Want to go back to basics - what are the best traditional tarot decks for really learning the symbols?
I like some modern decks because they’re fun to work with, but sometimes I think they overcomplicate things too. Should I go straight to Rider-Waite-Smith, or are there other classics I should consider, Interested in Marseille, Visconti-Sforza, or other pre-RWS traditions, maybe? Not for collector pieces, I want to do actual readings with them.
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I mean, if you really want the original OG:
You’ll never have someone confused by seeing the traditional Rider Waite. Yep, there are plenty of options and I’m sure you’ll have other suggestions but this is the standard one that I would imagine at least 99% of us own.
It’s a modern quality print but they’ve made no changes from the original.
Nail on the head right there. Starting with RWS is definitely the path of least resistance since most books and online resources reference it, but it can feel a bit limiting if you’re drawn to the older traditions, so if you wanted the next most traditional deck with maybe a little more depth:
For Marseille, you’re looking at unillustrated pips - just patterns of cups, swords, batons, and coins. No scenic imagery to guide you. Some find this freeing because you’re working purely with numerology and suit meanings. The CBD Tarot de Marseille is a solid reproduction of the 1760 Conver deck, or if you want something special, check out the Jean Noblet from Artisan Tarot.
I would say maybe not the most beginner-friendly choice here.
The Visconti-Sforza is gorgeous but tricky for actual readings since it predates the standardized 78-card structure. Some cards are missing from surviving decks, and the symbolism is very specific to 15th-century Italian nobility. U.S. Games has a decent reproduction with reconstructed missing cards, though purists debate the replacement artwork.
If you want traditional but with more esoteric depth, consider Thoth. Yes, Crowley is controversial, but the symbolism is incredibly rich - every card is packed with astrological, kabbalistic, and alchemical references. The pip cards have titles too (like “Dominion” for the Two of Wands), which helps with interpretation.
If you just want my advice, then get a basic RWS for cross-referencing, since that’s what everyone talks about and you’ll never not have a use for it. Then grab whichever historical deck actually excites you. The symbols will speak differently to different people.
Thoth gets a bad rap because of Crowley, but the deck itself is incredible for understanding correspondences. Every single detail ties to astrology or kabbalah. The Eight of Cups is “Indolence” with Saturn in Pisces - that immediately tells you about emotional stagnation and disappointment.
Just get Lon Milo DuQuette’s book instead of Crowley’s Book of Thoth unless you want a headache.
And I would 
agree that you should get the OG Rider deck. Any time you see people talk about Tarot we all default to these cards and people will just assume you know what they are talking about and that you know what these cards look like. No matter how many other decks you get (it always starts with just one but never stays that way) you’ll never not be able to easily default to the original.
Since you’re looking to really understand the foundational symbols, starting with RWS makes sense. It’s the go-to deck for learning tarot because those illustrated scenes give you immediate visual cues to work with.
Once you’ve learned those core meanings through regular practice, switching to the more abstract Marseille pips or the courtly Visconti-Sforza imagery becomes much easier. RWS basically gives you the basic language first, then you can see how other traditions express those same concepts in their own ways.
Different decks click with different people based on where they’re from. My European friends usually prefer the Marseille deck; something about those simple geometric designs just works for them.
Meanwhile, people who like story-based readings tend to go for RWS. I sometimes read with chamomile tea when using traditional decks, which helps me focus. Since you’re looking at different traditions, you could try working with both. I use Marseille in the mornings and find it good for getting those gut feelings. Then RWS later in the day, when I want to think through what came up earlier.
Each deck has its own vibe from where it was created, but they’re all getting at similar ideas. Just pick whichever one feels right to you.
Also, don’t just write off modern decks because you think it might be easier or give you some kind of deeper meaning that you need. Some very successful readers will work with only Oracle decks, and there are some great Oracle decks for beginners. Don’t restrict yourself if it doesn’t suit what you really want.
I started with Thoth, thinking I was being fancy, but it nearly made me quit tarot. Such a bad idea. Would not suggest. The symbolism is so dense and you need to learn Crowley’s entire magical system just to understand why the Princess of Disks is standing on a ram’s head.
In theory, it sounds cool, but when a beginner can’t get anything from a spread, they tend to just give up, and they’re less likely to practice. Tarot needs you to work on it long enough until things start to click a little so that should be your focus.
When I finally picked up a simple Marseille deck, the plain pip cards were much easier to work with. Less to overthink.
Just switched from my modern decks to the Ancient Italian Tarot. The pip cards forced me to stop relying on scenic crutches and actually feel the numerology. Like how all the fives create this tension pattern across suits that modern illustrations sometimes muddy up.
Started doing a weekly ‘pip meditation’ where I pull one minor card and just stare at the arrangement of cups or swords for five minutes before journaling. My intuitive hits have gotten more accurate.
With Mercury retrograde making us revisit foundations, I’ve been cross-referencing between RWS and Marseille traditions. When I pull the Seven of Swords, I look at both Pamela’s sneaky figure and Marseille’s geometric pattern to get different perspectives.
Those daily single-card pulls you mentioned work well during this transit. I’ve been working with both a RWS and a Marseille deck at the same time instead of just picking one. Each deck shows different things with the current planetary stuff going on. The simple symbolism of Marseille is helpful during retrogrades when everything feels confusing.
I do agree that you shouldn’t just put yourself in restrictions because you think this is what you have to do. You can start with modern decks and learn too if that suits you better.
If you’re drawn to RWS, I’d look for a borderless version. The symbols have more space without the edges around them, which helps when you’re really looking at the cards. The Durer tarot is good too, it keeps things simple but still has that classic look. Some people say your first deck should pick you (mine kind of did at a local shop), so you could go browse and see what catches your eye.
Borderless versions are nice, whether you get RWS, Marseille, or something else. Less distraction from the actual images.
