For XGG, Invasion of Ikoria lets you search your library and/or graveyard for a non-Human creature card with a mana value of X or less and put it onto the battlefield
Standalone artwork is meant to capture a single moment, and this cards moment flawlessly encapsulates the sense of danger, fear, menace, and even awe that comes with encountering one of the most dangerous Pokmon aroundand as a shiny, no less
Users kept coming back because it actually worked
Kids love it, parents love it (I see you, fellow 90s babies who grew up with Ash Ketchum), and there is SO much fun stuff you can do with it
Meanwhile Malamar has zero synergy with anything, is more telegraphed, and you can just put the same amount of effort into 200 + hand snipe instead
Stop by your local Dollar Tree and see if your location has Pokemon Trading cards for just $1