Every battle sequence on Game of Thrones, ranked worst to best

4. THE BATTLE OF THE GOLDROAD  aka THE LOOT TRAIN ATTACK (“The Spoils of War,” Episode 704)

Major Players: Jaime Lannister, Bronn, Randyll Tarly, Dickon Tarly, Daenerys, Drogon, Tyrion Lannister

Deaths: Randyll Tarly, Dickon Tarly (as a direct result, in the following episode)

Battle: After plundering Highgarden, Jaime, Bronn and the Tarlys escort their combined Lannister/Tarly supply train back to King’s Landing. They hear the thunderous onrush of Daenerys’ 100,000 strong Dothraki horde and order their soldiers to form up.  Daenerys appears aboard Drogon, incinerating great swaths of the Lannister/Tarly formations.

The Dothraki charge in through the smoldering gaps and the battlefield becomes a slaughterhouse. Bronn hits Drogon with a scorpion missile, but the dragon is only wounded. Despite their bravery, Jaime and Bronn barely escape with their lives.

Importance: Since Daenerys and her Dothraki have invaded Westeros she has experienced some setbacks, so she’s looking for a decisive military victory. It’s her first dragon attack since crossing the Narrow Sea, executed to great effect, and now she has an important strategic foothold in Westeros.

The Lannisters have lost a significant percentage of their army, plus their ally House Tarly has been decapitated and effectively knocked out of the conflict. Cersei and Jaime can take some heart in knowing that the scorpion bolt managed to injure Drogon, so Dany’s dragons are not invincible.

Cinematics: Epic in scope with its horse-mounted Dothraki, soaring dragons and ranks of soldiers incinerated in sweeping columns of fire, the Battle of the Goldroad stands as one of the most memorable Game of Thrones clashes of arms.

Quote: “Enough with the clever plans.” (Daenerys Targaryen, to Tyrion Lannister)