A Guide to the 14 Types of Magic Tricks

Discover the Core Styles of Magic and How They Captivate Audiences

Magic is more than just a deck of cards or a disappearing coin - it’s an art form with centuries of history and endless creativity. While every magician brings their own flair to the stage, most illusions fall into specific categories. Whether you’re a magic enthusiast or planning a live performance, understanding these types of magic tricks can help you appreciate the craft on a deeper level.

Here’s your ultimate guide to the 14 main types of magic tricks that continue to mesmerise audiences around the world.

1. Levitation

The Art of Defying Gravity

One of the most visually stunning types of magic, levitation involves objects - or even people - floating in mid-air. Famous examples include David Copperfield’s Flying Illusion and Dynamo walking on water. Techniques vary from hidden supports to clever uses of physics and misdirection.

2. Transformation

Changing One Thing into Another

Transformation tricks involve altering the state, appearance, or identity of an object. Think of a card changing from red to black, or a dove transforming into a bouquet of flowers. It’s all about manipulating perception and guiding attention.

3. Vanishing

Now You See It... Now You Don’t

This classic category includes making objects disappear right before your eyes - cards, coins, or even people! Houdini’s Vanishing Elephant is one of the most famous examples of large-scale vanishing, and one of the greatest magic tricks of all time in general.

4. Restoration

Breaking and Mending the Impossible

Imagine tearing up a piece of paper only to restore it in perfect condition. Restoration tricks demonstrate an impossible reversal of damage, like sawing a woman in half and putting her back together.

5. Teleportation

Making Objects Travel Through Space

Teleportation tricks make it seem like objects (or people) move from one place to another instantly. David Copperfield famously made the Statue of Liberty disappear and reappear, while close-up magicians often use it to "transport" cards or coins.

6. Mind Reading / Mentalism

Predicting Thoughts and Reading Minds

Mentalism tricks blur the line between magic and psychology. Magicians predict thoughts, reveal hidden information, or influence decisions. Derren Brown is a master of this style, often stunning audiences with his mind-bending predictions.

7. Escapology

Breaking Free from Restraints

Popularised by Harry Houdini, escapology is all about freeing oneself from impossible restraints - straightjackets, handcuffs, water tanks, or even buried caskets. It’s an adrenaline-pumping display of skill and nerve.

8. Illusion

Creating the Impossible on a Grand Scale

These are large-scale stage tricks that defy belief: walking through walls, floating above the ground, or making cars disappear. Penn & Teller’s Bullet Catch is a prime example of a breathtaking stage illusion.

9. Penetration

Solid Objects Passing Through Each Other

Think of linking rings, where solid metal hoops seem to pass through each other effortlessly, or a pen that pushes straight through a banknote without leaving a mark. These tricks challenge what we know about solid matter.

10. Prediction

Foretelling the Future

Prediction tricks involve the magician successfully guessing a freely chosen card, the outcome of a dice roll, or even predicting a news headline days before it happens. This category often overlaps with mentalism.

11. Production

Making Something Appear from Nowhere

Production tricks are all about conjuring objects seemingly out of thin air. Pulling rabbits from hats or endless scarves from an empty hand are classic examples. Modern magicians often produce money, cards, or even phones for a contemporary twist.

12. Suspension

Defying Gravity with the Power of Balance

Suspension tricks make objects hover or balance in ways that seem impossible. This differs slightly from levitation because the object remains connected to a visible base or support - like the classic floating rope trick.

13. Multiplication

One Becomes Many

In multiplication tricks, magicians create duplicates of objects seemingly from nowhere. This is popular in coin magic, where a single coin can become a handful, or with cards, where duplicates magically appear.

14. Misdirection

The Real Secret Behind All Magic

While not technically a trick in itself, misdirection is the foundation of every illusion. It’s the art of diverting attention away from the method and focusing it on the magic. It’s how a coin disappears from one hand and reappears in another, or how a signed card ends up in your pocket.

Experience the Magic Firsthand with Slightly Unusual

At Slightly Unusual, we don’t just perform tricks - we create unforgettable experiences. From levitations and mind-reading to grand illusions and vanishes, our magicians specialise in every category of magic, making your event truly one-of-a-kind.