Stories like Game of Thrones are built around the excitement of combat, even though the continent of Westeros is packed with sociopolitical drama and cultural diversity. There are considerable large-scale battles throughout the series, involving hundreds or thousands of extras and high-budget CGI techniques.
There are as many relatively minor fights that turned out equally thrilling for fans of Game of Thrones. Many fights in Game of Thrones are memorable enough to be considered the show's best. Whether it's a one-on-one duel or the culmination of a hard-fought battle, these Game of Thrones conflicts are both exciting and important.
Updated on November 29th, 2022 by Ajay Aravind: Fight sequences hog most of the spotlight in both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Some of them were worth the wait, while others simply failed to hit the mark. As barbaric as it sounds, medieval-era politics are inherently cut-throat and violent— fans cannot expect these Westerosi and Essosi characters to solve all their problems through peaceful discourse alone.
20 Khal Drogo Asserts His Dominance
Khal Drogo only appears in a few episodes, yet very few other characters rival his impact on Game of Thrones. The ruthless leader of the Dothraki is a formidable menace when it comes to combat. Although his character's edge is dulled by his relationship with his wife, Daenerys Targaryen, he remains a threat to anyone who steps in front of him.
At one point, Drogo is challenged by a member of his subordinates, Mago the Bloodrider. Rather than show mercy, Drogo puts on one of the most brutal displays in the entire series, carving through his arrogant minion and ripping his tongue out in the process.
19 Arya & Nymeria Teach Joffrey A Lesson
Joffrey's behavior after Jaime pushes Bran Stark from a tower window earns him a few justified slaps from Tyrion. Only a few scenes later, the crown prince bullies Mycah, an innocent boy sharing a playful joust with Arya, proving that he learned nothing from his recent experiences.
Joffrey's behavior makes Nymeria's attack all the more satisfying, forcing the prince to plead for mercy. Compelled by Cersei, King Robert orders the direwolf's execution. The sentence is unfortunately inflicted on Sansa's wolf Lady, simply because Nymeria had long since disappeared by then.
18 Ned & Friends Defeat Arthur Dayne
Despite the fact that Robert's Rebellion set the pace for the events of Game of Thrones, audiences saw shockingly few scenes that actually took place during the time period. However, thanks to Bran and the Three-Eyed Raven's abilities, viewers could observe one particularly thrilling fight that had previously been shrouded in mystery.
Arthur Dayne's strength is said to have surpassed both Jamie Lannister's and Barristan Selmy's, making him one of the best fighters in the history of Westeros. He showcases this talent by concurrently wielding two blades to defeat Ned Stark in a truly impressive display of swordsmanship. Unfortunately for the former Kingsguard knight, Howland Reed deals Dayne a lethal blow.
17 Sandor Clegane Survives Beric Dondarrion's Fire
After Sandor Clegane, better known as the Hound, leaves the royal family's service, he battles Beric Dondarrion in a match that doesn't have a clearly predictable outcome. The Lord of Blackhaven resorts to his usual tactic: sparking a mystical fire around his sword.
Of course, the main reason that the Hound falls back is because of his childhood trauma surrounding fire, but his desire to win is apparently no match for the blessings of the Lord of Light. Clegane technically wins the fight, but Beric survives his fatal wounds anyway.
16 The Waif Nearly Kills Arya Stark
Originally Arya's fighting instructor of sorts, the Waif teaches the young Stark about the numerous roles played by anyone who wants to be a Faceless Man. Jaqen H'ghar eventually orders the teacher to assassinate her pupil, and the Waif nearly succeeds before Arya escapes into a nearby canal.
Arya is stalked by the Waif on more than one occasion, a terrifying scenario for anyone to be in. They ultimately end up in a complex stealth battle involving a pitch-black room and pure instinct. Arya Stark is triumphant, which forces Jaqen to acknowledge her skills.
15 Bronn Defends Tyrion In Trial By Combat
Tyrion Lannister may possess as much wit as any character in Game of Thrones, but his ability to help out in combat is minuscule, to say the least. As a result, the odds seem stacked against him when he requests a trial by combat to escape his death sentence in the Eyrie. Luckily for him, Bronn steps up to serve as his champion during the trial.
Bronn fights against Ser Vardis Egen, the knight hand-selected by Lysa Arryn to exact her punishment. In a stunning turn of events, Bronn uses his grit and battle savvy to surprise the knight, eventually defeating him by kicking him through the iconic Moon Door of the Vale.
14 Daenerys Fights Off A Wave Of Wights With A Sword
Daenerys doesn't really need to fight her own battles when she has three enormous fire-breathing monsters doing all the grunt work. Anticipating exactly this, the Night King sends his wights to overwhelm Drogon at the Battle of Winterfell, forcing the dragon to leave his mother behind and fly away. Daenerys finds herself trapped on the ground and surrounded by a horde of undead marauders.
She picks up a nearby sword and starts hacking at the attacking wights, a truly impressive sight considering her circumstances. Daenerys hasn't so much held a sword in her hands until this point, but she still fights the undead without displaying a hint of fear.
13 The Mountain Kills (& Is Killed By) The Red Viper
The motivation behind the clash between the Mountain and the Red Viper isn't hard to understand. Oberyn of House Dorne wants vengeance for the death of his sister, Elia, while Gregor Clegane is happy to tear people to pieces in any context.
The Red Viper's flexibility, techniques, and relatively smaller size help him evade his slower opponent, and it appears that the Dornishman is triumphant when he stabs Clegane with his poisonous blade. That is, until Oberyn's overconfidence turns out to be his very gruesome undoing.
12 Jaime Lannister's Poetic Defeat Of Euron Greyjoy (& Vice-Versa)
As the head of House Greyjoy, Euron spends most of his time on screen crudely "flirting" with Queen Cersei Lannister. He seems to be overly proud that she is carrying his baby (she's not). Near the end of Game of Thrones, Euron discovers her brother, Jaime, attempting to smuggle himself back to his sister.
Euron and Jaime undergo a short but fierce battle, which leaves them both severely injured. Euron dies on the spot, but Jaime gets to live for a few more hours. Jaime is eventually flattened to death in Cersei's arms when Daenerys and Drogon collapse the Red Keep.
11 Barristan Selmy And Grey Worm Eviscerate The Sons Of The Harpy
Barristan Selmy was arguably the greatest warrior in Westeros in his prime. Although he's considerably weaker than before, there's no doubt that this former Commander of the Kingsguard can hold his ground in a melee. When the Sons of the Harpy waylay an Unsullied platoon in Meereen, Barristan rushes to the rescue, killing several enemies in the process.
His actions help save Grey Worm's life, for which the latter remains eternally grateful. While Barristan doesn't survive the encounter, it highlights his remarkable grit and vitality. His death infuriates Daenerys, who promptly takes revenge against the Meereenese nobility.
10 Ned Stark Squares Off With Jaime Lannister
Throughout the first season of Game of Thrones, Ned Stark and Jaime Lannister are praised for their swordsmanship. They appear to be on an inevitable collision course, which makes their conflict in the show's fifth episode even more exciting when it finally occurs.
Despite Jaime's youth and natural talent, Ned manages to hold his own during their duel. Fans can only speculate as to how this fight would have concluded, as it was terminated by the intervention of Jaime's men. Although a brief skirmish, it perfectly represents the struggle between the two combatants' respective houses.
9 Danaerys Fries Kraznys To A Crisp
This event may not technically constitute a fight because Daenerys barely does anything, though Kraznys Mo Nakloz might have a different opinion. The Astapori slaver is shocked when she reveals her knowledge of High Valyrian, but he's completely helpless against her newly acquired army of Unsullied soldiers.
Although Daenerys hands Drogon to Kraznys, her dragon refuses to behave and continues crying out for its mother. Daenerys orders the Unsullied to " slay every man who holds a whip," triggering a minor cataclysm for the elite of Astapor. Kraznys screams for help, only for Drogon to burn him to a crisp.
8 Brienne Fights A Handcuffed Jaime Lannister
The relationship between Brienne of Tarth and Ser Jaime Lannister is fascinating, as it brings out repressed characteristics from each side. Brienne grows more confident and independent with Jaime around, while he learns to empathize with and love someone outside the Lannister family. However, their fondness for one another is predated by one of Game of Thrones' best one-on-one fights.
As Brienne transports a handcuffed Jaime back to King's Landing, the latter deftly commandeers a sword for himself. A handcuffed Jaime then attempts to defeat Brienne, showcasing his dogged resilience and unfathomable talent while simultaneously highlighting her expertise and experience.
7 The Night King Singlehandedly Takes Down Viserion
A fight against the White Walkers isn't fair to their opponents, but it does usually display the bone-chillingly powerful techniques that the Night King has at his disposal. Case in point: Season 7's sixth episode "Beyond the Wall" where Daenerys and her dragons rush to save Jon from the unstoppable wight army.
Upon Daenerys' arrival, the Night King casually picks up what looks like an ice spear and flings it straight toward Viserion, tearing a hole in the dragon's throat. Viserion plunges into the freezing pond and disappears from sight, returning later as a zombified member of the White Walker army.
6 Cleganebowl Is Both Anticlimactic & Worth The Wait
Cleganebowl is the fan name given to the much-awaited battle between the brother-nemeses, Gregor and Sandor Clegane. The Hound enters the Red Keep and massacres Cersei's bodyguards before standing face-to-face with the Mountain. This fraternal conflict isn't so much a minor squabble as it is a deathmatch.
However, Sandor cannot "kill" Gregor because of the latter's unquantifiable state of existence (courtesy of Cersei Lannister's personal scientist, Qyburn). In the end, they prove their inescapable connection to each other by simultaneously toppling off the tower to their doom.
5 Jon Snow Takes His Final Revenge On Ramsay Bolton
Ramsay Bolton's unflappable demeanor is rudely shattered when Sansa brings a House Arryn battalion to support her brother at the literal last second. Jon Snow follows Ramsay as he runs back to Winterfell and locks the gates behind him, a tactic that is utterly useless against the overwhelming strength of Wun Wun the Giant.
The self-titled Lord of Winterfell desperately tries to cheat his way out of a sticky situation once again, but his infuriated enemy comfortably blocks his archery attacks. Jon then proceeds to pound Ramsay's face into the ground in a scene that satisfies characters and viewers alike.
4 Brienne & The Hound Battle On A Mountain Top
Jaime Lannister knights Brienne of Tarth because he knows that she's capable of feats far beyond the scope of those mediocre men who tend to receive the honor. Brienne has consistently proven her worth over the course of the series, as seen when she faces the Hound (and Arya) in the Season 4 finale.
Brienne easily disarms her opponent and holds him at swordpoint. The battle consequently devolves into a gritty, unarmed fistfight between the two opponents. Brienne eventually punches the Hound off the side of a mountain, solidifying herself as one of the strongest fighters in all of Westeros.
3 Benjen Stark Saves His Nephew From The Wights
Fans have always wondered what the deal was about Benjen Stark, yet another unresolved Game of Thrones mystery. Benjen disappears in the North around Season 1 and shows his face much later when he rescues Bran Stark and Meera Reed from the Night King.
He subsequently returns in Season 7's sixth episode, where he saves Jon Snow from an army of wights. Benjen Stark distracts the undead with his fiery morningstar, places his semi-conscious nephew on a horse, and sends it to the Wall. He has no hope of surviving this battle, but at least he manages to keep Jon alive for another season.
2 Tyrion Fights At The Battle Of The Blackwater
Tyrion Lannister isn't built for fighting, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally. He can neither ride a horse nor wield a sword without losing his balance. Tyrion recognizes his strengths and sticks to what he's good at, but not when his family's fate hangs in the balance. His wildfire plan at the Battle of the Blackwater is a monumental success, eviscerating the bulk of Stannis Baratheon's armada.
However, it's not enough to finish the job. Stannis' men make their way to the shores of King's Landing and overwhelm the Crown's forces. Tyrion delivers a magnificent speech and singlehandedly leads several soldiers onto the battlefield. Viewers would have liked to see him in action, but Tyrion is quickly taken out of commission.
1 Arya Stark Shatters The Night King In A Single Strike
As Jon Snow prepares to meet his end before a resurrected Viserion, his youngest sister makes one of the most dangerous plays seen in Game of Thrones. She flashes through the rows of White Walkers like a whisper in the wind, only to be caught by the Night King before she can land her killing blow.
Fortunately for Arya, she manages to transfer her Valyrian steel dagger to her right hand and slices it into her opponent's unprotected abdomen, destroying him completely. This permanently ends the Long Winter before it actually begins, and saves Westeros from an icy apocalypse.