The Ultimate List of Tarot Cards in Order (with Chart)

Mastering the Full List of Tarot Cards in Order

• 0–21: The Major Arcana (The Fool's Journey)
• 22–35: The Suit of Cups (Emotions & Relationships)
• 36–49: The Suit of Swords (Intellect & Conflict)
• 50–63: The Suit of Wands (Creativity & Drive)
• 64–77: The Suit of Pentacles (Finances & Material World)

You are standing in a quiet room, the scent of lavender and old paper hanging in the air, as you lay out a fresh deck for the first time. There is a soft, rhythmic clicking as the cards slide against one another, a physical manifestation of the order you are about to uncover. This is not just a list of tarot cards in order; it is a map of the human experience that has remained standardized for over a century. Whether you are sorting your deck after a chaotic shuffle or looking to master the flow of the Rider-Waite Smith system, understanding this sequence is the first step toward true intuitive confidence.

For those arriving here from the world of gaming, it is important to note the distinction between divination and digital strategy. While the roguelike hit Balatro uses these same archetypes to power up your poker hands, the traditional sequence follows a spiritual narrative known as the Fool’s Journey. In this classical framework, every card holds a fixed numerical position that helps readers interpret the progression of a soul’s growth from innocence to enlightenment. Mastering this list allows you to move past the fear of 'getting it wrong' and into a space where you can feel the velvet pull of the cards’ deeper story.

The Major Arcana: The Fool's Journey in Sequence

• The Fool (0): Pure potential and the beginning of the cycle.
• The Magician to The Lovers (1-6): Developing the self, the mind, and early choices.
• The Chariot to Death (7-13): Navigating external challenges and profound internal shifts.
• Temperance to The World (14-21): Spiritual integration, hope, and ultimate completion.

The Major Arcana serves as the skeletal structure of the Tarot deck, representing the universal archetypes we all encounter. From a psychological perspective, this sequence mirrors the process of individuation—the journey toward becoming a whole, realized person. When you look at the sequence from 0 to 21, you aren't just seeing numbers; you're seeing a chronological unfolding of wisdom. The Fool starts as a blank slate, and by the time they reach The World, they have integrated every lesson of the previous cards.

This order is rarely accidental. For example, the placement of Death at number 13 is a significant marker of transition, occurring right after the stillness of The Hanged Man and before the balancing act of Temperance. It suggests that growth requires a period of suspension followed by a necessary ending before harmony can be restored. Recognizing these patterns helps soothe the anxiety of the 'unknown' during a reading, as you begin to see that even the most difficult cards have a logical, supportive place in the larger narrative arc. You are not just memorizing names; you are learning the architecture of the soul.

The Suit of Cups: The Sequence of the Heart

• Ace of Cups: The fountain of new emotional beginnings.
• Two to Five: Connection, celebration, boredom, and loss.
• Six to Ten: Nostalgia, choices, wish fulfillment, and emotional legacy.
• The Court (Page to King): Personalities that embody emotional maturity.

The Suit of Cups flows like water, tracing the evolution of our hearts. In the traditional list of tarot cards in order, the Cups often follow the Major Arcana to ground those high spiritual concepts in the reality of human relationships. You start with the Ace—a raw, overflowing cup of potential love or intuition—and move through the numbered 'pip' cards until you reach the emotional mastery of the King. This suit is where we find our 'soft place to land' in the deck, focusing on what we feel rather than what we do.

Psychologically, the Cups sequence teaches us about the impermanence of emotion. We see the joy of the Three transition into the stagnation of the Four, reminding us that no feeling is final. By following the cards in order, you begin to see a roadmap for emotional healing. If you find yourself stuck in the sorrow of the Five of Cups, the sequence promises that the nostalgia and sweetness of the Six are just one step away. This inherent order provides a sense of predictability and comfort, validating that every 'low' is merely a precursor to a new level of understanding.

The Suit of Swords: Logic and Conflict Progression

• Ace of Swords: A sharp breakthrough or a new clarity of thought.
• Three of Swords: The necessary pain of heart-break or harsh truth.
• Eight of Swords: The mental prison of self-imposed restriction.
• Ten of Swords: The absolute end of a painful cycle; hitting rock bottom.

If the Cups are the heart, the Swords are the mind—and the mind can be a double-edged tool. This suit is often the most feared because it deals with conflict, anxiety, and harsh realities. However, in the standard Tarot card meanings quick list, the Swords sequence is actually a powerful framework for mental resilience. It tracks how a single idea (the Ace) can lead to conflict (the Five), mental anguish (the Nine), and eventually, the total release of the Ten. It is a suit of logic that demands we face what is true, even when it hurts.

Mechanistically, the Swords work by stripping away illusions. When you study them in order, you see a progression of cognitive behavioral themes: how our thoughts create our reality and how we can become trapped by our own perceptions. The transition from the 'prison' of the Eight to the 'recovery' of the Four shows that the order of the deck itself offers a way out of mental loops. You aren't just looking at bad news; you are looking at the process of cutting through the noise to find peace. This structural knowledge acts as a protective boundary, preventing you from feeling overwhelmed by the 'scary' imagery of the suit.

The Suit of Wands: The Order of Creative Drive

• Ace of Wands: The spark of inspiration and raw energy.
• Three of Wands: Expansion and looking toward the horizon.
• Seven of Wands: Defending your position and standing your ground.
• Nine of Wands: Resilience and the final push before the finish line.

Wands are all about your fire—your passion, your career, and your drive to create. In the list of tarot cards in order, the Wands sequence represents the 'hustle' of life. It’s the feeling of a new project starting with the Ace and the inevitable exhaustion of the Ten. This suit mirrors our modern 'busy life' framing, where we are constantly balancing our desires with our responsibilities. By seeing the Wands in their traditional order, you can identify exactly where your energy is currently vibrating: are you in the planning phase (Two) or the victory phase (Six)?

This suit provides ego pleasure by validating our ambitions. It tells us that it is okay to be competitive and that struggle (the Five) is a natural part of the creative process. The sequence reminds us that inspiration isn't a one-time event but a cycle that must be managed. When you understand that the Seven of Wands leads into the rapid movement of the Eight, you gain the confidence to keep pushing through obstacles, knowing that momentum is just around the corner. It turns a chaotic day into a structured, meaningful journey.

The Suit of Pentacles: Material Growth and Security

• Ace of Pentacles: A tangible opportunity or financial seed.
• Four of Pentacles: The urge to hoard or protect resources.
• Eight of Pentacles: The dedication to craft and repetitive mastery.
• Ten of Pentacles: Long-term stability and the legacy of wealth.

The Suit of Pentacles grounds the deck in the physical world—money, health, and home. In the sequence of the 78 cards, this suit often represents the slow, steady build of a life. Unlike the quick fire of the Wands or the fleeting emotions of the Cups, Pentacles move with the rhythm of the earth. Psychologically, this suit addresses our need for security and our fear of scarcity. The transition from the 'poverty' of the Five to the 'generosity' of the Six illustrates the shifting nature of our material value and our relationship with self-worth.

By following the Pentacles in order, we learn the value of patience. The Eight of Pentacles, with its focus on craftsmanship, reminds us that mastery takes time and repetition. This is a vital lesson for anyone feeling the pressure of a fast-paced world. The sequence ends not just with wealth, but with the Ten—a card of community and legacy. It suggests that the ultimate goal of the material journey is to create something that lasts beyond our own lives. Understanding this order helps you navigate your career and financial decisions with a grounded, systems-thinking perspective.

The Court Card Hierarchy: Page to King

• The Pages: The 'students' or messengers; youthful and curious energy.
• The Knights: The 'action-takers'; focused, moving, and sometimes impulsive.
• The Queens: The 'internal masters'; nurturing, intuitive, and self-possessed.
• The Kings: The 'external masters'; authoritative, stable, and protective.

At the end of each Minor Arcana suit, we encounter the Court Cards. Think of them as the people in your life—or the different masks you wear yourself. They follow a specific hierarchy: Page, Knight, Queen, and then King. This order represents a progression of maturity and social EQ. A Page has a good idea but doesn't know what to do with it yet; a King has the wisdom and the resources to make that idea a reality for everyone. When you see these cards in order, you are looking at a roadmap for personal development.

This hierarchy is particularly useful for setting boundaries. If you feel like a 'Page' in your professional life, the sequence shows you that the next step is the 'Knight'—taking action and proving your worth—before you can reach the 'King' or 'Queen' status of leadership. It’s a gentle reminder that everyone starts at the beginning of the court. You don't have to be the King on day one; you just have to keep moving through the ranks. Now that you’ve mastered the structure, you have the keys to a much deeper dialogue with your own intuition. If you're ready to see how these cards apply to your specific story, why not ask for a gentle nudge from the cards today?

FAQ

1. What is the first card in a tarot deck?

The first card in a standard tarot deck is The Fool, which is traditionally numbered '0'. This number represents the beginning of the spiritual journey, a state of infinite potential before the soul takes its first step into the world. In the Rider-Waite Smith tradition, The Fool is the gateway to the Major Arcana.

2. Is the Fool card 0 or 22?

The Fool card is almost always numbered as 0. While some older decks or specific variations might place it elsewhere, the global standard for the list of tarot cards in order recognizes it as the zero-point of the Fool's Journey. It symbolizes the void from which all other archetypes emerge.

3. What is the correct order of the 22 Major Arcana cards?

The 22 Major Arcana cards follow a fixed order starting with 0. The Fool, 1. The Magician, 2. The High Priestess, 3. The Empress, 4. The Emperor, 5. The Hierophant, 6. The Lovers, 7. The Chariot, 8. Strength, 9. The Hermit, 10. Wheel of Fortune, 11. Justice, 12. The Hanged Man, 13. Death, 14. Temperance, 15. The Devil, 16. The Tower, 17. The Star, 18. The Moon, 19. The Sun, 20. Judgement, and 21. The World.

4. How are the four suits of tarot ordered?

The four suits of the Minor Arcana—Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles—do not have a universally 'correct' sequence in terms of which suit comes first, but they are often listed in the order of the elements: Fire (Wands), Water (Cups), Air (Swords), and Earth (Pentacles). Within each suit, the cards always run from Ace to Ten, followed by the Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

5. What is the hierarchy of court cards in tarot?

The hierarchy of Court Cards in a tarot deck is consistently Page, Knight, Queen, and King. This sequence represents a progression from childhood/apprenticeship (Page) to youthful action (Knight), to internal mastery (Queen), and finally to external authority and maturity (King).

6. Why is Death card number 13 in tarot?

The Death card is numbered 13 because it represents a major turning point in the middle of the Major Arcana sequence. It follows the 12th card, The Hanged Man (surrender), and precedes the 14th card, Temperance (integration). This placement signifies that transformation is a necessary part of the spiritual cycle.

7. What comes after the Tower card in tarot?

The card that immediately follows The Tower (16) is The Star (17). After the sudden upheaval and destruction symbolized by The Tower, The Star arrives to provide hope, healing, and a sense of renewed purpose, showing the restorative nature of the tarot sequence.

8. Are tarot cards always numbered the same way?

Tarot cards are generally numbered the same way across most modern decks based on the Rider-Waite Smith system. However, in older traditions like the Tarot de Marseille, Strength is often number 11 and Justice is number 8. Most contemporary lists of tarot cards in order follow the 8-Strength/11-Justice layout.

9. What is the order of cards in the suit of cups?

The Suit of Cups starts with the Ace and moves through the numbers Two through Ten. Following the Ten of Cups are the four Court Cards: the Page of Cups, the Knight of Cups, the Queen of Cups, and finally the King of Cups. This order tracks the development of emotional maturity.

10. How many cards are in a full tarot deck in order?

A full tarot deck contains 78 cards. This includes 22 Major Arcana cards (numbered 0-21) and 56 Minor Arcana cards. The Minor Arcana is split into four suits of 14 cards each, with each suit containing an Ace-10 sequence plus four Court Cards.

References

en.wikipedia.org — Major Arcana - Wikipedia

ezracard.com — Tarot Card Meanings Quick List

witchplease.co.uk — Historical Tarot Sequence Standards