How to Choose Your First Tarot Deck: 9 Key Tips + 4 Common Mistakes

How to Choose Your First Tarot Deck — 9 Key Tips + 4 Common Mistakes

1. Does Your First Tarot Deck Really Matter?

Many people ask: "Can I just grab a random deck and try it out?"

You can, but your first Tarot deck has a big impact on your relationship with this art.

I've seen two typical scenarios:

A: Buys a cheap, default online deck, uses it for 2 weeks, then sets it aside and loses interest
B: Chooses a deck they truly love (maybe slightly more expensive, but beautiful, great to handle, or meaningful) and still uses it 3 years later

Your first deck should be one you want to pull out every day.

2. 9 Tips for Choosing a Deck

1. System: Go with a Mainstream Deck

Top recommendation: Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS)

Why: Over 80% of Tarot resources worldwide (including books, videos, and apps) are based on RWS. Its imagery has been battle-tested for over 100 years, and there's an abundance of learning materials.

You don't need to start with a "niche" deck (like Marvel Tarot or anime Tarot), because they:

Have limited interpretation resources
Don't follow the "classic Tarot" system
Let you master the classics first, then explore variations

2. Size: Standard Dimensions

Recommended: Standard Rider-Waite-Smith cards (around 70mm × 120mm, or close to it).

Avoid:

❌ Mini decks (< 60mm): Poor shuffling feel
❌ Oversized decks (> 150mm): Not portable

3. Print Quality: Thick Cardstock + Glossy or Matte Finish

Paper weight should be at least 350gsm, or the cards will bend and crease quickly.

Surface finish:

Glossy: Beautiful, but wears out quickly from shuffling
Matte: Understated, but more durable
Plastic: Waterproof and tough, but lacks that "paper feel"

I recommend matte paper — it balances texture and durability.

4. Packaging: Box + Guidebook

At minimum, you need a box (to protect the cards). A guidebook is optional, since you have this app + online resources.

5. Price: Not the Cheapest, Not the Most Expensive

Recommended starter range: $15–$45 USD (standard RWS deck)
❌ Under $8: Thin paper, poor print quality, ruins the handling experience
❌ Over $150 for a "beginner" edition: Unnecessary — you'll buy a second deck later anyway

6. Art Style: Choose What You Want to Look At

There are many versions of RWS with different colors, borders, and art styles.

Versions worth considering:

Universal Waite (U.W. Classic): Closest to the original 1909 edition
Smith-Waite Centennial: Vivid colors, modern feel
Rider-Waite Tarot in a Tin: Portable and affordable
Pamela Colman Smith (original art restored): The most faithful reproduction of the original paintings

7. Color: Pick What Feels "Right"

If you fall in love at first sight, you'll be more motivated to draw a card every day.

Love vivid colors (blue, green, orange)? → Smith-Waite versions
Love classic elegance (cream and antique gold)? → Universal Waite
Love minimalism? → Many modern publishers offer minimalist RWS editions
Love colorful illustrations? → Llewellyn / Lo Scarabeo colored editions

8. Image Size and Margins: Don't Go Too Small

Some versions have tiny images with huge borders. Avoid these — the "information density" of the card becomes too low.

9. Bundles vs. Single Deck

If you're a beginner, don't buy a bundle (deck + book + cloth + spread kit). You won't use those extras, and it's a waste of money.

3. 4 Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: "The More Expensive, The Better"

Many beginners assume spending $150+ on a deck means it's the best. Not true. Your first deck should simply get the job done. Save the expensive, beloved deck for your second.

Many "veteran Tarot readers" started with a budget RWS deck. A deck's value isn't about the price — it's about how often you use it.

Mistake 2: "The Prettier, The Better"

Lots of new decks (crystal Tarot, colored metallic editions, gold-foil versions) look "premium," but you won't need them as a beginner.

Beginners should focus on learning to read the cards. Beauty can come later.

Mistake 3: "Just Buy Whatever Others Recommend"

Recommendations from others are only a reference point, because:

Their learning path and aesthetic preferences differ from yours
They're at a different stage in their practice
What you need — what feels right to you — is your own decision

Mistake 4: "Wait for a Special Moment to Buy"

Many beginners wait for a "special occasion" (birthday, New Year, a big life decision) before buying a deck. Unnecessary. If you want to learn, buy it.

What truly matters is: will you pull it out every day?

4. Beginner-Friendly Versions (Tested)

Entry Level

Bicycle Rider-Waite Tarot (tin case, portable, affordable)
Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot in a Tin (tin case, centennial edition)

Mid-Range

Universal Waite Tarot (closest to the original, great cardstock, best value for money)
Pamela Colman Smith Tarot (faithful restoration, accurate colors)

Advanced (I'd recommend these as a second deck)

Rider Waite Smith Original (by Lo Scarabeo, premium quality)
Ethereal Visions Tarot (modern illustration style, still within the RWS system)

5. What NOT to Do Right After Buying

Don't open the deck immediately — complete these 5 steps first:

Let it rest for 24 hours — Get used to the feeling of "I now own this deck"
Clean your hands — A pure, clean contact
During your first shuffle, silently say: "I accept this deck"
Draw your first card — Just one card. Look at what you drew — that's your "initiation card"
Write down how you felt when you drew that card

This is a small ritual that helps you form a formal relationship with your deck. Compared to "let me just pull a random card," this approach is more intentional and longer-lasting.

6. When to Buy Your Second Deck?

Two signs:

You've been using your first deck for 6–12 months, and you no longer have to think about "what does this mean"
You see a deck in a different style and you think "it's beautiful" — not "I need to study it," but "I want it"

Your second deck doesn't have to be RWS — it can be any style you love. It's not a "tool" — it's a souvenir of your Tarot journey.

7. Final Thoughts: You're a Tarot Reader, Not a Deck Collector

Many beginners rush to collect as many decks as possible — and that's actually anti-Tarot.

The core of Tarot = your relationship with the cards. One deck, used 30 minutes a day, is more valuable than 10 decks, each used for a week.

Start with one deck you'll actually use, and stick with it for 6 months. Then slowly "level up" your collection. That's a healthy Tarot journey.

Our Lotus Tarot app comes with 78 classic cards built in — you can learn without buying a physical deck. Here's what it offers:

Completely free
Multi-language
Perfectly matched to deck systems (every card includes meanings + Upright and Reversed interpretations)
Daily card draws available

If you're still on the fence about buying a deck, start with our app for 30 days. By the end, you'll have a much clearer sense of "what kind of deck I want."