Every method for getting a full set of LEGO Marvel Series 2 minifigures, rated

There are many possible methods for collecting a full set of LEGO 71039 Marvel Series 2 minifigures, but are any of them actually guaranteed? We’ve rated them all to find out…

The LEGO Group has finally made the long-promised switch from foil bags to cardboard boxes for 71039 Marvel Series 2, eliminating the storied tradition of standing in a supermarket aisle and fondling their packaging to figure out what’s inside. This collection of Disney+ characters is now truly a blind purchase – or is it? As boxes are already hitting shelves ahead of their September 1 street date, the community is coming up with ways to get around gambling on individual minifigures.

What you want to know is whether any of those methods are actually feasible, and just how likely you are to end up with a complete set of all 12 characters in 71039 Marvel Series 2 if you put any of them into practice. We’ve done the hard work by compiling a list of every method discussed so far, and rated each one to see just how practical it is.

Buying randomly

If you’re feeling lucky, you could just fall right into the LEGO Group’s hands by plucking random minifigures from store shelves (or ordering directly from LEGO.com). This is a lottery in the purest sense of the word, though, so don’t expect great results. Unless you really are lucky, in which case, fill your boots.

Verdict: Pot luck. Not advisable… unless you have unlimited funds.

Buying two six-packs

The LEGO Group sells 71039 Marvel Series 2 minifigures six at a time in certain regions, which on paper sounds like a great way to get a complete dozen: six goes into 12 twice (quick maths), so buy two boxes and you’re golden. Except even the characters within those six-packs are apparently random, so there are absolutely zero guarantees you won’t just end up with 12 Wolverines.

Verdict: Risky business, but slightly better than buying random boxes one at a time. Maybe? Probably not.

Box distribution

In days gone by, anyone lucky enough to come across a complete, untouched box of Collectible Minifigures could usually find specific characters by knowing their distribution across a fresh case. Early reports suggest distribution of 71039 Marvel Series 2 is totally randomised, though, so you can chalk this one up as a lost cause.

Verdict: Another classic identification method crumbles at the hands of cardboard boxes.

Weighing boxes

If you’re prepared to carry a small set of scales around with you – regardless of the connotations that kind of behaviour carries out in the real world – you could always try weighing individual 71039 Marvel Series 2 boxes. You’re going to need seriously sensitive scales to distinguish between certain characters (we’re talking milligrams of difference), but otherwise this method appears to be proving surprisingly effective among early reviewers.

Check out individual weights (from Jay's Brick Blog) in the table below. Note that She-Hulk and Beast are basically too close to call, so you may have to try your luck with that one.

Verdict: Has the potential to be a direct replacement for fondling foil bags, but extra effort and persistence is required. Not 100% foolproof.

Codes on boxes

Those of us lucky enough to find 71039 Marvel Series 2 on shelves early have clocked the codes printed on the bottom of their individual boxes, which for a brief moment seemed to be the key to determining their contents. While vague patterns can seemingly be established within single boxes – to the extent that you might at least be able to tell you’re getting different characters if you pick completely different codes – it’s apparently not concrete enough to identify specific minifigures.

Verdict: Potentially good if you don’t care who you get, but not especially reliable for seeking out certain characters.

Shaking boxes

Are you actually a bat wearing human clothing? If so, your sonic hearing might be just enough to determine what’s inside an individual 71039 Marvel Series 2 box by giving it a good shake. For everyone else, this one isn’t really feasible.

Verdict: Best results for actual superheroes only.

Ripping open boxes

Reports are already emerging of people doing this in the UK and US. We cannot condone it.

Verdict: Best not to try it.

Buying a full box

Each case of 71039 Marvel Series 2 minifigures holds 36 individual boxes, and between those are three sets of 12 characters. If you purchase a full case, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get them all (save for random distribution anomalies, which do crop up from time to time). You will then end up with more minifigures than you might have wanted, and it’s an expensive outlay up front, but you can recoup your costs by selling off the extra sets.

You could also find two friends to split the upfront costs, but that’s not necessarily an option for everyone. You’ll also need to find a third-party seller to buy a full case in the first place, as LEGO.com, LEGO Stores and most bricks-and-mortar retailers won’t sell them by the boxload.

Verdict: An almost guaranteed way to get all 12, but requires a hefty initial spend (and time and effort selling off extras).

Buying individual characters on the aftermarket

If you can’t afford a full box up front, or don’t have anyone to split it with, this is probably your best bet. BrickLink, Facebook groups and eBay will all offer credible avenues for buying individual 71039 Marvel Series 2 characters, but you can expect to pay slightly over the odds for the luxury of picking and choosing your minifigures.

Verdict: Easy and guaranteed, but potentially expensive.

While the community has come up with plenty of ways to potentially pick out specific characters from boxes in stores, most of them are going to be a struggle. The easiest way to get your hands on all 12 new Collectible Minifigures is essentially the same as it ever was: suck up the additional cost and buy your faves from the aftermarket. As if this hobby wasn’t expensive enough already…

71039 Marvel Series 2 debuts on September 1 for £3.49 / $4.99 / €3.99 per minifigure (at retail). You may be able to find Wolverine, Beast, Hawkeye, She-Hulk and the rest of the gang on shelves at select retailers – including Asda and Tesco in the UK – already.

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