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MTG’s special Avatar expansion won’t get a wider release until later this week, however after early access events this past weekend, an affordable green creature saw a sharp rise in price.

Even during previews, this small creature drew widespread focus. This two-power, two-toughness that costs a single green and one generic mana, the card features the Earthbend 1 ability (arguably the best within the four bending abilities in the set). The major perk with this card is an additional effect: Each time mana is generated by tapping a creature, it provides bonus green mana.

When first listed, Badgermole Cub was available at around $27. Following the early events, yet, its value jumped above $45 with at least one listed as high as $60. What explains Vivi prices on this adorable card? Mostly because of the rapid resource generation it enables.

As it hits the board, this creature transforms a terrain card so it becomes a creature granting it earthbend. Alongside its mana-doubling effect, if it remains on the board, each affected land yields two mana instead of one — plus other creatures on your side that produce resources.

An ideal partner to combine with is the classic Llanowar Elves, a cheap 1/1 that produces a green resource. But there are plenty of other mana generation creatures in the game. Druid of the Cowl costs a bit more that’s a 1/3 costing two mana instead.

Deploying terrain, creatures that tap for mana, and Badgermole Cub, you can easily get a massive high-cost threat on the battlefield early in the game. And things just keep spiraling exponentially by maintaining dominance from that point.

If you dip into a secondary color in this strategy, examples including versatile mana producers are all great options that can make any color of mana. Additionally, this powerful dryad lets you play one extra land every round AND makes your entire land base so they count as all basics. It's also worth trying for example a card called A Realm Reborn, costing six mana grants all of your permanents the ability to be tapped for a mana of any type — even each creature in play.

Badgermole Cub might seem overpowered in terms of boosting mana production, yet how do you win with this archetype? An often-seen solution is Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Power and toughness are both equal to how many lands you have, plus it turns each creature you own Forests as well as their other types. In other words, all your creatures on your board may tap for two G when tapped.

This additional option provides a high-cost, powerful body that benefits from lots of lands (similar to Ashaya, its power and toughness are equal to how many lands you have).

This Planeswalker is an excellent fit as a go-to Planeswalker. Her static effect makes every Forest generate an additional green mana. (Combined with earthbend, that means all earthbend forests produce triple green.) One loyalty ability functions like a form of land animation, adding counters on terrain, handy though it doesn't stack with earthbending. The minus ability, though, renders your entire land base unbreakable and lets you draw out every Forest left in your deck. Once you trigger the ultimate, it almost certainly the game ends.

This card is nearly mandatory for any kind of green-based Avatar strategies built around Earthbending. By including red-green, consider this legendary card. He has earthbend 4, plus if he deals combat damage to an opponent, all land creatures become untapped and can attack again. Even though Bumi has emerged as a popular Commander choice, the cub is definitely going to remain one of the most, maybe the desired card from this expansion.