The original Yu-Gi-Oh! anime is easily the most iconic of all the series. It introduced an entire generation of kids to the show and the card game itself and is looked back on fondly by fans young and old. Throughout the original series, all of the main characters used a few cards more often than others.
These cards went on to be nothing short of iconic, so much so that just about any casual fan of the show could identify them. From ace monsters to legendary beings, some cards just rise above others when it comes to popularity.
The Winged Dragon Of Ra
The Winged Dragon of Ra is one of the three Egyptian God Cards, which were at the center of the series' Battle City arc. The cards have the power to essentially rule the world depending on who controls them, and a massive battle between Yugi, Kaiba, and Marik ensued, with Yugi eventually winning out control by the arc's conclusion. Any fan can very quickly recognize the God cards, and The Winged Dragon of Ra is no exception.
Blue-Eyes White Dragon
Blue-Eyes White Dragon is the ace monster of Seto Kaiba, Yugi's rival in the series. The two engaged in countless duels against one another, and Kaiba was a central character in the anime, leading to Blue-Eyes White Dragon's popularity.
The monster has since received waves of support from fans and retrains that make it one of the most supported cards in the entire game next to Yugi's ace monster.
Dark Magician
Dark Magician is Yugi's ace monster and was by his side from the show's first episode to the last. No matter the challenge that stood in Yugi's way, Dark Magician was by his side, ready to take anything on.
As Yugi's ace monster, Dark Magician has received an endless amount of support over the years, just like Blue-Eyes White Dragon. In addition, Dark Magician has many different artworks across cards that showcase the true power that the monster holds.
Exodia The Forbidden One
While Exodia might not have seen nearly as much screentime as Dark Magician and Blue-Eyes White Dragon, its use by Yugi in the first episode of the series is one of the most iconic scenes in the entire show.
Exodia is one of the most powerful Yu-Gi-Oh! cards due to its ability to instantly win the game if all five of its pieces are drawn. Anyone that knows anything about the franchise knows Exodia the Forbidden One.
Slifer The Sky Dragon
Just like The Winged Dragon of Ra, Slifer the Sky Dragon is another Egyptian God card that was a focal point of the Battle City arc. Slifer the Sky Dragon was Yugi's primary God card and was key in helping him defeat Kaiba in the Battle City finals.
While Slifer the Sky Dragon might not be as strong as The Winged Dragon of Ra, it's no less iconic, being a huge aspect of one of the show's most impactful arcs.
Red-Eyes Black Dragon
Red-Eyes Black Dragon was the ace card of Joey Wheeler, another main character of the series. While the original Red-Eyes Black Dragon might not be a very good card, its status as an iconic card has allowed it to garner almost as much support as Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Dark Magician. Much of this support is actually competitively viable, and Red-Eyes decks see success to this day.
Dark Magician Girl
Dark Magician Girl was another monster introduced to the series in the Battle City arc, with her debut coming in Yugi's duel with Arkana in an iconic scene that saw her destroying Arkana's second Dark Magician thanks to her ability that grants her attack points for each Dark Magician in the graveyard.
Dark Magician Girl's icon status has led to an incredible amount of support, even spawning her own sub-archetype of Magician Girls under the Dark Magician archetype that Yugi is known for.
Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon
Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon is the fusion card used by Kaiba that requires three Blue-Eyes White Dragons in order to be summoned. The card has an absolutely massive 4500 attack points that virtually no cards are able to stand against.
While Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon wasn't used as much as the original Blue-Eyes White Dragon by Kaiba, its huge power led to it being a favorite of many fans of the series.
Kuriboh
Kuriboh is yet another one of Yugi's most iconic monsters. The card tends to be looked down upon due to its small size and low stats. However, its ability to protect its owner from harm in a few different ways led to it saving Yugi time and time again throughout the series. This adorable card now leads its own archetype of various retrains and other support cards, as well.
Obelisk The Tormentor
Obelisk the Tormentor, the God card most famously used by Kaiba, is just as iconic as its two God card counterparts. However, Obelisk has a bit of additional notoriety as it was the only God card that ever saw any form of competitive play, even if it wasn't all that much. This makes it known among both the more hardcore fans and casual fans of the show who saw it used throughout the Battle City arc.