10 Top Fighters In The Game Of Thrones Universe

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Kit Harington as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones battle of the bastards

Published May 8, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT

Blaise Santi is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts majoring in Dramatic Writing and minoring in Comedy. He's a frequent performer at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective in the sketch comedy group Golfers as well as in the improv show Cast Party. Aside from writing, Blaise's hobbies include listening to music, playing and reading. Blaise currently lives in Brooklyn.

There's a reason why Cersei Lannister says that in the game of thrones, you either win or you die, but for many characters in Game of Thrones, they're the ones doing the killing. The HBO series became infamous early on for its graphic violence, not just in its iconic, brutal deaths, but in its depiction of one-on-one combat and large-scale battles. Even though death is often random and incidental in George R. R. Martin's fantasy world, there are plenty of characters who prove time and time again that their survival is not an accident.

The Citadel · Maester’s Examination How Well Do You Know Westeros? “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.”

🐺StarkWinter is Coming

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🐉TargaryenFire and Blood

🦌BaratheonOurs is the Fury

🐙GreyjoyWe Do Not Sow

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The Lannisters are the wealthiest family in Westeros, ruling from their ancestral seat. What is the name of their castle?

AHighgarden BStorm’s End CCasterly Rock DThe Eyrie

✓ Correct! Casterly Rock sits atop gold mines in the Westerlands and has been the seat of House Lannister for centuries. The gold beneath it is the source of the family’s legendary wealth — though as Tywin once noted, the mines ran dry years ago.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Casterly Rock. Highgarden belongs to the Tyrells, Storm’s End to the Baratheons, and The Eyrie to the Arryns. Casterly Rock has been the Lannister stronghold since Lann the Clever swindled it from House Casterly.

Jon Snow rises through the ranks of the Night’s Watch to eventually hold what title — the highest position in the order?

AFirst Ranger BLord Commander CMaster of Arms DWarden of the North

✓ Correct! Jon Snow was elected the 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch by his sworn brothers. He was one of the youngest men to ever hold the title, following in the footsteps of legends like Jeor Mormont.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Lord Commander. While Jon started as a steward, he was elected Lord Commander after the death of Jeor Mormont. Warden of the North is a different title entirely — one held by the Stark family.

Daenerys Targaryen hatches three dragons from petrified eggs. Which of the following is NOT one of her dragons?

ABalerion BDrogon CRhaegal DViserion

✓ Correct! Balerion “the Black Dread” was Aegon the Conqueror’s dragon, who died of old age over a century before the events of the show. Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion — named after Khal Drogo, Rhaegar, and Viserys.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Balerion. Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon (black and red), Rhaegal (green and bronze), and Viserion (cream and gold). Balerion the Black Dread was Aegon the Conqueror’s mount, dead long before Daenerys was born.

The Red Wedding is one of the most shocking moments in TV history. At whose castle does this massacre take place?

AHarrenhal BRiverrun CCasterly Rock DThe Twins

✓ Correct! The Red Wedding took place at The Twins, the castle of House Frey. Lord Walder Frey violated the sacred guest right by slaughtering Robb Stark, Catelyn Stark, and their bannermen during the wedding feast of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is The Twins. Walder Frey’s castle — two towers spanning the Green Fork — was where he broke sacred guest right to massacre the Starks. “The Lannisters send their regards” remains one of the show’s most chilling lines.

Jon Snow wields a Valyrian steel bastard sword given to him by Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. What is the sword’s name?

AIce BLongclaw CHeartsbane DOathkeeper

✓ Correct! Longclaw is a Valyrian steel bastard sword that was the ancestral weapon of House Mormont. Jeor gave it to Jon after he saved the Lord Commander from a wight, replacing the bear pommel with a white wolf for House Stark.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Longclaw. Ice was the Stark greatsword (melted down by Tywin Lannister), Heartsbane belonged to House Tarly, and Oathkeeper was one of the two swords forged from Ice. Longclaw is the Mormont blade Jon carries throughout the series.

Tyrion Lannister serves as Hand of the King to which ruler, expertly managing the defense of King’s Landing during the Battle of the Blackwater?

ARobert Baratheon BTommen Baratheon CJoffrey Baratheon DDaenerys Targaryen

✓ Correct! Tywin sent Tyrion to serve as Hand in his place during Joffrey’s reign. Tyrion brilliantly orchestrated the defense against Stannis Baratheon’s fleet using wildfire, though he received no credit and was nearly killed in the battle.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Joffrey Baratheon. Tyrion served as Joffrey’s Hand of the King in Season 2, appointed by his father Tywin. He later served as Hand to Daenerys, but it was under Joffrey that the Battle of the Blackwater took place.

Jon Snow’s true parentage is one of the show’s biggest reveals. What is his real Targaryen name, given by his mother Lyanna Stark?

AAegon Targaryen BAemon Targaryen CRhaegar Targaryen DJaehaerys Targaryen

✓ Correct! Lyanna Stark named her son Aegon Targaryen. He is the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna, who were secretly married. This made Jon the true heir to the Iron Throne — a fact that changed the course of the final season.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Aegon Targaryen. Lyanna whispered the name to Ned Stark in the Tower of Joy. Jon is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen (not named after him), making him Aegon — a name carried by many Targaryen kings, including the Conqueror himself.

In the series finale, who is chosen by the lords and ladies of Westeros to rule the Six Kingdoms as king?

AJon Snow BSansa Stark CTyrion Lannister DBran Stark

✓ Correct! Bran Stark — now Bran the Broken — was chosen as king of the Six Kingdoms at the Dragonpit council. Tyrion argued that Bran’s story was the most compelling reason to rule. Sansa became Queen in the North, and Jon was sent back to the Wall.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Bran Stark. Tyrion nominated Bran at the great council, arguing “who has a better story than Bran the Broken?” Sansa was crowned Queen in the independent North, Jon returned to the Wall, and Tyrion served as Bran’s Hand of the King.

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Across all eight seasons of Game of Thrones and its spinoff series, House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, some of the best fighters in Westeros' history have been brought from page to screen. Some of these characters may have faced tragic deaths that seem incongruous with their supposed fighting prowess, but either from reputation or on-screen achievements, they've definitely earned their place in A Song of Ice & Fire's history of experienced warriors.

10 Arya Stark

A Girl Who Has No Name, But Many Kills

Arya Stark wearing Walder Frey's clothes in Game of Thrones

In Game of Thrones, Arya Stark definitely undergoes the most growth of any fighter. Obviously, when the series begins, she's a child who only aspires to pick up sword fighting rather than learn to sew. However, she quickly learns a lot after her father hires the sellsword Syrio Forel to teach her the art of fighting, but he'll be far from the last mentor who shapes the killer Arya becomes in the series.

After spending time traveling with The Hound and training with the Faceless Men, Arya emerges in Game of Thrones season 8 as a frankly overpowered fighter. She not only survives her very first battle against the White Walkers at Winterfell, but it's her cunning battle tactics that help her land the killing blow on the Night King.

9 Khal Drogo

The Dothraki Ruler Would've Been Bad News For Westeros

Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo extending his arms with knives in Game of Thrones

Compared to the more formal fighting of knights in Westeros, the Dothraki are far more barbaric in their warmongering. There's no better example of this in Game of Thrones than Khal Drogo, their ruler, who takes Daenerys Targaryen as his bride, only to unfortunately become incapacitated by an infected wound, leaving the Dothraki under the leadership of his widow. However, prior to his death, Drogo's little time on-screen proves he had earned his reputation as the unbeatable khal.

If anything, there would've been a much different Game of Thrones if Drogo had survived, given that in his last moments, he planned on conquering Westeros with Daenerys at his side. In one of the few fights we see Drogo in, he takes only a few seconds to brutally end it, so who knows what would've happened had Drogo come face-to-face with some of Westeros' finest fighters.

8 Robb Stark

What He Lacked In Political Smarts, He Made Up For With Results

There are plenty of mistakes that Robb Stark makes that led to the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones, but the son of Ned Stark gets as far as he does in the War of the Five Kings thanks to his innate skill on the battlefield. Though the HBO series never depicts any of Robb's battles on-screen (following suit with the books), we hear secondhand how he outsmarts even Tywin Lannister's military genius, crushing entire factions of the Lannister army.

It makes sense, in hindsight, why the Lannisters then had to play dirty to take Robb Stark and his Northern army off the board. Even after losing the allegiance of the Karstarks and Freys, Robb makes up for it by becoming something of a folk hero thanks to his victories. If it weren't for the Red Wedding, there's a strong chance Robb could've still won the War of the Five Kings, since he had gone undefeated in battle up until then.

7 Ser Duncan The Tall

The Legendary Hedge Knight Has A Long Way To Go

Dunk wearing armor in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Diehard fans of A Song of Ice & Fire know that Ser Duncan the Tall is one of the most legendary knights in the history of Westeros, though A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms begins in his humble days as a hedge knight. Like Dunk's Game of Thrones descendant, he quickly gains a reputation in the spin-off's first season after successfully winning a trial by combat against Aerion Targaryen, which ultimately ends with Aerion forfeiting.

Though Duncan still has yet to prove himself one of the greatest fighters in Westeros by A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1's ending, it's known from Game of Thrones that his eventual entry in the Kingsguard's Book of Brothers is four pages long. As the spin-off series continues, Duncan will likely prove worthy of his future legendary status, assuming Westerosi history is reliable.

6 Ser Barristan Selmy

Joffrey's Biggest Mistake Was Taking Away His Cloak

Some may argue that Daenerys and Ser Barristan Selmy aren't real friends in Game of Thrones, but nevertheless, having one of the greatest knights in Westeros as an ally and advisor is a net positive for the Dragon Queen. Barristan was a devoted Kingsguard to the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen, and later the Iron Throne's usurper, Robert Baratheon. Even as a young knight, Barristan's bravery and fighting skills were renowned, notably defeating Rhaegar Targaryen during the Great Tourney at Harrenhal.

Although Joffrey removes Barristan from the Kingsguard, citing his failure to protect King Robert from a fatal wild boar attack, Barristan was a force to be reckoned with even in his old age. However, one of the few times Game of Thrones viewers get to see Barristan in action is when he's ambushed and killed by the Sons of the Harpy in Meereen. Sadly, Barristan's greatness remains an unseen reputation for those who have only watched the show.

5 Brienne Of Tarth

The Lady Of Bear Island Fights Like One, Too

Brienne kneeling and emotional in Game of Thrones season 8 in armor.

The first time viewers meet Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones, she memorably emerges as the sole female victor in a tourney for Renly Baratheon's amusement. Throughout the series, Brienne showcases the true values of a knight, even though she isn't technically knighted until season 8. Still, it takes quite the warrior to defeat The Hound in battle, earn Jaime Lannister's respect, and fight an actual bear.

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Brienne spends the latter seasons of Thrones as the devout sworn sword to Sansa Stark, though she's absent from the bloodbath that's the Battle of the Bastards. She also survives the Battle of Winterfell against the White Walkers, though who knows if she would've, were it not for Arya Stark's eleventh-hour killing of the Night King. Nevertheless, since she's Lady Commander of Bran Stark's Kingsguard in the Game of Thrones series finale, she's likely become a role model for future generations of aspiring fighters in Westeros.

4 Daemon Targaryen

He May Not Fight Fair, But He Fights Well All The Same

Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen in season 1 of House of the Dragon

Daemon Targaryen is far from the most honorable or noble character in Westerosi history, but House of the Dragon at least shows he may be one of the best fighters anyway. At least, he's good enough to cause worry among his brother Viserys' Small Council, given that, without a male heir, Daemon is Viserys' presumptive heir to the Iron Throne. Whether it's exacting brutal justice on the citizens of King's Landing or making a fool of his rivals in tournament jousts, Daemon shows little mercy.

Fortunately, Daemon's unlikability is frequently offset by his nigh-legendary battlefield prowess, nearly leading a one-man army to reclaim the Stepstones for the Iron Throne and killing the rebel Crabfeeder. Daemon even single-handedly claims Dragonstone in House of the Dragon season 2, proving he doesn't need to be riding a dragon to be feared by entire fortresses of warriors.

3 Jon Snow

From A Night's Watch Rookie To The King In The North

Kit Harington as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones

You don't have to get far into the first season of Game of Thrones to see that Jon Snow showcases the potential to be one of Westeros' best warriors. He's a standout rookie in the Night's Watch, practically leading their defense against the Wildlings in season 4. His death in season 5 only happens because he's naively tricked by his fellow brethren. After Jon Snow comes back to life with the aid of Melisandre, he further showcases his one-of-a-kind fighting skills by helping Sansa reclaim Winterfell from Ramsay Bolton.

The later seasons of the show don't shy away from showing just how unstoppable Jon Snow is in battle. He survives an ambush of Wights beyond the Wall, kills several White Walkers with his Valyrian steel sword, and even faces down an undead dragon in the Battle of Winterfell. Unfortunately, a lot of Jon's best victories are also pure luck, despite how truly skilled he is at fighting.

2 Jaime Lannister

The Kingslayer Is Tough To Beat, Even With A Handicap

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones

At the beginning of Game of Thrones, Jaime Lannister is probably the strongest living fighter in Westeros. Though he carries the guilt of slaying the king he was sworn to protect at the end of Robert's Rebellion, Jaime is a cocky warrior, as proven when he attacks Ned Stark outside Littlefinger's brothel in season 1. Even when he's captured by Robb Stark due to the Young Wolf's unpredictable battle tactics, Jaime offers a one-on-one duel with Robb for his freedom, which Robb smartly declines, knowing Jaime would probably win.

In season 3, however, Jaime's right hand is chopped off by soldiers of House Bolton, which potentially could put an end to his fighting career altogether. Not to be deterred, Jaime spends season 4 training with the sellsword Bronn, and by the end of the series, he's pretty much back to his former glory, helping fight in Winterfell and killing Euron Greyjoy in a one-on-one battle upon his return to King's Landing.

1 Ser Arthur Dayne

Westeros Remembers Arthur Dayne As The Best There Ever Was

Luke Roberts as Ser Arthur Dayne staring at someone in Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones fans only got to see Ser Arthur Dayne in one scene of season 6, a flashback in which Bran and the Three-Eyed Raven watch a legendary duel between him and Ned Stark outside the Tower of Joy during Robert's Rebellion. Though many viewers might remember the scene more for its implications in Jon Snow's parentage twist, the duel is arguably one of the best in all of Thrones.

In one fight scene, Arthur lives up to his reputation as the greatest fighter in all of Westeros, nearly taking out Ned Stark's entire posse with dual-wielding swords. The only reason he loses is thanks to Howland Reed, who had been previously wounded by Dayne, sneaks up from behind and stabs him in the back. Nevertheless, it's hard to imagine any other fighter in Game of Thrones getting the edge over him in one-on-one combat.