How to Choose Your First Tarot Deck: A Complete Buying Guide
Published: 2026-03-19 | Tarot Knowledge Series | ⏱ About 12 min read | 🌿 Intermediate
Find the perfect tarot deck for you. Compare Rider-Waite, Thoth, and modern decks with our buying guide. Try a free AI tarot reading while you decide!
Do I have to own a physical deck?
Before discussing how to choose a deck, let's answer a question many beginners have: 'Do I need to buy a physical tarot deck to learn tarot?'
The answer is: not necessarily. Many people learn and use tarot through online tarot applications (including our AI tarot reader, Xiao Mo) with perfectly fine results. The unique advantage of a physical deck is that you can shuffle and draw the cards yourself; for many, this physical process helps build an emotional connection with the divination. But if you just want to explore tarot and aren't sure about diving deep yet, starting with an online version is completely reasonable.
If you've decided you want a physical deck, the following guide will help you find the best first deck for you.
Four Key Criteria for Choosing a Tarot Deck
Criterion One: The Card System (Waite System vs. Other Systems)
Tarot decks have many different visual systems. For beginners, the most recommended is the **Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) system**—what most of us think of as the 'standard tarot deck.' The reason is: almost all tarot books, teaching resources, and online tools are based on this system. By choosing a Waite-system deck, you'll have the most abundant learning resources, and finding meaning references will be easiest. Other well-known systems include the Tarot de Marseille (older, with unillustrated Minor Arcana) and the Thoth Tarot (more advanced, based on Kabbalah and alchemy). Both systems are very deep, but it's recommended to explore them after you have some foundational knowledge.
Criterion Two: Art Style—Does It Resonate with You?
This is the most subjective and also the most important criterion. Intuitive tarot reading relies heavily on the emotional impact of the images—when you look at a card, do you feel anything, have any thoughts, or make any associations? If a deck's imagery leaves you cold or uncomfortable, it's not the right deck for you, no matter how famous it is. Before buying, try to find the complete set of images for the deck (YouTube unboxing videos, official website pictures) to confirm that you resonate with its art.
Criterion Three: Card Size and Feel
Standard tarot cards are about 7x12 cm. If you have smaller hands, this size might be difficult to shuffle. Many decks come in a 'mini' or 'pocket' version, which is easier to hold. Also, consider the cardstock thickness and finish—a matte finish is often better for long-term use and shuffling than a glossy one, as it's less likely to show fingerprints.
Criterion Four: Does It Come with a Guidebook?
Most tarot decks come with a Little White Book (LWB) that provides basic meanings for each card. For beginners, this booklet is very valuable because even if you plan to read intuitively, you'll sometimes want to confirm the traditional meaning of a card. If you want more in-depth learning resources, you can purchase a corresponding full guidebook separately.
Four Most Recommended Tarot Decks for Beginners
Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot
This is the 'original' and the most widely used tarot system. Designed by Arthur Edward Waite (A.E. Waite) and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, it was published in 1910. All Minor Arcana cards have scenic images (unlike the Tarot de Marseille, which only has numbers and patterns), making intuitive reading much easier. There are countless derivative versions of the Waite system on the market; the 'standard,' 'Belgian,' and 'reprint' versions of the original have slightly different images, but the system of meaning is the same. For complete beginners, this is the safest choice.
Universal Waite Tarot
This is a re-colored version of the original Waite deck, with more vibrant and saturated colors, making it visually more pleasant than the original. If you like the Waite system but find the original's color palette too dated, this is an excellent alternative.
Modern Witch Tarot
Based on the Waite system, but the imagery is updated with modern, multicultural characters, full of energy and personality. It's very popular with the younger generation. If you like a unique visual style but want to retain the learning resources of the Waite system, this is a great choice.
Light Seer's Tarot
Designed by Canadian artist Chris-Anne, the imagery is warm, inclusive, and multicultural. It is also a derivative of the Waite system, but its visual language is more modern and emotional. It is currently one of the most popular new-generation tarot decks worldwide and comes with a detailed guidebook. It's perfect for beginners who want a warm, emotional connection.
Practical Advice for Buying a Tarot Deck
**Where to buy?** Online bookstores like Books.com.tw and Eslite often sell mainstream tarot decks, and you can buy books to go with them. Shopee and Pchome also have many options, but be careful to confirm they are official, authentic products and not low-quality counterfeits. If you have a specific deck in mind, you can buy it directly from Amazon or the tarot publisher's official website, but consider the international shipping costs.
**Should I wait for a deck to 'choose me'?** There's a popular saying that 'your first tarot deck should be a gift, you can't buy it yourself,' or 'you should wait until you feel drawn to a certain deck.' While these ideas are romantic, they are completely unfounded. You can absolutely make a rational choice and purchase any deck you like. The important thing is that you will actually use it after you buy it.
**Do I have to 'consecrate' or 'cleanse' a new deck?** This depends on your personal beliefs and habits. Some people like to cleanse a new deck with moonlight, white sage, or crystals after receiving it, then shuffle it and place a crystal in the box. These rituals can help you build an emotional connection with the deck, but it's completely fine not to do them—the relationship with your deck is built through use, not through ritual.
**How many decks do I need?** One is enough. Many beginners feel the urge to buy multiple decks, but it's better to get to know one deck deeply than to collect many. Once you have a full understanding of and connection with your first deck, then you can consider buying other styles.
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