"It serves as evidence of the ancient power of the deep, a reminder that the sea is the only thing worthy of reverence."
—Runo Stromkirk

Thing in the Ice // Awoken Horror

When this creature transforms into Awoken Horror, return all non-Horror creatures to their owners' hands.

Defender
This creature enters with four ice counters on it.
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, remove an ice counter from this creature. Then if it has no ice counters on it, transform it.

Innistrad Remastered

Shadows over Innistrad Remastered

Defender
Thing in the Ice enters the battlefield with four ice counters on it.
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, remove an ice counter from Thing in the Ice. Then if it has no ice counters on it, transform it.

Regional Championship Qualifiers 2023

Shadows over Innistrad Promos

An ability that triggers when a player casts a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered or otherwise leaves the stack without resolving.

Removing all ice counters from Thing in the Ice some other way will not cause it to transform. You’ll need to cast an instant or sorcery spell and cause its last ability to trigger.

When Thing in the Ice’s triggered ability transforms it, Awoken Horror’s ability will trigger and resolve before the spell that caused Thing in the Ice’s last ability to trigger.