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MTG’s special Avatar expansion will not become widely available before the end of the week, yet after early access events this past weekend, a low-cost green spell saw a sharp rise in market worth.

From the initial reveals, this small creature garnered significant interest. This two-power, two-toughness priced at G and 1 mana, it includes level 1 earthbending (possibly the most effective among the set’s four “bending” mechanics). Its key advantage in its design lies in another power: If a creature is tapped to produce mana, you gain one extra green mana.

When first listed, the card was available at around $27. Following the early events, yet, the going rate jumped to $49.66 including listings priced at sixty dollars. What explains premium pricing on this adorable card? Primarily thanks to the explosive mana ramping it can produce.

When it arrives play, this creature converts a terrain card so it becomes a creature that has earthbending. Alongside its mana-doubling effect, as long as it remains on the board, those lands generates double mana — in addition to other creatures you have which tap for mana.

A clear choice to combine with would be this one-mana elf, a low-cost creature that taps to generate a green resource. Yet many other mana generation creatures out there. Another option is a more expensive alternative that’s a 1/3 for two mana in comparison.

Deploying terrain, creatures that tap for mana, and Badgermole Cub, you may quickly play a very big pricey creature on the board early in the game. And things just keep spiraling out of control by maintaining dominance from that point.

If you dip into an additional hue using this method, examples including versatile mana producers are all great options which produce any mana color. And something like Dryad of the Ilysian Grove lets you play one extra land each turn plus makes every land you control so they count as all basics. Another possibility is for example the enchantment A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment grants each permanent you control the capacity to produce any color mana — including each creature in play.

This card may be OP regarding ramping up your mana generation, but what closes out the game in such a strategy? An often-seen solution is Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Its stats match how many lands you have, and it changes each creature you own Forests in addition to their original types. Essentially, every single creature on your board can tap for two G if used for mana.

This additional option provides a high-cost, powerful body which gains from a high land count (like Ashaya, P/T are based on your land total).

Nissa fits really well in this deck. One of her abilities makes all Forests tap for one more G. (If you have the cub, so each one produce triple green.) One loyalty ability acts as a proto-earthbend, adding counters to a noncreature land, handy but does not overlap with the cub's ability. The minus ability, however, renders all of your lands unbreakable and lets you search for every Forest left in the deck. Once you trigger the ultimate, it almost certainly the game ends.

The cub is pretty much essential for any kind of green-based Avatar strategies focusing on the earthbend mechanic. If you dip into red-green, you can use Bumi. He has earthbend 4, and when damage is dealt to an opponent, land creatures untap and can attack again. Although this card has emerged as a popular Commander choice, the cub is definitely going to remain one of the most, maybe the popular pick in the collaboration.