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MTG’s special Avatar expansion will not hit the general market before the end of the week, but following prerelease weekends over the last few days, a low-cost green spell experienced a surge in price.

From the initial reveals, the earthbending cub attracted significant interest. This two-power, two-toughness that costs one green and one colorless mana, it features level 1 earthbending (perhaps the strongest of the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The real boon in its design comes from an additional effect: Whenever mana is generated by tapping a creature, add an additional green mana.

When first listed, this card was available at around $27. Post-prerelease, though, the going rate has shot up above $45 including listings for sale at $60.00. What explains premium pricing for this cute lil guy? Mainly because of the explosive mana ramping it can produce.

Upon entering play, the cub transforms a terrain card to a creature land granting it earthbend. And with that second ability, as long as it remains on the board, those lands produces twice the mana — in addition to any creatures in your control that generate mana.

A clear choice to combine with is Llanowar Elves, a cheap 1/1 that produces G mana. However many alternative mana dorks in the game. Another option costs a bit more that’s a 1/3 at a two-mana value in comparison.

Using land cards, mana-producing creatures, and Badgermole Cub, you may quickly play a very big pricey monster into play by round three or four. And things just keep spiraling exponentially with continued aggression after that.

When adding a secondary color in this strategy, cards like versatile mana producers work perfectly that generate any mana color. Another card, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove lets you play another terrain every round AND makes every land you control so they count as all basics. You can also consider something like this six-mana enchantment, costing six mana provides each permanent you control the ability to be tapped for one mana of any color — including each creature you have on the board.

The cub may be OP regarding accelerating your resources, however what closes out the game for a deck like this? A common and powerful choice is this legendary creature. Its power and toughness are set by your land count, and it changes your non-token creatures to be Forests along with their original types. In other words, each creature in play may generate two green mana when tapped.

This additional option is a costly, large threat which gains from many terrain cards (like Ashaya, its power and toughness are equal to how many lands you have).

This Planeswalker works perfectly as a staple. Her static effect allows all Forests produce extra green. (With a Badgermole Cub, this results in those lands yield three G.) One loyalty ability is essentially an early earthbend, placing counters on terrain, which is great but it isn't redundant with earthbending. Her -8 ability, on the other hand, renders each land you control immune to destruction and allows you to draw out every Forest left in your deck. Once you trigger that ability, it’s pretty much you win.

This card is a must-have for any kind of decks using green and Avatar that use Earthbending. By including Gruul colors, you can use Bumi. It possesses earthbend 4, plus if he deals combat damage to a player, all land creatures become untapped for another attack. Although this card is a fan favorite Commander, the cute little Badgermole Cub is definitely going to remain among the top, possibly the desired card from this expansion.