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MTG’s Avatar crossover set isn't set to hit the general market before the end of the week, however after early access events this past weekend, an affordable green creature has already exploded in value.

Throughout the spoiler season, the earthbending cub garnered a lot of attention. A 2/2 priced at a single green and one generic mana, the card includes level 1 earthbending (arguably the best among the elemental mechanics available). Its key advantage in its design is an additional effect: Each time mana is generated by tapping a creature, it provides bonus green mana.

At its cheapest, the card could be purchased below $30. After the pre-release weekend, however, the going rate has shot up to $49.66 with at least one listed for sale at $60.00. Why are we seeing premium pricing for this little creature? Mostly due to the incredible mana acceleration it enables.

Upon entering the board, the cub converts a terrain card so it becomes a creature granting it earthbend. Combined with its other power, if it remains on the board, those lands produces twice the mana — in addition to other creatures on your side that generate mana.

A clear choice for synergy would be the classic Llanowar Elves, a cheap 1/1 that produces a green resource. Yet many other mana generation creatures available. Another option is a higher-cost choice that’s a 1/3 costing two mana as an alternative.

By playing lands, dorks that generate resources, and Badgermole Cub, you can easily get a massive high-cost threat on the board by round three or four. And things just keep spiraling exponentially with continued aggression after that.

If you dip into an additional hue in this strategy, cards like Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid work perfectly that can make any color of mana. Additionally, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove enables playing another terrain per turn plus makes every land you control so they count as all basics. Another possibility is for example a card called A Realm Reborn, costing six mana gives each permanent you control the power to tap and generate one mana of any color — including all creatures in play.

This card may be OP when it comes to accelerating your resources, however how do you win for a deck like this? A common and powerful choice already is Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Its power and toughness are both equal to the number of lands you control, and it changes all of your nontoken creatures Forests in addition to other subtypes. In other words, all your creatures in play may tap for two G when tapped.

Harmonious Grovestrider is a costly, large threat that thrives with lots of lands (similar to Ashaya, its stats are equal to your land total).

Nissa works perfectly as a go-to Planeswalker. Her static effect causes all Forests produce extra green. (Combined with earthbend, so all earthbend forests yield three G.) One loyalty ability functions like a proto-earthbend, placing counters on a land, handy though it doesn't stack with the cub's ability. The minus ability, however, makes each land you control immune to destruction and lets you search for every Forest left in your deck. Once you trigger that ability, this typically means game over.

Badgermole Cub is pretty much essential for any kind of green-based Avatar strategies focusing on the earthbend mechanic. When branching into Gruul colors, there’s this legendary card. He has earthbend 4, and if it hits a player to an opponent, each animated land are ready again for another attack. Although this card has become a popular Commander choice, the cute little Badgermole Cub will surely stay one of, if not the most sought-after card from this expansion.