The AnKing Deck vs the Zanki Deck: Which Is Better For Step 1 Prep?

Studying for Step 1 is tough. With thousands of facts to memorize, most med students turn to Anki—and when they do, two decks usually come up: AnKing and Zanki. So which one’s actually better for Step 1 prep?

Let’s break it down so you can pick the right tool for your study style and goals.

🧠 AnKing: The Smarter Zanki

AnKing is built on top of Zanki but takes it to the next level. It integrates content from high-yield resources like Boards & Beyond, Pathoma, UWorld, and more. Thanks to its partnership with AnkiHub, the deck is constantly updated by the community.

The tagging system is one of AnKing’s best features. You can easily filter for things like “cardiology pharmacology” or “Pathoma GI pathology,” making it great for targeted review.

Smarter Scheduling = Better Retention

AnKing works great with FSRS, a next-gen scheduling algorithm that adapts to your memory performance. It helps avoid “ease hell” and makes your reviews more efficient.

Other smart settings:

• Set a daily cap of 80–100 new cards to prevent burnout.
• Try learning steps like 15 1440 4320 (15 minutes, 1 day, 3 days) to reinforce knowledge at optimal intervals.

🔧 Add-ons That Make a Difference

Pairing AnKing with add-ons like AnkiHub gives you real-time deck updates, typo fixes, and ease score optimization. Also, enabling the Anki 2.1 Scheduler Beta unlocks the latest performance features.

A Community That Keeps It Fresh

Medical knowledge changes fast. AnKing stays current with active contributors constantly improving tagging, fixing duplicates, and aligning with the latest board-style content.

Each major version (like v11 to v12) brings better organization and usability.

Customize to Fit Your Style

You can easily tweak cards, add mnemonics, or incorporate your own notes. The deck also supports advanced add-ons for dark mode, heatmaps, and auto-ease adjustment.

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📚 Zanki: The Classic Giant

Zanki is a tried-and-tested deck with over 25,000 cards. It’s still one of the most comprehensive Step 1 tools out there, covering nearly every topic you’ll need.

But it comes with a few trade-offs:

• Not actively maintained
• Less tagging and filtering
• No real-time updates unless you manage it yourself

Reliable, But Static

You can still do well with Zanki, but you’ll need to do more of the deck management yourself—like adding tags, updating content, and dealing with duplicates manually.

It’s a solid foundation if you prefer a more hands-on, DIY approach.

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🏁 Final Verdict: AnKing or Zanki in 2025?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—it depends on how you like to study.

Choose AnKing if you want:

• Regular updates and community fixes
• Resource tagging (Sketchy, First Aid, Pathoma)
• Easier filtering and customization
• Built-in support for FSRS, AnkiHub, and other add-ons

Choose Zanki if you:

• Prefer working with raw, unfiltered content
• Don’t mind manually managing updates and tags
• Want a strong foundational deck without bells and whistles

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TL;DR Study Tips:

• Stick to 80–100 new cards/day to avoid overload
• Use FSRS for more efficient reviews
• Customize your cards to fit your learning
• Track burnout early using stats and heatmaps

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