A standout from the Avatar-themed most adorable MTG cards proves to be a powerful compact force.

MTG’s special Avatar expansion will not get a wider release before the end of the week, however due to pre-releases this past weekend, one cheap green card has already exploded in price.

Even during previews, the earthbending cub drew significant interest. A 2/2 priced at one green and one colorless mana, the card has level 1 earthbending (arguably the strongest among the elemental mechanics available). The major perk in its design is another power: If mana is generated by tapping a creature, you gain one extra green mana.

At its cheapest, the card was available for $26.98. Following the early events, yet, its value escalated to $49.66 and one seller offering for sale at $60.00. The reason for Vivi prices for this cute lil guy? Mainly due to the incredible mana acceleration it enables.

Upon entering the battlefield, this creature transforms a land so it becomes a creature that has earthbending. Combined with its other power, while it is not removed, each affected land generates double mana — plus mana-producing creatures you have which tap for mana.

A clear choice for maximum effect is the classic Llanowar Elves, a low-cost creature which can be tapped for one green mana. But there are plenty of alternative mana dorks available. Another option costs a bit more with stats 1/3 costing two mana instead.

By playing lands, creatures that tap for mana, plus the cub, you can easily get a massive and very expensive monster on the board within a few turns. The situation escalates exponentially by maintaining dominance after that.

By incorporating a secondary color in this strategy, cards like Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid work perfectly that generate all five colors. Another card, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove allows you to put an additional land each turn as well as turns every land you control so they count as all basics. Another possibility is such as this six-mana enchantment, costing six mana grants each permanent you control the capacity to tap and generate a mana of any type — which covers any creature under your control.

The cub may be OP regarding ramping up your mana generation, however what’s the endgame finisher with this archetype? An often-seen solution already is Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Its stats match your land count, plus it turns each creature you own into Forests along with their original types. In other words, every single creature on your board may produce double green when tapped.

Harmonious Grovestrider provides a high-cost, powerful body which gains from a high land count (similar to Ashaya, its power and toughness match how many lands you have).

Nissa works perfectly in this deck. One of her abilities causes all Forests generate an additional green mana. (If you have the cub, that means all earthbend forests produce triple green.) Her main ability is essentially an early earthbend, placing counters on a land, handy but does not overlap with earthbend. Her ultimate, however, makes each land you control immune to destruction and allows you to draw out your remaining Forests in your deck. Should you manage to use that ability, it’s pretty much game over.

This card is a must-have for all green Avatar deck that use the earthbend mechanic. If you dip into red and green, there’s Bumi. It possesses level 4 earthbending, and when damage is dealt to a player, each animated land untap and may attack once more. While that version has emerged as a beloved leader, the cub is set to be one of the most, maybe the popular pick in the collaboration.

Paul Liu
Paul Liu

A passionate fiber artist and educator sharing her love for spinning and sustainable crafting practices.

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