The best cards for magic tricks
For magic the deck matters less than it does for cardistry, and it matters in a different way. A magic deck needs to look ordinary. The audience has to believe it is just a deck of cards, which rules out anything with a striking back design, and it needs to match the gaff cards and gimmicks you can buy.
That answer is boring and it is the right one: for most card magic, buy Bicycle Rider Back in red and blue, and buy several.
The picks
Bicycle Rider Back (red and blue)
Best deck for almost all card magic
- The deck every gaff card, gimmick and double-backer is made to match
- Unremarkable enough that nobody questions it
- Buy a red and a blue — a color-changing deck effect needs both
Gives up: nothing, for this purpose. Its weakness is durability, which magic does not tax.
Tally-Ho Circle Back
Best alternative standard deck
- A second ordinary-looking deck with good gaff availability
- Linoid finish handles sleights slightly better than air-cushion
- Useful when you want a deck the audience has not literally seen before
Gives up: a smaller range of matching gaffs than Bicycle.
Phoenix Deck
Best deck designed around magic
- Built for magicians, with a wide range of matching gimmicks
- Back design is symmetrical, which some reveals depend on
- Consistent stock between print runs
Gives up: less common at retail, and the audience is slightly more likely to notice it.
A marked deck
Best single upgrade once the basics are solid
- Lets you know a card without a sleight, which frees the whole routine
- Modern marking systems read at a glance and stay invisible to the audience
- Available in Bicycle stock so it matches the rest of your kit
Gives up: it is a crutch if bought too early. Learn the sleight first, then decide.
What to buy after the deck
A double-backed and a double-faced card
Two cards, and between them they carry a surprising amount of beginner material. Buy them in the same brand and color as your working decks.
A card clip or a decent case
A deck that lives loose in a pocket bends, and a bent deck is a marked deck. A clip costs very little and keeps a working deck square.
Two mistakes worth avoiding
Buying a beautiful deck
Custom decks with gold foil and elaborate backs are lovely objects and poor magic props. They draw attention to the deck, which is the opposite of what almost every effect needs, and they rarely have matching gaffs.
Buying gimmicks before technique
A self-working trick performed badly is worse than a simple sleight performed well. The deck and two gaff cards above will carry you a long way before equipment is the thing holding you back.
If you also want the deck to move well in the hands, see the cardistry picks.