---
title: "Competitors agent protocol"
description: "MCP-first instructions for coding agents running a Deck competitor report."
url: "/docs/agents/prompts/competitors"
---

This page is the agent-readable protocol for Deck competitors. Humans can follow along. Coding agents should treat the protocol section as the source of truth and probe Deck MCP before sending anyone to signup.

# Deck competitors — agent protocol

Work MCP-first. Probe Deck MCP in this session before you send anyone to signup.

## 1. Probe MCP

Call a cheap Deck MCP tool (`get_user_context` or `explore_competitors`).

### 401 Unauthorized

The human is not connected in this client. Tell them to Connect MCP here (Cursor, Claude, or ChatGPT). Do not open signup. Do not mint or ask for a `dk_` API key.

### No Deck tools available

Deck MCP is not installed. Send them to create an account and connect at:

[https://app.getdeck.io/agent-setup?intent=competitors](https://app.getdeck.io/agent-setup?intent=competitors)

Do not invent another signup URL. Do not send them to `/sign-up`.

After they return, probe MCP again. If tools exist, continue the report. Do not send them through signup a second time.

## 2. After account + MCP

Use `explore_competitors` to read the graph. To start research, call `mutate_competitors` with `action: "start_research"`. Never create `dk_` keys.

---

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