You're holding a Funko Pop you've wanted for months, and the one next to it on the shelf looks slightly different. Glowier. Fuzzier. Holding a spellbook instead of a dagger. And it's got a round sticker on the window that yours hasn't. Congratulations: you've just met a chase.
This guide explains what a Funko Pop chase actually is, how rare they are, how to spot one (and spot a fake), and the most sensible ways to get your hands on one without remortgaging the house.
What is a Funko Pop chase?
A chase is a rarer version of a standard Funko Pop, made in smaller numbers and packed in among the normal ones. Same character, same box, same box number. The difference is the figure inside.
- A different finish: the chase might glow in the dark, be flocked (fuzzy), metallic or see-through.
- A different look: new colours, a different outfit, or a helmet on instead of off.
- A different prop: the Baldur's Gate Astarion chase swaps his dagger for a spellbook.
Chases aren't made to order: they turn up at random among the standard Pops, so somebody always has to find one first. Hence the chasing.
How rare is a Funko Pop chase?
The figure everyone quotes is roughly one in six: for every six Pops of that character, about one is the chase. That's a production ratio rather than a promise, and Funko ships chases at random, so any single Pop is a one-in-six shot at best. Some special releases are rarer still.
In other words, if you buy one standard Pop hoping for the chase, you'll usually get the standard. Which, to be fair, is still the Pop you wanted.
How to spot a chase: the sticker
On the box, the giveaway is a round gold Limited Edition Chase sticker on the window. Glow-in-the-dark chases can carry a Glow Chase version instead. Everything else on the box, the number included, usually matches the standard Pop exactly.
Don't trust the sticker on its own. Stickers can be peeled off, moved to another box or faked. What makes a chase is the figure inside, so check it against official photos of the chase before you pay chase money for it.
Glow, flocked and more: the common types of chase
- Glow in the dark: the classic. The Lord of the Rings Frodo chase is ghostly pale and glows, as if he's just slipped the Ring on.
- Flocked: a soft, fuzzy coating. The Sonic Tails chase is flocked, so he's finally as furry as a fox should be.
- Metallic and translucent: shiny or see-through versions of the standard sculpt.
- A whole new look: different colours, props or headgear. Fallout's Maximus chase comes in power armour with the helmet fully closed.
Chase, exclusive or just another sticker?
Funko boxes collect stickers like a well-travelled suitcase. Only one of them means chase.
- Chase: the rarer variant, packed at random among standard Pops.
- Exclusive stickers: a Pop sold only through certain shops or events. Exclusive doesn't mean chase, and plenty of exclusives aren't especially rare.
- Finish stickers: Flocked, Glow or Metallic describe the figure, not its rarity. The Tails chase box above wears a flocked sticker, an exclusive sticker and a chase sticker all at once.
Are chase Funko Pops worth more?
Usually, because there are fewer of them. How much more depends on the character: the chase of a hugely popular Pop can sell for a good deal more than the standard, while the chase of a character nobody's heard of may barely move. Buy them because you love them, not as a pension plan.
How to get a Funko Pop chase
Step 1: Buy the standard and hope
- Some Pops are sold as Standard & Chase: you pay the standard price and could end up with either.
- We do this on some lines, at around £14 a Pop at the time of writing. It's the cheapest lottery ticket in the shop.
Step 2: Buy a whole sealed case
- Pops with a chase usually come in cases of six, so buying the whole case is the best way to improve your odds.
- Some of our Funko Pop pre-orders are sold as whole sealed cases of six, and each listing says exactly what the case comes with.
- Bonus: five spares to gift, swap or line up as a small army of identical faces.
Step 3: Try a Bitty Pop! 4-pack
- Bitty Pop! 4-packs have three figures you can see plus one in a sealed mystery box, and that hidden one could be a chase. From £10.99, they're the cheapest way to get the chase buzz.
Step 4: Buy the chase outright
- If you must have it now, buying a known chase second-hand is the only certain route.
- Check the figure, not just the sticker, look closely at the box condition in the photos, and buy from sellers with a track record.
Looking after a chase once you've got one
- Keep the box: collectors care about box condition almost as much as the figure.
- Keep it out of the sun: windowsills fade boxes faster than you'd think.
- Consider a protector: a clear plastic Pop protector keeps dents and scuffs off the corners.
A chase is the same Pop with a rarer twist, packed at roughly one in six. Look for the gold sticker, check the figure inside, and if you want the best odds, buy the whole case. And if you open the standard instead? You still got the Pop you wanted in the first place.
Further reading: Funko Pop Release Dates UK: Every Upcoming Pop and Funko Pop Restock Dates UK.
Start your chase hunt
Ready to try your luck? Every Funko Pop we stock, from anime and gaming to film and TV, plus Bitty Pops and sealed cases.
