LEGO CMF Series 25 Feel Guide: How to ID Bags

The direct answer: most LEGO Collectible Minifigures Series 25 bags can be identified unopened by reading the small raised bump code on the back of the packet, then double checking with weight, accessory shape, and leg print for the figures that are close calls. From what I've seen sorting through past series, feel identification gets a lot more reliable once you have a decoder chart in hand instead of guessing from memory.

I've sorted more blind bags than I can count, and Series 25 works the same way LEGO has done it since it added bump codes a few years back. This guide walks through the code system, the backup touch tests, and where the line is between smart sorting and squeezing bags in a way that annoys other shoppers.

• LEGO's bump code is the fastest way to identify a Series 25 bag without opening it
• Weight, accessory shape, and torso print are useful backups when a code chart is not fully published yet
• Some stores and communities consider aggressive squeezing bad etiquette, even if it is not against store policy
• Check BrickLink and community decoder threads before you buy a full case based on feel alone
• Scanning tools like brick'em can confirm a figure and its current value once you do open the bag

How Does the LEGO Bump Code System Work?

LEGO prints a small cluster of raised dots, often called a bump code, on the back of every Collectible Minifigures packet. Each unique dot pattern corresponds to one figure in the series, and once fans map the codes to figures, that key becomes the fastest way to identify a bag without tearing it open.

LEGO started using this system a few years ago, first showing up widely around Series 20, after longtime collectors figured out they could feel accessories through the bag and effectively cheat the mystery for everyone else. The bump code leveled the playing field, because in theory anyone can learn to read it, not just people with sharp fingers. LEGO.com will eventually list the official character names once Series 25 is fully revealed, which is worth checking against whatever code chart you are using.

The catch with Series 25 specifically is timing. Decoder charts usually get built by the community in the days and weeks after release, as people open bags, record the code, and cross reference the figure inside. Until that chart is more complete, treat any Series 25 code key you find online as a work in progress and verify it against BrickLink listings or seller reports before trusting it for a big purchase.

How Do You Read the Bump Code on a CMF Bag?

Flip the bag over and look near the sealed edge at the bottom, where you will find a row of raised dots pressed into the plastic. Count the dots and note their spacing, then compare that pattern against a published Series 25 decoder chart to find the matching figure number.

1. Find the bump code strip near the bottom seal of the bag.
2. Run your finger or a coin edge lightly over the dots to count them.
3. Write down the pattern, since some codes look nearly identical until compared side by side.
4. Match the pattern to a Series 25 decoder chart from a trusted collector source.
5. Cross check with weight or accessory feel if the chart entry looks uncertain.

I recommend doing this at a table, not standing in a store aisle, since a steady surface makes the dots much easier to feel accurately.

What Can You Feel Through the Bag Besides the Code?

Beyond the bump code, you can often narrow down a figure by weight, accessory outline, and torso print texture. Heavier accessories like helmets or backpacks feel different from small props like a wand or a phone, and printed torsos sometimes leave a faint ridge you can feel if you know where to press.

In my experience, the accessory is usually the easiest tell once you know the general Series 25 lineup, since a lot of figures carry one signature prop. Weight is a close second, particularly for anything with a helmet or a larger backpack piece. Torso print is the least reliable touch test on its own, so I would not stake a big purchase on print feel alone.

Is Feeling CMF Bags Against LEGO's Rules or Store Policy?

LEGO does not publish a rule against touching a sealed bag, and the company's own bump code system is basically an admission that fans will try. That said, some retailers ask customers not to dig through the display box, and aggressively working through a store's stock to cherry pick figures is generally considered poor etiquette even where it is not explicitly banned.

I recommend treating any in store feel check as quick and light, not a five minute inspection that leaves other shoppers with only the leftovers. If you want to go through a full case carefully, buy the case and sort it at home instead of working over a retail display for twenty minutes.

Which Series 25 Figures Are Considered Rare or Chase Figures?

Every CMF series usually has one or two figures the community treats as the chase, meaning the figure most people specifically hunt for, but the confirmed rare figures for Series 25 will depend on final sales data and community consensus that builds after release. I would not trust a firm rarity list until BrickLink sold data and community threads have a few weeks of history behind them.

From what I've learned watching past series play out, the figure that looks like the obvious chase on release day is not always the one that holds the highest value a year later. I recommend checking BrickEconomy and BrickLink sold listings once Series 25 has been out for a month or two, rather than trusting day one hype.

How Should You Prep and Sort a Case of CMF Bags?

Sorting a full case efficiently starts with laying every bag flat and grouping by rough weight before you get into bump codes, since that first pass catches the easy figures fast. Then run the harder to call bags through the full code and accessory check one at a time so you are not rechecking bags twice.

When I sort a case, I keep a small notebook or phone note to log which code went with which figure, because Series 25 will have close matches that are easy to mix up after the first ten bags start blurring together. Good lighting and a clean, flat surface make a bigger difference than people expect.

Should You Buy Individual Bags or a Full Case?

Buying individual bags gives you the mystery experience LEGO designed the product around, and packaged CMFs sell better partly because of that mystery, but a full case is usually the better move for resellers who want a complete or near complete set to list. At a typical retail price of around $5.99 per bag, a full case can run well past $200 once you add tax, so budget accordingly before you commit.

I recommend running the math before buying a case, since chase figure hype does not always cover the cost of the whole box. Our haul calculator can help you estimate whether a Series 25 case pencils out based on current BrickLink pricing for the figures you expect to pull.

How Do Sellers Price Unopened vs Opened CMF Figures?

Unopened bags carry mystery value and often sell for close to retail, or slightly above for a full unopened case, while opened and identified figures price individually based on rarity, condition, and completeness of accessories. Marketplace fees matter here too. Whatnot's commission has commonly been cited around 8 percent, while eBay's effective take rate can climb closer to 25 percent once you factor in promoted listings, which changes what price actually makes sense on each platform.

I've personally sold over $100k of LEGO on eBay, and promoted listings are usually the biggest lever on your actual margin, not the base final value fee. On BrickLink, often called the Wall Street of LEGO for how transparent its pricing data is, individual Series 25 figures should settle into a real market price faster than early hype threads suggest. You can sanity check any figure's going rate against our LEGO collection value calculator before you set a listing price.

Platform	Typical Fee Range	Best For
BrickLink	Lower listing fees, varies by store plan	Individual figures and transparent pricing data
eBay	Roughly 13 to 14 percent base, closer to 25 percent with promoted listings	Broad buyer reach, fast sales on underpriced lots
Whatnot	Commonly cited around 8 percent commission	Live selling and building repeat buyers
Mercari	Varies, check the current seller fee schedule	Casual individual figure sales
Facebook Marketplace	No platform selling fee	Local pickup and bulk lot deals

How Can Scanning Tools Speed Up CMF Identification?

Once a bag is open, a scanning tool can confirm exactly which figure you are holding and pull current pricing in seconds, which is faster and more accurate than relying on memory or a partial decoder chart. This matters most for Series 25 early on, before community identification data is fully mapped out.

I started building brick'em specifically because manually cross referencing figures against BrickLink got tedious once I was moving through more than a few at a time. I use our own scanner constantly when I sort a fresh case, and checking a figure against our LEGO minifigure database takes a few seconds instead of a few minutes of guesswork. If you want to try it on your next Series 25 haul, you can create a free brick'em account before your bags even arrive.

What Mistakes Do New Resellers Make With Series 25?

The most common mistake is buying a full case on chase figure hype without checking whether the math works, followed closely by aggressively squeezing bags in store instead of buying and sorting at home. A close third is listing figures for sale before actually confirming which figure is in hand, which leads to returns and negative feedback.

I've seen sellers list a figure based on a guessed bump code, only to open it later and find something completely different from what a buyer already paid for. Confirm the figure before you list it, every time, even if that means opening the bag yourself first. Browsing our blog for other CMF series breakdowns is a good habit before every new release too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do bump codes work the same way for every LEGO CMF series?

Bump codes have appeared on CMF packaging since around Series 20, and the basic idea stays consistent from series to series: a unique dot pattern maps to one figure. What changes each time is the actual code key, since LEGO does not reuse the same figure to code assignments, so a Series 24 chart will not help you with Series 25.

Can you tell a Series 25 chase figure apart from a common figure by feel alone?

Sometimes, if the chase figure has a distinctive accessory or noticeably different weight, but feel alone is not reliable for close calls. I recommend treating touch as a backup to the bump code rather than your primary method, especially for a brand new series where the community decoder chart is still incomplete.

Is it legal or against store rules to feel LEGO CMF bags before buying?

It is generally legal and not against LEGO's own rules, since the bump code system is LEGO's own design. Individual retailers can set their own display policies, and digging through a display for an extended period is often considered poor etiquette even where no explicit rule exists, so keep any in store check quick.

What is the fastest way to confirm a figure once you open the bag?

The fastest way is scanning it with an identification tool that matches it against a minifigure database and returns current pricing, rather than manually searching for the figure by description. That single step also removes the risk of misidentifying a figure before you list it for sale.

Should I buy a full Series 25 case as an investment?

A full case can pay off, but treat it as a reseller purchase with real costs, not a guaranteed investment. Run the numbers against current BrickLink pricing first, budget for the figures that will not be rare, and remember that community rarity consensus usually takes a few weeks to settle after release.