A standout from Avatar's cutest Magic cards proves to be a formidable little powerhouse.
MTG’s Avatar crossover set isn't set to hit the general market before the end of the week, but due to early access events this past weekend, one cheap green card saw a sharp rise in price.
Even during previews, this small creature drew a lot of attention. This two-power, two-toughness that costs a single green and one generic mana, it features level 1 earthbending (perhaps the most effective of the four bending abilities in the set). Its key advantage in its design is another power: Each time mana is generated by tapping a creature, it provides bonus green mana.
Initially, the card could be purchased below $30. Post-prerelease, yet, its value has shot up above $45 and one seller offering as high as $60. The reason for Vivi prices on this adorable card? Mostly due to the incredible mana acceleration it provides.
Upon entering play, this creature turns a terrain card so it becomes a creature with earthbend. Alongside its mana-doubling effect, while it stays in play, each affected land produces twice the mana — plus mana-producing creatures in your control that generate mana.
The obvious go-to for synergy is Llanowar Elves, a cheap 1/1 that produces G mana. Yet there are plenty of alternative mana dorks available. Another option is a more expensive alternative a 1/3 creature at a two-mana value instead.
Using land cards, creatures that tap for mana, and Badgermole Cub, you may quickly play a very big and very expensive creature on the board by round three or four. And things just keep spiraling out of control with continued aggression from there.
When adding a secondary color with this approach, cards like Fuel Tank Feaster, Ilysian Caryatid, and Paradise Druid work perfectly that can make all five colors. Additionally, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove allows you to put one extra land every round AND transforms every land you control so they count as all basics. Another possibility is something like the enchantment A Realm Reborn, costing six mana grants all of your permanents the power to produce any color mana — even each creature under your control.
This card could be too strong when it comes to boosting mana production, but how do you win in such a strategy? A common and powerful choice is Ashaya. Power and toughness match the number of lands you control, plus it turns each creature you own into Forests in addition to their original types. Essentially, each creature you control can produce double green when tapped.
Harmonious Grovestrider is a costly, large threat which gains from a high land count (as with the previous card, its power and toughness are based on your land total).
This Planeswalker works perfectly as a go-to Planeswalker. Her static effect makes all Forests tap for one more G. (If you have the cub, this results in each one generate three green mana.) One loyalty ability acts as an early earthbend, placing counters on terrain, handy though it doesn't stack with the cub's ability. The minus ability, however, grants all of your lands indestructible and allows you to put onto the battlefield every Forest left in your deck. Should you manage to use that ability, this typically means you win.
This card is nearly mandatory in any decks using green and Avatar focusing on the earthbend mechanic. When branching into Gruul colors, there’s this legendary card. It possesses earthbend 4, and when he deals combat damage to a player, each animated land become untapped and can attack again. Although this card has become a fan favorite Commander, this small creature is set to be among the top, possibly the desired card from this expansion.