Honestly, tracking down the tarot card collection Sims 4 players were promised in the Crystal Creations Stuff Pack is way more of a grind than I expected. You’d think you could just buy them. Nope.
If you're like me, you probably spent twenty minutes scrolling through the "Decorations" tab in Build Mode looking for a deck to slap on a table. It's not there. EA decided to make us work for our mystical aesthetic this time around. You actually have to build this collection from the ground up using the Gemology skill, which is both cool and incredibly frustrating if you just wanted a quick spooky room makeover.
The Crystal Creations Stuff Pack, which dropped in early 2024, introduced a specific set of 16 tarot cards. They aren't just for show, either. They have actual gameplay mechanics tied to the new Gemology table.
How the Tarot Card Collection Actually Works
To even start your tarot card collection Sims 4 journey, you need the All-in-One Gemology Table. It’s the chunky piece of furniture that looks like a jeweler's workbench. Here is the kicker: you can't just craft the cards at Level 1.
You need to hit Level 7 in the Gemology skill before the "Design Jewelry or Gemstone" menu even shows the tarot option. It’s a bit of a slog. You’ll be polishing turquoises and making basic silver rings for days before your Sim has the "vision" to start crafting the deck.
Once you hit that level requirement, you need a Crystal. Any crystal will do, really, but the quality of the crystal impacts the final result. You select the "Craft Tarot Deck" option, and your Sim will spend a few in-game hours hammering away.
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The 16 Individual Cards
Most players assume it’s one item. It isn't. It’s a collection of 16 distinct cards that you have to "discover" or craft. They are inspired by the Major Arcana, but they have that distinct Sims flair.
- The Llama: Obviously. It wouldn't be a Sims game without a llama representing something significant.
- The Cowplant: Representing death or transformation, which is honestly pretty dark if you think about how many Sims have been eaten by one.
- The Gnomes: Usually representing luck or chaos.
When you craft a deck, you don't get all 16. You get a "Deck of Cards" object in your inventory. When you place it in the world, you can "Draw a Card" or "Meditate." To fill out the collection log in your household UI, you have to keep interacting with the deck until you've seen all 16 unique illustrations.
The Mystery of the Rider-Waite Inspiration
It is worth noting that the artists at Maxis clearly did their homework. While the cards are stylized for the game, the symbolism mirrors the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith deck.
If you look closely at the "Sun" card in the game, it features the classic Sims 4 sun icon but maintains the yellow-heavy color palette of traditional occult decks. This isn't just random art. It’s a deliberate nod to the real-world history of cartomancy, adapted for a world where people speak Simlish and pee themselves if there's no toilet in the room.
Some players have reported bugs where the collection doesn't trigger as "complete" even after seeing all the cards. If this happens, try placing the deck back into your Sim's personal inventory and then placing it back on a surface. The game's script for tracking collections can be a bit finicky, especially if you’re playing with mods like MC Command Center that might mess with inventory triggers.
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Why People Are Obsessed with the Tarot Collection
Let's be real: The Sims 4 has been leaning hard into the "occult-lite" vibe for years. We had Realm of Magic and Paranormal Stuff, but those were more about ghosts and sparkles. The tarot card collection Sims 4 offers feels more grounded in the "hobbyist" aesthetic.
It fits perfectly with the "cozy gaming" trend. People want to build witchy cottages. They want a sun-drenched room filled with plants, crystals, and a deck of cards on the table.
Gameplay Benefits You Might Not Know
It's not just about the collection log. Having the deck provides actual moodlets.
- Inspired Moodlets: Looking at the cards or "Contemplating the Meaning" often gives your Sim a +1 or +2 Inspired moodlet. Great for writers or painters.
- Social Interactions: You can actually "Read Fortunes" for other Sims. This isn't a rabbit hole; you see the animation. It builds the Social motive and can actually influence the other Sim's mood.
- The "Cursed" Risk: There is a small chance—kinda rare, but it happens—that a reading goes poorly. Your Sim might end up Tense or Dazed for a few hours.
Common Misconceptions About the Deck
I see this a lot on Reddit: "Why can't I find the tarot cards in the debug menu?"
Well, you can, but they don't always function correctly if you just cheat them in. The game expects you to have "crafted" the base object. If you use bb.showhiddenobjects and search for "Tarot," you might find the individual card props used for animations, but these won't fill your collection log. You need the actual "Mystical Tarot Deck" object that comes from the Gemology table.
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Also, you don't need to be a Spellcaster. Any Sim—human, vampire, werewolf, or even an alien—can learn the Gemology skill and finish the tarot card collection Sims 4 offers. It’s a secular skill, strangely enough.
Finishing the Collection Quickly
If you're trying to speedrun the collection, don't just keep drawing cards from the same deck over and over. There seems to be an internal cooldown or a "luck" stat that prevents you from seeing new cards if you spam the interaction.
Go do something else. Have your Sim garden. Eat some grilled cheese. Then come back and draw again.
Actionable Next Steps for Completing Your Log
To wrap up your collection and get that shiny plaque for your wall, follow this specific workflow.
- Purchase the Gemology Table: Found in Activities and Skills > Creative.
- Grind to Level 7: I recommend crafting "Seed Opal" jewelry as it’s cheap and gives decent XP.
- Source High-Quality Crystals: Use the "Common" crystals first to save your Rare ones for jewelry you actually want to wear.
- Craft the "Mystic's Tarot Deck": Ensure you have at least one crystal in your inventory.
- The Daily Draw: Make "Draw a Card" a part of your Sim's morning routine. It takes about 10-15 in-game days of unique draws to finally trigger the full 16-card set in your collection tab.
- Check the Household Collection: Open your inventory (the cube icon), click the diamond icon for "Collections," and scroll down to "Tarot Cards" to see which ones you're missing.
Once you have all 16, you’ll receive a completion notification and a decorative item in the mail the next day. It’s one of the more satisfying collections to finish because it actually feels like your Sim learned a craft to get there.