Choose a deck you want to learn with
Start with three questions: Do the images interest you? Does the deck match the approach you want to study? Can you comfortably use the cards and instructions? A beautiful box is only one part of that decision.
Tarot can be a spiritual practice, a reflective tool or both. You can honour a feeling of connection with a deck while checking its contents, practical fit and price. A stronger connection is not proof that a deck can guarantee future events.
What is in a tarot deck?
A familiar tarot pack contains 78 reading cards, usually divided as follows. Extra art cards or alternative versions can be included, so read the contents of the exact edition.
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22 Major Arcana
The familiar sequence from the Fool to the World. Names, order and artwork can differ, so check the particular deck rather than assuming every system is identical.
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40 numbered suit cards
Ace to Ten in four suits. These may show scenes, arranged suit symbols or abstract designs; that choice affects how you study the deck.
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16 court cards
Four ranks in each suit. Rider-Waite-Smith commonly uses Page, Knight, Queen and King; other systems use different titles and relationships.
A guide may be a printed book, leaflet, download or separately sold resource. Check before buying rather than assuming a guidebook is always in the box. Tarot and oracle decks are not interchangeable labels: an oracle deck may use a different structure.
For historical context, the Metropolitan Museum’s account of early tarot describes fifteenth-century Italian playing cards and their trump sequence. Modern spiritual reading traditions developed later. Britannica’s tarot entry is another starting point for the wider history.
Compare the approach, not a ranking
RWS, Thoth and Marseille are three influential reference points, not a complete family tree. A modern or themed deck can borrow from more than one. None requires the same learning path for everyone.
Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS)
- Origins
- Pamela Colman Smith illustrated the deck under A. E. Waite’s direction; it was first published in 1909.
- Number cards
- Scenes suggest actions and situations, alongside suit and number. The Five of Pentacles, for example, shows figures outside a lit window.
- Courts and trumps
- Page, Knight, Queen and King. Strength is VIII and Justice XI in the familiar original sequence.
- Learning fit
- Useful when your chosen course or book teaches RWS imagery. Pictures offer a starting point, but you can still benefit from learning the symbols and context.
Thoth
- Origins
- Painted by Lady Frieda Harris with Aleister Crowley between 1938 and 1943; the deck was published in 1969.
- Number cards
- Geometric arrangements, suit emblems and titles work with astrological and Qabalistic correspondences rather than RWS-style everyday scenes.
- Courts and trumps
- Knight, Queen, Prince and Princess. Titles include Adjustment, Lust, Art and Aeon; do not assume that an RWS court rank maps directly onto the same name here.
- Learning fit
- Consider it if its art and esoteric framework interest you. A beginner can start here with a suitable Thoth guide; it is not an RWS deck with different pictures.
Tarot de Marseille
- Origins
- A family of historical printing patterns, not a single creator’s deck. Look at the particular maker, restoration or edition being offered.
- Number cards
- The pip cards generally arrange repeated suit symbols with decorative elements rather than narrative scenes. Readers may work with number, suit, visual pattern and context.
- Courts and trumps
- Often Valet, Cavalier, Reine and Roi, or translated equivalents. Familiar Marseille patterns place Justice at VIII and Strength at XI.
- Learning fit
- A good option if you enjoy the older visual style and a pip-reading approach. Choose Marseille-specific teaching instead of expecting RWS picture descriptions to match.
Modern, themed and independent decks
- Origins
- These descriptions overlap: a themed deck may follow RWS, Thoth, Marseille or a creator’s own approach. The publication date alone does not identify its system.
- Number cards
- Some closely echo familiar scenes; others alter symbols, names or card counts. Check more than the cover illustration.
- Courts and trumps
- Ranks and titles may be renamed or reimagined. Read how the creator explains those changes and whether the deck contains the usual tarot structure.
- Learning fit
- A theme you love can help you stay interested, including as a first deck. The useful question is whether its images and instructions support the way you want to learn.
“Pip” does not mean unillustrated or less meaningful: ornament, colour, spacing and suit symbols are still visual material. Nor does a scenic card explain itself completely. You may prefer learning through a story, a pattern or a combination.
To see a historical pack rather than a modern reconstruction alone, the Bibliothèque nationale de France’s Conver catalogue record describes a 78-card Marseille-pattern woodcut pack. Historical objects and present-day restorations should not be treated as identical products.
Five practical checks before buying
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Images you want to revisit
Look at several Minor Arcana cards, not just the dramatic Major Arcana. Notice whether you prefer scenes, patterns, symbols or a mixture. Immediate picture recognition is useful for some readers, but it is not a pass-or-fail test for a good deck.
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A size and layout you can use
Dimensions vary by edition. Around 70 × 120 mm is a common full-size format, not a universal standard. Check text size, contrast and symbol detail as well as whether you can comfortably hold, cut or spread the cards.
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Stock, coating and edges
There is no single best weight or finish. Flexible and rigid stocks handle differently; gloss, matte, linen texture and gilding can each affect grip. Look for handling demonstrations or edition-specific comments rather than assuming all thin or glossy cards are poor.
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Instructions that suit your learning
Check the language, format and sample pages. A short booklet can be enough alongside another compatible resource; a long book is not automatically clearer. Confirm whether a digital guide is included and whether you can access it comfortably.
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The actual edition, cost and contents
Check the full price, included cards, box, guide and any differences between pocket, standard and collector editions. Borders and boxes are preferences, not a reliable lifespan guarantee. Buy from a source that clearly identifies the publisher or creator.
A five-step way to make your choice
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Name the purpose and set a limit
Is this for personal reflection, spiritual practice, learning a particular tradition, reading with others or collecting? Set a comfortable total budget. If you already have a usable deck, it may be worth learning with that before buying another.
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Match the deck to the method you want to learn
If a book teaches RWS, choose a deck whose imagery makes those explanations easy to follow. If Thoth or Marseille draws you, find teaching that actually uses that system. You do not need to graduate through one family before trying another.
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Inspect a small, varied sample
A twelve-card sample is a useful shopping exercise, not a rule. Try the Six of Swords, Four of Cups and Seven of Pentacles, two court cards, the Tower and the Star, plus five other cards. Ask what you notice, what confuses you and whether the guide helps.
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Check practical fit before ordering
Confirm dimensions, readability, contents and return terms for the exact edition. If a detail is missing, ask the seller or publisher; an incomplete listing is a reason to clarify, not proof of a bad deck. A larger card can be easier to see even if you choose a different shuffling method.
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Try a gentle learning period
When the deck arrives, count the cards and check for damage or printing problems within the seller’s return window. Then try a few short readings or journal entries. A month is one possible rhythm, not a promise that discomfort will disappear in week three or a reason to ignore a faulty purchase.
For example, you might love a Marseille-style pip deck but own an RWS picture-based workbook. Neither purchase is wrong. Decide whether you want a matching deck for that workbook or a Marseille resource for the deck you prefer; you do not have to buy both immediately.
A deck “calling to you” can be a meaningful way to describe attraction or spiritual connection. It can sit alongside deliberate comparison. You may buy your own deck, accept a gift or wait. None of these routes is a condition of reading.
Care for the cards and make room for ritual
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Protect the paper
Store cards dry, away from prolonged direct sunlight and spills, in a suitable box or pouch. Avoid damp cloths or cleaners unless the maker specifically recommends them for that finish.
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Choose a comfortable shuffle
Try overhand shuffling, cutting into piles or spreading cards gently on a clean surface. You do not have to riffle a large or rigid deck. Stop if a technique strains your hands or damages the cards.
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Respect ritual and material limits
Cleansing, wrapping or keeping a deck private may be meaningful spiritual choices. They are not purchase requirements. Keep salt and moisture off the cards; smoke, strong sun and outdoor dew can also damage materials.
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Keep, repair or replace thoughtfully
A deck’s useful life depends on stock, handling and storage, not a fixed number of years. A worn favourite can remain meaningful. Consider replacement when damage impedes use; there is no need to buy duplicates or the same edition automatically.
If you read with others, agree on handling and privacy. A client-facing deck need not have supposedly neutral imagery: choose material appropriate to the setting, explain what you use and respect anyone who wishes to stop. Pressure to pay for a deck to be unblocked is not a necessary part of learning tarot.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the best tarot deck for a beginner?
A deck that fits your chosen learning resource, interests and practical needs. RWS is a useful starting point if your book teaches its scenes, but a well-supported Thoth, Marseille or themed deck can also be a first deck.
2. What are the three main tarot deck families?
Rider-Waite-Smith, Thoth and Tarot de Marseille are three influential reference points. They are a helpful shopping map, not an exhaustive classification: modern decks can mix influences or develop a different system.
3. What is the difference between RWS and Marseille decks?
RWS numbered cards use narrative scenes, while Marseille pip cards generally use arrangements of suit symbols and decoration. Familiar versions also place Strength and Justice differently. Choose teaching that matches the system rather than treating the difference as better versus worse.
4. Is the Thoth deck suitable for beginners?
It can be, if its images and esoteric correspondences interest you and you have an appropriate guide. Its titles and court structure differ from RWS. You do not need to learn another deck first, but an RWS-only manual will not explain every difference.
5. How many cards are in a tarot deck?
The familiar structure is 78: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana, including 40 numbered cards and 16 courts. Some editions add alternatives, art cards or extra trumps. Check the contents before assuming a larger pack is incomplete or incorrect.
6. Does my first tarot deck have to be a gift?
No. You can choose and buy your own deck. Receiving one as a gift may be meaningful, and some people follow personal traditions around it, but you do not have to wait for someone else’s permission to begin.
7. What size are tarot cards?
Sizes differ across publishers and editions. Around 70 × 120 mm is one common full-size format. Check the actual measurements; a pocket deck may be easier to hold but have smaller lettering and details.
8. What card stock is best?
The best handling feel is personal. Consider flexibility, coating, grip, edges and how you shuffle. A matte or linen finish may suit you, but no finish or weight is universally the easiest or most durable.
9. Do I need the guidebook that comes with the deck?
It is useful for understanding that creator’s choices, especially renamed cards or altered symbols. You may also use a compatible general resource. Check what is included, in which language and format, rather than assuming every deck contains a substantial printed book.
10. Are themed decks good for learning?
They can be. A familiar theme may help you engage with the images. Check the underlying structure and whether the guide explains changes; themed does not automatically mean advanced, shallow or unsuitable as a first deck.
11. Is one deck more accurate than another?
Different art may make a reading clearer or more meaningful to you, but a price, edition or accuracy label does not establish reliable prediction. Choose for a useful reading experience, not a seller’s promise of guaranteed answers or outcomes.
12. How can I judge a deck before buying?
Look at a broad sample or walkthrough, read a guidebook sample and check edition-specific dimensions and contents. Notice whether you want to spend time with the images and can use the materials comfortably. You do not have to understand every card immediately.
13. How should I store a tarot deck?
Use a dry place away from spills and prolonged direct sunlight, with a suitable box or pouch. Choose special cloths or containers if you enjoy them; an expensive storage accessory is not required.
14. Do I need to cleanse a new deck?
Not as a practical condition of using it. If cleansing is part of your spiritual practice, choose a method that is safe for paper and coating. Quiet intention or a simple shuffle avoids direct contact with salt, water or smoke.
15. Can other people touch my cards?
Set whatever handling boundaries feel right to you and explain them respectfully. Some readers invite shuffling; others keep their deck private. Clean, dry hands help protect the materials, and you need not share a deck to make a reading meaningful.
16. How long does a deck last?
There is no fixed lifespan. Materials, storage and frequency of use matter. Inspect bent or damaged cards and decide whether they remain comfortable to handle; replacing a deck is an option, not an obligation on a schedule.
17. Should I use reversals with Thoth or Marseille?
Follow the method you are learning and your own consistent approach. Some readers use reversals and others read upright cards in context. Neither family requires you to import an RWS reversal list without considering its different symbolism.
18. Should I buy a collector’s edition?
Only if its actual features matter to you and fit your budget. Compare size, artwork, guide and handling with the standard edition: collector packaging can change usability, and editions are not always identical inside. You do not need a deluxe set to begin.
Choose your next guide
- Understanding tarot card decks for more on deck structure.
- Tarot cards for beginners for getting started with a reading practice.
- How to shuffle tarot cards for handling methods you can adapt.
- What are oracle cards? if you are comparing tarot with a different kind of deck.
- Tarot and the Fool’s Journey for one way to explore the Major Arcana.
- Reading the tarot court cards for thinking about ranks and roles.
- Introduction to tarot cards and how they work for a broader orientation.
One usable deck is enough to begin
Choose something you can afford, handle and return to with curiosity. Let the artwork and tradition matter to you without turning the purchase into a test of intuition, spiritual worth or commitment. Learning can begin with the cards already in your hands.