Cleffa
Quick take
- Illustration Rare, one of the most requested by name in the set
- Art-driven appeal rather than competitive power
- Affordable entry point into Obsidian Flames IRs
- Required card for the sv3 master set
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Obsidian Flames
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 202/197 · $36.50 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyThe quiet fan-favorite of Obsidian Flames
Cleffa #202 is the kind of card people remember from a set even when the big ex hits grab the headlines. The art does most of the work. A single small Cleffa, a calm sheet of water, and a shooting star cutting across a starry sky. It wins on charm rather than power, and that is exactly why it sells.
“Illustration Rare, one of the most requested by name in the set”
For master set builders this is a required card. As an Illustration Rare it slots above the regular holos but below the Special Illustration Rares and Hyper Rares, so it stays reachable on a reasonable budget while still counting as a genuine hit. It also rides the long-running collector love for the Clefairy line.
The number printed as 202/197 tells you it sits in a secret-rare slot beyond the main set count, which is part of why it reads as special to newer collectors flipping through a binder.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Cleffa sits in the mid-to-upper band of Obsidian Flames singles. It trades well clear of the bulk and common holos, and it ranks among the more desirable Illustration Rares in the set. It stays below the set's Special Illustration Rares and the Charizard chase pieces.
It has held value steadily since release rather than spiking and crashing. The demand is art-driven and broad, which tends to produce a slow, stable floor instead of hype swings.
Treat it as a steady collector card, not a flip. The appeal is the art and the character, both of which age well. Modern print runs are large, so do not expect vintage-style scarcity. The consistent demand makes it a safe long-term hold for a binder.
Clean copies grade well, and a top-grade slab carries a clear premium over raw because the appeal here is display. The full-art surface shows whitening and edge wear easily, so high grades are worth more than the usual modern bump.
In Scarlet & Violet sets, any Illustration Rare lands roughly once every 12 packs. That puts the tier above Double Rares, which come about 1 in 5, but well below Special Illustration Rares at around 1 in 90 and Hyper Rares somewhere between 1 in 300 and 1 in 700. Those numbers are for hitting any card of the rarity. Pulling this specific Cleffa runs much longer, because each set spreads many different cards across the Illustration Rare slot, so expect to open a lot of packs before this exact one shows up. For most collectors it is faster and cheaper to buy the single than to chase it from packs.
Among Obsidian Flames Illustration Rares, Cleffa is one of the most requested by name. It trades on art appeal rather than competitive use.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
HYOGONOSUKE is a regular Pokemon TCG illustrator known for clean, storybook-style scenes that put a single Pokemon in a quiet moment. The work tends toward soft color and clear composition rather than busy detail.
Cleffa sits alone in a calm nighttime scene, a still sheet of water below and a deep starry sky above. A shooting star streaks across the top of the frame. The reflection and the open sky give the card a peaceful, dreamy feel that reads instantly even at thumbnail size.
This is a full-art Illustration Rare. The holo treatment runs across the whole card face, so the foil pattern plays off the night sky and the star trail. The low-clutter composition is part of why the foil looks so good in hand.
Most chase art tries to overwhelm you. This one does the opposite. The simplicity and the starry-night mood are the whole point, and that restraint is why so many collectors single it out as their favorite pull from the set.
BackgroundAbout Cleffa
Cleffa is the baby pre-evolution of Clefairy, introduced in Generation 2. The Clefairy line has been a fan staple since the early games and carries a long history of charming card art. Cleffa is a Fairy type in the games, and the TCG renders this card as a Psychic type.
- ›Baby Pokemon with broad, cross-generation recognition
- ›Part of the beloved Clefairy evolutionary line
- ›Cute, low-key design that appeals beyond hardcore players
- ›Star and night-sky motif fits the character's celestial lore
- ›A recurring baby Pokemon across multiple TCG sets and eras
- ›Member of the long-popular Clefairy line in the core games
Own it wellCollector guide
Full-art IRs from this era show edge whitening and front scratches quickly because the holo covers the whole card. The dark night-sky background makes any whitening at the corners and edges very visible, so inspect edges carefully on raw copies.
Worth grading if you have a clean copy and want a display piece. Centering and edge whitening are the usual grade killers here. If the card already shows edge wear, keep it as a raw binder card rather than sending it in. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve and toploader, or use a side-load holder, right away. Keep it out of direct light to protect the foil, and store it upright to avoid surface pressure on the holo. See the storage guide →
Buy the single rather than chasing packs. When buying raw, ask for sharp photos of all four corners and the edges against the dark background. For a higher-value graded copy, buy the slab from a reputable grader rather than trusting a raw card described as gem mint. See the singles buying guide →
Modern IRs are faked far less often than vintage chase cards. For graded purchases, stick to recognized grading companies and check the cert. For raw copies, confirm the holo pattern runs full-card and the texture matches a genuine Illustration Rare.
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Strongly positive. Collectors repeatedly call it one of the cutest cards in Obsidian Flames and a personal favorite, and the starry-night art gets singled out as a highlight of the set.
The card turns up often in display and binder-page posts for its calm, dreamy look. Buyer feedback across marketplaces leans heavily on the aesthetic, with people naming the starry vibe and the reflection as the reason they wanted it.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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