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MTG’s Avatar crossover set isn't set to get a wider release in the coming days, yet due to pre-releases this past weekend, a low-cost green spell experienced a surge in price.

Throughout the spoiler season, this small creature garnered widespread focus. A 2/2 that costs a single green and one generic mana, Badgermole Cub has Earthbending 1 (perhaps the best of the elemental mechanics available). The major perk here lies in its second ability: Whenever you tap a creature for mana, it provides bonus green mana.

When first listed, Badgermole Cub was available below $30. Following the early events, yet, the market price jumped to $49.66 with at least one listed as high as $60. Why are we seeing premium pricing for this cute lil guy? Mostly due to the incredible mana acceleration it enables.

When it arrives the battlefield, Badgermole Cub transforms a land to a creature land granting it earthbend. Combined with its other power, if it stays in play, those lands generates double mana — along with other creatures in your control that produce resources.

The obvious go-to to combine with includes the classic Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 that taps to generate a green resource. But numerous alternative mana dorks available. Druid of the Cowl costs a bit more that’s a 1/3 for two mana in comparison.

Deploying terrain, creatures that tap for mana, alongside this card, it's simple to summon a very big and very expensive threat on the battlefield early in the game. The situation escalates rapidly by maintaining dominance from that point.

When adding a secondary color using this method, cards like Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid are all great options that can make any mana color. Another card, this powerful dryad allows you to put one extra land every round plus turns every land you control so they count as all basics. You can also consider such as the enchantment A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment grants each permanent you control the capacity to produce a mana of any type — which covers all creatures in play.

This card could be too strong in terms of boosting mana production, yet how do you win in such a strategy? One obvious and popular answer already is Ashaya. Power and toughness are both equal to the number of lands you control, and it changes your non-token creatures into Forests along with other subtypes. This means, every single creature you control is able to generate two green mana if used for mana.

This additional option provides a high-cost, powerful body that thrives with a high land count (as with the previous card, its power and toughness are based on how many lands you have).

This Planeswalker works perfectly in this deck. Her static effect allows Forest lands produce extra green. (With a Badgermole Cub, so those lands generate three green mana.) One loyalty ability functions like an early earthbend, putting +1/+1 counters to a noncreature land, which is great but it isn't redundant with earthbend. The minus ability, on the other hand, renders each land you control indestructible and allows you to put onto the battlefield your remaining Forests in your deck. Once you trigger the ultimate, it’s pretty much you win.

This card is pretty much essential in any decks using green and Avatar focusing on Earthbending. If you dip into Gruul colors, consider Bumi. This card features level 4 earthbending, and when damage is dealt to an opponent, all land creatures become untapped and can attack again. Although this card has become a beloved leader, this small creature is set to be among the top, possibly the desired card in the Avatar set.