Why does Gambit not carry heavier objects to throw as explosives?

Question

Gambit's (X-Men) signature move is throwing game cards which he charges with kinetic energy, making them explode with the firepower of a hand grenade. However, the power of these explosions is often not strong enough to destroy his enemies, e.g. the giant mutant-hunting sentinel robots.

The amount of time that takes Gambit to charge an object increases with its mass. However, I think he can still find objects that are small enough to carry and charge fast, and yet heavier than cards and can unleash more powerful explosions.

Why does Gambit not carry heavier objects as additional ammunition (to the game cards) in case he needs to destroy heavier targets? (Like some infantry soldiers have an M203 grenade launcher under the barrel of their assault rifles.)

I add examples of heavier objects that Gambit can carry in addition to his cards:

• Metal objects such as shrapnel, small metal balls or nails
• Metal shurikens ("Ninja stars")
• Kunai darts
• Throwing darts
• Kitchen knives or throwing knives
• Rocks

Added on 2024-04-07: I think this video may be relevant

Added on 2024-04-12: Updates following X-Men '97 S1E5. I recommend reading these only AFTER watching the episode.

Spoiler alert!

In this X-Men '97 S1E5, Gambit fights sentinels. He manages to beat several of them using his Bo staff and playing cards, which seem to explode stronger than in previous episodes (e.g. S1E1) and can destroy sentinels' heads.

Mega-Spoiler alert!

When Gambit confronts the giant super-sentinel he charges the evil robot through direct contact and makes it explode and thus destroy itself. Bearing in mind that the super-sentinel is orders of magnitude larger than a normal sentinel and even so than playing cards, the blast of the super-sentinel should be strong enough to flatten an entire city and may even be comparable to a small atomic bomb.

Answer 1

In his younger days he chanced upon a pack of playing cards when he was trapped by a villain and the rest, as they say, was history.

_{^{Gambit #6 (1999)}}

Simply put, playing cards are small enough to take a charge, light enough to carry in significant quantity and can be thrown or flipped over a distance.

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Note that this is a (slight) retcon. In his earliest comicbook incarnations he's seen to be carrying metal 'throwing spikes' (as well as charging up other objects that he finds in his possession).

_{^{Uncanny X-Men #266}}

He can also charge things he touches such as walls and floors.

_{^{Gambit #3 (1993)}}

_{^{Gambit #3 (1993)}}

Answer 2

According to Gambit's Wikipedia article:

The only real limitation to this ability is the time required to charge the object: the larger it is the more time it takes to charge.

His usual fighting style involves throwing off quick attacks, and dodging incoming ones. Heavier objects would take longer to charge, making his attacks slower, and the weight of the object would also slow him down. In the field, he's likely to be able to find larger and heavier objects that he can charge and throw without carrying them himself.

And, honestly, some of it may come down to personal style. He likes throwing cards.