diff --git a/roboco/api/routes/tasks.py b/roboco/api/routes/tasks.py
index 889a5bb3..f0a15f1e 100644
--- a/roboco/api/routes/tasks.py
+++ b/roboco/api/routes/tasks.py
@@ -854,8 +854,9 @@ async def submit_for_qa(
             status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
             detail=(
                 "NOT_SELF_VERIFIED: Cannot submit for QA without a prior "
-                "self-verification step. Call "
-                "roboco_task_submit_verification() first, then submit_qa."
+                "self-verification step. Call gateway i_am_done() "
+                "(handles verification + QA submit), or for the panel "
+                "POST /api/tasks/{id}/verify before /submit-qa."
             ),
         )
     if not task.commits:
@@ -864,7 +865,7 @@ async def submit_for_qa(
             detail=(
                 "NO_COMMITS: Cannot submit for QA without at least one "
                 "commit on this task. Use roboco_git_commit() before "
-                "roboco_task_submit_qa()."
+                "i_am_done() via gateway, or POST /api/tasks/{id}/submit-qa."
             ),
         )
     if task.pr_number is None:
@@ -881,8 +882,9 @@ async def submit_for_qa(
             status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
             detail=(
                 "NO_PROGRESS: Cannot submit for QA without any "
-                "progress updates. Call roboco_task_progress() at least "
-                "once during execution before submitting."
+                "progress updates. Add progress entries via the gateway "
+                "(i_have_committed auto-records) at least once during "
+                "execution before submitting."
             ),
         )
 
@@ -953,8 +955,9 @@ async def pass_qa(
             status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
             detail=(
                 "NO_PR_ATTACHED: Cannot pass QA without a PR on this "
-                "task. Use roboco_task_qa_fail(notes='PR not created - "
-                "dev must push and open PR') so the dev fixes it."
+                "task. Call gateway fail(task_id, issues=['PR not created'])"
+                " or POST /api/tasks/{id}/fail-qa with the same issue, "
+                "so the dev fixes it."
             ),
         )
 
@@ -967,8 +970,9 @@ async def pass_qa(
             detail=(
                 "QA_NOTES_REQUIRED: QA pass must include notes (>=20 "
                 "chars) summarizing what was verified against the "
-                "acceptance criteria. Use roboco_task_qa_pass("
-                "notes='...')."
+                "acceptance criteria. Call gateway pass(task_id, "
+                "notes='...') or POST /api/tasks/{id}/pass-qa with "
+                "notes set."
             ),
         )
 
@@ -1395,7 +1399,7 @@ async def escalate_task(
 
     msg = (
         f"Task escalated to {outcome.target_slug} and set to BLOCKED. "
-        f"PM will receive notification and must call roboco_task_unblock() "
+        f"PM will receive notification and must call gateway unblock(task_id) "
         "to provide guidance or reassign."
     )
     return EscalateResponse(
diff --git a/roboco/exceptions.py b/roboco/exceptions.py
index 1ba91437..b8abad89 100644
--- a/roboco/exceptions.py
+++ b/roboco/exceptions.py
@@ -218,28 +218,28 @@ class TaskLifecycleError(TaskError):
     _TRANSITION_HINTS: ClassVar[dict[tuple[str, str], str]] = {
         ("claimed", "awaiting_documentation"): (
             "QA pass skipped the in_progress step. "
-            "Call `roboco_task_start(task_id)` first, then "
-            "`roboco_task_qa_pass(task_id, qa_notes=...)`."
+            "Call gateway i_will_work_on(task_id, plan='...') first, "
+            "then pass(task_id, notes=...)."
         ),
         ("claimed", "awaiting_pm_review"): (
-            "Call `roboco_task_start(task_id)` first to move claimed → "
-            "in_progress, then the handoff tool for your role."
+            "Call i_will_work_on(task_id, plan='...') first to "
+            "claimed → in_progress, then the handoff verb for your role."
         ),
         ("claimed", "completed"): (
-            "Call `roboco_task_start(task_id)` before `roboco_task_complete(task_id)`."
+            "Call i_will_work_on(task_id, plan='...') before complete(task_id)."
         ),
         ("claimed", "needs_revision"): (
             "QA fail from claimed needs the start step first. "
-            "Call `roboco_task_start(task_id)` then "
-            "`roboco_task_qa_fail(task_id, notes=...)`."
+            "Call i_will_work_on(task_id, plan='...') then "
+            "fail(task_id, issues=[...])."
         ),
         ("pending", "in_progress"): (
-            "Pending tasks must be claimed first. "
-            "Call `roboco_task_claim(task_id)` then `roboco_task_start`."
+            "Pending tasks must be claimed + planned first. "
+            "Call gateway i_will_work_on(task_id, plan='...')."
         ),
         ("backlog", "in_progress"): (
-            "Activate the task first via "
-            "`roboco_task_activate(task_id)`, then claim + start."
+            "Activate the task first: PATCH /api/tasks/{id} "
+            "(status=pending), then i_will_work_on(task_id, plan='...')."
         ),
     }