Among Avatar's most charming collectible cards turns out to be a powerful small powerhouse.
the popular card game’s Avatar crossover set isn't set to get a wider release before the end of the week, but after early access events over the last few days, one cheap green card experienced a surge in market worth.
From the initial reveals, this small creature garnered widespread focus. This two-power, two-toughness that costs one green and one colorless mana, the card includes level 1 earthbending (arguably the strongest within the four bending abilities in the set). The major perk in its design lies in its second ability: Whenever a creature is tapped to produce mana, you gain one extra green mana.
At its cheapest, this card was available for $26.98. Following the early events, however, the going rate has shot up to nearly $50 including listings for sale at $60.00. What explains such high costs for this cute lil guy? Mainly thanks to the rapid resource generation it can produce.
Upon entering the board, the cub turns one land into a creature with earthbend. Combined with its other power, while it is not removed, those lands generates double mana — along with other creatures in your control which tap for mana.
A clear choice for maximum effect includes Llanowar Elves, an inexpensive 1/1 that produces G mana. However numerous alternative mana dorks available. This particular druid costs a bit more that’s a 1/3 at a two-mana value instead.
Using land cards, creatures that tap for mana, alongside this card, it's simple to summon a massive and very expensive creature on the battlefield by round three or four. The situation escalates exponentially with continued aggression from there.
If you dip into an additional hue with this approach, options such as Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid are excellent picks which produce all five colors. Another card, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove lets you play another terrain per turn plus transforms every land you control so they count as all basics. Another possibility is such as the enchantment A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment provides all of your permanents the ability to tap and generate one mana of any color — which covers any creature under your control.
The cub might seem overpowered when it comes to accelerating your resources, but how do you win in such a strategy? A common and powerful choice is this legendary creature. Its stats are set by your land count, and it changes each creature you own into Forests as well as other subtypes. This means, each creature you control can tap for two G when tapped.
This additional option is a costly, large threat that benefits from many terrain cards (like Ashaya, P/T are equal to the number of lands you control).
Nissa fits really well as a staple. Her passive ability causes Forest lands produce extra green. (With a Badgermole Cub, so all earthbend forests generate three green mana.) One loyalty ability functions like an early earthbend, placing counters on terrain, a useful effect but it isn't redundant with earthbend. Her -8 ability, though, grants each land you control unbreakable enabling you to put onto the battlefield every Forest left from your library. Once you trigger that ability, it almost certainly game over.
The cub is a must-have for all green-based Avatar strategies built around the earthbend mechanic. When branching into red and green, consider Bumi. This card features earthbend 4, and when it hits a player to an opponent, land creatures are ready again and may attack once more. Although this card has emerged as a beloved leader, this small creature is set to be one of the most, maybe the popular pick in the collaboration.
