Driven by viral hits on social media, few elements of the sports card hobby have grown more in recent years than box breaks.
Whether hobbyists are starting a new collection or hunting for the most coveted and expensive cards, box breaks have become one of the most popular and addictive events for collectors.
Not all box breaks are alike, however, and navigating the space can be overwhelming for new collectors or first-time participants.
Below you’ll find answers to common questions collectors might have before their first box break.
What is a box break?
Also known as a group break, box breaks are events where the contents of a sealed box or case are split between a group of paying customers.
Customers will purchase slots within the break based on a number of different formats before the box or case is opened live on a streaming platform. Participants then receive cards that match the slot that was purchased once the break is completed.
What types of box breaks are there?
Box breaks are executed using a variety of different formats that are determined and sold ahead of time, ranging from the purchase of exact teams or players to a random drawing before the break takes place.
Here’s a description of some of the most popular formats:
Pick Your Team: Abbreviated as a PYT break, these breaks allow customers to pay for the rights to every card for a specific team. Breakers determine prices for each team ahead of time, with the most expensive slots awarded to teams that have the best lineup of cards available.
The most expensive teams typically feature the best rookies from the featured class, though coveted chase cards such as autographs and memorabilia cards can also have a major impact.
Winners of cards featuring players from multiple teams can be determined by a randomizer or coin flip.
Random: Random breaks follow a similar format to PYT breaks, but the order is completely random, with each customer paying the same price per spot.
Once the break is “filled” with each spot accounted for, the breaker will use a randomizer website such as random.org to determine the slot for every customer. A common practice for this process is to roll two dice and then randomize the list of customers that number of times — for example, if the roll adds up to 7, the list is randomized that many times.
Personal: A personal break features a single customer who has purchased the entire box or case.
Hit: This style of break is sometimes used for high-end products with a low number of cards such as Panini National Treasures or Topps Definitive. Rather than have 30 or more customers purchase slots with many coming away with nothing, breakers might instead use this format with one card assigned to each customer.
If a hit draft features a product with eight cards, the breaker might offer eight total slots with customers assigned cards ranging from the first card revealed to the last.
How is pricing determined?
Pricing for group breaks is determined by a number of factors, including how much the breaker spent acquiring the product. While some breakers can purchase products directly from the manufacturer through an official account, some products might be acquired on the secondary market at a markup.
Pricing for individual spots is also heavily impacted by the quality of the product, the caliber of the rookie class and other chases. High-end products will be more expensive than entry-level releases, while teams with the top rookies will be more expensive than teams with few cards to chase.
Collectors should shop around before buying into a break as prices will vary by breaker. Consider using a resource such as BreakComp to determine which breakers feature the best prices for the product you’re chasing.
Customers should also research the types of cards in each product to ensure the players and teams they follow are represented.
Where can you buy into a box break?
Many of the most established breakers will have official websites for customers to purchase break spots directly. It’s also possible to purchase spots on secondary marketplaces such as eBay or Facebook, though collectors should proceed with caution on these marketplaces.
It’s important for collectors to do their own research to determine if the breaker they are considering purchasing from is legitimate and trustworthy.
What platforms do box breaks happen on?
In addition to popular video platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, there are a number of platforms specifically built for live ecommerce, including Whatnot, Fanatics Live and eBay Live. These platforms support break purchases and the live streaming element in one place.
What are the pros and cons of box breaks?
A major benefit to participating in box breaks is that purchasing a single spot for your favorite team or player is cheaper than purchasing an entire box. For many collectors, it’s better to purchase spots for their favorite team in a number of breaks than an entire box that will contain a number of cards they aren’t interested in.
Breaks can also be a good way to start a collection — in addition to being cheaper than buying entire boxes, breaks allow collectors to hyper-focus on only their favorite teams and players.
For some collectors, breaks are also places to find a like-minded community, with the best breakers often providing value through education and entertainment.
Though there are plenty of benefits to participating in group breaks, the negatives are also extensive.
While group breaks might be cheaper than purchasing entire boxes, it will likely be even cheaper to simply purchase the exact cards you want as singles — opening boxes, whether through a break or at home, is almost never a good value proposition.
It’s also possible to purchase a spot in a break and come away with nothing, as the customer is only entitled to cards matching their purchased spot. Some breakers might throw in free cards or prizes so customers come away with something, but that isn’t guaranteed.
A critical element for younger collectors, group breaks are also considered by many to be a form of gambling that has yet to be regulated.
Group breaks, like collecting, can become an expensive and addictive hobby and those hoping to participate should proceed with caution.
Is every card from the break shipped?
While some breakers will ship every card pulled during a break, some will ship only hits unless otherwise requested. Collectors should specifically request base cards be included if they are desired.
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct.