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MTG’s Avatar crossover set isn't set to hit the general market before the end of the week, but due to prerelease weekends over the last few days, one cheap green card saw a sharp rise in value.

From the initial reveals, this small creature garnered significant interest. A 2/2 that costs G and 1 mana, the card has Earthbending 1 (arguably the most effective within the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The real boon in its design is another power: If mana is generated by tapping a creature, it provides bonus green mana.

When first listed, Badgermole Cub could be purchased for $26.98. Following the early events, though, the going rate escalated above $45 and one seller offering for sale at $60.00. Why are we seeing Vivi prices for this little creature? Primarily because of the incredible mana acceleration it provides.

Upon entering the battlefield, Badgermole Cub transforms one land into a creature granting it earthbend. And with that second ability, if it stays in play, each affected land yields two mana instead of one — in addition to other creatures in your control that generate mana.

An ideal partner for maximum effect includes this one-mana elf, a cheap 1/1 that taps to generate one green mana. However many creatures that make mana out there. This particular druid is a more expensive alternative a 1/3 creature costing two mana in comparison.

Using land cards, dorks that generate resources, alongside this card, you may quickly play a massive high-cost monster on the battlefield early in the game. Momentum builds out of control with continued aggression after that.

When adding a secondary color in this strategy, cards like versatile mana producers are excellent picks that can make any mana color. Another card, this powerful dryad allows you to put one extra land each turn as well as transforms all of your lands into every basic land type. It's also worth trying something like a card called A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment gives each permanent you control the ability to be tapped for one mana of any color — which covers each creature under your control.

This card might seem overpowered regarding boosting mana production, yet what closes out the game in such a strategy? An often-seen solution is Ashaya. Its power and toughness are set by your land count, and it changes all of your nontoken creatures to be Forests along with their other types. Essentially, every single creature in play may tap for two G when tapped.

Another creature is another expensive, beefy creature that thrives with lots of lands (like Ashaya, P/T match your land total).

Nissa is an excellent fit in this deck. Her static effect allows every Forest produce extra green. (If you have the cub, this results in all earthbend forests generate three green mana.) Her main ability is essentially an early earthbend, adding counters on terrain, a useful effect though it doesn't stack with earthbend. Her -8 ability, on the other hand, renders each land you control indestructible and lets you put onto the battlefield all the remaining forests in the deck. Once you trigger this power, this typically means game over.

The cub is nearly mandatory for all green-based Avatar strategies focusing on the earthbend mechanic. By including Gruul colors, you can use Bumi Unleashed. It possesses earthbend 4, and if damage is dealt to a player, each animated land become untapped for another attack. Although this card is a beloved leader, the cub is definitely going to remain one of the most, maybe the sought-after card in the collaboration.