Using Tarot Cards in Balatro: A Guide - News

It didn’t take long for Balatro to carve out a niche in the gaming community, captivating players with its addictive gameplay. One of the game's standout features, often underappreciated, is the use of Tarot cards. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to leverage these mystical cards to enhance your Balatro experience.

Getting Tarot Cards in Balatro

Balatro Arcana Packs in Shop Screenshot by The Escapist

To harness the power of Tarot cards, you first need to acquire them. The primary method is through purchasing Arcana Packs available in the Shop. You can also buy individual Tarot cards directly from the Shop. Another way to snag these cards is by discarding a card with a Purple Seal.

Using Tarot Cards

Remember, Tarot cards are consumable items. Once you've obtained a Tarot card, you can use it immediately by selecting it from its designated slot in the top right corner of the screen. Upon selection, a selection of cards eligible for the Tarot card's effect will appear. Choose the number of cards as indicated by the Tarot card, confirm your choice, and watch as the Tarot card's magic unfolds on your selected cards.

All Tarot Cards

Balatro features a set of 22 Tarot cards, each with unique effects that can significantly alter your gameplay strategy.

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 initially overlook their potential, especially the cards that change the suits of cards in your deck, mastering their use can significantly enhance your gameplay. These cards may not always be beneficial depending on your current run, but with practice, you'll find them to be a powerful tool in your Balatro arsenal.