One of Avatar's most adorable MTG cards is a formidable little powerhouse.

the popular card game’s Avatar crossover set isn't set to get a wider release in the coming days, however after early access events over the last few days, an affordable green creature saw a sharp rise in market worth.

Even during previews, this small creature attracted a lot of attention. This two-power, two-toughness priced at a single green and one generic mana, the card features Earthbending 1 (possibly the strongest of the elemental mechanics available). The real boon here is an additional effect: If mana is generated by tapping a creature, add an additional green mana.

When first listed, this card was available below $30. Following the early events, though, its value escalated to nearly $50 and one seller offering priced at sixty dollars. What explains Vivi prices for this little creature? Primarily due to the explosive mana ramping it enables.

When it arrives the board, this creature turns a land to a creature land that has earthbending. Alongside its mana-doubling effect, while it is not removed, those lands produces twice the mana — plus other creatures in your control that generate mana.

The obvious go-to to combine with is Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 that taps to generate a green resource. But many other mana generation creatures in the game. Druid of the Cowl is a more expensive alternative that’s a 1/3 for two mana instead.

Using land cards, mana-producing creatures, and Badgermole Cub, you can easily get an enormous and very expensive threat on the board by round three or four. The situation escalates exponentially if you keep the pressure on from there.

By incorporating another color using this method, examples including Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid are excellent picks which produce all five colors. Additionally, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove allows you to put another terrain per turn plus turns every land you control so they count as all basics. Another possibility is something like this six-mana enchantment, costing six mana grants each permanent you control the power to tap and generate one mana of any color — including any creature under your control.

This card might seem overpowered when it comes to boosting mana production, however what closes out the game for a deck like this? An often-seen solution is Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Its power and toughness match how many lands you have, plus it turns all of your nontoken creatures to be Forests as well as their other types. Essentially, all your creatures in play is able to produce double green by tapping.

Harmonious Grovestrider is another expensive, beefy creature which gains from many terrain cards (similar to Ashaya, its power and toughness are based on how many lands you have).

This Planeswalker works perfectly as a go-to Planeswalker. Her passive ability allows Forest lands tap for one more G. (Combined with earthbend, this results in each one produce triple green.) One loyalty ability functions like a proto-earthbend, putting +1/+1 counters to a noncreature land, handy though it doesn't stack with earthbend. Her ultimate, on the other hand, grants all of your lands unbreakable and lets you search for your remaining Forests in your deck. Should you manage to use the ultimate, it almost certainly game over.

This card is nearly mandatory in any green Avatar deck that use Earthbending. By including Gruul colors, consider this legendary card. He has earthbend 4, and if it hits a player to a player, land creatures untap for another attack. While that version is a fan favorite Commander, the cub is set to be one of the most, maybe the desired card from this expansion.

Eric Walker
Eric Walker

A physicist and gaming enthusiast passionate about making quantum concepts accessible to all through creative storytelling.