Breaking — or "card breaking" — is the practice of opening (ripping) sealed product live, usually on camera, with multiple participants who've bought into the break. It's become one of the most popular and social ways to experience the hobby.
Here's how it works: a breaker purchases sealed boxes or cases, then sells spots to participants. Each spot corresponds to a team, a division, a slot, or some other format. The breaker opens the product live — typically streamed on YouTube, Instagram, or a dedicated breaking platform — and distributes the cards to the participants based on the format.
Breaking lets collectors access high-end products at a fraction of the full box cost. Instead of buying a $500 hobby box yourself, you can buy a single team spot for $30-$50 and get all the cards for your team. It's community, entertainment, and collecting rolled into one.