Home News "Mastering Tarot Card Use in Balatro: A Guide"

"Mastering Tarot Card Use in Balatro: A Guide"

Author: Riley May 16,2025

It didn’t take long for Balatro to carve out its niche in the gaming world, captivating players with its addictive gameplay. Yet, one feature often flies under the radar: the use of Tarot cards. Let's dive into how to harness the power of Tarot cards in Balatro.

Getting Tarot Cards in Balatro

Balatro Arcana Packs in Shop Screenshot by The Escapist

Before you can leverage Tarot cards, you need to acquire them. The primary method is through Arcana Packs, available for purchase in the Shop. Additionally, you might find individual Tarot cards on offer in the Shop. Another way to snag these cards is by discarding a card with a Purple Seal.

Using Tarot Cards

Tarot cards are consumable items, ready to be used as soon as you obtain them. They're located in the top right corner of your screen. Selecting a Tarot card reveals a set of cards it can be applied to. You'll then choose the number of cards specified by the Tarot card, confirm your choice, and the card's effects will be applied to your selected cards.

All Tarot Cards

There are 22 Tarot cards, each with unique effects that can dramatically alter your gameplay.

Card	Effect
The Fool	Creates the last Tarot or Planet card used during your current run.
The Magician	Two cards are enhanced to Lucky Cards.
The High Priestess	Creates up to two Planet cards if you have the space for them.
The Empress	Two cards are enhanced to Mult Cards.
The Emperor	Creates up to two random Tarot cards if you have the space for them.
The Hierophant	Two cards are enhanced to Bonus Cards.
The Lovers	One card is enhanced to a Wild Card.
The Chariot	One card is enhanced to a Steel Card.
Justice	One card is enhanced to a Glass Card.
The Hermit	Doubles Money (up to $20)
The Wheel of Fortune	1 in 4 chance to add Foil, Holographic, or Polychrome to a random Joker.
Strength	Pick up to two cards to increase their rank by one.
The Hanged Man	Pick up to two cards to destroy.
Death	Pick two cards and convert the left card into the right card.
Temperance	Receive the total sell value of all current Jokers up to $50.
The Devil	One card is enhanced to a Gold Card.
The Tower	One card is enhanced to a Stone Card.
The Star	Pick up to three cards to convert to Diamonds.
The Moon	Pick up to three cards to convert to Clubs.
The Sun	Pick up to three cards to convert to Hearts.
Judgement	If you have room, it creates a random Joker.
The World	Pick up to three cards to convert to Spades.

Tarot cards are a key element that sets Balatro apart from traditional poker games. While some players might overlook their potential, especially the cards that change the suits of cards in your deck, mastering Tarot cards can significantly enhance your Balatro runs. Once you get the hang of them, these cards can be a game-changer, offering strategic depth and exciting possibilities.