Shaking vs Trash Can Diving: Which Disruption Card Is Better?

Pawsome Elements has two special cards that force opponents to draw: Shaking and Trash Can Diving. Both disrupt opponents, but they work very differently. Understanding when each card shines will help you make better decisions during matches.

How Each Card Works

Shaking

When you play Shaking, all opponents draw 1 card from the pile. In a 4-player match, that means three players each get one additional card. The effect is broad but shallow — everyone is affected equally.

Trash Can Diving

When you play Trash Can Diving, the next player draws up to 2 cards from the discard pile. Only one opponent is affected, but the impact is more concentrated. The cards come from the discard pile, not the main deck.

Key Differences

Feature	Shaking	Trash Can Diving
Targets	All opponents	Next player only
Cards drawn	1 per opponent	Up to 2
Source	Main pile	Discard pile
Total cards added	3 (in 4-player)	Up to 2

When Shaking Is Better

Multiple Opponents Are Close to Winning

When two or more opponents have small hands, Shaking punishes all of them at once. Trash Can Diving only hits one player, leaving others unaffected.

You Want Broad Disruption

Shaking maintains your advantage against the entire table. If you are in first place by card count, widening the gap against everyone is more valuable than targeting a single player.

Late Game with Multiple Threats

In the closing rounds of a ranked match, you are competing against three players for a top-3 finish. Shaking disrupts all competitors equally.

When Trash Can Diving Is Better

One Specific Opponent Is About to Win

If a single player is down to 1-2 cards and others are not a threat, Trash Can Diving delivers a heavier targeted blow — forcing them to pick up 2 cards instead of just 1.

The Discard Pile Has Bad Cards

Since Trash Can Diving draws from the discard pile, you can sometimes predict what cards the next player will receive. If the pile is full of Element-mismatched cards, they will be stuck with cards they cannot play.

You Want to Remove Cards from the Discard

Drawing from the discard pile reduces the number of cards available there. This can matter in longer games where the pile recycles.

Using Both Together

The best strategy is not choosing one over the other — it is recognizing which card fits each specific situation. Keep both options in mind as you play:

• Shaking when the table is competitive and multiple opponents need to be slowed
• Trash Can Diving when you need targeted disruption against a specific player

Quick Summary

• Shaking = broad, hitting all opponents for 1 card each
• Trash Can Diving = targeted, hitting one opponent for up to 2 cards
• Both exist in all three Elements (Nature, Filth, Arcane)
• Choose based on whether you need wide or focused disruption

For more on special cards, visit the Cards page.