Although what constitutes the best cards for magic differs from magician to magician, all great decks share a few common qualities. The best magic decks are beautifully illustrated, easy to handle and conform to the specific needs of the magician.
There are standard decks and decks that are specifically designed to aid the magician in pulling off amazing tricks. Use the deck that speaks to you, the one that you feel most comfortable with, and you can put your personal spin on.
These five classic decks are a few of the best ones out there. One of them might just become your new go-to set of cards.
Bicycle
If you want to use an old-school set of cards with classic style and grace, Bicycle cards are a phenomenal bet. There are plenty of reasons why Bicycle cards are perennial favorites for magicians of all levels. First, these cards tend to be more cost-effective than other decks.
You can easily pick up several versions of Bicycle cards and keep a few decks in strategic places. Since Bicycle cards are standard decks unless expressly noted, you can use them to play other types of card games too. Since they are inexpensive, you won’t have to stress out if you misplace your pack.
Second, Bicycle cards are sturdy. Even though they tend to be less expensive than other types, they’re still made out of tried-and-true material. As a result, they shuffle well, resist warping or bending, and can hold up to even the most robust magic tricks.
If you want to play with the gold standard of decks, get your hands on a good pack of Bicycle cards.
Limited Edition Butterfly Playing Cards
The Limited Edition Butterfly Playing Cards are beautifully crafted out of bamboo wood and easily one of the prettiest decks that you will ever see. Although these cards cost more than your average deck, they’re worth it if you want to treat yourself or make a big splash with your audience.
This luxury deck has gorgeous foil cord cards, intricate back designs, and custom artwork on all of the aces. The back designs are whimsical and pieces of art in and of themselves, with detailed floral drawings. Plus, all of the cards’ edges are gilded for that beautiful look and feel.
You’ll get all 54 cards with this custom set, and you can choose between a marked or unmarked deck. The marked deck contains an extra card that explains all of their different markings. Each card is printed on Slimline card stock and has a satiny finish that’s bend and warp-resistant.
Marked card decks can be a magician’s best friend. These unique decks of cards come with top-secret markings on the back that let the magician know what card they are looking at without having to slip it over.
Although no magician will give up his or her tricks easily, you can determine if you’re looking at a marked deck in a few different ways. The first one is to rifle through the deck quickly and look for inconsistencies. If you look carefully, you might spot some minor differences in the cards.
Your Limited Edition Butterfly Playing Cards come in a handsome wooden box for safekeeping. You won’t find a better set of cards anywhere on the market!
Dapper Deck
The Dapper Deck is simply a stunning deck of cards with vivid blue and orange markings. Like most of the cards on our list, the Dapper Deck is printed on silky card stock so that you can shuffle the deck quickly. This card stock is also resistant to bending or warping.
Your Dapper Deck will have two matching Jokers and gaff cards or trick cards. One of the gaff cards has a blank face, and the other is double-backed. That means that you can do multiple magic tricks with this particular deck.
The Dapper Deck is also marked, making it doubly useful. If you are serious about learning the ropes as a magician, you should consider getting your hands on the Dapper Deck.
Bicycle Archangel
Like the traditional Bicycle cards, Bicycle Archangels are high-quality, reasonably-priced cards. However, their critical differentiating factor is the background art. These cards are highly artistic, with stunning back designs that Bicycle says are inspired by Michaelangelo.
They’re an excellent option for magicians who don’t want to spend too much money on their cards but want a deck that stands out in the best way possible. Bicycle Archangel’s face cards have hints of copper and gold, plus Bicycle’s signature bright red.
They are easy to handle, although it might take a minute or two to break them in. As with traditional Bicycle cards, Bicycle Archangels are warp and bend-resistant and will last for the long run if you care for them properly.
London Magic Works Stripper Deck
The London Magic Works Stripper Deck has a classic, minimalist design and functions well as a trick deck for magicians. Stripper decks are cards that have slight tapering on the edges. This tapering, or stripping, is generally only noticeable to the magician and allows them to determine which card they are handling without looking at it.
Stripper decks are exceptionally useful for tricks because it doesn’t matter how well the deck is shuffled. If the magician knows the makeup and feel of his or her deck, they can easily and quickly figure out which card is where. All you need to do is practice with your deck to wow your friends and family in no time.
Conclusion
Whether you opt for a classic deck of cards, a beautifully designed deck that’s the last word in luxury, or a trick deck is up to you. Each magician has their own comfort level and preferences. It also comes down to what sort of tricks you want to perform with your cards and who your audience is.
We picked the best cards for magic; all are excellent options. Whatever skill level, budget, or need you have, one of these decks is sure to fit the bill perfectly.