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the popular card game’s special Avatar expansion will not hit the general market before the end of the week, however following prerelease weekends this past weekend, a low-cost green spell has already exploded in market worth.

Throughout the spoiler season, this small creature drew a lot of attention. This two-power, two-toughness requiring a single green and one generic mana, it has Earthbending 1 (possibly the strongest within the set’s four “bending” mechanics). Its key advantage in its design lies in another power: Whenever you tap a creature for mana, it provides bonus green mana.

When first listed, Badgermole Cub was available below $30. After the pre-release weekend, yet, the going rate escalated to $49.66 with at least one listed for sale at $60.00. The reason for such high costs for this little creature? Primarily thanks to the explosive mana ramping it provides.

Upon entering the battlefield, Badgermole Cub converts one land to a creature land that has earthbending. Combined with its other power, if it stays in play, each affected land yields two mana instead of one — along with other creatures on your side which tap for mana.

A clear choice for synergy includes this one-mana elf, an inexpensive 1/1 which can be tapped for a green resource. However many creatures that make mana out there. Druid of the Cowl is a higher-cost choice a 1/3 creature for two mana instead.

By playing lands, mana-producing creatures, alongside this card, you may quickly play an enormous pricey creature on the battlefield within a few turns. Momentum builds out of control with continued aggression from that point.

If you dip into an additional hue with this approach, examples including these mana-fixing creatures are all great options that generate all five colors. And something like a useful enchantment creature enables playing one extra land per turn AND turns every land you control providing all land types. It's also worth trying something like the enchantment A Realm Reborn, which for six mana provides every card you own the capacity to tap and generate one mana of any color — even all creatures under your control.

The cub may be OP regarding ramping up your mana generation, yet how do you win in such a strategy? An often-seen solution has been Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Its power and toughness are set by your land count, plus it turns each creature you own into Forests along with their original types. This means, every single creature in play may generate two green mana if used for mana.

This additional option is another expensive, beefy creature that thrives with a high land count (as with the previous card, its stats are based on the number of lands you control).

Nissa fits really well as a go-to Planeswalker. Her passive ability causes all Forests tap for one more G. (Combined with earthbend, that means each one produce triple green.) One loyalty ability acts as a proto-earthbend, putting +1/+1 counters to a noncreature land, handy but does not overlap with earthbending. Her ultimate, though, makes your entire land base unbreakable and lets you search for your remaining Forests in the deck. Should you manage to use this power, this typically means game over.

The cub is nearly mandatory for any kind of green Avatar deck that use earthbend. If you dip into Gruul colors, consider Bumi Unleashed. He has earthbend 4, and if it hits a player to an opponent, all land creatures untap and may attack once more. Although this card is a fan favorite Commander, the cub is definitely going to remain one of the most, maybe the desired card from this expansion.