Before Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Wisdom of Sea & Sky expansion launched, fan artist lanjiujiu pointed out similarities between their 2021 Ho-Oh artwork and the circulating image of the set’s Ho-Oh ex. The Pokémon Company later said its production team had mistakenly given the commissioned illustrator incorrect materials as official documents. It announced replacement art for both Ho-Oh ex and Lugia ex; the illustrator was not presented as independently copying the fan artist.
What prompted the Ho-Oh art allegation?
On July 29, 2025, before Wisdom of Sea & Sky was released, lanjiujiu drew attention to similarities between their 2021 Ho-Oh artwork and the Ho-Oh ex immersive art circulating for the upcoming expansion. In contemporaneous coverage by PokéBeach, the artist said: “I don’t want to steer any narrative or public opinion. This matter is still inconclusive. In fact, I’m just puzzled.”
That was an initial concern about resemblance, not a definitive finding about how the image was made or who was responsible. The artist’s own comment emphasized that the matter was inconclusive at that point.
What explanation did The Pokémon Company give?
In a July 29 notice, Pokémon TCG Pocket said an internal review found that its card production team had supplied the commissioned illustrator with incorrect material represented as official documentation. The notice stated: “After internal review, we discovered that the card production team provided incorrect materials as official documents to the illustrator commissioned to create these cards.” The company’s explanation was that the artist had received faulty reference material from the production process; it did not announce a finding that illustrator Sie Nanahara independently copied lanjiujiu’s work. Read the Pokémon TCG Pocket notice.
#1 Best Overall
Why were both Ho-Oh ex and Lugia ex art replaced?
The company said it would temporarily replace the immersive artwork for both Ho-Oh ex and Lugia ex while new art was prepared. It also said it would investigate whether similar issues affected other artwork in the game. The notice therefore described a production-material problem that led to two card-art replacements and a broader review, rather than a remedy limited to the image that had drawn public attention.
What did the follow-up say about the illustrator?
PokéBeach reported on July 31, 2025, that a follow-up Japanese statement assigned responsibility to production teams at The Pokémon Company and Creatures for providing the incorrect material, and asked fans not to slander or criticize Sie Nanahara. PokéBeach noted that this follow-up had not been shared in English, so its account should be understood as the outlet’s reporting on the Japanese statement, not as an independently reviewed English official statement. PokéBeach’s report on the follow-up.
Rank #2
- Single Pokemon Card
- Ethan's Ho-Oh ex - 039/182
When did the replacement artwork appear in the game?
GameSpot reported that the replacement artwork for both cards was live in Pokémon TCG Pocket on August 8, 2025, and that players who had already pulled them received the updated assets. The replacement designs were credited to Sie Nanahara. This establishes the reported update on that date; it does not confirm the game’s current artwork beyond that report. GameSpot’s August 8 update.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- A Ready-to-Play 60-card deck, including 2 Pokémon-ex and 8 foil basic energy cards
- Includes great extras like: 1 metallic coin, 2-player playmate and rule sheet, online code card, and a deck box
- A strategy guide for the deck is included to help you become an Ace trainer
Rank #4
- Includes all cards pictured
- May include reverse foil version
Rank #3
- Silver Tempest Single Card
- Ultra rare
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