2017 Topps Star Wars High Tek Pattern Variations Gallery, Guide

The 2017 Topps Star Wars High Tek pattern variations are one of the big draws of the product. They’re also something of a puzzle.

Every base card has a handful of different foil backgrounds. Not only that, but some of these patterns are more common than others. Beyond the tiers, the checklist is also divided in half. The first half of the checklist has one group of patterns. They’re all different for the second half.

Sound confusing? It’s a lot clearer with visuals.

Making Sense of the 2017 Topps Star Wars High Tek Patterns

Explaining the 2017 Topps Star Wars High Tek patterns makes things sound a lot more chaotic than it actually is. Let’s start with the checklist divide. It’s actually easy to sort these. ‘Form 1’ cards are numbers 1-56.

Even without looking at the number, they’re easy to spot based on the characters. Those from the main films (Episodes I-VII) are Form 1.

Cards 57-112, the remainder of the base set, all have characters from Rogue One. These have a different set of backgrounds.

Pattern 1 is the base pattern. These are the most common cards. Pattern 1A (for cards #1-56) have the targeting computer from an X-Wing. Pattern 1B (#57-112) has the schematics for what appears to be the Death Star Superlaser.

Patterns 1A and 1B are used for most of the parallels like the foil and Diffractors. They’re also the backdrop for the set’s main autographs.

Each of the previous Star Wars High Tek set, 2015 and 2016, used a similar approach, albeit with different pattern mixes.

As far as scarcity goes, the range is big. Each box has multiple Pattern 1 cards. On the other extreme, all Pattern 4 cards are 1:4 packs. Pattern 5 cards are a case hit, landing 1:12 packs. With perfect collation, it would take 112 cases to build a full set of Pattern 5 and that less than 15 of each individual card exist.

Parallels?

2017 Topps Star Wars High Tek does have traditional parallels. These are based primarily on the color of the foil such as orange, green and red. Most also have a reflective background called Diffractors.

These parallels appear to be only for Pattern 1 cards, the base versions. Rarer patterns do not seem to have parallels.

2017 Topps Star Wars High Tek Patterns Gallery

This gallery is for the main background patterns, not the foil and Diffractor parallels.

Pattern 1 – Base (most common)

2-3 total per box

Pattern 1A Targeting Computer

Pattern 1B Death Star Superlaser

Pattern 2 – Uncommon

2 total per box

Pattern 2A TIE Fighter Tile

Pattern 2B Hyperspace Jump

Pattern 3 – Limited

1 total per box

Pattern 3A – Schematic Circles and Arrows

Pattern 3B – Death Star Exhaust Portals

Pattern 4 – Rare (1:4 packs)

Pattern 4A – Tiled Wall

Pattern 4B – Ship Window

Pattern 5 – Scarce (1:12 packs)

Pattern 5A – Burst

Pattern 5B – Triangle Top

2017 Topps Star Wars High Tek Base Set Checklist

Use these lists to tell if a card has the ‘A’ patterns (Form 1 – #1-56) or ‘B’ patterns (Form 2 – #57-112).

Comments? Questions? Contact Ryan Cracknell on Twitter @tradercracks or by email.