For eight seasons, Game of Thrones went on a journey full of captivating storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and interesting characters. Game of Thrones has plenty of gripping fights where beloved characters clash and face the legitimate possibility of death. Some characters are beloved for their wit and humor, while others are liked for their moral compass and sense of honor.
However, a fantasy show like this needs plenty of intimidating characters who carry a real air of threat, and Game of Thrones duly delivers. Many of these are physically imposing and aggressive, but others choose alternative ways of instilling fear, be it with actions or words.
10 Daenerys And Her Dragons Bring The Ever-Present Risk Of Being Burned Alive
Daenerys Targaryen undergoes a huge character growth from her first appearance in Game of Thrones to the last. Starting off as a helpless prize for a Khal, she quickly becomes a feared leader with an army of Dothraki and three dragons.
Like Cersei Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen makes a name for herself through her subjects exacting her will. However, Daenerys herself can be considered intimidating and dangerous, especially considering the literal firepower she commands. The fear of death by fire is often faced by her enemies, but the events in "The Bells" are like nothing anybody could ever have imagined.
9 The Hound Is Intimidating Even If He Can't Quite Match His Brother
Sandor Clegane, also known as the Hound, is often considered smaller and less intimidating than his brother Gregor. Nonetheless, the Hound is still terrifying. When he is initially introduced as Prince Joffrey's bodyguard and a killer for the Lannisters, he is feared by most.
The Hound's fear of fire can soften his intimidating visage, but not by much. Anyone who mocks or disrespects him enough to grab his attention will likely end up dead. His loss to Brienne of Tarth helps to humble him and change his outlook on life, but he is still an intimidating presence and fighter.
8 Lady Olenna's Words Can Cut Deeper Than Most Swords
Lady Olenna Tyrell is known as the Queen of Thorns for a reason. She is quick-witted and takes no prisoners, no matter who she is speaking to. Olenna's rivalry-turned-bitter feud with Cersei appears to be harmless enough on the surface, but both play major roles in various deaths within the other's family.
Intimidation is not always about imposing the threat of physical harm, and Lady Olenna proves this often. Many people seem actively uncomfortable when faced with her conversive barbs, and she duly delivers.
7 Wun Wun Towers Above Everybody
Wun Wun is one of several Free Folk giants introduced throughout Game Of Thrones, but he is the one that gets the most focus. As they do in any medium, giants cut a huge and imposing figure when lining up either alongside or against humans. Wun Wun is shown in action at Hardhome and during the Battle of the Bastards.
At Hardhome, Wun Wun rips through several wights, only looking helpless and overwhelmed when swarmed by a huge number of wights. He joins Jon Snow's armies against Ramsay Bolton, once again showing off his might. In one final show of strength, Wun Wun powers his way through into Winterfell despite being bombarded by arrows, only to be killed by Ramsay. He represented the might of the giants honorably.
6 Ser Ilyn Payne Is Always An Unsettling Character
Ser Ilyn Payne is known as the King's Justice, a name for the royal executioner. He is the man responsible for carrying out the order given by the despicable Joffrey Baratheon: to cut off Ned Stark's head. A man tasked with doing the dirty bidding of a horrific king, Ilyn is a dangerous and deeply unsettling character.
Ilyn carries an intensity in his eyes that really helps to further this image. During the Battle of the Blackwater, he only deepens this creepy persona when he is tasked with watching over Cersei and the young women she is with. The implication is given that he will kill them all swiftly if Stannis should breach King's Landing.
5 Tywin Lannister Effectively Controls The Seven Kingdoms Without Even Being King
Tywin Lannister is the head of the Lannister family for the first few seasons of Game Of Thrones until his death by the hand of his son, Tyrion. Tywin always appears to be cold towards his children, seemingly preferring to further and better the family name rather than tending to his children's needs and wants.
Tywin deserves a lot of respect, however, for his role in rebuilding the Lannister family and bringing them to prominence. As the head of the family and official Hand of the King to his grandson Joffrey, Tywin has an overwhelming amount of power without many realizing it. Essentially, he commands fear and respect with minimal effort.
4 Styr Is A Terrifying Insight Into The Truly Horrifying Ways Of The Thenn
The Thenn are a ferocious tribe within the wildlings, known for their cannibalistic ways and various other barbaric activities. When Tormund and Ygritte head towards Castle Black during the fourth season of Game Of Thrones, they are joined by a Thenn named Styr. Styr is not at all likable, and is a horrifying glimpse into what the Night's Watch are going to be facing when the big fight comes.
During the Battle of Castle Black, Styr cuts down several brothers with ease before he sets his sights on Jon Snow. He has Jon's number but out of nowhere, Snow buries a hammer in his skull. Styr is one of the most terrifying wildlings in Game of Thrones. Arguably, he deserved more screen time.
3 The Night King Is Relentless In His Ultimately-Pointless Pursuit Of The Living
The White Walkers are built up to be the ominous slow-building threat of Game Of Thrones, with their presence initially being revealed in the first moments of the series. While there are plenty of intense encounters between the living and the dead, the White Walkers' ultimate direction is ruined with the show's final season.
Arya killing the Night King and destroying the White Walkers, while being an epic moment in itself, came with a serious lack of closure. The Night King had been built up to be an intimidating force with a mysterious yet menacing presence, harboring unknown ambitions. Him converting humans and dragons to join his cause is haunting and terrifying in its execution every single time.
2 Khal Drogo Immediately Reveals The Brutal Nature Of The Dothraki
The Dothraki are introduced at the start of Game of Thrones as a part of the Targaryens, Daenerys, and Viserys' storyline. They are a race of nomadic horse-mounted warriors, known for their barbaric ways and customs. Jason Momoa excels as their leader, Khal Drogo, with his intimidating presence being noted and feared by the Targaryen siblings.
Daenerys surprisingly manages to embrace her situation and she gets through to the Khal by learning his language. The two even end up falling in love. Despite softening for Daenerys, his Khaleesi, Drogo maintains his intimidating ways until he dies from a fatal wound.
1 The Mountain Showcases His Horrifying Power On A Regular Basis
Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane may have been recast twice throughout Game of Thrones, but he has been shown to be a scary brute of a man each time. Whether he's beheading a horse, crushing Oberyn Martell's skull with his bare hands, or destroying all foes as a zombified bodyguard, the Mountain is a true monster.
The screams that come from Septa Unella as Cersei leaves her alone with the zombified Clegane are horrifying. Leaving her demise ambiguous and to the audience's own imagination is anything but pleasant. Ultimately, Clegane is the most intimidating character in Game of Thrones.