Marked Deck of Cards

A marked deck of cards is an essential tool in the arsenal of any serious card magician. These can be used for a number of different effects and allow the magician to focus their attention on connecting with the spectators.

A good marked deck should have markings that are easily read without being too obvious. It should also look like a regular deck of cards.

Magic Trick Marked Decks

Marked decks are a great addition to your magic toolbox, especially when used in conjunction with other card tricks. These luminous ink markings enable you to know the identity of any face-down card, even when the spectator can only see the back of the card!

The best tricks with marked decks are a combination of smooth handling, technique, and presentation. They should be constructed in such a way that it doesn’t occur to the spectator that you are using a secret to accomplish your magical goals.

However, you should also remember that a marked deck will only produce miracles if the other techniques and components of your routine are good enough to make the spectator think it’s not happening. That’s why it’s important to carefully consider the methods you choose to use them with, and to make sure they are in conjunction with other tricks that will help your deck stand out.

Cohort Cards

Cohort Cards are a vintage casino style deck that pays homage to the classics of yore. It’s engineered to look unassuming on the card table or in the hands of a master card mechanic, but hidden within the back design is a marking system that can help you perform some pretty amazing magic tricks.

This deck is printed on a brand new luxury pressed E7 stock that’s thinner than it has ever been before! It also comes with 2 custom jokers, a double-backer and duplicate Queen of Spades.

The most impressive part of this deck is its clever marking system that doesn’t just get the attention of magicians and mentalists, it is also imperceptible to the naked eye. It is ingeniously blended into the back design so it’s not just a cool looking deck of cards, it’s a real game changer! This is a must have for any magician or card player. It also makes a great gift or stocking stuffer.

Phoenix Cards

Phoenix Cards are a classic reader style marked deck of cards featuring the suit and value written directly on the back. The markings are placed in all four corners making them readable from any side.

This is a dream come true for all magicians who love using a marked deck of cards! The markings are based on the ideas of Ted Lesley and are extremely visual compared to all other marked decks on the market.

Designed to stimulate awareness of past-life influences, each card in this book and deck echoes a specific place, time and culture. These images will trigger unconscious memories that will help you develop latent talents, identify lessons that must be learned and explain irrational fears, attractions or impulses.

The phoenix cards and book provide the first divinatory tool especially created for exploring past-life influences. The symbols in the book and deck will trigger unconscious memories that will enable you to see yourself more clearly, develop latent talents, identify lessons that must been learned and explain irrational fears, attraction or impulses.

Traditional Marked Decks

While not as common as some of the other marked decks on this list, there are still a few traditional marked decks out there that are highly useful for card magic. They’re a great way to add a little extra mystery and surprise to your routines, without drawing the kind of suspicion you can get with a custom deck of cards.

A good factory printed reader deck can make the perfect solution for many magicians who are looking for a simple, safe marked deck to use in close-up or cabaret performances. Penguin Magic’s Marked Cards, for example, are factory printed on Bicycle Maiden Back design and come with two excellent video tutorial videos from Jon Armstrong and Rick Lax.

One of the most unique marked decks on the market is DMC Elites Rouge, which is produced by famed British magician Drummond Money-Coutts and is considered version 4. It features the DMC Elites Optical Marking System, which is designed specifically for use with close-up or cabaret performers. It’s an incredible tool that can be used to find any card in the deck from as far away as six feet!

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