When you research a keyword, PixelClaw decides what kind of article the search calls for, how many sections it needs and about how long it should run, then writes to that shape. Since November 8, 2026 there are twelve kinds. Four are new: Alternatives, Cost guide, News update and Case study.
The twelve kinds
Quick answer, 3 to 4 sections: the answer in plain words, what it depends on, an example, what to do next.
Focused explainer, 4 to 6 sections: what it is, why it matters, how it works, an example, mistakes to avoid, what to do next.
Practical guide, 6 to 8 sections: what it is, what it costs or takes, how to choose or do it step by step, mistakes to avoid, the next step.
Comprehensive guide, 8 to 10 sections: the basics, each part of the subject in the order a reader learns it, worked examples, mistakes, tools, next steps.
Comparison, 5 to 7 sections: the verdict, each option in brief, the criteria that decide it side by side, who should pick which.
Roundup, 5 to 10 sections: how the picks were chosen, one section per pick with what it is, who it suits and its catch, how to choose.
Troubleshooting checklist, 5 to 8 sections: the quick checks that solve most cases, then each likely cause in the order to check it, what to do when none of them fit, how to stop it happening again.
Solution guide, 5 to 8 sections: the goal and what decides the right approach, each approach with what it involves, what it costs, its tradeoff and the situation it suits, how to choose, where to start.
Alternatives, 5 to 9 sections (new): why readers look past the product and what a replacement has to do, one section per alternative with what it does better and worse, who it suits and what it costs, a side-by-side comparison, which to pick when.
Cost guide, 5 to 7 sections (new): the price range up front, what drives the cost, typical costs by size or tier with an example, the hidden and ongoing costs, how to lower the cost without cutting what matters, how to get an accurate quote.
News update, 3 to 5 sections (new): what happened, why it matters to this reader, the confirmed details with their sources, what changes for the reader and what to do now, what to watch next.
Case study, 4 to 6 sections (new): the result up front, the starting point and the problem, what was tried including what did not work, the outcome in numbers, the lessons a reader can reuse.
How research picks the kind
Research decides in order of evidence:
The keyword's own words decide first when they are unmistakable. "X vs Y" is a Comparison. "Announces", "launches" or "rolls out" is a News update. "Case study", "how we …" or "lessons learned" is a Case study. These stand whatever the ranking pages look like.
Otherwise, when two of the top three ranking articles share a format, the post takes that format, so it matches what already ranks. PixelClaw reads the top three for this since November 8, 2026.
When they do not agree, a read of the search as a whole decides: whether the searcher is fixing a problem, choosing between options, weighing ways to reach a goal, or learning about the topic.
Otherwise the keyword's shape decides. "Best …" or "top 10 …" is a Roundup. "… alternatives" or "apps like …" is Alternatives. "Not working" or "why is my …" is a Troubleshooting checklist. "Ways to increase …" is a Solution guide. "How much does … cost" or "cost of …" is a Cost guide, while a cost you measure rather than pay, such as "customer acquisition cost", stays a topic to explain. A keyword that teaches a topic becomes a Quick answer, a Focused explainer, a Practical guide or a Comprehensive guide, depending on its shape and on how long the ranking pages run.
Research also plans the length, the middle length of the top three ranking articles between 800 and 5,000 words, and the reading level those articles are written at. The brief's reasons say which rule or which articles decided the kind.
Where you see the kind
Research results show the planned length "for a comparison", "for a cost guide" and so on, with the reasons.
The research brief says, for example, "A comparison: about 1,500 words."
The Outline step names the kind the outline follows.
In a God Mode topic map
A topic map plans each article as one of eight kinds: guide, how-to, comparison, list, explainer, FAQ, troubleshooting or solution. When the article is written, guide and how-to become a Practical guide, list becomes a Roundup, FAQ becomes a Quick answer, and the others keep their names. The pillar article is always a Comprehensive guide. A supporting article takes the format the top three ranking articles share when research read one.
Topic maps can't plan Alternatives or Cost guide articles yet. Research still picks them up from the keyword.
Layout
A News update or a Case study is shown in the Editorial layout unless your blog has chosen a default layout under Settings → Appearance. A layout chosen on the post itself always wins.
In the Developer API
A research brief carries the kind as length_plan.type, one of the twelve; length_plan.basis says what decided it (top_articles, search or rules); reading_level carries the grade the top articles read at; and top_results_warning is present when the top results are product or sign-up pages rather than articles. The OpenAPI description is version 1.2.0 and the SDK is 0.3.0.
Related guides
Checked against PixelClaw on November 8, 2026.