Among Avatar's most charming collectible cards turns out to be a formidable little force.

MTG’s collaboration with Avatar will not get a wider release until later this week, yet after prerelease weekends recently, a low-cost green spell experienced a surge in market worth.

From the initial reveals, Badgermole Cub attracted significant interest. A creature with stats 2/2 priced at one green and one colorless mana, the card features level 1 earthbending (arguably the most effective among the set’s four “bending” mechanics). Its key advantage with this card is its second ability: Whenever you tap a creature for mana, add an additional green mana.

Initially, the card was available at around $27. After the pre-release weekend, however, the going rate escalated to nearly $50 with at least one listed as high as $60. Why are we seeing Vivi prices for this cute lil guy? Mainly because of the incredible mana acceleration it enables.

When it arrives play, Badgermole Cub transforms a land to a creature land with earthbend. Alongside its mana-doubling effect, if it stays in play, every earthbent land yields two mana instead of one — along with any creatures in your control that produce resources.

An ideal partner for maximum effect is Llanowar Elves, a low-cost creature that produces one green mana. But numerous creatures that make mana available. This particular druid costs a bit more that’s a 1/3 costing two mana instead.

By playing lands, creatures that tap for mana, and Badgermole Cub, it's simple to summon an enormous and very expensive threat into play within a few turns. Momentum builds out of control with continued aggression after that.

By incorporating another color with this approach, cards like these mana-fixing creatures work perfectly that can make any mana color. Another card, this powerful dryad allows you to put one extra land per turn as well as turns every land you control into every basic land type. You can also consider for example the enchantment A Realm Reborn, which for six mana provides every card you own the capacity to be tapped for one mana of any color — even all creatures under your control.

Badgermole Cub might seem overpowered when it comes to boosting mana production, however what closes out the game with this archetype? A common and powerful choice has been Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Its stats are both equal to the number of lands you control, and it changes all of your nontoken creatures into Forests as well as other subtypes. In other words, every single creature on your board can generate two green mana by tapping.

Another creature is another expensive, beefy creature which gains from lots of lands (similar to Ashaya, its power and toughness match the number of lands you control).

Nissa, Who Shakes the World is an excellent fit as a staple. Her static effect makes all Forests generate an additional green mana. (With a Badgermole Cub, so those lands yield three G.) Her main ability functions like an early earthbend, putting +1/+1 counters on a land, handy though it doesn't stack with earthbending. Her ultimate, though, grants all of your lands indestructible and allows you to put onto the battlefield your remaining Forests from your library. If you can actually activate that ability, it almost certainly the game ends.

This card is a must-have in any decks using green and Avatar built around the earthbend mechanic. If you dip into Gruul colors, you can use this legendary card. It possesses level 4 earthbending, plus if he deals combat damage to a player, each animated land are ready again for another attack. Although this card is a beloved leader, this small creature will surely stay one of the most, maybe the desired card in the collaboration.

Wayne Freeman
Wayne Freeman

Elara is a philosopher and writer passionate about exploring human experiences and sharing wisdom through engaging narratives.