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the popular card game’s Avatar crossover set will not get a wider release until later this week, yet following early access events recently, a low-cost green spell saw a sharp rise in value.

From the initial reveals, Badgermole Cub drew a lot of attention. This two-power, two-toughness requiring G and 1 mana, it includes level 1 earthbending (possibly the most effective of the four bending abilities in the set). The real boon here is an additional effect: Whenever mana is generated by tapping a creature, you gain one extra green mana.

Initially, Badgermole Cub was available for $26.98. After the pre-release weekend, though, its value escalated to nearly $50 with at least one listed as high as $60. What explains such high costs on this adorable card? Primarily because of the explosive mana ramping it can produce.

When it arrives the board, the cub converts a terrain card so it becomes a creature granting it earthbend. Alongside its mana-doubling effect, if it is not removed, those lands yields two mana instead of one — along with other creatures you have that produce resources.

The obvious go-to for synergy would be this one-mana elf, an inexpensive 1/1 that taps to generate a green resource. However many other mana generation creatures out there. Druid of the Cowl is a more expensive alternative a 1/3 creature for two mana in comparison.

Deploying terrain, dorks that generate resources, plus the cub, you may quickly play a very big and very expensive creature on the board by round three or four. Momentum builds rapidly with continued aggression after that.

When adding another color using this method, options such as Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid work perfectly that can make any color of mana. Additionally, a useful enchantment creature allows you to put one extra land every round as well as turns every land you control providing all land types. Another possibility is something like the enchantment A Realm Reborn, which for six mana grants every card you own the power to tap and generate any color mana — including all creatures you have on the board.

The cub may be OP regarding boosting mana production, yet what closes out the game in such a strategy? A common and powerful choice already is Ashaya. Power and toughness are set by the number of lands you control, plus it turns each creature you own Forests in addition to their other types. This means, each creature in play is able to generate two green mana by tapping.

Another creature is another expensive, beefy creature that benefits from many terrain cards (as with the previous card, its power and toughness are equal to the number of lands you control).

Nissa, Who Shakes the World is an excellent fit in this deck. Her static effect allows Forest lands tap for one more G. (With a Badgermole Cub, so all earthbend forests generate three green mana.) Her plus ability acts as an early earthbend, placing counters on a land, handy though it doesn't stack with earthbending. The minus ability, though, renders your entire land base unbreakable enabling you to search for your remaining Forests in the deck. Once you trigger the ultimate, it almost certainly you win.

This card is a must-have for any kind of green-based Avatar strategies built around earthbend. If you dip into red and green, there’s Bumi Unleashed. This card features earthbend 4, and when he deals combat damage in combat, each animated land become untapped and may attack once more. Although this card has emerged as a popular Commander choice, the cub is definitely going to remain one of, if not the most sought-after card in the Avatar set.