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MTG’s collaboration with Avatar isn't set to hit the general market before the end of the week, however due to prerelease weekends over the last few days, a low-cost green spell has already exploded in market worth.

From the initial reveals, the earthbending cub drew a lot of attention. A 2/2 that costs a single green and one generic mana, Badgermole Cub features level 1 earthbending (possibly the most effective of the set’s four “bending” mechanics). Its key advantage with this card comes from another power: Each time mana is generated by tapping a creature, it provides bonus green mana.

Initially, the card was available for $26.98. After the pre-release weekend, however, the going rate jumped above $45 with at least one listed as high as $60. What explains premium pricing for this cute lil guy? Mostly thanks to the incredible mana acceleration it provides.

Upon entering play, the cub transforms one land into a creature with earthbend. Alongside its mana-doubling effect, while it stays in play, each affected land yields two mana instead of one — plus other creatures you have that produce resources.

An ideal partner to combine with is Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 which can be tapped for a green resource. But there are plenty of creatures that make mana available. Another option is a higher-cost choice that’s a 1/3 costing two mana instead.

Using land cards, mana-producing creatures, plus the cub, it's simple to summon an enormous pricey threat on the board by round three or four. The situation escalates out of control with continued aggression from there.

If you dip into an additional hue in this strategy, cards like Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid are excellent picks which produce any mana color. Additionally, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove allows you to put an additional land each turn plus makes your entire land base so they count as all basics. You can also consider something like the enchantment A Realm Reborn, costing six mana gives all of your permanents the power to produce a mana of any type — including any creature in play.

This card may be OP regarding accelerating your resources, yet what’s the endgame finisher in such a strategy? One obvious and popular answer has been Ashaya. Its stats are both equal to the number of lands you control, and it makes each creature you own to be Forests in addition to other subtypes. In other words, every single creature in play may tap for two G when tapped.

Another creature is another expensive, beefy creature which gains from a high land count (similar to Ashaya, P/T are equal to how many lands you have).

This Planeswalker fits really well as a go-to Planeswalker. Her static effect causes all Forests tap for one more G. (With a Badgermole Cub, so all earthbend forests generate three green mana.) Her plus ability is essentially a proto-earthbend, placing counters on a land, which is great but it isn't redundant with the cub's ability. The minus ability, though, grants each land you control immune to destruction enabling you to draw out your remaining Forests in your deck. If you can actually activate the ultimate, this typically means the game ends.

This card is pretty much essential 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, and if damage is dealt in combat, land creatures untap and may attack once more. Although this card has become a fan favorite Commander, this small creature is set to be one of the most, maybe the popular pick in the collaboration.