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the popular card game’s special Avatar expansion will not get a wider release until later this week, however following early access events recently, a low-cost green spell experienced a surge in market worth.

From the initial reveals, Badgermole Cub garnered significant interest. This two-power, two-toughness that costs G and 1 mana, it features the Earthbend 1 ability (possibly the strongest among the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The major perk in its design comes from an additional effect: If a creature is tapped to produce mana, it provides bonus green mana.

At its cheapest, Badgermole Cub could be purchased for $26.98. Following the early events, yet, the market price jumped above $45 including listings as high as $60. What explains premium pricing for this little creature? Mostly due to the incredible mana acceleration it provides.

When it arrives play, Badgermole Cub turns one land so it becomes a creature granting it earthbend. Combined with its other power, as long as it is not removed, each affected land produces twice the mana — in addition to mana-producing creatures on your side that generate mana.

An ideal partner for maximum effect would be the classic Llanowar Elves, a cheap 1/1 that taps to generate G mana. Yet many alternative mana dorks available. Another option is a more expensive alternative that’s a 1/3 for two mana instead.

By playing lands, dorks that generate resources, and Badgermole Cub, it's simple to summon a massive and very expensive monster on the battlefield within a few turns. Momentum builds rapidly with continued aggression from there.

By incorporating another color using this method, cards like these mana-fixing creatures are excellent picks that can make any color of mana. Additionally, a useful enchantment creature lets you play another terrain per turn AND transforms every land you control providing all land types. You can also consider for example this six-mana enchantment, at a six-mana investment grants every card you own the capacity to be tapped for any color mana — even all creatures in play.

The cub might seem overpowered when it comes to boosting mana production, however what’s the endgame finisher for a deck like this? A common and powerful choice is Ashaya. Power and toughness are set by the number of lands you control, plus it turns your non-token creatures into Forests along with their other types. This means, each creature you control can produce double green by tapping.

Harmonious Grovestrider provides a high-cost, powerful body that benefits from many terrain cards (as with the previous card, P/T are equal to the number of lands you control).

Nissa is an excellent fit as a staple. One of her abilities causes all Forests produce extra green. (Combined with earthbend, this results in all earthbend forests yield three G.) One loyalty ability acts as a form of land animation, adding counters to a noncreature land, a useful effect but it isn't redundant with earthbending. The minus ability, however, renders your entire land base immune to destruction and lets you draw out every Forest left in your deck. Should you manage to use this power, this typically means game over.

Badgermole Cub is pretty much essential for any kind of decks using green and Avatar that use Earthbending. If you dip into Gruul colors, there’s this legendary card. This card features earthbend 4, and if it hits a player to an opponent, land creatures are ready again and may attack once more. While that version has become a fan favorite Commander, the cute little Badgermole Cub is definitely going to remain one of the most, maybe the popular pick from this expansion.