Hi fellow Penguins! I posted a previous review of this great product that was apparently removed for being "inaccurate." There appears to be an ongoing debate as to whether or not a Phoenix deck is required for use with Prism . . .

While you can absolutely perform SOME of the included effects in Prism with a Bicycle deck, there are a FEW that you CANNOT!

I have addressed this issue with Penguin Magic and have now e-mailed Joshua Jay. Let me be clear (again): PRISM IS A GREAT EFFECT! The deck is awesome, Josh's instructions are well explained and easy to understand (as usual), the DVD production is superior (as is always the case with Josh).

But I STRONGLY feel that a Phoenix deck should be included, or at the very least, recommended!

Thanks,

Rick Calamia, Jr.
New Orleans, LA

Beautifully crafted deck of cards and it has a number of uses but cards are missing.... I can't say what they are here but if you want to perform the trick just as it were in the demo or teachings then these cards are a must!!! you can use any deck, true! but it changes the routine toward the end slightly that my spectators were able to point out. This is why your hearing that you need an extra phoenix deck, those cards needed to perform this trick exactly as Joshua did on the demo or dvd can only be found in a regular phoenix deck.....Maybe Im just being anal because I can use my bicycle cards but the pips are clearly different and that bothers me.......Everything else on this dvd though is pure gold, I knocked it one star for the missing cards... Great buy, I would definitely buy another prism deck when the one I have gets tired and old....

The new run of the prism deck is now printed at USPC, in best possible Phoenix Master quality.

I really really wanted to like this deck. I love color changing deck routines, especially with a rainbow deck finish. I was excited to add this to my arsenal, but I am now returning it to Penguin.

First, the pros. The routining is killer. Joshua has built a great routine that includes several tricks, all of which serve to build strong conviction for the audience that the deck is normal. Thus, when the change to a rainbow deck happens, its extremely magical. Joshua has also combined the color-changing deck effect with a four ace production and triumph effect, which makes the effect into a great closer. This is as strong as card magic gets. The instruction, as expected, is excellent.

The LOOK of the deck is great too. For years, I have wanted a rainbow deck that looks like this, with a combination of regular backs, casino backs, tourist and dollar store type backs, etc. The design of the backs is really great looking. And some of the backs are useful for doing other tricks.

Now, the cons. According to the manufacturer, the Phoenix Deck is available in two finishes - a "professional" quality, which is on bicycle stock with an air-cushion finish, and a "traditional" quality, which is on a proprietary stock with a smooth glide finish. For some reason I can't understand, the Prism deck was printed on a "traditional" quality Phoenix deck. This deck is of noticeably lower quality than a bicycle deck. Handling the deck for sleight of hand is significantly harder, and the deck is more likely to warp and buckle. In my case, the Prism deck I purchased buckled almost immediately after opening, so the deck "clicks" when I bend it up and down. Having used other decks with a "smooth glide" finish before, I also know that these decks become sticky and hard to handle more quickly that better quality decks.

In addition, the Prism deck does not include all of the cards necessary to do the effect advertised. If you want to do the effect with aces, you will need at least one other Phoenix deck. Actually, two more Phoenix decks, so you have the right number of jokers. You can, technically, add cards from non-Phoenix decks. However, if you add cards from non-Phoenix decks, you will not be able to use the aces, and the handling may be tougher, because you will be using cards with two different finishes. There's also a chance that a perceptive spectator may feel the difference between the cards.

Joshua refers to the color-changing deck effect with four aces his "core routine." The decision to use a low-quality card stock is perplexing, but the decision not to include all the necessary cards to do the core routine is in my opinion unacceptable. I expect that if I'm buying an effect, I'll receive the necessary props to perform that effect.

It's a shame, because I love the color-changing deck effect, and I really wanted to like this version. If you don't know a color changing deck effect, this might be worth buying to gain access to Joshua's routining for the effect. For me, however, I'll be returning this to Penguin for a refund.

Unfortunately the last two reviewers have not really payed attention to the instructions shown on the DVD. An extra Phoenix Deck is absolutely NOT necessary. You can use any card deck of your choice. This is one of the beautiful things about the PRISM. This is a MUST have. Perfectly manufactured Deck and GREAT DVD. Well done Joshua!

The deck is great, and as always Joshua Jay is an expert teacher. I have nothing bad to say about the deck, as it is of excellent quality and very unique. I love the marking system, as well as the versatility of the deck itself. The only thing I don't like is that a lot of the tricks Joshua Jay teaches, requires a lot of extra cards from the Phoenix deck. Personally I think a Phoenix deck should have been included, because if I knew I'd have bought one of those as well. Other than that, absolutely nothing bad to say about this deck.

Joshua did a fantastic job teaching the basic handeling for the Prism Deck on the instructional DVD. The trick and deck is a very well thought out strong piece of magic.I love the effect. There are also several additional effects that can be perfromed with the the additional cards provided that are not only appreciated but make this deck an added benefit for walk around. That is not to say there is not disappointments with this package. There are two major strikes with this package. My feedback will seem to parrot a few similar complaints already posted. The first complaint is that it was made to look like a Phoenix deck and you need additional cards (not included). You need additional cards if you want the Phoenix cards and you need twice as many if you substitute them for say, bicycle. If you want to state that you do not need them, you are correct however, you would need to at the very least substitute even the provided cards with cards from another deck (the aces).Don't forget that would also leave the other bonus cards like the Kiss print cards and color changing cards worthless if you do not use a phoenix deck. No biggie? I disagree completely. The buyer should absolutely beware. You will absolutely want to either purchase another red backed Phoenix deck or be prepared to have a double set of Aces from whatever deck you do have/will purchase as well as knowing that a few of the bonus cards cannot be used. My second disapointment. Quality of the card stock. The cards I received buckled. They are not flat. I would never use a deck like this in my walk around because the cards do not stay uniformed. They pop when you riffle them and stay bowed. Terrible. Is this because they are lower quality cards or did this happen because of shipping? Either way, extremely disappointed. They seem thinner than bicycle. Over all I do love the possibilities of this effect. The effect is field tested by Josh for 4 years. It is a worker. The content is killer. However the package should have included everything needed and possibly been better quality. I stated this before...add a recommended warning (whatever else is needed) to the boxes like they do with batteries.

the Prism deck is a fantastic and well made deck. It is truly the best color changing deck. But what really excites me is that there is so many cards that can do their own trick if u want to see each card in detail check out this link:

Also there is so many routines that can be done with the PRISM deck or a regular deck. He has given you a whole act if not 2 whole acts. There is about 22 routines. Definitely check it out if u want a new color changing deck or if u just want to see some really good 4 or 5 routines not using the PRISM deck, or using his handling to do your own color changing deck with your own deck.

The PRISM deck is amazing, and an epic effect. The only reason you would need a Phoenix deck is to do the ROR-Shock effect, but otherwise you can use any other card deck. I wouldn't suggest this to beginners to magic and card tricks, due to the slight of hand. Though if you are up to the challenge it is really amazing! Contrary to other reviews, it comes with everything you need, though there was a scratch on the DVD when it came. I'm sure if whoever is reading this orders the PRISM deck, the disk most likely won't have the scratch. It is overall a spectacular deck and I highly suggest it, the PRISM deck works great on all audiences and doesn't involve a table. It is convenient and easy to understand, I highly suggest it.

When i opened this up i was like that's it but then i learned that the effect is just so amazing. You do need two extra pheonix back deck but those will cost you like 4 dollars. There are 3 great effects and then a finale of showing that you hve used a deck with all different back designs. there is no deck switch and the deck is fairly good at handling. it isn't the best but it doesn't matter. alot of the cards can help you do other tricks. one is similar to aaron fischers secret weapon and other funny and cool cards. the teaching and quality is amazing. i preform this trick so many times and it gets great reactions. Lastly the reset only takes about a minute once you know how to set it up. just get this instead of some other card trick. this isnt a one trick dvd this is utility device! get it now!!!