Pop Mart lines: which one to follow without burning out (or broke)

Beginners ask "which figure should I buy?" Slightly wrong question. The useful one is: which line should I follow?

Blind boxes aren't a one-and-done hobby. You pick a line and it keeps dropping set after set for years. Pick badly and you either quit halfway or end up with a shelf that looks like a car boot sale.

How big is each line?

Those counts update straight from the catalogue, so they're always current. The lines at the top release sets like they're paid per drop. Completing them is a fantasy genre.

The big three

Labubu. By Kasing Lung. The little sharp-toothed monster with a grin that's 40% cute, 60% mischief. The biggest line in the catalogue and the most varied: anything from 2-box to 15-box sets.

It's also the most famous character in the hobby right now, which brings two side effects: the most fakes, and the wildest resale prices. Going in? Read the fakes post before your first purchase, not after. Start with Hair Salon.

Dimoo. A dreamy kid, usually hanging out with an animal or a tiny scene, soft colours. Huge on collabs, and each set tends to tell a little story instead of just striking a pose. The downside, if it is one: there are way too many to finish. Start with DIMOO × PIXAR.

Molly. By Kenny Wong. Big eyes, pouty mouth, one of the oldest characters in the lineup. The weirdest line in the best way: 3-box sets, chunky Mega figures, scented candles, badges. Also the line with the most pull-rate exceptions in the catalogue, in both directions. Start with MOLLY × Zootopia.

Lines with big personalities

Skullpanda. By XIONGMIAO. Does not try to be cute. Moody palette, elaborate costumes, a distinct concept per set. For people who want display pieces, not toys.

Fair warning: this is the easiest line to torch a budget on, because every figure set drags a parade of accessories behind it. Want to complete it? Stick to the main figure sets and ghost the fridge magnets. Start with The Paradox.

Hirono. By Lang. A boy, and nearly every set is a mood: loneliness, healing, running away, coming home. The least cute line of the bunch and the most written about. People buy Hirono because they see themselves in it, not because it's pretty. Start with The Other One.

Crybaby. By Molly Yllom. The character cries, but the line is warm, not heavy. Tears are allowed here. Crybaby is the collab king, so if you already love some franchise, odds are Crybaby has teamed up with it. Start with Cry Me an Ocean.

Twinkle Twinkle. By Da Xin. Pastels and everyday themes: baking, ice cream, a good night's sleep. Loads of accessories you can actually use instead of just staring at.

The money bit: it has some of the friendliest secret odds in the catalogue. Create Your Taste sits at 1/18, where a 9-box set would normally be 1/108.

Hacipupu, Peach Riot, Zsiga, Pucky. The mid-size crew. Hacipupu is soft and sleepy. Peach Riot leans punk, loud colours. Zsiga is round and collab-happy. Pucky goes full fairytale, including the 16-figure Roly-Poly Kitty, one of the biggest sets in the catalogue.

Nyota. The smallest line in the table. Sounds thin, until you want the feeling of actually finishing something. It's one of the rare lines where completing it is a realistic goal.

The thirty-second version

• Easy to start, easy to gift, generous odds: Twinkle Twinkle
• You want to actually finish a line: Nyota
• Moody, less sugary: Hirono
• Collabs with stuff you already love: Crybaby or Dimoo
• Display pieces: Skullpanda
• The hottest one, fakes and all: Labubu

Whichever you pick: buy one single box first. How to spend a small first budget is over here.