Digital Vault Wiki

Clefable card art from Jungle set (Base Set 2)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Clefable is a Colorless-type Pokémon card from the Jungle expansion, released as part of Base Set 2. Serving as a Stage 1 evolution of Clefairy, Clefable embodies the era’s approach to flexible, utility-focused moves, combining a copy-based attack with a defensive maneuver. The card’s rarity is Rare, and its artwork was illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita, a prominent artist who contributed to many early Pokémon TCG sets. As part of the Jungle set, Clefable occupies a notable position in early design space, offering players a choice between replicating an opponent’s attack and mitigating incoming damage through its second ability.

Card Information

Name: Clefable
Set: Jungle (Base Set 2) — card number 1/64
Rarity: Rare
Type: Colorless
HP: 70
Stage: Stage 1 (evolves from Clefairy)
Dex Number: 36
Illustrator: Mitsuhiro Arita
Weakness: Fighting ×2
Resistance: Psychic −30
Variants: Normal, Holo, Reverse; First Edition: False; W Promo: False
Legal formats: Standard: False; Expanded: False
Evolution from: Clefairy
Attacks:

Metronome (Cost: Colorless) — Choose 1 of the Defending Pokémon's attacks. Metronome copies that attack except for its Energy costs and anything else required in order to use that attack, such as discarding Energy cards. (No matter what type the Defending Pokémon is, Clefable's type is still Colorless.)
Minimize (Cost: Colorless, Colorless) — All damage done by attacks to Clefable during your opponent's next turn is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance).

Gameplay and Strategy

Clefable’s design reflects an era of experimental attack concepts within the Pokémon TCG. The Metronome attack provides a high-variability option, allowing Clefable to mimic one of the Defending Pokémon’s moves. This can enable Clefable to respond to a wide range of threats by leveraging the opponent’s own arsenal, potentially turning their strategy against them. However, Metronome copies the attack “as is” other than energy costs and any other required conditions, meaning the player must be mindful of the Defending Pokémon’s energy requirements and any conditional effects that accompany the copied move. Clefable’s Colorless typing and neutral 70 HP create a mid-line profile for Jungle-era decks that sought to capitalize on flexible responses rather than raw attack power. The Minimize attack offers a straightforward defensive tool. By reducing all incoming damage by 20 on the opponent’s next turn, Clefable can survive longer against aggressive adversaries, buying time to certain draw into more favorable lines or set up a late-game stall. This combination—defensive protection plus a flexible, copy-based offensive option—made Clefable a versatile choice in decks that leveraged multi-function Pokémon to adapt to various matchups. In practice, Clefable’s role might include: - Acting as a defensive pivot that diminishes damage while leveraging Metronome to answer through opponent’s attacks. - Disrupting an opponent’s rhythm by forcing adaptations based on the attacks Clefable ends up copying. - Serving as a transitional card in Jungle-era decks that emphasize resource management and tempo. As with many early-stage Pokémon cards, Clefable’s effectiveness depends heavily on the broader deck composition and the opponent’s strategy. Its relatively modest HP and vulnerability to Fighting types are offset, to some extent, by Minimize, which helps mitigate some early-game pressure and can prolong survivability into mid- to late-game turns when combined with supportive Trainer cards and other stalling elements.

Collector and Market Information

Clefable from Jungle (Base Set 2) is cataloged as a Rare card with a print run totaling 64 cards in the set. The base design includes normal, holo, and reverse variants, while First Edition printings were not part of this particular release. The card’s value in the collecting market is influenced by its condition, edition (unlimited vs. holofoil), and whether it remains near the top of a collection’s needs for Jungle-era cards.

Pricing (Cardmarket, EUR): Average around 24.88 EUR; low around 1.95 EUR; 1-day, 7-day, and 30-day trends show fluctuations in market interest and supply. Data for holo versions is more limited in this dataset, with holo-specific averages and trends listed as not available across some timeframes (trend values exist, but holo averages are not consistently tracked here).

Pricing (TCGPlayer, USD): For 1st edition holofoil prints, reported values include a low of 45.95 USD, a mid price of 66.37 USD, and a high of 159.44 USD, with a market price around 70.93 USD. For unlimited holofoil prints, the spectrum is broader: low around 11 USD, mid around 19 USD, high near 79.99 USD, and a market price around 29.96 USD. These figures illustrate the typical pricing dynamics for Jungle-era holo versions, where condition, edition, and seller transparency significantly influence value.

Prices for non-holo and holo variants can vary widely based on a card’s condition, whether it is near-mint, lightly played, or heavily worn. As with all vintage Pokémon cards, collectors should consider grading services and seller reputation when evaluating purchase risk. Market data is subject to change and should be consulted from current listings and completed sales for the most accurate assessment.

Art and Lore

The Clefable artwork for this Jungle release was illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita, a prolific artist whose early Pokémon cards helped define the visual identity of the TCG. Jungle’s aesthetic, building on the design language established in the Base Set series, emphasizes bright color palettes and approachable character portrayals that align with the era’s family-friendly presentation. The card presents Clefable as a cheerful, pink Pokémon, reflecting the designer’s signature approach to character rendering. The combination of a whimsical creature and the two distinct abilities—Metronome’s adaptability and Minimize’s defensive buffering—embodies the playful yet strategically nuanced spirit of late-1990s Pokémon battles.

Thematically, Clefable sits within the broader lineage of Clefairy evolutions that appear across multiple sets. Its inclusion in Jungle—Base Set 2—reflects the continued emphasis on evolving Pokémon in the early game, with Clefable representing a more mature stage linked to Clefairy’s earlier base-level presence. The card’s dual-attack design highlights the era’s experimentation with moves that rewarded tactical flexibility and defensive planning, rather than purely maximizing raw damage output.

Trivia

Clefable’s Metronome attack copies an opponent’s attack but excludes energy costs and any accompanying setup requirements, preserving the original attack’s power while negating its energy prerequisites within Clefable’s copy.
The Minimize attack provides a built-in defensive buffer, reducing the damage Clefable takes on the opponent’s next turn by 20 after applying weakness and resistance effects.
As a Jungle-era card, Clefable is part of a formative phase of the Pokémon TCG when card design increasingly encouraged strategic versatility and survivability in addition to straightforward offense.
The card’s rarity is Rare, with holo and reverse variants added to expand collectibility and display options for players and collectors alike.
Illustrator Mitsuhiro Arita’s contribution to this card places it among the notable early artworks that helped establish the visual language of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Clefable — Pokémon TCG

📘 Clefable — Pokémon TCG