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the popular card game’s Avatar crossover set will not hit the general market before the end of the week, however following early access events over the last few days, a low-cost green spell saw a sharp rise in price.

Even during previews, this small creature drew a lot of attention. A 2/2 priced at G and 1 mana, the card includes level 1 earthbending (perhaps the best among the elemental mechanics available). The major perk in its design comes from an additional effect: Whenever you tap a creature for mana, you gain one extra green mana.

Initially, this card was available below $30. After the pre-release weekend, though, its value escalated above $45 with at least one listed as high as $60. Why are we seeing premium pricing for this little creature? Primarily thanks to the rapid resource generation it enables.

When it arrives the board, the cub transforms one land to a creature land with earthbend. Combined with its other power, if it remains on the board, each affected land generates double mana — along with mana-producing creatures you have that generate mana.

An ideal partner for maximum effect includes the classic Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 that produces G mana. But there are plenty of creatures that make mana available. Druid of the Cowl is a more expensive alternative with stats 1/3 at a two-mana value instead.

By playing lands, dorks that generate resources, plus the cub, it's simple to summon a very big pricey threat on the battlefield by round three or four. The situation escalates out of control with continued aggression after that.

When adding an additional hue in this strategy, options such as versatile mana producers work perfectly that can make any color of mana. And something like Dryad of the Ilysian Grove enables playing another terrain every round AND turns all of your lands so they count as all basics. You can also consider such as the enchantment A Realm Reborn, which for six mana provides all of your permanents the ability to be tapped for any color mana — which covers each creature you have on the board.

Badgermole Cub might seem overpowered when it comes to accelerating your resources, but what’s the endgame finisher with this archetype? A common and powerful choice already is Ashaya. Power and toughness are both equal to your land count, and it makes each creature you own Forests along with their original types. In other words, every single creature on your board may tap for two G when tapped.

Harmonious Grovestrider is another expensive, beefy creature that benefits from many terrain cards (like Ashaya, P/T are based on the number of lands you control).

Nissa, Who Shakes the World is an excellent fit as a staple. Her static effect makes every Forest produce extra green. (If you have the cub, this results in those lands generate three green mana.) One loyalty ability functions like a form of land animation, placing counters on a land, a useful effect but it isn't redundant with earthbend. Her -8 ability, though, renders each land you control indestructible and lets you search for every Forest left in the deck. Once you trigger this power, it’s pretty much game over.

The cub is nearly mandatory for any kind of decks using green and Avatar built around the earthbend mechanic. If you dip into Gruul colors, there’s this legendary card. It possesses earthbend 4, and when it hits a player to a player, all land creatures become untapped and can attack again. While that version has become a fan favorite Commander, the cub will surely stay among the top, possibly the sought-after card in the collaboration.