Okay, this is one of those decks where my Tarot brain and my nerd brain immediately had a meeting.

The Ultimate RPG Tarot Deck by Jon Taylor and Jef Aldrich takes the traditional 78-card Rider-Waite-Smith tarot structure and throws it into a fantasy tabletop RPG world. The Fool becomes a first-level adventurer heading out on their first quest, Pentacles become loot and gold, and familiar tarot archetypes get a very RPG-flavored makeover.

The deck was published by Adams Media in 2023 and is part of the Ultimate Role Playing Game Series. It includes 78 cards and a guidebook that covers both tarot divination and ways to use the cards in an RPG.

Unboxing & Flipthrough

My First Impressions

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from this one.

I’m familiar with tarot, but I’m also a sucker for anything that takes a familiar system and gives it a completely different personality. And this deck definitely has personality.

The first thing that stood out to me was how clearly it still follows the Rider-Waite-Smith structure. You aren’t having to relearn tarot from scratch. Instead, you’re looking at familiar archetypes through the lens of adventurers, quests, monsters, treasure, magic, and all the chaos that comes with an RPG campaign.

It’s playful without completely throwing tarot out the window, which I really appreciate.

The Artwork

The artwork is illustrated by Zachary Bacus, with colors by Angueria “Hank” Jones. The overall style is very much fantasy RPG, with adventurers, creatures, weapons, magic, treasure, and all sorts of fantasy details woven into the traditional tarot archetypes.

What I like is that the cards don’t just slap an RPG character onto a traditional tarot card and call it a day. The imagery actually tries to translate the meaning of each card into an RPG situation.

The Fool, for example, is portrayed as a first-level adventurer setting out on their first quest, which makes perfect sense for the traditional themes of new beginnings, taking a leap, and stepping into the unknown.

The Minor Arcana gets the same treatment. The Pentacles are particularly treasure-focused, with loot and gold worked into the imagery, while the other suits retain their traditional tarot structure but are given a distinctly fantasy-adventure flavor.

I also love the little RPG-inspired epithets on the cards. They add another layer to the readings and give you an extra jumping-off point when you’re using the deck for storytelling. The Three of Swords, for example, is “Critical Damage,” while the Four of Wands is “Victorious Heroes.” Honestly, Critical Damage for the Three of Swords is pretty damn perfect.

Box, Card & Finish

The deck comes in a fairly simple box. The cards are slightly longer than a standard tarot deck, measuring approximately 2.75 × 4.75 inches (89 × 140 mm). It’s not a dramatically oversized deck, but you can definitely feel the difference when shuffling. 

The cards have a stiff, almost flash-card/cardboard-like feel to them. They’re not particularly easy to shuffle or fan, especially when they’re brand new. They may loosen up a little with use, but the cardstock and finish aren’t my favorite when it comes to handling.

Guidebook

The guidebook is clear, informative, and surprisingly useful.

It includes:

✔ An introduction to tarot and how to work with the deck
✔ Instructions for tarot readings and spreads
✔ Card meanings and interpretations
✔ RPG-specific keywords and prompts
✔ Ideas for using the cards during gameplay
✔ Ways to use the deck for storytelling, ideas, and random events

One thing I really appreciate is that the guidebook doesn’t assume you already know how to read tarot. It gives beginners enough information to actually get started, while still giving experienced readers some fun new ways to approach the cards.

How the Deck Works

This is still a 78-card tarot deck, with the traditional 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana divided into Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. The difference is that everything has been translated into the language of fantasy role-playing games.

You can use it as a regular tarot deck for:

✔ Daily readings
✔ Personal reflection
✔ Tarot spreads
✔ Storytelling and creative prompts

But you can also bring it straight to the gaming table.

The cards can be used to generate ideas, create plot hooks, introduce random events, develop characters, or help move a story in a new direction. That’s actually one of the things that makes this deck more interesting than simply being a novelty tarot deck.

Reading Style and Themes

This deck is very much about:

✔ Adventure
✔ Quests
✔ Character development
✔ Conflict and challenges
✔ Magic and fantasy
✔ Storytelling
✔ Creativity
✔ Random events and plot development

The RPG terminology gives the cards an additional layer without completely replacing their traditional tarot meanings.

I can see this being particularly fun for readers who already understand tarot because you can play around with both systems at the same time. You can read the traditional meaning, the RPG interpretation, or combine the two.

Who It’s For

This deck is perfect for:

✔ Tarot readers who love fantasy and RPGs
✔ D&D and tabletop RPG players
✔ Game Masters looking for storytelling prompts
✔ Writers who need creative inspiration
✔ Beginners who want a more playful introduction to tarot
✔ Experienced readers looking for a fun change of pace
✔ Anyone who likes combining tarot with storytelling

If you’re completely unfamiliar with tarot, the guidebook makes this surprisingly approachable.

And if you’re already a tarot reader, you don’t necessarily need to use it for RPGs at all. You can simply enjoy it as a fantasy-themed tarot deck.

My Honest Thoughts

I actually really love the idea behind this deck.

There are plenty of tarot decks that are fantasy-inspired, but The Ultimate RPG Tarot Deck actually understands what makes RPGs fun. It’s not just fantasy artwork. The cards are built around the language of quests, adventurers, treasure, combat, magic, characters, and storytelling.

And I love that it doesn’t abandon the tarot system to do it.

For someone who plays tabletop RPGs, I can see this being a really fun addition to the table. Pulling a card to help decide what happens next, creating a random encounter, developing a character, or coming up with a plot twist sounds like exactly the kind of chaos I’d enjoy.

For tarot readers, I think the biggest appeal is the humor and the reinterpretation of familiar archetypes. Some of the RPG terminology may take a little getting used to, especially if you’re not familiar with tabletop gaming, but the underlying tarot structure is still there.

My only real complaints are physical. The cards are a sticker and stiffer than I prefer, so shuffling can be a bit awkward, especially for my chibi hands. The fantasy RPG theme is also quite specific, so if you’re looking for a deck with a more neutral or traditional visual language, this probably isn’t going to be your thing.

But if you love tarot and RPGs?

Yeah. This one makes sense.

Where to Find the Deck & Creator Info

✦ Deck Creators: Jon Taylor & Jef Aldrich
✦ Illustrator: Zachary Bacus
✦ Colorist: Angueria “Hank” Jones
✦ Publisher: Adams Media
✦ Publication Date: June 6, 2023
✦ Where to Get the Deck: Amazon