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.
10
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 (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 the show’s 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.
9
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 Naharis will use every and any trick at his disposal to get an edge in a fight.
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.
8
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.
7
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.
6
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.
5
Ser Barristan Selmy
Played by Ian McElhinney
Though he served the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen (David Rintoul), Ser Barristan Selmy (Ian McElhinney) was allowed to remain on the Kingsguard when Robert took the crown because of his experience, wisdom, and sense of honor. However, he was stripped of his white cloak when Joffrey took the throne. Rather than accept the land offered to him by the Lannisters, Barristan sailed across the sea to pledge himself to Daenerys, whom he hoped would be a better ruler than her father.
Ser Barristan Selmy was allowed to remain on the Kingsguard when Robert took the crown because of his experience, wisdom, and sense of honor.
Barristan the Bold might be past his best years, but several characters have remarked that he remains a deadly foe in battle. When Barristan was stripped of his cloak, he commented that he could cut down the rest of the Kingsguard like “carving a cake,” but audiences wouldn’t get to see him in action until he fought the Sons of the Harpy in Meereen. Sadly, this infamous moment was also when Barristan was killed off, an act which remains one of the show’s most controversial considering the character’s important role in A Dance With Dragons.
4
Sandor Clegane
Played by Rory McCann
When he was a boy, Sandor Clegane was caught playing with one of Gregor’s toys, so his brother burned half his face in a fire. When Gregor was later given a knighthood, it destroyed Sandor’s belief in justice and honor, and he grew into a cynical killer. That said, Sandor wasn’t without his kindness and did what he could to protect both of Eddard’s daughters at different points.
While Sandor isn’t as tall or powerful as his brother, he surpasses him in terms of combat skills. Both Clegane brothers rely on brute strength and tapping into primal fury to overwhelm their enemies, but Sandor keeps his composure, meaning that he doesn’t just rush headlong into the enemy and knows how to use strategy to take down multiple foes. The only places where he stumbles are his fear of fire and his hack-and-slash style, which can be overcome by swordsmen who have studied the art of combat.
3
Ser Brienne of Tarth
Played by Gwendoline Christie
The only child of Lord Selwyn Tarth to reach adulthood, Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) had a difficult upbringing due to her large size and awkwardness for traditional feminine pursuits. When she started fighting against those who teased her, Selwyn allowed her to be trained to use a sword. She eventually sided with Renly Baratheon (Gethin Anthony) in the War of the Five Kings because he was one of the only men who was kind to her, but after his death, she swore herself to Catelyn Stark and vowed to protect her daughters.
Game of Thrones might have done Brienne’s character dirty in the later seasons, but her skills as a warrior cannot be questioned. She has defeated several skilled combatants over the series, including Sandor, Ser Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), and Ser Loras Tyrell (Finn Jones), and fought her way through overwhelming odds time and time again in the Riverlands and North. Brienne was more than deserving of the knighthood she received in Season 8 and is perhaps the character who best represents the ideal knight.
2
Ser Jaime Lannister
Played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
From a young age, Jaime Lannister showed considerable skill with a blade, and at fifteen, he became the youngest member of the Kingsguard in Westerosi history. Though Jaime did his best to uphold his Kingsguard vows, he killed the Mad King when he planned to blow up King’s Landing with Wildfire, earning him the title Kingslayer. During the War of the Five Kings, Jaime was captured early on by Robb Stark (Richard Madden), and while being escorted back to King’s Landing, he had his right hand cut off, which made him re-evaluate his priorities in life.
In his prime, Jaime was perhaps the greatest swordsman alive in Westeros. His loss to Brienne is more because his hands were tied, and he was a prisoner for months, and he still made her work for her win. Losing his hand forced Jaime to re-train with his left, and though he struggled at first, he eventually got to a skill where he was able to kill Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbæk) during the destruction of King’s Landing.
1
Ser Arthur Dayne
Played by Luke Roberts
No member of Aerys’ Kingsguard was more feared and respected than Ser Arthur Dayne (Luke Roberts), called the Sword of the Morning. A close friend to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen (Wilf Scolding), he and Ser Oswell Whent (Eddie Eyre) were assigned to defend Lyanna Stark (Aisling Franciosi), who was pregnant with Rhaegar’s son. Following the conclusion of Robert’s Rebellion, Eddard and his closest companions went to the Tower of Joy to rescue Lyanna, leading to a legendary confrontation with the Kingsguard knights.
Arthur Dayne certainly lives up to the legend, speaking to Eddard with respect and making it clear that the coming battle is happening due to his vows, not personal malice. He wields his two swords as if they were extensions of his arms, effortlessly fending off attacks from four men at once while waiting for them to lower their guard so he can attack their vitals. Dayne may have only had four minutes of screentime, but in that time, he cemented himself as the epitome of what a knight of the Kingsguard should be.
