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MTG’s collaboration with Avatar isn't set to get a wider release until later this week, however following pre-releases recently, a low-cost green spell saw a sharp rise in value.

Even during previews, Badgermole Cub garnered widespread focus. This two-power, two-toughness priced at G and 1 mana, it includes the Earthbend 1 ability (possibly the strongest of the set’s four “bending” mechanics). Its key advantage in its design is its second ability: Whenever a creature is tapped to produce mana, you gain one extra green mana.

At its cheapest, Badgermole Cub could be purchased below $30. Following the early events, though, the going rate has shot up to $49.66 with at least one listed as high as $60. Why are we seeing such high costs on this adorable card? Mainly because of the explosive mana ramping it can produce.

When it arrives the board, Badgermole Cub converts a terrain card to a creature land with earthbend. And with that second ability, while it remains on the board, every earthbent land produces twice the mana — along with mana-producing creatures in your control that produce resources.

An ideal partner for maximum effect includes Llanowar Elves, a low-cost creature which can be tapped for a green resource. However numerous other mana generation creatures in the game. Another option costs a bit more that’s a 1/3 costing two mana in comparison.

Using land cards, mana-producing creatures, alongside this card, you may quickly play a very big pricey creature on the battlefield by round three or four. And things just keep spiraling exponentially if you keep the pressure on from that point.

By incorporating another color in this strategy, examples including versatile mana producers work perfectly that can make any mana color. Another card, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove enables playing an additional land per turn AND turns your entire land base into every basic land type. Another possibility is such as the enchantment A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment gives all of your permanents the power to tap and generate any color mana — which covers each creature in play.

Badgermole Cub might seem overpowered when it comes to accelerating your resources, however what closes out the game for a deck like this? A common and powerful choice has been this legendary creature. Power and toughness are both equal to the number of lands you control, and it makes each creature you own Forests as well as their other types. Essentially, each creature on your board can tap for two G if used for mana.

Another creature is another expensive, beefy creature which gains from a high land count (like Ashaya, P/T are equal to how many lands you have).

This Planeswalker fits really well in this deck. Her passive ability causes every Forest generate an additional green mana. (If you have the cub, so those lands generate three green mana.) Her plus ability functions like a proto-earthbend, adding counters on a land, handy but does not overlap with the cub's ability. Her -8 ability, however, makes each land you control immune to destruction enabling you to draw out your remaining Forests in the deck. Once you trigger the ultimate, it’s pretty much the game ends.

Badgermole Cub is nearly mandatory for any kind of decks using green and Avatar focusing on the earthbend mechanic. When branching into red-green, consider Bumi Unleashed. It possesses earthbend 4, plus if it hits a player in combat, all land creatures are ready again for another attack. Although this card has emerged as a beloved leader, this small creature is set to be one of, if not the most desired card in the Avatar set.