Choosing Your First Tarot Deck
There's no single "best" deck — but there are smart choices for a beginner. Here's how to pick.
The main styles
- Rider-Waite-Smith (and RWS-based decks) — fully illustrated cards make meanings easy to read. The best all-round starting point.
- Tarot de Marseille — classic and elegant, but the minors are pip cards, so it's a little harder for absolute beginners.
- Modern / themed decks — beautiful and personal; just check they follow the standard 78-card structure so guides still apply.
What actually matters for beginners
- Illustrated minors — far easier to learn from.
- Imagery you connect with — you'll read a deck you enjoy looking at.
- Standard 78-card structure — so meanings and spreads transfer.
Myth check: You don't have to be "gifted" your first deck — buy your own.
That's folklore, not a rule.
When you're ready to compare specific decks, see our deck reviews.