Planeswalkers in Yu-Gi-Oh! (Finally)

[Phelphor, of the Deep]

Latent cards are similar to Spell cards and Traps cards but is completely different. Latent cards are "equip"/"attached" to a monster but really they are bound that monster which alters the monster then that monster becomes a latent monster. Only 1 Latent card can be bound to 1 monster. Latent cards unlocks the latent power within monsters and potentially all monsters can become latent monsters. With this no new summoning mechanic to learn! Latent cards will be BRIGHT ORANGE!

 

Latent cards are activated in the spell/trap zone then they target a monster and the latent card is bound to that monster as long that monster is on the field. Some Latent cards have resttrictions on whom they can bound to you know, sometimes! Latent cards that are bound are set aside (outside of the game until the monster it is bound to is removed from the field and when that happens the latent card is removed from the game face-down.) Latent cards that are bound can not really mess with (yet?) but the monster that are bound to, can be messed with! Using the "Ultimate ability" of a Latent ability of a Latent monster can get you an vantage card!

 

Latent cards alter monsters and they become Latent monsters. Latent monsters are different from other type of monsters as they follow different set of rules

Latent monsters can no longer declare an attack.

If a player controls only Latent monsters, their opponent can attack directly as if they control no monsters

If an opponent's non-Latent monster attacks a Latent monster, the attacking non-Latent monster is not destroyed by that battle.

If an opponent's non-Latent monster attacks a Latent monster, neither player takes no battle damage from the battle.

If an opponent's non-Latent monster attacks a Latent monster, the Latent monster loses ATK equal to the attacking monster's ATK.

If a Latent monster's ATK becomes 0, it is sent to the GY.

 

Latent cards that are bound to monsters will alter that monster so that monster will become a Latent monster with additional Latent Abilities.

Latent monsters can only use one of their Latent ability once per turn.

Latent monsters need ATK equal to or higher to use latent abilities that require to lose ATK in order to activate that Latent ability.

Latent monsters will gain 1-4 Latent Abilities (depending on the Latent card) including possibly an ultimate Latent ability!

 

example of an Latent Card

Winds of Breaching Minds: Latent card

+500 ATK: Draw 1 card and send 1 card in your hand to bottom of your Deck.

+0 ATK: you gain 1000 Life Points

-500 ATK: You randomly discard 1 card then you randomly target 2 cards your opponent control and if you do: banish the targeted cards face-down.

-1500 ATK: Your opponent sends the top 3 cards of their Deck to the GY, discards 1 card then send 1 monster they control to the Graveyard.

[Dokutah]

For the most part its pretty much emulate the planeswalker system rather nicely so i dont have much to critique upon

If i have to be though, Probably these:

1) For the most part Latent card is solely played to turn monster as Latent Monster, thus does nothing outside of that. Which can be a problem since each copies will become bricks if not forcing you to keep playing it on even worse monster each time you get it just forsake of value

2) oddly you dont put legendary rule which is kinda intriguing. Its not really a weakness nor strength, im just curious why you didnt do that

3) while most mtg deck dont run multiple PW deck and recurring PW is even more rare. Its still a possible design to be explored, even more so when it copied to yugioh. So i think Latent Card being fizzle rather easy without outside recycling support is not really desirable. So maybe a lesser but fitting reccuring ruling ala commander could do? This also help to cut the number of Latent card you should run which can be solution to problem 1