The 15 Best Fighters on Game of Thrones, Ranked

7) BRIENNE OF TARTH

The highborn Brienne of Tarth is probably the truest ideal “knight” on this list, even though she claims “I am no knight.” She fights like a lioness, all screams, and whirling blade as if every battle is waged against every man who ever mocked her and stood in her way. Some may think Brienne shouldn’t rank so high, but she did defeat all comers (including Loras Tyrell) at Renly Baratheon’s tournament at Storm’s End. She also bested The Hound in single combat (The Hound may have been weakened by his bite wound, but she took him down either way.)

6) LORAS TYRELL

As the masterfully trained and talented heir to Highgarden, Loras is known as “The Knight of the Flowers.” He is a highly successful tournament knight and he once unseated the formidable Jaime Lannister in a joust. With brains to match his physical prowess, he rides a mare in heat to unsettle the mount of Ser Gregor Clegane whom he unseats during the Hand’s Tournament. Ser Loras did suffer defeat at the hands of Brienne of Tarth at Renly’s tournament. Unfortunately, he is eventually caught in the fanatical web of the High Sparrow and dies in the destruction of Baelor’s Sept.

5) JON SNOW

Raised in the powerful House Stark, Jon was trained in swordplay by capable instructors and has proven himself, repeatedly, to possess tremendous natural instinct and talent on the battlefield. The experience he gained in the Night’s Watch, such as fighting Wildlings and White Walkers, has only made him better. Jon is quite confident in his skills, and his reputation was enough for the ego-mad Ramsay Bolton to refuse his offer of single combat.

4) JAIME LANNISTER

Although his reputation shall always be sullied by his backstabbing of the Mad King, Aerys Targaryen, Jaime “The Kingslayer” Lannister is known as one of the most brilliant swordsmen in all the Seven Kingdoms. Jame says there are three swordsmen who might have a chance of defeating him in a fair fight, but he does not name them. Since the loss of his hand, Jaime’s rank is difficult to place. His skills and instincts remain, but we haven’t seen him tested by a highly skilled opponent while fighting with his remaining hand (no, practicing with Bronn doesn’t count).