How Many Minor Arcana Cards? The Complete Structure Guide (2026)

The Anatomy of 56: A Breakdown of How Many Minor Arcana Cards Exist

• Total Count: 56 Minor Arcana cards in every standard deck.
• Internal Structure: 4 distinct suits containing 14 cards each.
• The Numeric Core: 40 numbered 'Pip' cards (Ace through 10).
• The Social Hierarchy: 16 Court Cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King).
• Standard Composition: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles.

You are sitting at your desk with a brand-new, shrink-wrapped deck of cards, feeling that specific mix of excitement and 'Wait, is this too much?' anxiety. You fan them out, and the sheer volume of imagery hits you like a tidal wave. You start to count, wondering if your deck is missing a piece or if you are simply missing the point. If you’ve ever felt like you weren't 'mystical' enough because the 78-card system felt like a math problem you didn't sign up for, let's stop that narrative right now. Knowing exactly how many minor arcana cards are in your hands is the first step toward moving from 'guessing' to 'knowing.'

Psychologically, we crave structure before we can allow ourselves to play. By categorizing the 56 Minor Arcana cards, your brain stops seeing a chaotic pile of art and starts seeing a logical filing system for human experience. This 'Anatomy of the Deck' isn't just about counting; it's about establishing a foundation of confidence. When you know the architecture, you don't have to keep the guidebook open on your lap just to feel legitimate. You are already there.

The Four Suits: Understanding the 14-Card Pillars

To master the system, you must understand the four pillars of the Minor Arcana. Each suit represents a specific quadrant of your life, from your bank account to your deepest heartaches. According to Britannica, these suits are the predecessors to our modern playing cards, and they function as a roadmap for the 'mundane' or daily aspects of existence.

• Wands (Fire): Represents passion, career, creative sparks, and the 'will to do.' These are the 14 cards that track your energy levels and ambition.
• Cups (Water): These 14 cards map your emotional landscape, relationships, and subconscious intuition.
• Swords (Air): The intellectual suite. These 14 cards deal with communication, logic, conflict, and the way you process thoughts.
• Pentacles (Earth): The physical realm. This suit covers your finances, health, home, and long-term security.

When you see these suits as four separate toolkits, the overwhelm disappears. You aren't learning 56 random meanings; you are learning four 14-part stories. This cognitive reframing is essential for practitioners who feel they lack 'innate' psychic abilities. You don't need a crystal ball when you have a well-organized system of 56 symbols that mirror your everyday reality.

The Minor Arcana Reference Matrix

If you are looking for a quick reference to verify your deck's completeness or to compare the suits at a glance, this matrix provides the essential logic of the 56 Minor Arcana cards.

Each suit contains exactly 14 cards: 10 numbered cards (the Pips) and 4 court cards. This mathematical consistency is why the Tarot system has survived for centuries. It is a mirrored reflection of the 52-card playing deck with four additional 'Page' cards that add depth to the social hierarchy of the reading.

The 16 Court Cards: Your Social Blueprint

The Court Cards—the Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings—are often where new readers get stuck. There are 16 of them in total (4 per suit), and they represent the 'people' or the 'personalities' within your life's narrative. Think of them as the cast of characters in your personal movie.

• Pages (4): The messengers and students. They bring news and represent the 'seed' of an idea or a youthful energy.
• Knights (4): The action-takers and extremists. They represent the 'movement' and the pursuit of a goal within their suit's element.
• Queens (4): The internal masters. They represent emotional or mental maturity and the ability to nurture the energy of their suit.
• Kings (4): The external authorities. They represent mastery, leadership, and the final manifestation of their suit's power.

Identifying these 16 cards separately from the numbered cards helps you pinpoint when a situation is being influenced by a specific person or a specific personality trait. If your deck has 16 of these and they are evenly split between the four suits, your 'cast' is complete and ready for the stage.

The 40 Numbered Cards: Mapping the Human Journey

The 'Pips' or numbered cards make up the bulk of the Minor Arcana—40 cards in total. These cards, ranging from Ace to Ten, illustrate the progression of a situation from its inception to its conclusion. As noted in the Wikipedia Minor Arcana database, the sequence of numbers provides a predictable rhythm to human events.

• Aces: New beginnings, raw potential, and singular focus.
• Twos to Fives: Early development, choices, stability, and the first signs of conflict.
• Sixes to Nines: Growth, resilience, discipline, and nearing the climax of a cycle.
• Tens: Completion, excess, or the final outcome of the suit's journey.

Understanding the numeric progression allows you to 'read' the energy of a spread without memorizing 40 separate definitions. If you see a lot of Twos and Threes, things are just starting. If you see Tens, a chapter is closing. This is the 'logic' of the Minor Arcana that removes the fear of being 'wrong.' You are simply observing a sequence of numbers.

The Deck-Verification Checklist: Is Your Tarot Deck Complete?

If you are worried that your deck is incomplete, use this 60-second verification checklist. Standard decks like the Rider-Waite-Smith contain exactly 78 cards total, but the Minor Arcana is its own distinct 56-card block.

• Step 1: Separate your Major Arcana (the cards with names like The Fool, Death, or The Sun). There should be 22 of these.
• Step 2: Count your suits. You should have 4 piles: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles.
• Step 3: Count the 'Faces.' Each pile should have 4 Court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King).
• Step 4: Count the 'Numbers.' Each pile should have 10 numbered cards (Ace through 10).
• Step 5: Sum it up. 14 cards per suit x 4 suits = 56 Minor Arcana cards.

If you find yourself with 57 or 55, check for 'Extra' cards often included by modern artists (like an 'Artist' card or a secondary 'The Lovers' variant) or check the floor! Understanding how many minor arcana cards are supposed to be there ensures you aren't trying to interpret a message with a missing piece of the puzzle.

The Soul's Playbook: Why the Minor Arcana Matters

While the 22 Major Arcana cards represent 'Fate' and the big, life-altering themes, the 56 Minor Arcana cards represent 'Free Will' and the day-to-day choices we make. They are the 'how' to the Major Arcana's 'why.'

Psychologically, we often obsess over the 'Big Destinies,' but our happiness is actually built in the Minor Arcana. It’s in the Swords (how we talk to ourselves), the Cups (how we love), the Wands (how we work), and the Pentacles (how we spend). By mastering these 56 cards, you are reclaiming power over the mundane. You are realizing that while you might not control the 'Tower' moments of life, you absolutely control the 56 ways you respond to them. Now that you know the structure, are you ready to see what these cards are trying to tell you specifically about your current path?

FAQ

1. How many minor arcana cards are in a standard tarot deck?

A standard Tarot deck contains exactly 56 Minor Arcana cards. These are separate from the 22 Major Arcana cards, which brings the total deck count to 78 cards. If your deck has more or fewer than 56 Minor Arcana cards, it may be an oracle deck or a specialty deck with unique artistic additions.

2. How many suits are in the minor arcana?

The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles (also known as Coins or Discs). Each suit contains 14 cards, making up the total of 56. These suits represent the four elements—Fire, Water, Air, and Earth—and correspond to different areas of life such as career, emotions, intellect, and finances.

3. How many court cards are in the minor arcana?

There are 16 Court cards in the Minor Arcana. Each of the four suits contains four Court cards: the Page, the Knight, the Queen, and the King. These cards typically represent specific people, personality types, or levels of maturity regarding the suit's element.

4. Is the Ace part of the minor arcana?

Yes, the Ace is officially part of the Minor Arcana. There are 4 Aces in total (one for each suit). In most traditions, the Ace is considered the first card of the numbered sequence, representing the purest, most concentrated energy of that suit.

5. How many minor arcana cards are numbered?

There are 40 numbered cards in the Minor Arcana, often referred to as 'Pip cards.' Each of the four suits contains 10 numbered cards, ranging from Ace (1) through Ten. These cards represent the daily progression and development of various life situations.

6. What is the difference between major and minor arcana?

The Major Arcana (22 cards) represents large-scale, karmic life lessons and archetypal themes that are often outside of our direct control. The Minor Arcana (56 cards) represents the daily, 'minor' details of life, our personal reactions, and the specific actions we take in our everyday routine.

7. How many wands are in a tarot deck?

Every standard tarot deck contains 14 Wands. This includes 10 numbered cards (Ace of Wands through 10 of Wands) and 4 Court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, and King of Wands). Wands are associated with the element of Fire and represent creativity and drive.

8. What is the total number of cards in a standard tarot deck?

A standard tarot deck, such as the Rider-Waite-Smith, has a total of 78 cards. This is the sum of 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards. Some modern decks may include 1-2 extra cards for artistic purposes, but 78 remains the traditional standard.

9. How many pentacles are in tarot?

There are 14 Pentacles in a standard deck. Similar to the other suits, this includes the Ace through 10 of Pentacles plus the Page, Knight, Queen, and King of Pentacles. This suit focuses on the material world and physical health.

10. Are there 56 or 78 minor arcana cards?

Standard tarot decks always have 56 Minor Arcana cards. If you see '78' referenced, that is the total for the entire deck including the Major Arcana. If a deck only has 56 cards, it is likely an 'Everyday' deck that has omitted the Major Arcana entirely, though this is rare.

References

britannica.com — Minor Arcana | Tarot Cards - Britannica

en.wikipedia.org — Minor Arcana - Wikipedia

cratejoy.com — Anatomy of a Tarot Deck - Cratejoy