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MTG’s special Avatar expansion won’t become widely available before the end of the week, yet following prerelease weekends over the last few days, an affordable green creature saw a sharp rise in price.

From the initial reveals, the earthbending cub drew widespread focus. A 2/2 requiring a single green and one generic mana, it features the Earthbend 1 ability (possibly the best within the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The major perk here is another power: Each time you tap a creature for mana, it provides bonus green mana.

Initially, this card was available at around $27. After the pre-release weekend, yet, the going rate has shot up to nearly $50 with at least one listed for sale at $60.00. Why are we seeing Vivi prices for this little creature? Mainly because of the explosive mana ramping it enables.

Upon entering play, the cub turns a terrain card to a creature land that has earthbending. Combined with its other power, if it stays in play, those lands generates double mana — along with any creatures in your control which tap for mana.

The obvious go-to for synergy would be the classic Llanowar Elves, a cheap 1/1 which can be tapped for a green resource. However numerous creatures that make mana available. Druid of the Cowl is a higher-cost choice a 1/3 creature costing two mana in comparison.

By playing lands, dorks that generate resources, plus the cub, it's simple to summon an enormous high-cost threat on the board by round three or four. Momentum builds out of control with continued aggression from that point.

If you dip into a secondary color with this approach, cards like Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid work perfectly which produce all five colors. And something like a useful enchantment creature lets you play an additional land each turn AND turns your entire land base so they count as all basics. You can also consider such as a card called A Realm Reborn, costing six mana grants each permanent you control the power to be tapped for one mana of any color — even all creatures in play.

Badgermole Cub could be too strong regarding boosting mana production, but how do you win in such a strategy? A common and powerful choice is this legendary creature. Its stats are both equal to the number of lands you control, and it changes all of your nontoken creatures to be Forests in addition to other subtypes. This means, each creature on your board may generate two green mana when tapped.

Harmonious Grovestrider is a costly, large threat which gains from lots of lands (as with the previous card, its stats are equal to your land total).

Nissa is an excellent fit as a staple. One of her abilities makes every Forest tap for one more G. (If you have the cub, this results in each one yield three G.) Her main ability is essentially a form of land animation, placing counters on a land, handy but it isn't redundant with earthbend. The minus ability, however, renders each land you control indestructible enabling you to draw out your remaining Forests in the deck. If you can actually activate this power, it’s pretty much game over.

Badgermole Cub is pretty much essential for any kind of decks using green and Avatar focusing on Earthbending. By including Gruul colors, consider this legendary card. This card features earthbend 4, plus if he deals combat damage in combat, all land creatures become untapped for another attack. While that version has become a fan favorite Commander, this small creature will surely stay among the top, possibly the popular pick from this expansion.