the popular card game’s Avatar crossover set isn't set to hit the general market before the end of the week, yet after pre-releases over the last few days, an affordable green creature experienced a surge in market worth.
Even during previews, this small creature garnered significant interest. A 2/2 that costs G and 1 mana, the card includes level 1 earthbending (perhaps the most effective among the four bending abilities in the set). The real boon in its design is an additional effect: Whenever a creature is tapped to produce mana, you gain one extra green mana.
When first listed, the card could be purchased below $30. Post-prerelease, though, the going rate has shot up to nearly $50 and one seller offering for sale at $60.00. Why are we seeing premium pricing on this adorable card? Mostly thanks to the rapid resource generation it enables.
Upon entering play, the cub turns one land to a creature land that has earthbending. And with that second ability, as long as it stays in play, every earthbent land produces twice the mana — in addition to other creatures on your side which tap for mana.
An ideal partner for synergy would be Llanowar Elves, a cheap 1/1 that taps to generate one green mana. However numerous creatures that make mana available. Another option is a higher-cost choice with stats 1/3 for two mana instead.
Deploying terrain, mana-producing creatures, plus the cub, it's simple to summon a massive and very expensive threat on the board early in the game. Momentum builds exponentially with continued aggression after that.
When adding a secondary color using this method, examples including these mana-fixing creatures are all great options that generate any color of mana. Additionally, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove enables playing an additional land per turn plus transforms your entire land base providing all land types. Another possibility is something like the enchantment A Realm Reborn, costing six mana provides every card you own the ability to tap and generate a mana of any type — which covers each creature in play.
The cub could be too strong in terms of boosting mana production, yet how do you win with this archetype? An often-seen solution is Ashaya. Power and toughness are set by your land count, plus it turns all of your nontoken creatures to be Forests along with their other types. Essentially, every single creature you control can produce double green if used for mana.
This additional option is a costly, large threat that benefits from a high land count (like Ashaya, its power and toughness match the number of lands you control).
Nissa, Who Shakes the World fits really well as a go-to Planeswalker. Her static effect causes Forest lands produce extra green. (If you have the cub, so those lands yield three G.) Her main ability acts as an early earthbend, placing counters on terrain, which is great but does not overlap with the cub's ability. Her -8 ability, however, makes all of your lands immune to destruction and allows you to draw out your remaining Forests in your deck. If you can actually activate the ultimate, it almost certainly game over.
Badgermole Cub is nearly mandatory in any green Avatar deck that use the earthbend mechanic. If you dip into red and green, consider Bumi Unleashed. This card features earthbend 4, plus if damage is dealt in combat, land creatures become untapped for another attack. Although this card is a fan favorite Commander, the cute little Badgermole Cub is set to be one of, if not the most popular pick from this expansion.
