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MTG’s special Avatar expansion isn't set to get a wider release in the coming days, however after early access events over the last few days, an affordable green creature experienced a surge in value.

Even during previews, this small creature drew widespread focus. This two-power, two-toughness that costs G and 1 mana, it has Earthbending 1 (perhaps the best among the four bending abilities in the set). The real boon in its design comes from an additional effect: Whenever you tap a creature for mana, you gain one extra green mana.

When first listed, Badgermole Cub could be purchased below $30. Post-prerelease, however, the market price jumped to $49.66 with at least one listed priced at sixty dollars. The reason for such high costs for this cute lil guy? Mainly due to the rapid resource generation it can produce.

Upon entering the battlefield, the cub transforms a terrain card so it becomes a creature with earthbend. And with that second ability, while it is not removed, each affected land generates double mana — along with mana-producing creatures you have which tap for mana.

The obvious go-to for synergy includes this one-mana elf, a low-cost creature that produces one green mana. Yet many other mana generation creatures out there. Another option is a higher-cost choice with stats 1/3 for two mana as an alternative.

By playing lands, creatures that tap for mana, alongside this card, you may quickly play a very big and very expensive threat on the battlefield within a few turns. And things just keep spiraling out of control with continued aggression from there.

By incorporating an additional hue using this method, examples including Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid work perfectly that can make all five colors. Another card, a useful enchantment creature enables playing an additional land per turn plus makes every land you control so they count as all basics. Another possibility is such as the enchantment A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment gives all of your permanents the ability to be tapped for one mana of any color — even all creatures under your control.

Badgermole Cub may be OP in terms of accelerating your resources, but how do you win in such a strategy? A common and powerful choice already is Ashaya. Its stats are set by how many lands you have, and it makes your non-token creatures to be Forests as well as their other types. This means, each creature you control may produce double green if used for mana.

Another creature is a costly, large threat that thrives with many terrain cards (like Ashaya, its stats are based on how many lands you have).

Nissa fits really well as a staple. One of her abilities allows all Forests generate an additional green mana. (If you have the cub, so each one produce triple green.) Her plus ability is essentially a form of land animation, putting +1/+1 counters on a land, which is great but it isn't redundant with earthbend. Her ultimate, on the other hand, renders your entire land base indestructible enabling you to search for every Forest left in your deck. Should you manage to use this power, it almost certainly you win.

The cub is nearly mandatory for all decks using green and Avatar that use earthbend. By including Gruul colors, consider Bumi. It possesses earthbend 4, plus if damage is dealt in combat, all land creatures become untapped for another attack. Even though Bumi has become a popular Commander choice, the cub will surely stay among the top, possibly the popular pick from this expansion.