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Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar crossover set isn't set to get a wider release until later this week, yet due to early access events recently, one cheap green card has already exploded in market worth.

From the initial reveals, the earthbending cub drew widespread focus. This two-power, two-toughness priced at G and 1 mana, it has level 1 earthbending (possibly the strongest within the elemental mechanics available). Its key advantage with this card lies in its second ability: Whenever a creature is tapped to produce mana, it provides bonus green mana.

At its cheapest, this card sold for $26.98. After the pre-release weekend, though, the going rate escalated to nearly $50 including listings for sale at $60.00. What explains such high costs for this cute lil guy? Mainly because of the rapid resource generation it enables.

As it hits the board, Badgermole Cub transforms one land so it becomes a creature granting it earthbend. Combined with its other power, while it remains on the board, every earthbent land yields two mana instead of one — in addition to mana-producing creatures on your side that generate mana.

An ideal partner for synergy is the classic Llanowar Elves, a low-cost creature that produces one green mana. However many alternative mana dorks out there. Another option is a more expensive alternative that’s a 1/3 for two mana in comparison.

Deploying terrain, creatures that tap for mana, plus the cub, you may quickly play an enormous and very expensive creature on the board early in the game. The situation escalates exponentially if you keep the pressure on from there.

When adding another color using this method, cards like versatile mana producers are excellent picks that generate any color of mana. And something like a useful enchantment creature enables playing another terrain every round AND transforms your entire land base so they count as all basics. You can also consider for example the enchantment A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment grants each permanent you control the power to tap and generate one mana of any color — including each creature you have on the board.

This card could be too strong when it comes to accelerating your resources, yet how do you win in such a strategy? An often-seen solution already is this legendary creature. Power and toughness are both equal to how many lands you have, plus it turns your non-token creatures to be Forests as well as their original types. Essentially, every single creature on your board is able to generate two green mana if used for mana.

Harmonious Grovestrider is a costly, large threat which gains from many terrain cards (as with the previous card, its stats match your land total).

This Planeswalker is an excellent fit in this deck. One of her abilities makes Forest lands tap for one more G. (Combined with earthbend, so all earthbend forests yield three G.) One loyalty ability is essentially a proto-earthbend, adding counters on terrain, which is great though it doesn't stack with earthbending. Her ultimate, on the other hand, makes each land you control immune to destruction enabling you to draw out your remaining Forests in your deck. Should you manage to use this power, it’s pretty much you win.

The cub is pretty much essential for all green Avatar deck focusing on Earthbending. When branching into Gruul colors, consider Bumi Unleashed. He has level 4 earthbending, and if it hits a player to an opponent, each animated land become untapped for another attack. Even though Bumi has become a fan favorite Commander, the cute little Badgermole Cub is definitely going to remain among the top, possibly the desired card from this expansion.