In the blood-soaked, politically treacherous world of Game of Thrones, words might win courts, but it was steel that won kingdoms. The greatest warriors of Westeros and beyond were not only defined by their brute strength or swordsmanship, but by their resilience, instincts, battlefield cunning, and sheer presence. Whether born from noble blood, forged in fire, or hardened by survival, these warriors shaped the outcome of wars and the fate of nations. From knights who inspired ballads to mercenaries who struck fear into hearts, here are the ten most formidable warriors in Game of Thrones, ranked by skill, legacy, and sheer unrelenting force on the battlefield.
#10: Brienne of Tarth
Brienne didn’t just defy the expectations of a lady—she shattered them. Towering in stature, trained in the art of combat, and driven by an unshakable sense of honor, Brienne proved time and again that she was more than a match for Westeros’s most elite fighters. She defeated Loras Tyrell in a tournament, bested the Hound in one of the most brutal one-on-one fights in the series, and held her own in countless battles, including the defense of Winterfell. Her loyalty, physical strength, and swordsmanship made her a symbol of true knighthood. Her unwavering morality, combined with her skill, carved her place among the deadliest warriors in the Seven Kingdoms.
#9: Grey Worm
The stoic commander of the Unsullied was a weapon honed by years of brutal training and discipline. Grey Worm wasn’t flashy—he was efficient, precise, and unbreakably loyal. As the leader of Daenerys Targaryen’s elite infantry, he orchestrated pivotal assaults in Yunkai, Meereen, and later at Casterly Rock and King’s Landing. Trained to feel no pain, no fear, and no mercy, he exemplified perfect martial control. What made Grey Worm formidable wasn’t just his personal fighting skill, but his ability to inspire and command a lethal force with total authority. When he fought, it was with deadly purpose, often at the front lines, cutting through enemies with a grim finality.
#8: Khal Drogo
The Great Khal of the Dothraki was a living legend long before he appeared on screen. Known for never having lost a single fight, Drogo’s reputation as an unstoppable warrior wasn’t just a cultural myth—it was reinforced by the terrifying ease with which he dispatched his enemies. His duel with Mago, in which he used his own blood and strength to rip out a man’s throat, showcased his savage skill and unflinching confidence. A master of mounted combat and expert with the arakh, Drogo was as much a force of nature as a man. His charisma and raw power earned him an empire on horseback—and had his life not been cut short, he might have reshaped the entire known world.
#7: Ser Jorah Mormont
Jorah’s warrior spirit was shaped by exile, shame, and unyielding loyalty. Though aging and bearing the burden of past mistakes, Ser Jorah fought like a man who had nothing to lose but everything to prove. From the fighting pits of Meereen to the icy battles beyond the Wall, he faced death countless times with quiet ferocity. His duel against the Dothraki champion in Season 1 was a clinical display of skill and awareness, and his sacrifice in the Battle of Winterfell, dying to protect Daenerys, was a fitting end to a life forged in fire and regret. Jorah wasn’t the flashiest warrior—but he was one of the most enduring.
#6: Sandor Clegane (The Hound)
With his massive frame, brutal efficiency, and deep-rooted anger, the Hound was one of the most feared warriors in Westeros. But beneath his brutality was a calculating fighter with a sense of timing, precision, and sheer ferocity. He fought Beric Dondarrion to a stalemate, took on multiple opponents in King’s Landing, and defeated Brienne in one of the show’s most grueling one-on-one duels. His hatred of fire, born from childhood trauma, didn’t stop him from charging into a burning building during the Battle of Winterfell. And his final battle against his monstrous brother was both epic and tragic—a fight not just of muscle but of souls. The Hound didn’t fight to win glory—he fought to survive, to protect, and eventually, to destroy what haunted him.
#5: Tormund Giantsbane
The wildling warrior was a living legend north of the Wall, feared for his ferocity and loved for his unshakable courage. Tormund fought at Hardhome, at the Wall, in the Battle of the Bastards, and during the Long Night—surviving each through sheer grit and vicious skill. His weapon of choice—an enormous axe—matched his raw, brawling combat style. But Tormund was more than just a brute; he was a tactician and a survivor. Whether leading raids or forming uneasy alliances, he always fought at the front, fearless and relentless. His grin before charging into battle said everything: Tormund thrived in chaos.
#4: Jon Snow
Jon’s journey from bastard of Winterfell to Lord Commander and eventually King in the North was paved with blood and steel. He trained under the watchful eyes of the Night’s Watch, fought White Walkers at Hardhome, and singlehandedly turned the tide in the Battle of the Bastards. With Longclaw in hand, he was a whirlwind on the battlefield—fighting with both skill and heart. What made Jon truly formidable wasn’t just his swordplay, but his iron will. He refused to yield, even when faced with death, and always rose again—literally and metaphorically. His one-on-one duel with Ramsay, and his desperate stand against undead hordes, proved that while he may not have been the best pure swordsman, he was arguably the bravest.
#3: Ser Arthur Dayne (Historical)
The Sword of the Morning, Ser Arthur Dayne, was a knight of the Kingsguard whose reputation eclipsed even the greatest warriors of his time. In the Tower of Joy flashback, he fought off multiple attackers with two swords—outnumbered and still nearly victorious. Even Ned Stark, a legendary fighter in his own right, admitted he only defeated Dayne with help. Dayne’s skill with the blade bordered on the supernatural, and he fought not for glory, but for a code he believed in. Wielding the ancestral sword Dawn, forged from a fallen star, he embodied the purest form of martial greatness in Westeros. He may not have lived to see the events of the series, but his legacy loomed large.
#2: Ser Barristan Selmy
Known as Barristan the Bold, Ser Barristan was a living relic of an age of true knighthood and valor. Even in his later years, he remained a force on the battlefield. His legendary duels—particularly during Robert’s Rebellion—and his defense of Daenerys in Meereen showed that time had not dulled his edge. In his final stand against the Sons of the Harpy, he fought valiantly and with extraordinary precision, cutting through attackers like a whirlwind of white steel. Barristan represented a code of honor and martial discipline long gone in Westeros. Warriors feared him, kings revered him, and legends were written in his wake.
#1: Jaime Lannister (Pre-Injury)
Before losing his sword hand, Jaime Lannister was the undisputed best swordsman in Westeros. Trained by the finest knights and a member of the Kingsguard by the age of 15, his skills were unmatched in both dueling and battlefield warfare. His duel with Ned Stark, his quick and lethal reflexes, and the reverence his name inspired all pointed to his elite status. But what made Jaime’s martial legacy even more intriguing was his evolution after losing his dominant hand. He trained with Bronn, re-learned how to fight, and faced his physical and moral limitations head-on. His journey from arrogant prodigy to a broken, more humble man didn’t erase his earlier greatness—it gave it depth. At his peak, Jaime was untouchable—and in many ways, he remained a warrior until the very end.
In Game of Thrones, strength alone was never enough. The most formidable warriors had to adapt, endure, and sometimes lose everything to become truly legendary. Whether wielding a sword, commanding an army, or charging into certain death, these warriors proved that in a world ruled by fire and betrayal, courage and skill still had a place—if only for a moment.
