Sorting tarot cards in Wand and Order (Wand & Order: Tidy up the magic shop!) is the primary challenge in Zone 1: The Archives. After an apprentice cleaning spell goes awry and scatters 468 tarot cards across 78 display shelves, you must return every card box to its rightful place.
Because many card boxes share similar cover art, colors, and Roman numerals, understanding the exact sorting rules makes the cleanup process significantly faster. Here is the complete breakdown of how the tarot card system works, the shelf layouts for Major and Minor Arcana, and how to organize every card without guessing.
How Tarot Card Sorting Works in Wand & Order
The Archives contains 78 individual shelf slots. Each slot holds exactly one complete set of six identical card copies, numbered 1 through 6.
To correctly place a card, you must understand two distinct sorting criteria: horizontal position and shelf classification.
- Horizontal Row Position (1 to 6): Look at the small dots on the bottom edge of each card box, or check the number display in the upper-left corner of your screen (for example, "3/6"). One filled circle belongs in the first slot on the left of the shelf, while six filled circles belong on the far right.
- Shelf Matching: Each shelf row is dedicated to a single card type. Placing mismatched cards on the same horizontal row prevents the shelf from validating.
- Completion Cue: When you place an item correctly, it emits a subtle sparkle. Completing a full shelf row correctly triggers a chime and a burst of stars. If an entire bookcase is filled accurately, the entire unit animates to confirm the section is resolved.
Major Arcana Shelf Order and Groupings
The Major Arcana cards are displayed on four distinct shelf units categorized by a two-tone color border: Blue Silver, Blue Gold, Purple Silver, and Purple Gold.
Following official updates (including Hotfix 1.1, which adjusted groupings to better align with the Fool's Journey), the cards are arranged across the central room displays.
| Shelf Group | Location & Capacity | Cards Included in Sequence |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Silver | Far Right Shelf (5 Shelves) | 0 — The Fool, 1 — The Magician, 2 — The High Priestess, 4 — The Emperor |
| Blue Gold | Middle Right Shelf (6 Shelves) | 5 — The Hierophant, 6 — The Lovers, 7 — The Chariot, 8 — Strength, 9 — The Hermit, 10 — The Wheel of Fortune |
| Purple Silver | Far Left Shelf (5 Shelves) | 11 — Justice, 12 — The Hanged Man, 13 — Death, 14 — Temperance, 15 — The Devil |
| Purple Gold | Middle Left Shelf (6 Shelves) | 16 — The Tower, 17 — The Star, 18 — The Moon, 19 — The Sun, 20 — Judgment, 21 — The World |
To keep these organized, check both the background color (blue or purple) and the ornamental border (gold or silver) before placing them.
Minor Arcana Suit and Shelf Order
The Minor Arcana cards are grouped into the traditional four suits, each represented by a distinct box color:
- Cups: Blue
- Pentacles: Brown
- Swords: Gray
- Wands: Red
Each suit contains 14 unique card types: Ace through 10, followed by the court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, and King). In Zone 1, each suit is assigned two adjacent bookcase sections containing seven shelves each.
| Suit | Box Color | First Shelf Column (1–7) | Second Shelf Column (8–King) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cups | Blue | Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | 8, 9, 10, Page, Knight, Queen, King |
| Pentacles | Brown | Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | 8, 9, 10, Page, Knight, Queen, King |
| Swords | Gray | Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | 8, 9, 10, Page, Knight, Queen, King |
| Wands | Red | Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | 8, 9, 10, Page, Knight, Queen, King |
As noted by players during gameplay, the game mechanics check whether each horizontal shelf contains six matching cards in order from 1 to 6. While players have freedom in how they arrange ranks vertically, following the standard Ace-to-7 and 8-to-King sequence ensures your shop looks structured and prevents duplicate placements.
Tips for Sorting Tarot Cards Efficiently
Sorting nearly 500 cards one by one can become overwhelming if done entirely by hand. Using the game's built-in mechanics and cleaning spells speeds up the job considerably.
- Sort One Suit at a Time: Focus entirely on a single color group (such as Red for Wands or Gray for Swords) before touching others. This narrows your visual scanning area.
- Utilize Floor Stacking: You can click to drop cards in neat, vertical stacks on the floor. Group matching suits near their corresponding bookcases before placing them onto the shelves.
- Unlock Chest Abilities Early: Locate the key in Zone 1 to open the alchemical chest. This grants the cobweb removal spell, enabling you to clear spiderwebs and complete room objectives.
- Invest Spell Points in Magnet and Vision: Earning points from completed shelves lets you unlock and upgrade utility spells:
- Alchemical Vision: Highlights matching copies of your current card deck across the room.
- Magnetic Vacuum: Pulls matching card boxes scattered nearby straight into your inventory.
- Guide (Auto-Place/Shelf Indicator): Highlights the exact shelf where your currently held card belongs.
Additional Cleaning Tasks in Zone 1
To fully clear Zone 1 and prepare the portal to the Wand Workshop (Zone 2), sorting cards is not the only requirement. You must also complete the shop's housekeeping checklist:
- Sweep Dirt Spills: Grab the broom and sweep the five dirt piles scattered across the main floor and upper platform.
- Clean Paintings: Use the sponge to wipe down the four framed portraits (including the dog and cat paintings).
- Water the Plants: Take the watering can, fill it at the active water stream, and water the eight flower pots and the special mushroom pot.
- Clear Cobwebs: Use your unlocked spell to clear all eight spiderwebs around the arches and shelves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my shelf not triggering the completion animation?
If a shelf row does not shine or trigger stars, check the small indicator dots on the bottom of each box. The cards must be placed strictly from left to right in sequence (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Also ensure that none of the cards belong to a different rank or suit with similar artwork.
Do Minor Arcana shelves have to be in strict vertical order?
According to player observations and Steam community feedback, the game validates shelves on a row-by-row basis. Each horizontal row must contain all six matching copies of the exact same card in numeric order (1 through 6). While vertical ordering between rows offers flexibility, adhering to numerical order (Ace through 7 on the left column, 8 through King on the right) prevents confusion.
How do I tell gray Swords from brown Pentacles?
Under certain lighting conditions in The Archives, the gray Sword boxes and brown Pentacle boxes look similar. Check the suit icon on the spine or read the card name in the top-left UI prompt to confirm the suit before shelving.
