Here's the breakdown:
* The anime features fictional cards: The creators of the anime designed many unique cards that don't exist in the real-life card game. These cards often have elaborate abilities and designs that are more fitting for the animated world.
* Real cards are often the basis: Many of the cards in the anime are based on existing real cards from the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game (TCG). These cards might have slightly different effects or names in the anime to make them more interesting for the story.
* Special Edition cards: Occasionally, the anime will feature a card that has a special design or ability. This is usually done to promote a new real-life card or set, and sometimes these cards are released in limited quantities.
So, while you can't find "Dark Magician" or "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" exactly as they appear in the anime, you can definitely find the real versions in the TCG.
The anime often serves as a way to introduce new cards and mechanics to fans, which encourages them to explore the real-life game!