🔗 Share this article A standout from the Avatar-themed cutest Magic cards is a formidable little powerhouse. the popular card game’s collaboration with Avatar isn't set to get a wider release in the coming days, yet following pre-releases recently, one cheap green card saw a sharp rise in price. Throughout the spoiler season, the earthbending cub attracted widespread focus. A 2/2 that costs G and 1 mana, it has Earthbending 1 (arguably the best among the elemental mechanics available). The real boon with this card lies in an additional effect: Whenever you tap a creature for mana, it provides bonus green mana. At its cheapest, the card could be purchased below $30. After the pre-release weekend, however, its value has shot up to nearly $50 including listings for sale at $60.00. Why are we seeing premium pricing for this little creature? Mostly due to the explosive mana ramping it provides. Upon entering the battlefield, Badgermole Cub turns a land to a creature land that has earthbending. Combined with its other power, as long as it is not removed, every earthbent land produces twice the mana — plus any creatures on your side that produce resources. A clear choice for maximum effect is the classic Llanowar Elves, a low-cost creature which can be tapped for G mana. However numerous creatures that make mana out there. This particular druid costs a bit more that’s a 1/3 costing two mana as an alternative. By playing lands, creatures that tap for mana, and Badgermole Cub, it's simple to summon a very big and very expensive threat on the battlefield within a few turns. And things just keep spiraling exponentially with continued aggression after that. If you dip into an additional hue with this approach, options such as versatile mana producers are excellent picks that can make all five colors. Additionally, a useful enchantment creature allows you to put another terrain each turn as well as makes all of your lands providing all land types. You can also consider such as the enchantment A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment gives every card you own the power to tap and generate one mana of any color — including any creature you have on the board. This card might seem overpowered in terms of boosting mana production, but how do you win for a deck like this? A common and powerful choice is this legendary creature. Its power and toughness are both equal to how many lands you have, and it changes all of your nontoken creatures Forests as well as their original types. Essentially, each creature you control can produce double green when tapped. This additional option is another expensive, beefy creature that thrives with many terrain cards (similar to Ashaya, P/T match your land total). Nissa, Who Shakes the World fits really well as a staple. Her static effect causes Forest lands tap for one more G. (Combined with earthbend, this results in those lands generate three green mana.) One loyalty ability is essentially an early earthbend, adding counters on terrain, which is great though it doesn't stack with earthbending. Her ultimate, though, grants your entire land base immune to destruction enabling you to search for all the remaining forests from your library. If you can actually activate this power, it almost certainly the game ends. The cub is a must-have in any decks using green and Avatar that use Earthbending. If you dip into red-green, you can use Bumi. He has earthbend 4, and if damage is dealt to an opponent, land creatures become untapped for another attack. Even though Bumi has become a beloved leader, this small creature is definitely going to remain one of the most, maybe the popular pick in the collaboration.