The Greatest Warriors of Westeros- Revised 2026

 

I am a huge fan of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF). I’ve read the main novels multiple times, devoured Fire & Blood, and re-watched the various television series multiple times as well. Across the five published books, the companion volumes, and the broader history of Westeros, Martin has given us an incredible roster of warriors: shining paragons of knighthood, cunning tacticians, and downright devious (or monstrous) fighters.

Back in 2011, before the release of A Dance with Dragons, I originally compiled a Top 10 list of the greatest warriors in Westeros (see the orginal list below). With new material and years of additional perspective, it was clear the rankings needed a thorough revision. Some positions have shifted, a few names dropped off, and the list has now expanded to a full Top 20.

What follows is my current, updated ranking—part tribute, part analysis, and entirely my own opinion. Rankings are based on a mix of demonstrated skill, battlefield reputation, leadership, and overall impact within the world of ice and fire.

What Matters in This Ranking

• Warrior Ability First — Raw combat skill, proven feats, and battlefield effectiveness take priority. (Note: “Best knight” in the chivalric sense and “best warrior” are not always the same thing, as the Red Viper clearly demonstrates.)
• Prime Condition — Characters are judged at their peak, not in their current or declining state.
• Books Take Precedence — The novels are the primary canon. The television show is secondary. When both align (e.g., Ser Arthur Dayne), it strengthens the case. When they diverge (e.g., Brienne of Tarth), the books win. Example: Brienne is one of the strongest fighters in the current timeline, but her book feats (including nearly dying to Biter) keep her from ranking higher. The show version becomes somewhat inflated in later seasons.
• Reputation + Results — What other characters say about them, combined with what they have actually accomplished.

Note on Leadership: While this ranking focuses primarily on individual warrior ability and combat prowess, leadership is used as a secondary tiebreaker when two warriors are otherwise close. Ser Arthur Dayne needs no help here—his reputation stands on pure skill. For something like Jaime Lannister versus Barristan Selmy, Jaime earns a slight edge due to his battlefield command experience. Robert Baratheon’s leadership during Robert’s Rebellion (ultimately winning a kingdom) boosts him significantly. The same logic applies elsewhere when feats are nearly equal.

So with all that said here are the new updated rankings. It's also important to note the tie at #3. The daylight between the two is so small in my opinion its near impossible to say one is better than the other.

Map of Westeros by Arwo1f can be found here

 

Twenty Greatest Warriors of Westeros

1. Ser Arthur Dayne, The Sword of the Morning - Untouchable #1. Near-universal consensus as the greatest knight Westeros has ever seen.

2. Oberyn Martell, The Red Viper of Dorne - His fight with the Mountain alone and overall deadliness justify it.
3A. Ser Jamie Lannister, The Kingslayer - Perhaps the greatest natural talent and prodigy of his generation.

3B. Ser Barristan Selmy, The Bold, - Lord Commander of the Kingsguard - All-time great. Legendary longevity and skill.

5. Daemon Blackfyre - The Black Dragon. Fire & Blood confirms his strength as a warrior and leader.

6. Aemon the Dragonknight - Legendary Targaryen hero. One of the most revered knights in history.

7. Robert Baratheon - An absolute monster in his prime during Robert’s Rebellion.

8. Sandor Clegane, TheHound - Fearsome size, skill, and surprising conscience make him a standout.

9. Gregor Clegane, The Mountain - Brutal strength and terror personified. Westeros’ most monstrous fighter.

10. Daemon Targaryen, The Rogue Prince - Charismatic, daring, and exceptionally skilled in battle.

11. Victarion Greyjoy -Ironborn brute force and veteran of countless raids and battles

12. Bronn - The smartest fighter on the list. Survives by knowing exactly when and how to fight.

13. Brynden Tully, The Blackfish - Uncompromising defender of Riverrun and one of the most respected knights alive.

14. Garlan Tyrell - Skilled and often underrated warrior of the Reach.

15. Gerold Hightower, The White Bull, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard - Tower of the Joy legend.

16. Rheagar Targaryen - The Prince of Dragonstone. Warrior-poet with immense talent.

17. Mance Rayder - King-Beyond-the-Wall. Battle-hardened leader of the Free Folk

18. Jon Snow - Rising force with proven skill, leadership, and resilience.

19. Qhorin Halfhand - Elite ranger of the Night’s Watch. Legendary among the brothers.

20. Brienne of Tarth - One of the strongest current-timeline fighters, despite some early setbacks.

In time I'll be reviewing all of them fully and adding the links back here. Part of the fun of this its all 

For the sake of completeness the original list from 2011 was as follows. In all cases I've gone back and repurposed the exiting entries and updated rather than leave them as is. I did this to avoid confusion of having two sets of posts for the same character on the blog. 

1. Ser Arthur Dayne, The Sword of the Morning

2. The Red Viper of Dorne

3. Ser Jamie Lannister, The King Slayer

4. Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard

5. Sandor Clegane, The Hound

6. Syrio Forel

7. Gregor Clegane, The Mountain

8. Robert Baratheon

9.  Bronn

10.  Brynden Tully, The Blackfish

There you have it, the old list for historical purposes with the new updated ranking above. Opinions can (and will) be made as to why one warrior is better than another, but there can be some informed debate by reading the text closely and with the added bonus of the television show when it matches the character depicted.

Let me know your thoughts.

The Greatest Warriors of the Westros- #2, Oberyn Martell- The Red Viper of Dorne

The Red Viper by Amok ©

Update (July 2026): (Since the conclusion of the television series, I have gone back and reworked all of the “Top Warriors of Westeros” posts. What began as a Top 10 has now expanded to a full Top 20 in light of the additional material and perspective we gained.

With George R.R. Martin’s remaining books still unwritten, these rankings remain a mix of book canon and informed speculation. The core arguments and personal opinions are unchanged, I’ve simply improved formatting, clarity, spelling, and flow so the series reads better and holds up as a proper archive piece.)

The overall Top 20 Greatest Warriors of the Westeros can be found here.   

When you look up “bad-ass” in the dictionary, there’s Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper of Dorne, staring back at you — and kicking your ass from the page at the same time. Prince Oberyn is just that hardcore. If he met up with Chuck Norris… I’m not so sure Chuck would win.

The mercenary, screw-everything-that-walks, kill-it-all, balls-to-the-wall Red Viper stands head and shoulders above almost everyone else in the books and rightly takes his place as #2 of the Greatest Warriors of Westeros.

#2- Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper of Dorne

Right before he dies (in perhaps the ultimate combat of the books), who does the Red Viper slay? None other than The Mountain that Rides, Ser Gregor Clegane, that’s who. That’s right — the largest warrior to walk the Seven Kingdoms falls to the Red Viper’s spear.

Using poison? Dies in the attempt?

Doesn’t matter.

While a Prince (and hardly a knight), he eschews the traditional weaponry of knights — the sword — and prefers to fight with a spear. While his climactic opponent uses massive plate armor, he is armored lightly, dancing around the Mountain, taunting him. One gets the sense that the Red Viper could kill him at any time, but wants to draw it out after the murder of his sister Elia of Dorne during the Sack of King’s Landing at the culmination of Robert’s Rebellion. The epic duel of Oberyn and Gregor is one of the, if not the, best duels in the entire series thus far. 

Before he fought the Mountain That Rides, he was in a duel when he was just sixteen. Apparently he was found bedding the paramour of Lord Yronwood. Due to his age, a duel to first blood was arranged. Well, Oberyn won the duel, drawing first blood as prescribed by the rules. The problem was that Lord Yronwood’s wound festered and he died from but a scratch. It was rumored that Oberyn poisoned his spear, and thus the legend of the Red Viper was born.

 Oberyn Martell’s actions are also responsible for the enmity between House Martell and House Tyrell. At a joust, Willas Tyrell had his leg mangled in a freak accident. Oberyn was blamed. Interestingly enough, there is no bad blood between Oberyn and Willas over this incident. Oberyn even sent his own maester to tend to Willas.

Adding to his fame is the fact that he served as a mercenary leader, studied at the Citadel and forged six links of his chain before becoming bored, as well as serving in the Free Cities. And it was not “just” in the Free Cities, but the Disputed Lands, where warfare is constant, serving with the Second Sons.

For even more badass: the fact that he has eight bastard daughters known as the Sand Snakes. Lord Walder Frey might be able to fill an army with the fruits of his loins, but I’d take the Red Viper’s progeny any day of the week — twice on Sundays.

Back to THE fight, and I mean THE FIGHT of the series

"Her name was Elia Martell, SAY HER NAME!" 

When Joffrey finally bites the dust inA Storm of Swords, everyone except Cersei is rejoicing. I mean, really — is there anyone who actually liked the annoying, "mini-male version of Cersei?" However, the King being killed is naturally going to cause some accusations to fly, and it’s Tyrion who gets blamed. When it becomes apparent that he will not get justice, he demands trial by combat. To which Cersei gleefully calls for Ser Gregor Clegane to be her champion. Everyone figures that Tyrion is now dead — who is going to fight the Mountain That Rides, let alone for the Imp?

Calmly and coolly, Oberyn Martell tells the court that he will stand for Tyrion. Not for Tyrion’s sake, mind you, but for his thirst for revenge on Gregor for what he did to his sister Elia of Dorne. Tyrion’s defense merely provides the excuse.

 It’s readily apparent that, like Bronn vs. Ser Vardis in the Vale, Oberyn has sized up his opponent quite well. He knows how to kill him. Also on his side is the fact that, unlike everyone else, he is not frightened by Ser Gregor’s size. Ellaria Sand, his paramour, remarks, “You’re going to fight that?” to which the Red Viper dryly replies, “No. I’m going to kill that.”

How about that for hardcore? Most knights would be turning in their ser’s or pissing in their armor, and the Red Viper is ready to kill the most massive warrior in the Seven Kingdoms — and looking forward to it.

Right off the bat, it’s apparent what the Red Viper’s strategy is: wear down the massive Gregor and taunt him. In this, Bronn would approve — it’s the same basic strategy he used in the Vale. Oberyn jabs and thrusts and, most importantly, stays out of Ser Gregor’s massive reach. Simultaneously, he taunts the massive Gregor, knowing this will add to his frustration and open him up to a well-placed strike. Ser Gregor, who is not the most patient under the best of circumstances, falls for this, shouting for him to shut up.

The strategy works as Oberyn continues to strike, eventually wounding Ser Gregor. All the while, the taunting continues: “You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children!” Over and over, the Red Viper speaks this (something akin to Inigo Montoya, but I digress) to wring as much vengeance from the fight as possible. You can feel this scene ooze with tension as well as a deep connection to the backstory of the Seven Kingdoms.

Finally, the Red Viper moves in and, after a running vault, pins the Mountain to the ground with his poisoned spear rammed through the giant’s gut. And with that, the Mountain is defeated. As Oberyn reaches for the Mountain’s sword to finish him off, he continues to taunt him and drops his guard. In coming too close to the dying giant (something he avoided doing all fight), the Mountain is able to grab ahold of him, thrust his hands into Oberyn’s eyes, and bash his skull with his massive fists, shouting, “You mean like this and this?!” in reply to the Red Viper’s taunting. At such close range the Prince is slain, but the Mountain is now succumbing to the poison’s effect. Not even a man as massive as Ser Gregor can shake it off.

So while he is slain because of his own zeal and thirst for revenge, ultimately it’s Prince Oberyn that triumphs. The poison used causes the Mountain to die a slow, agonizing death in incredible pain. His sister is avenged, and his place in the halls of badassery is assured.

Say what you want, but to me the Red Viper of Dorne is as badass as they come and one of the best characters in the books, hands down. It’s unfortunate that he only appears in A Storm of Swords and is gone within a few chapters. But as far as hardcore, kick-ass warriors go: there is only one ahead of him in the Song of Ice and Fire.

Stay tuned.

At this point I'd like to point out the excellent work at The Wiki of Ice and Fire, Westeros.org as well as the Tower of the Hand keep up the great work guys!

The Greatest Warriors of the Westros - #3A Jaime Lannister, The Kingslayer

The Kingslayer by Amok ©

Update (July 2026): (Since the conclusion of the television series, I have gone back and reworked all of the “Top Warriors of Westeros” posts. What began as a Top 10 has now expanded to a full Top 20 in light of the additional material and perspective we gained.

With George R.R. Martin’s remaining books still unwritten, these rankings remain a mix of book canon and informed speculation. The core arguments and personal opinions are unchanged, I’ve simply improved formatting, clarity, spelling, and flow so the series reads better and holds up as a proper archive piece.)

The overall Top 20 Greatest Warriors of the Westeros can be found here.   

Every good book series needs a villain, right? Well, in the first few books it looks as if Ser Jaime Lannister is just that guy to fit the bill...that is, until the end of A Storm of Swords and into A Feast for Crows. From there, the reader’s view of Jaime (likely) changes drastically.

With that said, it’s the Kingslayer himself, Jaime Lannister, that makes my list as the #3 Greatest Warrior of Westeros.

#3 -Ser Jaime Lannister, The Kingslayer

The Kingslayer is a tricky character. Like every character Martin writes, there is more than meets the eye. Certainly at first glance we see a shallow, cruel man (throwing Bran out the window, anyone?). But by A Storm of Swords we see a much more complex character.

Jaime is, in every sense, the golden boy. Just look at him! He has everything, and oh yeah, he gets the hottest woman in the kingdom. Too bad it’s his twin sister Cersei. See, that’s where he goes really wrong in the character department: to quote him "the things I do for love", namely pushing Bran out the window in Winterfell.

First off, let’s start with his nickname: The Kingslayer. He earned this moniker when he slew the Mad King Aerys II during the Sack of King’s Landing, when Aerys tried to destroy the city with wildfire. For this act, Jaime thought people would love him for saving the city, but they recoiled from him instead. He remarked on this fact, saying he wanted to be Ser Arthur Dayne, but became the Smiling Knight — referring to the previous generation’s monster, the predecessor to Ser Gregor Clegane.

Despite this, Jaime is brave. So brave that as a squire for Sumner Crakehall he saved his life when he stopped Big Belly Ben, another member of the infamous Kingswood Brotherhood along with the Smiling Knight. It was after this that he was knighted by Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning himself.

Further intrigues involving his sister led him to become a member of the Kingsguard as a means to stay close to Cersei as well as avoiding marrying Lysa Tully. Knighted by the Lord Commander, Gerold Hightower, Jaime took the white, much to the displeasure of his father, Lord Tywin. It’s also important to note that at 17, he became the youngest member ever to serve in the Kingsguard.

In combat, Jaime is a master with the blade; he can make his sword do whatever he wants it to. His sword abilities make him one of the deadliest warriors in the Seven Kingdoms. He is one of the younger characters to make the list and represents the generation of Ser Loras Tyrell and his brother Garlan. In the lance he is quite skilled as well, having won tourneys that he reflects upon when he becomes Lord Commander.

In battle he is fierce, as befits the words of House Lannister “Hear me roar!” He defeats Ser Edmure Tully at the Golden Tooth and then leads his host onwards towards the Riverlands. He is only bested by Robb Stark at the Battle of the Camps through superior numbers, in which he is captured. In the process of trying to get to the Young Wolf he slays several men, including the Karstarks. From there he is taken prisoner and finally only released by Catelyn Stark. So for that he gets bonus points for not only being a great warrior, but a leader of men as well.

Jaime’s only real blind spot is his devotion to his sister. Their relationship is so lopsided that he is at a handicap — until their falling out in A Feast for Crows, that is. It is also in A Feast for Crows, and after his sword hand is cut off, that Jaime becomes a different man. Vargo Hoat does this in order to drive a wedge between the Lannisters and Roose Bolton, but this ploy fails. His hand being severed is nothing more than a gambit in the Game of Thrones and achieves none of the aims it was intended to convey. Jaime’s whole life is wrapped up in how good he is at arms. It’s when he can’t swing a sword that he drops into a depression and only emerges after he saves the life of Brienne of Tarth.

Jaime’s reputation is such that he is able to get Ser Boros Blount (when Jaime can hardly swing a sword on his return to King’s Landing) to acquiesce to his commands. Such is his reputation that he is able to humble a member of the Kingsguard with words alone, knowing full well that people know of the reputation of the Kingslayer, not as he is now.

Still later in A Feast for Crows, Jaime begins the oft-painful process of sparring with Ilyn Payne in order to learn to swing a sword with his left hand.

Prior to his sword hand being cut off, the Kingslayer is one of the deadliest warriors and as such merits his inclusion on this list. It’s well earned, and only time will tell if Jaime is as good with his left hand as he was with his right.

His closest peer is Ser Barristan Selmy. The two are so close in skill to be near equivalent. If Jaime represents, natural gifted aka prodigy like talent, Ser Barristan is the opposite in decaded long excellence. 

Or put another way, Jaime is a shooting star in terms of his ability. 

Greatest Warriors of the Westeros- #8 Sandor Clegane, The Hound

The Hound by Amok ©

Update (July 2026): (Since the conclusion of the television series, I have gone back and reworked all of the “Top Warriors of Westeros” posts. What began as a Top 10 has now expanded to a full Top 20 in light of the additional material and perspective we gained.

With George R.R. Martin’s remaining books still unwritten, these rankings remain a mix of book canon and informed speculation. The core arguments and personal opinions are unchanged, I’ve simply improved formatting, clarity, spelling, and flow so the series reads better and holds up as a proper archive piece.)

The overall Top 20 Greatest Warriors of the Westeros can be found here.   

I'm now up to #8 on the list of Greatest Warriors of the Westeros and its getting tougher and tougher to rank them as I go. It's with some trepidation that I place this next warrior at #8. But, when you consider who is on the list at spots from #1-7 you'll see why Sandor Clegane is here. Its not that he is a "bad" warrior far from it, simply the list is getting tougher with those above him.

The Hound, or simply Dog as Joffrey refers to him is Sandor Clegane. Sandor is the younger brother of the Mountain that Rides. Has there ever been a family with such cool nicknames? The problem is that the Cleganes are far from a happy family. Sandor was burned horrifically by his older brother Gregor for playing with a unused toy of Gregor's. The result was that Sandor's face was burned, lost an ear and has no hair on the section of scalp where he was burned. With his innocence shattered Sandor grew to despise knights (which he has previously idolized) and harbor a great rage for his brother.

#8-Sandor Clegane 

As a warrior, the Hound is one of the finest fighters in the current time frame of the Seven Kingdoms. His fearsome size and abilities make him an intimidating foe. He has no real fear other than fire—which, given the circumstances of his childhood, is entirely understandable.

Sandor distinguishes himself repeatedly during the War of the Five Kings. At the Battle of the Blackwater he fights ferociously, cutting through Renly’s (and later Stannis’) host. Reports of his prowess appear before and after that clash, though he would have been a bit too young to fight in Robert’s Rebellion. He killed his first man at twelve and later slew Beric Dondarrion in single combat after the assault on King’s Landing. In short, crossing swords with Sandor is a risky proposition for any opponent—and one likely to prove fatal.

The Reluctant Kingsguard Sandor holds a deep contempt for knights and the hypocrisy he sees in them. It is rather amusing, then, that he is appointed to the Kingsguard without ever becoming a knight. He simply refuses the title, as his goals in life revolve around one thing: slaying his brother Gregor.

For all his gruff exterior and disdain for knightly ideals, the Hound reveals curious “soft spots” that set him apart from many true knights. As a member of the Kingsguard, he is often called upon to guard Sansa Stark while she is betrothed to Joffrey. While other Kingsguard members obey Joffrey and strike her without hesitation, the Hound does not. He deflects and shields her from the boy-king’s wrath.

During the riot in A Clash of Kings, when the mob turns on the noble party fleeing to the Red Keep, chaos reigns. Several members of the party are dragged off—some killed, others (like Lollys) raped. Sansa goes missing initially, as does the Hound. Where Ser Preston Greenfield, Ser Aron Santagar, and others fall, it is the Hound who comes through, saving Sansa’s life and protecting her from violation. Later, after the Battle of the Blackwater, he comes to her room and could have taken advantage of her, but he does not. For all his mocking attitude, genuine affection and protectiveness shine through. Perhaps he sees in her the innocence he himself once possessed.

Another notable act comes during the tourney at King’s Landing for the Hand. Sandor saves the life of the Knight of the Flowers (Loras Tyrell) from his brother the Mountain. Whether he did so purely out of a desire to finally get to grips with Gregor, or for other reasons, we may never know—but no one else stepped in.

Toughness and Conscience The Hound is exceptionally tough. After taking serious wounds that became infected, he still managed to cross significant distances before his fate became uncertain in A Storm of Swords. It is worth noting he was fighting three men at once during that encounter—no small feat.

He is also implied to have led forces, at least in part, at the Battle of the Blackwater and survived, which says something. That said, we see little direct evidence of his abilities as a commander, so in this ranking I give him only middling marks for leadership. What elevates him is his raw warrior skill.

Of special note, Sandor is a warrior with something of a conscience. Make no mistake—he has his flaws (killing Mycah under orders, an act that clearly haunts his reputation and arguably himself). Yet there is more to the Hound than meets the eye:

• He protects Sansa during the Riot in King’s Landing, almost certainly saving her from gang rape and death.
• He repeatedly places himself between her and danger.
• He attempts to shield her from Joffrey’s malice.
• He never exploits her, despite having multiple opportunities.
• In the television adaptation, Sansa clearly understands him; when drunk and ranting at the Battle of the Blackwater she tells him you won't hurt me," and he visibly softens.
• He treats vows with more seriousness than many anointed knights, even if he refuses to take them.
• He has a clear moral line when it comes to children.
• Unlike many other warriors and knights, we do not see Sandor taking any women to his bed—in a way upholding knightly vows of chastity.

But make no mistake, when it comes time to kill, he doesn't mince words. Case in point when at the Crossroads Inn in A Storm of Swords:

Polliver "You're going to die for some chickens?"

The Hound: "Someone is..."

 

In closing, Sandor Clegane is one of the best warriors of his generation. The only thing missing from his legend is slaying Gregor—though given the Mountain’s demise at the hands of the Red Viper of Dorne ("Frankengregor" notwithstanding), that possibility may yet remain. I feel comfortable placing him high on this list. He keeps mighty company and is arguably the greatest warrior in the series who is not a knight, outside of the Red Viper himself.

Greatest Warriors of the Westeros- #9 Gregor Clegane, The Mountain

The Mountain by Amok ©

Update (July 2026): (Since the conclusion of the television series, I have gone back and reworked all of the “Top Warriors of Westeros” posts. What began as a Top 10 has now expanded to a full Top 20 in light of the additional material and perspective we gained.

With George R.R. Martin’s remaining books still unwritten, these rankings remain a mix of book canon and informed speculation. The core arguments and personal opinions are unchanged, I’ve simply improved formatting, clarity, spelling, and flow so the series reads better and holds up as a proper archive piece.)

The overall Top 20 Greatest Warriors of the Westeros can be found here.   

Wait, what’s this I hear you say? The Mountain That Rides is at #9 of the countdown of the Greatest Warriors of Westeros? Preposterous! How can this be? He is a monster of a man, freakishly strong and cruel!

I’m glad you asked, because when looked at from just the surface, how could anyone beat out the Mountain right? Well, if nothing else, I'm sure the Red Viper of Dorne might have some thoughts on the matter.

#9-Gregor Clegane, The Mountain that Rides

Few names inspire more dread in Westeros than Gregor Clegane. Standing nearly seven feet tall and weighing over three hundred pounds, the Mountain is a massive, ill-tempered brute wrapped in black armor and wielding an enormous greatsword. He is ruthless in the purest sense of the word: the kind of man who gives ruthlessness a bad name.

His atrocities speak for themselves. After the Sack of King’s Landing, he raped Elia of Dorne and murdered her infant son by smashing the child against a wall. He burned his younger brother Sandor’s face as a child simply for playing with one of his toys. Rumors persist that he murdered several members of his own family to consolidate power. Gregor is not merely violent; he is a monster.

Weapon of Fear Gregor’s greatest advantage is terror. Opponents often know they are doomed before the first blow lands. Encased in heavy plate and driven by unrelenting rage, he is difficult to stop on the battlefield. It is telling that the few who show no fear of him stand out—most notably Prince Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper of Dorne. Before their fateful duel, Oberyn calmly told his lover, “No, I’m going to kill that,” underscoring both his confidence and Gregor’s reputation.

When the fear and brute strength are stripped away, what remains is a man reputed to be the strongest in the Seven Kingdoms and a formidable (if lumbering) warrior. Oberyn exploited that very lack of agility in their duel, using speed and precision to deadly effect despite Gregor’s raw power. 

Battlefield Role and Temperament During the War of the Five Kings, Gregor led brutal raids across the Riverlands and the Trident. While these campaigns bordered on outright brigandage, they demonstrated his effectiveness as a field commander under Tywin Lannister’s direction. 

His band of followers known as the Mountain's Men aren't much better than thier foul-tempered master. More on them in a future series of posts.

He is vengeful to a fault: at the Tourney of the Hand, he attempted to kill Knight of Flowers for besting him in the joust, only stopped by the intervention of his brother, the Hound.

Gregor is said to fear nothing and to be consumed by nothing but rage. He serves a clear narrative purpose in the story: the embodiment of the monster that even noble lords sometimes require. As Tywin Lannister himself might acknowledge, “Every great house needs its monster.”

A curious aspect of Gregor’s condition is that it may not be entirely his fault. From the onset of his abnormal growth, he has suffered massive headaches to the point where he has to rely on the milk of the poppy to dull the pain. One wonders whether this unrelenting pain, combined with a body that never stopped growing—fuels the malice and rage that define him. While this does not excuse his behavior in the slightest, it at least offers a partial explanation for the monster he became.

Final Ranking Thoughts There he stands, the Mountain That Rides at #9 on the list. The competition from here on out only gets fiercer, and Gregor’s combination of sheer physical dominance and unrelenting brutality earns him a hard-won place among Westeros’ most feared warriors.

But at the same time the warriors above show way more skill than his sheer brutality. The question is does skill win more than brawn, it likely does, if for no other reason than the Red Viper. 

The Greatest Warriors of the Westeros- #12 Bronn of the Blackwater

Bronn by Amok ©

Update (July 2026):

(Since the conclusion of the television series, I have gone back and reworked all of the “Top Warriors of Westeros” posts. What began as a Top 10 has now expanded to a full Top 20 in light of the additional material and perspective we gained.

With George R.R. Martin’s remaining books still unwritten, these rankings remain a mix of book canon and informed speculation. The core arguments and personal opinions are unchanged, I’ve simply improved formatting, clarity, spelling, and flow so the series reads better and holds up as a proper archive piece.)

The overall Top 20 Greatest Warriors of the Westeros can be found here.   

Before diving in, I know there’s a large faction of readers who consider Bronn the greatest warrior in the entire series. I respectfully disagree, and the reasons are laid out below. Much of his popularity stems from the classic anti-hero appeal that dominates modern storytelling. Yes, he’s a sharp-tongued sellsword with undeniable charisma—but that doesn’t automatically make him the best.

As we move higher up this countdown, it becomes clear that Bronn would truly struggle against the elite tier (#1–4) and have a chance at the rest of the Top 10. That said, there are also readers who argue he doesn’t belong in the Top 20 at all. Read on and you’ll see why I believe he earns his place.

#12-Bronn 

The lean, mean, two-fisted sellsword of Westeros earns his spot on this list—and he earns it well.

We first meet Bronn in A Game of Thrones during Caetlyn Stark’s journey, when she brings Tyrion Lannister to the Eyrie for judgment. Ever the opportunist, Tyrion demands trial by combat. Bronn steps forward to champion him against Ser Vardis Egen, the captain of the Vale’s guard. In a display of practicality over chivalry, Bronn easily dispatches the heavily armored knight and wins Tyrion’s freedom. Later, he helps repel an assault by the Mountain Clans in the Mountains of the Moon, further proving his worth.

His sell-sword mentality is succinctly summed up after dispatching Ser Vardis.

Lysa Arryn: "You don't fight with honor."

Bronn: "No...He did." 

Strengths of a Survivor Bronn is not the strongest warrior in the series, nor is he necessarily the quickest. What sets him apart is his intelligence. He is one of the smartest fighters we meet—perhaps the smartest—because above all else, he survives. Bronn knows when to fight, how to fight, and—most importantly—when not to fight.

Only he and Oberyn Martell (the Red Viper) show no visible intimidation in the face of Gregor Clegane. Bronn even explains to Tyrion exactly how the Mountain could be beaten. Tellingly, he refuses to champion Tyrion a second time when the opponent is Gregor—leaving that honor (and the risk) to Oberyn. It’s not fear; there’s simply nothing in it for him. That mercenary calculus is Bronn’s greatest strength: he fights only when there is something tangible to gain.

Style and Practicality As a sellsword, Bronn fights light and agile, often in less armor than his opponents. He is comfortable with two weapons and is not above dirty tricks or pragmatism. Formality and knightly honor mean nothing to him. In that sense, he is the polar opposite of someone like Loras Tyrell, The Knight of Flowers.

So far in the books, Bronn has not faced truly dangerous opponents in single combat—foes who would truly test his limits. He is too smart for that. He picks his battles carefully, only engaging when the odds favor him and the reward is worth the risk.

At the same time he can be cocky when he knows he can beat someone. Case in point with the look he gives Meryn Trant (a composite of him and Ser Boros Blunt) in the the television series:

Tyrion: "Bronn, the next time Ser Meryn speaks, kill him."

Battlefield Courage Bronn is undeniably brave, yet his powerful survival instinct makes him a fascinating case. At the Battle Blackwater (for which he would eventually be knighted) he could easily have slipped away. Instead, he fought well, leading sorties alongside the Hound. That decision speaks volumes about his loyalty when it suits him—and his ability to thrive in chaos.

Adding to the overall idea of the series of command experience being useful? Bronn replaces Janos Slynt as the Captain of the Gold Cloaks in King's Landing and does a good enough job under Tyrion when he was acting Hand. 

Final Thoughts I have nothing against Bronn. He is not the greatest warrior in Westeros, but he is almost certainly #1 or #2 when it comes to battlefield intelligence. He possesses a keen eye for an opponent’s weaknesses and the ruthlessness to exploit them. That combination is why he makes the Top 20. Against the absolute elite higher on this list, however, his smarts alone might not be enough to save him.

He's not the toughest warrior on the list, but the case can surely be made for being the smartest when it comes to combat.