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the popular card game’s collaboration with Avatar will not hit the general market before the end of the week, but due to pre-releases this past weekend, an affordable green creature saw a sharp rise in value.

Even during previews, the earthbending cub attracted significant interest. A 2/2 priced at G and 1 mana, the card includes level 1 earthbending (perhaps the strongest within the elemental mechanics available). The real boon here comes from another power: If a creature is tapped to produce mana, add an additional green mana.

Initially, Badgermole Cub sold below $30. Following the early events, however, its value escalated to nearly $50 with at least one listed priced at sixty dollars. What explains premium pricing for this little creature? Mostly due to the explosive mana ramping it provides.

Upon entering the board, Badgermole Cub turns a terrain card into a creature granting it earthbend. And with that second ability, as long as it is not removed, those lands generates double mana — along with other creatures on your side that generate mana.

A clear choice for synergy would be this one-mana elf, a cheap 1/1 that taps to generate G mana. But numerous creatures that make mana out there. Another option is a more expensive alternative that’s a 1/3 for two mana as an alternative.

By playing lands, creatures that tap for mana, alongside this card, you may quickly play an enormous pricey threat on the battlefield early in the game. Momentum builds exponentially if you keep the pressure on after that.

When adding another color in this strategy, examples including these mana-fixing creatures work perfectly which produce any color of mana. Another card, a useful enchantment creature allows you to put an additional land each turn AND makes all of your lands into every basic land type. It's also worth trying such as this six-mana enchantment, costing six mana provides every card you own the ability to be tapped for one mana of any color — which covers any creature you have on the board.

This card may be OP when it comes to ramping up your mana generation, however how do you win for a deck like this? One obvious and popular answer already is Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Its stats match the number of lands you control, and it makes your non-token creatures to be Forests along with their original types. In other words, all your creatures on your board can generate two green mana if used for mana.

This additional option is a costly, large threat that thrives with a high land count (similar to Ashaya, its power and toughness match your land total).

This Planeswalker is an excellent fit as a go-to Planeswalker. Her static effect causes Forest lands generate an additional green mana. (If you have the cub, this results in those lands yield three G.) One loyalty ability acts as a proto-earthbend, placing counters on a land, handy but does not overlap with earthbending. Her ultimate, however, renders each land you control unbreakable enabling you to draw out your remaining Forests in the deck. Once you trigger this power, it almost certainly you win.

This card is a must-have in any green Avatar deck focusing on earthbend. By including red-green, you can use Bumi. This card features earthbend 4, and when he deals combat damage to a player, land creatures are ready again and may attack once more. While that version is a fan favorite Commander, the cub is definitely going to remain one of, if not the most desired card from this expansion.