Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Butterfree V’s Art Sings Power in the Darkness Ablaze Era
When you first glimpse Butterfree V in a battle-ready pose, the artistry does more than please the eye—it communicates control, agility, and a subtle menace that mirrors the Pokémon’s in-game capabilities. Saki Hayashiro’s illustration for this Ultra Rare holo from Darkness Ablaze captures a moment of focus just as Butterfree gathers its pollen-charged gusts. The background hums with a verdant glow, and the wing patterns ripple like a field of wind-carved glass. In the Pokémon TCG, art is a game of signals—readable at a glance and layered with meaning under the glare of a holo foil. This Butterfree V isn’t just a pretty card; it’s a narrative of disruption and acceleration that translates directly into strategic play on the table. ⚡🔥
Butterfree V is a Grass-type Basic Pokémon boasting an impressive 190 HP, a stat line that invites longevity and resilience. It hails from the Darkness Ablaze set (swsh3), a collection known for reimagining familiar faces with new powers, and the holo rendering of this card elevates the impression of authority. Saki Hayashiro’s signature touch—soft, luminous edges, precise line work, and a careful interplay of pale greens and ocean blues—conveys a creature that dissolves into a whirlwind of control. The card’s rarity and holo treatment signal a collectible that’s both desirable for display and reliable in play, especially for players who prize tempo and disruption in equal measure. 💎🎴
Visual language: power through movement and color
The art uses movement to imply capability. Butterfree’s wings are not merely decorative; they’re a kinetic extension of its will, a visual shorthand for the two-pronged strategy baked into its moves. The first attack, Dizzying Poison, rests on a poised, almost surgical elegance—the way the wings sweep forward parallels the in-game effect: your opponent’s Active Pokémon becomes Confused and Poisoned. That subtle visual cue—wings fanning out, a swirl of pollen-like particles—prepares you for the second round of pressure. The second attack, Blasting Wind, channels that energy into a concentrated gust dealing 130 damage after a carefully staged buildup. The color palette reinforces the narrative: green tendrils imply both vitality and toxic potential, while the holo shimmer suggests that Butterfree’s influence is not just physical but psychological on the field. This is art that quietly says, “I’m in control.” ⚡💚
Gameplay implications: turning art into advantage
From a gameplay perspective, Butterfree V is designed for tempo and disruption. Its Dizzying Poison attack costs a single Grass energy and imposes two debilitating conditions on the opponent’s Active Pokémon: Confusion and Poison. Confusion introduces volatility into exchanges, giving you openings to pivot into more powerful plays or to retreat and re-establish your board state. The follow-up Blasting Wind attack requires two Grass energies plus one Colorless, a heavy hitter that can finish troublesome targets or punish a misread over the course of a single turn swing. With 130 damage and a single-energy retreat cost, Butterfree V can pressure the opponent while keeping its own position flexible—an attribute that works especially well in Grass-based decks that rely on spread and sustain. And while its Fire-type weakness x2 is a reminder to watch for counterplays, the card’s ability to stall and then surge makes it a valuable inclusion in broader strategies that emphasize stage-agnostic pressure and status effects. 🪄🕊️
- Stage and HP: Basic, 190 HP—sturdy enough to weather hits while you set up.
- Attacks and costs: Dizzying Poison (Grass) for disruption; Blasting Wind (Grass, Grass, Colorless) for strong finishing power.
- Weakness: Fire ×2—recognize the need for protection against fire-based threats.
- Rarity and holo: Ultra Rare holo, from Darkness Ablaze (swsh3).
- Illustrator: Saki Hayashiro — a name fans recognize for conveying motion and mood with precision.
- Format legality: Expanded legal; standard not currently legal in older printings but influenced by ongoing reprints and rotations.
Collector’s pulse: value, rarity, and the holo glow
From a collector’s viewpoint, Butterfree V’s holo variant stands out not just for its beauty but for its place in a popular set. The card’s market presence is modestly buoyant, with CardMarket showing an average around €1.46 for non-holo copies and holo values trending upward. The TCGPlayer ecosystem places holo Butterfree V in the $3–$5 range on typical listings, with occasional spikes into the high single digits for truly clean or near-mint copies. The holo treatment, paired with the striking art, helps explain why this card remains in demand among players who prize both playability and display appeal. For players who like to build around disruption and tempo, Butterfree V is a flavorful option that blends strategy with a collectible charm that fans celebrate in shows, openings, and trades. 🔎💎
As the Pokémon Trading Card Game continues to evolve, artworks like this one provide a bridge between nostalgia and current play, reminding us how a single illustration can shape a deck’s narrative. The collaboration of Grass energy, poison, and wind-energy aesthetics—captured by Hayashiro—offers a microcosm of what makes the TCG feel timeless: strategy that feels inevitable once you see the art and hear the cues of a well-placed attack combination. The value of holo Butterfree V isn’t just monetary; it’s the resonance of a moment when color, line, and battlefield psychology align to deliver more than just a win—it delivers a story. 🎨⚡
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