Clobbopus Artwork Showcases Power in Scarlet & Violet TCG

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Clobbopus card art by Misa Tsutsui from Vivid Voltage

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Reading Power in the Art: Clobbopus from Vivid Voltage

In the Pokémon TCG, art is more than pretty pixels—it's a language that speaks to a card's power before you even flip the damage counters. Clobbopus, a curious Fighting-type from the Vivid Voltage era, embodies this idea with kinetic resonance. The illustration, brought to life by Misa Tsutsui, captures a tense moment of action, where a creature built for expression and curiosity translates its energy into a punchy spectacle. Even as Scarlet & Violet ushers in new stylistic trends, this piece reminds fans that power can be read in motion, color contrast, and the stance of a fighter ready to strike. ⚡🔥

Tsutsui’s line work emphasizes the tentacles with a poised confidence, while the framing places Clobbopus in a dynamic stance that hints at the dual nature of its approach: quick beats and heavier, hammering blows. The flavor text—“It's very curious, but its means of investigating things is to try to punch them with its tentacles. The search for food is what brings it onto land.”—gives the image a narrative heartbeat. The artwork suggests a creature that is not just dangerous, but purposeful, turning exploration into an on-card threat. When you see the card in your 60-card deck, the image tells you this little fighter isn’t here for idle fiddling—it’s here to test, probe, and collide with intent. 🎴🎨

Card snapshot: where power meets practice

  • Name: Clobbopus (swsh4-100)
  • Rarity: Common
  • HP: 80
  • Type: Fighting
  • Stage: Basic
  • Attacks: Beat — 20 (cost: Fighting); Hammer In — 40 (cost: Fighting, Colorless)
  • Weakness: Psychic ×2
  • Retreat: 2
  • Illustrator: Misa Tsutsui
  • Set: Vivid Voltage (swsh4)
  • Flavor Text: "It's very curious, but its means of investigating things is to try to punch them with its tentacles. The search for food is what brings it onto land."
  • Regulation: Expanded (Reg. Mark D)

With 80 HP, Clobbopus sits in a sweet spot for early-game aggression. The Beat attack delivers a quick 20 damage for a single Fighting energy, a suitable opening pressure to poke down a helpless early‑game threat or set up for Hammer In on the next turn. Hammer In requires one Fighting and one Colorless energy and delivers a stronger 40 damage, inviting players to build a mini-rotation that relies on consistent energy acceleration. The artwork reinforces this balance—an eager, determined stance paired with a motion-filled cadence that mirrors the tempo of these two moves. The card’s rhythm is a microcosm of how strategy and artistry converge in this set. ⚔️🪄

In practical terms, Clobbopus invites a straight-forward tempo: start with Beat to test the waters, then push forward with Hammer In to threaten a knockout when you’ve amassed the right energy mix. Its vulnerability to Psychic types is a common thread in early Sword & Shield blocks, making it a target for counterplay—yet its own attack profile keeps it relevant in compact Fighting-focused decks. A thoughtful player can leverage its retreat cost of 2 to manage your active Pokémon while you threaten with two-pronged offense. The illustration’s energy lines and the punch-ready pose echo this balance between nimble aggression and sturdy, direct hits. 🪙🎯

Art as a guide to power: design cues that signal strength

The Clobbopus artwork communicates strength through motion and silhouette. The tentacles, spread in readiness, imply a methodical approach to combat, while the eyes carry a sly confidence that mirrors the card’s intent: you’re prompting a powerful, calculated strike rather than a reckless swing. The color choices—bold foreground figures against a dynamic background—help your eye track the pace of combat, reinforcing the sense that a well-timed Hammer In can swing a battle in an instant. This is art that educates the player on the feel of the moves—what it would be like to land a 40-damage hammer as the opponent steps into range. The tactile sense of the punch is not just in the numbers; it’s in the illustration’s energy lines and the weight of Clobbopus’s posture. 💎🎴

Collectors will notice the varied packaging of Clobbopus cards within Vivid Voltage, particularly the contrast between edge‑grabby common prints and harder-to-find foils or reverses. While the base rarity sits at Common, the market shows a spectrum of prices across printings and finishes. CardMarket data positions the standard version at an average around 0.04 EUR with low entries near 0.02 EUR, while reverse holo variants push higher, with midpoints around 0.23 EUR and climbs up to about 2 EUR in some listings. On TCGPlayer, normal copies hover around the few-cent range, with an eye-watering high around 25.06 USD for especially sought-after listings or unusual market conditions. The takeaway for collectors is that even common cards can command dynamic, location-based value—especially when set printings or promos align with a player’s collection goals. 📈💬

Deck-building notes: a practical approach to Clobbopus

  • Energy discipline: Pair Beat with a steady supply of basic Fighting energy, then use Hammer In as your closer when you have the colorless energy available.
  • Metagame awareness: Because Clobbopus has a Psychic weakness, it benefits from a balanced deck that can weather Psychic-heavy matchups with alternate attackers or energy acceleration.
  • Bench management: With a Retreat of 2, consider supporting Clobbopus with stage-1 or basic Pokémon that can help you stall on the bench while you build the two-energy setup for Hammer In.
  • Playstyle fit: Clobbopus rewards a tempo-based plan—apply early pressure, force trades, and then swing for the knockout when you haveHammer In charged and ready.

Whether you approach it as a casual art piece or a tactical staple in a compact Fighting deck, Clobbopus offers a satisfying blend of narrative flavor and mechanical clarity. The artist’s touch underlines the creature’s temperament, turning a simple punch into a story of curiosity driving power. And as Scarlet & Violet era players explore new horizons, revisiting a card like Clobbopus reminds us how timeless the relationship between illustration, text, and play can be. ⚡🔥

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