A standout from Avatar's most charming MTG cards proves to be a powerful small powerhouse.

Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar crossover set will not become widely available until later this week, but after pre-releases recently, a low-cost green spell experienced a surge in price.

Throughout the spoiler season, the earthbending cub attracted widespread focus. This two-power, two-toughness requiring a single green and one generic mana, Badgermole Cub includes level 1 earthbending (arguably the best within the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The major perk with this card is another power: Each time mana is generated by tapping a creature, you gain one extra green mana.

When first listed, the card was available below $30. After the pre-release weekend, however, the market price escalated to nearly $50 including listings as high as $60. What explains premium pricing on this adorable card? Mostly thanks to the explosive mana ramping it provides.

Upon entering play, this creature transforms a terrain card to a creature land with earthbend. And with that second ability, if it is not removed, those lands yields two mana instead of one — in addition to any creatures you have which tap for mana.

The obvious go-to for maximum effect would be this one-mana elf, a low-cost creature that produces G mana. However numerous creatures that make mana out there. Druid of the Cowl costs a bit more that’s a 1/3 costing two mana as an alternative.

By playing lands, dorks that generate resources, alongside this card, you may quickly play a very big and very expensive creature on the battlefield within a few turns. And things just keep spiraling out of control if you keep the pressure on after that.

If you dip into another color using this method, examples including these mana-fixing creatures are all great options that can make all five colors. Additionally, this powerful dryad lets you play another terrain every round plus makes your entire land base providing all land types. Another possibility is for example this six-mana enchantment, which for six mana gives every card you own the capacity to tap and generate any color mana — including each creature you have on the board.

The cub may be OP in terms of boosting mana production, yet what closes out the game with this archetype? An often-seen solution has been Ashaya. Its stats match the number of lands you control, and it makes your non-token creatures Forests as well as their other types. In other words, all your creatures you control may tap for two G if used for mana.

This additional option provides a high-cost, powerful body that thrives with lots of lands (like Ashaya, its stats are based on the number of lands you control).

Nissa, Who Shakes the World is an excellent fit in this deck. One of her abilities causes all Forests tap for one more G. (If you have the cub, this results in those lands yield three G.) One loyalty ability acts as an early earthbend, placing counters on terrain, which is great but does not overlap with earthbend. Her -8 ability, on the other hand, renders each land you control indestructible and allows you to search for all the remaining forests in your deck. Once you trigger the ultimate, it almost certainly game over.

Badgermole Cub is pretty much essential for all green-based Avatar strategies built around earthbend. If you dip into Gruul colors, you can use Bumi Unleashed. He has earthbend 4, and when damage is dealt in combat, each animated land are ready again for another attack. Even though Bumi has become a beloved leader, the cute little Badgermole Cub is definitely going to remain one of, if not the most desired card in the collaboration.

Cindy Huynh
Cindy Huynh

Lena is a seasoned casino strategist with a passion for teaching others how to master poker and roulette games.