Divine and Conquer by Leo Reed

Effect

In Divine And Conquer, a magician spreads a deck of cards and asks two spectators to each think of one. The magician then reveals the first spectator's card directly, while the second spectator's card appears in an impossible location—such as the magician's pocket. The trick ends with the spectator counting the deck, discovering only 51 cards remain, confirming their card is truly missing.

Full details

Divine And Conquer is a mentalism-style card trick that relies on a clever method rather than sleight of hand. The routine involves two participants, making it more interactive and engaging than single-card revelations. The magician can perform the spread on a table or in their hands, adding flexibility to the presentation. The final reveal—where the second card appears in an impossible location—creates a strong magical moment.

The trick includes a built-in convincer: the spectator counts the deck and finds only 51 cards, reinforcing the impossibility of the effect. While the method requires no advanced sleight of hand, it does involve some memory work, though reviewers note it is not overly difficult.

Who should consider the trick

This trick is ideal for magicians who enjoy mentalism or want a strong, interactive card routine. Beginners can perform it since no sleight of hand is required, but it still offers depth for experienced performers who want to refine their presentation. Those who like hands-off, psychological magic will appreciate the method, as it allows for a clean, impossible-seeming reveal.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

The method is technically simple, with no sleight of hand needed. However, it does require some memory work, which Steve Faulkner describes as "not hard" and manageable even for those with a "shocking memory." The trick benefits from rehearsal to ensure smooth handling, especially when managing two spectators. Performance-wise, the angles are manageable for close-up settings, though it may not work well in a fully surrounded audience.

What magicians say

Steve Faulkner of RealMagicReview praises Divine And Conquer, calling it a "genuinely strong trick" that he would confidently use in a show. He compares it to classics like Mind Power Deck and Darren Brown’s Smoke, noting its similarity to well-established methods while still offering a fresh presentation. He appreciates the hands-off approach and the dramatic reveal, though he mentions that historical influences like John Kennedy and Annemann could have been credited more explicitly.

He also highlights the teaching quality, noting that Nicola Capo’s 1.5-hour instruction is thorough and well-presented. While the memory aspect might initially seem daunting, Faulkner reassures that it is easy to learn with practice. Overall, he considers it a versatile and impactful trick suitable for both casual and professional performances.