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the popular card game’s special Avatar expansion isn't set to hit the general market until later this week, however after pre-releases recently, an affordable green creature saw a sharp rise in value.

From the initial reveals, the earthbending cub drew significant interest. A 2/2 priced at a single green and one generic mana, it features level 1 earthbending (arguably the best among the elemental mechanics available). The real boon here comes from an additional effect: If a creature is tapped to produce mana, add an additional green mana.

When first listed, Badgermole Cub sold for $26.98. Following the early events, yet, the going rate has shot up to nearly $50 with at least one listed priced at sixty dollars. Why are we seeing premium pricing on this adorable card? Primarily thanks to the explosive mana ramping it provides.

As it hits the battlefield, the cub turns a land into a creature with earthbend. Alongside its mana-doubling effect, while it stays in play, every earthbent land produces twice the mana — plus any creatures on your side which tap for mana.

A clear choice for synergy would be the classic Llanowar Elves, a low-cost creature that produces a green resource. But many creatures that make mana out there. Another option costs a bit more with stats 1/3 for two mana instead.

Deploying terrain, creatures that tap for mana, plus the cub, you may quickly play a very big high-cost creature into play early in the game. And things just keep spiraling exponentially with continued aggression from there.

If you dip into a secondary color with this approach, options such as versatile mana producers work perfectly that generate any mana color. And something like Dryad of the Ilysian Grove enables playing one extra land per turn plus transforms your entire land base providing all land types. You can also consider for example the enchantment A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment provides each permanent you control the power to produce one mana of any color — even each creature you have on the board.

This card might seem overpowered when it comes to ramping up your mana generation, however what closes out the game with this archetype? An often-seen solution is Ashaya. Power and toughness are set by your land count, and it makes your non-token creatures to be Forests along with other subtypes. Essentially, each creature you control can produce double green by tapping.

Harmonious Grovestrider is a costly, large threat that benefits from many terrain cards (as with the previous card, its power and toughness are equal to how many lands you have).

Nissa, Who Shakes the World works perfectly as a staple. One of her abilities makes Forest lands generate an additional green mana. (With a Badgermole Cub, so all earthbend forests produce triple green.) One loyalty ability functions like a form of land animation, placing counters on a land, handy though it doesn't stack with earthbend. The minus ability, though, grants all of your lands indestructible enabling you to search for every Forest left from your library. Once you trigger this power, this typically means you win.

Badgermole Cub is pretty much essential in any green Avatar deck that use earthbend. By including red-green, there’s this legendary card. This card features earthbend 4, and if he deals combat damage in combat, each animated land are ready again and can attack again. While that version has emerged as a popular Commander choice, the cute little Badgermole Cub is definitely going to remain one of, if not the most desired card from this expansion.