Our take: Kim Krans' hand-drawn, animal-led deck is the rare tarot set that became a genuine cultural object —a New York Times bestseller that lives on as many bookshelves as altars. It is gorgeous, giftable, and genuinely powerful for intuitive readers. It is also a surprisingly tough first deck, because the guidebook whispers where a beginner needs it to shout.
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This is the official keepsake box set: 78 full tarot cards plus a substantial guidebook, housed in a rigid black-and-gold slide box that feels closer to a gift set than a card deck. Krans self-published the deck in 2012 before HarperCollins reissued it in 2016, and the art is unmistakable —stark black-and-white line drawings of animals, plants, and natural forces, with restrained pops of color in the major arcana. The imagery leans on the Rider-Waite structure but translates it into a wild, elemental visual language.
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Cards | 78 (full tarot, major + minor arcana) |
| Creator | Kim Krans (art and guidebook) |
| Publisher | HarperElixir / HarperCollins (keepsake box set) |
| Guidebook | Included, full-color illustrated hardcover-style booklet |
| Package dimensions | 7.7 脳 5.1 脳 2.65 in |
| Weight | 10.4 oz |
| Typical price | Around $25 |
| Amazon rating | 4.8 / 5, 22,000+ ratings |
The art is the reason this deck broke out of the metaphysical aisle. The major arcana swap human figures for animals and forces —the lion on Strength, the black cat of the Queen of Wands, spiders, snakes, and stags rendered in precise, almost tattoo-like line work. It reads as cool and modern rather than "witchy kitsch," which is why it appeals to readers who would never buy a traditional deck.
As a reading tool it rewards intuition. Because the scenes are symbolic rather than literal, you find yourself describing what the animal is doing and how the composition feels instead of reciting memorized keywords. That is wonderful once you have tarot fluency; it is the reason we would not hand it to a complete beginner as their only deck.
| Deck | Art | Guidebook | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Wild Unknown (this one) | B&W line art, animals | Poetic, concise | ~$25 | Intuitive readers, gifting |
| Rider-Waite | Traditional, fully illustrated | Keyword booklet | ~$20 | Learning the system |
| Light Seer's Tarot | Full-color, modern, inclusive | Detailed guidebook | ~$19 | Beginners who want color and warmth |
| Modern Witch Tarot | RWS scenes, contemporary cast | Full guidebook | ~$23 | Modern Rider-Waite alternative |
If you love the Wild Unknown aesthetic but want something even gentler for daily draws, Krans' companion Wild Unknown Animal Spirit oracle (63 cards, no tarot system to learn) is worth a look in our best oracle cards roundup. If you want the same symbolic freedom with brighter colors and a thicker guidebook, Light Seer's is the natural bridge and appears in our beginner deck guide.
A motivated beginner can, but it is not the easiest first deck. The guidebook is intentionally minimal and the abstract minors don't spell out their meanings. Pairing it with a beginner resource —or learning on Rider-Waite first —gives a much smoother start.
It is a full 78-card tarot deck with the standard major and minor arcana, just illustrated in Kim Krans' style. The separately sold Animal Spirit and Archetypes decks are oracles, so check the title before ordering.
Opinions split. Many readers shuffle it daily for years without issue, while others report edge scuffing and a thinner feel than premium decks. Sleeves remove the concern either way.
The guidebook focuses on upright meanings and tone rather than a full reversed keyword set. Readers who rely heavily on reversals will want a supplementary book or app.
For about $25 you get a decade-defining tarot set in genuine gift packaging. Learn the basics first, then let this become the deck you actually reach for.
Buy The Wild Unknown Tarot on AmazonThe Wild Unknown earns every bit of its reputation as the deck that made tarot visually modern. Its monochrome animal imagery is striking enough to sit on a coffee table and expressive enough to carry real readings, and the keepsake box makes it the best gifting tarot set on the market. Its two real weaknesses —a whisper-quiet guidebook and polarizing cardstock —both matter most to absolute beginners. Our recommendation is simple: if this is your first deck, learn on Rider-Waite and buy this second; if it is your second deck, it is one of the strongest choices you can make.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We test products independently and do not accept sponsored positive reviews. Star ratings, review counts, and prices reflect Amazon listings we checked in October 2026 and can change over time. Tarot and oracle decks are reflection and entertainment tools, not medical, financial, or legal advice.