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Magic: The Gathering’s collaboration with Avatar will not get a wider release until later this week, yet following prerelease weekends this past weekend, an affordable green creature saw a sharp rise in market worth.

Throughout the spoiler season, this small creature drew a lot of attention. This two-power, two-toughness requiring a single green and one generic mana, the card includes level 1 earthbending (possibly the most effective within the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The major perk with this card is an additional effect: Whenever you tap a creature for mana, you gain one extra green mana.

When first listed, this card was available for $26.98. Post-prerelease, however, the market price has shot up to $49.66 including listings as high as $60. Why are we seeing such high costs for this little creature? Mainly because of the rapid resource generation it provides.

As it hits the board, this creature turns one land into a creature that has earthbending. Combined with its other power, while it is not removed, each affected land generates double mana — plus any creatures on your side that generate mana.

A clear choice to combine with is the classic Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 that produces one green mana. But many alternative mana dorks out there. Another option is a higher-cost choice that’s a 1/3 at a two-mana value instead.

By playing lands, mana-producing creatures, plus the cub, you can easily get a massive and very expensive creature on the board early in the game. And things just keep spiraling out of control with continued aggression from that point.

If you dip into a secondary color in this strategy, cards like these mana-fixing creatures are excellent picks that generate any mana color. Additionally, a useful enchantment creature allows you to put another terrain each turn plus makes every land you control into every basic land type. You can also consider something like this six-mana enchantment, at a six-mana investment gives each permanent you control the capacity to produce one mana of any color — even each creature in play.

The cub might seem overpowered in terms of ramping up your mana generation, yet what’s the endgame finisher for a deck like this? A common and powerful choice already is this legendary creature. Power and toughness are set by the number of lands you control, and it changes all of your nontoken creatures Forests in addition to their original types. Essentially, all your creatures in play may tap for two G when tapped.

This additional option provides a high-cost, powerful body which gains from a high land count (like Ashaya, its stats are equal to your land total).

Nissa is an excellent fit as a staple. Her static effect causes every Forest tap for one more G. (If you have the cub, so those lands yield three G.) Her main ability functions like an early earthbend, placing counters on a land, handy though it doesn't stack with earthbend. Her ultimate, however, grants each land you control unbreakable enabling you to put onto the battlefield all the remaining forests in the deck. Once you trigger that ability, it almost certainly you win.

Badgermole Cub is a must-have for any kind of green-based Avatar strategies that use Earthbending. If you dip into Gruul colors, you can use this legendary card. He has earthbend 4, plus if he deals combat damage in combat, all land creatures are ready again and may attack once more. While that version is a popular Commander choice, the cute little Badgermole Cub is definitely going to remain one of, if not the most sought-after card in the Avatar set.