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the popular card game’s collaboration with Avatar will not get a wider release until later this week, however due to early access events recently, a low-cost green spell has already exploded in value.

From the initial reveals, Badgermole Cub drew widespread focus. A 2/2 priced at G and 1 mana, the card features level 1 earthbending (arguably the most effective within the elemental mechanics available). The major perk in its design lies in its second ability: If mana is generated by tapping a creature, it provides bonus green mana.

Initially, the card could be purchased for $26.98. Following the early events, yet, the market price escalated above $45 including listings for sale at $60.00. Why are we seeing Vivi prices for this little creature? Mostly due to the incredible mana acceleration it can produce.

When it arrives the battlefield, this creature turns a terrain card so it becomes a creature granting it earthbend. Alongside its mana-doubling effect, while it remains on the board, every earthbent land produces twice the mana — in addition to any creatures in your control which tap for mana.

The obvious go-to for maximum effect would be the classic Llanowar Elves, a low-cost creature that taps to generate a green resource. However there are plenty of creatures that make mana available. Druid of the Cowl is a higher-cost choice a 1/3 creature at a two-mana value as an alternative.

Using land cards, mana-producing creatures, plus the cub, you may quickly play a massive pricey creature into play 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 using this method, cards like these mana-fixing creatures work perfectly that generate any color of mana. And something like a useful enchantment creature allows you to put an additional land each turn as well as makes every land you control so they count as all basics. Another possibility is something like this six-mana enchantment, which for six mana gives every card you own the capacity to tap and generate any color mana — including all creatures in play.

The cub might seem overpowered regarding boosting mana production, yet how do you win with this archetype? An often-seen solution has been Ashaya. Its stats are set by your land count, and it makes each creature you own into Forests as well as their other types. This means, every single creature on your board can produce double green by tapping.

Harmonious Grovestrider is another expensive, beefy creature which gains from lots of lands (similar to Ashaya, its stats are equal to your land total).

This Planeswalker works perfectly in this deck. One of her abilities allows every Forest tap for one more G. (Combined with earthbend, this results in each one generate three green mana.) Her plus ability acts as an early earthbend, putting +1/+1 counters to a noncreature land, which is great but does not overlap with earthbending. The minus ability, though, grants each land you control unbreakable enabling you to draw out your remaining Forests from your library. Should you manage to use the ultimate, it almost certainly the game ends.

The cub is a must-have in any decks using green and Avatar that use Earthbending. When branching into red and green, consider this legendary card. He has level 4 earthbending, plus if damage is dealt to a player, each animated land untap and may attack once more. Although this card has become a popular Commander choice, the cub is definitely going to remain one of, if not the most popular pick from this expansion.