A standout from the Avatar-themed most adorable Magic cards is a powerful small contender.

the popular card game’s Avatar crossover set isn't set to get a wider release before the end of the week, but due to pre-releases recently, an affordable green creature saw a sharp rise in price.

Even during previews, the earthbending cub drew a lot of attention. This two-power, two-toughness requiring one green and one colorless mana, it features level 1 earthbending (arguably the most effective of the set’s four “bending” mechanics). Its key advantage here is its second ability: Whenever you tap a creature for mana, you gain one extra green mana.

When first listed, the card sold below $30. After the pre-release weekend, though, its value has shot up above $45 and one seller offering priced at sixty dollars. The reason for Vivi prices for this cute lil guy? Mostly due to the rapid resource generation it provides.

As it hits the board, this creature turns a terrain card to a creature land with earthbend. And with that second ability, as long as it is not removed, every earthbent land produces twice the mana — plus other creatures in your control which tap for mana.

The obvious go-to for synergy would be Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 which can be tapped for a green resource. However numerous creatures that make mana out there. This particular druid costs a bit more that’s a 1/3 at a two-mana value instead.

Deploying terrain, creatures that tap for mana, alongside this card, it's simple to summon an enormous high-cost threat into play by round three or four. And things just keep spiraling exponentially if you keep the pressure on after that.

By incorporating an additional hue with this approach, options such as Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid are all great options that generate all five colors. Additionally, a useful enchantment creature allows you to put another terrain per turn as well as makes every land you control so they count as all basics. You can also consider something like a card called A Realm Reborn, which for six mana gives each permanent you control the ability to produce one mana of any color — including each creature in play.

Badgermole Cub might seem overpowered when it comes to ramping up your mana generation, yet what’s the endgame finisher with this archetype? An often-seen solution has been this legendary creature. Power and toughness are both equal to your land count, and it makes each creature you own Forests along with their other types. Essentially, every single creature you control is able to tap for two G if used for mana.

Another creature provides a high-cost, powerful body that thrives with a high land count (as with the previous card, its stats are equal to the number of lands you control).

This Planeswalker works perfectly as a staple. Her passive ability allows every Forest generate an additional green mana. (If you have the cub, so each one produce triple green.) Her main ability is essentially a proto-earthbend, adding counters to a noncreature land, a useful effect though it doesn't stack with earthbend. Her -8 ability, though, renders all of your lands unbreakable and lets you draw out every Forest left in your deck. Once you trigger the ultimate, it’s pretty much you win.

Badgermole Cub is nearly mandatory for all green-based Avatar strategies that use earthbend. If you dip into red and green, consider this legendary card. It possesses earthbend 4, and when he deals combat damage in combat, all land creatures are ready again and may attack once more. Although this card has emerged as a fan favorite Commander, the cute little Badgermole Cub is definitely going to remain one of, if not the most popular pick in the collaboration.

Jeremy David
Jeremy David

Cybersecurity expert with over a decade of experience in threat analysis and digital defense strategies.