diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7021d83..9fafb37 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -117,13 +117,20 @@ roles = await client.fetch_roles(guild.id)
 
 ## Sharding
 
-To run your bot across multiple gateway shards, pass `shard_count` when creating
+To run your bot across multiple gateway shards, pass ``shard_count`` when creating
 the client:
 
 ```python
 client = disagreement.Client(token=BOT_TOKEN, shard_count=2)
 ```
 
+If you want the library to determine the recommended shard count automatically,
+use ``AutoShardedClient``:
+
+```python
+client = disagreement.AutoShardedClient(token=BOT_TOKEN)
+```
+
 See `examples/sharded_bot.py` for a full example.
 
 ## Contributing
diff --git a/disagreement/__init__.py b/disagreement/__init__.py
index f0eca2b..86f385c 100644
--- a/disagreement/__init__.py
+++ b/disagreement/__init__.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ __license__ = "BSD 3-Clause License"
 __copyright__ = "Copyright 2025 Slipstream"
 __version__ = "0.0.2"
 
-from .client import Client
+from .client import Client, AutoShardedClient
 from .models import Message, User, Reaction
 from .voice_client import VoiceClient
 from .audio import AudioSource, FFmpegAudioSource
diff --git a/disagreement/client.py b/disagreement/client.py
index b3284fd..87d35f3 100644
--- a/disagreement/client.py
+++ b/disagreement/client.py
@@ -1287,3 +1287,19 @@ class Client:
 
         print(f"Unhandled exception in event listener for '{event_method}':")
         print(f"{type(exc).__name__}: {exc}")
+
+
+class AutoShardedClient(Client):
+    """A :class:`Client` that automatically determines the shard count.
+
+    If ``shard_count`` is not provided, the client will query the Discord API
+    via :meth:`HTTPClient.get_gateway_bot` for the recommended shard count and
+    use that when connecting.
+    """
+
+    async def connect(self, reconnect: bool = True) -> None:  # type: ignore[override]
+        if self.shard_count is None:
+            data = await self._http.get_gateway_bot()
+            self.shard_count = data.get("shards", 1)
+
+        await super().connect(reconnect=reconnect)
diff --git a/docs/sharding.md b/docs/sharding.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aafd933
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/sharding.md
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Sharding
+
+`disagreement` supports splitting your gateway connection across multiple shards.
+Use `Client` with the `shard_count` parameter when you want to control the count
+manually.
+
+`AutoShardedClient` asks Discord for the recommended number of shards at runtime
+and configures the `ShardManager` automatically.
+
+```python
+import asyncio
+import disagreement
+
+bot = disagreement.AutoShardedClient(token="YOUR_TOKEN")
+
+async def main():
+    await bot.run()
+
+asyncio.run(main())
+```
diff --git a/tests/test_sharding.py b/tests/test_sharding.py
index d69d209..c33ab49 100644
--- a/tests/test_sharding.py
+++ b/tests/test_sharding.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import pytest
 from unittest.mock import AsyncMock
 
 from disagreement.shard_manager import ShardManager
-from disagreement.client import Client
+from disagreement.client import Client, AutoShardedClient
 
 
 class DummyGateway:
@@ -50,3 +50,19 @@ async def test_client_uses_shard_manager(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(c, "wait_until_ready", AsyncMock())
     await c.connect()
     dummy_manager.start.assert_awaited_once()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_auto_sharded_client_fetches_count(monkeypatch):
+    class DummyHTTP:
+        async def get_gateway_bot(self):
+            return {"shards": 4}
+
+    dummy_manager = AsyncMock()
+    monkeypatch.setattr("disagreement.client.ShardManager", lambda c, n: dummy_manager)
+    c = AutoShardedClient(token="x")
+    c._http = DummyHTTP()
+    monkeypatch.setattr(c, "wait_until_ready", AsyncMock())
+    await c.connect()
+    dummy_manager.start.assert_awaited_once()
+    assert c.shard_count == 4