Orcs were the primary soldiers of both Dark Lords ' armies, and their most common servants. Invented by Morgoth during the Years of the Trees of the First Age, they served him and later his successor, Sauron, in their aims to dominate Middle-earth.

Tolkien writes that Elves and Dwarves produced the best swords (and other war gear) and that Elvish swords glowed blue in the presence of Orcs. Elves generally used straight swords while Orcs generally used curved swords.

Jan 14, 2013 · It glowed blue because it was supposed to as it was made in Gondolin just as Orcrist and Glamdring were as well. The swords were Gandalf and Thorin were using improperly did not glow because Peter Jackson could not make them glow blue without making them look like light sabers from Star Wars.

Despite both Glamdring and Orcrist being elvish blades of similar make, Sting is the only blade shown to glow blue in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings films. Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.

In Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, orcs appear as a brutish, aggressive, ugly, and malevolent race of monsters, contrasting with the benevolent Elves. He described their origins inconsistently, including as a corrupted race of elves, or bred by the Dark Lord …

In the Hobbit, the arrowheads, sword and spears of the elves of Mirkwood glow blue during the battle of five armies. It's does not seem to be a feature exclusive to weapons from Gondolin. I explain all discrepancies away by assuming Bilbo is an …

Feb 4, 2025 · Orcs (or Orcses [6] ) were a race of humanoid creatures best known for their service as footsoldiers and slaves to the Dark Lords of Middle-earth. Even when not in thralldom to an evil master, Orcs rarely if ever had non-violent interactions with Elves, Men, or Dwarves. They were known by many names by the various peoples of Middle-earth.

Dec 11, 2021 · In LotR, Frodo's sword glows blue when Orcs are near because it's an Elvish blade. So why don't all of the other Elvish blades glow too?

Nov 17, 2017 · Sting has the magical ability to detect orcs or goblins nearby, glowing blue in their presence, Tolkien establishes this as a common property of First Age Elf blades, particularly those forged in Gondolin.

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, Orcs serve as the backbone of the Dark Lords’ armies. These vile creatures come in various breeds, each with distinct traits that set them apart from their brethren. Mordor Orcs are the most common type I’ve come across in my studies of Middle-earth.