Crawdaunt

Crawdaunt (13/97) was released in 2003 as part of the EX Dragon expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. This set marked a transition period for the game, as it was the second installment produced by The Pokémon Company International following the transfer of publishing rights from Wizards of the Coast. The card features artwork by Ken Sugimori, the primary character designer for the franchise, who rendered the Rogue Pokémon with a focus on its aggressive, crustacean-like aesthetic, consistent with the stylized look established during the early years of the EX Series.

The EX Dragon set is noted for its introduction of Dragon-type Pokémon, which brought mechanical variety to the card game's type chart. As a Rare-tier card, this Crawdaunt was designed to bridge the gap between common utility and high-tier competitive play, utilizing its Water-type attributes to fit into the elemental strategies prevalent in the competitive landscape of the mid-2000s. While it remains a modest piece in the broader history of the game, it serves as a representative example of the art style and structural design philosophy employed during this foundational era of the EX block.