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MTG’s collaboration with Avatar isn't set to become widely available in the coming days, but following prerelease weekends recently, an affordable green creature saw a sharp rise in price.

Even during previews, Badgermole Cub drew widespread focus. A 2/2 that costs a single green and one generic mana, Badgermole Cub includes the Earthbend 1 ability (arguably the best of the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The real boon here lies in an additional effect: Whenever a creature is tapped to produce mana, add an additional green mana.

Initially, this card sold at around $27. After the pre-release weekend, though, its value escalated to $49.66 and one seller offering for sale at $60.00. Why are we seeing Vivi prices for this cute lil guy? Mainly due to the incredible mana acceleration it provides.

Upon entering play, the cub turns one land to a creature land granting it earthbend. Alongside its mana-doubling effect, while it stays in play, each affected land yields two mana instead of one — in addition to any creatures in your control which tap for mana.

A clear choice for maximum effect would be the classic Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 which can be tapped for one green mana. But there are plenty of alternative mana dorks available. This particular druid is a more expensive alternative a 1/3 creature costing two mana as an alternative.

By playing lands, mana-producing creatures, plus the cub, it's simple to summon a very big high-cost monster on the battlefield within a few turns. The situation escalates exponentially by maintaining dominance after that.

By incorporating a secondary color with this approach, cards like these mana-fixing creatures are all great options that generate any mana color. And something like this powerful dryad lets you play one extra land every round AND transforms all of your lands providing all land types. It's also worth trying such as a card called A Realm Reborn, costing six mana gives every card you own the ability to be tapped for one mana of any color — even any creature in play.

The cub could be too strong when it comes to boosting mana production, but what’s the endgame finisher in such a strategy? An often-seen solution already is Ashaya. Its power and toughness match your land count, and it changes each creature you own into Forests in addition to other subtypes. Essentially, every single creature on your board can tap for two G by tapping.

This additional option is another expensive, beefy creature that benefits from a high land count (like Ashaya, its stats are based on how many lands you have).

Nissa, Who Shakes the World fits really well as a go-to Planeswalker. Her static effect allows every Forest produce extra green. (With a Badgermole Cub, so each one produce triple green.) Her plus ability is essentially a proto-earthbend, putting +1/+1 counters on terrain, which is great but does not overlap with earthbending. The minus ability, on the other hand, renders each land you control indestructible and allows you to draw out all the remaining forests in your deck. Should you manage to use the ultimate, it’s pretty much the game ends.

This card is pretty much essential in any decks using green and Avatar built around Earthbending. If you dip into Gruul colors, consider Bumi. He has level 4 earthbending, and if it hits a player to an opponent, each animated land become untapped for another attack. While that version is a popular Commander choice, this small creature will surely stay one of the most, maybe the desired card from this expansion.