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Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar crossover set will not get a wider release in the coming days, but after early access events over the last few days, a low-cost green spell experienced a surge in price.

Throughout the spoiler season, this small creature drew widespread focus. This two-power, two-toughness that costs a single green and one generic mana, it has Earthbending 1 (perhaps the best among the elemental mechanics available). The real boon in its design lies in its second ability: Each time mana is generated by tapping a creature, add an additional green mana.

Initially, Badgermole Cub was available below $30. Following the early events, though, its value jumped above $45 with at least one listed as high as $60. What explains such high costs for this little creature? Primarily because of the explosive mana ramping it enables.

Upon entering the battlefield, the cub turns one land into a creature granting it earthbend. And with that second ability, as long as it remains on the board, each affected land produces twice the mana — along with other creatures in your control which tap for mana.

A clear choice to combine with is the classic Llanowar Elves, a cheap 1/1 which can be tapped for one green mana. Yet numerous other mana generation creatures out there. Another option costs a bit more a 1/3 creature costing two mana in comparison.

By playing lands, dorks that generate resources, alongside this card, you can easily get a very big pricey creature into play early in the game. The situation escalates exponentially if you keep the pressure on after that.

By incorporating another color using this method, examples including these mana-fixing creatures are excellent picks which produce any mana color. Additionally, this powerful dryad lets you play an additional land every round as well as transforms your entire land base into every basic land type. Another possibility is something like the enchantment A Realm Reborn, costing six mana provides each permanent you control the power to be tapped for any color mana — including all creatures under your control.

Badgermole Cub could be too strong when it comes to accelerating your resources, yet what closes out the game with this archetype? An often-seen solution already is Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Its power and toughness are set by your land count, and it changes your non-token creatures to be Forests in addition to their other types. Essentially, all your creatures on your board can generate two green mana if used for mana.

Harmonious Grovestrider is a costly, large threat that benefits from lots of lands (like Ashaya, P/T are equal to how many lands you have).

Nissa works perfectly as a staple. Her static effect makes all Forests tap for one more G. (With a Badgermole Cub, so those lands generate three green mana.) One loyalty ability functions like a form of land animation, adding counters to a noncreature land, which is great but it isn't redundant with earthbend. Her -8 ability, though, makes your entire land base unbreakable and lets you put onto the battlefield your remaining Forests from your library. Should you manage to use that ability, this typically means you win.

Badgermole Cub is a must-have for any kind of decks using green and Avatar focusing on Earthbending. When branching into Gruul colors, there’s Bumi Unleashed. He has earthbend 4, and if he deals combat damage in combat, each animated land are ready again for another attack. Even though Bumi is a popular Commander choice, the cub will surely stay among the top, possibly the popular pick from this expansion.