Minecraft Ice Series 5 captures a particularly recognizable moment in the game’s early merchandise history. Mattel’s small purple box is marked with a Series 5 cube, the words Ice Series, and a deliberately anonymous question-mark character on the front. Inside is one mini figure—not a build kit, multi-pack, or guaranteed character. The opaque format makes every unopened box a genuine mystery pull.
A March 2016 blind-box assortment
The package carries a 2015 Mattel copyright, while collector videos documenting fresh retail finds appeared in March 2016. That combination places Ice Series 5 squarely in the 2016 release period. The box also identifies Mattel assortment CNH36, states Contents: 1 Figure, and carries a 6+ age mark. Contemporary collectors reported finding the boxes at Walmart, Target, and Toys “R” Us, which fits a broad mass-retail release rather than a retailer-exclusive assortment.
The “Ice” name is the wave theme, but the character choices range well beyond snowy mobs. Series 5 leans into action poses, mounted or accessorized characters, and visual effects. That makes it easy to distinguish from a basic lineup of standing Steve, Alex, and common mobs.
The complete Ice Series 5 lineup
Period collection reviews document 12 figures:
- Spawning Zombie Pigman
- Attacking Ghast
- Steve with Mismatched Armor
- Iron Golem with Flower
- Killer Rabbit
- Alex with Boat
- Chicken Zombie
- Teleporting Enderman
- Donkey with Chests
- Siamese Cat
- Wolf with Bone
- Skeleton in Flames
Those names matter when cataloging loose figures because several are defined by a tiny accessory or effect. The bone separates this wolf from other Minecraft wolf minis; the flower identifies the Iron Golem; translucent-looking effects distinguish the teleporting Enderman and burning Skeleton. Likewise, “Chicken Zombie” describes the baby-zombie-on-chicken combination, while Alex’s boat and the donkey’s chests are integral to their Series 5 identities.
Are there rare figures?
The photographed package shows the character assortment but does not print pull ratios, rarity tiers, or a manufacturer-designated Chase. Archival openings describe a 12-figure set, yet they do not establish that any one design was intentionally short-packed. For that reason, it is better to treat the whole wave as an evenly presented checklist unless a sealed-case distribution record proves otherwise. Killer Rabbit may be a memorable character, but desirability alone does not make it a chaser.
Can the letter codes identify the figure?
A period collector video documented an A-through-L mapping for a complete set: A for Spawning Zombie Pigman, B for Attacking Ghast, C for Steve, D for Iron Golem, E for Killer Rabbit, F for Alex, G for Chicken Zombie, H for Enderman, I for Donkey, J for Siamese Cat, K for Wolf, and L for Skeleton. That is useful historical evidence, but package codes can change with factory, region, or production run. Treat a matching letter as a clue, not a guarantee, unless the rest of the stamped code matches the documented batch.
What to check on an unopened box
For a package collector, examine the top and bottom flaps before valuing the piece as unopened. The current product photos show an intact box with light edge wear and slight flap bowing, but a photograph cannot prove a factory seal. Check for lifted glue, double creases, torn color at the tuck tabs, or mismatched wear that could indicate the figure was identified and the box reclosed. The front should show the Series 5 emblem, “Dig In!” badge, and Mini-Figure wording; a side panel should show Ice Series branding, while the legal panel identifies Mattel, Mojang, CNH36, and one-figure contents.
At $5.99, this is best approached as one nostalgic Series 5 mystery box rather than a shortcut to the full set. If you collect loose figures, use the 12-name checklist above to target gaps; if you collect packaging, prioritize clean flaps and complete side-panel printing over attempts to guess the character.