NEXUS

Executive Summary

The Harpie archetype is one of the oldest in Yu-Gi-Oh!, a WIND Winged Beast strategy that swarms the field with Level 4 monsters. Its gameplay is a delicate dance of combo-oriented plays, backrow removal, and ultimately controlling the duel. The modern Harpie strategy hinges on converting a single card into a full board, which then facilitates powerful Extra Deck summons and enables one of the most powerful control traps in the game, Harpie's Feather Storm. Successfully piloting this deck requires a keen understanding of its engine, choke points, and the ability to adapt its end board to the opponent's strategy.

The Flock and The Arsenal

The Harpie deck is a complex engine where each piece serves a specific role, from initiating combos to searching for the tools needed to control the game.

The Flock: Core Monsters

Harpie Channeler

The most important monster. Discarding a "Harpie" card lets you Special Summon another from the Deck, starting your main combo.

Harpie Perfumer

The primary searcher. On summon, it adds a Spell/Trap that lists "Harpie Lady Sisters" (usually Elegant Egotist) from your Deck to hand.

Harpie Harpist

The ideal discard for Channeler. During the End Phase of the turn it was sent to the GY, it searches for a Level 4 Winged Beast, ensuring a follow-up play.

The Arsenal: Key Spells & Traps

Elegant Egotist

The core swarming spell. If you control a "Harpie Lady," you can Special Summon another from your hand or Deck.

Hysteric Sign

A powerful advantage engine. When sent from the hand or field to the GY, its effect in the End Phase lets you search up to three different "Harpie" cards.

Harpie's Feather Storm

The deck's ultimate win condition. If you control a WIND Winged Beast, you can activate this from your hand to negate all of your opponent's monster effects for the turn.

Core Combo: The One-Card Channeler

Unverified AI Content
This combo line is AI-generated and may contain errors or illegal plays (e.g., banned cards).
Know the correct line? Submit a Replay to fix this guide

This walkthrough demonstrates how Harpie Channeler and a discard can generate a full board.

Harpie Channeler
Missing: 90238142
1

Initiate the Combo

Normal Summon Harpie Channeler. Activate its effect, discarding a "Harpie" card (ideally Harpie Harpist).

Harpie Perfumer
Missing: 39392286
2

Summon and Search

Special Summon Harpie Perfumer from your Deck. Perfumer's effect activates, searching for Elegant Egotist.

Harpie Lady 1
Missing: 91932350
3

Swarm the Field

Activate Elegant Egotist to Special Summon a "Harpie Lady" from your deck. This leaves you with three Level 4 monsters, ready to become a storm of feathers for Extra Deck plays.

Target Endboards

The true skill in piloting Harpies is converting the foundational combo into a winning board state. The deck's strength lies in its flexibility, allowing it to build various end boards tailored to the matchup and game state.

Endboard A: The Simorgh Lock

Tournament Warning

Simorgh, Bird of Sovereignty is currently banned in tournament play. This endboard is no longer viable.

Objective: Prevent the opponent from playing by establishing Simorgh, Bird of Sovereignty (currently banned) and Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds (currently banned).

Simorgh, Bird of Sovereignty

Simorgh, Bird of Sovereignty
Missing: 72330894
  • Untargetable: Protected from targeting by card effects.
  • Floodgate Summoner: Summons Barrier Statue from the deck in the End Phase.

Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds

Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds
Missing: 73356503
  • Special Summon Lock: Locks both players into only Special Summoning WIND monsters.
  • Devastating Control: Halts most meta strategies completely.

Endboard B: The Generic Negate Board

Objective: Establish multiple omni-negates using powerful, non-archetypal Synchro monsters.

Baronne de Fleur

Baronne de Fleur
Missing: 84815190

Currently Banned in TCG

Baronne de Fleur is currently banned. Modern builds use alternatives like Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon.

  • Omni-Negate: Provides a powerful, once-per-while-face-up negation of any card or effect.
  • Versatile Removal: Can destroy a card on the field once per turn.

Generic Toolbox

This strategy uses the Harpie engine to summon powerful staples like Borreload Savage Dragon or Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess.

Endboard C: The Control Board

Objective: End on Cyber Slash Harpie Lady for interruption, with Harpie's Feather Storm set or in hand to shut down the opponent's turn.

Cyber Slash Harpie Lady

Cyber Slash Harpie Lady
Missing: 63261835
  • Targeted Interruption: Quick Effect to bounce a monster when a Spell/Trap is activated.
  • Easy to Summon: Treats any "Harpie" monster as a Tuner for its Synchro Summon.

Harpie's Feather Storm

Harpie's Feather Storm
Missing: 87639778
  • Complete Lockdown: Negates all of the opponent's activated monster effects for the turn.
  • Hand Activation: Can be activated directly from the hand, making it a surprise blowout.

Competitive Analysis

Strengths

  • Unparalleled Negation: Access to a searchable, hand-activatable trap that negates an entire turn of monster effects.
  • Potent Backrow Removal: Harpies' Hunting Ground provides consistent removal of Spells and Traps.
  • Flexible Extra Deck: Can easily make a wide variety of Rank 4 Xyz and Link monsters.

Weaknesses

  • Normal Summon Reliant: The entire strategy hinges on resolving the Normal Summon of Harpie Channeler.
  • Hand Trap Vulnerability: Very susceptible to common hand traps like Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring and Infinite Impermanence.
  • Fragile Boards: Without Feather Storm, the deck's end boards can be underwhelming.

Hybrid Builds

  • Tri-Brigade: Harpies in the Graveyard fuel the powerful effects of Tri-Brigade monsters, leading to potent Link bosses.
  • Lyrilusc: Another WIND Winged Beast engine that helps swarm the field for OTKs and ensures Feather Storm is always live.

Banlist Impact

LOW IMPACT: The Harpie archetype has been moderately restricted by the TCG banlist, with Harpie's Feather Duster limited.

Archetype Cards

Limited

  • • Harpie's Feather Duster

Synergistic Cards

Forbidden

  • • Baronne de Fleur
  • • Simorgh, Bird of Sovereignty
  • • Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds

Banlist Status Summary

+ analyzed • 4 total restrictions found • 1 archetype card • 3 synergistic cards