Clefable · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Clefable card
Numbered 5 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, Clefable is a Rare Holo, a Stage 1 Colorless-type carrying 70 HP.
It evolves from Clefairy, so Clefable is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
Illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita. Arita painted the Base Set Charizard and much of the early holo run, and his work has a painterly weight that set the visual tone of the Wizards era.
Printed on the card, the Clefable Pokédex entry reads: "A timid Fairy Pokémon that is rarely seen. It will run and hide the moment it senses people."
About Clefable in the Pokémon world
The fully evolved Clefairy. Larger ears, more refined silhouette. Jungle holo Clefable is a quiet collector favorite with steady appreciation.
What is Clefable worth?
Clefable is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Base Set 2's value. The print variant decides most of it: a 1st Edition copy in high grade commands a large premium over a Shadowless or Unlimited one. In top-grade 1st Edition, Base Set 2 holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to the set's marquee chase; raw and Unlimited copies trade for a fraction of that. The live market price above shows the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Base Set 2 produced Unlimited prints. For Clefable, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
On a holo like Clefable, surface is the grade cap. The colorless foil shows hairlines under raking light, and the print reveals scratches that flat scans miss. Centering on the left and right borders is the second thing to check.
If you are collecting Clefable
For Clefable, variant comes before condition. A 1st Edition and an Unlimited Clefable are different markets for the same art, so settle the print before you negotiate. Demand a clear photo of the Clefable holo for any raw purchase.
