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MTG’s Avatar crossover set won’t get a wider release until later this week, however after early access events recently, an affordable green creature saw a sharp rise in value.

Even during previews, this small creature garnered a lot of attention. This two-power, two-toughness requiring G and 1 mana, the card includes level 1 earthbending (perhaps the best of the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The real boon here comes from its second ability: Whenever you tap a creature for mana, add an additional green mana.

When first listed, Badgermole Cub was available at around $27. Following the early events, however, the market price jumped to $49.66 including listings for sale at $60.00. The reason for such high costs for this little creature? Primarily because of the incredible mana acceleration it provides.

When it arrives play, Badgermole Cub turns a land to a creature land that has earthbending. And with that second ability, as long as it stays in play, every earthbent land generates double mana — plus mana-producing creatures in your control that produce resources.

The obvious go-to for maximum effect would be Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 that produces a green resource. Yet many alternative mana dorks out there. Druid of the Cowl costs a bit more a 1/3 creature at a two-mana value as an alternative.

By playing lands, creatures that tap for mana, and Badgermole Cub, it's simple to summon a massive high-cost creature into play early in the game. Momentum builds exponentially with continued aggression from there.

When adding a secondary color in this strategy, cards like versatile mana producers are excellent picks which produce any color of mana. Another card, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove allows you to put an additional land each turn AND makes your entire land base into every basic land type. Another possibility is something like the enchantment A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment gives every card you own the ability to be tapped for one mana of any color — including all creatures in play.

This card might seem overpowered in terms of boosting mana production, yet how do you win with this archetype? One obvious and popular answer has been Ashaya. Power and toughness are set by how many lands you have, and it makes your non-token creatures to be Forests along with their other types. In other words, each creature in play is able to produce double green when tapped.

Another creature is a costly, large threat that thrives with lots of lands (as with the previous card, P/T are based on your land total).

Nissa fits really well as a staple. One of her abilities causes all Forests generate an additional green mana. (With a Badgermole Cub, that means each one yield three G.) Her plus ability acts as a form of land animation, adding counters to a noncreature land, which is great though it doesn't stack with the cub's ability. The minus ability, though, grants all of your lands immune to destruction enabling you to search for every Forest left in your deck. If you can actually activate this power, it almost certainly you win.

The cub is pretty much essential in any green Avatar deck that use Earthbending. When branching into red-green, consider Bumi Unleashed. He has earthbend 4, plus if it hits a player to a player, each animated land are ready again for another attack. Although this card has emerged as a popular Commander choice, the cub is set to be among the top, possibly the sought-after card in the Avatar set.