Best Tarot Decks for Beginners, Readers & Collectors

Table of Contents

1. Why Choosing the Right Tarot Deck Matters
2. What Makes a Tarot Deck “Good” for You
3. The Three Most Common Deck Systems
   • Rider–Waite–Smith (RWS) style
   • Tarot de Marseille (TdM) style
   • Thoth-inspired decks
4. A Beginner Deck vs a “Second Deck”
5. Start With Imagery You Can Read
6. Guidebooks: The Most Underrated Feature
7. Card Stock, Finish, and Size
8. Borders, Keywords, and Design Choices
9. Representation, Style, and Feeling “Seen” in a Deck
10. Reading Consistency: Why “RWS-Based” Helps
11. Rider–Waite–Smith Decks
    • Why it’s the default learning deck
    • Pamela Colman Smith’s artwork and why it matters
12. Modern “RWS-Compatible” Decks
    • Why modern decks can be easier to read
13. Artistic and Indie Decks
    • When to choose them
14. Minimalist Decks
    • Pros and cons for learning
15. Themed Decks (Pop Culture, Nature, Myth, etc.)
    • How to choose without losing clarity
16. Collecting Tarot Decks Without Overwhelm
17. Caring for Your Tarot Deck
18. Using Multiple Decks With the Same Tarot Meanings Reference
19. Frequently Asked Questions
20. Tarot Deck Choosing Checklist
21. Sources

Introduction

There are hundreds of tarot decks available today, and that’s both exciting and overwhelming. People often ask “What’s the best tarot deck?” but the truth is: the best deck is the one you can read clearly, connect with consistently, and return to when you want insight or reflection.

This guide helps you choose tarot decks based on how you actually use them — whether you’re a beginner learning the structure of tarot, an experienced reader wanting a deck that reads smoothly, or a collector drawn to art, theme, or design history. You’ll learn what to look for, what to avoid, and how to match a deck’s style to your reading goals.

1. Why Choosing the Right Tarot Deck Matters

Tarot is visual. Even if you read primarily from keywords or a meanings reference, you are still interpreting imagery, symbols, and emotional tone.

A deck that’s difficult for you to read can cause:

• second-guessing
• confusion around “what the card is saying”
• reliance on memorization without understanding
• frustration that makes tarot feel harder than it is

A deck that fits you well can do the opposite:

• make meanings feel intuitive and quick
• help you learn faster through repetition and visual memory
• encourage daily pulls and long-term practice

2. What Makes a Tarot Deck “Good” for You

A “good deck” is not necessarily the most famous deck or the most beautiful deck. It’s the deck that supports the kind of reading you want to do.

Ask yourself:

• Do I want to learn tarot structure (Major/Minor, suits, numbers)?
• Do I want a deck that matches common tarot meanings online?
• Do I want a deck that feels modern and relatable?
• Do I want a deck that’s primarily art-driven and personal?

Your answers determine what deck style will work best.

3. The Three Most Common Deck Systems

Most tarot decks fall into one of three visual traditions. You don’t have to commit to a single system forever, but it helps to know what you’re buying.

Rider–Waite–Smith (RWS) style

RWS-style decks are the most widely used reference point in modern tarot. Many tarot books, blogs, and meanings lists assume RWS imagery, especially for the Minor Arcana.

What it’s known for:

• fully illustrated scenes in the Minor Arcana
• recognizable symbolism that many decks copy or remix
• compatibility with modern learning resources

Tarot de Marseille (TdM) style

Tarot de Marseille-style decks usually have illustrated Major Arcana, but the Minor Arcana often uses patterned suit symbols rather than scenes.

What it’s known for:

• historical playing-card aesthetics
• “pip cards” (non-scenic Minor Arcana)
• a different reading approach that can be excellent for pattern-based reading

Thoth-inspired decks

Thoth-inspired decks often emphasize esoteric correspondences, color theory, and a distinct artistic philosophy. Many have strong symbolism, but can feel less beginner-friendly if you’re learning from common RWS meanings.

What it’s known for:

• bold visual design
• correspondences and layered symbolism
• a different structure in how some meanings are framed

4. A Beginner Deck vs a “Second Deck”

A beginner deck is usually chosen for clarity and learnability.

A “second deck” is often chosen for:

• personal resonance
• new perspectives
• artistic enjoyment
• reading a specific type of question (relationships, creativity, shadow work, etc.)

If you’re new, start with clarity first. You can always add expressive decks later.

5. Start With Imagery You Can Read

A deck is easier to read when:

• you can identify what’s happening in the image quickly
• characters’ emotions and actions are clear
• the scene suggests a story
• the suit symbolism remains consistent

If you look at a card and feel like you need to “decode” it every time, that deck may be better as a collector deck than a daily reader (at least early on).

6. Guidebooks: The Most Underrated Feature

A good guidebook can make an average deck feel excellent.

Look for guidebooks that include:

• meanings for all 78 cards
• upright and (optionally) reversed interpretations
• prompts or reflection questions
• sample spreads and how to use them

If you’re choosing between two decks and one has a stronger guidebook, the guidebook often wins — especially for beginners.

7. Card Stock, Finish, and Size

Tarot decks are physical tools. If a deck doesn’t feel good in your hands, you may not use it.

Things to consider:

• Card size: standard, pocket, mini
• Finish: matte (less glare), glossy (more vivid)
• Card stock thickness: too thin can feel flimsy; too thick can be hard to shuffle
• Corner shape: rounded corners shuffle easier
• Box quality: sturdy boxes protect collector decks

If you have smaller hands, consider pocket editions or smaller-format decks.

8. Borders, Keywords, and Design Choices

Deck design affects readability.

Borders:

• Wide borders can make the art feel distant
• Borderless decks can feel immersive but sometimes visually busy

Keywords printed on cards:

• helpful for learning
• can also feel limiting if you want intuitive reading later

Title style:

• traditional titles help learning
• renamed titles can be meaningful but harder for beginners using standard references

9. Representation, Style, and Feeling “Seen” in a Deck

Many people read more confidently when the deck feels emotionally relevant and inclusive.

Look for:

• diverse characters and life experiences
• a style that matches your sense of self
• art that feels grounded and human rather than abstract

If a deck consistently feels alienating or narrow in perspective, it can affect how naturally you interpret it.

10. Reading Consistency: Why “RWS-Based” Helps

If you’re using a tarot card meanings reference (especially one designed around widely used interpretations), RWS-based decks are often the easiest match.

An RWS-based deck usually:

• keeps the general composition of classic scenes
• preserves common symbolic cues (figures, objects, structure)
• lets you learn meanings faster because the visuals align with mainstream learning resources

11. Rider–Waite–Smith Decks

Why it’s the default learning deck

The Rider–Waite–Smith deck is often recommended because:

• its scenes are widely referenced across tarot education
• the Minor Arcana is illustrated with narrative moments
• many modern decks build from its structure

If your goal is learning quickly and reading confidently, an RWS deck is a strong foundation.

Pamela Colman Smith’s artwork and why it matters

The visual world people associate with “classic tarot” comes from Pamela Colman Smith’s illustrations. When readers picture the Two of Cups, the Ten of Swords, or The Fool in the familiar style, they’re seeing her work.

This matters because tarot meaning is not only written — it’s visual. The RWS deck became influential in large part because its images communicate story, emotion, and symbolism in a way that’s easy to interpret.

12. Modern “RWS-Compatible” Decks

Modern RWS-compatible decks keep the recognizable structure but reimagine the people, clothing, settings, and tone.

Why these can be easier to read:

• contemporary scenes can feel more relatable
• emotional expressions may be clearer
• representation can support intuitive reading
• symbolism often remains familiar enough to match common meanings references

If you like the clarity of classic tarot but want modern visuals, this category is usually the sweet spot.

13. Artistic and Indie Decks

Indie decks can be stunning and meaningful, but not all are easy to read — especially early on.

They’re a great choice when:

• you already know basic tarot structure
• you want a deck that’s emotionally specific to you
• you enjoy interpreting art intuitively
• you want something less standardized

They can be harder when:

• the Minor Arcana is abstract
• suits are renamed in confusing ways
• imagery doesn’t clearly communicate action or emotion
• the deck doesn’t include a strong guidebook

14. Minimalist Decks

Minimalist decks can look clean and modern, but there’s a tradeoff: less imagery means less interpretive support.

Pros:

• aesthetically calm
• easy to shuffle and handle
• can feel less intimidating

Cons:

• fewer visual cues for meaning
• can push beginners into memorization
• can be harder for emotional storytelling spreads

If you love minimalist design, consider pairing it with a very strong meanings reference and consistent practice.

15. Themed Decks (Pop Culture, Nature, Myth, etc.)

Themed decks can be wonderful — nature decks, myth decks, pop culture decks, seasonal decks — but the theme should support clarity, not replace it.

A themed deck works best when:

• the theme enhances the meaning rather than distracting from it
• the suit structure remains understandable
• the cards still communicate story and emotional tone
• the guidebook explains choices clearly

If a deck relies on the theme alone and loses readable structure, it may become more collectible than practical.

16. Collecting Tarot Decks Without Overwhelm

Tarot collecting can be joyful, but it can also become clutter if every deck is treated like a “working deck.”

A helpful collector approach:

• keep one primary reading deck
• keep one “learning” deck (if different)
• collect art decks for enjoyment
• rotate decks seasonally if you like novelty
• store decks carefully so they stay in good condition

Some decks are for daily reading. Others are for art appreciation. Both are valid.

17. Caring for Your Tarot Deck

Practical care matters:

• store decks out of direct sunlight
• keep them in their box or a pouch
• avoid bending corners
• wipe hands before reading if you want to keep cards clean
• if a deck is precious, consider buying a second copy as a “working” version

This isn’t about ritual — it’s just good preservation.

18. Using Multiple Decks With the Same Tarot Meanings Reference

If you’re using a tarot meanings reference (especially a bookmarked meanings page), you can use it across multiple decks — but it works best when the decks share a structure.

Tips:

• use the same reference meanings as your baseline
• let the deck imagery add nuance rather than replacing meaning
• notice repeated symbols that change tone across decks
• if a deck renames suits or court cards, map them clearly once and keep notes

For many readers, meanings stay consistent while imagery changes the emotional “accent.”

19. Frequently Asked Questions

Do tarot decks change card meanings?

Core meanings are generally stable, but imagery and tone can shift emphasis. An RWS-based deck usually aligns closely with mainstream meanings references.

Can you start with an artistic deck instead of a classic one?

Yes — but learning may be slower if the imagery is abstract or if the deck structure is heavily modified.

Is it okay to own multiple tarot decks?

Absolutely. Many readers keep one main deck for consistency and use others for variety, mood, or specific types of readings.

What’s the difference between tarot and oracle decks?

Tarot follows a standard 78-card structure (Major Arcana + Minor Arcana). Oracle decks vary widely in size and structure and tend to be more theme-driven.

20. Tarot Deck Choosing Checklist

• I know what I want this deck for (learning, reading, collecting)
• The imagery is readable and emotionally clear
• The deck structure makes sense (suits, courts, majors)
• The guidebook supports interpretation
• The deck feels good to shuffle and handle
• The art style feels aligned with me
• If I’m learning, the deck is RWS-based or clearly structured
• I’m choosing a theme that supports clarity, not confusion

21. Sources

(Links are included here for transparency on factual claims about deck history/publishers and deck descriptions.)

- U.S. Games Systems — Rider-Waite-Smith® Tarot Deck (product page): https://www.usgamesinc.com/Rider-Waite-Smith
- U.S. Games Systems — Rider-Waite® Tarot Deck (publisher notes): https://www.usgamesinc.com/Rider-Waite-Tarot-Deck.html
- Hay House — The Light Seer’s Tarot (product page): https://www.hayhouse.com.au/light-seer-s-tarot-card-deck
- Hachette Book Group — The Modern Witch Tarot Deck (publisher page): https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/lisa-sterle/the-modern-witch-tarot-deck/9781454938682/
- Isabella Rotman — This Might Hurt Tarot (official site / guidebook listing): https://www.thismighthurttarot.com/ and https://www.isabellarotman.com/store/p/this-might-hurt-tarot-paka5
- Marseille Tourism — Tarot de Marseille overview: https://www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/discover-marseille/traditions/the-tarot-of-marseille/