How to track a blind box collection

The minimum useful blind box tracker records the brand, series, figure, status, number of copies and — if useful — your own photo. Progress should be calculated from those records, not typed by hand.

1. Separate catalog facts from your collection

A series name, its figures and published rarity are catalog facts. “I own two” and “I want this one” are personal state. Keep those layers separate. When a catalog name is corrected, your copy count should not disappear with it.

2. Give every figure a clear state

A useful small system needs more than a single checkbox:

• Missing — not currently in the collection.
• Owned — at least one copy is on the shelf.
• Wanted — a target, independent of whether it is rare.
• Duplicate — more than one copy, with the actual count retained.

“Duplicate” should not erase ownership. It is better modeled as an owned figure with a copy count above one. That makes progress and duplicate totals agree.

3. Decide what “complete” means

Some collectors count the regular set as complete and treat secrets as bonuses; others include every catalog entry. Either is reasonable. The important part is to show the denominator — for example, 12/12 regulars or 12/13 including the secret — instead of displaying an unexplained percentage.

4. Update after each pull

The best tracking system is the one that takes seconds. Record the figure immediately, increment its copy count if needed, and keep an undo path for accidental taps. Waiting until later is how a notes app becomes an archaeological site.

5. Keep evidence personal

Your own photo can help distinguish variants or remember a specific pull without turning the tracker into a repository of brand artwork. In the BoxDex development build, collection data and user photos stay on the device; there is no account or cloud sync in the MVP.

Spreadsheet starter

If you are not using an app, begin with these columns: brand, series, figure, rarity, status, copies, wanted, photo reference, updated date. Add published odds only when you can label their source as official, a format-based pattern, or a community estimate.

Connect the checklist to the next decision

A tracker should answer “what is missing?” before the next pull. It cannot remove the randomness of a sealed blind box, but it can stop you from forgetting what is already on the shelf. For the probability side, continue with the blind box secret odds guide; for extra copies, see the duplicate workflow.