Collectible Minifig identification

brclark82

Does anyone know if there is a way to identify series 5 collectible minifigs while still sealed, I'm pretty sure you were able to with series 1 and 2 but wasn't sure if they changed it. Thanks

Matthew

There's a dot decoder available, although it's debatable how reliable this is. There is also 'the feel method', which is slightly more reliable, but harder, and more embarrassing :o).

EDIT: Dot decoder - http://www.itsalltrue.net/reviews/advimages/2011/lego/LEGOminifig5.jpg

brclark82

Cool, thanks!

trypticon

I don't understand why so many people think the Feel method is only slightly reliable, and difficult. Take a look at the pictures of the figures on the box that all the bags come in, and you can see what you should be feeling for. Just sort the pieces out with your fingers, and find what you're looking for. You'll have 100% accuracy every time. It doesn't even take long. Once you get used to it, you can correctly identify the figures within five seconds, again, 100% of the time.

Legogeek

^ Unless you have a poor sense of touch/feel...... I've tried and failed numerous times. Just because it is easy for one person, doesn't mean it is easy for everyone.

yys4u

^It's easy for me :) but then again I did have a lot of practice, and usually now all I do is feel for the one I want doubles of and if I don't feel the piece I'm looking for I put the fig back and pick up the next without identifying it, but just knowing its not the one I'm after. If that makes sense :/

JessyDooDah

Does anyone know which of the Minifigs are rare?
I've heard that Lego do not make the same amount for all figs, making some more sought-after than others.
Anyone know which these are Series 1-5?
Thanks!

yys4u

@JessyDooDah they don't make the same amount, they vary from 2, 3, 4, or 5 of each minifig per 60 fig box. However the ones they had only 2 of they quickly changed in later production runs and usually included 4 per box. So some are slightly rarer than others but not by much, what makes them rare is some figures are more sought after for their "army building" potential so people will grab all the ones they find making it harder for others to get them. Just off Hand I know some of the rare ones were

Series 1: Zombie
Series 2: Spartan
Series 3: Elf
Series 4: Not really sure since they made so many of these none seemed to be rare to me
Series 5: Similar to series 4, but the Gladiator is pretty sought after.

trypticon

The rare figure from Series 4 was the Crazy Scientist at the start of the run. There were only two per box of sixty. They changed the ratio later on in production, and upped the count to four per sixty, I believe, as you mentioned already. I agree that this series, along with series 3, also, and series 2, on a smaller scale, just doesn't seem to want to go away. Because of that, I'm in about no hurry to get series 5 completed yet. And as for series 5, I think that the distribution ratio per box was pretty reasonable when it was reported here before. I didn't see any that sprang to my attenion as "got to find them", because there were at least three of every figure in each box. That could change though.

BeardedCastleGuy

Now I've gotten my 'Set' for Series 5 I'm now concentrating on Gladiators and Dwarf's. Luckily both of those have largish, distinctive headgear, so at this point if it's flat, back into the box it goes! Have the plume or wings coming off the helm still makes it fairly easy to figure out those two 'figs, even if I think I'm getting more of one or the other since I am actively collecting both it's all good. Cleopatra and the guy in a lizard suit are pretty easy as well with the shapes of the pieces included, most of them are not horrible to figure out this series, especially if you take your time.
I'm up to a dozen Gladiators and a half dozen Dwarf's.. and I'll *STILL* grab every one of either I come across :^)

yys4u

@BeardedCastleGuy haha I'm the same way, I discard any flat packages as I too look for Gladiators and Dwarfs, however since this series is so plentiful and I've run low on cash after hoarding figures from past series, I find it hard to go look for them this series. Especially because the only place I ever find them is TRU and I refuse to pay the extra 50 cents per pack.

brclark82

I was asking because I just bought a box of 60 off ebay for $98. I was planning on keeping a set (maybe 2, 1 open and 1 sealed) and then giving a set to a friend for Christmas but wanted to be able to give it to him sealed if possible plus keeping a sealed set for myself. I'll have plenty of time to use the feel method though :)

Jezzatheshed

Its easy by the feel method..I just cant find the gangster for trying! You would think the hat and violin case would be easy..

Kelphazard

@jezzatheshed Look for the pistol in the gangsters package, that's how I find him.

Going for the largest item can be a good way to find the fig you want, but I also look for the smallest item in a pack.

LostInTranslation

I remember standing for about 10 mins in John Lewis trying to feel out a gangster for my nephew. I kept asking him if he was sure that was the one he wanted, but yes he was (i thought he'd want the lizard suit guy). But the look on his face when he opened it and found I'd got it right was worth it though.
I worked it out by feeling out the hat.

war44lock

I use the feel method and have for all five series and Im getting real good at it now, I remember with series one I spent 25 minutes picking out 16 figures thinking I had the whole set. On opening them I found I had only ten and a bunch of double ups. With series five my partner and I spent seven minutes feeling packs and got home with the complete set!

I do think this series was a good one for the feel method but I agree with @Matthew that it's kinda embarrassing standing there feeling pack after pack!

Model_Gal

For me its pretty easy to tell what each fig is. In fact what I normally do is help any other people or kids that are looking for a particular fig.