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the popular card game’s Avatar crossover set isn't set to hit the general market until later this week, but following early access events this past weekend, an affordable green creature experienced a surge in market worth.

Throughout the spoiler season, this small creature garnered a lot of attention. This two-power, two-toughness requiring one green and one colorless mana, the card features the Earthbend 1 ability (perhaps the best among the set’s four “bending” mechanics). The real boon here comes from its second ability: Each time a creature is tapped to produce mana, it provides bonus green mana.

Initially, this card was available at around $27. After the pre-release weekend, though, the market price escalated above $45 including listings for sale at $60.00. Why are we seeing Vivi prices for this little creature? Mostly due to the incredible mana acceleration it enables.

As it hits play, this creature turns a land into a creature with earthbend. And with that second ability, as long as it is not removed, each affected land yields two mana instead of one — plus other creatures on your side that generate mana.

The obvious go-to for maximum effect would be the classic Llanowar Elves, a low-cost creature that produces G mana. However numerous alternative mana dorks available. Another option is a more expensive alternative that’s a 1/3 at a two-mana value instead.

Deploying terrain, creatures that tap for mana, and Badgermole Cub, it's simple to summon an enormous high-cost monster on the battlefield within a few turns. The situation escalates exponentially with continued aggression from there.

By incorporating a secondary color with this approach, examples including these mana-fixing creatures are all great options that generate all five colors. Another card, a useful enchantment creature lets you play an additional land each turn AND makes your entire land base so they count as all basics. You can also consider for example the enchantment A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment gives each permanent you control the power to produce a mana of any type — even any creature you have on the board.

Badgermole Cub could be too strong in terms of accelerating your resources, yet how do you win for a deck like this? A common and powerful choice is this legendary creature. Its stats are set by the number of lands you control, and it changes all of your nontoken creatures into Forests in addition to their original types. This means, every single creature in play may generate two green mana if used for mana.

This additional option is another expensive, beefy creature that thrives with a high land count (similar to Ashaya, its power and toughness match your land total).

This Planeswalker works perfectly in this deck. Her static effect allows every Forest produce extra green. (With a Badgermole Cub, that means all earthbend forests produce triple green.) Her plus ability functions like a proto-earthbend, adding counters on terrain, handy though it doesn't stack with earthbending. Her ultimate, on the other hand, grants each land you control unbreakable and allows you to search for your remaining Forests in your deck. Should you manage to use the ultimate, this typically means the game ends.

The cub is nearly mandatory in any decks using green and Avatar built around Earthbending. When branching into red and green, consider Bumi Unleashed. This card features level 4 earthbending, and if it hits a player to an opponent, land creatures are ready again for another attack. Although this card has emerged as a beloved leader, the cub will surely stay one of, if not the most sought-after card from this expansion.