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Ranking The Swordsman/Warriors in GOT

duckroll said:
Thread title says GOT and not ASOSJSJFOGF. George ain't gonna release any more books so not like that matters lol.



We're talking about swordsmanship/warrior power. Both losers as mentioned died fighting in combat. It's not about winning or losing a war. It's about not fucking dying like a lamer to nobodies in actual combat. You see what real fighters like Jon Snow, Ramsey Bolton, and Euron Greyjoy do in fights? They kill. They win. They don't get stabbed in the back during a fight, and they don't crawl into a corner and die of injuries.
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This is truth.
 
5. Arya Stark – Trained in the way of the water dance, and the way of the swap face, she has both the battle prowess and guile to kill all her enemies. While some would count her modest stature against her, she needs just borrow the face of a powerful warrior to magically gain 2-3 feet. As such, with access to both dexterity and strength, as well as a Valyrian steel dagger, she is the ultimate quality build. And she shrugs of several cuts to the guts from Femme#Terminator as if they were nothing. Valar morghulis!

4. The Mountain – Honorary servant of the many-faced god (having used three faces so far and counting), his size and brutality makes him the ultimate tank. While someone quicker may outplay him, winning is ultimately about not dying. His zombie buff gives him +200 to his already OP resilience

3. Jon Snow – Will this pretty young hero overcome his own naivety, bastarddom and humbleness to conquer death, defeat the big bad and be rewarded with sexy-time by his hottie aunt, all through the power of friendship? Odds point to yes

2. Drogon
JTJUuHf.jpg


1. Ramsay Bolton – The most renowned fighter of the Seven Kingdoms. Will fight off 20 good Iron Islander without breaking a sweat, and give him a small force and he will topple any army. Looks sufficiently dreamy~ when fighting shirtless and torturing his slaves that I proudly declare: #thisisMYchristian
 
Kenzodielocke said:
Ned would have beaten Jaime if it wasn't for that Lannister soldier. I think Jon is the best classic swordsman, followed by Arya/Oberyn.

The Hound and Brienne are on the same level.
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Ned was getting his ass kicked. He looked scared because Jaime defended his blows with ease. The longer the fight went, he would have been sliced up.
 
Dayne.

But you guys dissing my home boy Jamie, remember when he had been imprisoned for a while and was on the brink of malnutrition and almost to easy took out brienne.
 
fanboi said:
Dayne.

But you guys dissing my home boy Jamie, remember when he had been imprisoned for a while and was on the brink of malnutrition and almost to easy took out brienne.
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It's implied several times that Jamie's skill with a sword is without equal. He may not be the physically strongest but he could very well be the best.

Which makes what happens to him such a pivotal character moment.
 
Totally forgot about an injured and weakened Jaime giving Brienne a run for her money. Similar situation to when she fought Sandor, although maybe even more extreme considering Jaime was in much worse condition.
 
hydrophilic attack said:
1. Ramsay Bolton – The most renowned fighter of the Seven Kingdoms. Will fight off 20 good Iron Islander without breaking a sweat, and give him a small force and he will topple any army. Looks sufficiently dreamy~ when fighting shirtless and torturing his slaves that I proudly declare: #thisisMYchristian
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no way! 2 handed Jamie Lannister was claimed to be the best swordsman even by his enemies!
 
Imperfected said:
Well, the idea is supposed to be that it doesn't matter how macho and unstoppable you are at the end of the day, because that's not how wars are won.

Dayne's backstabbed by a nobody.

Ned's betrayed to his end by Lil' Dick.

Jon gets shanked by an underaged Brexiter.

The Mountain gets poisoned by a boozing womanizer.

Stanis effectively gets starved out and forced into a suicide siege.

Robert gets punked by a pig.

That doesn't make any of them less warriors or swordsmen, it's just sort of one of the overriding themes of the narrative that personal skill in combat doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. Battles are decided by armies. Wars are won on grain and gold. Etc.
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You can add Karl "The Fookin Legend" Tanner to that list too.
 
MY thing about arya is wouldn't her wrist break when trying to actually deflect a real Brienne sword swing with little needle. Arya still is a 4'11 girl and brienne is huge and the downward force of her swing shouldn't be parries so easily by arya. Plus Brienne kicked her square in the chest and arya shrugged it off like nothing. I real kick like that would've maybe broken a rib and left her wide open to attack

Also Oberyn with his spear would wreck arya easily. She's not getting close to him
 
All time it would probably be

1. Ser Arthur Dayne, The Sword Of The Morning
2. Daemon I Blackfyre, The Black Dragon
3. Ser Barristan Selmy, The Bold
4. Ser Aemon Targaryen, The Dragonknight
5. Ser Jaime Lannister (pre imprisonment/injury), The Kingslayer

Show wise it would probably be

1. Ser Arthur Dayne, The Sword Of The Morning
2. Ser Barristan Selmy, The Bold
3. Ser Jaime Lannister, The Kingslayer
4. Lady Brienne Tarth, The Beauty of Tarth
5. Sandor Clegane, The Hound
 
Cesare Borgia said:
All time it would probably be

1. Ser Arthur Dayne, The Sword Of The Morning
2. Daemon I Blackfyre, The Black Dragon
3. Ser Barristan Selmy, The Bold
4. Ser Aemon Targaryen, The Dragonknight
5. Ser Jaime Lannister (pre imprisonment/injury), The Kingslayer

Show wise it would probably be

1. Ser Arthur Dayne, The Sword Of The Morning
2. Ser Barristan Selmy, The Bold
3. Ser Jaime Lannister, The Kingslayer
4. Lady Brienne Tarth, The Beauty of Tarth
5. Sandor Clegane, The Hound
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No lies detected. Dayne is widely recognized as the greatest.
 
Barristan's White Book entry:

Ser Barristan of House Selmy. Firstborn son of Ser Lyonel Selmy of Harvest Hall. Served as squire to Ser Manfred Swann. Named "the Bold" in his 10th year, when he donned borrowed armor to appear as a mystery knight in the tourney of Blackhaven, where he was defeated and unmasked by Duncan, Prince of Dragonflies. Knighted in his 16th year by King Aegon V Targaryen, after performing great feats of prowess as a mystery knight in the winter tourney at King's Landing, defeating Prince Duncan the small and Ser Duncan the Tall, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Slew Maelys the Monstrous, last of the Blackfyre Pretenders, in single combat during the War of the Ninepenny Kings. Defeated Lormelle Long Lance and Cedrik Storm, the Bastard of Bronzegate. Named to the Kingsguard in his 23rd year, by Lord Commander Ser Gerold Hightower. Defended the passage against all challengers in the tourney of the Silver Bridge. Victor in the mêlée at Maidenpool. Brought King Aerys II to safety during the Defiance of Duskendale despite an arrow wound in the chest. Avenged the murder of his Sworn Brother, Ser Gwayne Gaunt. Rescued Lady Jeyne Swann and her septa from the Kingswood Brotherhood, defeating Simon Toyne and the Smiling Knight, slaying the former. In the Oldtown tourney, defeated and unmasked the mystery knight, Blackshield revealing him to be the Bastard of Uplands. Sole champion of Lord Steffon's tourney at Storm's End, whereat he unhorsed Lord Robert Baratheon, Prince Oberyn Martell, Lord Leyton Hightower, Lord Jon Connington, Lord Jason Mallister, and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Wounded by arrow, spear, and sword at the Battle of the Trident whilst fighting beside his Sworn Brothers and Rhaegar Prince of Dragonstone. Pardoned, and named Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, by King Robert I Baratheon. Served in the honor guard that brought Lady Cersei of House Lannister to King's Landing to wed King Robert. Led the attack on Old Wyk during Balon Greyjoy's Rebellion. Champion of the tourney at King's Landing, in his 57th year. Dismissed by King Joffrey I Baratheon in his 61st year, for reasons of advanced age.
 
Duffk1ng said:
1. Oberyn - Technically beat Gregor, and I don't think anyone else would really stand a chance against Gregor
2. Gregor - Too big and strong for anyone else to really have much chance against, maybe Arya could win Oberyn style
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Didn't Gregor get beaten by the Knight of the Flowers in season 1?
 
How y'all gonna keep ignoring Howland Reed? Jk

Semi-related to the discussion: Was it ever explained how Bronn is such a skilled swordsman? Too far-fetched to believe he was self-taught with nothing but street smarts and survival instincts.
 
Glass Shark said:
Euron Greyjoy is currently the most powerful person in existence apparently
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I'd be curious to see how well Euron and his axe would do against a skilled opponent in single-combat.

negitoro7 said:
How y'all gonna keep ignoring Howland Reed? Jk

Semi-related to the discussion: Was it ever explained how Bronn is such a skilled swordsman? Too far-fetched to believe he was self-taught with nothing but street smarts and survival instincts.
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As far as the show goes, I think the "explanation" is just that he's been a mercenary for so long and has been in so many fights that he just knows how to handle himself in most situations.
 
Um... I guess if I had to put the most skilled warriors in a list it would be:

Arthur Dane (rumors only)
Mr Selmy in Hus prime (rumors only)
Two handed Jaime (rumors only)
Brienne
The Hound
Oberyn
Drogo
Jon Snow
Bron
Dario (maybe?)

The sandsnakes and apparently Ramsey Bolton

Hot Pie

Also apparently Euron is an unstoppable warrior of the sea so just throw a dart to put him on the list.

I'm not really sure where I'd put arya. In terms of technique shes probably the most skilled in the show right now but a lot of her lethality comes from deception so I'm not sure if I'd call her a warrior. Maybe put her in a separate list for rogues. I'm also uncertain if she could kill the mountain as he is now.

Additionally the mountain seems really unskilled but extremely strong so I'm not sure where I'd put him (pre zombie) probably around Jon somewhere?
 
One name I haven't seem here is Robert Baratheon. He is said to be formidable before he became king.

Edit: NVM. It's show only
 
Cesare Borgia said:
Show wise it would probably be

1. Ser Arthur Dayne, The Sword Of The Morning
2. Ser Barristan Selmy, The Bold
3. Ser Jaime Lannister, The Kingslayer
4. Lady Brienne Tarth, The Beauty of Tarth
5. Sandor Clegane, The Hound
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Most of these were depicted as fairly useless in the series. E.g. Dayne and Selmy both went out like punks
 
Loxley said:
As far as the show goes, I think the "explanation" is just that he's been a mercenary for so long and has been in so many fights that he just knows how to handle himself in most situations.
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I don't like the show's "explanation" of it but it is what it is. It was believable when he outsmarted a random Knight of the Vale jobber, but I want to believe he'd get destroyed by any of the other ones in the top 10 discussion.
 
1. Jon, came back from the dead and he is one of the main characters, if not THE central figure that is getting pushed by the show. though that characteristic got many killed, lol
2. Berric Dondarrion, came back to life several times.
3. Brann, he can just warg into anyone. Probably would still only win by warging into someone and suiciding. Jon and Berric would just respawn.[
4. The Mountain, he is some undead monster now.
5. Jaime Lannister, he even "stabs" his sister.
6. Bronn, the only living person in Westeros to S07E04 SPOILER bring down a dragon.
.
.
99. Jon, died like a pussy by the hand of a 10 year old.
100. Berric Dondarrion, got killed like a hundred times.
 
negitoro7 said:
I don't like the show's "explanation" of it but it is what it is. It was believable when he outsmarted a random Knight of the Vale jobber, but I want to believe he'd get destroyed by any of the other ones in the top 10 discussion.
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There is no real explanation on the book either. Nonetheless in the book Catelyn Stark who must have seen her share of fighters, aknowledged the incredible skill of Bronn, whose sword "seemed to be an extension of his hand".

I believe Bronn must have received a pretty good sword training even if they don't talk about it. He is not only someone who fights dirty. He definitely deserve to be at least in the Top 10, if not Top 5 of fighters still alive right now.
 
Cesare Borgia said:
All time it would probably be

1. Ser Arthur Dayne, The Sword Of The Morning
2. Daemon I Blackfyre, The Black Dragon
3. Ser Barristan Selmy, The Bold
4. Ser Aemon Targaryen, The Dragonknight
5. Ser Jaime Lannister (pre imprisonment/injury), The Kingslayer

Show wise it would probably be

1. Ser Arthur Dayne, The Sword Of The Morning
2. Ser Barristan Selmy, The Bold
3. Ser Jaime Lannister, The Kingslayer
4. Lady Brienne Tarth, The Beauty of Tarth
5. Sandor Clegane, The Hound
Click to expand...
I'd say this list is the most accurate in this thread.

Also, Robert Baratheon gets underrated a lot in these discussions. Dude was a beast in his prime and terrifying to go against. Almost as strong as the Mountain but faster.

Some Honorable Mentions
The Smiling Knight
Areo Hotah
Victarion Greyjoy
Garlan Tyrell
Syrio Forel
 
Syrio wrecking fools with a wood sword is still one of my favorite scenes in the show despite the ending. I think he might've been able to kill Trant if he had a real sword.
 
These lists are all too Westerosi-focused. Khal Drogo would have cut down any of these knights and fed their hearts to his wife.
 
Jaqen, Selmy, Drogo, Dayne are tops most likely.

I think from what I saw Oberyn would be ahead of Brienne, two handed Jaime and Arya.

I suspect Jon ends up in top 5 but he hasn't been given a chance to showcase.
 
Briene was holding back. Even after she kicked Arya to the ground she sat back and waited. It was a sparing match, not a real fight.
 
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