Clefable

The Clefable card (17/64) was released in 1999 as part of the Jungle expansion, the first major set to follow the original Base Set of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Designed to expand the roster of Pokémon beyond the original 151 starters and icons, the Jungle set introduced a diverse array of creatures that were previously featured in the Generation I video games. The art for this particular card was created by Ken Sugimori, whose distinctive, clean style was instrumental in defining the visual language of the franchise during its global launch.

Sugimori’s illustration depicts Clefable in a whimsical, celestial pose, reflecting the Pokémon’s lore as a rare, fairy-like creature often associated with the moon. In the context of the 1999 meta, the card was notable for its Metronome ability, which allowed players to mimic the attacks of their opponents, adding a layer of strategic unpredictability to gameplay. The card was well-received by early collectors for its holo-rare variation and its status as an iconic representative of the Fairy aesthetic long before the formal introduction of the Fairy typing in later generations of the game.