diff --git a/skills/extract/SKILL.md b/skills/extract/SKILL.md
index c5d4672..87bb271 100644
--- a/skills/extract/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/extract/SKILL.md
@@ -28,7 +28,10 @@ zenrows extract <url> --validate                   # fail if not valid JSON
 
 ## Rules
 - Validate on a single page before scaling across many URLs.
-- If Autoparse misses fields, switch to `--css` with explicit selectors, or add
-  `--manual --js-render` for JS-heavy pages.
+- If Autoparse misses fields, switch to `--css` with explicit selectors. Auto
+  mode already renders JS when the target needs it, so reach for
+  `--manual --js-render` only after auto mode has returned an incomplete page:
+  it costs several times a basic call ([[cost-control]]) and it makes the
+  escalation yours.
 
 See [[protected-fetch]] for retrieval semantics.
diff --git a/skills/protected-fetch/SKILL.md b/skills/protected-fetch/SKILL.md
index 9af8a46..0448f46 100644
--- a/skills/protected-fetch/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/protected-fetch/SKILL.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 name: protected-fetch
-description: Use Zenrows Protected Fetch for anti-bot-protected page retrieval.
+description: Use Zenrows Protected Fetch in auto mode for anti-bot-protected page retrieval. Auto mode handles the anti-bot escalation, so never enable JS rendering or premium proxies yourself on a first attempt.
 version: 0.1.0
 requires_backend_capabilities: [protected_fetch]
 ---
@@ -16,18 +16,33 @@ cannot. This is the **core primitive** — backed by Zenrows **Fetch**
 - The target has anti-bot protection, needs JS rendering, or geo-specific access.
 
 ## How to call
+
+Auto mode is the answer for anti-bot targets, Cloudflare included. It escalates
+for you and bills only for the configuration that succeeds.
+
 ```
-zenrows fetch <url>                       # Adaptive Stealth Mode (recommended)
+zenrows fetch <url>                       # Adaptive Stealth Mode. Start here, always
 zenrows fetch <url> --output markdown     # convert to Markdown
-zenrows fetch <url> --manual --js-render --premium-proxy   # full manual control
-zenrows fetch <url> --proxy-country us    # geo-target (auto mode; in manual mode needs --premium-proxy)
+zenrows fetch <url> --proxy-country us    # geo-target, works in auto mode
 zenrows fetch <url> --wait-for ".price"   # wait for a selector
 ```
 
+Manual mode exists for the rare case where auto mode has already failed and a
+trace shows why. It costs more and it makes the escalation your problem:
+
+```
+zenrows fetch <url> --manual --js-render --premium-proxy   # the most expensive path, see [[cost-control]]
+```
+
 ## Rules
-- Start with **auto mode**. In auto mode, `js_render` and `premium_proxy` are
-  managed for you — passing them manually requires `--manual`
-  (otherwise you get `PARAM_CONFLICT_AUTO_MANUAL`).
+- Start with **auto mode**. Enabling `--js-render` and `--premium-proxy` yourself
+  is the most expensive configuration this API offers, by a wide margin, and auto
+  mode reaches the same place only when the target actually needs it. The
+  multipliers are in [[cost-control]].
+- A hard target is not a reason to skip auto mode. It is the reason auto mode
+  exists.
+- In auto mode `js_render` and `premium_proxy` are managed for you. Passing them
+  manually requires `--manual`, otherwise you get `PARAM_CONFLICT_AUTO_MANUAL`.
 - `--proxy-country` works in auto mode on its own; in `--manual` mode it also
   needs `--premium-proxy` (else `PARAM_PROXY_COUNTRY_REQUIRES_PREMIUM`).
 - You are billed only for the configuration that succeeds.
diff --git a/skills/trace-debug/SKILL.md b/skills/trace-debug/SKILL.md
index c1e8406..221dc5c 100644
--- a/skills/trace-debug/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/trace-debug/SKILL.md
@@ -19,8 +19,12 @@ zenrows trace export <run-id>     # JSON for sharing
 ```
 
 ## Failure → action map
-- `FETCH_FAILED` / empty content → retry `--manual --js-render`, then add
-  `--premium-proxy`; for slow pages add `--wait-for <selector>`.
+- `FETCH_FAILED` / empty content → first retry in auto mode (`mode=auto`), which
+  escalates for you and bills only for what succeeds. For slow pages add
+  `--wait-for <selector>`. Only when auto mode has failed on its own, take
+  manual control with `--manual --js-render`, then `--premium-proxy`. Each step
+  multiplies the cost of the request, and both together are the most expensive
+  configuration available ([[cost-control]]).
 - `REQUEST_TIMEOUT` → the CLI stopped waiting; the API was reached. Raise
   `--timeout` (default 120000ms, above the API's own 90s budget), or drop
   `--wait-for` so the request finishes inside that budget and the API returns