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MTG’s special Avatar expansion isn't set to become widely available until later this week, yet after early access events this past weekend, a low-cost green spell has already exploded in value.

From the initial reveals, this small creature attracted significant interest. This two-power, two-toughness that costs one green and one colorless mana, it features level 1 earthbending (possibly the strongest among the elemental mechanics available). The real boon here is its second ability: Each time you tap a creature for mana, you gain one extra green mana.

When first listed, Badgermole Cub could be purchased for $26.98. Post-prerelease, though, the going rate escalated to $49.66 and one seller offering priced at sixty dollars. What explains such high costs on this adorable card? Primarily thanks to the rapid resource generation it can produce.

When it arrives the board, the cub turns one land so it becomes a creature granting it earthbend. Alongside its mana-doubling effect, if it stays in play, each affected land generates double mana — in addition to other creatures on your side which tap for mana.

An ideal partner for synergy includes the classic Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 that produces a green resource. But numerous alternative mana dorks available. Another option is a more expensive alternative a 1/3 creature for two mana instead.

Deploying terrain, dorks that generate resources, plus the cub, you may quickly play an enormous high-cost monster on the board by round three or four. And things just keep spiraling exponentially if you keep the pressure on after that.

By incorporating a secondary color in this strategy, cards like Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid are excellent picks that can make any mana color. Additionally, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove lets you play one extra land every round plus makes every land you control so they count as all basics. You can also consider such as this six-mana enchantment, costing six mana grants every card you own the ability to produce any color mana — which covers any creature you have on the board.

Badgermole Cub might seem overpowered in terms of boosting mana production, however what closes out the game in such a strategy? One obvious and popular answer has been Ashaya. Its stats match your land count, plus it turns all of your nontoken creatures Forests as well as their original types. Essentially, all your creatures on your board may tap for two G by tapping.

Another creature is another expensive, beefy creature that benefits from a high land count (as with the previous card, its power and toughness are equal to your land total).

This Planeswalker works perfectly as a go-to Planeswalker. Her static effect causes Forest lands generate an additional green mana. (If you have the cub, this results in each one produce triple green.) Her plus ability functions like an early earthbend, putting +1/+1 counters to a noncreature land, which is great but it isn't redundant with earthbending. Her ultimate, on the other hand, renders your entire land base immune to destruction and lets you draw out all the remaining forests from your library. Should you manage to use this power, it almost certainly game over.

Badgermole Cub is nearly mandatory in any green Avatar deck focusing on the earthbend mechanic. When branching into Gruul colors, consider Bumi. This card features level 4 earthbending, and if it hits a player to an opponent, land creatures untap for another attack. Although this card has emerged as a fan favorite Commander, the cub is definitely going to remain one of, if not the most desired card in the collaboration.