Best Beginner Tarot Decks

By Kate Hill
Updated: 30th April 2024

What's The Best Tarot Deck for Beginners?


Choosing your first tarot deck is one of the most important decisions you can make.

That's because choosing the wrong deck can set you back years in learning the cards, memorising the meanings and getting any kind of sense from your cards.

Or worse yet, you could choose the wrong deck, get totally overwhelmed and give up on tarot forever - which would be a real shame!

So, to help you with the beginning of your journey with tarot, on this page I'll share Aeclectic Tarot's most recommended tarot decks for beginners...


The Best Tarot Decks For Beginners

Here are Aeclectic's top 5 best beginner decks for 2024


1. Easy Tarot

Rating:


Easy Tarot

The Easy Tarot is an ideal set of beginner training wheels if you're drawn to tarot, but completely new to reading the cards.

The set includes the beautiful Gilded Tarot cards, plus a comprehensive companion guide from author Josephine Ellershaw. She's done her best to really simplify the often daunting task of getting started with the cards.

If you like intuitive, spiritual approaches then the Easy Tarot will be perfect for you!

Read the full expert review of Easy Tarot here...

Type: Tarot Deck
Number of Cards: 78
Creators: Ciro Marchetti, Josephine Ellershaw
Deck Tradition: Rider-Waite
Best For: Beginners


Sample buyer review...

"My first tarot deck and I'm glad I chose this one. I'm already certain that I'll have many other tarot decks moving forward, but no doubt that I'll always remember my first deck and, what I believe, is a good foundation for building upon other decks. This is a really good starter/beginner set and I recommend highly."

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Check Price for Easy Tarot at Amazon.com


2. Llewellyn's Classic Tarot

Rating:


Llewellyn's Classic Tarot

The Llewellyn's Classic Tarot is a fantastic, practical approach to getting started with tarot cards.

The set includes a colourful and very readable 78 card deck, a fresh reworking of the traditional Rider-Waite Tarot symbolism, that feels friendly and clear in its images.

Barbara Moore wrote a really wonderful companion book that is packaged with the deck. She has a practical, no-nonsense straightforward style and gives you everything you need to know to build a firm foundation with the tarot.

I love these cards and the book is so solid. Highly recommended for beginners.

Read the full expert review of Llewellyn's Classic Tarot here...

Type: Tarot Deck
Number of Cards: 78
Creators: Eugene Smith, Barbara Moore
Deck Tradition: Rider-Waite
Best For: Beginners


Sample buyer review...

"I love these cards - they are perfect for a beginner. The imagery is clear and the colors are bright and bold. But the real stand-out here is the guidebook. Oh my! Written by the wonderful Barbara Moore it has everything a beginner would need to know without overwhelming the senses. The introduction to Tarot is superb. "

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3. Robin Wood Tarot

Rating:


Easy Tarot

The Robin Wood Tarot is a lovely set of tarot cards, based on the standard Rider-Waite traditional format, but with a Wiccan and Pagan twist.

The 78 cards are warm and expressive, and easy to understand even if you're brand new to tarot.

I've had this beautiful deck for over 20 years and I still find myself coming back to it.

Read the full expert review of Robin Wood Tarot here...

Type: Tarot Deck
Number of Cards: 78
Creators: Robin Wood
Deck Tradition: Rider-Waite
Best For: Beginners, people who like Pagan themed decks, collectors


Sample buyer review...

"You'll find it a better deck than most if only for its rich depth in imagery, and handy but not distracting labels. Good for novice and professional alike. It's in my top for this reason and I return to it time and time again."

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Check Price for Robin Wood Tarot at Amazon.com


4. Golden Tarot

Rating:


Easy Tarot

The Golden Tarot is a modern classic, reworking the traditional Rider-Waite symbolism through collaged medieval and Renaissance art.

The artist, Kat Black, put a tremendous amount of work in choosing and blending the right artworks to seamlessly create each tarot card.

I've had this tarot deck since it was first published and I adore it. It's so well made and wonderfully readable as well.

Recommended for beginners to advanced readers.

Read the full expert review of Golden Tarot here...

Type: Tarot Deck
Number of Cards: 78
Creators: Kat Black
Deck Tradition: Rider-Waite
Best For: Beginners and advanced


Sample buyer review...

"I must confess this tarot deck is my favorite among my collection. Having the Golden Tarot deck makes me feel like I have travelled around the world while collecting Renaissance art. The deck is comprehensive yet true to the era, with clear imagery and detail."

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Check Price for Golden Tarot at Amazon.com


5. Rider-Waite Tarot

Rating:


Rider-Waite Tarot

No list of tarot decks for beginners is complete with the original and the best - the Rider-Waite Tarot.

This classic deck and its symbolism has been THE template for the vast majority of decks published in the English-speaking world for over a hundred years.

That means it works with so many companion books, so you can choose the best book that speaks to you.

Learning with the Rider-Waite Tarot means that you'll get a strong basis for working with so many decks later in your tarot journey. Always recommended.

Read the full expert review of Rider-Waite Tarot here...

Type: Tarot Deck
Number of Cards: 78
Creators: A. E. Waite and Pamela Colman-Smith
Deck Tradition: Rider-Waite
Best For: Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced... everyone!


Sample buyer review...

"This is -the- tarot deck. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck is a classic, great for beginners just looking to do some recreational tarot readings and also for would-be occultists looking to conduct heavier divination."

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Check Price for Rider-Waite Tarot at Amazon.com

More Tarot Deck Themes

To view more decks by theme... click the link below that suits your interest!