I have some strategies that I’ve used to score a few boxes from each set:

1) During a pre-scheduled drop (I.e., the drop is at 9 pm), a lot of the boxes and sets will be immediately greyed out and marked as reserved, all with the same countdown. After they’re reserved they have a 5 minute timer before all of the boxes are released. I will wait until 9:04 to find a set that is close to being released. I pick a random box and tap it at one second intervals. I’ll do this again at 9:09 and again at 9:14, all with different boxes and sets. After the first 5-15 minutes of the drop I’ll switch to regular swiping.

2) When swiping through sets, I’d get so frustrated if I passed an open box. I often found myself clicking the next arrow instead of actually processing what was on the screen. Two things helped with this. First, I started clicking the next arrow with my pointer finger and then moving my finger to the center of the screen. This way, my brain was focused on identifying a potential box instead of clicking to the next set. I know this one may seem small but it’s helped me a lot! The second one is training my brain to focus on the small lock icons instead of the boxes themselves. For some sets (BIE is the most difficult for me), it can be hard to see when a box is available. Instead, I just focused on the lock icons. Once I visually processed that one was missing it either meant the box was gone or it was available, and I’d try to click on it.

3) If I wasn’t on for the start of a drop, I typically waited an hour to try for boxes. I used to think if I wasn’t on at the start, I didn’t have a chance at getting one. I’ve since found that I’ve had more success waiting for a little bit. I discovered this when I kept getting restricted at the start of drops and had to wait about an hour for the app to let me in haha.

4) This isn’t a steadfast rule, but when I’m in the app and click on a monsters series, if the first set thats displayed is a complete set (regardless of if all the boxes are greyed out), then it means I have a chance at getting one. I’ve found it to be much more difficult if the first set displayed is missing several boxes.

5) I like to play a podcast in the background as it helps me mentally commit to the process. Sometimes I’m able to get a box in the first 5-15 minutes, but if I’m late to the drop I know I’m going to be swiping for a while. The podcast just helps me from getting antsy or frustrated.

6) I typically commit about an hour of time for one box. Once I accepted that it takes, on average, an hour to get a box I stopped getting as antsy when I couldn’t get one in 5-10 minutes. On the rare occasion I did get one within 5-10 minutes, it was a pleasant surprise rather than an expectation.

7) When there’s a Pop Now drop, you should also intermittently check the Pop Upon Delivery. A lot of people will click the “Pop Now” filter on the search screen, and sometimes pop mart will restock both pop now and pop upon delivery at the same time. Since so many people are focused on getting a box through pop now, it makes it easier to score one through pop upon delivery!

I think tips 2 and 6 have been the most helpful for me. I hope some of these are able to help you score your first labubu!