8
X
8
Immune to player card effects. X is twice the number of players in the game.
Forced: After Sea Serpent attacks and destroys an ally, the defending player deals X damage divided among characters they control.
Forced: At the end of the round, Sea Serpent makes an attack against the first player.
8
9
25
Cannot be optionally engaged. The Balrog and shadow cards dealt to The Balrog are immune to player card effects.
While in the staging area, The Balrog is considered to be engaged with the first player and only the first player can declare attackers against The Balrog.
8
4
6
Forced: At the beginning of the encounter phase, Attercop, Attercop automatically engages the player guarding Gollum, regardless of his threat.
"Attercop! Attercop! Won't you stop..."
–Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit
8
3
5
While Orc Vanguard is in the staging area, resources cannot be spent from the resource pools of heroes who have a 
, 
or 
resource icon.
Shadow: Deal the attacking enemy two additional shadow cards.
8
4
9
Boarding 3. Cannot have attachments.
While Corsair Warship os om the staging area, it cannot be damaged and gains archery 4.
...ships of great draught with many oars, and with black sails bellying in the breeze.
–The Return of the King
9
4
20
Immune to player card effects.Indestructible.
X is 1 more than the number of resources on the main quest.
City Guard cannot leave the staging area but is considered to be engaged with each player whose threat is equal to or higher than its engagement cost.
8
8
20
Indestructible. Immune to player card effects.
Cannot leave the staging area (except by quest effect) but is considered to be engaged with the first player.
Forced: If Smaug the Magnificent is dealt a shadow card with a burgle effect, he makes an additional attack immediately after this one.
8
9
25
Cannot be optionally engaged. The Balrog and shadow cards dealt to The Balrog are immune to player card effects.
While in the staging area, The Balrog is considered to be engaged with the first player and only the first player can declare attackers against The Balrog.
8
8
20
9
4
12
Immune to player card effects.
Forced: After Host of Angmar attacks and destroys a character, either remove 2 progress from the main quest, or return Host of Angmar to the staging area.
8
4
12
X is the number of players.
Cannot have attachments.
Forced: At the end of the encounter phase, if Host of Dol Guldur is in the staging area, remove X progress from the main quest.
8
3
15
Immuned to player card effects.
Cannot be optionally engaged.
Forced: After Durin's Bane attacks and destroys a character you control, raise your threat by 2 and heal 2 damage from Durin's Bane.
8
3
15
Immuned to player card effects.
Cannot be optionally engaged.
Forced: After Durin's Bane attacks and destroys a character you control, raise your threat by 2 and heal 2 damage from Durin's Bane.
8
5
7
Immune to player card effects. Pillage 8.
Engaged player cannot attack the Dreadnaught.
Forced: At the end of the combat phase, if engaged player has no cards in their deck, that player is eliminated from the game.
8
4
9
Boarding 3. Cannot have attachments.
While Corsair Warship is in the staging area, it cannot be damaged and gains Archery 4.
...ships of great draught with many oars, and with black sails bellying in the breeze.
–The Return of the King
8
5
14
5 
Boarding 2. Cannot have attachments.
*Forced: After this Sailing test ends, if you are off-course (Cloudy, Rainy, or Stormy), put the Venom's Bite into play in the staging area. If you are on-course (Sunny), put it into play in the Stormcaller's area instead.
?*
8
2
8
Cannot have attachments.
While Host of Isengard is in the staging area, it gains:"Forced: At the end of the round, place 1 progress on the current quest (bypassing any active location)."