Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Unveiling Alph Ruins: Clefable's Psychic Echoes
In the shadowed halls of Johto’s Ruins of Alph, where ancient inscriptions glow with a pale, moonlit aura, a timid fairy whispers through time. Clefable, depicted in the Extradimensional Crisis expansion, embodies that hush of forgotten lore while stepping forward as a capable battler on the modern tabletop. The card invites players to weave the mystique of ruins into practical strategy, turning a quiet fairy into a beacon of clever plays and patient tempo. ⚡
“A timid fairy Pokémon that is rarely seen, it will run and hide the moment it senses people.”
Design-wise, this Clefable lands as a Stage 1 evolution from Clefairy, sporting 100 HP and a Psychic typing that resonates with the lunar motifs tied to Alph’s runic stones. The artwork by Miki Kudo captures a soft luminescence—glow-in-the-dark hues and delicate linework—echoing the way Alph’s glyphs shimmer when the night air carries secrets. And while the holo variant gleams with a celestial sheen, even the standard print carries an aura of elderly wisdom, as if the card itself could recite a stanza from an ancient rune. The set, Extradimensional Crisis, is cataloged as A3a, with 69 official cards in its 103-card lineup, reminding collectors that this chapter sits at a crossroads of rarity and reverence. Miki Kudo deserves credit for the gentle but evocative presentation that makes Clefable feel both nostalgic and newly relevant.
Card snapshot: what you should know at a glance
- Category: Pokémon
- Name: Clefable
- Set: Extradimensional Crisis (A3a)
- Rarity: Two Diamond
- Stage / Evolves From: Stage 1 / Clefairy
- Type: Psychic
- HP: 100
- Attack: Moon Kick — Cost: Psychic, Colorless; Damage: 60
- Weakness: Metal +20
- Retreat Cost: 1
- Illustrator: Miki Kudo
- Availability: holo, normal, reverse variants exist
Moon Kick embodies Clefable’s moonlit motif: a straightforward 60-damage swing that requires a Psychic energy and any Colorless to power. In tempo terms, it’s a clean early-to-mid-game option that can chain into additional damage as you set up. Because Clefable’s weakness is Metal, you’ll want to pair it with support that can patch up the clock—energy acceleration, disruptive effects, and bench management that lets Clefable roam safely while you build toward a second hit. The retreat cost of 1 keeps Clefable nimble enough to shuffle through the board when you see the right matchup coming up. And with a Stage 1 evolution, you’re leveraging a reliable line with Clefairy’s own soft entrance, but Clefable carries the lore-laden aura that Alph’s ruins symbolize in the card’s storytelling palette. 🔎
Lore, atmosphere, and the artful tie to ruins
The Ruins of Alph are steeped in mystery, a place where carved inscriptions tell stories of Unown and the long-forgotten ages of Pokémon history. Clefable’s gentle presence in this set aligns with the idea that ancient sites hold both danger and beauty—a theme the Pokémon TCG often translates into battlefield dynamics. The Extradimensional Crisis era experiments with ideas of parallel histories and hidden power, and Clefable’s Moon Kick becomes a metaphorical moonbeam flashing through time to strike when the moment is right. The card’s illustration by Miki Kudo captures that quiet magic, a fairy who might appear at the edge of a rune-covered wall and vanish the moment you blink, leaving behind a spark of inspiration for players who love lore as much as damage output. 🎴
Gameplay strategy for fans of ancient storytelling
Clefable’s 100 HP represents a sturdy mid-game presence in the right lists. Its Moon Kick provides consistent pressure, especially when you can stack Psychic energy to support more advanced turns. Because the card is from Extradimensional Crisis, you’ll likely see synergy with other psychic or portal-like effects that evoke the sense of crossing thresholds—between dimensions, between past and present, between ritual and execution. A practical approach is to pair Clefable with a lean bench, using Clefairy’s evolution to establish a stable frontline while waiting for a promising moment to boost Moon Kick’s damage with an extra attacker or trainer support that accelerates Psychic energy. Be mindful of Metal-type weaknesses; a single well-timed attack from a metal-weak foe can swing tempo, so protection or strategic retreating can be as important as raw damage. This is a creature that rewards patience and timing as much as raw power. ⚡🔥
Collectors will appreciate Clefable’s Two Diamond rarity combined with holo, reverse, and normal variants within a single set, a sign of its dual appeal to both players and dream-chasers. The imagery evokes Alph’s quiet power—an almost ceremonial presence that resonates with those who love the fusion of history and fantasy. For players, the card invites thoughtful sequencing: establish field presence, time Moon Kick for a critical moment, and respect the risk of metal-type attackers that can pierce your defenses if you overextend. 🪄
Further reading: lore and design notes
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/sigarda-host-of-herons-and-un-set-coin-flips/
- https://blog.zero-static.xyz/blog/post/cross-format-design-constraints-explained-for-mirri-the-cursed/
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/practical-guide-to-managing-product-versioning/
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/murasa-in-silver-borders-tracking-price-volatility-across-sets/
- https://crypto-acolytes.xyz/blog/post/how-lag-affects-mmo-pvp-balance-in-real-time/
More from our network
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/sigarda-host-of-herons-and-un-set-coin-flips/
- https://blog.zero-static.xyz/blog/post/cross-format-design-constraints-explained-for-mirri-the-cursed/
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/practical-guide-to-managing-product-versioning/
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/murasa-in-silver-borders-tracking-price-volatility-across-sets/
- https://crypto-acolytes.xyz/blog/post/how-lag-affects-mmo-pvp-balance-in-real-time/