Wow! I couldn't wait to get my hands on these cards and I must say...."This this was a Dream come True" :). I took them out and before I put the DVD in I sat for 1/2 hrs trying to find the marks. So...popped in the DVD and before he tells you where to look....goes in to great detail in the way the cards are built from the ground up (very interesting). When he finally lets u in on the secret. ...your like "Wow"! These decks are the best quality I've ever owned. And u can do 1000's of effects so much easier with these cards! Also as a bonus he gives you some great effects you can add to your routine. Phoenix Decks are gonna be my Decks from now on! Don't wait get yours now! One last note....you may have effects (Gimmicks) that use Bicycle Decks. No Problem. ..you can write to him and your Gimmick can be changed over to Phoenix Decks! One of the best buys I've gotten to date and I'm killing folks with my effects better...Stronger...and Faster!

The Phoenix MD is the best one i have tried. The markings are well hidden in the design and yet you will have the information in seconds. If you work with marked cards, this is highly recommended.

Phoenix in general is a high quality deck and handles well.

But know this before getting a marked deck...

If you are just getting started and still doing kind of cute easy to do tricks, please wait before getting one. Nobody is going to buy that you went from funny card gags to being this badass mindreader over nigth. Beware of shortcuts and learn some sleigths and forces, you`ll be happy you did...

I would recommend everyone new to marked decks that is purchasing this item to also purchase the book "HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGTH: A manual for marked cards" by Kirk Charles. This book gives great advice on misdirection and ways to use your MD.

I picked up this set with the most recent 'Choose 5' deal, and was not disappointed. I'd heard a fair bit about the Phoenix marked decks, and the fact that they are quick and easy to "read". What surprised me about these though was not the marking of the cards, but the total quality and feel.

The nearly 2 hour-long DVD that comes with this set offers an insight from Cardshark (the creator of the Phoenix Deck) into his design process and refinement, and watching this reveals just what a treasure these decks are. They are printed by USPCC, although for reasons explained on the DVD, they surpass the standard Bicycle decks in quality of card stock, printing and cutting. After hearing the creator explain his vision and the process that he has gone through to create these cards, I can see myself adopting the Phoenix as my regular deck.

I want to be honest in my review, though: In my opinion, I must disagree with the other reviews here that praise the deck markings. The coding on the marked decks is great for easy reading. But that means there is the inherent problem of being easily noticed. If you're performing correctly, that shouldn't be an issue - your spectators should never even think about the deck being marked. But if you're likely to have people snatch your cards and be annoying, please know that these will not pass the "riffle test" anywhere near as nicely as, say, the Boris Wild marked deck.

Nevertheless, the markings ARE subtle, and in this set you get two marked and two plain decks. If you're a card worker, you might be reluctant to give up the versatility of Bicycles, but I'd encourage you to give the Phoenix deck a try and see the quality. I was surprised. You might be too. And if you rely on your gaffs, the DVD in this set will explain how to go about obtaining them on Phoenix backs.

This is one of my best purchases on Penguin and I purchase a lot. You want to talk about getting your money worth. However, I will say that if you heavily rely on gimmicks this isn't for you. This is an amazing four deck purchase. I plan on ordering another shortly. Better than Bicycle.

The regular Phoenix decks:
Once you start using a "Phoenix Deck" you wont stop! Its simply the best quality you can get! and in addition it comes with an add-on that will fool the most savvy magicians on earth.

The Marked Phoenix deck:
WOW!

The marks on the back of the deck are impossible to find if you don't know where to look for. When you know where it is, its easy as 123.

If you're using a marked deck and its not a Phoenix, go ahead and get one asap, you'll get in love with it! :-)

Phoenix decks are beautiful. I feel very comfortable with this marks, very clever (unlike others that sooner or later the spectator can find the mark).
Thanks Card-Shark!

I love Phoenix decks they are just amazing!

The deck itself is good.Great idea and easy to read.However the DVD sucks.The guy that owns Cardshark on the DVD is boring as is the other guy on it.He should have hired an english speaking magician to make it.
He only shows two effects with the marked deck and they aren't that good.So now I'm going to buy a DVD showing tricks with a marked deck and hope its better than the one I got with the Phoniex marked deck package.

Excellent as I knew they would be

Just got it in the mail today.The marking on the decks and great.Quality is good too.Highly recommended.