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Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar crossover set won’t become widely available before the end of the week, yet after early access events over the last few days, a low-cost green spell has already exploded in value.

From the initial reveals, this small creature garnered widespread focus. A 2/2 priced at a single green and one generic mana, the card features level 1 earthbending (perhaps the best within the set’s four “bending” mechanics). Its key advantage in its design comes from its second ability: If you tap a creature for mana, add an additional green mana.

At its cheapest, the card could be purchased for $26.98. After the pre-release weekend, though, the going rate has shot up to nearly $50 including listings for sale at $60.00. Why are we seeing such high costs for this cute lil guy? Mostly due to the rapid resource generation it enables.

As it hits the board, Badgermole Cub turns one land to a creature land with earthbend. And with that second ability, while it remains on the board, every earthbent land generates double mana — plus other creatures on your side that produce resources.

A clear choice for maximum effect includes Llanowar Elves, a low-cost creature which can be tapped for G mana. Yet there are plenty of other mana generation creatures available. Druid of the Cowl is a higher-cost choice a 1/3 creature for two mana as an alternative.

Deploying terrain, creatures that tap for mana, plus the cub, you can easily get a massive high-cost monster on the battlefield by round three or four. And things just keep spiraling out of control with continued aggression from that point.

When adding a secondary color using this method, options such as these mana-fixing creatures work perfectly that can make all five colors. Additionally, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove lets you play one extra land each turn plus turns every land you control providing all land types. You can also consider for example the enchantment A Realm Reborn, costing six mana gives each permanent you control the capacity to tap and generate one mana of any color — including each creature you have on the board.

Badgermole Cub might seem overpowered in terms of boosting mana production, yet what closes out the game with this archetype? An often-seen solution already is this legendary creature. Its stats are set by the number of lands you control, and it makes each creature you own to be Forests along with other subtypes. In other words, every single creature you control is able to produce double green when tapped.

This additional option is a costly, large threat which gains from a high land count (similar to Ashaya, its power and toughness are based on how many lands you have).

Nissa, Who Shakes the World fits really well as a staple. Her static effect makes Forest lands produce extra green. (Combined with earthbend, that means each one produce triple green.) Her plus ability functions like a form of land animation, adding counters on terrain, handy though it doesn't stack with the cub's ability. Her -8 ability, though, makes your entire land base indestructible and lets you put onto the battlefield every Forest left in the deck. Should you manage to use the ultimate, it almost certainly you win.

The cub is a must-have for any kind of decks using green and Avatar that use earthbend. When branching into red-green, you can use Bumi. This card features earthbend 4, and when it hits a player in combat, land creatures become untapped for another attack. Even though Bumi has emerged as a popular Commander choice, the cute little Badgermole Cub is set to be one of, if not the most sought-after card from this expansion.