Which tarot deck suits you? How to choose one
Which tarot deck suits you? The question seems to be about taste, but it is really about something else: how you read, how you look, and how you want to work with cards. With more than 2,000 decks to choose from, it makes sense if you feel stuck. Yet choosing a deck is easier than it looks, once you know what to pay attention to.
There is no best deck, only the right one for you
Many people go looking for the best tarot deck, as if there is a winner. There is not. A deck that works perfectly for your friend can feel awkward in your hands. What matters is whether the cards match your way of reading and your feel for imagery.
Which tarot deck suits you depends on how you read
The biggest clue is your reading style. Broadly, there are 3 ways people work with cards. Do you recognise yourself in one of them?
- You want clear, short answers. Then you will enjoy decks with firm, well-defined symbolism. The images give you clarity and something to hold on to, and that brings calm.
- You read intuitively and follow what stands out. Then image-rich decks suit you, with plenty to see. You build your story from the detail that catches your eye first.
- You use cards to reflect. Then you are after atmospheric, open images that raise questions rather than hand you ready-made answers.
There is no right or wrong here. What counts is which style is yours, because that decides which deck feels good in your hands.
Look at the images, not at the fuss around them
A deck can be popular, but that says nothing about you. So leaf through the cards first, slowly. Do the colours speak to you? Do you grasp what is happening at a glance, or do you like it when an image makes you search a little? Your response to the images is the most honest test there is.
Just starting, or collecting for a while?
Broadly, there are two kinds of decks. On one side are system-based decks, like the classic Rider Waite, where firm symbolism gives you something to hold on to. On the other are freer styles: indie decks and personal art styles that lean more on mood and interpretation. If you are just starting, a system-based deck usually gives you the most to hold on to. If you have been reading a while and want something distinctive, a freer style is a lovely next step.
Want to know more about a good start? Read how to choose your first tarot deck as a beginner.
Tarot or oracle? That matters too
Torn between tarot and oracle cards? Tarot has a fixed structure of 78 cards, with the Major and Minor Arcana and the 4 suits Cups, Wands, Swords and Pentacles. Oracle decks are freer: each deck has its own number of cards and its own theme. If you are drawn to something looser and more personal, oracle cards are worth a look. If you would rather have the structure and steadiness of tarot, that already points you toward the right tarot deck.
Let the Deck Matcher help you along
Not quite getting there on your own? Then the Deck Matcher is made for you. You answer a few short questions about your taste and your way of reading, and you get personal advice from our range. So you do not have to scroll through 2,000 decks, you see straight away what suits you.
The right deck is not the prettiest or the most popular. It is the deck you feel at ease with.
So take your time, trust your first response, and choose a deck that feels like yours. The rest comes on its own once you begin.