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MTG’s Avatar crossover set isn't set to become widely available in the coming days, yet after pre-releases over the last few days, an affordable green creature experienced a surge in price.

From the initial reveals, this small creature attracted widespread focus. This two-power, two-toughness that costs G and 1 mana, the card features the Earthbend 1 ability (possibly the strongest of the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The real boon with this card lies in its second ability: If mana is generated by tapping a creature, add an additional green mana.

At its cheapest, Badgermole Cub could be purchased for $26.98. Post-prerelease, however, its value escalated above $45 and one seller offering as high as $60. What explains such high costs on this adorable card? Primarily because of the rapid resource generation it provides.

As it hits the board, the cub transforms one land so it becomes a creature that has earthbending. And with that second ability, while it stays in play, those lands produces twice the mana — along with any creatures on your side that produce resources.

The obvious go-to for synergy would be Llanowar Elves, a cheap 1/1 which can be tapped for one green mana. But numerous alternative mana dorks available. Another option costs a bit more with stats 1/3 costing two mana in comparison.

Deploying terrain, mana-producing creatures, plus the cub, you may quickly play a very big pricey threat on the board early in the game. The situation escalates exponentially if you keep the pressure on from that point.

By incorporating a secondary color with this approach, examples including these mana-fixing creatures are excellent picks that generate any color of mana. And something like this powerful dryad enables playing another terrain per turn AND makes all of your lands providing all land types. Another possibility is something like a card called A Realm Reborn, costing six mana gives every card you own the power to produce one mana of any color — which covers all creatures under your control.

Badgermole Cub might seem overpowered when it comes to accelerating your resources, but what’s the endgame finisher for a deck like this? An often-seen solution already is this legendary creature. Its power and toughness are set by the number of lands you control, and it changes each creature you own into Forests along with other subtypes. Essentially, every single creature you control may tap for two G by tapping.

Another creature is another expensive, beefy creature that thrives with lots of lands (similar to Ashaya, P/T are based on the number of lands you control).

Nissa works perfectly in this deck. One of her abilities allows all Forests generate an additional green mana. (With a Badgermole Cub, this results in those lands yield three G.) Her plus ability acts as an early earthbend, placing counters on terrain, a useful effect but it isn't redundant with earthbend. Her ultimate, though, grants all of your lands unbreakable enabling you to search for all the remaining forests in your deck. If you can actually activate that ability, this typically means game over.

This card is pretty much essential for all green Avatar deck built around earthbend. If you dip into red and green, there’s Bumi Unleashed. It possesses level 4 earthbending, and when damage is dealt to an opponent, all land creatures become untapped for another attack. Although this card has become a popular Commander choice, this small creature will surely stay one of the most, maybe the desired card in the collaboration.