🔗 Share this article

Magic: The Gathering’s collaboration with Avatar isn't set to become widely available before the end of the week, however due to pre-releases over the last few days, a low-cost green spell has already exploded in value.

From the initial reveals, the earthbending cub attracted a lot of attention. This two-power, two-toughness requiring one green and one colorless mana, the card includes level 1 earthbending (possibly the most effective within the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The major perk here is an additional effect: If mana is generated by tapping a creature, you gain one extra green mana.

Initially, Badgermole Cub could be purchased below $30. After the pre-release weekend, however, the market price has shot up above $45 and one seller offering priced at sixty dollars. Why are we seeing Vivi prices for this cute lil guy? Primarily because of the explosive mana ramping it can produce.

As it hits play, Badgermole Cub transforms a land into a creature granting it earthbend. Alongside its mana-doubling effect, while it is not removed, every earthbent land produces twice the mana — plus any creatures you have that generate mana.

The obvious go-to for maximum effect includes this one-mana elf, a cheap 1/1 that produces one green mana. Yet numerous creatures that make mana in the game. Another option costs a bit more with stats 1/3 for two mana instead.

Deploying terrain, dorks that generate resources, plus the cub, it's simple to summon a very big pricey monster on the battlefield by round three or four. The situation escalates exponentially with continued aggression after that.

If you dip into an additional hue in this strategy, examples including versatile mana producers are all great options that can make any color of mana. Additionally, a useful enchantment creature lets you play one extra land per turn plus makes every land you control so they count as all basics. Another possibility is something like a card called A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment grants all of your permanents the power to tap and generate a mana of any type — even all creatures you have on the board.

Badgermole Cub could be too strong in terms of boosting mana production, yet how do you win with this archetype? A common and powerful choice already is Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Its stats are both equal to your land count, and it changes your non-token creatures to be Forests along with their other types. Essentially, every single creature on your board can generate two green mana by tapping.

This additional option is a costly, large threat that benefits from a high land count (like Ashaya, P/T are based on your land total).

This Planeswalker is an excellent fit as a go-to Planeswalker. Her static effect allows Forest lands produce extra green. (Combined with earthbend, this results in those lands yield three G.) Her plus ability acts as a form of land animation, putting +1/+1 counters to a noncreature land, handy though it doesn't stack with earthbend. The minus ability, though, makes each land you control immune to destruction and allows you to draw out every Forest left in the deck. If you can actually activate this power, it almost certainly the game ends.

The cub is pretty much essential for all decks using green and Avatar focusing on Earthbending. By including red-green, there’s Bumi Unleashed. He has earthbend 4, and when he deals combat damage in combat, each animated land untap and can attack again. While that version has become a fan favorite Commander, the cub is set to be one of, if not the most popular pick in the collaboration.