Balatro Decks: All 15, Ranked
Exact starting effects, a tier list, and when each deck suits your run. Tiers average 17 player lists.
Updated October 2026
Quick answer
Decks set your starting cards, resources, and special rules for a Balatro run. Choose an unlocked deck before you start, with no in-game purchase cost. Abandoned Deck and Plasma Deck lead this 17-list average: Abandoned starts with 40 cards for more consistent draws, while Plasma turns large Chip bonuses into strong early scores.
Deck tier list
Averaged from 17 player tier lists (collected October 2026). No deck reaches S tier; the lists mix stakes.
A tier
B tier
C tier
D tier
We average 17 player lists: 13 TierMaker community submissions plus YouTube lists by ZainoTV (2025 Gold Stake ranking), BQuanchi Gaming, Balatro How To, and AlxJan7. S counts 5, A 4, B 3, C 2, D 1, and F 0; custom labels are mapped to that scale, with B+ scored as 3.5. Tier cutoffs are 4.5 for S, 3.75 for A, 2.9 for B, and 1.85 for C; lower averages are D. No deck reaches S. These lists mix stakes and player preferences, so Plasma's strong low-stake rankings contribute to its A tier.
The tier list can't see your run. BalatroBuddy can.
Tell it your deck, hand, and Jokers. It works through the scoring and explains which play clears the blind.
White Stake, Small Blind: 1,600 points. First draw from my original 52-card deck: K♠Q♥ J♦ 9♣ 8♥ 6♠4♦ 2♣. All cards and Blue Joker are unmodified, and High Card is level 1. Should I discard for a Straight?
BalatroBuddy: Play Kâ™ now to clear the blind in one hand. With 44 cards left in the deck, Blue Joker gives +88 Chips, making your level 1 High Card 103 Chips and 1 Mult. Plasma Deck balances those to 52 x 52 = 2,704 points, enough to beat the 1,600-point Small Blind.
All 15 decks
Grouped by what they change, best first within each group. Tap a deck for full details and synergies.
Starter decks
Hands, discards, money, and Joker slots
Blue Deck
+1 hand every round.
Best when: You want extra hands for scoring and more income from unused hands.
Tier B
Yellow Deck
Start the run with an extra $10.
Best when: You want to buy an early Joker while keeping money for interest.
Tier B
Red Deck
+1 discard every round.
Best when: You want more discards to find the cards your hand needs.
Tier C
Green Deck
At round end, earn $2 per remaining hand and $1 per remaining discard, but no interest.
Best when: You expect to win rounds with hands and discards left over.
Tier C
Black Deck
+1 Joker slot and -1 hand every round.
Best when: You want room for six Jokers and can manage fewer hands early.
Tier D
Consumable decks
Starting consumables and shop vouchers
Ghost Deck
Spectral cards may appear in the shop, and you start with 1 Hex card.
Best when: You want an early Polychrome Joker and access to shop Spectral cards.
Tier B
Magic Deck
Start with the Crystal Ball voucher and 2 copies of The Fool.
Best when: You want to reuse an early Tarot or Planet with your starting Fools.
Tier B
Zodiac Deck
Start with the Tarot Merchant, Planet Merchant, and Overstock vouchers.
Best when: You plan to buy Tarots and Planets often throughout the run.
Tier C
Nebula Deck
Start with the Telescope voucher and -1 consumable slot.
Best when: You plan to level one main hand through Celestial Packs.
Tier C
Deck shape and hand size
Change which cards you start with or how many you draw
Abandoned Deck
Start with 40 cards and no Jacks, Queens, or Kings.
Best when: Your build does not rely on face cards and you want more consistent draws.
Tier A
Erratic Deck
Randomize the ranks and suits of all 52 cards at the start of the run.
Best when: You want to build around the ranks and suits your starting deck rolls.
Tier B
Checkered Deck
Start with 26 Spades and 26 Hearts in your deck.
Best when: You want to build around Heart or Spade Flushes.
Tier B
Painted Deck
+2 hand size and -1 Joker slot.
Best when: You want to draw five-card hands more reliably with fewer Joker slots.
Tier C
Rule changers
Scoring and Boss Blind rewards
Plasma Deck
Balance Chips and Mult when scoring each played hand, with X2 base Blind size.
Best when: You want large Chip bonuses to carry the early rounds.
Tier A
Anaglyph Deck
Gain 1 Double Tag after defeating each Boss Blind.
Best when: You want to save Double Tags for a valuable skip reward.
Tier C
Not sure how to build around your deck?
Describe your deck, Jokers, and next decision. BalatroBuddy explains what fits your run.
Deck questions
What is the best deck in Balatro?
Abandoned and Plasma lead our average of 17 player tier lists, both in A tier; no deck reaches S. Abandoned offers a smaller starting deck, while Plasma rewards large Chip bonuses early. The lists mix stakes, so their average is not a Gold Stake ranking.
Which Balatro deck is best for beginners?
Blue gives you an extra hand each round, and Yellow gives you $10 more to spend on early shops or keep for interest. Red is also a straightforward learning deck, with an extra discard each round to help find playable hands.
How do you unlock all decks in Balatro?
Red starts unlocked; discovering 20, 50, 75, and 100 collection items unlocks Blue, Yellow, Green, and Black respectively. Winning with Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, and Black unlocks Magic, Nebula, Ghost, Abandoned, and Checkered respectively, on any stake. Win with any deck on Red Stake for Zodiac, Green for Painted, Black for Anaglyph, Blue for Plasma, and Orange for Erratic; higher stakes also qualify.
How does Plasma Deck scoring work?
Plasma averages your final Chips and Mult, rounds down, then multiplies the balanced values; it also doubles base Blind sizes. Large Chip bonuses usually give the biggest early gains, while repeated XMult effects can take over later. You do not need to build Chips and Mult equally yourself.
Does Erratic Deck randomize every round?
No, it randomizes the ranks and suits of the starting 52 cards once, when the run begins. Those cards stay in your deck unless you change, add, or remove them during the run.
- Stakes: How each difficulty changes the run.
- Jokers: Find scoring and economy tools that fit your deck.
- Planet Cards: Level up the hands your deck makes reliable.