Celebi V in Fast Tempo Decks: Performance Spotlight

In Pokemon TCG ·

Celebi V card art from Chilling Reign (SwSh6)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Celebi V and the Fast Tempo Grass Archetype

In the fast-paced world of the Pokémon TCG, tempo is king. Players chase that split-second edge where you set up, strike hard, and keep pressure building from turn to turn. Celebi V, a basic Grass-type from the Chilling Reign set (SWSh6), slots into that role with surprising versatility. Boasting 190 HP, this Ultra Rare card stands up to early trades and serves as a nimble engine for energy acceleration and board control. PLANETA Tsuji’s holo artwork captures Celebi’s ethereal, forest-spirit presence with a glow that elevates the moment you swing into action. It’s not just a pretty face on the table—Celebi V is a practical cornerstone for tempo-driven builds in Expanded play, where its mechanics shine brightest.

Two attacks anchor Celebi V’s utility. Leaflet Dance is the marquee tempo engine: for just one Grass energy, you attach any number of Grass Energy cards from your hand to any of your Pokémon in any arrangement. This flexibility is rare and incredibly powerful in fast tempo decks. You can fuel Celebi V’s own threats, push energy onto a clutch bench attacker, or preload multiple threats for a sudden sequence of knockouts. The second attack, Slash Back, costs Grass and a Colorless, and packs 60 damage while forcing Celebi V to swap with a benched Pokémon. That swap is more than a retreat—it’s a strategic repositioning that keeps the tempo rolling and the opponent guessing about which threat hits next.

Together, Leaflet Dance and Slash Back create a dynamic rhythm: accelerate energy quickly, threaten multiple angles, then pivot as needed to maintain board pressure. In a typical fast tempo build, you’re looking to chain energy from hand to battlefield, rather than waiting for bulky development turns. Celebi V excels here as both an energy accelerant and a frontline attacker. Its 190 HP and Grass typing help it weather early hits and resist common early-game exchanges, while its retreat cost of 1 provides the flexibility to slide into a fresher attacker when the moment calls for it.

How to leverage Leaflet Dance in a tempo-first strategy

  • Distribute energy where it matters most: Use Leaflet Dance to load the active Celebi V or a bench attacker with enough Grass energy to threaten a knockout on the following turn. Because you can attach energy to any Pokémon, you’re not locked into powering just Celebi V—your board becomes a moving target for your opponent’s responses.
  • Keep the pressure with opportunistic swaps: Slash Back’s bench swap lets you pivot into a fresh attacker the moment you land damage. This keeps momentum on your side, especially against decks that protect their primary attacker.
  • Plan for the Fire weakness: With Fire-type threats x2 weakness, anticipate matchups where the opponent can punish your board early. Build in resilience with quick trades, or alongside supporting Grass Pokémon that pair well with Celebi V’s energy engine.
  • Tempo with a lean draw engine: In fast tempo lists, you’ll want draw and search that balance speed and consistency. Leaflet Dance buys you time to find those lines, while your other attackers continue pressuring the opponent without sacrificing tempo.

Matchup feel and deck-building tips for fast tempo play

When you’re aiming to flood the board with momentum, Celebi V acts as a catalyst rather than a one-off attacker. In the Expanded environment, where plenty of rapid, low-HP threats remain viable, Celebi V’s energy acceleration can power multiple threats in a single turn—often enabling a knockout before the opponent stabilizes. The key is to frame each turn as a mini-crusade: finish a target with the help of a second attacker, then swap into the next threat and reapply pressure.

Smart tempo lists layer in additional Grass-type representatives and supportive draw/consistency cards. Since Leaflet Dance can attach to any Pokémon, you can preload a bench that becomes dangerous the moment you need to strike, even if the active target is taken down. Pairing Celebi V with efficient draw power and the right range of Grass energy accelerants keeps you ahead of the curve, translating into steady board presence and frequent knockouts on turns your opponent expects to stabilize.

Set, rarity, and collectability notes

From the Chilling Reign set, Celebi V showcases the vivid artistry of PLANETA Tsuji, with holo details that catch light and spark joy at the table. As an Ultra Rare V card, it remains a sought-after staple for Grass-focused tempo decks, especially in Expanded formats where its ability to rapidly accelerate energy unlocks multiple attack options. Market data paints a varied picture, illustrating how condition, print run, and holo status influence value. Cardmarket lists an average around €1.58 with a low near €0.65 and a positive trend, while TCGPlayer holo copies show a broad spectrum—from affordable common examples to higher-end collectibles (low around $6, mid around $8–9, and some rare holo copies climbing toward triple digits depending on condition and market demand). The card’s regulation mark is E, and it’s not Standard-legal but remains Expanded-legal, ensuring a long-tail presence for players who want to experiment with tempo lines in older formats.

Illustrating a balance of power and practicality, Celebi V stands as a shining example of how a single card can shift the tempo of a game. Its vitality—190 HP, a versatile Leaflet Dance, and a tactical bench swap—gives fast tempo decks a reliable engine for early aggression and midgame pivoting. For collectors, the holo variant and the card’s enduring role in Expanded play add a dynamic dimension to the set’s legacy, captured by the luminous art of PLANETA Tsuji. ⚡🔥💎

As you experiment with fast tempo builds, keep Celebi V in mind as a cornerstone that can accelerate your strategy without overcommitting to a single path. The interplay between energy acceleration, board control, and efficient draw makes Celebi V not just another card in the deck, but a driver of tempo that helps you dictate the pace of the match.

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Celebi V

Set: Chilling Reign | Card ID: swsh6-160

Card Overview

  • Category: Pokemon
  • HP: 190
  • Type: Grass
  • Stage: Basic
  • Dex ID: 251
  • Rarity: Ultra Rare
  • Regulation Mark: E
  • Retreat Cost: 1
  • Legal (Standard): No
  • Legal (Expanded): Yes

Description

Attacks

NameCostDamage
Leaflet Dance Grass
Slash Back Grass, Colorless 60

Pricing (Cardmarket)

  • Average: €1.58
  • Low: €0.65
  • Trend: €1.37
  • 7-Day Avg: €1.52
  • 30-Day Avg: €1.57

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