverable	Write	60	0.1%
get_comparison_set	Read	58	0.1%
get_invoice	Read	58	0.1%
list_outreach_campaigns	Read	58	0.1%
list_meeting_types	Read	50	0.1%
outreach_analytics	Read	50	0.1%
list_comparison_sets	Read	46	0.1%
list_marketing_audiences	Read	39	0.1%
list_marketing_brands	Read	37	0.1%
list_panels	Read	37	0.1%

// CUT THE COST

Your agent uses a handful of these tools. It pays for all 280.

You don't need all 280 of those definitions in the window. PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway that sits in front of Meta Council: only the tools you grant are exposed to the agent, the rest never load. A smaller window means a sharper agent — less noise when it picks a tool — and every request costs less:

Grant scope	Definition cost	Reduction
All 280 tools (no gateway)	62,866 tokens	—
3 granted tools	~674 tokens	−99%
5 granted tools	~1,123 tokens	−98%
10 granted tools	~2,245 tokens	−96%

The risk dividend: 15 of these 280 tools are critical-risk (destructive or financial) and cost 2,639 tokens (4% of the definition load). Block them — the recommended starter policy — and you reclaim that context before tuning anything else.

Create a free account and register Meta Council — nothing to install.
Grant only the tools you use — ungranted definitions never enter the context window.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CUT META COUNCIL TOKEN COST →

Instant setup, no code required.

Model your own stack in the token-cost calculator, or see the Meta Council policy for what a sensible grant looks like.

//FAQ

Meta Council token-cost questions.

How many tokens does the Meta Council MCP server use?+

Its 280 tool definitions total 62,866 tokens — 31% of a 200k context window — measured with tiktoken o200k_base over the serialised tools/list payload. Exact counts vary slightly by client and model.

Why does Meta Council consume tokens before I send a message?+

MCP clients load every connected server's tool definitions — name, description, and input schema — into the model's context so it knows what it can call. That payload is charged against your context window on every request, whether or not a tool is used.

How do I reduce Meta Council's token usage?+

Expose fewer tools. A PolicyLayer grant scopes Meta Council to only the tools you allow — ungranted definitions are filtered out of the tool list, so they never enter the context window. A grant of 3 typical tools costs roughly 674 tokens, a 99% reduction.

Does deferred tool loading fix this?+

Partially, in some clients. Claude Code defers MCP tool schemas behind a tool-search step by default, and VS Code has experimental grouping — but you still pay tokens per search and reload, and Cursor, Windsurf and Gemini CLI load definitions upfront. Reducing the exposed tool set cuts the cost in every client.

// METHOD & REVIEW

How these numbers were measured.

01

Serialisation

Each tool is serialised as a tools/list entry — name, description, input schema — from the schemas in the PolicyLayer scan database. Clients differ slightly in framing, so treat counts as close estimates.

02

Tokeniser

tiktoken o200k_base (GPT-4o/o-series). Anthropic's current tokeniser isn't published, so Claude's exact counts will differ; for English text and JSON schemas the totals are close enough to treat these as estimates.

03

Deferred loading

Some clients now defer schema loading (Claude Code's tool search; VS Code experimental grouping). You still pay per search and reload — and Cursor, Windsurf and Gemini CLI load everything upfront.

Computed 21-10-2026 from the PolicyLayer scan database over all 280 catalogued Meta Council tools. Counts refresh with every site build.