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MTG’s special Avatar expansion isn't set to get a wider release before the end of the week, however due to pre-releases recently, one cheap green card saw a sharp rise in value.

From the initial reveals, this small creature attracted widespread focus. A creature with stats 2/2 that costs one green and one colorless mana, the card features the Earthbend 1 ability (possibly the best within the four bending abilities in the set). Its key advantage here comes from another power: If mana is generated by tapping a creature, add an additional green mana.

When first listed, Badgermole Cub could be purchased at around $27. Following the early events, yet, the going rate jumped to $49.66 including listings as high as $60. Why are we seeing premium pricing for this cute lil guy? Primarily due to the explosive mana ramping it enables.

When it arrives play, the cub transforms a terrain card into a creature that has earthbending. And with that second ability, while it remains on the board, those lands produces twice the mana — in addition to other creatures you have that produce resources.

An ideal partner for synergy includes the classic Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 that taps to generate G mana. Yet many other mana generation creatures available. Druid of the Cowl costs a bit more with stats 1/3 costing two mana as an alternative.

Deploying terrain, creatures that tap for mana, and Badgermole Cub, it's simple to summon a massive pricey monster into play within a few turns. The situation escalates exponentially if you keep the pressure on from that point.

If you dip into an additional hue in this strategy, examples including Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid are all great options that can make all five colors. Additionally, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove enables playing one extra land every round as well as transforms every land you control providing all land types. Another possibility is something like the enchantment A Realm Reborn, costing six mana provides every card you own the capacity to tap and generate a mana of any type — including any creature in play.

The cub could be too strong in terms of accelerating your resources, but what closes out the game with this archetype? A common and powerful choice has been Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Its power and toughness are both equal to how many lands you have, and it changes all of your nontoken creatures into Forests as well as their original types. This means, all your creatures on your board is able to tap for two G by tapping.

Harmonious Grovestrider is a costly, large threat that thrives with a high land count (as with the previous card, its power and toughness are based on how many lands you have).

Nissa fits really well in this deck. Her passive ability makes every Forest produce extra green. (If you have the cub, so each one produce triple green.) Her plus ability functions like an early earthbend, putting +1/+1 counters on a land, which is great though it doesn't stack with earthbend. The minus ability, on the other hand, renders each land you control unbreakable enabling you to search for your remaining Forests from your library. Should you manage to use this power, it almost certainly game over.

This card is a must-have in any decks using green and Avatar focusing on the earthbend mechanic. By including red and green, consider this legendary card. It possesses level 4 earthbending, and if it hits a player to a player, all land creatures are ready again for another attack. Although this card is a popular Commander choice, the cute little Badgermole Cub is definitely going to remain one of the most, maybe the popular pick from this expansion.