Ruling Update: Rivalry of Warlords

After Benjamin’s return from the World Championship 2009 held in Tokyo, he mentioned that two different rulings were used in Japan.

Firstly, targets have to be chosen during activation, even before any
cards can be chained to it. This is the correct play, but most
Singaporean Duelists are still committing this misplay, as I had
mentioned in my earlier post.

Secondly, Gladiator Beast monsters are able to tag into another of a different type even while Rivalry of Warlords is in activation. It was then that I realized that some rulings were updated after checking up 遊戯王カードWiki. The following posts have been updated as well to reflect the current rulings: Rivalry of Warlords (Part II), Trap Eater.



Back on the topic of effects that target, I believe the misconception arises from Solemn Judgment. Basically, Solemn Judgment is able to either negate the activation of a spell/trap or negate the summoning of a monster. When you summon a monster like Dark Armed Dragon, your opponent has the option to negate its summon by activating Solemn Judgment.
If its summon is negated, you’ll not be able to activate its effect on
priority. Hence you do not choose a target yet. The proper procedure
should be asking your opponent whether your Dark Armed Dragon‘s summon is successful before proceeding to activate its effect on priority and choosing a target for it.

However, for spell and trap, targets have to be chosen upon activation. For example, when you activate Mystical Space Typhoon, you have to select its target at this moment. After knowing the target of your Mystical Space Typhoon, your opponent will then be able to make a decision (either to allow your Mystical Space Typhoon to resolve as you have targeted his Solemn Judgment, or negate it with Solemn Judgment as you have targeted his Mirror Force).

Hopefully this explanation is clearer and will spur more people to play with the correct procedures.

Next on the rulings update of Rivalry of Warlords, I’ve included the changes below for easier reference.

Ｑ：このカードの発動中に、剣闘獣と名のついたモンスターの効果を発動し、デッキから異なる種族の剣闘獣と名のついたモンスターを特殊召喚することはできますか？
Ａ:自分フィールド上に表側表示で存在するモンスターと異なる種族のモンスターは特殊召喚することができませんが、デッキに戻したモンスターと同じ種族のモンスターならば特殊召喚することができます。(08/07/24)
自分フィールド上に存在するモンスターが効果発動した剣闘獣のみだった場合デッキから異なる種族の剣闘獣と名のついたモンスターを特殊召喚することができます。(09/06/20)
自分のデッキに、効果を発動する剣闘獣と別の種類で同じ種族の剣闘獣が存在するならば効果を発動することができ、その際に違う種族の剣闘獣を特殊召喚する
ことができますが、デッキに異なった種族の剣闘獣しか存在しない場合は、効果を発動すること自体できません。(09/07/13)
その際、相手は自分のデッキを確認することが出来ます。(09/06/25)
同じ種族の剣闘獣と名のついたモンスターを特殊召喚した場合、相手にデッキを確認させる必要はありません。(09/06/25)

Q: While this card is in activation, the effect of a Gladiator Beast
monster is activated, is it possible to Special Summon from the deck a
Gladiator Beast monster of a different type?
A: It is not possible to Special Summon a monster of a different type
with respect to the face-up monster on your field, but it is possible to
Special Summon a monster of the same type as the monster being returned
to the deck. (24th July 2008)
When the effect of the only Gladiator Beast monster on your field is activated, it is possible to Special Summon a Gladiator Beast that is of a different type. (20th June 2009)
In your deck, if there exist Gladiator Beast monsters of both
different and same types as the activated Gladiator Beast, it is
possible to Special Summon a Gladiator Beast of a different type,
however, if there exist only Gladiator Beast monsters of different
types, it is not possible to activate its own effect. (13th July 2009)
At that point of time, your opponent is allowed to check your deck to confirm. (25th June 2009)
When the Gladiator Beast monster that is Special Summoned is of the same
type, is it not necessary for your opponent to check your deck and
confirm. (25th June 2009)

- – - – -
Extra notes:

I believe that my translations were a little too literal, so I’ll provide some examples to aid in understanding.

When Rivalry of Warlords is
face-up on the field, there are two situations which involves Gladiator
Beasts: while you control two or more monsters (one of them being the
Gladiator Beast monster), and while you control only one monster (the
Gladiator Beast monster).

For the first case, for example, you’ve chose to tag Gladiator Beast Darius while controlling Gladiator Beast Laquari on the field. Due to Rivalry of Warlords, your options will be restricted to tagging Gladiator Beast Darius into another Gladiator Beast that is also a Beast-Warrior type (which would probably be another Gladiator Beast Laquari).

For the other case, you’ve chose to tag Gladiator Beast Darius
which also happens to be the only monster on your field. If your deck
consists of Gladiator Beast monsters of both Beast-Warrior type (same
type as Gladiator Beast Darius) and non-Beast-Warrior types (different types as Gladiator Beast Darius),
you’re free to tag into any Gladiator Beast monster. However, if your
deck does not consist of any Gladiator Beast monsters of Beast-Warrior
type (same type as Gladiator Beast Darius), it is an illegal move to tag your Gladiator Beast Darius. Your opponent can check your deck to confirm that the above conditions are met when your Gladiator Beast tags.

If you chose to tag Gladiator Beast Darius into Gladiator Beast Laquari (same type as Gladiator Beast Darius), then there is no need for your opponent to check your deck.

- – - – -

Ｑ：このカードの効果の適用中、自分のフィールド上の《死霊ゾーマ》２枚とこのカードを墓地送って《神炎皇ウリア》を特殊召喚することはできますか？
Ａ：コストとして墓地へ送られるため可能です。(09/07/09)

Q: While this card is in activation, is it possible to send 2 copies of Zoma the Spirit on my field and this card to the graveyard to Special Summon Uria, Lord of Searing Flames?
A: Because sending to the graveyard is a cost, it is possible. (9th July 2009)

Ｑ：相手フィールド上にこのカードが表側表示で存在し、自分のフィールド上に悪魔族以外のモンスターが存在する場合、このカードを墓地送って《トラップ・イーター》を特殊召喚することはできますか？
Ａ：コストとして墓地へ送られるため可能です。(09/07/09)

Q: When this card is face-up on opponent’s field, and there are
non-Fiend monster(s) on my field, is it possible to send this card to
the graveyard to special summon Trap Eater?
A: Because sending to the graveyard is a cost, it is possible. (9th July 2009)

Ｑ：自分フィールド上に裏側表示モンスターしか存在しない場合、そのモンスターをリリースして異なる種族のモンスターを表側攻撃表示でアドバンス召喚することは可能ですか？
Ａ：可能です。(09/08/11)

Q: When there is only a face-down monster on my field, is it possible
to release that monster for the Advance Summon of a monster with
different type in attack position?
A: It is possible. (11th August 2009)

The above is taken from 《群雄割拠》 -遊戯王カードWiki.