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the popular card game’s special Avatar expansion isn't set to get a wider release in the coming days, yet due to pre-releases over the last few days, a low-cost green spell saw a sharp rise in value.

Even during previews, Badgermole Cub drew a lot of attention. A 2/2 requiring G and 1 mana, the card has Earthbending 1 (arguably the most effective among the elemental mechanics available). Its key advantage with this card comes from its second ability: Each time mana is generated by tapping a creature, it provides bonus green mana.

At its cheapest, this card was available below $30. After the pre-release weekend, yet, its value jumped to $49.66 and one seller offering for sale at $60.00. Why are we seeing premium pricing for this little creature? Primarily due to the incredible mana acceleration it enables.

As it hits the board, Badgermole Cub converts a land to a creature land granting it earthbend. And with that second ability, as long as it is not removed, those lands yields two mana instead of one — plus any creatures in your control that generate mana.

An ideal partner for synergy includes Llanowar Elves, a cheap 1/1 that produces G mana. However numerous other mana generation creatures available. Another option costs a bit more with stats 1/3 for two mana as an alternative.

Deploying terrain, mana-producing creatures, plus the cub, you may quickly play a massive pricey threat into play early in the game. Momentum builds out of control with continued aggression from there.

When adding an additional hue in this strategy, options such as Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid work perfectly that generate any mana color. And something like Dryad of the Ilysian Grove enables playing another terrain per turn plus turns your entire land base so they count as all basics. You can also consider for example a card called A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment gives all of your permanents the ability to be tapped for any color mana — which covers each creature in play.

The cub could be too strong regarding boosting mana production, however what closes out the game for a deck like this? A common and powerful choice has been Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Its stats match the number of lands you control, and it changes all of your nontoken creatures Forests as well as their original types. This means, each creature you control may generate two green mana if used for mana.

Harmonious Grovestrider provides a high-cost, powerful body that benefits from a high land count (similar to Ashaya, its stats match the number of lands you control).

This Planeswalker is an excellent fit as a staple. One of her abilities allows Forest lands produce extra green. (If you have the cub, that means each one produce triple green.) One loyalty ability acts as a form of land animation, putting +1/+1 counters on terrain, which is great though it doesn't stack with earthbending. Her ultimate, though, makes each land you control indestructible and lets you put onto the battlefield all the remaining forests in your deck. Once you trigger the ultimate, it almost certainly game over.

Badgermole Cub is nearly mandatory for any kind of green Avatar deck focusing on earthbend. If you dip into Gruul colors, there’s Bumi. This card features earthbend 4, plus if he deals combat damage to an opponent, land creatures untap for another attack. While that version is a beloved leader, the cub will surely stay one of, if not the most sought-after card from this expansion.