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Celebi V card art from Sword & Shield swsh1-1

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Celebi V is a Grass-type Basic Pokémon V card released as part of the Sword & Shield era, within the swsh1 set. As a Pokémon V, it represents a sturdier, higher‑HP presence in the early midgame, capable of applying pressure with its two attacks while serving as a catalyst for bench‑management strategies. The card’s holo rarity and illustrated presentation reflect the era’s emphasis on vibrant illustrations and dynamic battle aesthetics, making it a notable inclusion for both players seeking consistent draw support and collectors pursuing holo variants from the Sword & Shield block. The card’s 180 HP places Celebi V among the more durable basic V Pokémon in its release window, enabling it to withstand a variety of early‑game exchanges when paired with complementary Grass-type supporters and draw engines.

In the broader context of the Pokémon TCG, Celebi V participates in the ongoing emphasis on Trainer-search mechanics and attack‑based power scaling. Its two attacks—Find a Friend and Line Force—highlight a common design philosophy where a single card can offer both deck search utility and scalable offensive power dependent on board state. This duality aligns Celebi V with other popular Grass-type V cards of its generation, which often balance setup acceleration with raw damage output to sustain momentum across turns.

Card Information

Name: Celebi V
Category: Pokémon
Set: Sword & Shield (swsh1)
Card Number: 1/202
Rarity: Holo Rare V
Dex Number: 251
HP: 180
Types: Grass
Stage: Basic
Suffix: V
Illustrator: PLANETA Igarashi
Weakness: Fire ×2
Retreat Cost: 1
Regulation Mark: D
Legal in: Expanded; not legal in Standard (as of the card’s latest documented rotation date in 2025)
Evolution Line: Basic Celebi V (no pre-evolution in its line; part of the V subset where Basic Pokémon gain the V suffix)
Attacks:

Find a Friend — Cost: Grass; Effect: Search your deck for up to 2 Pokémon, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
Line Force — Cost: Grass, Colorless; Effect: This attack does 20 more damage for each of your Benched Pokémon. Base damage: 50+.

Variantability: Holos are a standard feature for this card within the swsh1 release; the detailed holo variant markings are included in its official printings.

The card’s official image and data reflect a complete print in the Sword & Shield generation, with the card’s holo treatment highlighting Celebi’s ethereal presence on the battlefield. The two attacks provide a blend of bench‑building utility and scalable offense, enabling players to tailor their approach to opponent strategies and bench density across turns.

Gameplay and Strategy

Celebi V functions as a versatile mid‑game Pokémon that supports both setup speed and aggressive aggression. Its first attack, Find a Friend, is a valuable resource for accelerating your board state. By fetching up to two Pokémon from the deck, it enables players to rapidly assemble a competent bench or retrieve specific attackers and support Pokémon needed to respond to the opponent’s lineup. This search capability is particularly effective in conjunction with draw‑support trainers and other Pokémon with synergy for deck thinning and hand refreshment. In standard play, this attack can help you lock in crucial threats or threats’ answers ahead of opponent turns, keeping you ahead on the Prize trade while maintaining a robust hand. The second attack, Line Force, scales with the number of Benched Pokémon. Its base power starts at 50 and increases by 20 for each Benched Pokémon, creating a strong incentive to maximize the number of Pokémon in play. This mechanic rewards players who actively manage their bench size and use bench‑dredging tactics or bench‑expanders to maximize damage output in a given turn. It also emphasizes the importance of bench management in the broader Grass‑type archetypes of the era, where bench synergy can translate into multi‑turn threats that pressure the opponent’s active Pokémon and energy distribution. Key strategic considerations include: - Bench density management: Because Line Force scales with Benched Pokémon, players often seek to maximize bench size while protecting key threats from direct removal or fatigue effects. - Deck thinning and search synergy: Find a Friend enables rapid access to specific Pokémon to accelerate setup or to retrieve back‑up attackers, enabling flexible responses to evolving board states. - Type matchups and vulnerabilities: As a Grass-type Pokémon, Celebi V is weak to Fire; players should anticipate potential Fire‑type threats and consider pairing with supportive tools or Pokémon that can mitigate or threaten these matchups. - Prize pressure and late‑game relevance: With 180 HP and V‑card durability, Celebi V contributes meaningfully to mid‑late game stability, while its ability to draw and deploy supports sustaining advantage during longer matchups. Overall, Celebi V’s dual utility—deck search and scalable damage—encourages players to craft strategies around tempo, resource management, and careful benching discipline, making it a flexible anchor within Grass‑type decks of its generation.

Collector and Market Information

As a holo Rare V from the Sword & Shield swsh1 set, Celebi V holds a distinct place in both collection and gameplay markets. The official card number is 001/202, marking its early position in the set sequence. The holo treatment typically enhances collector appeal, particularly among players who prefer holo promos and high‑quality prints for display or grading consideration. The card’s rarity tier, coupled with its role as a V card, contributes to steady collector attention, especially in completed collections that aim to finish the Sword & Shield block’s V lineups.

Market pricing reflects a snapshot of recent buyer activity. Cardmarket shows an average price around 2.27 EUR with a low near 1 EUR and a positive trend around 2.21 EUR. The holo variant demonstrates higher recent activity, with holo‑specific averages (avg-holo) around 3.45 EUR and a market trend near 4.67 EUR, indicating elevated demand for holo prints within the set. TCGPlayer data, updated late October 2025, reports holo‑foil versions with a wide price range: low around 0.7 USD, mid around 1.59 USD, and high around 6.9 USD, with an observed market price near 1.35 USD for typical listings. These figures illustrate the card’s market volatility and the impact of condition, edition, and supply on price. Collectors should consult current market sources for precise pricing at the time of acquisition, as values fluctuate with rotation cycles, print runs, and market demand.

The card’s release history and printing details—such as the absence of a first edition print in this swsh1 release—also influence collectability. Non‑First Edition holo prints tend to be more widely available, which can affect both price and accessibility for collectors seeking a complete Sword & Shield era collection. Card graders and enthusiasts often consider condition, centering, edge wear, and any holofoil surface issues when evaluating value, particularly for holo rarities where surface shine and corner wear impact overall grade.

Art and Lore

The artwork for Celebi V features the mythical Grass‑type Pokémon in a verdant, tranquil setting that emphasizes its nature‑oriented theme. PLANETA Igarashi, the illustrator credited for this card, contributes a style characterized by clean lines, luminous color palettes, and an emphasis on natural scenery. The illustration aligns with the broader Sword & Shield era’s aesthetic of blending fantastical Pokémon with atmospheric backdrops, creating a sense of motion and life even in still card art. While the Pokémon world’s lore presents Celebi as the Time Travel Pokémon capable of traversing eras, the card’s story in gameplay centers on its role as a conductive ally for bench‑oriented strategies and quick deck search, rather than a direct narrative tie‑in to its lore. The card art thus echoes the dual nature of Celebi as both a mystical creature and a tactical asset within the TCG environment.

Trivia

Celebi V is part of the early Sword & Shield V lineup and carries the basic V‑card framework, with a focus on grass‑type synergy and bench interaction.
The card is printed as a holo rare within swsh1, contributing to its desirability for both play and collection.
Regulation Mark D indicates its rotation status within the Expanded format, with standard play governed by the set’s rotation cycle.
The card’s two attacks offer both a scouting utility (Find a Friend) and a scalable damage option (Line Force), highlighting the design philosophy of combining search mechanics with bench‑dependent power.
The official data shows a non‑First Edition print for this swsh1 release, a common trait among many core set holo rares from this period.

CTA & NETWORK LINKS

Celebi V

📘 Celebi V — Pokémon TCG