Harpie’s Feather Duster

20 years ago today, on 15 February 1999, Harpie’s Feather Duster made its debut appearance in the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga.

 

Harpie’s Feather Duster first appeared in the No.10, 1999 issue of Weekly Shonen Jump, released on 15 February 1999. In this issue was Chapter 115 of Yu-Gi-Oh!, entitled “The Beautiful Trap!”.

It was the semi-final of the Duelist Kingdom tournament and Kujaku Mai (Mai Valentine) activated Harpie’s Feather Duster to destroy Yami Yugi’s set Spellbinding Circle.

In the manga, Harpie’s Feather Duster destroys all set card, including monsters, on the opponent’s field.

 

The Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters anime had an extra duel between Mai and Mazaki Anzu (Téa Gardner) in episode 25 aired on 10 October 2000. Harpie’s Feather Duster could be seen among the cards in Mai’s hand, but it was never played in that duel.

 

It was only in episode 29, aired on 7 November 2000, in the duel between Mai and Yugi that we saw Harpie’s Feather Duster being activated.

As the anime was using the OCG card layout, the card text shows the OCG effect.

 

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters II: Dark Duel Stories was released on 8 July 1999 for the Game Boy Color. Harpie’s Feather Duster was one of the promotional cards that came with the game.

In the OCG, the effect of Harpie’s Feather Duster was changed to destroy all Spell and Trap cards on the opponent’s field.

Although Harpie’s Feather Duster had a very powerful effect, it was only semi-limited initially in the OCG 2000.04.01 Limited List.

But in just barely a month later, Harpie’s Feather Duster was changed to limited in the OCG 2000.05.15 Limited List.

 

On 22 December 2001, Harpie’s Feather Duster saw its first reprint in Premium Pack 5, and it was given a new artwork.

Harpie’s Feather Duster remained a staple in many competitive decks over the years until it was finally forbidden in the OCG 2004.03 Forbidden and Limited List. This was also the very first Forbidden List, and Harpie’s Feather Duster and Raigeki were among the first 10 cards to be forbidden.

After over 10 years, Harpie’s Feather Duster was changed to limited in the OCG 2015.01 Limit Regulation. In its place, Heavy Storm was forbidden instead.

Harpie’s Feather Duster remains a staple in these recent 4 years, but with the shift from regular Trap cards to ‘Hand Traps’, Harpie’s Feather Duster is no longer always played in the Main Deck, and has been frequently relegated to the Side Deck.

 

The release of Duelist Pack -Legend Duelist 4- on 10 November 2018 saw Harpie’s Feather Duster being released as a Holographic Rare. This was also the very first Spell card in the OCG to be printed in Holographic Rare.

However, the first Holographic Rare Spell card was Mystical Space Typhoon, printed as a Ghost Gold Rare in the TCG.

 

Harpie’s Feather Duster is a card originally created by Takahashi Kazuki in the manga, but had its effect slightly changed in the OCG.

This simple yet powerful card that can easily change the tide of the battle has stood well against the test of time and is being played in almost every competitive deck.