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Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar crossover set isn't set to hit the general market until later this week, however following prerelease weekends this past weekend, one cheap green card has already exploded in market worth.

Throughout the spoiler season, the earthbending cub garnered widespread focus. This two-power, two-toughness requiring one green and one colorless mana, it features the Earthbend 1 ability (perhaps the best of the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The real boon in its design comes from another power: Whenever a creature is tapped to produce mana, you gain one extra green mana.

At its cheapest, this card could be purchased at around $27. After the pre-release weekend, yet, the going rate has shot up to nearly $50 with at least one listed as high as $60. The reason for such high costs on this adorable card? Mainly due to the incredible mana acceleration it enables.

As it hits the board, this creature converts a terrain card so it becomes a creature granting it earthbend. Combined with its other power, if it stays in play, those lands yields two mana instead of one — plus any creatures in your control that generate mana.

The obvious go-to for maximum effect is Llanowar Elves, a low-cost creature that produces a green resource. However there are plenty of other mana generation creatures in the game. Another option costs a bit more a 1/3 creature at a two-mana value in comparison.

By playing lands, mana-producing creatures, alongside this card, you can easily get a massive pricey threat on the battlefield within a few turns. Momentum builds exponentially by maintaining dominance after that.

When adding another color with this approach, options such as versatile mana producers are all great options that can make any color of mana. And something like Dryad of the Ilysian Grove enables playing another terrain every round plus makes all of your lands providing all land types. You can also consider such as this six-mana enchantment, costing six mana grants every card you own the capacity to tap and generate a mana of any type — even each creature under your control.

This card might seem overpowered regarding boosting mana production, yet how do you win with this archetype? One obvious and popular answer already is Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Its power and toughness are both equal to your land count, and it makes each creature you own to be Forests in addition to other subtypes. Essentially, all your creatures you control may generate two green mana if used for mana.

Harmonious Grovestrider provides a high-cost, powerful body that benefits from a high land count (similar to Ashaya, P/T are based on your land total).

Nissa, Who Shakes the World is an excellent fit in this deck. Her passive ability makes every Forest generate an additional green mana. (With a Badgermole Cub, so each one produce triple green.) Her main ability acts as an early earthbend, putting +1/+1 counters to a noncreature land, which is great but does not overlap with earthbending. Her -8 ability, on the other hand, makes your entire land base immune to destruction and lets you put onto the battlefield every Forest left in your deck. Once you trigger the ultimate, it’s pretty much game over.

This card is a must-have for all green Avatar deck built around the earthbend mechanic. By including red and green, there’s Bumi Unleashed. He has earthbend 4, plus if it hits a player to a player, land creatures untap and may attack once more. Although this card has become a fan favorite Commander, the cub is definitely going to remain one of the most, maybe the desired card from this expansion.