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the popular card game’s Avatar crossover set isn't set to hit the general market until later this week, however after early access events recently, one cheap green card saw a sharp rise in market worth.

Even during previews, this small creature drew a lot of attention. This two-power, two-toughness priced at one green and one colorless mana, the card includes level 1 earthbending (possibly the strongest among the elemental mechanics available). The major perk here comes from an additional effect: If mana is generated by tapping a creature, it provides bonus green mana.

At its cheapest, Badgermole Cub was available at around $27. Post-prerelease, however, its value jumped to nearly $50 with at least one listed for sale at $60.00. The reason for such high costs for this little creature? Primarily due to the incredible mana acceleration it enables.

As it hits play, Badgermole Cub transforms one land so it becomes a creature granting it earthbend. And with that second ability, if it is not removed, every earthbent land generates double mana — along with any creatures you have which tap for mana.

The obvious go-to to combine with is the classic Llanowar Elves, a cheap 1/1 that produces a green resource. Yet numerous alternative mana dorks available. Druid of the Cowl is a higher-cost choice with stats 1/3 for two mana as an alternative.

By playing lands, mana-producing creatures, and Badgermole Cub, you may quickly play a massive pricey monster into play by round three or four. The situation escalates out of control by maintaining dominance from that point.

By incorporating a secondary color using this method, options such as versatile mana producers work perfectly which produce all five colors. Additionally, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove enables playing an additional land per turn plus makes every land you control so they count as all basics. It's also worth trying for example the enchantment A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment grants each permanent you control the power to be tapped for one mana of any color — including any creature in play.

The cub may be OP when it comes to accelerating your resources, yet what closes out the game with this archetype? One obvious and popular answer is Ashaya. Power and toughness are set by your land count, plus it turns each creature you own to be Forests in addition to their original types. This means, each creature you control can produce double green if used for mana.

Harmonious Grovestrider is another expensive, beefy creature that benefits from a high land count (like Ashaya, its power and toughness match the number of lands you control).

This Planeswalker is an excellent fit in this deck. Her passive ability causes every Forest produce extra green. (Combined with earthbend, so each one yield three G.) Her plus ability functions like an early earthbend, placing counters to a noncreature land, which is great but does not overlap with earthbend. Her ultimate, however, renders all of your lands indestructible and allows you to put onto the battlefield all the remaining forests in the deck. Should you manage to use the ultimate, it’s pretty much you win.

Badgermole Cub is pretty much essential in any green-based Avatar strategies that use the earthbend mechanic. If you dip into Gruul colors, there’s Bumi Unleashed. It possesses earthbend 4, and when damage is dealt to a player, land creatures untap and can attack again. While that version has become a fan favorite Commander, the cute little Badgermole Cub is definitely going to remain one of, if not the most popular pick in the Avatar set.