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Upper Deck Series 1 is the yearly kickoff for hockey collectors, and the 2025-26 edition sets the tone for the flagship line before Series 2 and Extended arrive. It brings back the 250 card base set, a full slate of parallels, and the chase that defines the brand’s identity with Young Guns rookies, UD Canvas, UD Portraits, and a wave of new and returning inserts.

The base checklist runs 250 cards with the final 50 reserved for Young Guns. Because this product lands early, do not expect 2025 draft picks or opening night rookies yet. The focus here is on late call ups from the 2024-25 season. Young Guns fall every other pack, which works out to six per hobby box.

Parallels cover all 250 cards and include Outburst Silver at 1 in 30 packs and Outburst Silver Young Guns at 1 in 60 packs, Clear Cut at 1 in 96 packs and Clear Cut Young Guns at 1 in 144 packs for hobby only, Deluxe numbered to 250, UD Exclusives numbered to 100, Outburst Red numbered to 25, High Gloss numbered to 10, and Outburst Gold 1 of 1. Select base cards also branch into rare paths. Variations land at 1 in 2,000 packs, while Base Snow Spray Autographs are 1 in 4,000 packs.

The insert lineup is deep and mixes familiar names with fresh ideas. UD Canvas starts its first 120 cards in Series 1. Veterans are 1 in 3 packs, Young Guns are 1 in 24, with Black and White parallels at 1 in 48 packs and Black and White Young Guns at 1 in 144 packs, plus Printing Plates. UD Portraits return at 1 in 5 packs with a new artistic style and Speckle at 1 in 40 packs, Red numbered to 199, and Gold numbered to 25. Dazzlers are back with Blue at one per hobby box, Pink at 1 in 144 packs, Gold at 1 in 2,880 packs, and Green at 1 in 4 blaster packs.

Population Count nods to graded card labels. These are not serial numbered, but each is capped to the number on the front with tiers of 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 25, 10, and 1. Holotypes bring a hologram throwback look at 1 in 504 packs and are Series 1 only this year. Bootleg is a new 18 card insert at 1 in 1,440 packs, each card using a different design. Additional themes include Compositions at 1 in 5, Sizzle Reel at 1 in 5, Tracking Systems at 1 in 5, Bustle at 1 in 8, Cup Quest at 1 in 8, Goal Oriented at 1 in 8, and Compadres at 1 in 10. These carry Speckle, Red numbered to 199, Gold numbered to 25, and Printing Plate 1 of 1 parallels.

Configuration and release details keep things straightforward. Hobby packs have 12 cards with 12 packs per hobby box and 12 boxes per hobby case. Blasters carry 12 cards per pack with 4 packs per blaster and 20 blasters per case. Tins have 12 cards per pack with 8 packs per tin and 12 tins per case. The set size is 250 cards and the planned release date is October 15, 2025, with dates always subject to change.

A typical hobby box breakdown looks like this. Expect one Blue Dazzlers, eight total cards from Bustle, Compadres, Sizzle Reel, or Tracking System, eight total from Compositions, Cup Quest, Goal Oriented, or UD Portraits, four Encore, two insert Speckle parallels, four UD Canvas, one total from Clear Cut parallels or UD Canvas Black and White or Encore Blue, one Outburst parallel, six Young Guns, and one additional serial numbered card, short print, or Printing Plate.

If you plan to build sets, chase Young Guns, or snipe rare inserts, Series 1 delivers a clear roadmap to start the season and sets the pace for what follows in Series 2 and Extended.