Mental Choice by David Jonathan and Nikolas Mavresis

Effect

The Mental Choice trick, specifically the version called Fortuna, presents a mentalism effect where a participant freely selects one of five culturally significant lucky charms. The performer then reveals that the choice was predicted in a surprising and impactful way. The reveals vary depending on the charm selected, each designed to be deceptive and memorable. The routine includes multiple strong outcomes, ensuring a powerful experience for the audience.

Full Details

Fortuna is a mentalism effect created by David Jonathan and Nikolas Mavresis. It uses five high-quality custom-manufactured props representing lucky charms from different cultures: an elephant, caduceus, horseshoe, tumi, and cornello. The participant freely chooses one, and the performer reveals a prediction in a way that feels impossible.

The trick employs multiple outs, meaning different outcomes are prepared based on the participant's choice. However, each reveal is designed to be self-contained and impactful. For example:

• If the participant picks the elephant, the back of the charm confirms their choice.
• If they choose the caduceus, a delayed reveal inside an envelope adds suspense.
• The horseshoe leads to a poker chip from the Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas.
• The tumi is subtly spelled out by all the charms combined.
• The cornello involves psychological influence, with hidden symbols reinforcing the choice.

The props are made of durable plastic, ensuring longevity. The routine resets instantly and packs flat, making it practical for everyday use.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick is ideal for:

• Mentalists who want a strong, self-contained routine.
• Magicians looking for a versatile effect with multiple outs.
• Performers who value practicality, as it resets quickly and is easy to carry.
• Those who enjoy psychological influence and deceptive reveals.

Difficulty

Fortuna is described as "extremely easy to do" by David Jonathan. The method relies more on presentation than complex sleight of hand, making it accessible to performers of varying skill levels. The key challenge lies in delivering the reveals convincingly and maintaining an engaging narrative about the lucky charms.

What Magicians Say

David Jonathan, one of the creators, calls Fortuna the "best version of mental choice ever." He emphasizes its deceptive nature and the impact of each reveal. The routine is praised for being:

• Super practical – Easy to reset and carry.
• Engaging – The cultural backstory of the charms adds depth.
• Strong in deception – Multiple outs ensure a powerful experience.

The trick is designed to be both entertaining and baffling, making it a strong addition to any performer's repertoire.