Rating Our Decks

Our Ratings on Decks and Brands

Over the last six years, I have been collecting cards just about anywhere I can find. This blog wouldn't be complete if I didn't give you guys a peek at my decks and how I would rate them based on value, durability, and design. I am an avid shopper, so I'll be sure to keep you all updated every month with all my recent purchases. I'd also say I have a pretty objective view on these products, so I hope that my insight will allow you to figure out whether the value of some of these "limited edition" and "luxury" decks are really worth the cost. 

Let's get started!

Virtuoso FWS17

The Virtuoso FWS17 deck was my first "limited edition" Cardistry deck. I was pleasantly surprised by the unique designs of the cards, especially the face cards. 

Link on eBay 

Value: 4/5

I paid around $15.53 on eBay for this deck (and got a 10% discount for buying two), and that was one of the best prices I could find for this version given that they're all out of print. Overall, I think the price was fairly reasonable, however, I only gave it a 4/5 as I was not pleased with the cheap material of the box.

Durability: 3/5 

As I mentioned above, the box is made of a fairly thin cardboard. If you aren't careful, the box will easily get dents which will be especially visible since there is black and grey paint on it. However, the cards themselves are of great quality. 

Design: 4.5/5

In all honesty, I'm not especially drawn to the design of the box compared to other decks I've seen. It's simple, sophisticated, and minimalist, but I personally prefer colorful and intricate designs. The cards of the deck are, as I mentioned above, very unique, so that's why I would give it an overall rating of 4.5/5.

Jazz Stripes

The Jazz Stripes deck is a cute, 90's themed deck with a unique box design. They are also considered "limited edition", but they aren't as expensive as the other luxury brand decks out there.

Link on eBay

Value: 4.5/5

I paid about $9.95 in total for two decks on eBay, so I'd say that's a great price for these. I've heard other buyers have bought over a dozen for an even cheaper price per deck. Though, I give this deck a value of 4.5/5 because the deck seems like any other deck you'd pick off the shelf at Walmart but for a few extra bucks. 

Durability: 3/5

I was not pleased that when I opened this deck it was perforated, and the flap at the bottom of the deck was unsealed, so I had to hot glue it back together. The perforation was especially a challenge as I had to take all the cards out, bend it just right, and carefully rip the top from the base of the deck. The cards are of fairly decent quality, but they're no better than any average casino deck. 

Design: 3.5/5

As much as I love the 90's design, it's just average. Not only that, but the face cards are pretty boring, and there is no difference between the box design and the cards other than the shiny "Jazz Stripes" title. Of course, it still is a cute addition to my deck, but the deck and box is pretty bulky and doesn't really "fit in" with my other cards when I display it. 

Mint 2 (Cucumber)

The Mint Cucumber is another one of my "limited edition" luxury cards but definitely on the more expensive side. The design is very modern and sleek.

Link on eBay

Value: 3.5/5

I'm always looking for the cheapest deck of these luxury cards, so I was able to snag these for about $15.06 on eBay (which is not a price I'd pay for two decks... which I usually do). The shipping was pretty slow, and the box was dented when I opened the package. Aside from my usual eBay grievances, the deck really isn't any better than a Theory 11 deck in terms of design and durability, so that's why I'll only be inclined to give this deck a 3.5/5 on value.

Durability: 5/5

The box is beautiful and well-made, in my opinion, and the cards are of great quality too. The stamp that was on it didn't tear off poorly like some Theory 11 and Bicycle card stamps do, so I was happy about that. 

Design: 4/5

As I mentioned before, the design really isn't all that different than the Theory 11 decks, so I can't give this design a full 5/5. The inside of the box has a really eye-catching design (sorry, it's not pictured), but so do all of the Theory 11 decks. The face cards are unique in a way, if that's something you're looking for. I can't say that this deck is special or unique in the way that a lot of other Cardistry decks are, but nonetheless I am proud to display this with my collection.

Theory 11

Theory 11 as a whole is my favorite brand of card decks out there. As you can see, I own nine decks, all of which have beautiful designs and some with pop-culture references. 

I shop for my Theory 11 decks solely in-store rather than online. Barnes & Noble has, by far, the best selection, but you can often find them at Target, as well.

Value: 4.5/5

The value of Theory 11 decks are almost unbeatable. Most decks cost between $9.99 and $11.99 from retail stores, but some other limited edition decks might cost you a little bit extra. Overall, the design and durability equally contribute to the value, as there are hundreds of designs to choose from and the cards and boxes hold up pretty well over time.

Durability: 4.5/5

The durability of these cards are some of the best. The only trouble I have ever run into is that the seals may rip part of the box off or leave some of the sticky substance on the flap. Other than that, the cards hold up great.

Design: 4/5

The designs are all very unique and most of the time they are gilded (see the Animal Kingdom deck which are not). The only reason that I would not give the design a 5/5 is due to the back of the cards not always being as glamorous as the boxes. If you really don't care about the back card designs, then you could give the boxes a 5/5, without question.