The 25 Best Fighters on Game of Thrones, Ranked

17) TORMUND GIANTSBANE (Previous Ranking: 14)

Category: Free Folk Brawler

Tormund Giantsbane may be likable — even lovable — but he’s also a tough customer; look no further than what he tells Jon Snow in “Valar Dohaeris” (S3/Ep1): “Plenty of little men tried to put their swords through my heart. And there’s plenty of little skeletons buried in the woods.” We’re not about to call him a liar.

The proof is in the blood pudding. During the Battle of Castle Black, Tormund cuts down a number of the Night’s Watch and wounds the experienced Alliser Thorne in one-on-one combat. At Hardhome, he kills the Lord of Bones with his own staff, and later manages to survive the brutal assault of the Night King’s army while fighting to save as many wildlings as possible. He also stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Jon Snow in the desperate Battle of the Bastards, saving  Jon’s life and killing Smalljon Umber during the melee.

Giantsbane is also a capable leader of men, having being selected as a senior lieutenant by none other than Mance Rayder himself. He vanished with Beric Dondarrion during the fall of the Wall int he season 7 finale, but we know he’ll be back.