Phoenix Playing Cards

Don't go anywhere without one, nice touch enlarging the faces of the aces, handle as well as all the competitors.

I like these. They DO Faro and Fan very well. My deck came with a blank face card, which I like. I also like the new style of Aces. These cards are workers for me, they handle well. There are various types of card packages available, so read carefully.

I admit, I wasn't expecting too much from the invitation that accompanied my Phoenix deck, to create an account to watch the free accompanying video. What was there to know? This was a stock deck, wasn't it?

All right, now I've well and truly seen everything. This deck is the product of dozens of small but significant design decisions, from aesthetics to construction methods to practical elements, such as the enlarged ace designs meant to be more visible in a crowd of spectators who can't all be right up to the performance surface. Everything about it was the product of a conscious, deliberate engineering decision. The video enumerates these, discusses them, describes the reasons behind these choices. It's possibly the geekiest thing I've watched in ages, and I assure you, I speak that word with palpable reverence. I will be very surprised if, a few minutes into the video, you aren't thinking along with me, "This guy really, truly cares about these cards. This project has meaning to him."

What cards they are. I lack the dexterity to faro shuffle, alas, but even in my clumsy riffle shuffles, the cards bend gracefully, then settle smooth and flat again. They separate easily but stay at rest until nudged. The pips and text are easy to read, and the jokers, facing in opposite directions, work beautifully for framing a card during a routine, or performing a "seeking jokers" effect.

I cannot emphasize this enough: register and watch the free video linked in the card included with the deck. There are so many more brilliant details hiding in that Phoenix deck, useful ones, brilliant ones, ones that further reinforce the care and thought put into their engineering...but these are for their manufacturer to reveal. You will want to take the time to watch the video and learn about them. Don't miss it.

This is the sort of quality and design attention I would expect from a bespoke, custom deck....a specialty deck, from the Marksman, from the UMD, from the Butterfly deck...something in that family of original, masterpiece decks. But this is really what the Phoenix deck is...a bespoke, custom...everyday magician's dream stock deck.

For $5. (At time of this review.)

So far, every Phoenix deck product I've seen has impressed me. I loved the Ultimate Brainwave. I was impressed by the marked deck, and I'm anxious to check out the S.U.M. deck in greater detail. But as much as these well and do truly impress me, I am even more impressed by the simple, humble, brilliantly-engineered basic Phoenix deck.

If you're beginning down the road of card magic, this is your deck platform. If you're a longtime Rider/Mandolin user and wondering why you'd want to invest in yet another deck platform, pick up this deck, and I think you'll agree that it makes a very compelling argument for Phoenix as a platform.

When was the last time you saw a company put forward its most affordable product as its flagship? The amount of care, time and energy that went into a feature-length video manual to the deck was entirely justified. Even if you don't plan to jump deck platforms, this deck's a must-have addition to any performer's card collection, and owning one makes the case for using one.

I love the back design. To me a great back design also look good from some distance wich these does. They handle great and has many great gimmicks availble. Nice price!

These are gonna be part of your EDC. This looks very similar to other decks so the spectators will ignore the back designs. This is perfect for shuffling and gambling routines. This might become your new favorite deck to perform with. On top of all of this, it's so cheap. These are my replacement deck for a bicycle deck.

These are gonna make you wanna get rid of your classic Bicycle decks. This is the best deck for faro shuffles. If you wanna go from new deck order to mnemonica stack. This is going to be part of your everyday carry

This is a great deck - blank face card plus matching jokers pushes it over the top (double-backer would have been nice too, but that's alright). The best part about this deck is its smooth handling. As good as the Bicycle Elites, which means these are great all purpose cards but also excellent for performing tricks. Get the blue version as well for color change effects.

The phrase, “never leave home without them” probably wasn’t created while talking about these cards, but it could have been. This deck is absolutely perfect for everything I need. It’s smooth, shuffles well, and the design of the aces make them completely stand out! I love these cards!

The design of these cards is absolutely beautiful! The back is classic but exciting, and the faces are exactly what you need from a deck of cards. The feel of the deck is far better than anything else in their price point.

One of the best playing cards out there! And yes, they are many playing cards to choose from, but Phoenix have been designed for working magicians. The colours, the design, the court cards but specially the handling of the cards are perfect for any routine you want to perform. 10/10.

I have Bicycle Elite, Richard Turner, and this pheonix deck. Although I am not a master on faro, but I think they all do pretty good job at it. I think the feature that make pheonix deck superior than the other two is the one way marking on both side of the card. The downside of the pheonix deck are the slightly higher price and the marking is built for right handed :(
Overall, I love the deck and will be using it as my main deck!

I have to admit, these cards are beautifully made. I use bikes for practice and goofing around, but these are only used when I perform. The feel and function are perfect. Load up on a brick.

I was not feeling these cards when I first saw them. The back design was just didn't strike my fancy. But I bought Josh Jay's color changing deck, and I thought I would try out some Phoenix cards. The cards as such high quality. They faro as advertised (well and easily). But perhaps more importantly, they have that perfect tension/snap to them. The quality is evidenced by how long they last. I bought a brick. I love these cards. My sincerest apology for judging these cards too soon. Did I say I love these cards? I do.

I really do love these playing cards from Card Shark. They are much higher quality than standard Bicycle cards and fan perfectly out of the box. I’m told they faro well but I'm yet to become proficient with that move.

The back design is similar to other brands, and the large pip aces are lovely.

If you were to see me out and about, I would most likely have one of these in my pocket.

Grab a load of these and it’s unlikely you’ll go back to other brands.

The only other deck I carry all the time is the Marksman deck by Luke Jeremy -if I had the choice to buy that on Phoenix stock them I would over the Maiden backs.

Very good cards. Nice stock, easily handles all flourishes and card controls. These are my new EDC playing cards for card magic and they hold up just as well as your typical bicycle cards.The jokers are similar, the back design is beautiful yet for most laymen, give the appearance that they are just regular playing cards. Not over the top in terms of look (tuck box included) but classy nonetheless. I bought a brick and appreciated the discount. You should too!

After reading the posted reviews I was certain I found the next "Gold Seal" decks Richard Turner sold. In order to make this somewhat of an economical purchase, I ordered 12 decks (6 red, 6 blue) which came to $4.00 a deck. As of this writing (June 28, 2023), I initiated a return for ten of the decks I received. I was excited to finally receive this order; however, disappointed when I discovered I received a brick of 12 blue back decks. Although I was hoping to use the red backs, this was not a big deal.

My main concern was when I held the new deck in my hand, these decks are not cut in the traditional fashion and when I tried to faro shuffle it, it the cards would not weave and pressed against each other as if many of the cards were glued together.

I sent my concern to Vanish Inc's question link and received a quick reply. I was informed Phoenix recently reprinted their decks which could explain the decks I received and the photos on their site were different. My disappointment is not with the different box art, it's with the significant lack of quality of the decks I received. The $4.00 cost per deck is definitely not worth it. If you're considering this particular deck, know as of this writing you may not receive the deck of cards other 5-star posters are praising.

Very good stock, nice design backs.

One thing right up top. Hardly any reviews are mentioning the crib card. My deck came with an extra card that serves as an open crib for "Mnemonica", only disguised as rules to a game. Mnemonica is presented in two configurations, a different version on each face. Genius. I love these cards. I'm not a card worker but all of the sleights and controls that I know are so smooth with this deck. They don't, to my fingers, feel quite as thick a bicycles. The edges feel smoother. These decks are great all around.

Great deck. Well made. Needed for Prism Plus effect.

great deck of cards. do you like bicycle cards? then this is bicycle on steroids! the deck has some really cool and interesting features, my favorite being the one way design (both on the face of the card and on the back of the card). also, I like that we can switch from this deck to any gaffed card shark deck without the change being noticeable, since they all use the same design. i like to use this deck with the prism deck, Toca (by morgan and west) and the destiny deck.
highly recommended :)

Well, what can I say, really?
They're just like every other deck of cards I've ever owned. There's nothing special about them, they don't handle any differently than any other cards, they DON'T faro shuffle easier...so, the hype hasn't matched up to the result.
Don't buy these things based on the sparkling promotion. They're nothing special.

Must be honest these are not for me. The finishing has a rough feel to it. That said it does aid palming especially one handed top palm or the Willie Munroe side steal as the top of the cards are grippy. If you have dry hands this might be great for you but I don't like the feel. I tried the Tally-hos and I love them. My favourites are still the Bee Gold Standards, they are just supreme. I will play with these but I they are not for me. Just my personal preference. A lot of 5 star reviews here, so try them and make up your own mind.

This deck is great bought this deck after I gotten the prism deck and it’s been one of my favorite deck to use

These decks are great work horse decks and feel great. They feel really solid and definitely feel like premium cards. The back design is nice and is a great complement to the phantom deck if you end up getting that.

I felt that this cards are better for every single routine that I do. Bicycle is it more slippery and thinner the cards, this feels more thick and resistant against the hands of the guests greasy, sticky, even though when they dealt the cards on the water, they resist more than bicycle cards, also the Phoenix printed gives an air of elegance.

I needed a Phoenix deck because I had two previously purchased effects from Vanishing that had a Phoenix gimmick. These decks are superb. They are made of great stock and are much easier to work with than most of the USPC decks. I will be using these routinely. Highly Recommend. A+++++++++++++