As the anticipation ramped up for the arrival of the 2024-25 Panini Obsidian Basketball cards, seasoned collectors and enthusiastic newcomers alike find themselves enraptured by the cool sophistication and outrageous beauty that only Obsidian promises. Ditching the traditional chrome format, Obsidian once again embraces its signature shadowy allure, serving up a vividly jagged contrast with its darker aesthetics and eye-popping color-flooded hues.
The heart of Obsidian beats boldly within its distinctive one-pack format. This year, the hobby boxes hold seven cards, each promising to spark joy and the occasional gamer-style victorious cheer. But not just any seven — three of these are guaranteed hits, usually comprising two autographs and one memorabilia card, alongside three inserts or parallels, and one base card that completes this sleek ensemble. This design guarantees the experience remains simple, fast, and undeniably fun, offering collectors a fresh opportunity to dream big with every rip.
In a world where design dictates desirability, Obsidian stands apart. These cards have a weight and presence, both literally and metaphorically. Etched and hefty, Obsidian cards are built to dazzle — an understatement here — as they bask in just the right light, forming patterns that are more at home in the cosmos than on your living room coffee table. This year, Panini mixes things up with a compelling palette of new flood parallels: Pink Flood, numbered to a modest 49; Blue Flood, a scarce delight capped at 30; Hot Springs, disappearing almost as soon as it appears with only 15; and the elusive Caldera, currently wrapped in mystery with an unrevealed print run.
Old hands will be pleased to see the return of beloved Electric Etch parallels, ranging from mid-numbered color blasts to elusive one-of-ones, making each box a potential treasure trove.
Autographs are a realm where Obsidian excels with a familiarity that never gets stale, playing to the strengths of what the fans have always cherished. This season see a lineup of returning champions: Rookie Jersey Autographs, Rookie Jersey Ink, Magmatic Signatures, and many others. A noteworthy addition comes in the form of Scorched Signatures. As the name would suggest, these cards are a fiery feast for the eyes, combining dynamic flame motifs with the elegance of autographed rarity — sets the temperature rising till you can almost feel the heat of the signature searing through.
The memorable experience doesn’t stop at autographs. Cutting Edge memorabilia cards, true to their eponymous nature, slay with sharpness and elegance. You won’t find any afterthought swatches here but robust patches tied to the names that echo through NBA halls, past, present, and future.
Obsidian’s inserts never conform to being mundane fillers. A hypnotic blend of sci-fi and the stylized, they belong more under a glass case than in a collection binder. Familiar inserts like Supernova, Orbital, Hotspot, and Equinox return with their timeless charm, accompanied by the newcomer Atomic Initials — a marvel of modern card artistry that layers players’ initials and names onto breathtaking action shots.
For those who live for the thrill of the hunt, Obsidian dangles the carrot of elusive chase cards with limited print runs. Legendary SSPs like Volcanix and the mystical Black Color Blast continue to captivate, joined by the new Vitreous cards in 2024-25 — a die-cut design destined to quickly become a favorite for collectors who adore intricate detailing.
Examining the hobby box breakdown, each box believes in less being more, distilling the essence of basketball collectibles into seven impactful cards: two autographs, one impressive memorabilia relic, three tantalizing inserts or parallels, and one base card that could just as well be the crown jewel of your collection. With 12 boxes per case, the experience remains both aspirational and accessible.
While the set size is still a mystery to solve, the anticipated release date looms in the collector’s calendar, promising a delightful dive into the world of Obsidian for those who dare to leave the mundane behind. Obsidian doesn’t aim to please everyone; it aims to please those with the taste for its bold narrative. Slipping a card through its pack feels less like opening a product and more like stepping into the dramatic arena of collectible basketball history. If your heart pounds for neon vibrancy, cosmic foils, and the artsy thrill of pulling a potential rookie card worth its weight in gold under a single pack’s suspenseful grace — Obsidian is your extraordinary ticket.
