Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha MTG Card
2011-09-24 - Number 193★
2011-09-30 - Number 193
2023-03-21 - Number 53
2002-06-24 - Number 42866
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Werewolf |
| Abilities | Transform |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Card advantage through transformation and draw abilities enriches tactical options and resource access.
- Instantaneously amplifies board presence with Wolf tokens during each upkeep, enhancing offensive potential.
- The nightbound form’s surprise tactics via instant effects can decisively impact game outcomes.
Text of card
Each other creature you control that's a Werewolf or a Wolf gets +1/+1. At the beginning of your end step, create a 2/2 green Wolf creature token. At the beginning of each upkeep, if a player cast two or more spells last turn, transform Howlpack Alpha.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Howlpack Alpha has the potential to create card advantage by transforming during your upkeep if you control three or more wolves or werewolves. Upon transformation, it allows you to draw a card, fostering a substantial lead in the battle for resources.
Resource Acceleration: What sets Howlpack Alpha apart is its ability to accelerate resources on the battlefield. By producing a 2/2 green Wolf creature token during each upkeep, the card can significantly widen your board presence, which translates into a faster route to overwhelming your opponent.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Howlpack Alpha can produce instant-speed effects under the right conditions. In its nightbound form, it generates wolf tokens at every upkeep, not just your own. This capability ensures a consistent growth in your forces even during your opponent’s turns, catching them off guard and allowing for surprise blocks or attacks.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When Howlpack Alpha becomes your commander, it can be quite the hurdle since you may be compelled to discard another card. This might significantly hamper your hand if you’re already dealing with limited card choices or trying to maintain a strategic advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Howlpack Alpha requires both green and red mana, which could pose a constraint for deck synergy, particularly if you’re aiming for a multicolor deck that relies on a smooth mana base. Being locked into specific mana requirements restricts deck flexibility and can sometimes delay critical plays.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the necessity to invest four mana, including dedicated green and red, to summon Howlpack Alpha, its cost-benefit might not seem commensurate with the impact on the game. Considering the plethora of creatures and other spells contending in the four-mana slot, you’ll want to evaluate if Howlpack Alpha’s abilities sufficiently justify its place in your deck over alternatives that may offer lower cost or a more immediate board presence.
Reasons to Include Howlpack Alpha in Your Collection
Versatility: Howlpack Alpha can seamlessly slot into Werewolf tribal decks or other strategies that capitalize on creature synergies. Its ability to produce Wolf tokens each turn makes it a consistent threat on the board.
Combo Potential: As a card with both daybound and nightbound features, Howlpack Alpha interacts with mechanics that modify or utilize the day-night cycle, opening possibilities for combinations with other cards that capitalize on these conditions.
Meta-Relevance: With a metagame that encourages creature-based strategies, Howlpack Alpha can be a formidable presence. Its ability to quickly populate the board with tokens can overwhelm opponents and tip the game in your favor.
How to beat
Howlpack Alpha is a formidable force to reckon with on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to generate a 2/2 Wolf creature token during your upkeep if you control three or more Wolves or Werewolves can quickly get out of hand, leading to an overwhelming board presence. Additionally, its power to flip into a night-bound Werewolf under specific conditions makes it very versatile.
To counter Howlpack Alpha effectively, strategy becomes key. Removal spells like Murder or Doom Blade are direct answers to get rid of this lycanthropic threat before it amasses an insurmountable wolf pack. Board wipes such as Day of Judgment or Wrath of God can reset the playing field, providing a clean slate. It’s also beneficial to limit the number of wolves and werewolves that hit the table; creatures with the “Deathtouch” ability can deter opponents from attacking and expanding their wolf pack. Furthermore, leveraging instant-speed spells keeps the opponent guessing, disrupting their ability to settle into the comfortable rhythm that Howlpack Alpha thrives under.
Thus, maintaining control and applying targeted removal or board-wide strategies can ensure Howlpack Alpha never secures the hold it needs to dominate the game.
Cards like Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha
Howlpack Alpha is an intriguing creature that stands out in Magic the Gathering due to its ability to synergize with werewolf decks and transform mechanics. It bears similarities to Tovolar’s Magehunter in terms of enhancing werewolf strategies by providing benefits when flipping between its human and werewolf sides. Both play a key role in werewolf-themed decks, but Howlpack Alpha is unique in its ability to produce Wolf creature tokens at the beginning of your end step if an opponent cast two or more spells during their own turn.
Another card worth mentioning is Arlinn, Voice of the Pack, which also supports wolf and werewolf creatures by placing a +1/+1 counter on each one you control as they enter the battlefield. While Arlinn leans more on establishing a formidable board presence over time, Howlpack Alpha arrives with an immediate token-generating impact under the right conditions. Moreover, compared to Geier Reach Bandit, which also has a transformation feature, Howlpack Alpha requires a more strategic play as it can revert to its other form when conditions are not met, invoking an additional layer of tactical play for MTG aficionados.
Overall, Howlpack Alpha can be assessed as a powerful card in its niche, with its token creation and werewolf synergy carving a significant spot within MTG creature strategies.
Cards similar to Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad Promos, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha and other MTG cards:
- eBay
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- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
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Printings
The Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2011-09-24 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 42866 | 2003 | Transform | Black | Ryan Pancoast | ||
| 2 | 2011-09-24 | Innistrad Promos | PISD | 193★ | 2003 | Transform | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 3 | 2011-09-30 | Innistrad | ISD | 193 | 2003 | Transform | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 4 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows of the Past | SIS | 53 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Svetlin Velinov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-09-22 | A creature that is both a Werewolf and a Wolf will only get +1/+1 from Howlpack Alpha. |
| 2016-07-13 | For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics). |