It is with much consideration - I write this **Honest Review** - It is very unreliable! CONSIDER this before buying... One has to spend "alot" I mean alot - of time - in getting the "right amount" of S......" and if Not right then;- 1. will not be - visible.... 2. too much - will be over shot/ unclear !." I am not unacustomed to testing,testing & testing before performances - but, this Effect - Out of numerous - attempts - worked every now and then!. For the working Magician/ Close up - best by pass this! 2 other noted magicians - have tried /tested this with the same results
**Note : The old method that - HOUDINI did in the 1960's movie with BESS's name on ....is the best... I give this 2 stars and should be placed in - the Ashes!!

Unless you live under a bridge, you have what is required to refill this effect. That being said. If you like this effect, get it...all the material (gimmicks) are absolutely first rate. My only mistake was not purchasing a couple one way forcing decks (4C and 10S) only necessary if you plan to do the effect as in the demo...ie tearing the card in half and burning one half for the ashes

This is one of those tricks that will not impress other magicians, but let's be honest, if that's your audience, you're doing this whole magic thing wrong. It leaves an impression on your audience. Most of the time, they're left speechless.
You'll be able to perform this just about right after watching the video. It's good that it comes with two options for force cards. If additional cards were made in the future,I'd buy more and I think anyone would.
Excellent. easy to do trick that floors your audience. Get this.

Deviously Simple trick, a gimmick that you can use over and over (potentially many 100's of times if you take care of it), and while I'm usually not a big fan of ashes effects - you can put some twists onto this effect yourself to make it even better.

Even if you don't though, Phoenix Ashes is fun, easy, and the reveal in flat out incredible. Larry Jennings once said "If you know 50 sleights but only one reveal, you only know one trick. But if you know just once sleight and 50 reveals, you know 50 different tricks." That comment applies with Phoenix Ashes. You reveal a chosen card by burning half of it, leaving the spectator with the other half. You then use the ashes from the burned half, rub it on your arm, and that half appears VERY clearly on your arm like a tattoo made of ash! Arm can be felt before and after the ashes are spread! They will feel nothing before and won't be able to rub it off after. Very, very Cool Effect! Would have given 5 stars if it were slightly less expensive, but still worth it with what you get...oh, and you need something they don't provide - something supremely inexpensive that I would hope EVERYONE has at home!

This trick is not for walk around. Better as a one time effect done at a party or show, or for friends. Requires set up, but not a lot and you need to do the effect shortly after set up. Too much time, and other considerations, can cause the effect to not work. Cannot say what they are without giving away the trick. Just know that some things will make the effect not work.

All that being said, if you set up before you start and do it within a reasonable time and avoid certain situations, you will have a very visual and startling effect that is a big hit with the audience.

Phoenix Ashes is designed with an ingenious gimmick. If you have the gimmick that comes with this DVD (and something else I guarantee you have around the house) and a deck of Bicycle Cards, you are ready to perform, and this effect gets spectators a sense of awe. It looks like real magic, and when you're performing, it feels like real magic. The gimmick should last close to forever and the DVD is Extremely short bc the trick is extremely simple. If you want to burn the ashes of a spectator's chosen card into your arm with the actual ashes of a playing card, get this effect. The reactions alone will pay you back tenfold.

I never really was a fan of the ashes on arm trick until now... This trick has gotten me crazy reactions the spectators just don't know what to think it looks like real magic...the gimmicks are very well made should last forever. It fits in your pocket so you can have it on you at all times...you do need a special something else which everyone probably has in their own house if not you can buy it for maybe two dollars if even that. It's super simple to do they can check out your arm before and after which is awesome try can clearly see before that there is nothing on your arm try can look touch it and won't find a thing. The DVD is super short but there really is nothing to the method he just shows how to use the gimmick but it's pretty self explanatory..it's definetly worth to own you won't be dissapointed and it closes ppl away. I would pick up a couple of one way force decks the 10 of spades and the 4 of clubs cause otherwise evey time you get a new deck of cards you can only performan it twice since you burn the card