The Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket's latest expansion, Space Time Smackdown, released on January 30, has stirred a significant reaction among fans due to the artwork on one particular card. The card causing the uproar is the Weavile ex 2 Star full art card, which depicts a group of Weavile lurking in the treetops, poised to attack an unsuspecting Swinub. This graphic portrayal has left many players shocked and heartbroken.

A Reddit post titled "NO! SWINUB LOOK UP!! LOOK UP!!" featuring the contentious artwork has garnered nearly 10,000 upvotes. Fans have expressed their dismay in the comments, with one saying, "Always got to be one card per set that shows Pokémon in the process of straight up killing each other," while another pleaded, "Leave the lil guy alone." The community's reaction underscores the emotional connection players feel towards these creatures.

NO ! SWINUB LOOK UP !! LOOK UP !!
byu/RegularTemporary2707 inPTCGP

The ecology of Pokémon, as one fan pointed out, is "always so crazy to imagine," highlighting the wild nature of these creatures despite their fantastical abilities. Amidst the controversy, some fans are finding solace in the Mamoswine full art card, which shows the evolved form of Swinub looking up while shielding a group of Swinub, suggesting a protective, happy ending. 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 a hopeful interpretation of the scene.

Gone, but not forgotten.
byu/AshesMemeFolder inPTCGP

Space Time Smackdown is themed around Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, featuring Pokémon such as Weavile, Mamoswine, Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina. With a total of 207 cards, it's smaller than the previous set, Genetic Apex, which had 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, has not yet responded to the controversy surrounding the trading update that was released the day before the expansion. Their focus has remained on promoting Space Time Smackdown, with no comments on social media or within the game itself addressing the fan backlash. Despite this, players did receive a "Trade Feature Celebration Gift" with 500 Trade Tokens and 120 Trade Hourglasses, enough to trade a single ex Pokémon, but the developer has otherwise remained silent on the issue.