Sting is an popular and iconic card from Fellowship Block. The card's ability to remove twilight when facing Orcs is invaluable, as the twilight removal capabilities allow the Free Peoples player to potentially play many Fellowship cards without flooding the twilight pool. Exerting Frodo isn't generally a problem, as most decks do not target him directly and he has more vitality than almost every other companion with The One Ring, Isildur's Bane. Three of the five major shadow races in Fellowship Block contain Orcs, and while the meta of Fellowship block leans less towards and Orcs, remains one of the more popular shadow cultures.

Even if your opponent has no Orcs, being able to spy his or her hand is an invaluable asset; revealing the hand allows the Free Peoples player to judge a potential double move, twilight generation, or an early warning of any nasty surprise cards your opponent may have, such as Hate, Lurtz's Battle Cry, Return to its Master, or even a skirmish pump. Concern about Frodo's vitality during the Fellowship or Regroup phases (perhaps in concert with A Promise) can be mitigated by Frodo, Son of Drogo, the Gaffer, Sam's Father, Elrond, Herald to Gil-Galad, Hobbit Appetite, Stout and Sturdy, Pipeweeds, or possibly Aragorn, King in Exile.

Sting is a spotable cost to playing maneuver event Orc-Bane.

The best counters to Sting include No Business of Ours and Throw Yourself in Next Time, effectively rendering it a Hobbit Sword.

Note that Sting was added to the X-list for any format beyond The Fellowship of the Ring block. Sting, Baggins Heirloom was introduced in the Battle of Helm's Deep expansion and Sting, Bane of the Eight Legs was released in the Siege of Gondor expansion.

• Orcs
• Event-based decks
• Has synergy with Orc-Bane
• Zero cost possession with Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer

• Frodo wounding, in particular The Witch King, Lord of the Nazgul
• Shadow Player Hand Protection such as No Business of Ours
• Cards that negate or hinder Frodo's ability to exert (Black Breath, Throw yourself in Next Time, You Bring Great Evil)
• Possession discarding, such as Ulaire Cantea, Lieutenant of Dol Guldur