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MTG’s Avatar crossover set won’t become widely available before the end of the week, but following pre-releases recently, a low-cost green spell experienced a surge in value.

From the initial reveals, Badgermole Cub drew significant interest. A 2/2 that costs a single green and one generic mana, the card includes Earthbending 1 (perhaps the strongest of the elemental mechanics available). The real boon with this card comes from an additional effect: If a creature is tapped to produce mana, you gain one extra green mana.

Initially, the card was available below $30. Post-prerelease, though, the going rate escalated to nearly $50 and one seller offering priced at sixty dollars. Why are we seeing Vivi prices for this little creature? Mostly because of the incredible mana acceleration it enables.

Upon entering the battlefield, Badgermole Cub converts a land so it becomes a creature with earthbend. Combined with its other power, if it is not removed, each affected land yields two mana instead of one — in addition to mana-producing creatures you have which tap for mana.

A clear choice for maximum effect would be Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 which can be tapped for one green mana. However many creatures that make mana available. Another option is a higher-cost choice a 1/3 creature costing two mana as an alternative.

Deploying terrain, creatures that tap for mana, plus the cub, you can easily get an enormous high-cost monster into play early in the game. Momentum builds out of control if you keep the pressure on from there.

If you dip into a secondary color with this approach, examples including versatile mana producers are all great options that can make any mana color. Another card, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove allows you to put another terrain every round plus turns your entire land base so they count as all basics. It's also worth trying something like a card called A Realm Reborn, which for six mana provides all of your permanents the ability to be tapped for a mana of any type — which covers all creatures you have on the board.

Badgermole Cub could be too strong regarding ramping up your mana generation, yet how do you win for a deck like this? A common and powerful choice is Ashaya. Power and toughness are set by how many lands you have, and it makes each creature you own to be Forests in addition to their other types. This means, every single creature on your board can generate two green mana if used for mana.

Another creature provides a high-cost, powerful body that benefits from a high land count (as with the previous card, its power and toughness are equal to the number of lands you control).

Nissa fits really well as a staple. One of her abilities makes all Forests produce extra green. (Combined with earthbend, this results in each one yield three G.) Her main ability acts as an early earthbend, placing counters to a noncreature land, handy but it isn't redundant with earthbend. Her -8 ability, though, grants your entire land base unbreakable and lets you put onto the battlefield every Forest left in your deck. Should you manage to use that ability, it almost certainly the game ends.

This card is nearly mandatory for all decks using green and Avatar that use Earthbending. If you dip into Gruul colors, consider this legendary card. This card features level 4 earthbending, and if he deals combat damage in combat, all land creatures are ready again and can attack again. Even though Bumi has emerged as a fan favorite Commander, the cute little Badgermole Cub is set to be among the top, possibly the sought-after card in the collaboration.