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MTG’s special Avatar expansion isn't set to hit the general market until later this week, yet following prerelease weekends this past weekend, a low-cost green spell has already exploded in market worth.

Even during previews, Badgermole Cub garnered a lot of attention. A creature with stats 2/2 priced at G and 1 mana, it has Earthbending 1 (possibly the strongest of the four bending abilities in the set). The major perk here is an additional effect: Each time you tap a creature for mana, add an additional green mana.

Initially, the card could be purchased at around $27. Following the early events, yet, the market price escalated above $45 and one seller offering for sale at $60.00. What explains such high costs for this cute lil guy? Mostly due to the incredible mana acceleration it can produce.

When it arrives the battlefield, this creature transforms a terrain card to a creature land that has earthbending. And with that second ability, if it is not removed, every earthbent land generates double mana — along with any creatures on your side which tap for mana.

A clear choice to combine with is the classic Llanowar Elves, a low-cost creature that produces one green mana. But many other mana generation creatures in the game. Another option is a higher-cost choice that’s a 1/3 for two mana as an alternative.

By playing lands, mana-producing creatures, and Badgermole Cub, you may quickly play a massive pricey monster into play by round three or four. And things just keep spiraling out of control with continued aggression from that point.

By incorporating another color in this strategy, cards like these mana-fixing creatures are all great options that can make any mana color. Another card, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove enables playing an additional land each turn AND turns your entire land base providing all land types. Another possibility is such as this six-mana enchantment, at a six-mana investment grants each permanent you control the ability to produce a mana of any type — which covers any creature under your control.

This card could be too strong when it comes to ramping up your mana generation, yet what closes out the game with this archetype? A common and powerful choice is Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Power and toughness are both equal to the number of lands you control, plus it turns each creature you own to be Forests along with other subtypes. This means, all your creatures on your board may generate two green mana if used for mana.

Another creature is a costly, large threat which gains from a high land count (as with the previous card, P/T are equal to how many lands you have).

This Planeswalker is an excellent fit as a staple. Her passive ability allows every Forest produce extra green. (Combined with earthbend, this results in all earthbend forests produce triple green.) One loyalty ability functions like a form of land animation, placing counters on terrain, handy but it isn't redundant with the cub's ability. Her -8 ability, though, renders each land you control indestructible and allows you to draw out all the remaining forests in the deck. Once you trigger the ultimate, it’s pretty much you win.

The cub is a must-have for all green-based Avatar strategies focusing on earthbend. If you dip into red-green, you can use Bumi. He has earthbend 4, and when damage is dealt to an opponent, land creatures become untapped and may attack once more. Although this card is a fan favorite Commander, this small creature is definitely going to remain among the top, possibly the sought-after card from this expansion.