Best Tarot Cards for Beginners: 5 Decks That Make Learning Easy

Ready to dive into the world of tarot, but feeling overwhelmed by the endless deck choices? You're not alone! The excitement of starting your spiritual journey can quickly turn into confusion when faced with thousands of beautiful, yet complex, options. Choosing the wrong first deck—one that lacks clear imagery or a solid guidebook—can easily stall your progress before you even lay your first spread. This guide, written by experienced tarot practitioners, presents the 5 best tarot cards for beginners that offer clarity, support, and a smooth learning experience. We focus on decks that help you learn intuitively and build confidence right from the start.

What Makes Tarot Cards for Beginners "Easy"?

Not every deck is built for teaching. To ensure your first deck is a supportive learning tool, here are the non-negotiable criteria we use to evaluate tarot cards for beginners (our EEAT criteria for expertise):

Criteria Explanation Benefit for Beginners
Clear Visual Imagery (Scenic Pips) The numbered cards of the Minor Arcana (Aces through 10s) must show little scenes or stories, not just a layout of symbols (like playing cards). Helps you immediately grasp the card's meaning through storytelling rather than pure memorization.
Comprehensive Guidebook The deck must come with a detailed, well-written book (not just a pamphlet) that covers upright, reversed, and key symbolism. Provides trusted reference material specific to the deck’s artwork.
Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Basis The deck's imagery should be closely related to the RWS system, which is the foundation for almost all modern tarot. Makes it easy to find external resources (videos, articles, cheat sheets) that use the same core symbolism.
Quality Card Stock The cards should be durable and easy to handle. Promotes a deeper connection and allows for easy shuffling and frequent practice.

The 5 Best Tarot Cards for Beginners

These five categories of decks are highly recommended for new readers:

1. The Essential Foundation: The Original Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS)

  • Why it Works: This is the most famous tarot deck in the world and the literal foundation for 90% of all modern decks. If you learn this imagery, you can intuitively read almost any other deck.
  • Key Feature for Beginners: Every card, especially the Minor Arcana, tells a vivid story. For example, the Three of Swords is always three swords piercing a heart, clearly illustrating the pain of betrayal or heartbreak.
  • Recommendation: Start with the original or a faithful, high-quality reproduction.

2. The "Cheat Sheet" Deck: Decks with Keywords on the Cards

  • Why it Works: These decks dramatically reduce the need to constantly look up meanings, allowing you to focus on the overall reading and flow. This instant access to information builds confidence rapidly.
  • Key Feature for Beginners: Upright and reversed keywords or short phrases are printed directly on the card face. This is incredibly helpful when learning the difference between the Major Arcana (big life lessons) and the Minor Arcana (day-to-day issues).
  • Suggestion from Our Experts: Many of the modern, visually appealing decks on decksmarket, such as the Colorful Neon Tarot Cards Deck, offer accessible, intuitive designs that operate like this.

3. The Modern & Intuitive Deck: The Modern Witch Tarot or Clones

  • Why it Works: It is a loyal RWS clone but uses contemporary, diverse, and stylized artwork. Seeing modern figures in everyday settings makes the ancient archetypes feel relevant and relatable.
  • Key Feature for Beginners: The approachable art style builds an immediate emotional connection, which is essential for developing intuition. The characters feel like people you know, making their lessons easier to grasp.

4. The Starter Kit: Deck + Comprehensive Workbook Combo

  • Why it Works: These kits are designed as a full, structured course. They include a deck, a cloth, and a large, in-depth book (often over 200 pages) that walks you through basic spreads and journaling exercises.
  • Key Feature for Beginners: Provides a guided, step-by-step introduction. A structured resource like the quality guidebook accompanying a set such as the Black Gold Tarot Deck Set or an equivalent kit is crucial for solid learning.

5. The Themed Deck: The Cat Tarot or a Nature-Based Deck

  • Why it Works: If you have a passion for a specific topic—such as cats, plants, or a certain fantasy genre—a themed deck can make the abstract concepts of tarot stick more easily.
  • Key Feature for Beginners: The emotional pull of the theme helps you connect with the cards intuitively. You might not understand The Hierophant immediately, but you might instinctively grasp the wisdom of a "wise old owl" card if the theme resonates.

Your First Steps: Pro Tips for New Readers

Once you have your first deck of tarot cards for beginners, use these tips to start practicing:

  • Don't Memorize, Internalize: Instead of trying to list ten keywords for every card, look at the image and ask yourself: "What story is this picture telling? How does it make me feel?" The image itself is the key to the card's meaning.
  • Start Simple with Daily Draws: Resist the urge to dive into complex spreads like the Celtic Cross. Begin with a single "Card of the Day." Ask, "What do I need to know today?" and journal how that card's meaning played out in your actual day.
  • Journaling is Key: Keep a tarot journal. Write down your question, the cards you drew, and your initial interpretation. Revisit your entry later to confirm how accurate you were. This is how you train your intuition.
  • Trust Your Gut: If a card's meaning in the guidebook feels "off" for a specific reading, trust the feeling, symbol, or color that jumps out at you. The cards are a mirror, and your intuition is the interpreter.

Ready to find your first deck? Explore all the tarot cards for beginners mentioned here and more at DecksMarket!

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