Pokemon TCG Pocket Replaces Ho-Oh & Lugia EX Art After Plagiarism Claims

6 minutes Kevin Leye

Pokemon TCG Pocket has replaced the Ho-Oh EX and Lugia EX artwork from the Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion after plagiarism concerns sparked a community-wide debate. The team acknowledged mistakes in their reference process, temporarily pushed gray “coming soon” placeholders that quickly became a meme, and then shipped new illustrations roughly a week later. Here’s how it unfolded, what it means for digital TCG art pipelines, and why the community’s response actually helped steer things toward a better outcome.

The short version

  • Two flagship EX cards debuted with art that fans flagged as too close to an existing piece from a fan artist.
  • The developers admitted internal errors in the reference material flow, pulled the art, and used temporary placeholders.
  • They also urged players not to target the illustrator, taking responsibility at the production level.
  • Fresh art is now in the game, restoring the set’s visual cohesion and closing the loop on a noisy week.

What happened, in timeline form

  1. Launch week: Wisdom of Sea and Sky dropped, and players immediately began sharing side-by-side comparisons of Ho-Oh EX and fan-made work that looked uncomfortably similar. The chatter wasn’t just “this looks familiar”—it had visual receipts spreading fast across social feeds.

  2. A swift response: The Pokemon TCG Pocket team acknowledged that the problem stemmed from incorrect reference materials being distributed during production. That’s a big deal: it implies the illustrator didn’t intentionally lift someone’s work, but the pipeline handed them bad inputs. The studio pulled the contentious art and slotted in gray-card placeholders stamped with a promise of new illustrations.

  3. Meme storm: Those placeholders, barebones and blunt, accidentally turned into a running joke. Players remixed them, collected screenshots, and spun the moment into lighthearted humor that took some of the sting out of the controversy.

  4. Setting boundaries: Shortly after, the team specifically asked fans not to dogpile the original illustrator. They reiterated that the responsibility lies with the companies’ production processes, not with an artist working from provided materials.

  5. Resolution: About a week later, new art went live. No drama, no delay—just a clean swap that restored the set’s vibe and allowed conversations to move onto gameplay, pulls, and collection goals.

Why this matters for digital TCGs

  • Art is identity: In a TCG, art isn’t just decoration—it’s how players identify, collect, and emotionally connect with cards. When the authenticity of that art is questioned, the whole product feels shakier.
  • Pipelines are complicated: Big franchises juggle dozens of artists, multiple vendors, and massive sets. Reference packets, brand bibles, and concept sheets are meant to streamline consistency. But if any of those materials are incorrect, the risk isn’t just “off-model.” It’s legal and ethical trouble.
  • Speed versus scrutiny: Live-service cadence means teams are always shipping. The faster you move, the more you need front-loaded safeguards: reverse image checks, documented sourcing, and clear approvals.

What the new art signifies We can’t dissect brush strokes without showing images, but the message is clear: the studio prioritized originality and clarity, and they were willing to pivot quickly to protect the integrity of the set. That’s the kind of decision that rebuilds trust. Even if you never noticed the controversy, you benefit—because it reduces the chance of tainted pieces slipping through in the future.

Community reaction: the good, the bad, and the oddly wholesome

  • The good: Players surfaced a problem quickly and pushed for accountability without demanding scorched earth. The placeholder memes gave the situation some levity and a shared in-joke for collectors who were there “when it happened.”
  • The line not to cross: Credit to the team for reminding everyone that the illustrator shouldn’t be the target of harassment. Most fans got the memo and focused on the pipeline, not the person.
  • The silver lining: The episode sparked solid conversations about reference quality, artist protections, and the reality of production in big IPs.

How studios can prevent the next flare-up

  • Audit reference packs: Track exactly what gets handed to each artist, including file provenance, so red flags can be traced and addressed early.
  • Automate checks: Run reverse image searches and similarity scans on key art before approvals. It’s not foolproof, but it catches a lot.
  • Clarify contracts: Spell out what counts as acceptable reference versus over-referencing, especially when community art is popular and highly circulated.
  • Stage-gate approvals: Add an extra sign-off pass for marquee cards like cover legendaries and set mascots.
  • Communicate fast and well: When things go wrong, say what happened, own it, and set expectations. The quick placeholder swap and follow-up here were textbook damage control.

Tips for players and collectors

  • Keep receipts, not pitchforks: If you spot something off, post clear comparisons and context, then let the process play out.
  • Screenshot history: If you encountered the gray placeholder cards, they’re a quirky footnote in the game’s history. Saving those moments is part of the fun of live-service collecting.
  • Focus on the fix: The fastest way to better products is constructive feedback and a willingness to accept a good-faith correction when it arrives.

What this means for Pokemon TCG Pocket’s future Handled poorly, this could have left a permanent blemish. Instead, the team responded, took responsibility, and followed through with fresh art in a tight timeframe. That’s the kind of operational resilience players notice. If the studio reinforces these lessons—particularly around reference integrity and final checks—the game’s art slate should only get stronger from here.

Final takeaways

  • The issue: Two EX cards raised plagiarism concerns.
  • The response: Acknowledge, remove, placeholder, replace—fast and transparent.
  • The lesson: Fix the pipeline, protect artists, and center originality.
  • The vibe: Community humor plus clear communication turned a controversy into a course correction.

The set is back to looking like it should, the conversation has cooled, and we’ve all earned a bit more confidence in the process. Onward to the next pull—may your packs shine and your legendaries sparkle with art that’s unmistakably their own.