I am quite partial to large tarot decks, and the mega-sized cards of this one play right into that weakness of mine. The kit it comes as is also a joy for any tarot enthusiast. You get all the tarot items in the picture above. That is my deck, I added the squishy kitty as I was told today is bring your cat to work day, and that is my mental health support cat.
You do not get the cat with the kit, just the rest.
First impression:
A surprisingly faithful and affectionate fusion of Buffy fandom and tarot. At first glance it looks like a novelty deck, but it is much more functional than many licensed pop-culture tarots.
Who it’s for:
Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer who already know the characters and mythology reasonably well.
Strength:
Strong character-card matching and a coherent narrative universe if you are familiar with the series.
Limitation:
Many cards depend on knowledge of the show. Non-fans lose a significant portion of the symbolism. The little booklet it comes with does help though clarify some details.
Creators:
Author: Casey Gilly
Artist: Karl James Mountford
Artwork and aesthetic
Style:
Modern illustrated fantasy. Clean digital artwork with rich colors and comic-book influences. The imagery is great and the colors really stand out.
Tone:
Heroic, witty, emotional, and slightly gothic, very much in the spirit of Buffy itself.
You’ll like this deck if:
You love Buffy lore.
You enjoy character-driven tarot.
You prefer colorful modern decks over traditional occult imagery.
You may not like this deck if:
You dislike fandom decks.
You rely heavily on traditional esoteric symbolism.
You have never watched Buffy.
Readability
Clarity:
8/10
Difficulty:
Medium
Short verdict:
Easy to read for Buffy fans, moderately challenging for everyone else. If you spend some time with the cards, they become easier to read.
System and structure
Rider–Waite-Smith based:
Yes.
Minor Arcana:
Fully illustrated.
Notes:
The deck follows RWS meanings quite closely. Most cards can be interpreted traditionally while adding Buffy-specific layers.
Examples:
Buffy as Strength works well.
Giles naturally occupies wisdom-oriented archetypes.
Villains and allies are generally assigned thoughtfully rather than randomly.
Physical feel
Size:
Mega Size Edition: approximately 12.7 × 17.8 cm.
This is substantially larger than a standard tarot deck and slightly larger than many ‘giant’ editions. Mostly for table readings due to the size, but a pleasure to work with in any environment.
Card stock:
Good quality Llewellyn card stock. Sturdy without being excessively thick.
Finish:
Smooth matte-to-satin finish. A bit sticky at first, but after some use they shuffle very well.
Short verdict:
Excellent for table readings and study. Less practical for shuffling in hand.
Scores
Artwork:
9/10
Readability:
8/10
Usability:
8/10
Depth:
8/10
One-line summary:
One of the better licensed tarot decks, respectful to both tarot and Buffy; great quality of cards, box and accessories it comes with.
My reading experience
Situation:
Career draw.
Cards drawn:
Present- The 4 of Chalices (Cups)
Help- The 3 of Pentacles
What is hidden- The Chariot
Interpretation:
If you feel stuck it is not because of lack of opportunity. It is because your motivation has gone dormant.
The hidden Chariot suggests a strong desire to move forward, while the 3 of Pentacles says the next step comes through developing expertise and working with the right people rather than making a dramatic leap.
So, if you are unsure of your current career/role, the path forward is skill-building, collaboration, and productive work with others not a major change.
Personality of the deck
If this deck were a person:
A bubbly extrovert with a hidden library of occult books and surprisingly sharp insights.
If this deck had a voice:
Warm, sarcastic, encouraging, positive and driven.
If this deck had a mood:
“Yes, the apocalypse is coming. We’ll deal with it after coffee.”
Longevity
First impression vs later use:
Initially enjoyable because of nostalgia. Later becomes more interesting because character interactions add extra layers. Symbols reveal themselves the more you use it.
Does it become repetitive:
Less than expected. The large cast creates variety and the quality of the imagery draws you in.
Does it deepen over time:
Yes, especially if you’re familiar with the tarot and Buffy together.
Comparison
Similar to:
The Disney Villains Tarot
Key difference:
Buffy has enough character development and emotional complexity to support genuine tarot symbolism rather than merely decorating existing meanings.
Final personal verdict
Would I keep this deck:
Yes.
Would I recommend it:
Absolutely, to Buffy fans especially, but any tarot enthusiast can find joy in it.
Who should definitely buy it:
Buffy collectors.
Tarot readers who enjoy fandom decks.
Readers who like narrative and character-based symbolism.
Who should avoid it:
Traditionalists seeking heavy occult symbolism.
Readers who dislike pop-culture adaptations.
Closing thought:
Many licensed tarot decks feel like merchandise wearing tarot clothes. Buffy feels more like a real tarot deck, although knowledge of the series deepens meaning.
My favorite card:
The 2 of Pentacles - a very successful depiction of this card’s meaning
