This guide really needed to exist. I think we should pin it somewhere for new members to find because we get so many people asking about how to get their first deck.
I think we should also remind people that you do not need to wait for your first deck to be gifted. Someone asked about that here, and it is just crazy gatekeeping that prevents people from ever starting.
The part about vibing with your deck might sound weird to the more cynical (nothing wrong with that) but it’s probably the most practical advice here. Look through a bunch of decks until you find one you like, don’t just take the first one with a gold foil or pretty box.
My local shop lets people handle the demo decks before buying and I wish more places would do this. Nothing worse than dropping $40 on cards that feel wrong in your hands.
Also, just because one deck is really popular and another is pretty niche, doesn’t mean the popular one will suit you better. Most people hate the decks I consider wonderful, that’s okay. It’s not a competition or trying to be a Tarot hipster. Just find what works for you. The cardstock obsession is real, though. Once you’ve used a Lo Scarabeo deck, you can’t go back to those flimsy Llewellyn ones that bend if you look at them wrong.