THE BEST Playing Cards

Theory11’s elegant U.S. made playing cards feature intricately detailed line art and are packed in a glorious gold and bronze foil hot-stamped box that’s alone worth the price of admission. Splurge for the handcrafted African hardwood box set for a truly special gift.

These unique playing cards feature wonderful illustrations by designer Brendan Hong. Each image is a reflection of Hong’s own Chinese heritage, and the theme carries across the entire court of face cards, on the card backs, the box and its seal.

Vsauce talks about how cardists use patterns and probabilities to create long-winded tricks that seem to ensure a random outcome, even though what they’ve really done is the opposite. And then your eyes will glaze over as he explains that 52! is a large number.

The Type Deck replaces the typical fronts of playing cards with text descriptions of their values, each represented in beautiful, flowing typography. We love the Joker that includes all 26 letters of the English alphabet.

Zach Mueller shows off one of the most impressive acts of cardistry we’ve seen, as he manages to keep cards nearly stationary as his hands move around them, creating the illusion that the cards are floating. If the cards don’t mesmerize you, his intense gaze will.

Inspired by the classic playing cards which commemorated Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight, Dan & Dave’s very special edition pays to Howard Hughes and his aeronautical achievements. The back of each card features Hughes’ H-1 Racer soaring above the globe.

Play poker, go fish, spades or your favorite game with these official Gremlins playing cards, illustrated by Nat Iwata for Albino Dragon. Just keep them away from the sun, never get them wet, and never ever deal them after midnight.

Designer Ade Suryana’s exquisite playing cards feature a new spin on classic card designs, with intricate vintage-style green backs, a tapered look to its numbers and suit designs, and unique face cards.

Artist Soleil Zumbrunn du Midi sold out of her earlier glitch image playing cards, so she’s back with a new batch, with two different decks, each with their own unique box art, and designs that incorporate vibrant spot color inks.

Designed by Joe Doucet, these ultra-minimal regulation playing cards have done away with all but the most critical information, the card’s value and a geometric symbol for its suit. Available in white or black.

The slick and smooth cardistry of Fontaine Card’s founder Zach Mueller is especially impressive when played at 60 frames per second. He makes it look easy, but watch his tutorials to learn just how tricky these card flourishes really are.

Inspired by architectural elements of New York City’s NoMad Hotel, these gorgeous bespoke playing cards from Theory11 have a distressed look, and intricate line-art jokers. Each box is gold embossed and has a State of New York seal.

Huron Low, Kevin Ho and Daren Yeow of The Virts are back to show off their impressive card handling skills with Virtuoso’s new SS15 deck, with its vibrant and eyecatching color scheme. Sign up to get on the early bird order list.

Goonies never say die! After wrapping up a successful Kickstarter campaign, you can now buy Albino Dragon’s Goonies deck without the long wait. The face cards include Chunk, Mikey, One-Eyed Willie, Mouth, Sloth, Mama and more.

Created by Adam Farbiarz and Adam Thompson, each of these cards has an illustration which represents its value and suit. You’ll have as much fun trying to figure out what each cards as the card game you’re playing with them.

Not only are these plastic playing cards coated with 24-carat gold foil, but they’ve got an imprint of a Benjamin on the back of each card. Packed in a wood box with a “certificate of authenticity” for what it’s worth.

Justin Flom from Wizard Wars and Blake Vogt are taking it to the diner and doing a magnificent and mystifying card trick in this vid; seriously, we’ve watched this multiple times and just get lost right after 1:50. How did they do that?

San Francisco-based artist Ben Vierk is putting together a beautifully detailed pack of playing cards with designs inspired by money, ancient symbols and uncommon geometry. Who knew those things could be so gorgeous together?

Designed by Balance Wu for Molla Space, these PVC playing cards feature creepy X-ray skulls on front and back and allow light to pass through them without giving away the cards you’re holding to other players.

Next time you play a game of poker, turn the lights out and switch on some black light to play a game with Bicycle’s creepy but awesome Tragic Royalty playing cards, which glow eerily under ultraviolet light. (Image credit: Dex)

While it may take some time to get used to all four suits being printed in the same ink color, there’s no question that these playing cards are cool. These bright red cards are embellished on back with an equally sinister dragon.

The Edgy Brothers‘ Bicycle playing cards are inspired by the Mexican Day of the Dead. Each face card is embellished with intricate skeletons. Let’s help them get to their $50k stretch goal so those awesome painted decks get made.

Inspired by a mysterious box that J.J. Abrams received from his grandpa, theory11 created this lock box from 100-year-old wood, its contents yours to discover – or swap with your own heirlooms. Proceeds benefit 826 National.

Richard Turner calls himself a “card mechanic” but at the end of the day, he’s an master of sleight of hand who can move cards around the deck to suit his whim without the benefit of sight. And yes, he has a son named “Ace of Spades.”

Created by Harris Soetikno, these beautifully illustrated playing cards let you take a journey around the world every time you shuffle. Each card is embellished with an image of one of 52 different cities and historic sites.

As is evidenced by its price tag, carbon fiber isn’t exactly an inexpensive material to work with. However, if you do buy Sly Kly’s badass playing cards, you’ll be treated to a deck that will probably outlast all of us. Choose matte or gloss.