DMC Elites V6 Portcullis Playing Cards

This is the best marking system for elder (or becoming so) and also the cheapest.
The symbols instead of the letter for the suits avoid the translation gap or hesitation.
Only deception, it would be nice to have a double backer in the deck.

While the markings are clever and easy to read , these cards are absolute trash. right out of the box , they do not faro at all and fan horribly. I even apply two coatings of fanning powder and still feel and function like plastic playing cards, there must be reason why these are cheaper than his other decks, and it's never more apparent.Once you get winning your hands , you get what you pay for

Yes, I agree with Caleb. These cards seem to have neither the traditional nor the modern cut. The edges seem to be absolutely square. And yes, that makes a faro shuffle more difficult than with other cards. On the other hand, the square cut makes sleights demanding a feel for individual cards rather than blocks easier. Pinky counts and strike doubles are a breeze. Unlike run-of-the mill Bicycles, the margins on the backs of the cards are absolutely uniform and the sides of the squared deck feel like one solid surface — each card is EXACTLY the same size as the others. As for the marking system, it's not the easiest I've seen nor is it the most obscure. For those of us of advanced age, it strikes a balance. The markings are generous in size, yet too subtle to be seen by the casual onlooker. For me, it takes a bit more than a casual glance to pick up the markings, but I don't have to stare. So these cards may not be all things to all magi, Though you may not want to be doing multiple faros with this deck, it has its own exploitable features.