Pokémon TCG Pocket: Fans Mixed on Heartbreaking Time Space Showdown Art

The Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket's latest expansion, Space Time Smackdown, released on January 30, has stirred significant emotional reactions among fans due to the artwork on one specific card. The Weavile ex card, particularly its 2 Star full art version, has become the center of controversy. The illustration depicts a group of Weavile lurking in the treetops, poised with their claws out, seemingly preparing to attack an unsuspecting Swinub below.

The reaction on platforms like Reddit has been intense, with one post titled "No Swinub, look up! Look up!" garnering nearly 10,000 upvotes. Fans expressed their dismay and shock at the depicted scene. "Always got to be one card per set that shows Pokémon in the process of straight up killing each other," one user commented, reflecting a common sentiment. Another fan pleaded, "Leave the lil guy alone," highlighting the community's protective feelings towards the depicted Pokémon.

NO ! SWINUB LOOK UP !! LOOK UP !!

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The discussion extended to the broader theme of Pokémon's ecology, with a fan noting, "The ecology of Pokémon is always so crazy to imagine. Like these are still animals, some smarter than others. Just they have the ability to fire laser beams." This comment underscores the unique and often violent nature of the Pokémon world.

Amidst the controversy, some fans found solace in the artwork of another card from the set, the Mamoswine full art card. It portrays the evolved form of Swinub looking upwards while seemingly protecting a group of Swinub, suggesting a hopeful resolution to the earlier depicted threat. "Hey, Mamoswine protected his baby. Don't worry. He most definitely saw those Weaviles," one fan optimistically stated, while another added, "The Mamoswine alt card already looks above. He saw them. He saw..."

Gone, but not forgotten.

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Space Time Smackdown, themed around Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, introduces cards featuring Weavile, Mamoswine, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, and more. With a total of 207 cards, the set is smaller compared to the previous expansion, Genetic Apex, which contained 286 cards. However, Space Time Smackdown boasts a higher percentage of rare cards, with 52 alternate art, Star, and Crown rarity cards, compared to Genetic Apex's 60.

Creatures Inc., the developer behind the game, has not yet responded to the controversy surrounding the Weavile ex card's artwork. The focus has remained on promoting Space Time Smackdown across their social media and within the game itself. They also did not reply to IGN's request for comment on the issue. Amidst the silence, a "Trade Feature Celebration Gift" was distributed, including 500 Trade Tokens and 120 Trade Hourglasses, enough to trade a single ex Pokémon, though no further acknowledgment of fan concerns has been made.