# Battlecard > Generate competitive battlecards, displacement campaigns, trap questions, and objection counters as text-based analysis grounded in library data and real deal evidence. Use when user says "battlecard for [competitor]", "how do we beat [competitor]", "competitive intel", "trap questions", "displacement campaign", or mentions competing against a rival. Do NOT use for visual HTML battlecard documents — use /octave:battlecard-doc instead. Use when this capability is needed. - Skill: `tomevault-io/battlecard` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/battlecard` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/battlecard/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Marketing & Growth - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/battlecard --- # /octave:battlecard - Competitive War Room Dedicated competitive intelligence skill that generates living competitive artifacts — battlecards, displacement campaigns, trap questions, objection counters, and side-by-side comparisons — all grounded in your library's competitive data and real conversation evidence. ## Usage ``` /octave:battlecard [mode] [--competitor ] [--persona ] ``` ## Modes ``` /octave:battlecard # Interactive - pick competitor and mode /octave:battlecard battlecard --competitor "Acme" # Full competitive battlecard /octave:battlecard displacement --competitor "Acme" # Displacement campaign /octave:battlecard traps --competitor "Acme" # Trap questions to expose weaknesses /octave:battlecard objections --competitor "Acme" # "They say X, we say Y" guide /octave:battlecard compare --competitor "Acme" # Side-by-side comparison /octave:battlecard landscape # Full competitive landscape overview ``` ## Instructions When the user runs `/octave:battlecard`: ### Step 1: Identify Competitor and Mode If no competitor specified, list available competitors: ``` # Get all competitors list_all_entities({ entityType: "competitor" }) ``` Present: ``` Which competitor are you focused on? COMPETITORS IN YOUR LIBRARY 1. [Competitor 1] - [Brief description] 2. [Competitor 2] - [Brief description] 3. [Competitor 3] - [Brief description] OTHER 4. Research a new competitor (provide name/domain) 5. Full competitive landscape (all competitors) Your choice: ``` If no mode specified, ask: ``` What do you need? 1. Full Battlecard - Comprehensive positioning guide for sales 2. Displacement Campaign - Outreach to steal their customers 3. Trap Questions - Discovery questions that expose their weaknesses 4. Objection Counters - "They say X, we say Y" paired responses 5. Side-by-Side Compare - Feature/capability comparison 6. Competitive Landscape - Overview of all competitors Your choice: ``` ### Step 2: Gather Competitive Intelligence ``` # Get competitor entity get_entity({ oId: "" }) # Search for playbooks that mention this competitor search_knowledge_base({ query: " competitive positioning", entityTypes: ["playbook"] }) # Get relevant playbook with value props get_playbook({ oId: "", includeValueProps: true }) # Search for proof points (especially competitive wins) search_knowledge_base({ query: " win switch migration", entityTypes: ["proof_point", "reference"] }) # Search conversation data for competitor mentions list_findings({ query: " objections competitive mentions", startDate: "<90 days ago>", eventFilters: { competitors: [""] } }) # Get won deals where this competitor was present list_events({ startDate: "<180 days ago>", filters: { eventTypes: ["DEAL_WON"], competitors: [""] } }) # Get lost deals to this competitor list_events({ startDate: "<180 days ago>", filters: { eventTypes: ["DEAL_LOST"], competitors: [""] } }) # Get product details for comparison list_all_entities({ entityType: "product" }) get_entity({ oId: "" }) ``` ### Step 3: Generate Mode-Specific Output --- #### Mode: Full Battlecard ``` BATTLECARD: [Your Product] vs [Competitor] ========================================== Last Updated: [Date] Based on: [N] deal outcomes, [N] conversation mentions --- QUICK POSITIONING ----------------- When you hear: "[Competitor name]" Lead with: "[Key differentiator in one sentence]" 30-Second Pitch: "[Elevator pitch that positions against this competitor]" --- COMPETITOR OVERVIEW ------------------- What they do: [Brief description from library] Target market: [Their focus] Pricing: [If known] Key customers: [Notable logos] Recent moves: [Latest news, features, funding] --- WHERE WE WIN ------------ | Capability | Us | Them | |------------|-----|------| | [Area 1] | ✓ [Our strength] | ✗ [Their weakness] | | [Area 2] | ✓ [Our strength] | ~ [Partial/weaker] | | [Area 3] | ✓ [Our strength] | ✗ [Their gap] | Win Themes (from real deals): 1. [Theme 1] — "[Evidence from conversation data]" 2. [Theme 2] — "[Evidence from conversation data]" 3. [Theme 3] — "[Evidence from conversation data]" --- WHERE THEY WIN (BE HONEST) -------------------------- | Capability | Them | Our Response | |------------|------|-------------| | [Area] | ✓ [Their strength] | [How we counter/reframe] | How to handle: • "[Their advantage]" → "[Reframe that shifts the conversation]" --- COMMON OBJECTIONS ----------------- "[Competitor] is cheaper" → [Response: value, TCO, hidden costs, proof point] "[Competitor] has [feature X]" → [Response: why it matters/doesn't, our alternative approach] "We already use [Competitor]" → [Displacement angle: migration story, switching cost offset] "[Competitor] has more [integrations/customers/etc.]" → [Response: quality vs quantity, specific advantage] Evidence: [Cite real objections from conversation data if available] --- TRAP QUESTIONS -------------- Ask these to expose their weaknesses: 1. "[Question targeting known weakness]" Why: [What this reveals] If they say: "[Likely response]" → You say: "[Follow-up]" 2. "[Question about scalability/support/depth]" Why: [What this reveals] 3. "[Question about specific capability gap]" Why: [What this reveals] --- LANDMINES TO SET ---------------- Plant these criteria early in the evaluation: 1. "[Evaluation criterion]" — plays to our strength in [area] 2. "[Technical requirement]" — exposes their limitation in [area] 3. "[Process question]" — highlights our advantage in [area] --- PROOF POINTS ------------ • [Customer who switched from competitor] — [Outcome] • [Metric: "X% better than [competitor] in Y"] • [Industry analyst or review quote] • [Head-to-head evaluation win] --- DISPLACEMENT SUCCESS STORY --------------------------- [Customer] switched from [Competitor] because: • [Reason 1] • [Reason 2] Results after switching: • [Metric improvement] • [Time saved / value gained] --- DEAL WIN/LOSS PATTERNS ----------------------- Wins against [Competitor]: [N] in last 180 days Losses to [Competitor]: [N] in last 180 days Win Rate: [X%] Common win factors: • [Factor 1] • [Factor 2] Common loss factors: • [Factor 1] • [Factor 2] --- Sources Used: - Competitor entity: [name] - Deals analyzed: [N] wins, [N] losses - Conversation mentions: [N] - Proof points: [list] - Playbooks: [list] --- Want me to: 1. Deep dive on a specific objection 2. Generate displacement outreach 3. Create persona-specific version 4. Add more trap questions 5. Update the competitor entity with new insights ``` --- #### Mode: Displacement Campaign ``` generate_email({ person: { firstName: "[Persona Name]", jobTitle: "[Persona Title]" }, numEmails: 4, sequenceType: "COLD_OUTBOUND", allEmailsContext: "This person currently uses [Competitor]. Key competitor weaknesses: [list]. Our advantages: [list]. Proof of successful switches: [proof points]. Do NOT name the competitor unless the prospect mentions them first.", allEmailsInstructions: "Displacement campaign. Progressive structure: Email 1: Pain-point their current tool likely causes. Email 2: Vision of what's possible (results from switchers). Email 3: Specific differentiation without naming competitor. Email 4: Direct offer with migration support." }) ``` Present as: ``` DISPLACEMENT CAMPAIGN: [Your Product] vs [Competitor] ===================================================== Target: [Persona] currently using [Competitor] Strategy: [Lead with pain, prove with results, close with support] --- POSITIONING STRATEGY -------------------- Don't lead with: "[Competitor] is bad" Lead with: "[Pain they're likely experiencing because of competitor limitations]" Key angles: 1. [Pain point caused by competitor weakness] 2. [Results achieved by companies who switched] 3. [Capability they're missing] --- EMAIL 1: [Subject] Timing: Day 1 | Angle: Pain recognition --- [Email body] EMAIL 2: [Subject] Timing: Day 4 | Angle: Social proof from switchers --- [Email body] EMAIL 3: [Subject] Timing: Day 8 | Angle: Differentiation --- [Email body] EMAIL 4: [Subject] Timing: Day 12 | Angle: Migration offer --- [Email body] --- LINKEDIN COMPANION MESSAGES ---------------------------- Connection note: [Short message] Follow-up: [After connection] --- TALK TRACK (if they respond) ----------------------------- Opening: "[How to start the conversation]" Discovery: "[Questions to understand their pain with current tool]" Transition: "[How to introduce your solution]" Close: "[Specific next step to offer]" --- Sources: [Competitor entity, proof points, deal data] ``` --- #### Mode: Trap Questions ``` TRAP QUESTIONS: vs [Competitor] ================================ Use these discovery questions to expose [Competitor]'s weaknesses without mentioning them directly. --- QUESTION 1: [Area of weakness] "[Natural discovery question]" Why this works: [Competitor] struggles with [X], so their answer reveals gaps. If they say "[typical response]": Follow up with "[deeper question]" Our advantage: [What we do better here] --- QUESTION 2: [Area of weakness] "[Natural discovery question]" Why this works: [Explanation] If they say "[typical response]": Follow up with "[deeper question]" Our advantage: [What we do better] --- [Continue for 5-8 questions] --- SEQUENCING ADVICE ----------------- Ask in this order for maximum impact: 1. [Question N] — establishes [criterion] as important 2. [Question N] — builds on first, reveals gap 3. [Question N] — introduces area where we dominate --- Sources: [Competitor weaknesses, deal win patterns, conversation data] ``` --- #### Mode: Objection Counters ``` OBJECTION COUNTERS: vs [Competitor] ==================================== PRICING OBJECTIONS ------------------ "[Competitor] is cheaper" → [Response with TCO analysis, value framing] Proof: "[Customer quote or metric]" "We don't have budget to switch" → [Response about migration support, ROI timeline] Proof: "[Switching ROI proof point]" --- FEATURE OBJECTIONS ------------------ "[Competitor] has [Feature X]" → [Response: our approach, why ours is better/different] Proof: "[Evidence]" "[Competitor] integrates with [Tool Y]" → [Response about our integrations or API] Proof: "[Evidence]" --- RELATIONSHIP OBJECTIONS ----------------------- "We've been with [Competitor] for years" → [Response: switching cost vs. opportunity cost] Proof: "[Long-time customer who finally switched]" "Our team knows [Competitor]" → [Response: onboarding experience, time to value] Proof: "[Evidence]" --- RISK OBJECTIONS --------------- "Switching is too risky" → [Response: migration support, phased approach] Proof: "[Smooth migration story]" --- FROM REAL CONVERSATIONS ----------------------- [If conversation data available, cite actual objections heard and what worked] • "[Real objection from call]" — Handled by: [rep name/approach] — Outcome: [won/lost] --- Sources: [Competitor entity, conversation findings, deal outcomes] ``` --- #### Mode: Side-by-Side Compare ``` COMPARISON: [Your Product] vs [Competitor] ========================================== | Category | [Your Product] | [Competitor] | |----------|---------------|-------------| | [Category 1] | [Our capability] | [Their capability] | | [Category 2] | [Our capability] | [Their capability] | | [Category 3] | [Our capability] | [Their capability] | | ... | ... | ... | DETAILED COMPARISON ------------------- [Category 1]: [Category Name] Us: [Detailed description of our approach] Them: [Detailed description of their approach] Verdict: [Where each wins and why it matters] [Repeat for each major category] --- SUMMARY ------- Choose [Your Product] when: [Scenarios where you win] [Competitor] may be better when: [Be honest about their strengths] --- Sources: [Competitor entity, product entity, proof points] ``` --- #### Mode: Competitive Landscape ``` COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE ===================== [Fetch all competitors and generate overview] MARKET MAP ---------- | Competitor | Focus | Threat Level | Our Win Rate | |-----------|-------|-------------|-------------| | [Comp 1] | [Focus] | [High/Med/Low] | [X%] | | [Comp 2] | [Focus] | [High/Med/Low] | [X%] | | [Comp 3] | [Focus] | [High/Med/Low] | [X%] | KEY THEMES ---------- • [Common competitive dynamic 1] • [Common competitive dynamic 2] • [Market trend affecting competition] PER-COMPETITOR SNAPSHOT ----------------------- [Short battlecard summary for each competitor] --- Want me to deep-dive on any competitor? ``` ### Step 4: Offer Follow-Up Actions ``` What would you like to do next? 1. Deep dive on a specific area 2. Generate displacement outreach for a specific person 3. Create a persona-specific version 4. Re-generate any piece using a saved agent 5. Update competitor entity with new insights 6. Share with team (export) 7. Done ``` ## Generation Mode Note This skill uses Octave's `generate_content` and `generate_email` tools by default. Two alternatives: - **Saved agents**: Check for matching agents with `list_agents` when relevant. See `/octave:explore-agents`. - **Claude-direct**: Skip `generate_*` calls, gather Octave context, Claude writes directly. Offer when user wants more control. For the full interactive mode selector, use `/octave:generate`. ## MCP Tools Used ### Competitive Intelligence - `list_all_entities` (competitor) - List all competitors - `get_entity` - Get competitor details - `search_knowledge_base` - Find competitive positioning, proof points - `list_findings` - Real conversation mentions and objections - `list_events` - Deal win/loss data against competitor - `get_event_detail` - Deep dive into specific competitive deals ### Library Context - `get_playbook` - Competitive playbooks and value props - `list_value_props` - Value propositions per persona - `get_entity` (product) - Product capabilities for comparison ### Content Generation - `generate_email` - Displacement email campaigns - `generate_content` - Trap questions, objection guides, comparisons ## Error Handling **No Competitors in Library:** > No competitors found in your library. > > Options: > 1. Add a competitor first: `/octave:library create competitor` > 2. Tell me the competitor name and I'll create a basic comparison **No Deal Data:** > No win/loss data found against [Competitor]. > > I'll build the battlecard from library data and general positioning. > As you log deals, the battlecard will get richer with real evidence. **Competitor Not in Library:** > "[Name]" isn't in your library yet. > > Options: > 1. Create the competitor entity first: `/octave:library create competitor "[name]"` > 2. I'll generate a basic comparison with available information ## Related Skills - `/octave:research` - Research a specific account in a competitive deal - `/octave:campaign` - Generate competitive campaign content - `/octave:insights` - Surface competitive mentions from conversations - `/octave:wins-losses` - Analyze win/loss patterns against competitors - `/octave:enablement` - Package competitive intel for the team --- > Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/octavehq) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.