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MTG’s special Avatar expansion will not hit the general market before the end of the week, but following early access events this past weekend, one cheap green card has already exploded in value.

From the initial reveals, Badgermole Cub attracted widespread focus. A 2/2 requiring G and 1 mana, Badgermole Cub has level 1 earthbending (possibly the most effective among the elemental mechanics available). The major perk with this card is another power: Whenever a creature is tapped to produce mana, add an additional green mana.

Initially, the card was available below $30. Following the early events, however, its value has shot up above $45 including listings for sale at $60.00. What explains Vivi prices for this little creature? Primarily because of the incredible mana acceleration it enables.

When it arrives play, the cub turns a land to a creature land that has earthbending. And with that second ability, as long as it remains on the board, those lands generates double mana — in addition to any creatures in your control that generate mana.

A clear choice for synergy is Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 which can be tapped for a green resource. But there are plenty of creatures that make mana out there. Druid of the Cowl is a higher-cost choice that’s a 1/3 for two mana in comparison.

Deploying terrain, mana-producing creatures, alongside this card, you can easily get an enormous pricey monster on the board early in the game. Momentum builds exponentially if you keep the pressure on from that point.

By incorporating another color in this strategy, options such as versatile mana producers are excellent picks that can make all five colors. Another card, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove lets you play one extra land each turn plus turns every land you control into every basic land type. You can also consider something like this six-mana enchantment, which for six mana provides all of your permanents the power to produce a mana of any type — including each creature in play.

Badgermole Cub might seem overpowered in terms of ramping up your mana generation, yet what’s the endgame finisher for a deck like this? One obvious and popular answer is Ashaya. Power and toughness match your land count, and it changes your non-token creatures to be Forests in addition to their original types. In other words, all your creatures in play may tap for two G by tapping.

Harmonious Grovestrider provides a high-cost, powerful body which gains from a high land count (like Ashaya, P/T are equal to the number of lands you control).

Nissa fits really well in this deck. One of her abilities makes Forest lands tap for one more G. (With a Badgermole Cub, so those lands generate three green mana.) One loyalty ability acts as an early earthbend, putting +1/+1 counters to a noncreature land, handy but does not overlap with the cub's ability. Her ultimate, on the other hand, grants your entire land base immune to destruction and lets you search for your remaining Forests from your library. Once you trigger the ultimate, this typically means the game ends.

The cub is a must-have for all decks using green and Avatar focusing on earthbend. When branching into red and green, you can use Bumi. This card features level 4 earthbending, and when he deals combat damage to an opponent, each animated land are ready again for another attack. Although this card has become a fan favorite Commander, this small creature is definitely going to remain among the top, possibly the popular pick in the Avatar set.