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the popular card game’s special Avatar expansion won’t become widely available in the coming days, however following prerelease weekends over the last few days, a low-cost green spell saw a sharp rise in value.

Even during previews, the earthbending cub drew significant interest. This two-power, two-toughness that costs a single green and one generic mana, the card includes the Earthbend 1 ability (perhaps the most effective within the four bending abilities in the set). The major perk with this card is its second ability: Each time a creature is tapped to produce mana, you gain one extra green mana.

Initially, the card sold for $26.98. Following the early events, yet, the market price has shot up to $49.66 and one seller offering as high as $60. Why are we seeing Vivi prices on this adorable card? Mainly due to the incredible mana acceleration it provides.

When it arrives the board, the cub converts one land so it becomes a creature with earthbend. And with that second ability, as long as it is not removed, those lands produces twice the mana — along with mana-producing creatures in your control that generate mana.

A clear choice to combine with is the classic Llanowar Elves, a low-cost creature which can be tapped for one green mana. Yet numerous creatures that make mana out there. Another option is a more expensive alternative with stats 1/3 for two mana instead.

By playing lands, creatures that tap for mana, alongside this card, it's simple to summon an enormous high-cost creature on the board within a few turns. Momentum builds rapidly if you keep the pressure on from that point.

If you dip into an additional hue with this approach, cards like Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid are all great options that can make any color of mana. Another card, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove enables playing one extra land every round as well as makes your entire land base providing all land types. Another possibility is something like a card called A Realm Reborn, costing six mana provides each permanent you control the ability to tap and generate a mana of any type — even all creatures you have on the board.

The cub may be OP regarding boosting mana production, yet how do you win with this archetype? One obvious and popular answer has been this legendary creature. Its stats match your land count, and it makes all of your nontoken creatures Forests along with their other types. Essentially, all your creatures you control is able to generate two green mana by tapping.

Another creature provides a high-cost, powerful body that benefits from a high land count (as with the previous card, its power and toughness match your land total).

Nissa is an excellent fit in this deck. One of her abilities makes all Forests tap for one more G. (If you have the cub, this results in all earthbend forests yield three G.) Her plus ability is essentially an early earthbend, adding counters on a land, handy but it isn't redundant with earthbend. Her -8 ability, on the other hand, renders your entire land base indestructible enabling you to put onto the battlefield your remaining Forests from your library. Once you trigger that ability, it’s pretty much the game ends.

The cub is a must-have in any decks using green and Avatar that use the earthbend mechanic. When branching into Gruul colors, you can use this legendary card. This card features level 4 earthbending, plus if he deals combat damage in combat, land creatures are ready again and can attack again. While that version has become a fan favorite Commander, the cub is set to be among the top, possibly the desired card in the collaboration.