Break Formats Explained: PYT, Random Team, Hit Draft and more

Why break formats matter

Knowing the different formats is key to understanding how your money is spent in a break. Some formats give you control (like Pick Your Team), while others are luck-based (like Random Team). Before you join, check which format is being used so you know what you are paying for.

Pick Your Team (PYT)

  • Buyers choose a specific club before the break starts.
  • Price depends on the checklist strength – popular teams like Manchester United or Real Madrid often cost more.
  • You get all cards of your chosen club from the break.
  • Best for collectors who only want cards from one team.

Random Team Break

  • You buy a spot without knowing your team.
  • Teams are assigned randomly, usually via a dice roll or online randomiser.
  • Cheaper than most PYT slots but riskier – you might land a top team or a weak one.
  • Fun for collectors who like the gamble.

Hit Draft

  • All cards are opened first.
  • Participants then take turns choosing cards in a set order (e.g. 1–8, then 8–1 in a “snake draft”).
  • Works well for high-end products where every card is a hit.
  • Adds strategy, as you choose based on what’s left.

Pack Breaks / Personal Breaks

  • You buy an entire sealed pack (or even a whole box).
  • The breaker opens it live and sends everything to you.
  • Simple and transparent – you know exactly what you’ll get.
  • Popular for retail products and lower-cost packs.

Serial Number Breaks

  • Each participant is assigned a number (0–9).
  • You receive all cards whose serial number ends in your number.
  • For example, if your number is 7, you get cards numbered 7/99, 27/49, etc.
  • Works best for products with lots of numbered parallels.

Razz / Raffle Style Breaks

  • Informal format where participants pay for a chance to win a card or break spot.
  • Often run in Facebook groups or Discord servers.
  • Fun but riskier – make sure the host is trusted.

Mixer Breaks

  • Multiple products are opened in one break (e.g. half a box of Chrome, a box of Prizm, and a pack of Museum).
  • Gives variety but makes odds harder to calculate.
  • Often used by breakers to keep costs lower than a full case of one product.

How to choose the right format

  • PYT: best if you only want your club’s cards.
  • Random Team: best if you enjoy risk and surprise.
  • Hit Draft: best if you like strategy and high-end products.
  • Pack Break: best if you want full control of a sealed pack or box.
  • Serial Number: best if you want guaranteed numbers in products with lots of parallels.

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