George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones universe has no shortage of swordsmen, but few of them are as skilled as Jaime Lannister when the series opens. Prior to losing his right hand, Jaime has a storied reputation with a blade. He proves a prodigy at a young age, making a name for himself by regularly defeating more seasoned opponents.
It’s no accident that Jaime becomes the youngest knight ever appointed to the Kingsguard during King Aerys II Targaryen’s reign. He’s also elevated to Lord Commander under King Joffrey Baratheon, though that has more to do with familial connections than merit. Even so, Jaime’s skill with a sword makes him a daunting opponent prior to Game of Thrones Season 3.
There aren’t many characters in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire universe who could hold their own against him in his prime. That makes the ones who do stand a chance all the more impressive. The following six players have superior sword skills, strategy, or knightly values — in some cases, all three.
Ser Brienne of Tarth
Brienne Holds Her Own Against Jaime in ‘Game of Thrones’ & ‘ASOIAF’
Who She Is: Brienne of Tarth is easily one of the most impressive fighters in Game of Thrones, and she serves multiple people over the course of the show. She’s introduced as a member of Renly Baratheon’s Kingsguard (or Rainbow Guard, in the books), then swears allegiance to both Catelyn and Sansa Stark. She’s eventually knighted by Jaime Lannister before becoming Lord Commander of the Kingsguard at the end of the show. It’s an impressive trajectory, and it makes sense of her ability to rival Jaime with a sword.
Why She’s Better Than Jaime: Brienne of Tarth is one of the few characters on this list who actually faces Jaime one-on-one in Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire, though both are close fights. In each iteration of the story, Brienne keeps up with a two-handed Jaime. However, Jaime’s malnourishment tips the odds in her favor in the show, and luck factors into her win in A Storm of Swords.
Even still, it’s no small feat to keep up with Jaime Lannister in the first place. It’s made more impressive by the fact that Brienne is a woman, and thus, not given the same opportunities to become a squire or receive formal military training. She proves capable of winning against Jaime, even with those disadvantages, and it leaves viewers to wonder if her natural skill surpasses his.
Ser Ryam Redwyne
One of ‘ASOIAF’s Greatest Knights Has a Brief Appearance in ‘House of the Dragon’
Who He Is: Ser Ryam Redwyne is a legendary swordsman from just before House of the Dragon‘s timeline, serving as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard for both Jaehaerys I and Viserys I Targaryen. Eagle-eyed viewers can catch a glimpse of him in House of the Dragon Season 1, but he’s not around for long. He perishes in 105 AC, allowing Ser Criston Cole to become the new Lord Commander ahead of the Dance of the Dragons and the incidents leading up to it.
Why He’s Better Than Jaime: It’s hard to say definitively who’d win in a fight between Ser Ryam Redwyne and Jaime Lannister, as both lived centuries apart and never had the chance to duel. However, according to Davos in A Storm of Swords, Ryam was considered the best knight of his era. He has a reputation on par with Jaime’s, and assuming he lives up to it, it’s safe to assume he could at least give him a close match.
Ser Ryam Redwyne demonstrates great resilience jousting with Ser Clement Crabb during a tourney honoring King Jaehaerys’s name day. The two break so many lances against one another that they eventually call a tie. There’s also an argument to be made that Ser Ryam Redwyne is a better knight than Jaime, as he’s known for his honor.
Daemon Blackfyre
‘The World of Ice & Fire’ Names Him Among the Greatest Knights
Who He Is: Daemon I Blackfyre has yet to be depicted on-screen, and given that he lives between House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, there’s a good chance viewers won’t get to see him. The bastard child of Princess Daena Targaryen and King Aegon IV Targaryen, Daemon is best known for founding House Blackfyre (an off-shoot of House Targaryen) and leading the First Blackfyre Rebellion, which saw the legitimized bastard trying to claim the Iron Throne over Daeron II Targaryen.
Why He’s Better Than Jaime: Like Jaime Lannister and Ryam Redwyne, Daemon Blackfyre is another Song of Ice and Fire character designated the best knight of his time, according to The World of Ice & Fire. He was apparently so good with a sword that he was compared to the Warrior, one of the deities that makes up The Seven.
Jaime doesn’t get praised so much that he’s likened to a god, though Daemon’s legacy could be exaggerated by the history texts. He’s clearly skilled on the battlefield, though, meaning he’d give Jaime a run for his money — and potentially even best him under the right circumstances.
Aemon the Dragonknight
He’s Another Skilled Targaryen Who Never Appears On-Screen
Who He Is: Aemon the Dragonknight is another Targaryen that doesn’t appear on-screen, but he’s the son of King Viserys II, the second child of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen. He joined the Kingsguard at age 17, proving his ability young. He also gained a reputation for being one of the greatest knights in the Song of Ice and Fire universe, with feats like shielding King Daeron I Targaryen during the conquest of Dorne and escaping from Dornish captivity with King Baelor I Targaryen contributing to that.
Why He’s Better Than Jaime: Aemon the Dragonknight is another fighter whose skill is obvious at an incredibly young age, and his accolades and reputation suggest he at least rivals Jaime in combat. He also has the advantage of wielding a Valyrian steel sword named Dark Sister; Jaime doesn’t possess Valyrian steel during his prime, only after he loses his hand.
The difference in weaponry would give Aemon an advantage against a younger Jaime Lannister, and his reputation suggests he’d stand a chance even without it. Similar to Ser Ryam Redwyne, he is also regarded as a more honorable knight than Jaime, pointing to multiple ways he might trump him.
Ser Barristan Selmy
The Lord Commander Before Jaime Is Impressive in His Youth and Old Age
Who He Is: Ser Barristan Selmy is a legendary swordsman who exists during Game of Thrones’s timeline, serving as the Lord Commander for King Robert Baratheon before he’s dismissed and replaced by Jaime during Joffrey’s reign. Ser Barristan is out of his prime by the time he departs King’s Landing and joins Daenerys Targaryen. However, he’s still a force to be reckoned with. Dubbed Barristan the Bold, he’s known for his skill in combat, tactical knowledge, and chivalry.
Why He’s Better Than Jaime: George R.R. Martin himself counts Ser Barristan Selmy among the greatest sword fighters in the Song of Ice and Fire universe (though he’s said as much about Jaime as well). There’s good reason to think Ser Barristan could defeat Jaime in a one-on-one fight, though, especially in his younger years and maybe even later on.
When he’s dismissed in Game of Thrones, he tells the rest of the Kingsguard, “Even now, I could cut through the five of you like carving a cake.” Given his history, his words are believable. He won Lord Steffon Baratheon’s tourney at Storm’s End, unseating impressive opponets like Robert Baratheon and Oberyn Martell. He also slayed Maelys the Monstrous and infiltrated the Dun Fort at Duskendale to save the Mad King.
Ser Arthur Dayne
Who He Is: Known as the Sword of the Morning, Ser Arthur Dayne is the most storied knight in the Song of Ice and Fire universe. He’s dead by the time Game of Thrones opens, perishing during the famous conflict at the Tower of Joy. He’s stabbed in the back in the show, though the books don’t offer the specifics of his death. Either way, it’s hardly a reflection of his talents in a fight. Arthur Dayne served in the Mad King’s Kingsguard, was trusted to guard Lyanna Stark, and even knighted Jaime himself.
Why He’s Better Than Jaime: It’s telling that Jaime himself expresses respect and admiration for Ser Arthur Dayne, and Catelyn Stark notes that he’s the most dangerous of King Aerys II’s Kingsguard. That suggests he’s at least on par with Ser Barristan Selmy, if not a peg above him. And George R.R. Martin reportedly confirmed that the two are on equal footing, with Dawn making Ser Arthur Dayne a bit more daunting (via The Archive of Song of Ice and Fire Lore).
Dawn is the legendary sword Ser Arthur Dayne wields, which is said to be forged from a fallen star. It can only be used by someone from House Dayne who is deemed worthy. Ser Arthur Dayne proves himself both physically and as an honorable knight, and the very qualities that help him earn that sword would help him one-up Jaime. The sword itself would also be useful in that endeavor.
