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Yu-Gi-Oh! Article 3 on Ruling Changes/Clarifications
6.20.05, by GSAttack

There is little to report this week by way of changes/clarifications. We are familiar with the controlled infinite loops of "Gearfried the Iron Knight" with "Butterfly Dagger – Elma" and "Manticore of Darkness" with another "Manticore of Darkness". Kevin provides clarification regarding the infinite loops that can occur with the card "Pole Position".

Pole Position

This is a shortened version of Kevin's original post. If you would like to read the entire post, as well as a nice little segment between Yugi and Kaiba, you can see it here:

http://lists.upperdeck.com/read/messages?id=5353

From: Kevin Tewart (Lead Game Designer at Upper Deck)

"The basic rule in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME has always been that you cannot activate cards that cause infinite loops, because you are deliberately creating a situation where effects cannot resolve. And effects MUST resolve as much as possible.

With regards to "Pole Position", you cannot choose to Summon a monster, Set a
monster, or Set or activate a Spell or Trap Card, or card effect, if it would
cause an infinite loop.

If you do this by mistake, just rewind the game to before the Summon/Set/
activation occurred.

EXAMPLE #1
I have "Pole Position", "Luminous Spark" (+500 to LIGHT), and "Gemini Elf" (1900 ATK / EARTH) face-up on the field. "Gemini Elf" is the monster on the field with the highest ATK, so it is unaffected by Spell Cards. If the opponent Summons "X-Head Cannon" (1800 ATK / LIGHT), "Luminous Spark" will raise the ATK of "X-Head Cannon" to 2300, making it the highest ATK monster on the field, so it’s unaffected by Spell Cards, so it drops to 1800 ATK, then increases to 2300, then drops to 1800, etc. This would create an infinite loop. Therefore, the opponent cannot Summon "X-Head Cannon".

EXAMPLE #2
The opponent has "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" (3000 ATK) and "Pole Position" face-up on the field. I have "Gemini Elf" (1900 ATK), and an "Opticlops" (1800 ATK) equipped with "Axe of Despair"(+1000 ATK; 2800 total) face-up on the field, and a Set "Ring of Destruction". If I activate "Ring of Destruction" to destroy "Blue-Eyes White Dragon", then "Opticlops" will be the highest ATK monster on the field, and cause an infinite loop (it is the highest, it isn’t, it is, it isn’t, etc.). Therefore, I cannot target "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" with "Ring of Destruction”.

EXAMPLE #3
The opponent has a face-down "Pole Position". I have "Opticlops" (1800 ATK) and "Gemini Elf" (1900 ATK) face-up on the field. I activate "Axe of Despair" (+1000 ATK) and try to equip my "Opticlops" (1800 ATK). The opponent cannot chain "Pole Position", since that would cause an infinite loop. "Pole Position" is an illegal activation. Put it back face-down.

EXAMPLE #4
I have "Pole Position", "Blade Knight" (1600 ATK / LIGHT), and "Luminous Spark" (+500 ATK to LIGHT) face-up on the field and 2 cards in my hand. The opponent has "Giant Orc" (2200 ATK / EARTH) face-up on the field, which is the highest-ATK monster on the field. If I Set 1 of the 2 cards in my hand, "Blade Knight" gains +400 ATK with its effect, becomes the highest-ATK monster, and because of "Luminous Spark" an infinite loop is created. So I am not allowed to Set a card.

All easy to understand. You cannot knowingly perform an action that would cause an infinite loop.

But what about things you have no control over? Let’s find out….

EXAMPLE #5
I have "Pole Position" and "Opticlops" (1800 ATK) face-up on the field. The opponent has a "Muka Muka" equipped with "Axe of Despair" face-up on the field with no cards in his hand. At the start of the opponent's turn, he draws a card, making "Muka Muka"'s ATK 1900. An infinite loop is created by something that could not be avoided, so "Pole Position" is destroyed.

EXAMPLE #6
The opponent has "Blade Knight" (1600 ATK) equipped with "Butterfly Dagger - Elma" (+300 ATK; 1900 ATK total) and 2 cards in hand, along with "Marauding Captain" (1200 ATK). The turn player has "Robbin' Goblin", "Pole Position", and "Giant Orc" (2200 ATK). The turn player attacks "Marauding Captain" with "Giant Orc", inflicting 1000 points of damage. The opponent has to discard a card because of "Robbin' Goblin" and an infinite loop is created because "Blade Knight" now fluctuates between 2300 and 2000 ATK (either above or below "Giant Orc", making it the strongest monster on the field… or not). Therefore, "Pole Position" is destroyed.

EXAMPLE #7
I have "Pole Position", "Banner of Courage", and "Opticlops" face-up on the field. The opponent has "Gemini Elf" face-up on the field. When I enter my Battle Phase, an infinite loop is created as "Opticlops" fluctuates between 1800 and 2000 ATK. So "Pole Position" is destroyed.

EXAMPLE #8
I have "Pole Position", "Gemini Elf" (1900 ATK / EARTH) and "Mystic Plasma Zone" (+500 ATK to DARK) face-up on the field, and an "Opticlops" (1800 ATK / DARK) in face-down Defense Position. The opponent attacks my face-down "Opticlops" with "Mokey Mokey". When we flip "Opticlops" face-up in the Damage Step, an infinite loop is created as "Opticlops" fluctuates between 1800 and 2300 ATK (either above or below "Gemini Elf", making it the strongest monster on the field, or not). Therefore, "Pole Position" is destroyed.

So remember: you cannot choose to do anything that would create an infinite loop. If an infinite loop is thrust on you by things you had no control over, then you must destroy the offending card ("Pole Position" in all of these cases)."