Thing in the Ice // Awoken Horror MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Kraken Horror
Abilities Transform
Power 7
Toughness 8

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides board-clearing effects, making it a powerful inclusion in blue control and tempo decks.
  2. Requires strategic spell casting to unlock its full potential, balancing the deck building process.
  3. Demands specific strategies to counter its transformative threat effectively in competitive play.

Text of card

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

"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


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thing in the Ice arrives with the potential to transform into a formidable creature while also bouncing all non-Horror creatures to their owners’ hands. This not only can clear the board of opposing threats but also replenishes your hand if you’ve played creatures with beneficial enter-the-battlefield effects.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly impacting mana resources, the transformation of Thing in the Ice into Awoken Horror can accelerate your game plan. By removing multiple blockers with a single card, Thing in the Ice paves the way for an accelerated attack, potentially saving mana and cards that would otherwise be spent on creature removal.

Instant Speed: One of the key strengths of Thing in the Ice is its interaction with instant spells. Flipping Thing in the Ice can be achieved at instant speed as you cast those spells, allowing you to exploit optimum timing—like during the combat phase or your opponent’s turn—to surprise and disrupt your opponent’s strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For Thing in the Ice to transform, its controller must cast four spells, which could be demanding and slow to achieve in formats where every turn counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Being a card with a specific mana cost, in this case requiring two blue mana, limits its inclusion to decks that can reliably generate blue mana, potentially excluding it from various multi-colored or mono-colored decks not focused on blue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although two mana might not seem steep, in the fast-paced modern and legacy formats, there are spells with lower mana costs that can impact the board more quickly, making Thing in the Ice a card that requires careful deck building to maximize its potential.


Reasons to Include Thing in the Ice in Your Collection

Versatility: As a card that transforms from a defensive entity into a massive attacker, Thing in the Ice fits snugly into a range of blue-based decks. These can range from control archetypes looking for board wipes to tempo strategies keen to flip it with low-cost spells.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes exceptionally well with decks that cast a flurry of instants and sorceries. Its ability to transform after four spells and subsequently bounce non-Horror creatures to their owners’ hands opens up powerful combo possibilities, clearing the board for a decisive swing.

Meta-Relevance: Given its low casting cost and high-impact transformation, Thing in the Ice holds its ground in various metas. It can act as an early blocker and scales into an intimidating threat that also disrupts your opponent’s board, making it a must-have for players anticipating creature-heavy matchups or those who aim to turn the tide in a single turn.


How to beat

Thing in the Ice is a unique card that flips the script on standard MTG gameplay. This transformative card presents a challenge with its potential to wipe the board clean of creatures when the final ice counter is removed. Unlike other creatures, its power grows as you cast non-creature spells, making it a ticking time bomb on the battlefield.

To gain the upper hand against this chilling adversary, effective strategies need to be in place. Removal spells that can target Thing in the Ice before it transforms are essential. Targeted spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can send it off the field before it becomes the formidable Awoken Horror. Counterspells also play a vital role in keeping it in check by preventing key spells that would otherwise remove ice counters.

Moreover, playing around its transformation is key. Since it resets the board for creatures, choosing the timing of when to develop your creature base is crucial. Prioritize spells and abilities that can neutralize it upon flipping, such as instant-speed removal or bounce effects, to maintain control. Understanding and anticipating this significant disruption can be the difference between victory and succumbing to the icy depths of defeat.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is a dynamic process, filled with strategy and discovery. Things like Thing in the Ice embody this, bringing versatility and depth to gameplay. Recognizing the transformative power of such cards can be a game-changer, elevating both your deck’s performance and your tactical prowess. We encourage players to continually seek out these strategic gems that can pivot the tide of battle in their favor. Explore the intricacies of Thing in the Ice and similar high-impact cards in our comprehensive MTG guides. Enhance your collection and sharpen your strategies with our expert insights. Step into the world of optimized gameplay and transformed potentials with us.


Cards like Thing in the Ice // Awoken Horror

Thing in the Ice stands out in MTG as a formidable dual-purpose card that transforms from an icy wall into a fearsome behemoth. It is akin to utility creatures like Delver of Secrets, which metamorphoses from a weak pest into a formidable flying threat. Yet, Thing in the Ice presents an even more impactful board presence upon flipping, by bouncing all non-Horror creatures to their owners’ hands.

Comparatively, we have Jace, Vryn’s Prodigy, a card that also transforms, but offers a different tactical approach by providing loot abilities and eventually turning into a planeswalker with various disruptive abilities. On the flipside of transformation, we encounter Loyal Cathar, which upon its demise returns as a relentless undead soldier, but without the sweeping disruptive potential of Thing in the Ice’s transformation.

In the grand tapestry of MTG’s transforming cards, Thing in the Ice inhabits a unique niche, acting as both a potent defense mechanism and as a game-ending threat. Its ability to clear the board and swing games makes it particularly notable within its category.

Cards similar to Thing in the Ice // Awoken Horror by color, type and mana cost

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Storm Crow - MTG Card versions
Aquamoeba - MTG Card versions
Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions
Vodalian Soldiers - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Zephyr Falcon - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Lord of Atlantis - Wizards Play Network 2024 (PW24)
Giant Albatross - Homelands (HML)
Phantasmal Sphere - Alliances (ALL)
Skyshroud Condor - Tempest (TMP)
School of Piranha - Exodus (EXO)
Coral Merfolk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wu Light Cavalry - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sea Eagle - Starter 1999 (S99)
Overtaker - Mercadian Masques Promos (PMMQ)
Hazy Homunculus - Prophecy (PCY)
Darting Merfolk - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Thought Eater - Odyssey (ODY)
Spellstutter Sprite - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Sneaky Homunculus - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Coral Eel - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Storm Crow - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Aquamoeba - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Soratami Cloudskater - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thing in the Ice // Awoken Horror MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Shadows over Innistrad, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Thing in the Ice // Awoken Horror and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Thing in the Ice // Awoken Horror Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 922015transformblackSvetlin Velinov
22016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 922015transformblackSvetlin Velinov
32016-04-08Shadows over Innistrad PromosPSOI 92s2015transformblackSvetlin Velinov
42016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 922015transformblackSvetlin Velinov
52016-04-08Shadows over Innistrad PromosPSOI 92s2015transformblackSvetlin Velinov
62016-04-08Shadows over Innistrad PromosPSOI 92s2015transformblackSvetlin Velinov
72023-01-07Regional Championship Qualifiers 2023PR23 32015transformborderlessBrandi Milne
82023-01-07Regional Championship Qualifiers 2023PR23 32015transformborderlessBrandi Milne
92023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 952015transformblackSvetlin Velinov
102023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 952015transformblackSvetlin Velinov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thing in the Ice // Awoken Horror has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
PioneerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Thing in the Ice // Awoken Horror card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2016-04-08 When Thing in the Ice’s triggered ability removes the last counter from it, Awoken Horror’s ability will trigger and resolve before the spell that caused Thing in the Ice’s last ability to trigger.
2016-04-08 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.
2016-07-13 For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics).

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