diff --git a/.changeset/default-add-mode.md b/.changeset/default-add-mode.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0940ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/default-add-mode.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"buddy-changesets": minor
+---
+
+Default the `changesets` skill to `add` mode when the request names no mode. Ask for `review` explicitly to audit the pending changesets.
diff --git a/skills/changesets/SKILL.md b/skills/changesets/SKILL.md
index 609bf63..ac79f60 100644
--- a/skills/changesets/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/changesets/SKILL.md
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Pick from what the user asked for:
 | "review the changesets", "check the changeset wording", "are the changesets right", pre-merge or pre-release cleanup | `review` |
 | Names a mode explicitly (`changesets add`, `changesets review`) | that mode |
 
-`review` is a superset of `add`: it writes a changeset for the current change when one is missing, then audits every file in `.changeset/`. When the request is ambiguous and `.changeset/` already holds pending changesets, prefer `review`.
+`review` is a superset of `add`: it writes a changeset for the current change when one is missing, then audits every file in `.changeset/`. When the request is ambiguous or names no mode, default to `add`; run `review` only when the user asks for it.
 
 **Not this skill:**
 
diff --git a/skills/changesets/readme.md b/skills/changesets/readme.md
index 1b8860d..1ef1dcf 100644
--- a/skills/changesets/readme.md
+++ b/skills/changesets/readme.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ To set changesets up in the first place, use **init-changesets** instead.
 | `add` | Works out which packages the current change affects, picks the bump type, and writes the changeset file. |
 | `review` | Adds a missing changeset, then reads every pending file in `.changeset/` and checks scope, bump accuracy, breaking-change and migration detail, wording, and markdown. |
 
-`review` is the superset — use it before merging or cutting a release, when pending changesets are already sitting in `.changeset/`.
+`add` is the default when the request names no mode. `review` is the superset — ask for it before merging or cutting a release, when pending changesets are already sitting in `.changeset/`.
 
 ## What it checks in review mode