Based on the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, Game of Thrones detailed a series of noble families on the continent of Westeros as they vie for power among one another. Meanwhile, across the sea, the exiled princess from the dynasty that once ruled Westeros gathers an army to reclaim her throne, and in the frozen north, mysterious White Walkers raise the dead. With its enthralling writing, multifaceted characters, and shocking habit of killing off beloved characters, the show became one of the cultural juggernauts of the 2010s, only to come crashing down with one of the most hated finales in television history.
Befitting a world that mixes fantasy with real-world history, the world of Game of Thrones boasts an impressive roster of warriors. Swords are the most common weapon among them, with some being made out of a rare metal called Valyrian Steel. When these characters go to battle, either against armies or in one-on-one duels, audiences will surely be glued to the screen with the demonstration of martial skills. This list will rank the greatest swordsmen and women in Game of Thrones based on their skill in wielding the weapon, their resourcefulness in battle, and the feats they accomplished while on the show.
15
Ser Beric Dondarrion
Played by David Michael Scott and Richard Dormer
When Ser Gregor Clegane (Conan Stevens, Ian Whyte, and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) begins butchering the Riverlands on the order of Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance), Eddard Stark (Sebastian Croft, Robert Aramayo, and Sean Bean), Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy), assigns Ser Beric Dondarrion (David Michael Scott and Richard Dormer) to bring him to justice. Unfortunately, Clegane’s men ambushed him, and the Mountain that Rides put a lance through Beric’s heart. Fortunately, the red priest of R’hllor, Thoros of Myr (Paul Kaye), revived Beric, who formed the Brotherhood Without Banners to protect the small folk from the coming war.
Though Dondarrion would be killed six more times before his final death in the Battle of Winterfell, he proved himself an inspiring leader to his men and an accomplished soldier. His faith in the Lord of Light allows him to use his blood to light his sword on fire, which he used in one of Game of Thrones‘ best duels against the Mountain’s brother, Sandor Clegane (Rory McCann). Though Beric lost the duel, he matched the Hound blow for blow, something few others have been able to do in one-on-one fights.
14
Daario Naharis
Played by Ed Skrein and Michiel Huisman
When the exiled Daenerys Targaryen (Emelia Clarke) burned down the city of Astapor in Slaver’s Bay, the next city, Yunkai, hired a sellsword company called the Second Sons to stop her. However, one of its three captains, the dashing rogue Daario Naharis (Ed Skrein and Michiel Huisman), is smitten by Daenerys and kills his fellow captains to bring the Second Sons to her cause. Daario further proves his loyalty by aiding in the capture of Yunkai and eventually becomes Daenerys’s lover.
Daario’s fighting style is based around quick movements and fighting dirty. He’ll use every and any trick at his disposal to get an edge in a fight, from concealing weapons to killing an enemy’s horse so he can finish them off while they’re on the ground. Daario prefers to use two swords—a curved arakh like those used by the Dothraki and a smaller dagger that he likes to throw.
13
Ser Bronn of the Blackwater
Played by Jerome Flynn
When Lady Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) captured Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) to answer for the attempt on her son’s life, a sellsword named Bronn (Jerome Flynn) tagged along and later served as Tyrion’s champion in a trial by combat. He then entered into Tyrion’s service for a steady supply of gold and was given a knighthood after the Battle of the Blackwater. When Tyrion went on the run after being framed for the murder of King Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson), Bronn stayed in the service of the Lannisters, mainly because they withheld his payments.
Bronn is another example of a character willing to compromise personal honor if it means he gets to live another day. This cynical approach is best seen during the trial by combat, where he dodged all of Ser Vardis’ (Brendan McCormack) attacks and finished the knight off when he was exhausted. The show has highlighted several times Bronn reaches for his dirk when talking to aggressive knights like Ser Meryn Trant (Ian Beattie), showing that he’s prepared to fight at a moment’s notice and confident in his ability to win.
12
Ser Jorah Mormont
Played by Iain Glen
Once the lord of Bear Island in the North, Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) was forced to flee Westeros when he did business with slavers to repay his debts. The Master of Whispers, Lord Varys (Conleth Hill), kept in touch with Jorah, offering him a royal pardon in exchange for spying on the exiled Targaryen siblings. However, Jorah comes to admire Daenerys and vows to help her reclaim her throne.
Jorah’s training gives him a unique fighting style against his opponents in the East, and he knows how to use his armor to his advantage. This allowed him to defeat one of the blood riders of Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa), and he was chosen to work with Daario and the Unsullied Captain, Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson), to infiltrate Yunkai. Jorah’s skills were also shown when he fought as a slave fighter in Meereen and during the Battle of Winterfell, where he lasted long into the night before dying in the defense of Daenerys after she was separated from Drogon.
11
Jon Snow
Played by Kit Harington
Raised as the bastard son of Eddard Stark, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) never felt truly welcome at Winterfell, so when Eddard went south to serve as Hand of the King, Jon went north to join the Night’s Watch. He caught the eye of Lord Commander Jeor Mormont (James Cosmo), who made Jon his steward to groom him for command. However, suspicious activity north of the Wall saw the Night’s Watch undertake a Great Ranging, which thrust Jon into a conflict far more complicated and ancient than he anticipated.
Jon’s training under Winterfell’s master-at-arms, Ser Rodrik Cassel (Fergus Leathem and Ron Donachie), gave him a leg up on other recruits when he arrived at Castle Black, and his adventures beyond the Wall honed him into a better fighter. He has gone toe to toe with powerful Wildlings, such as Styr (Yuri Kolokolnikov), the Magnar of the Thenns, and even killed a White Walker in single combat with his Valyrian Steel sword, Longclaw. However, he often falls victim to his emotions, allowing others to lure him into traps or poor positions.
10
Robert Baratheon
Played by Mark Addy
After the death of his parents, Robert Baratheon was raised by Jon Arryn (John Standing) of the Vale, and befriended his fellow ward, Eddard Stark. When Prince Rhaegar Targaryen (Wilf Scolding) ran off with Eddard’s sister and Robert’s betrothed, Lyanna Stark (Aisling Franciosi), Eddard’s brother and father were captured and killed by the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen (David Rintoul). This kicked off a rebellion that saw the end of the Targaryen rule of Westeros, and Robert personally killed Rhaegar in a duel at the Battle of the Trident.
By the time of Game of Thrones, Robert has let himself go due to depression and apathy, and is a shadow of his former self. During his heyday, however, he was a beast in battle, swinging around a two-handed warhammer with ease. His victory over Rhaegar is proof enough of his skill, as Rhaegar was by all accounts considered a skilled duelist, yet Robert overcame him with sheer force and anger.
9
Eddard Stark
Played by Sebastian Croft, Robert Aramayo, and Sean Bean
After the rebellion, Eddard Stark took his place as the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, and started a family with his new wife, Catelyn Tully (Michelle Fairley). Years later, he aided Robert again in putting down Balon Greyjoy’s (Patrick Malahide) rebellion and took his surviving son, Theon (Alfie Allen), as his ward and hostage. Robert would later call on him again to serve as Hand of the King after Jon Arryn’s death, which leads Eddard to make shocking discoveries that plunge the realm into civil war.
Unlike Robert, Eddard stayed in shape and kept his skills with a blade sharp, so that his enemies wouldn’t know what to expect in a fight. Audiences only get to see him fight twice: a brief duel with Ser Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) interrupted by a Lannister spearman, and a flashback where he and his companions face two members of the Kingsguard. Both times, Eddard is shown to be able to hold his own against opponents far above him in skill, and even if he would have lost both encounters, he made his opponent work for the win.
8
Syrio Forel
Played by Miltos Yerolemou
Once the First Sword of Braavos in service to the Sea Lord, Syrio Forel (Miltos Yerolemou) is a master of the Bravosi style of duelling called water dancing. When Eddard learns that his youngest daughter, Arya (Masie Williams), wants to learn to fight, he hires Syrio to be her instructor since the more elegant movements of water dancing fit Arya better than traditional Westerosi methods. Sadly, their lessons were cut short following Robert’s death, and Syrio was last seen fending off Ser Meryn to buy time for Arya to escape.
Syrio demonstrates his skills when he easily dispatches Meryn’s accompanying guardsmen with only a wooden training sword. He also stresses the importance of training the mind as well as the body, promoting Arya to focus on the moment rather than the things she cannot control and to observe the world around her. One can only wonder how the duel between him and Meryn would have gone if he had been armed with a steel blade.
7
Ser Gregor Clegane
Played by Conan Stevens, Ian Whyte, and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson
Known as the Mountain that Rides, Ser Gregor Clegane is the largest man in Westeros and the most powerful in terms of raw strength. However, his size also leaves him with a horrible temper due to chronic pain, and he is always eager for a chance to let out that aggression upon the nearest living thing. A loyal servant of House Lannister, he is unleashed whenever they need a show of excessive force, such as butchering the Riverlands or representing the crown during a trial by combat.
Ser Gregor is a monster, plain and simple. He forgoes the usual skill with the blade for massive swings that can nearly chop the head off a horse, and his great size means that he can take more wounds than the average man before going down. Once he is transformed into a zombie by Qyburn (Anton Lesser), Gregor becomes nearly unstoppable thanks to his inability to feel pain, though the degradation of his mind makes him even more one-tracked in combat.
6
Prince Oberyn Martell
Played by Pedro Pascal
Called the Red Viper, Prince Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal) is the hot-blooded younger brother to the infirm Prince of Dorne, Doran Martell (Alexander Siddig). While his brother ruled, Oberyn traveled the world, amassing great knowledge, honing his combat skills, and bedding many men and women alongside his paramour, Ellaria Sand (Indira Varma). On the eve of the royal wedding, Oberyn arrives in King’s Landing to claim a seat on the Small Council and to seek vengeance for the murder of his sister and her children by Ser Gregor on the orders of Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance).
Oberyn is the polar opposite of Ser Gregor, relying on quick movements, precise attacks, and deadly poison to wear down his foes before going in for the kill. Thanks to his studies, he also knows the best spots to strike the human body to induce blood loss, as he demonstrated to a Lannister guard who said some unkind things towards him and Ellaria. His fighting style is like a dance, twirling his spear around to further confuse his foes and show off to the crowd, though unfortunately, Oberyn’s overconfidence ended up being his undoing.