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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “BUT WHY ?” is a common card of the Memes FR pack, number 4446 of the collection, and the 753rd best-known meme of its 3493 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “BUT WHY ?” meme mean?
The phrase sums up the comic sense of injustice felt when a long, hard effort ends in sudden failure beyond the player's control. People use it to mock, with disbelief, a situation where everything collapses right before success, in video games as much as in other contexts where the fall feels absurd given the distance covered.
Where does the “BUT WHY ?” meme come from?
The meme comes from a platforming or climbing video game clip, where a slow, risky climb toward a summit ends with the character falling or dying moments from the goal. This kind of scene, common in games that punish the smallest climbing mistake severely, triggers an exaggerated reaction of disbelief among viewers, summed up by the exclamation “BUT WHY?” The phrase later spread beyond the specific clip that popularized it, used to comment on any ending seen as unfair after a long effort.
How to use the “BUT WHY ?” meme
- Saying “BUT WHY?” at a fall or failure happening right before success.
- Sharing the clip to illustrate the comic frustration of a punishing climbing game.
- Using the phrase to mock, with disbelief, a situation where everything collapses for no clear reason.
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The “BUT WHY ?” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 4446 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Common |
| Collection | Memes FR pack |
| Fame | 50/100 · #753 of 3493 |
| Recycle value | 5 MemeCoins (15 in Shiny) |
| Suggested by | @grimshal |
How to get the “BUT WHY ?” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; BUT WHY ? comes out of the Memes FR pack as a common card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 5 MemeCoins.
The reprint of the “BUT WHY ?” card
The “BUT WHY ?” card was reprinted as Rare (No. 4,909). A reprint is the same meme printed again, with a number of its own and a higher rarity than its first printing, which was common. Its face reads “Reprinted card · Higher rarity”.
Every printing is dealt in the packs of the Memes FR pack, each at its own rarity: the higher it is, the rarer the card is to pull. Copies of the first printing already pulled stay as they are, and any printing counts toward completing a set.
MyMemeCards reprints a meme when it deserves more than the rarity of its first printing, such as a classic that became iconic after it came out: the reprint gives it a place among the most sought-after cards without taking anything from the players who already had it.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “BUT WHY ?”
More cards of the Memes FR pack
Frequently asked questions
What does “BUT WHY?” mean?
It is an exclamation of amused disbelief, used at a fall or failure happening right before success in a video game.
Where does the “BUT WHY?” meme come from?
It comes from a climbing video game clip where a character falls right before reaching the goal.
Does the “BUT WHY?” meme come from a specific game?
It comes from a climbing or platforming video game clip, showing a character falling right before reaching a summit.
Why do people use this phrase outside games?
Because it sums up the feeling of an unfair sudden failure after a long effort, which applies beyond video games too.
How do I get the BUT WHY ? meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “BUT WHY ?” is a common card of the Memes FR pack. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the BUT WHY ? card?
It is a Common card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: FRENCH MEMES that confuse my non-French friends — YouTube · checked on October 30, 2026.
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