20 Great tarot decks for beginners

While I’m about to present a list of the decks that I personally consider to be great beginner decks, I want to preface this list by saying, the best beginner tarot deck is the one you connect with. After all, to learn tarot you have to be keen to pick up your deck.

Generally the things I would suggest you look out for when buying your first set of tarot cards, is an RWS based, fully illustrated deck. There are three reasons for this.

An RWS based deck will ensure that you have a wide range of easily accessible resources available to you
The knowledge you develop is transferrable to a host of other decks.
With fully illustrated decks the imagery helps you to discern the meaning.
- Take the 2 of Pentacles from the Radiant Wise Spirit Tarot below as an example. From the image you might straight up say, “Constantly juggling things or trying to juggle too many things.” Or, since his hat is so big, “Trying to wear too many hats” maybe. There are many more possible interpretations but the most important take away is that the image helps you to form a story that connects you with the card’s meaning.

A person in a tall red hat juggles two pentacles connected by an infinity symbol—an iconic scene often found in beginner tarot decks. Waves and two ships drift in the background under a clear blue sky.

My current list

Below is my list. It is in no way exhaustive. Nor is it presented in any particular order. I have included the beginner tarot decks you tend to see on every list and added others that I think are worth considering. My intention was to include a range of styles in the hope you find one that you connect with. All the decks I have chosen are mass market and currently in print to ensure they are easy to access.

Since I have written posts about all the decks I have mentioned I thought I’d just show The Fool alongside a randomly chosen Minor Arcana card so you can get a feel for the art style. Then, if you find something that appeals to you, simply click on the title and it will take you to a full post on the deck.

Two tarot cards: The Fool, a carefree figure with a small dog on a cliff—an iconic image in beginner tarot decks—and Six of Pentacles, showing a man giving coins to two kneeling people, holding a balance scale.

Radiant Wise Spirit Tarot

I chose this version of the RWS Tarot because it has the clearest guidebook, but any version is suitable because there are so many resources available either on line or as printed material.

Two colorful tarot cards from beginner tarot decks: The Fool shows a joyful woman in a pink dress, dancing with a cup; Ten of Cups depicts a family of four gathered indoors, ten cups around them, under a rainbow-patterned window.

Cook’s Tarot

Two tarot cards from beginner tarot decks: The Fool shows a white-haired person with a bag and a white dog on a mountain path. Three of Cups depicts three women celebrating around a table with cups, fruit, and pumpkins in an autumn setting.

Tarot of the Witch’s Garden

Two tarot cards from beginner tarot decks: The Fool shows a jester with a bag, staff, and white dog stepping off a cracked egg toward a smiling sun. The 9 of Pentacles displays a woman in a garden holding a bird, pentacles above her.

Good Fortune Tarot

Two tarot cards from beginner tarot decks: The Fool, showing a young woman in a white dress walking near a cliff with a small sack; and Ten of Wands, featuring a woman carrying sticks on her head with mountains and the sun behind her.

Earth Woman Tarot

Two illustrated tarot cards from beginner tarot decks: The Fool, featuring a cheerful woman in a blue dress with a basket and duck, and Two of Candles, showing a woman with a candle and globe on a flower-filled balcony overlooking mountains.

Cottage Magic Tarot

Two illustrated tarot cards from beginner tarot decks. Left: A woman in a witch hat and orange sweater smiles at her reflection, a cat by her feet; caption: “the cozy witch.” Right: Two witches chat among pumpkins; caption: “two of cups.”.

Cozy Witch Tarot

Two tarot cards: The Fool, from one of the best beginner tarot decks, shows a woman walking with a dog under the sun; the 3 of Wands depicts a person with three wands gazing over water toward boats and mountains in the distance.

Traditional Manga Tarot

Two tarot cards with descriptions. The left card is The Fool, showing a figure stepping off a cliff with a bag and white dog—a classic in beginner tarot decks. The right card is Six of Cups, depicting two children with six cups filled with flowers.

Star and Strength Tarot

Two tarot cards: The left, ideal for beginner tarot decks, shows a girl and a cat by a river; the girl skips toward a hole. The right shows a stern queen with swords, defeated people, and roses. The cards are labeled The Fool and Five of Swords.

Tarot in Wonderland

Two tarot cards: The Fool, perfect for those starting with beginner tarot decks, shows a person with long hair and a bindle at a cliff’s edge with a white dog; the Three of Swords depicts papers swirling in a stormy office among open books.

Wizard’s Tarot

Two tarot cards from beginner tarot decks: The Fool—a person with a staff and dog, looking upward in a rugged landscape. 8 Abandoned Success—a robed figure walking away under the moon, eight cups on the ground.

Heaven and Earth Tarot

Two illustrated tarot cards perfect for beginner tarot decks: The Fool shows a joyful person on a cliff edge with arms raised, a broom flying behind, birds and boats below. The Nine of Wands features an armored figure holding a wand amid scattered sticks.

Everyday Witch Tarot

Two tarot cards: The Fool, perfect for beginner tarot decks, shows a happy construction worker stepping off scaffolding with animals and a rainbow; and Nine of Coins, depicting a woman reading at a table with fruit, a bird, and a cat.

Everyday Enchantment Tarot

Two tarot cards: The Fool, a woman in a yellow dress with a staff and crystal on a cliff, and the 3 of Pentacles, where three people weave a tapestry. Perfect for those exploring beginner tarot decks.

Light Seers Tarot

Two vibrant tarot cards from beginner tarot decks: The Fool shows a joyful person walking with a stick and satchel under the sun. The other card features someone gazing at five coins, with a river, hills, and a house in the background.

African Tarot

Two tarot cards: The Fool, often found in beginner tarot decks, shows a person with a white rose and a small dog, looking forward. The Three of Cups depicts three women with floral crowns, holding golden cups amid fruit and flowers.

Morgan Greer Tarot

Two tarot cards: The Fool, perfect for beginner tarot decks, shows a dog leaping off a cliff with a flower and butterfly nearby; and Six of Pentacles features a woman in pink with a bird mask holding a basket as coins float around her.

The Tarot of Curious Creatures

Two tarot cards from beginner tarot decks: The Fool shows a person in white with a pointed hat, holding a drum and followed by a small dog. Ten of Coins depicts a lively medieval scene with people, children, dogs, coins, and lush greenery.

Golden Tarot

Wrapping it up

If none of the above decks call to you, feel free to reach out to me for customised recommendations. Also, if you are new to tarot and have any questions just send them through to me via email and I’ll help in any way I can. I’m happy to discuss anything tarot related. Finally, if there are any decks that you think should be on this list please share them in the comments section below.

Publishing details

The publishing details for each of the featured decks above can be found at the end of their respective posts.

My current list

Wrapping it up

Publishing details

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