For centuries, magicians have been searching for the ultimate deck of cards. Ok, maybe not centuries, but for a while. I decided to make this review of every deck I've owned.
First, let me describe what I will be grading:
Finish: How smooth the deck is out of ten, ten being the highest
Stock: The thickness of each individual card and how it works for them. Ten is the highest
Design: How good the cards look. Ten is the highest.
Durability: How long the cards last.
Suspicions to Spectators: How suspicious looking the deck is to spectators. Ten being extremely suspicious.
Value for the Money: Is it worth the money? Ten being well worth it
1. Bicycles:
Finish: Much smoother than most decks on the market. Could be improved though 7/10
Stock: Pretty flimsy, could be improved greatly 5/10
Design: Nothing special, a pretty basic design. 5/10
Durability: They bend pretty easily, and lose the ability to fan after being dropped a few times. 5/10
Suspicion to Spectators: These are the cards that most laymen see. They are not suspicious at all. 0/10
Value for Money: A little over $2.00 at most stores. Well worth it. 8/10
2. Bees
Finish: Much smoother than most decks on the market. Could be improved though 7/10
Stock: Pretty flimsy, could be improved greatly 6/10
Design: Extremely boring design. 2/10
Durability: They bend pretty easily, and lose the ability to fan after being dropped a few times. 5/10
Suspicion to Spectators: Pretty basic cards, so they don't draw much suspicion. 2/10
Value for Money: Not worth the extra cash. 3/10
3. Black Tigers
Finish: Way smoother than regular bikes. 8/10
Stock: Slightly thicker than regular bikes. 7.5/10
Design: Totally cool-looking cards. However they could be a little, "blacker." 7/1 7.5/10
Durability: These lasted me a little longer than most bikes, but still not crazy long. 7/10
Suspicion to Spectators: They will want to examine these extensively, very suspicious. 7/10
Value for Money: The price could be brought down a little bit.
Note: I've noticed that these cards are slightly smaller than most poker-sized decks.
4. Vintage 1800s
Finish: Much smoother than most decks on the market. Could be improved though 7/10
Stock: Slightly thicker than regular bikes 5/10
Design: Extremely cool looking. One of my favorite E designs 9/10
Durability: They bend pretty easily, and lose the ability to fan after being dropped a few times. 5/10
Suspicion to Spectators: Most people actually think that these are aged cards. Not very suspicious, just cool. 4/10
Value for Money: A little too expensive for me. 6/10
5. Bicycle Masters:
Finish: Very, very smooth. Almost a little too slippery at times: 7.5/10
Stock: Same as the finish, thick, almost too thick. 7.5/10
Design: Same as regular bikes, nothing special.
Design: Nothing special, a pretty basic design. 5/10
Durability: Very durable cards, they last a good, long time. 8/10
Suspicion to Spectators: These are the cards that most laymen see. They are not suspicious at all. 0/10
Value for Money: A very good value. A $0.50 price drop would be nice though. 8.5/10
6. Ghost Deck
Finish: Very, very smooth. Almost a little too slippery at times: 7.5/10
Stock: Same as the finish, thick, almost too thick. 7.5/10
Design: Kind of a cool idea, but I think E could've done it a little better. A little boring in my opinion. The Ace of Spades is the best out there though. 6.5/10
Durability: Very durable cards, they last a good, long time. 8/10
Suspicion to Spectators: A little more suspicious than regular bikes, but not nearly as suspicious as Black Tigers.
Value for Money: A pretty fair price. Could be cheaper tough. 8/10
7. Shadow Masters:
Finish: Very, very smooth. Almost a little too slippery at times: 7.5/10
Stock: Same as the finish, thick, almost too thick. 7.5/10
Design: Kind of a cool idea, but I think E could've done it a little better. I notice a lot of bad quality printing due to how much black ink was put on these things. The clubs and spades look awful. 6.5/10
Durability: Very durable cards, they last a good, long time. 8/10
Suspicion to Spectators: Extremely suspicous. These are the most suspicous looking cards I own. 9/10
8. Bicycle Guardians:
Finish: The same as regular bikes, but still pretty good in my opinion. 7/10
Stock: Could be slightly thicker. Other than that, great. 8/10
Design: Great looking cards, however the white borders make them look a little cheap. I would like maybe some off-white borders. The artwork is incredible. 7.5/10
Durability: Better than expected. Can survive being dropped a few more times than regular bikes, and don't bend easily. 7.5/10
Suspicion to Spectators: Suspcious, but not nearly as much as the Shadow Masters or Black Tigers. 6/10
Value for Money: I would appreciate a dollar price drop. 7/10
9. Bicycle Centurions:
Finish: Supposedly the same as regular bikes, but I think they're a little bit better. 7.5/10
Stock: Not to thin, not too thick, just the way I like it. The best stock out there. 10/10
Design: A cool design, but not too loud. I like them. 8/10
Suspicion to Spectators: Not as incognito as bikes, but still pretty normal looking. 5/10
Value for Money: The best deck I've ever used. Totally worth $4.95. 9/10.
Bottom Line: Unless you can get your hands on a free deck of Jerry's Nuggets, Bicycle Centurions and Masters are the way to go.
I love Centurions. They're my go-to deck.
I will add more if I buy anymore decks.
Please alert me if I missed a certain grade on any deck.
I might get a deck of Split Spades soon, so be on the lookout for a review.
If anyone is selling White Centurions, please send me a PM.
First, let me describe what I will be grading:
Finish: How smooth the deck is out of ten, ten being the highest
Stock: The thickness of each individual card and how it works for them. Ten is the highest
Design: How good the cards look. Ten is the highest.
Durability: How long the cards last.
Suspicions to Spectators: How suspicious looking the deck is to spectators. Ten being extremely suspicious.
Value for the Money: Is it worth the money? Ten being well worth it
1. Bicycles:
Finish: Much smoother than most decks on the market. Could be improved though 7/10
Stock: Pretty flimsy, could be improved greatly 5/10
Design: Nothing special, a pretty basic design. 5/10
Durability: They bend pretty easily, and lose the ability to fan after being dropped a few times. 5/10
Suspicion to Spectators: These are the cards that most laymen see. They are not suspicious at all. 0/10
Value for Money: A little over $2.00 at most stores. Well worth it. 8/10
2. Bees
Finish: Much smoother than most decks on the market. Could be improved though 7/10
Stock: Pretty flimsy, could be improved greatly 6/10
Design: Extremely boring design. 2/10
Durability: They bend pretty easily, and lose the ability to fan after being dropped a few times. 5/10
Suspicion to Spectators: Pretty basic cards, so they don't draw much suspicion. 2/10
Value for Money: Not worth the extra cash. 3/10
3. Black Tigers
Finish: Way smoother than regular bikes. 8/10
Stock: Slightly thicker than regular bikes. 7.5/10
Design: Totally cool-looking cards. However they could be a little, "blacker." 7/1 7.5/10
Durability: These lasted me a little longer than most bikes, but still not crazy long. 7/10
Suspicion to Spectators: They will want to examine these extensively, very suspicious. 7/10
Value for Money: The price could be brought down a little bit.
Note: I've noticed that these cards are slightly smaller than most poker-sized decks.
4. Vintage 1800s
Finish: Much smoother than most decks on the market. Could be improved though 7/10
Stock: Slightly thicker than regular bikes 5/10
Design: Extremely cool looking. One of my favorite E designs 9/10
Durability: They bend pretty easily, and lose the ability to fan after being dropped a few times. 5/10
Suspicion to Spectators: Most people actually think that these are aged cards. Not very suspicious, just cool. 4/10
Value for Money: A little too expensive for me. 6/10
5. Bicycle Masters:
Finish: Very, very smooth. Almost a little too slippery at times: 7.5/10
Stock: Same as the finish, thick, almost too thick. 7.5/10
Design: Same as regular bikes, nothing special.
Design: Nothing special, a pretty basic design. 5/10
Durability: Very durable cards, they last a good, long time. 8/10
Suspicion to Spectators: These are the cards that most laymen see. They are not suspicious at all. 0/10
Value for Money: A very good value. A $0.50 price drop would be nice though. 8.5/10
6. Ghost Deck
Finish: Very, very smooth. Almost a little too slippery at times: 7.5/10
Stock: Same as the finish, thick, almost too thick. 7.5/10
Design: Kind of a cool idea, but I think E could've done it a little better. A little boring in my opinion. The Ace of Spades is the best out there though. 6.5/10
Durability: Very durable cards, they last a good, long time. 8/10
Suspicion to Spectators: A little more suspicious than regular bikes, but not nearly as suspicious as Black Tigers.
Value for Money: A pretty fair price. Could be cheaper tough. 8/10
7. Shadow Masters:
Finish: Very, very smooth. Almost a little too slippery at times: 7.5/10
Stock: Same as the finish, thick, almost too thick. 7.5/10
Design: Kind of a cool idea, but I think E could've done it a little better. I notice a lot of bad quality printing due to how much black ink was put on these things. The clubs and spades look awful. 6.5/10
Durability: Very durable cards, they last a good, long time. 8/10
Suspicion to Spectators: Extremely suspicous. These are the most suspicous looking cards I own. 9/10
8. Bicycle Guardians:
Finish: The same as regular bikes, but still pretty good in my opinion. 7/10
Stock: Could be slightly thicker. Other than that, great. 8/10
Design: Great looking cards, however the white borders make them look a little cheap. I would like maybe some off-white borders. The artwork is incredible. 7.5/10
Durability: Better than expected. Can survive being dropped a few more times than regular bikes, and don't bend easily. 7.5/10
Suspicion to Spectators: Suspcious, but not nearly as much as the Shadow Masters or Black Tigers. 6/10
Value for Money: I would appreciate a dollar price drop. 7/10
9. Bicycle Centurions:
Finish: Supposedly the same as regular bikes, but I think they're a little bit better. 7.5/10
Stock: Not to thin, not too thick, just the way I like it. The best stock out there. 10/10
Design: A cool design, but not too loud. I like them. 8/10
Suspicion to Spectators: Not as incognito as bikes, but still pretty normal looking. 5/10
Value for Money: The best deck I've ever used. Totally worth $4.95. 9/10.
Bottom Line: Unless you can get your hands on a free deck of Jerry's Nuggets, Bicycle Centurions and Masters are the way to go.
I love Centurions. They're my go-to deck.
I will add more if I buy anymore decks.
Please alert me if I missed a certain grade on any deck.
I might get a deck of Split Spades soon, so be on the lookout for a review.
If anyone is selling White Centurions, please send me a PM.
Last edited by a moderator:
