Configuration:
Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 3
Boxes per case: 20 (two 10-box inner cases)
Set size: 100 cards
Box break:
- Parallels – 15
- Exceptional Talent Inserts – 2
- Impact Players Inserts – 2
- Career Spanning Inserts – 1
- Notable Newcomers Inserts – 1
2017-18 Upper Deck Synergy Hockey is for those who like a challenge. Or many challenges. The new brand brings with it plenty of color along with multiple incentives for those looking to dedicate themselves to the long game. Whether it’s at the set or player level, much of Synergy revolves around the hunt and devotion.
Base Set and Parallels
The 2017-18 Upper Deck Synergy Hockey base set has 100 cards. That said, it’s doubtful more than a couple of people are going to finish it. That’s because none have no more than 18 copies each.
The first 50 cards are veterans, which are numbered to 17. Following those are Legends. These have only seven copies. Rookies make up the second half of the checklist and come in two tiers. One is numbered to 18, the other to 8.
As far as rarity goes, it’s comparable to SP Game Used where production runs match the player’s jersey number. But even then, a lot of players wear a number higher than 18. Needless to say, Synergy base cards are scarce.
Parallels come in four colors, each with multiple tiers of rarity. It starts with Red, then Blue, Green and Purple. The easiest of the parallels are Red Veterans, which land every other pack. On the flip side, the toughest group of Purple Rookie parallels are 1:1,152 packs.
Here’s how all the 2017-18 Upper Deck Synergy Hockey parallels break down:
Red
Veterans – 1:2
Legends – 1:9
Rookies (Tier 1) – 1:4
Rookies (Tier 2) – 1:6
Rookies (Tier 3) – 1:80
Blue
Veterans – 1:3
Legends – 1:12
Rookies (Tier 1) – 1:6
Rookies (Tier 2) – 1:10
Rookies (Tier 3) – 1:288
Green
Veterans – 1:12
Legends – 1:48
Rookies (Tier 1) – 1:24
Rookies (Tier 2) – 1:40
Rookies (Tier 3) – 1:576
Purple
Veterans – 1:120
Legends – 1:480
Rookies (Tier 1) – 1:240
Rookies (Tier 2) – 1:360
Rookies (Tier 3) – 1:1,152
Parallels combine to land 15 per eight-pack box.
For those who do undertake the challenge of building parallel sets, only the first 98 cards are in packs. The last two are rewards for the 2017-18 Upper Deck Synergy Hockey Bounty Program.
2017-18 Upper Deck Synergy Hockey Bounty Program
Upper Deck has an incentive for those who go after the Red parallel set in the form of another Bounty program. Approximately every third Red parallel has a code on the back. Collectors can scratch the card and register their codes through a special website. Once all 98 Red parallels are registered (the code versions), those finishing the set get some bonus cards not available in packs.
Everyone who finished is guaranteed to receive the final two Red cards, giving them a full 100-card set.
But there’s also a race element with other cards involved. The fast you finish, the more exclusives you get:
Collectors #1-10:
• Red, Blue, Green and Purple Parallels #99-100
• Cast for Greatness #36 Connor McDavid
Collectors #11-35:
• Red, Blue, and Green Parallels #99-100
• Cast for Greatness #36 Connor McDavid
Collectors #36-75:
• Red and Blue Parallels #99-100
• Cast for Greatness #36 Connor McDavid
Collectors #76+:
• Red Parallels #99-100
Autographs
This isn’t a set that guarantees autographs and memorabilia cards in every box. In fact, jersey and other relics don’t appear on the checklist. Autographs are available, but they’re rare averaging about 1:5 boxes (1:40 packs).
Inserts
2017-18 Upper Deck Synergy has a handful of other insert sets.
Among them is Cast for Greatness, a set printed on metal stock. Another tough pull for the product, they fall approximately one per ten-box inner case. The Cast for Greatness checklist has 36 cards, with the final one (Connor McDavid) being a Bounty-exclusive.
Not all inserts are scarce, at least at the base level. Impact Players (1:3 packs) highlight some of hockey’s best players. Notable Newcomers (1:5) are rookie focused.
Career Spanning cards (1:7) are double-sided. The photo on the front shows them early in their career. The back has a shot from the end.
Impact Players, Notable Newcomers and Career Spanning all have numbered Red Matrix, Blue Hyperplaid and Green Diamond parallels. None have more than 86 copies.
Rounding out the Synergy inserts are Exceptional Talent cards, which come of four tiers (Tier 1 – 1:8, Tier 2 – 1:16, Tier 3 – 1:24, Tier 4 – 1:48).
