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Magic: The Gathering’s collaboration with Avatar isn't set to become widely available before the end of the week, but following early access events over the last few days, an affordable green creature has already exploded in price.

Even during previews, this small creature garnered widespread focus. This two-power, two-toughness priced at one green and one colorless mana, it includes level 1 earthbending (arguably the strongest among the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The real boon with this card is its second ability: Whenever mana is generated by tapping a creature, you gain one extra green mana.

Initially, Badgermole Cub was available below $30. After the pre-release weekend, however, the going rate escalated above $45 with at least one listed for sale at $60.00. What explains such high costs for this cute lil guy? Mostly because of the explosive mana ramping it provides.

Upon entering the board, this creature converts a terrain card into a creature with earthbend. And with that second ability, if it stays in play, those lands produces twice the mana — plus mana-producing creatures you have which tap for mana.

The obvious go-to to combine with is the classic Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 which can be tapped for a green resource. Yet there are plenty of creatures that make mana out there. Druid of the Cowl is a more expensive alternative that’s a 1/3 at a two-mana value as an alternative.

Using land cards, dorks that generate resources, plus the cub, you may quickly play a very big pricey threat on the board early in the game. The situation escalates rapidly with continued aggression from there.

If you dip into an additional hue with this approach, cards like versatile mana producers work perfectly that generate any mana color. And something like Dryad of the Ilysian Grove lets you play one extra land per turn plus transforms every land you control providing all land types. You can also consider such as a card called A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment grants every card you own the capacity to be tapped for any color mana — which covers each creature in play.

The cub may be OP in terms of accelerating your resources, however how do you win with this archetype? A common and powerful choice has been Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Its power and toughness are set by the number of lands you control, and it makes all of your nontoken creatures to be Forests along with their other types. In other words, each creature on your board may generate two green mana when tapped.

This additional option is another expensive, beefy creature that benefits from many terrain cards (as with the previous card, its stats are equal to how many lands you have).

Nissa is an excellent fit as a staple. Her static effect makes every Forest produce extra green. (If you have the cub, so those lands generate three green mana.) One loyalty ability functions like an early earthbend, putting +1/+1 counters to a noncreature land, a useful effect though it doesn't stack with the cub's ability. Her -8 ability, on the other hand, grants each land you control indestructible and lets you search for all the remaining forests in the deck. Once you trigger that ability, it almost certainly the game ends.

The cub is pretty much essential for any kind of green Avatar deck focusing on the earthbend mechanic. If you dip into Gruul colors, you can use this legendary card. It possesses earthbend 4, plus if damage is dealt to an opponent, land creatures untap and may attack once more. Although this card has emerged as a fan favorite Commander, this small creature is set to be among the top, possibly the popular pick from this expansion.