I get this email at least three times a week. It usually goes something like this: "Hi, do you have the yellow Labubu? The one with the little heart?"
Sometimes they mention a crown. Sometimes they just send a blurry screenshot from TikTok. But I always know exactly what they're talking about. They're looking for The King.
If you've been even remotely near the designer toy scene lately, you've seen it. That bright, sunny yellow labubu with heart on its chest, a slightly goofy expression, and a tiny felt crown perched on its head. It's the undisputed star of the POP MART series, "The Monsters - Let's Checkmate," and it has caused an absolute frenzy.
As someone who runs PopNya and handles these little monsters daily, I've had a front-row seat to the madness. I've unboxed them, shipped them, and answered hundreds of questions about them. So let's talk about it. Not the generic stuff you see on product pages, but the real deal from a collector and seller's perspective.
First, Let's Get The Name Straight
This is where half the confusion starts. People search for "yellow labubu with heart" or "yellow labubu with crown," but its official name is simply "The King." It's part of the Labubu Chess collection, a series that's a bit of an oddball in the Labubu family, and I mean that in the best way.
Unlike the standard vinyl blind box figures, the Checkmate series are "Vinyl Plush Doll Pendants." It's a hybrid. You get a soft, squishy plush body with a classic vinyl Labubu head, complete with a keychain clip on top so you can hang it from your bag.
This format is a huge part of its appeal. It's tactile. It's bigger than a standard figure but not as massive (or expensive) as a Mega Labubu. It bridges the gap between a collectible you put on a shelf and something you can actually carry around and show off. If you're curious about all the different sizes, I've broken down the differences between the Mega, Jumbo, and other big Labubus in another post. Knowing the official names for these things can save you a lot of searching, which is why I put together a whole guide to Labubu names.
The series includes the whole chess gang: King, Queen, Bishop, Knight, Rook, and Pawn. But let's be honest, 90% of the hype is orbiting one single piece.
The Price Explosion: A Personal Observation
This is the part that blows my customers' minds. The "Let's Checkmate" series retailed for about $20-$25 per blind box here in the US. A totally reasonable price for a premium keychain plush.
The King was not a secret or a chase. It had the same pull rate as the other main figures in the set.
But the market decided otherwise.
I watched it happen in real-time. The series dropped, and within 48 hours, the checkmate yellow labubu was sold out everywhere. Then the aftermarket listings started. First, they were $50. Then $80. I distinctly remember seeing a listing on StockX close at $180 just three weeks after the initial release. It was wild. The demand was completely disconnected from the actual rarity.
As of writing this, the price has settled a bit, but it's still wildly inflated. You'll be lucky to find an authentic King for under $70-$90. That's three to four times its original retail price for a non-secret figure. Why? FOMO. Social media visibility. And honestly, Kasing Lung's design is just that good, The King is undeniably, objectively cute. It's the perfect storm of a great design hitting a hype-fueled market.
Collector's Playbook: So You Want The King?
Okay, so you've decided you need this yellow gremlin in your life. I get it. But going in blind is a recipe for getting ripped off. Here's my playbook.
Myth-Busting: Forget the Shaking and Weighing
With standard vinyl blind boxes, seasoned collectors sometimes try to guess the contents by weight or the sound it makes when shaken. Don't even bother with the Checkmate series. They are plush bodies in a cardboard box. They all weigh virtually the same, and they all make the same soft, muffled sound. There is no trick. It is pure, unadulterated luck. I've seen so many people in forums asking about the "box trick" for this series, and I have to break the bad news every time. It doesn't work.
Where to Hunt: Official Channels vs. The Wild West
* Official Stores (POP MART, Showcase): This is your cheapest option, but also a long shot. They restock occasionally, but the boxes get snapped up instantly. Your best bet is to follow them on social media and turn on notifications, but be prepared for a digital Hunger Games. * Reseller Platforms (eBay, Mercari, StockX): This is the most likely place you'll find one, but you'll pay the "hype tax." You have two options here: buy a sealed blind box and try your luck, or buy the specific "The King" figure unboxed. Buying the confirmed figure is more expensive upfront, but it might be cheaper than buying four or five blind boxes and still not getting it. * Collector Groups (Facebook, Discord): This can be a great option. You're dealing with fellow fans who are often more reasonable with pricing. Look for groups dedicated to Labubu or POP MART trading. You might be able to trade a duplicate you have for a King. Just be vigilant about scams.
Spotting Fakes: My #1 Tip for The King
The fakes are getting scarily good. With The King's price so high, counterfeiters have flooded the market. I wrote a whole guide on how to spot fake Labubu in general, and I highly recommend reading it.
But for the checkmate yellow labubu specifically, here's my pro tip that isn't in most guides: Look at the crown.
On a genuine "The King" figure, the yellow felt crown is cleanly cut, but it's not perfect. It's a simple die-cut piece of felt. The fakes, in an attempt to look "more premium," often have crowns that are too thick, made of a weird foamy material, or have unnaturally perfect, rounded edges. The real one is just a simple, slightly flimsy piece of felt. Another dead giveaway is the heart. The embroidery on the real one is tight and flat. Fakes often have a puffy, lumpy heart that looks cheap.
Real Talk: Is The King Overhyped?
Okay, let's put our seller and collector hats on for a second and be totally honest.
Yes. It's overhyped.
Am I saying it's not a great figure? No, it's fantastic. I have one on my own bag. But is it worth $100? For most people, probably not. The current market price is pure hype. You are paying for the social media clout as much as you are for the toy itself.
Here's my controversial opinion: if you are a new collector, do not make this your first or second Labubu purchase. The inflated price will give you a warped sense of the hobby. For the price of one aftermarket King, you could buy a full case of a different, amazing series like the Macarons or the Monsters Camping series and experience the joy of unboxing a dozen different designs. If you're just looking for a cute monster to get started, you can browse LABUBU figures on our site and find something you love for a fraction of the price.
The quality of the plush itself is... Fine. It's standard mass-produced plush material. It's soft enough, but you're not getting premium, high-end fabric here. The star of the show is the vinyl face, which has that perfect, mischievous Kasing Lung charm. The artist's ability to convey so much emotion in those simple eyes and toothy grin is why we all fell in love with these creatures in the first place. It's a story that goes way beyond just being a "rabbit with teeth," and is a testament to the creator's unique vision.
Don't Sleep on the Rest of the Chess Set
Because everyone is so laser-focused on The King, the rest of the Labubu Chess series is criminally underrated. And honestly? Some of the designs are better.
* The Queen: She's the secret chase figure of the set. All white with a different crown and a serene expression. She's beautiful, and her rarity gives her a different kind of appeal. * The Knight: My personal favorite. A stoic black Labubu with a helmet. It's just a cool, clean design. It has a quiet confidence that I love. * The Rook and Bishop: These are the deep cuts. The Rook's castle-hat and the Bishop's miter are fun and well-executed. They have a ton of personality. * The Pawn: The little green guy! He's the commoner of the set, and he looks so earnest and ready for battle. I have a soft spot for the Pawn.
The point is, there's more to this series than just the yellow guy. If you can't find or afford The King, don't be discouraged. The other pieces are fantastic collectibles in their own right and are available for much closer to their original retail price.
The "vinyl plush" format was a bit of an experiment for POP MART, and I think it was a massive success. It's a fun, unique format that I hope they explore more in the future. It has a different collecting experience than the standard blind boxes or the giant display pieces.
So, if you're still on the hunt for the yellow labubu with heart, I wish you luck. Be patient, be smart, and don't overpay just to be part of the hype. The joy of collecting is finding the pieces that speak to you, not just the ones everyone else is chasing.Happy hunting.
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