Calling the deck collectors! Certain decks keep popping up everywhere lately - in reading photos, collection posts, and beginner recommendations. It’s interesting how the tarot landscape has shifted over the years, with some classics holding strong while newer indie decks gain massive followings.
My favorite deck is actually pretty mainstream (Modern Witch), but I’m curious what everyone else sees as the current heavy hitters in terms of popularity. We’ve had the cool/unique deck thread, but how about the “best” or most popular (because best might be subjective).
Are we still seeing Rider-Waite dominating, or have decks like Wild Unknown and Modern Witch really taken over the community?
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I’m absolutely a deck collector. I have dozens and I’m always looking for a new deck to fill a new niche but I don’t think there’s really a “best” choice since readings are subjective and some decks have a more niche case.
So what I can do is show my top used decks. Not neccesairly my favorites but probably the most useful for anyone looking to pick up a new deck (or even their first one ).
Tarot of the Divine
Deeply connected with deities and folklore, I love everything about this deck and it’s probably my main go-to. If I travel, this is the one deck I bring (you can maybe tell how worn it is). Has a brilliant guidebook as well so I’d say very beginner friendly.
This is an obvious one. It’s the classic and everyone should have it. Probably where most of us started as a first deck (and the obsession grows from there)! Also the one most people are familiar with.
If you’re giving someone else a reading, they’ll recognize these symbols. Sometimes if you pull an oracle deck they’ll get a bit confused.
This should be another obvious one. Everyone needs it and it’s usually the second choice after RWT.
Elemental Power
This is often the deck I get to give as a gift (either to beginners or seasoned Tarot vetarans). We all inately feel the power with elements and this deck lets us connect to that.
Light Visions and Mystic Mondays are EVERYWHERE right now. My bank account knows this all too well lol. But for real, it’s so funny watching people find the Tarot Illuminati deck. They start out like ‘eh, another RWS clone’ and then two seconds later they’re like ‘WAIT LOOK AT ALL THESE HIDDEN DETAILS’
Did you know the Thoth deck outsells RWS in Japan? Like 3 to 1. Pretty crazy.
Been seeing a lot of younger readers going for Everyday Tarot and OK Tarot lately. They’re super clean and minimal - perfect for Instagram. Social media’s really changing what decks people want now.
I’m all for making the Tarot accessible but I hope we don’t lose too much in the process here.
The Mystic Mondays Tarot is getting pretty popular in South Korea. Makes sense, the deck has this clean, minimalist look that really fits with what people like there aesthetically.
What gets me is how the same deck can be huge in one country and basically unknown in another. It’s all about the design matching local tastes. In some places, people prefer the traditional tarot imagery with its medieval elements. But in South Korea, this modern stripped-down style just clicks better.
Cultural preferences shape everything, even tarot cards.
TMH Tarot is everywhere right now and for good reason.
They took the old Rider-Waite imagery and made it actually look like the world we live in, different races, body types, ages, everything.
Warning: it’s addictive. Started with just the deck, now I own the guidebook, the cloth, the whole deal. What I love most is how inclusive it is. Makes readings feel more real and relatable. My other decks are basically decorations at this point because this is the only one I reach for anymore.
Yeah, RWS decks are solid for beginners and great for party readings.
But sometimes you need something else.
Like when I’m doing shadow work or really deep psychological stuff, I grab my Deviant Moon deck instead. The abstract imagery just hits differently for that kind of work.
Those darker decks don’t really work at birthday parties, though… You want something friendlier for that crowd.
Sometimes I think deck popularity messes with people’s heads.
You know how it is, everyone’s using the same trendy decks, and suddenly there’s this pressure to read cards a certain way. I’ve watched readers second-guess themselves because their intuition doesn’t line up with what the popular guidebooks say. It’s kinda sad actually.
My deepest readings?
They usually come from obscure decks that speak to me. Not the ones everyone’s posting about online. There’s something special about discovering a deck nobody talks about that just clicks with you.
I’ve been browsing tarot shops (more than I should), and RWS is still king. It’s literally the only deck that gets its own separate category everywhere I look.
Makes total sense because beginners always start there. The pictures are straightforward and perfect for yes/no questions. You get a clear answer without having to dig through layers of meaning. Modern Witch looks amazing, but for teaching newbies? Classic RWS wins every time.
Light Seers by Chris Anne is having such a moment. That deck is popping up all over my feed. The art style is really vibrant and the imagery is easy to read.
Love how positive and colorful it is. Really captures that sunny energy that pulls people in, you know? Perfect for beginners who want something fresh but not too complicated.
Wild Unknown is one of those decks that really surprises you.
At first, you might think it’s too simple or abstract, but once you start using it, you find yourself reaching for it all the time. It’s funny how some decks can sneak up on you and become favorites when you least expect it.
I’ve seen a lot of people having that ‘wait, I love this’ moment with Wild Unknown lately.
Has anyone else noticed how mini decks are everywhere now?
I grabbed three mini versions of bestsellers last month. Just figured out I’ve been shuffling them all wrong, though - the smaller size makes everything feel different.
I’ve been working with the Gregory Scott Tarot and wow, the way it handles gender roles is so refreshing.
Nothing feels forced or tries too hard. What really gets me is the court cards, they’re actually readable! Other decks leave me confused about whether someone is emotionally mature or just being stubborn, but this one is crystal clear. A hidden gem that needs more love.
It should be up there with Modern Witch and Wild Unknown but somehow flies under the radar.
My deck collection paired with teas: RWS, chamomile (grounding vibes) RWS variations (holographic, borderless, etc), lavender Learning Tarot Cards by Witchy Cauldron, peppermint for focus Modern Witch, rose hip for love readings Light Seers, lemon balm Tarot de Marseille Conver, sage tea works great RWS Before & After, ginger tea (those insights hit hard!) Noblet & Dodal Marseille, mugwort Book of Thoth, black tea + cinnamon because Crowley is complex af Lenormand cards, jasmine Down here in Mexico we get the same stuff mostly, but there’s also some cool local decks
The interesting thing about deck popularity is how it ebbs and flows like the Moon card’s cycles, what’s everywhere one year might fade into the background the next, while sleeper hits suddenly emerge.
I was watching someone analyze deck collection trends across different tarot communities, and they pointed out how certain aesthetics (like the minimalist nature-based style) tend to create waves of similar popular decks all at once. It makes me wonder if Modern Witch’s popularity sparked the current trend toward witchy, botanical imagery in newer releases, or if we were all just collectively ready for that earth-based symbolism.
In Germany, the Lightseers Tarot by Chris Anne is super popular. It captures that dreamy Neptune vibe perfectly!
Crystal Visions Tarot is another hit, especially for water signs who dig the mystical art. For those who love Venus energy, the Golden Botticelli Tarot is a must-have.
If you’re into earthy vibes, the Everyday Witch Tarot is great. The Before/After Tarot is a fun choice if you’re into exploring time and transformation. And you can’t miss the Wild Unknown Tarot-its striking images are a big hit with Scorpios.
Personally, I keep coming back to my first love, the Kitty Kahane deck. As a [insert zodiac sign], I feel a special bond with it since my first Saturn return. It’s like it was meant to be.
Can’t give you a full top 10, but RWS is huge here, along with all its spinoffs like Morgan Greer.
What’s funny is that everyone thinks those images are how tarot always looked. But Pamela Colman Smith basically revolutionized the whole thing in 1909.
She was the first to illustrate every single card instead of just the major arcana. No wonder so many deck creators start there. The symbolism is rich but not overwhelming. I’ve noticed even collectors with dozens of artsy decks still grab their RWS when they need a clear reading.
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