diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 3409d14..4db9488 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ See [docs/dev-environment.md](docs/dev-environment.md) for restart modes, ports,
 ## Engineering Principles
 These apply to ALL code in this repo — contracts, tests, scripts, indexers, frontend.
 
-1. **Never use fixed delays or `waitForTimeout`** — subscribe to events instead. Use `eth_newFilter`/`eth_subscribe` for on-chain events, DOM mutation observers for UI changes, callback patterns for async flows. Even if event-driven code takes more effort, it is always the right answer.
+1. **Never use fixed delays or `waitForTimeout`** — react to actual events instead. Use `eth_subscribe` (WebSocket) for on-chain push notifications, `eth_newFilter` + `eth_getFilterChanges` for on-chain polling, DOM mutation observers or Playwright's `waitForSelector`/`waitForURL` for UI changes, callback patterns for async flows. Even if event-driven code takes more effort, it is always the right answer.
 2. **Never use hardcoded expectations** — dynamic systems change. React to actual state, not assumed state. Don't assert a specific block number, token amount, or address unless it's a protocol constant.
-3. **Event subscription > polling > fixed delay** — if there is truly no way to subscribe to an event, polling with a timeout is acceptable. A fixed `sleep`/`wait` is never acceptable.
+3. **Event subscription > polling with timeout > fixed delay** — prefer true push subscriptions (`eth_subscribe`, WebSocket, observers). When push is unavailable (e.g. HTTP-only RPC), polling with a timeout and clear error is acceptable. A fixed `sleep`/`wait`/`waitForTimeout` is never acceptable. Existing violations should be replaced when touched.
 
 ## Before Opening a PR
 1. `forge build && forge test` in `onchain/` — contracts must compile and pass.