I was excited from the trailer to buy this, and I am so glad I bought it!! This truly is the best vanishing/diminishing deck ever! I like this more than VDeck because you can visually see the deck compress. Although some applications require a deck switch of the normal deck for the Decoy deck, it's not a hard switch at all. I have tried deck switches before, didn't really like them, but Decoy makes them so much easier for me because while I'm putting the normal deck in my pocket I say I'm reaching in for a sharpie (make up some excuse), no heat is on the cards in my hand that's visible because to the spectator, it looks so much like a deck of cards.

Pros:
- Perform COMPLETELY surrounded
-Extremely visual for the spectator
-So many applications.
1.You can have a spectator name a suit, and have the entire deck diminish down to the suit they named.
2. An EXTREMELY visual version of Panic, YOU CAN SHOW THE THICKNESS of the deck before the 4 cards and deck switch places, and show the deck visually decrease in size until you're left with four aces.
3. Have 4 spectators select a card, and have the deck diminish down to the selections.
4. Easy to end clean.
5. Use any back design you want.
6. It fits inside your normal deck.
-There are more pros and applications, I just haven't thought of them yet. This thing really sparks creativity!

Cons:
-Slightly angle sensitive. No, not what you're thinking. You can definitely do this completely surrounded, you just don't want people to look at it from the side, otherwise they'll see that it's a gimmick. This is not a problem for my performances because people are standing in front of me. For the best image, you want to look at it from an above angle/point of view.Angle sensitivity shouldn't be a problem.
-You don't end clean, but you can easily do a switch. I have been doing a switch and it works perfectly for me.
-Can't be performed in the spectators hands. It simply feels to light to be a deck of cards. But it's not that big of a deal.
-You only get 1 shot at making the gimmick with your favored back design, so be careful. I actually screwed up a little bit with my mine. Even though I messed up a bit, mine still looks really good!!! But still, be careful.
-The gimmick is fragile. You shouldn't have a problem with this, but it takes a gentle/light touch. For some people, it may take some getting used to, but it's soo worth it in the end.
For some help on the fragility and handling the gimmick, READ THE DIRECTIONS FIRST. Read the directions and watch the DVD first. I didn't read the instructions first, and I feel like I wouldn't have messed up as much if I had read them.

I have performed this many, many, many times, and it still works perfectly. I disagree with the review that says it breaks after the first day, they probably didn't handle it with as much care as they should of.

I have gotten amazing reactions from this and I HIGHLY recommend it.

Others reviewing this have no idea what they are saying, they are not even verified buyers of which I am, the gimmick is not detectable at allll! Especially if the laymen or even fellow magician does not know what is going to happen. My only problem is the gimmick is too fragile and can break easily, I wish they had included extra gimmicks or at least offer a standalone gimmick on any site for that matter. And the DVD could have been more instructive. But overall its Real good and if you do have presentation, its a worker.

When I watched the trailer for this effect I had no idea how it was done and I wanted it to go straight into a royal flush or four aces routine. But when I received it I was really impressed with the way the gimmick was. The DVD was great, zach meuller is always a great teacher. Great effect, well done gimmick, and great routine opener

The thing looks JUST like a deck of cards. From like 2 feet away. Pretty incredible. And I don't understand how they make this thing so it stands up on its own...but, yeah, somehow it does. And then collapses to almost nothing.

So you can start off with the DECOY Deck, diminish it to the 4 aces or a Royal Flush, and go from there....or, even better, you can switch a deck that you've been working with for a DECOY deck, and then diminish it, which should really fry people.

I know Blake and Justin have had some real fun with this in the past couple weeks...and me, too.

not for close up, in a video, you can hide it, but life is a different story.

The principle and gimmick to this is great but it is not worth $34 . It is angle proof except when held up to eye level. And once the deck is diminished you are not clean. Overall a good effect

This is the best diminishing deck! At first I thought that it was a gimmik that shoots cards one by one up your sleeve but I was wrong! You can get other people to diminish it (if they aren't familiar with cards) it's great you can even do it in other peoples hands! However you cannot go down eye level with the deck and you cannot have the deck next to other cards, it's delicate and you only get one chance with one deck! Oh we'll you can't get everything perfect. I put this at four stars and I thank Eoin o hare for sharing his idea!

This works best on video or at a comfortable distance. Very visual and impressive under the right circumstances. Disregard the written instructions provided and go straight to dvd before constructing gimmick or you'll be unable to perform the core routine(Ace must be on the bottom of gimmick and you only get one shot at construction). Recommended, but for limited use.

Not the best product, but has some magical factors to it. When using the Decoy you must be gental as it is very fragile and can be torn easily. Can't be shown to close-up as the fake is easy to see.

bought this off theory11 when first released, it looked really good on video. But you cannot let spectators examine the cards at all, not practical. probably will not use this much as you can't really do much with it. great for making videos. not worth the 35 i had say, but give Rick Lax method a try.