Banshees: Cards for Throwing is not a deck for playing but a set of cards designed exclusively for card throwing (throwing cards over a distance, a discipline that combines aim and showmanship). They were devised by the deck creator Jason Brumbalow after hearing a card thrown by Rick Smith Jr., known for his records in this field, produce an audible whistle. This is the standard edition; there is also a later version, Banshees Advanced.

• PublisherMurphy's Magic
• DesignJason Brumbalow
• Materialplastic blend, with die-cut holes and bevelled edges
• Contents54 identical cards for throwing

Design

The feature that gives them their name is the holes: each card has a group of die-cut holes in a specific shape and arrangement, designed so that they let out a shriek as they cut through the air, like the banshee of Irish folklore. According to distributors, the sound comes through even with throws that are not particularly fast. The face carries a measuring scale to check how deep the card penetrates soft targets such as polystyrene, and the edges are bevelled so they cut better.

Manufacturing

They are not made of card stock but of a plastic blend that makes them last longer than a paper card. They are slightly smaller and heavier than a regular poker card, and they are all identical. Even so, they are not indestructible: thrown against hard surfaces they may chip or break.