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MTG’s Avatar crossover set will not get a wider release before the end of the week, yet due to early access events this past weekend, a low-cost green spell saw a sharp rise in value.

From the initial reveals, Badgermole Cub garnered a lot of attention. A 2/2 that costs a single green and one generic mana, it features level 1 earthbending (possibly the best of the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The major perk with this card lies in its second ability: Each time mana is generated by tapping a creature, add an additional green mana.

When first listed, the card could be purchased below $30. After the pre-release weekend, however, its value has shot up to $49.66 and one seller offering for sale at $60.00. Why are we seeing premium pricing for this cute lil guy? Mostly because of the incredible mana acceleration it enables.

Upon entering play, Badgermole Cub converts one land to a creature land granting it earthbend. Combined with its other power, while it stays in play, each affected land produces twice the mana — in addition to mana-producing creatures you have which tap for mana.

An ideal partner to combine with includes Llanowar Elves, a cheap 1/1 which can be tapped for G mana. However there are plenty of creatures that make mana available. Another option is a more expensive alternative that’s a 1/3 for two mana instead.

Using land cards, creatures that tap for mana, and Badgermole Cub, you can easily get an enormous high-cost monster on the battlefield by round three or four. The situation escalates exponentially by maintaining dominance from there.

If you dip into another color with this approach, cards like versatile mana producers are excellent picks that can make all five colors. Additionally, a useful enchantment creature allows you to put an additional land each turn as well as turns all of your lands into every basic land type. It's also worth trying something like this six-mana enchantment, which for six mana provides each permanent you control the capacity to be tapped for a mana of any type — including all creatures you have on the board.

The cub could be too strong in terms of ramping up your mana generation, but how do you win with this archetype? An often-seen solution is this legendary creature. Power and toughness match how many lands you have, plus it turns each creature you own Forests in addition to other subtypes. Essentially, every single creature on your board can generate two green mana when tapped.

Harmonious Grovestrider provides a high-cost, powerful body that thrives with a high land count (similar to Ashaya, its stats are based on how many lands you have).

This Planeswalker is an excellent fit in this deck. Her passive ability allows all Forests produce extra green. (If you have the cub, this results in those lands yield three G.) Her plus ability is essentially an early earthbend, placing counters on a land, which is great but it isn't redundant with earthbend. Her ultimate, however, renders your entire land base immune to destruction enabling you to draw out your remaining Forests in the deck. Once you trigger that ability, it’s pretty much you win.

Badgermole Cub is a must-have in any green Avatar deck built around the earthbend mechanic. If you dip into red and green, consider Bumi Unleashed. This card features earthbend 4, and if damage is dealt to an opponent, land creatures untap and can attack again. While that version has emerged as a fan favorite Commander, this small creature is definitely going to remain one of the most, maybe the desired card in the collaboration.