Mai Valentine's Top 10 Most IMPORTANT Cards 

"Thankfully, Shadow Games don't come up that often in real life." I love how this is phrased as if they still DO happen in real life, it's just not an everyday occurrence

I love Mai, she deserved a lot more on-screen wins

Seal of Orichalcomalos has a secret effect of always being in a starting hand also whoever loses the duel loses their sooooul.

Mai was fierce, she prooved herself so many times with no plot armor. Also inspired me to make my first ever deck in Yugioh "Harpies". Thanks for doing this Hiru

I love how he says not claiming your opponents soul is a nerf lol.

Its still really sad that an anime filler arc of all things gave Mai a better sendoff than the manga, where she kind of just *disappears* after Battle City and is basically never heard from again.

Surprised you didn't mention that one of the big reasons the vanilla Harpie Lady was preferred over other Harpies that are always treated as her was because running her makes her a good target for Unexpected Dai, giving you a bit more swarming tools for your combos

I feel like Mai got slightly better treatment in the anime than manga since the Orichalchos season AT least had an arc built around her.

You know Mai is important when she gets her own top ten deck video

I like how both Mai and Joey would have won against Marik if not for BS

I always thought it would have been cool to give mai a spin-off story and give her a backstory connecting her past life to amazons (that why she uses amazoness cards) like yugi is connected to atems past life in egypt. She could have been an amazoness princess who doesnt get that a tribe is more powerful working together than her fighting alone and has to learn this through duels and earn back the trust of the tribe and her place as the tribe's princess by dueling other tribes. This would mirror the problems of her future self with finding friends and trusting people

This is the first video that did Mai justice pointing out that she was a good duelist. Yes her win rate is horrible, but from all the duels in the anime, mai always had the one with the best strategies and that only shows how good she was.

I love how comprehensively you discuss the anime and the role of the cards in it, like how much Mai reasonably feared losing due to her Shadow Realm trials.

Mai was flanderized in the waking the dragons arc where she kinda reverts back to her season 1 self only much worse and evil all bc her loneliness and the same nightmare with marik returns. Luckily she redeemed herself after watching what she did to Joey. Flanderized or not I love her either way

Sweet! Thank you for doing this. Mai Valentine is easily my favorite yugioh character. And one of my all time favorite anime characters in general. I'm such a huge fan, i even made a Harpie Deck as my first ever deck. (Also my first ever waifu)

Another reason to use the original Harpie lady over Cyber, is the fact that she’s a target for Normal Monster support, like Unexpected Dai

I always loved how Harpie's Pet Dragon and Seiyaryu were pink. You don't see a lot of pink dragons in Yugioh haha

Harpies are special to me too because a Harpie deck was my first deck I made King of Games with in Duel Links back in May 2021. I kept adapting my deck to keep up with the nerfs and it was always so good until power creep finally caught up with them. Even today though, I still tech in the synchro into any deck that can make a level 8 synchro consistently. I owe my continued success in ranked DL to Harpies and I still have an unbroken KOG streak to this day

I still play Harpies to this day bc of how much I loved Mai. I hope Shadow of Eyes and Mirror Wall get retrains soon 💘

You should make this an ongoing series for all of the ygo shows main characters

I wish for Mai and the other great duelists of the original anime to get some love with a few spin-offs showcasing their journey and adventures.

I love using 3 copies Phalanx Pike in my Harpie deck. The equipped monster gains 900 ATK for each monster in the GY that shares its name and with Harpie monster name changing in the GY too it makes the card crazy strong.

Amazoness decks also ended up being included among the top tier metas, especially in Duel Links. It's unfortunate, but Mai was just limited to vanilla beasticks since she was using Harpy and Amazoness long before their prime.

It was only used once, but Harpie's Feather Storm was _incredibly_ important in the anime because it stopped Joey from resolving Fiber Jar against her. At that point in the duel she had 6 Harpies (2 actual Harpie Ladies & 4 Tokens), the Seal of Orichalcos, and Feather Storm set, Joey had just lost his Fiend Megacyber & had only Fiber Jar left, so resolving it would have been massive, least of all for the fact the Seal would have been shuffled as well (even if she'd have probably redrawn it immediately anyway lmao).

Mai was the first Funko Pop figurine I ever got 😊. And I really enjoyed playing her deck in Master Duel. Their combos are fun; not too simple, but far from being over complaicted.

I feel like Aki's 10 important cards is a must here considering your mascot

the original harpie lady is incredibly useful in modern yugioh when compare to cyber harpie lady or harpie lady no.1, all thanks to it being a lv.4 normal monsters which allow you to bring her out with unexpected dai... this give you an extra set of starter cards which lower your chance of bricking because when harpie lady deck brick... it brick hard as you literally cant do anything if you have no harpie lady on the field. harpie lady is always one of my favorite monsters ever since i saw mai uses it in the manga.

In the anime it seems like Harpie Lady Sisters counts as 3 monsters in 1, I always wished they kept that gimmick in the TCG, sure it'd potentially be a ruling nightmare but it would've been very fun to use, imagine using it as a 1 card rank 6 Xyz but it counts as 1 material.

To this day, I'm still heartbroken how dirty they done Phoenix Formation 💔

7:29 Idea for a “Mirror Wall” retrain: _Harpie’s Mirror Wall_ Continuous Trap _The ATK/DEF of your opponent’s attacking monster’s is halved. Once per turn, you can pay 2000 LP: Apply 1 of the following effects:_ ⚪️Normal Summon (From your hand or deck) a level 4 or lower monster who’s original name is the same as that of a monster your opponent controls. ⚪️Set 1 “Mirror” Spell/Trap card from your hand, deck or GY. ⚪️Add 1 “Mirror” monster to your hand from your field, deck or GY. ⚪️If a Card from your hand or field would be destroyed by battle or an opponent’s card effect: Destroy this card instead.

Did we just forget about Harpie’s Feather Storm? She used that in the Waking the Dragon arc in her first duel against Joey. Completely threw off his Fiber Jar play.

If you’re looking for duelist’s important monsters from the original anime you could do mako tsunami next or at least talk about the retrains of his monsters

In rush duel harpy lady is part of the meta, because all harpy ladies aren't restricted by being treated as different cards with the same name when it hits the field.

0:00 Idea for some new Harpie/Red-Eyes Cross support cards: _Red-Eyes Harpie Lady_ (WIND) Level 4 Pendulum scales:0 _If you summon a “Harpie” or “Red-Eyes” monster successfully, no Spell/Trap Cards can be activated. Each time you summon, declare an attack with, or activate the effects of a “Harpie” or “Red-Eyes” card: Place 1 “Red-Eyes Harpie” token on this card. Once per turn, during either players turn: You can activate 1 of the following effects:_ ⚪️Spend 3 “Red-Eyes Harpie” tokens: Set 1 “Harpie” or “Red-Eyes” spell/trap card from your hand, deck or GY. ⚪️Spend 4 “Red-Eyes Harpie” tokens: Until the end phase of your next turn, “Harpie” and “Red-Eyes” monsters require 1 less tribute to normal summon/set. ⚪️Declare the name of 1 “Harpie” or “Red-Eyes” monster from your hand or deck: Spend “Red-Eyes Harpie” tokens equal to the declared monster’s level, then add it to your hand. Winged-Beast/Pendulum/Effect _This card is always also treated as a DARK and Dragon monster. If you summon a “Harpie” or “Red-Eyes” monster successfully, no Monster Cards can be activated. Each time you summon, declare an attack with, or activate the effects of a “Harpie” or “Red-Eyes” card: Place 1 “Red-Eyes Harpie” token on this card. Once per turn (Quick Effect): You can activate 1 of the following effects:_ ⚪️Spend 3 “Red-Eyes Harpie” tokens: Add 1 “Harpie” or “Red-Eyes” spell/trap card to your hand from your field, deck or GY. ⚪️Spend 4 “Red-Eyes Harpie” tokens: Until the end phase of your next turn, You can Normal Summon/set “Harpie” or “Red-Eyes” monsters without limit. ⚪️Declare the name of 1 “Harpie” or “Red-Eyes” monster from your hand or deck: Spend “Red-Eyes Harpie” tokens equal to the declared monster’s level, then send it to the GY. ATK/1400 DEF/1000 _Red-Eyes Harpie Dragon_ (WIND) Level 12 Pendulum Scales: 8 _Once per turn: You can Tribute 3 “Harpie” or “Red-Eyes” cards from your hand or field; Place this card from your extra deck (Face-up or Facedown) in your pendulum zones. Each time you summon, declare an attack with, or activate the effects of a “Harpie” or “Red-Eyes” card: You can activate 1 of the following effects_ ⚪️Increase or decrease your LP by 1000 ⚪️Send 1 “Harpie” or “Red-Eyes” card you own that is banished or from your hand or field to the GY. ⚪️Add 1 “Fusion”, “Xyz”, or “Ploymerization” card to your hand (From your field, deck or GY), then return this card to your Extra deck. Dragon/Fusion/Pendulum/Effect “Red-Eyes Black Dragon” + 1+ “Harpie” Dragon monsters. _This card is always also treated as a DARK and Winged-Beast monster. Opponent’s Monsters cannot target level 7 or lower “Harpie” or “Red-Eyes” monsters you control for attacks or effects. Winged-Beast and Dragon monsters you control gain 300 ATK/DEF for every card on the field and in either players hands. Your “Harpie” and “Red-Eyes” monsters require no tributes to normal summon/set, and can be normal summoned/set without limit. If this card would leave the field (Unless it was banished): You can place it in your pendulum zone instead._ ATK/4400 DEF/4500

Wait, Mai had at least 10 cards?? You just blew my mind bruh

Love to see you finally did a great video centered on Harpies and Mai ❤️

Mai is the definition of a girlboss. The blueprint. Mother. Iconic. The queen of slay.

Mai had one of, if not, the best spell card in her possession known as Feather Duster. Aside from that, Harpie's Pet Dragon is a cool looking dragon and his retrained, baby and xyz forms are cool as well despite not being viable in a functional deck.

Mai deserved so much better, if Yugi didn't have protag plot armour she'd have won, would have likely beat Marik. Kaiba complimented her skill in Battle City - something he didn't do for Joey and something he didn't do for Yugi until the battle ritual

I love Mai. I was devastated when her voice actress changed.

It's amazing that Harpie's Feather Duster is a generic card and wasn't made for just Harpies.

Actually MIrror Wall can be very usefull in D./D/D Decks because instead of paying lifepoints you gain lifepoints cuz every turn you gain 2000 lifepoints with oracle king d'arc

I still feel like the "This card's name is always treated as..." effects should never have counted towards Deck Building. It never made sense because the original name is always different.

She is my favorite character and the Harpie Lady archetype is also my favorite. We need new support omg!

Fun facts Mai Harpie Monsters in Yugioh Arc V Tagforce special game all have summon chant usually a character only gets 2or 3 their Ace monster and sub Ace but all Mai Harpie has summon chant it's easier to count the monster that doesn't have summon chant 1Bird Face 😉

I would love to see this continue through the entire series of the anime variants with the main characters. It’s such a fun call back to growing up for me

Top 10 non-union archetypes that put their monsters in the back row (not counting pendulum scales). Artifacts, Crystal Beasts, V-HEROs, Icejade, and Felgrand. Bonus points for "union but better" type effects like Dragunity, Magistus, Superheavy Samurai, Cyberdark, Destruction Sword, Inzektors, Infernoble Knights, Marincess, the Claw of Hermos fusions, Therion, Plunder Patroll, Vylon, and ZW's

Keep this series going!

The big weakness of Feather Duster was Gryphon Wing. But Gryphon Wing was only useful if your opponent was using Feather Duster, early YGI was full of these super specific counter cards like Dream Clown and Gryphon Wing.

Love this video. I still play Harpies in Duel Links and slap fools around to this day.

I would put Elegant Egotist above Feather Duster. Yes, Duster is one of the best cards in her archetype but Mai very rarely used it, only doing so three times - twice against Yugi, and once each against Marik and Joey. Joey also used it against the Big 5, and Mai had it set against Tea, for a total of 6 appearances. Mai used Elegant Egotist 7 times herself - twice against Joey in different duels, once against Yugi, once against Marik, once against Magnum, and twice in the Virtual World. She also had it on net field against Rex, for a total of 8 appearances.

great video

Hiru i came across your channel by coincidence. Ive been a fan of your WoW content for years. Only recently getting back into Yu-Gi-Oh stuff again. And i recognized your voice instantly

Yes please 🙏 more videos like this also I love archetype videos and lore videos, I'd really appreciate a Gaia video

Marik actually could've lost twice in battle city with Mai and Joey damn that plot armor is so thick

Love your content very interesting 👌

"This is unlikely to happen in the TCG". Happens all the time in the OCG, naturally.

Please do more lore stories! I love the World Legacy one in particular!

Mirror Wall is my nightmare in Tag Force Game. Like do I use my only Heavy storm against mirror wall just to run into Mirror Force or other floodgate later on or die to Mirror Wall floodgate.

One of the other things about Yugi and Mai's duel in Duelist Kingdom is that he was also way more focused and worried about his duel against Pegasus than he was with the current duel at hand. He wasn't seeing Mai as a duelist, but rather as just an obstacle he needed to get through, and thus not giving her or their match the attention they actually deserved.

Harpy lady sisters should have a retrain where when it's summoned, you can special summon 2 harpy lady tokens, same stats with restrictions and an omni-negate.

Mai's role in the anime is very sad because she's the quintessential benchmark duelist; we're always told that she's a very strong duelist, purely so that it's impressive when other poeple beat her. She only gets to win a handful of duels on screen, so even though she is required to be a top tier duelist for plot reasons, she almost always has to lose.

I love this series, can you make a playlist of this please? Starting from your Yugi to your most recent?

Love Mai. She's a great character!

I really enjoy these lore videos, when I was playing YGO back in the day I did super bond with my cards, I kind of carry that over to MTG now where each of my decks is made with love and attachment. Corny, but I'm just like that haha

You know I realize that even filler oricalcos is a good filler but also was the closest thing to season zero but with card rules.

Still can't believe Phoenix Formation stops you from summoning from deck in an archetype that had literally the first card to ever special summon from the deck lmao.

Wow, no amazoness swords woman. That card makes all battle damage go to the opponent. So good it even got a reprise in the gx series.

For the Seal of orichalcos you can special summon them after as long as they can be special summoned via any reborn effects so summon your extra deck monsters and activate the seal then reborn them from the grave

I only know Yugioh through RU-vid and Link Evolution, and I was surprised how fun and strong Harpie Lady decks are Channeler -> Pet Dragon -> Rank 7 XUZ is a great feeling, as is summoning any Harpie -> Elegant Egotist -> Rank 4 XYZ summons that potentially lead to further combos. Before I picked up the game, I thought that this was just a gimmicky archetype from the anime!

I love when Duel Logs keeps kayfabe alive, like when he talks about Orichalcos stealing souls and the Shadow Realm and the like.

I used the seal as a side deck option in monarchs. I needed it maybe 4 times in 3 years.

15:53 Idea for a new “Cyber Harpie Lady” retrain that keeps with the idea of other “Harpie” cards being treated as “Harpie Lady” at all times: _Cyber Harpie Lady #2_ Level 4 Pendulum scales: 8 _Once per turn: You can place this card from your field, GY or Extra Deck (Face-up or Facedown) in your pendulum zone if you control a face-up “Harpie’s Hunting Ground” or “The Seal of Orichalcos”. The original names of all level 4 or lower “Harpie” monsters from your hand, field, deck or GY are also treated as “Harpie Lady”. WIND and Winged-Beast monsters you control gain 300 ATK/DEF. Once per turn, During either players turn: If a “Harpie” card leaves your field, and you control no other “Harpie” monsters; You can special summon this card from your pendulum zone._ Winged-Beast/Pendulum/Tuner/Gemini This card is treated as a Normal Monster while face-up on the field or in the GY. While this card is a Normal Monster on the field, you can Normal Summon it to have it become an Effect Monster with these effects. ●If this card is Normal or Special Summoned, or inflicts battle damage to your opponent: You can add 1 Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand that has "Harpie" in its text. You can only use this effect of "Cyber Harpie Lady #2" once per turn. ●This card counts as 2 tributes for the normal summon/set of a monster. ●(Quick Effect) You can banish this card you control facedown: Special Summon 1 “Harpie” monster from your hand, deck or GY. ATK/1800 DEF/1300

I saw her IN REAL LIFE yesterday on an anime convention in Babelsberg ^~^ but only on stage, couldn't find her to take a picture afterwards

You've gotta do this for Pegasus. This is a fun topic.

Top 10 retrains and or support of anime/manga characters cards.

My favorite use of Orichalcos is pairing it with Papa Corn. 4 star 2700 beat stick is too funny (I know it’s not good)

I think it is good to use Harpie Lady Phoenix Formation at 1 copy when you already have 3 of the mention cards like Raigeki

When you suck so much that one of your best cards is literally a card every antagonist of the Waking the Dragon arc have

I'm surprised Harpie's Feather Storm didn't make the list. I guess it was only in a filler arc, but man it was OP.

I am always here for Mai respect!

On the subject of Mirror Wall, by Season 1's Duelist Kingdom rules, that means cards like Vampire Lord would be immune to Mirror Wall. Why? Because vampires don't have reflections. XD

Another great vid. Edit: You ever considered ASMR? 😂 (Besides the one time recently)

One of my favorite Decks in both Duel Links and the TCG.

I always found it interesting Harpy lady Phoenix formation was Mai’s trump card in season 4 because how much damage Egyptian got Phoenix did to Joey. The phoenix is not a good omen for him..

"Fortunately, shadow duels don't often happen in real life" ...Often?

Pegasus would be nice and maybe the other protagonists from the other series too💯💯💪🏼💪🏼still dope concept

liked before watching, mind you create a separate playlist for anime characters?

I like how you casually talk about the soul Sacrifice effect of the Orecalcos card as if it can happen for real. XD

Weird how the HL 1 got buffed in RUSH. Weird the sisters got nerfed though.

Please make a 10 most important Jaden/Yusei cards

Please do Marik, Pegasus, or Bakura next!!

I understand the reasoning for why The Seal of Orichalchos had the nerfs with destroying your Special Summoned monsters and locking you out of your Extra deck is because it recreates the conditions in the anime that caused Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight to be destroyed in the anime, but I think a better way to go about it would have been to have the Legendary Dragons and their associated Fusion monsters have the effect that if TSoO is in your Field Spell Zone, those cards in the Extea deck can't be summoned and thise monsters on the field are banished (the materials used for their summin is special summinec back to the field or returned to the hand). It nakes mire sense why the Legendary Dragons would have a problem with using TSoO than any other extra deck monster.

25:50 Feather storm should have gotten a spot on the list It's one of the strongest harpie cards and it appeared in the anime albeit with a different effect

In Duel Links I use Dracossack to go into Conductor with the tokens

There IS one card you can use that makes Phoenix Formation work, since it doesn't special summon from the Main or Extra Deck, and that card is Hysteric Party. It summons from the graveyard, and it allows you to summon as many as possible, so as long as you have at least 3 in the graveyard, or 2 if you summoned a monster from your hand, it will allow Phoenix Formation to pop off.

Neat Unlisted video

I'm guessing Pegasus or Bakurawill the next Top 10. Still think a Top 10 Rare Hunters Cards would be the way to go for getting Marik's cards on a list. Card of Safe Return won't be #1, but definitely a top 5.

Top 10 cards better in real life than in the anime/manga

Me and my cousins would actually have our own "real shadow real" game. We would play in a very hot room and actually inflict damage to ourself depending on how we jnterpretred the monster to attack and how much life points the attack would hurt. My cousins really hated when they got hit by a monster with some type of blade