The Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket's latest expansion, Space Time Smackdown, released on January 30, has stirred significant controversy among fans due to the artwork on one particular card. The card in question is the Weavile ex, specifically its 2 Star full art version, which depicts a group of Weavile lurking in treetops, poised to attack an unsuspecting Swinub. This graphic portrayal has led to widespread shock and dismay within the community.
A Reddit post showcasing the artwork, titled "NO! SWINUB LOOK UP!! LOOK UP!!", has garnered nearly 10,000 upvotes. Community reactions have been strong, with comments like, "Always got to be one card per set that shows Pokémon in the process of straight up killing each other," and pleas such as "Leave the lil guy alone." The scene has sparked discussions about the often brutal nature of Pokémon ecology, with one fan remarking, "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."
NO ! SWINUB LOOK UP !! LOOK UP !!
byu/RegularTemporary2707 inPTCGP
In a bid to find solace, some fans are interpreting the full art card for Mamoswine, Swinub's final evolution, as a hopeful conclusion. The artwork shows Mamoswine looking upwards while safeguarding a group of Swinub, leading fans to speculate on a protective scenario. Comments like, "Hey, Mamoswine protected his baby. Don't worry. He most definitely saw those Weaviles," and "The Mamoswine alt card already looks above. He saw them. He saw..." reflect the community's desire for a positive outcome.
Gone, but not forgotten.
byu/AshesMemeFolder inPTCGP
Space Time Smackdown is themed around Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, introducing cards featuring Weavile, Mamoswine, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, and more. With a total of 207 cards, this set is smaller than the previous Genetic Apex set, which included 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.
Despite the uproar over the Weavile ex card, Creatures Inc. has yet to comment on the controversy. The company's social media and the game itself have primarily focused on promoting Space Time Smackdown. Additionally, Creatures Inc. did not respond to IGN's request for comment regarding the issue.
To celebrate the new trade feature, players received a "Trade Feature Celebration Gift" containing 500 Trade Tokens and 120 Trade Hourglasses, enough to trade one ex Pokémon. However, the developer has remained silent on the fan backlash surrounding the controversial card.
