Howlpack Alpha doesn't have a CDA turning it green. In isolation, it is colorless. The green border is probably either flavor (the werewolves are green, even if it's misleading) or it indicates that transformed objects inherit the color of another object.
you've probably just stumbled upon the meaning/reason for that green dot next to the Creature type line. this probably signifies that the creature is green even though it doesn't have a CC. they didn't want to have to print "~this~ is *color*." on all the shifting cards they're printing in this set.
maybe...
the Alpha doesn't have a mana cost because it can't be played by ordinary means. it will not have a way to cast it on it.
The Mayor will specify that, at Night, the mayor can be replaced with a Werewolf creature of a certain size (maybe even a specific name, like "Howlpack Alpha") maybe even keywording it like Transform into Werewolf (as opposed to Transform into Vampire, or Transform into Experiment). But where will this Werewolf card come from? my guess is that the card that makes it turn to Night, will also provide access to the Night creature like: "It becomes Night and search your library for a Werewolf card and put it into your hand..." or "While ~this~ is on the battlefield, it is Night. You may transform your creatures with creatures from your graveyard."
Whenever a permanent dies or is put into a graveyard?
as was said in the article quoted just a few post above yours, the current templating will be used when dealing with groups which contain non-creatures. so, it will stay "whenever a permanent is put into a graveyard..." and not use the "dies" terminology at all.
"dies" will be used only when dealing with creatures alone (with no other kinds of permanents involved).
i just want to mention that i think the art for this is pretty incredible. without looking busy, he gets a lot of detail, and 'space' into that little square.
you've probably just stumbled upon the meaning/reason for that green dot next to the Creature type line. this probably signifies that the creature is green even though it doesn't have a CC. they didn't want to have to print "~this~ is *color*." on all the shifting cards they're printing in this set.
this is an elegant answer to this puzzle. when it's night, the card flips to it's night form, when it's day, it flips back.
BUT the problem is that permanents printed this way will look 'tapped' when they're untapped and vice versa. so, probably not...
the Alpha doesn't have a mana cost because it can't be played by ordinary means. it will not have a way to cast it on it.
The Mayor will specify that, at Night, the mayor can be replaced with a Werewolf creature of a certain size (maybe even a specific name, like "Howlpack Alpha") maybe even keywording it like Transform into Werewolf (as opposed to Transform into Vampire, or Transform into Experiment). But where will this Werewolf card come from? my guess is that the card that makes it turn to Night, will also provide access to the Night creature like: "It becomes Night and search your library for a Werewolf card and put it into your hand..." or "While ~this~ is on the battlefield, it is Night. You may transform your creatures with creatures from your graveyard."
You beat me to the punch! that's EXACTLY what my guess would be, especially in a set that has ways of dumping to the gy.
And as for the 1 mana/13 damage spell, how about if you have to sac a creature of your own per target?
as was said in the article quoted just a few post above yours, the current templating will be used when dealing with groups which contain non-creatures. so, it will stay "whenever a permanent is put into a graveyard..." and not use the "dies" terminology at all.
"dies" will be used only when dealing with creatures alone (with no other kinds of permanents involved).
i wish Moss Elemental had something better to do with his time.
probably kank... until next we meet...
Grim Poppet already exists except it costs 3 more than your card and does less... which makes it balanced.
i see what you mean, but it's a tail.
even Mogg Fanatic has one (Gateway version... http://www.magiccards.info/grc/en/10.html)
(36 life if you're playing Cloudposts... wanna bet there's another Locus land in the next set... )