Isildur's Bane is for most situations preferable to the common Ruling Ring. Both the additional vitality and more flexible Response action allow the Ring-bearer to soak up more damage from the rest of the Fellowship. Unlike The Ruling Ring, at a cost of two burdens per wound, any wound can be turned into burdens, allowing for emergency wound or archery absorption in a pinch. However, the additional burden cost is not to be ignored and can swiftly add up against strong Shadow armies, especially Uruk-hai or other damage +1 minions.

• Archery and wounding decks

• Heavy burden adding and Nazgul in general

From the Current Rulings Document - March 2004:

The One Ring's first paragraph is a special ability, and therefore optional. The second paragraph of game text is not
optional, so once The One Ring is “worn”, all wounds taken must be “converted” to burdens. When you are about to take a wound and wear The One Ring, you must take a burden (or burdens) for that wound.