Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
- Why your first tarot deck matters
- Start with the three classic deck traditions
- What to look for when choosing a tarot deck
- Popular decks that work well for beginners
- Myths about your first tarot deck
- Bonding with your new deck
- Frequently asked questions
- Ready to start reading?
Choosing your first tarot deck is one of the most exciting moments in learning tarot, and one of the most confusing. Walk into any bookshop or scroll an online store and you will find hundreds of decks: gilded, minimalist, gothic, floral, animal-themed, even decks based on cats or video games. The good news is that there is no wrong answer. The better news is that a few simple guidelines will help you find the best tarot deck for beginners in your own hands: one that is easy to learn, pleasant to hold, and full of images that make you want to keep reading.
Why your first tarot deck matters
A tarot deck is a set of 78 pictures that you will look at again and again. Every card is a small story, and when you are learning, those pictures do much of the teaching for you. A deck with clear, detailed scenes lets you read a card by noticing what is happening in it, so you rely less on memorizing keywords. A deck with abstract or sparse imagery asks you to bring more knowledge to the table from day one.
That is why choosing a tarot deck is less about finding the "most powerful" deck and more about finding one you will actually use every day. The deck that lives in your bag and gets shuffled each morning will teach you far more than a beautiful collector's deck that stays on a shelf.
Start with the three classic deck traditions
Most tarot decks follow one of three traditions. Knowing which one a deck is based on tells you a lot about how easy it will be to learn.
Rider-Waite-Smith
The Rider-Waite-Smith deck, first published in 1909 and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, is the most widely used tarot deck in the world. Its biggest advantage for beginners is that every one of the 78 cards, including the numbered Minor Arcana, shows a full scene with people and action. The Three of Swords shows a heart pierced by three blades; the Six of Cups shows children sharing flowers. You can often guess a card's meaning just by looking at it.
Most tarot books, websites and courses (including our own tarot card meanings) use Rider-Waite-Smith imagery, so anything you study will match what you see on the table. Hundreds of modern decks are "RWS clones": new art laid over the same scenes and symbols, so you get a fresh look while keeping the classic structure.
Thoth
The Thoth deck, designed by Aleister Crowley and painted by Lady Frieda Harris, is rich with astrology, Kabbalah and alchemical symbolism. It is stunning, but its Minor Arcana use geometric arrangements rather than scenes, and some cards are renamed (Strength becomes Lust, Temperance becomes Art). Many readers love it, but most find it easier as a second deck once the basics feel familiar.
Tarot de Marseille
The Marseille tradition is older than both. Its numbered cards show patterns of cups, coins, swords and batons, much like playing cards, so readers rely on numerology, suits and position rather than illustrated scenes. It is a wonderful, direct way to read, but it asks for more study up front.
For most beginners, a Rider-Waite-Smith deck or a modern deck based on it is the easiest place to start.
What to look for when choosing a tarot deck
Once you know which tradition you prefer, these practical points will help you narrow it down.
- Illustrated Minor Arcana. Check that all 56 Minor Arcana cards show scenes, not just repeated symbols. Look up images of a few numbered cards, such as the Five of Pentacles or the Eight of Cups, before you buy.
- Art that pulls you in. You should want to look at these cards. If an image makes you curious about what is happening, that curiosity is exactly what drives intuitive reading.
- Clear, readable details. Very dark or busy artwork can be hard to read in dim light. Check that faces, objects and colors are easy to make out.
- Card size and feel. Standard tarot cards are larger than playing cards. If you have small hands, a mini or pocket edition can make shuffling far more comfortable. Matte cardstock is easier to shuffle than glossy stock that sticks together.
- A guidebook you will actually read. Many decks include a "little white book" with short meanings. A deck with a fuller guidebook can be a gentle companion while you learn.
- Inclusive, relatable imagery. Many modern decks feature diverse people and contemporary settings. Seeing yourself in the cards can make readings feel more personal.
Popular decks that work well for beginners
You do not need a specific deck, but these styles are consistently recommended for people choosing a first tarot deck:
- The original Rider-Waite-Smith (or a recolored edition). Classic, widely studied, and easy to cross-reference.
- Modern RWS-based decks with fresh art, such as watercolor, vintage or contemporary illustrated decks. They keep the familiar scenes while giving you a style you love.
- Decks with keywords printed on the cards. Some beginner decks print a short phrase on each card. They are helpful training wheels, though you may outgrow them quickly.
A useful test is to look at three Major Arcana cards in any deck you are considering: The Fool, The High Priestess and The Tower. If you can feel the difference between the Fool's fresh start, the High Priestess's quiet mystery and the Tower's sudden upheaval just from the art, the deck will be easy to read.
Myths about your first tarot deck
You may have heard a few superstitions. Here is what you can safely ignore.
"Your first tarot deck must be a gift"
This is one of the most common tarot myths, and it simply is not true. Buying your own deck is a wonderful act of commitment to your practice. If someone gives you a deck, enjoy it, but never wait for one.
"You need an expensive deck"
A mass-market Rider-Waite-Smith deck works exactly as well as a hand-gilded limited edition. Start affordable and treat yourself to a special deck once you know what you like.
"You can only have one deck"
Many readers own several decks and choose one to suit the question or their mood. Starting with one deck simply helps you learn the cards without juggling different art styles.
Bonding with your new deck
Once your deck arrives, spend some time getting to know it before you jump into big questions.
- Look through every card. Lay them out in order: the 22 Major Arcana, then each suit from Ace to King. Notice which images draw you in and which feel uncomfortable.
- Shuffle it often. Handling the cards breaks in the stock and helps the deck feel like yours.
- Pull a daily card. One card each morning is the fastest way to learn. You can practice the habit with our free Daily Tarot reading while your deck is on its way.
- Interview your deck. A simple six-card "deck interview" asks the deck what it is best at helping with, what its strengths are and what it hopes to teach you. It is a playful way to learn its voice.
- Keep notes. Write down the cards you draw and what happened that day. Patterns appear quickly.
If you want to understand the structure of the deck while you explore, our guides to the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana walk through every part of it, and How to Read Tarot Cards covers your first spreads.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best tarot deck for beginners?
A Rider-Waite-Smith deck, or a modern deck based on it, is the best tarot deck for most beginners. Every card shows an illustrated scene, and most learning resources use the same imagery.
Can I learn tarot with any deck?
Yes. You can learn with any 78-card deck, but decks with illustrated Minor Arcana make the numbered cards much easier to remember and read intuitively.
Is it bad luck to buy your own tarot cards?
No. Buying your own tarot deck is completely fine. The idea that a first deck must be gifted is a superstition with no basis in tarot tradition.
Should I start with oracle cards instead?
Oracle decks are lovely, but they have no fixed structure, so they will not teach you tarot. If your goal is to read tarot, start with a tarot deck.
Ready to start reading?
The best first tarot deck is the one you feel excited to shuffle. Pick a deck whose art speaks to you, start with one card a day, and let your understanding grow from there. While you wait for your cards to arrive, try a free One Card Tarot reading or a Three Card Tarot spread and talk through your cards with our live reader.