As the highly anticipated expansion for Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket approaches, the mobile game finds itself embroiled in controversy. The newly revealed Ho-Oh EX card has been accused of plagiarism, sparking heated discussions among fans and artists alike.

Released in 2024 as a free-to-play digital adaptation of the classic tabletop game, Pokemon TCG Pocket was developed by Creature Inc. and DeNA under The Pokemon Company's publishing. The game faithfully recreates the experience of collecting cards, building decks, and battling opponents while offering daily rewards to dedicated players.

The upcoming Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion, set to launch on July 29-30 depending on time zones, recently had its complete card list leaked. Among the 220+ datamined cards were eight previously announced additions including fan-favorites like Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and special full-art versions of Pichu and Togepi.

The controversy erupted when artist lanjiujiu shared side-by-side comparisons on Twitter between the official Ho-Oh EX card and their commissioned artwork. The similarities in the Legendary Pokemon's pose and the distinctive crescent-moon shape created by its wings were striking enough to raise eyebrows throughout the community. This situation echoes recent plagiarism accusations in other mobile games like Marvel Snap, highlighting ongoing concerns about original artwork in digital card games.

Ho-Oh, the beloved Fire/Flying Legendary from Generation 2, was poised to make a significant impact in Pokemon TCG Pocket, potentially breaking a nine-month gameplay trend. While some fans defended the card's artist as being responsible for some of the TCG's best work, others demanded proper credit and compensation for the original creator or a complete redesign of the controversial artwork.

The Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion's main attractions are the powerful Lugia EX and Ho-Oh EX cards, which reportedly could create an overpowered gameplay loop when used together. Lugia's energy-discarding attacks combined with Ho-Oh's energy-restoring ability might give players an unfair advantage, adding another layer of complexity to the current controversy.