Common, Rare, Ultra Rare, Secret: How Rarity Tiers Actually Work

Open enough mystery boxes and you'll start noticing a pattern: some characters show up constantly, and others feel like they barely exist. That's not random bad luck — it's rarity tiers doing exactly what they're designed to do.

What the tiers actually mean

Most mystery box lineups, Squishiii included, sort their characters into a small number of rarity levels:

• Common — the core of the lineup. These show up most often and form the base of any collection.
• Rare — noticeably harder to pull. Landing one feels like a genuine win.
• Ultra Rare — a step above Rare, and uncommon enough that most collectors remember exactly when they got theirs.
• Secret — not even shown in the official lineup. You only know it exists once someone finds it.

Each tier isn't just a label — it usually reflects real production choices, like more detailed sculpting, a special colorway, or a character that was never meant to be common in the first place.

Why the odds aren't published

A lot of collectors ask for exact pull rates, and most brands — us included — keep that number close to the chest. That's not about hiding anything shady; it's about protecting the actual experience. The moment you know a Secret character has, say, a 1-in-200 chance, every box stops being a surprise and starts being a math problem. Part of what makes rarity systems fun is not knowing exactly how far away you are from the next big pull.

How to actually chase rarity

If you're going after a specific tier, the only real strategy is volume — more boxes mean more chances. Some collectors focus on completing every Common first so they can tell at a glance what they're missing; others buy in small batches over time rather than all at once, which tends to make each unboxing feel more special. Multi-packs (like a 3x or 6x box) simply give you more shots per purchase, but the odds inside each individual box stay exactly the same either way.

However you approach it, the tier system is what turns a box of toys into an actual collection — something with structure, chase, and a real sense of progress the more you open.