Ser Gregor Clegane, often called 'The Mountain That Rides', is one of the most dreaded warriors in Game of Thrones. A giant of a man, he wields a greatsword in a single hand and seems immune to pain. When told to go to war, he slaughters all in his path.
He is known as one of the most fearsome fighters in the entire continent of Westeros, and several characters express horror at the thought of fighting him. As such, there are some in Game of Thrones who, despite being lethal warriors themselves, would struggle to kill Ser Gregor, whether before or after he became undead.
10 Jorah Mormont Is A Fine Knight, But No Match For The Mountain
Although he is never touted as among the finest warriors in the world of Game of Thrones, Ser Jorah Mormont acquits himself well in his battles in Daenerys Targaryen's service. He has fought Dothraki, sellswords, and the living dead, and has some fame in-story for slaying a Dothraki bloodrider, and for being second through the breach in the walls of Pyke.
A patient and resourceful soldier who can hold his own, Jorah would nonetheless stand no chance against Ser Gregor. He is capable, and certainly a match for others in the series, but his strengths pale compared to The Mountain's enormous mass.
9 Ramsay Bolton Is A Butcher But Lacks Skill
Befitting his status as one of Game of Thrones' most notorious villains, Ramsay Bolton has some clear fighting skills. Although he ultimately loses to Jon Snow in their war, he proves his mettle when he somehow survives a skirmish with trained Ironborn reavers without any armor or even clothes.
However, what Ramsay lacks is skill. He fights more like a butcher and focuses on intimidation and savagery. The Mountain lacks the rational thought to be intimidated and is powered by anger. He can more than match Ramsay's savagery.
8 Jaime Lannister Is Too Defensive After Losing His Hand
Prior to his maiming, Jaime Lannister is known as one of the finest swordsmen in Westeros. Even his enemies and those who despise him cannot doubt his skill, and he dedicates his life to swordsmanship. However, Jaime loses his sword hand in Season 3 and everything changes from there.
With careful tutelage and a prosthetic, Jaime regains some of his old skills. However, he has to become a more defensive fighter to compensate and loses the dangerous aggression he once had. Gregor can destroy almost any guard, and Jaime simply lost the easy skill he once had that could have brought The Mountain down.
7 Bronn Explicitly Refuses To Fight The Mountain
Bronn proves his lethality early in the series by defeating the larger and more heavily-armored Ser Vardis in a one-on-one duel. A pragmatist through and through, he isn't afraid to use dirty tricks to even the odds and knows how to exploit opponents who appear to have an advantage against him.
When Tyrion faces a second trial by combat, Bronn explicitly refuses to fight The Mountain for him. Although he acknowledges that he could tire Gregor out or trip him up, he also states that it's far too risky. As lethal a swordsman as he is, Bronn knows his limits.
6 Grey Worm Fights Best In A Battleline
In terms of pure soldiering ability, Grey Worm is undeniably one of the finest in the show. He feels little pain, has impeccable discipline and has trained with his sword, shield, and spear from a young age. Deployed en masse, Grey Worm and the other Unsullied are an unstoppable force.
Grey Worm can hold his own in other circumstances, as he demonstrates on a few occasions, but he is out of his element in a duel. He lacks the mobility that others who've taken on The Mountain have. Although he wouldn't run from the battle, he would be on his back foot and wouldn't have a good chance of winning this battle.
5 Beric Dondarrion's Supernatural Powers Wouldn't Save Him
Beric Dondarrion is a fearsome foe, particularly the villains who plague the Riverlands. He fights with a flaming sword and refuses to stay dead even when he is killed. These powers grant him a great advantage against most people, especially Ser Gregor's brother, who is terrified of fire.
However, against The Mountain himself, they're less likely to be useful. His flaming sword wouldn't intimidate the knight, nor would the flames cause enough pain to drive The Mountain back. Furthermore, after Qyburn's work, Gregor can survive lethal-seeming injuries as well, without needing a priest of the Lord of Light to revive him.
4 Khal Drogo Lacks The Arms & Armor
The Dothraki are one of the most feared fighting forces in the world, known for their ruthless cavalry tactics and almost reckless bravery in battle. The prospect of a Dothraki invasion of Westeros terrifies many, and Khal Drogo is known as the most dangerous Dothraki man alive.
There is no denying Drogo's skill in combat, and in terms of pure ability, he clearly outclasses The Mountain. However, Drogo fights like most Dothraki, unarmored and with an arakh sword, designed to cut down lightly-armored infantry. Against The Mountain's thick plate mail, he would struggle to injure the knight, and The Mountain could kill him in a single strike, if it connected.
3 Tormund Giantsbane Can't Match The Mountain Strength-For-Strength
Any warrior from Beyond the Wall is strong, fast, and canny, able to survive in the harsh environments of Wildling territory. Tormund is one of the finest warriors the Free Folk have and he proved himself as one of the most lethal combatants during the attack on Castle Black.
However, Tormund is one of many warriors who primarily rely on strength and aggression to carry the day for him. Despite his skill, he's simply not as strong as the gigantic Ser Gregor, and won't be able to overwhelm him the way he does his other foes.
2 Jon Snow's Skill Can't Close The Gap
Ramsay Bolton himself admits that Jon Snow is considered the best swordsman in the North, having been trained first at Winterfell and then at Castle Black. Jon proves his worth in a swordfight numerous times, including beating the Magnar of Thenn in a one-on-one duel and butchering Bolton's soldiers in the Battle of the Bastards.
Of all the warriors in Westeros, Jon may stand one of the best chances at beating The Mountain, particularly with his Valyrian steel sword in hand, but the odds are still against him. He lacks the mobility of warriors like Oberyn Martell and The Mountain's sheer strength. Well-balanced against other foes, Jon doesn't excel at one thing enough to beat Ser Gregor.
1 Brienne Of Tarth Is Fierce, But Not Strong Enough
By the end of the series, Brienne of Tarth might be the finest warrior in Westeros, as is indicated by her position as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. She shows her worth against many foes, winning typically through a combination of great strength and superior skill.
There is no doubt that she has Gregor outmatched in the latter category, but in the former, she falls short. She proves herself an equal match for The Hound, who only beats The Mountain by sacrificing himself. Although she's one of the strongest warriors in Westeros, Brienne falls short of the preternatural bar set by The Mountain, and her skill isn't quite enough to compensate against his savagery.