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This article is about a magic trick. For piercing with a stake or point, see Impalement. For the band, see Impaled (band).

Impalement is a stage illusion, in which the subject, often the stage assistant or magician himself, is first balanced at the spine above the waist on the tip of a sword, then spun around on it. After several revolutions, the sword passes through the subject, who then sinks downwards, onto the sword, apparently dead. The magician revives the subject, lifts him or her off of the sword, and then sets him or her onto the ground on his or her feet.

David Copperfield performs the illusion on himself, as did Wayne Dobson and similar magicians. These performances were generally very similar.

The Pendragons' performance is particularly noted, and is presented as being a "balancing feat". After being impaled, Charlotte is revived by a kiss, in the manner of Sleeping Beauty. It is also noted for the brevity of her costume, which is apparently intended to suggest the impossibility of the illusion.

Another magician, Marco Tempest, performs the illusion with a fluorescent tube-like "light-saber", to further create the impression that trickery is impossible.

The "victim" wears a steel corset whose parts are black to reduce their visibility beneath the costume. The sword is engaged into the back of the corset. The sword then either sinks into its mount or collapses like an antenna. On top, the victim opens a small part of the corset which was hidden by his or her costume. Everything is synchronized by musical cues so that the effective length visible to the spectator stays the same.

The music also serves to cover any noise of the upper part extending or lower part collapsing.

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