One of Avatar's most adorable MTG cards is a nasty little contender.

the popular card game’s collaboration with Avatar isn't set to hit the general market before the end of the week, but due to early access events this past weekend, one cheap green card has already exploded in price.

Even during previews, this small creature drew widespread focus. A creature with stats 2/2 priced at a single green and one generic mana, the card has Earthbending 1 (arguably the strongest of the elemental mechanics available). The real boon with this card is its second ability: Each time you tap a creature for mana, you gain one extra green mana.

At its cheapest, this card could be purchased at around $27. Following the early events, yet, the going rate escalated above $45 and one seller offering as high as $60. The reason for Vivi prices on this adorable card? Mostly due to the incredible mana acceleration it provides.

When it arrives play, Badgermole Cub transforms a terrain card into a creature that has earthbending. Combined with its other power, as long as it is not removed, those lands generates double mana — plus any creatures on your side that generate mana.

The obvious go-to to combine with would be Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 which can be tapped for a green resource. However there are plenty of alternative mana dorks available. Another option is a more expensive alternative a 1/3 creature at a two-mana value instead.

Deploying terrain, creatures that tap for mana, and Badgermole Cub, you can easily get an enormous pricey threat into play early in the game. And things just keep spiraling rapidly with continued aggression after that.

When adding another color using this method, cards like versatile mana producers are excellent picks which produce any mana color. And something like a useful enchantment creature enables playing one extra land each turn plus transforms all of your lands so they count as all basics. You can also consider such as a card called A Realm Reborn, costing six mana gives all of your permanents the ability to tap and generate one mana of any color — including all creatures you have on the board.

The cub could be too strong regarding accelerating your resources, but what closes out the game with this archetype? An often-seen solution already is Ashaya. Power and toughness are set by your land count, plus it turns all of your nontoken creatures to be Forests along with other subtypes. This means, each creature in play may generate two green mana when tapped.

Harmonious Grovestrider is a costly, large threat that benefits from a high land count (similar to Ashaya, its power and toughness are based on how many lands you have).

Nissa works perfectly as a go-to Planeswalker. One of her abilities makes every Forest produce extra green. (With a Badgermole Cub, so each one yield three G.) One loyalty ability is essentially an early earthbend, putting +1/+1 counters on terrain, which is great but does not overlap with earthbend. Her ultimate, though, grants all of your lands indestructible and lets you put onto the battlefield all the remaining forests from your library. Once you trigger this power, this typically means you win.

This card is pretty much essential for any kind of green-based Avatar strategies focusing on Earthbending. When branching into red and green, you can use this legendary card. He has earthbend 4, and if it hits a player to a player, land creatures are ready again for another attack. While that version is a fan favorite Commander, this small creature is definitely going to remain among the top, possibly the desired card in the collaboration.

Chelsea Oliver
Chelsea Oliver

Elara is a wellness enthusiast and writer passionate about sharing practical advice for a balanced life.